The night fell rather quickly. While most servants and even the royals slept, she stationed herself in front of Soleah's chambers. She leaned against the wall as she held the invisible Sun God close to her chest.
The Queen usually slept with the King in the chambers, yet she had made sure he was not present tonight. She did not know why, but she seemed to have a lot of influence over him despite him being in charge of most major decisions.
She deserved my help…
"Aqua, are you uneasy again?"
"Kind of."
"Scared?"
"No." She let out a sigh, "I just don't know why I care about her… She is very kind to me, but come on… I should know better."
"Aqua, to not care would be to go against your nature. You are a kind and caring girl, but the way you pretend and try to convince yourself that you are not is self-destructive."
Aqua's hug tightened around Sun God. "But…"
Sun God phased through Aqua's arms before landing just in front of her. "Don't but me, girl. Let go of the misconception that you must be cold and distant. I understand you fear that you will lose all you care about once again, but this time you are capable of protecting those you cherish."
Aqua leaned against the wall and slid down gently. "Easier said than done, I find it hard to care about the elven race despite my previous wishes to save them."
Sun God crackled as his color shifted into red. "Then do not care about the entire race, it is not your burden to bear. Care about those who have grown in your heart. Azure, Sheira, and Soleah. Each of those girls matters to you, as proven by your willingness to teach and even guard them."
"Come on… You always convince me so easily…It's not fair!" Aqua giggled.
"If not me, then who? Ah, yes, your future wife." The Avian cackled.
Aqua's face and ears instantly became red, "Huh?!"
"Do not worry about it." Sun God flapped his wings and flew to Aqua's shoulder.
"Sure…" Her ears perked up as she heard the noise coming down the hallway.
Step.Step.Step.
"There are three…" Her brow furrowed. They all wore long robes, large hoods that obstructed their faces, and a mask that hid the mouth and nose. What was even worse was that they did not have the dark haze.
These were willing servants sent to strike down the Queen Soleah. Her face contorted in disgust as she placed her hands in a V shape and awaited the incoming would-be assassins.
You are not killing her.
Sun God was right; she cared about that woman. Her fingers gripped her dress tightly. "I will make you regret taking this job, imbeciles." She spoke softly and with seething fury.
It did not take long for the Assassins to notice her. In their eyes, she surely looked like an ordinary servant and unworthy of their attention, yet they nodded to each other as they trapped her in a triangle between them.
"Ah, who would you fine gentlemen be?" Aqua bowed slightly as she mocked them.
Yet they did not answer; instead, from both sides they struck with their daggers, yet Aqua let them slide past her before she gripped the heads of the two assassins and slammed them against each other.
They wobbled before they assumed the battle position. "Servant, stand aside. This does not concern you!"
Aqua made a creepy smile, "But it does, boy. You see, I have promised Soleah I would protect her from Lira's nefarious dealings, so it makes it my business."
The moment they heard the name of their employer, their stances tightened.
"She is the maid we were supposed to eliminate together with Soleah. Kill her!" The assassin ordered as the trio pounced on her.
"Sun God, make sure they don't try to run~" With her word, Sun God became visible once again, but instead of acting, all paths were blocked by a wall of flame.
Their fear had a wonderful aroma. They panicked, and yet they attempted to attack her.
"Even the fire itself would freeze before people like you learn when to quit." She caught two daggers in her hands and, with a pinch, the weapons shattered into fine dust.
"Who in the world are you?!" The lead assassin asked.
"Hehe~" Aqua, while still keeping her illusion, conjured four large, blazing wings. A halo of flame appeared behind her head, and her eyes gained a soft blue glow.
"I am Aqua… But for you… I am a nightmare."
They scrambled to run, yet the heat of the blazing walls singed their skin the moment they approached.
"Who… Who are you?! You were supposed to be some stupid servant!" They fell to their back as Aqua approached slowly and methodically.
"Ain't that rude? Stupid? You know that is no way to talk to a lady." Aqua's grin widened. These people dared threaten something she cared about. Hell was a reward for such people.
Yet, she had been asked by the queen to capture them alive if possible. She disappeared from their sight and appeared behind the lead assassin. Aqua grabbed his neck and slammed him face-first into the ground.
With a sickening crunch, the assassin fell unconscious.
The two others raised their fists as their attempts to escape proved to be futile. Aqua raised herself above the unconscious assassin. "Soleah only needs one… but I will do her a favor and get all three~."
With a casual stride, she approached the terrified assassin, "But first, I will extract some of your memories."
Their legs refused to move. She relished in the fear they felt at her presence. Those who threatened to take from her should be ready to face the terror the Crimson Magister would inflict upon their pathetic minds.
With a snap of her fingers, the sound disappeared from their throats.
Their forms were gripped by tendrils of water, which kept them in place. "You needn't speak."
With a gentle grip, she channeled her power through the Assassin's skull. However, unlike with the golden rose, she did not plan to fully unravel their minds.
Like a skilled surgeon, she cut into their minds.
She had searched for specific memories, the ones concerning the Spymaster Lira.
The power flowed through them as if it were a raging river. She cared not for the Assassin's comfort. She was invading their mind for one thing and nothing else.
Yet despite searching for multiple minutes, she failed to find anything related to Lira. "So they do not know anything about her other than her name…"
Lira was most certainly affiliated with Red Dawn due to her dark haze; she was likely one of the enslaved elves that was used as a puppet to gain control or weaken the Elven Kingdom. Although Aqua considered that Lira wished to execute Azure, it was likely the latter.
Her face gained a look of disgust as she thought about someone harming Azure. Her grip tightened around the assassin's skull.
Just before she cracked it, her grip loosened.
The Assassin duo fell at her feet like a sack of potatoes.
"Pathetic." She looked down at the attackers with disgust in her eyes. "You are not even worth burning."
She rubbed her hands together as she turned to Sun God, "Good Job!"
"It's only natural…" Sun God's color shifted to deep orange.
"Always so adorable." Aqua placed her hand on her mouth as she let out a giggle. She turned to the doors she guarded and raised her hand. "Please turn invisible again."
Instantly, the impenetrable shroud covered Sun God as Aqua's fingers connected to the door.
Knock.Knock.Knock
"Enter, Aqua." Soleah's voice sounded tense yet happy.
Aqua nodded as she turned to the unconscious assassins, she grabbed them by their hoods and pulled them after her as she pushed the Queen's chamber doors.
Soleah raised her brow as she stared at the three men that Aqua dragged into her room. "So I was right. Lira is getting desperate to get rid of me."
Aqua dropped the men on the floor before she made her way to the bed and took a seat. "You have a lot of enemies, your majesty."
Soleah waved her finger, "Aqua, to you, I am Soleah. Ok? No honorifics when you are over here saving my life."
The red-haired elf smiled, "Sure, Soleah. So why does that woman wish to get rid of you so badly?"
"I wish I could tell you, dear." She turned to her table and picked up a bottle of wine. She produced two cups from her drawer and poured the red beverage.
The Queen turned to Aqua and handed her a cup, "Here, it's red just like your hair~" Soleah giggled as she sipped her wine.
There were many reasons one would wish to end the queen's life, yet Aqua had hoped Soleah had some insight about her opponents.
"However, I have a couple of theories." She swirled her drink as she grabbed her elbow. "Would you like to hear them out before these scums wake up?"
Aqua puffed one of her cheeks as she pushed the air out of her mouth, "Sure. Drop it on me."