The early morning breeze swept through Velnaira, rustling pennants atop the royal court's ivory towers. The plaza before the southern gate was already crowded—nobles, scholars, and petitioners gathered in hopes of being heard.
Among them, two figures stood apart.
Crystal, ever silent, stood with her hands slightly balled into fists. Beside her, Elyssia addressed the armored gatekeepers with calm professionalism.
"We submitted our third petition this week," Elyssia said, her voice clear. "Regarding unjust practices targeting slum-born residents. Have any inquiries begun?"
The guards, both stiff in posture but clearly worn from long hours, exchanged glances.
"Lady Elyssia, we did receive your scroll," the senior of the two began. "However, the audience list is already filled for today."
"Again," Elyssia said, her tone clipped.
"I understand your frustration, but we cannot bypass the appointment protocol—especially without noble backing or guild authorization."
Crystal said nothing. Her gaze rested on the large obsidian doors leading into the palace courtyard. She'd seen these guards enough to remember the way they always averted their eyes when she drew near.
Three times now. Different excuses each time.
First: 'All inquiries must be screened before reaching the inner court.'
Second: 'There's a war council meeting today. We can't risk disruptions.'
Now: 'No slots available.'
The repetition wasn't frustrating.
It was revealing.
"They're not going to act," Crystal said quietly, just loud enough for Elyssia to hear.
"Not unless we force them to," Elyssia replied under her breath.
But Crystal didn't answer.
She was still watching the palace.
---
Later that day, the plains stretched golden beneath the rising sun. Crystal and Elyssia were out on a quest—goblin extermination. A simple task.
They took quests regularly—not out of necessity, but to pay for lodging and to experience the kind of ordinary life Crystal had never known. A life with errands, effort, and coin earned by hand.
Though neither of them required food, sleep, or shelter, Crystal still sought to live in a world she had once only observed.
They moved through the tall grasses in silence, heading toward a forest clearing east of the city.
Until a rustle broke the air.
A flicker of movement.
From the underbrush, a small girl suddenly tumbled out—silver-haired, bruised, and bleeding from a slash on her thigh. Her eyes, wide and terrified, locked onto them.
"P-Please… help… save me..."
Behind her, three cloaked men burst forth. Their armor was hidden beneath worn traveling cloaks. They moved fast. Professional.
Not bandits.
Not mercenaries.
They had done this before.
Elyssia instantly stepped in front of the girl, sword half-drawn.
Crystal stepped forward, her voice level.
"What's your reason for pursuing a wounded child?"
The lead man didn't flinch. He answered with the ease of someone practiced in lying.
"She's a runaway thief. Stole from a noble storehouse. Orders are to retrieve her."
The girl sobbed, trembling. "That's not true! They—They k-killed my mama and papa—please…"
Elyssia's eyes narrowed.
Crystal glanced at the child, her gaze softening.
She's terrified. But she still ran. Still fought to survive.
The cloaked men exchanged a look. They saw the decision in the women's eyes.
They drew weapons.
"Stand aside. She's marked property."
They moved.
Or tried to.
Crystal vanished—no wind, no flash.
Just gone.
In the next instant, she was behind the lead man. Her index finger rested lightly against his skull.
A fraction of a second later, his body collapsed—dead.
No blood. No explosion. No visible wound.
Her touch had delivered a precisely calculated kinetic shock, destroying his brain. With no external damage.
Just like before she hadn't used magic to attack.
Only to suppress the catastrophic side effects her speed and force would've caused.
No air rupture. No broken terrain.
Only silence.
Of course She wouldn't care about that but since there is a child here she would rather avoid excessive violence or gore infront of her.
And by the looks of it she has been pretty traumatized by seeing her parents get killed So this was also to avoid making it worse.
The remaining two froze in disbelief. Before they could move, Crystal reappeared in front of the next one—her palm lightly placed against his chest.
There was no push. No wind-up.
Just a subtle, surgical burst of pressure transferred from her hand directly inward.
His ribcage shattered. Bone fragments Shredded his heart.
Dead. Instantly.
The third man dropped his weapon and fell back, hands raised. "W-Wait!"
Crystal stood inches from him.
"Explain," she said.
"We—we were told to retrieve purebloods from the outer quarters," he stammered. "That's all I know. Just names on a list. No idea why."
Crystal's eyes narrowed. "Who gave the orders?"
"I don't know! We never met them—we get instructions by note and payment in drop locations. I swear!"
He was sweating. Trembling.
Crystal raised her hand again.
He flinched—expecting death.
But her eyes flicked to Elyssia. "Strip him of anything useful. Leave him."
Elyssia obeyed. "As you command."
The man collapsed to his knees in relief.
Crystal knelt in front of the girl.
"What's your name?"
"Liri," the girl whispered.
"Liri." Crystal gently repeated the name, then reached forward and patted her head softly. "You're safe now."
The child burst into tears, stumbling into Crystal's arms.
Crystal hesitated—then wrapped her arms around her, shielding her trembling form.
"Elyssia."
"Yes, Sovereign."
"Take her to the inn. Feed her. Bathe her. Let her rest."
Elyssia knelt beside the girl. "Come, little one. I'll carry you."
As she lifted her up, Liri looked at Crystal with faint urgency.
"W-What's your name?"
Crystal paused.
"…Crystal."
The child nodded, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Thank you..."
Then passed out from exhaustion.
Elyssia bowed slightly. "I'll watch over her."
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Crystal looked toward the palace spires, still visible over the distant trees.
"To demand justice."
"Shall I accompany you?"
"No. Stay with the girl. Heal her. She needs you."
Crystal's expression hardened.
"If force is required—I'll be the one to use it."
---
Back at the city gates, her return didn't go unnoticed.
This time, she made no effort to conceal her presence in a literal sense, she was still keeping her aura hidden since unleashing Her Divine Dragon Aura will be overkill.
The guards recognized the shift in atmosphere before they saw her.
"State your business—"
"I've already submitted three petitions," Crystal replied, her voice calm. "Today, I deliver the fourth—personally."
"I'm sorry, Lady, the palace is not accepting visitors—"
She didn't stop.
A hand reached for her shoulder.
In a blur, she twisted the guard's arm, dislocating it cleanly and stepping past him without pause.
"Stop her!" another shouted.
A dozen soldiers formed a line.
They never stood a chance.
Crystal didn't draw a weapon. She didn't strike to kill.
She weaved between them like a ghost—every limb precise, every motion deliberate. Bones dislocated. Helmets knocked loose. Swords snapped from the hilt.
Not one fatal wound.
Just a trail of disabled men in her wake.
---
Inside the marble halls of the inner palace, word of the breach arrived swiftly.
Prince Callius tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, reclining in a sunlit chamber as soft footfalls echoed from the corridor beyond.
"She's here again," said the royal scribe, his voice taut.
"And this time, she forced her way in," added another.
The prince gave a slow, measured smile. "Then I suppose we must appear civil."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"Have Alexia greet her. Bring her to me."
A pause.
"I'll hear her concerns… for appearance's sake."
He stood slowly and walked toward the window, gazing out over the capital's spires.
"Let her feel heard. For now."
---
> Her patience had run out.
And the palace was about to learn what that meant.