Ezra knew Aleena’s mistrust and fury were justified. After all, they had lied their way to get close to her and kept her in the dark about way too many things. But, despite her harsh words, deep down in her heart, she was secretly praying for their success.Queen Guinevere had spent almost half a decade confined in a room on top of the Celestial Tower, separated from the whole kingdom. It was a cruel way to deal with her illness, but the king’s advisors thought it was the only way to keep her safe.The royal physician had tried his best to cure the queen’s affliction, but her condition had worsened over the years, forcing the king to resort to desperate measures. Aleena still remembered her mother’s loving touch and her tender embrace, but the whole kingdom seemed to have forgotten the kindness of the queen. Rather, they now remembered her as the weeping witch of the tower.Though Aleena was safe from all the cruel rumors inside the palace walls, whenever she stepped outside to visit
Aleena’s eyes widened with horror as she felt the overbearing weight of Tanya’s words on her drooping shoulders. Her heartbeat quickened, and a cold shiver ran down her spine, making her fingers tremble. “What’s a blood curse? And who would curse my mother?” she asked in a quivering voice, her lips pale and dry.Tanya pointed her open right palm at the wailing queen and whispered in a mellow voice, “Let your troubled mind find peace in Ishani’s care as the stars find shelter in the lap of the darkling sky. Let your worries be eased by the grace of the comforting maiden.”As soon as she uttered those words the queen’s voice became muffled and her threats turned to mumbling noises. Her eyes became heavy with sleep and she slowly eased into her bed, her head laid onto the downy pillow.“What did you do to her?” Aleena asked in an anxious tone.Tanya looked away from the sleeping queen and replied, “I gave her the rest she needs. But don’t worry, she will wake up in a few hours.”Althoug
Facing a vampire was hard enough for even the most skilled Gunners, but doing it without any magic was a nearly impossible task. Ezra wanted to believe the old vampire sealed inside the catacombs had passed away peacefully after all these years, but he knew it was only wishful thinking.“Why can’t we ask Glenn about this curse? I’m sure he can do something about it,” Ezra whispered in Tanya’s ear.But she shook her head. “Blood Mages cannot lift curses. If anything, his interference will only make it worse. Besides, if we bring him here, it would expose his identity and quite possibly get him executed.”Hearing Tanya’s explanation, Ezra backed away and turned to Aleena. “Are you sure there aren’t any other entrances to this catacomb?”“All other entrances were sealed decades ago, and I don’t even know where they were. I only know the blackwater lake has a secret entrance through it,” she replied.Ezra nodded. “Alright, I will need some time to prepare. But I promise we will get your mo
Ezra and Tanya rushed to hide inside Aleena’s cupboard, and Aya hastily closed its oakwood doors and locked it from the outside.“The Princess is getting ready. She needs some time to get dressed,” Aya spoke aloud, notifying Duke Carrington and his companions.But instead of respecting Aleena’s privacy, the duke stepped closer to the door and knocked much harder this time. “Come on now. Our lovely Princess does not need a magnificent gown to make her look beautiful. She is perfect the way she is.”Aleena somehow swallowed her anger and answered as courteously as possible, “Please give me a few minutes to tidy my room, Your Grace. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”Before Duke Carrington could press her again, Servius intervened, stepping to her aid. “I think we should give the Princess some privacy. She is not twelve anymore. I am sure Your Grace will understand.”“Of course, I understand. I have a wife at home,” Duke Carrington sniggered. “What do you take me for? A simpleton? I assure
The news of the wyvern sighting alerted Servius, and panic quickly spread throughout the room. Duke Carrington, however, looked more annoyed than scared.“Those wretched fools have grown bolder than I had expected. I think we must send them a fitting reply!” he grumbled.Servius knitted his eyebrows and uttered a fortifying incantation to strengthen the holy magic dome protecting the city. He then turned to Duke Carrington and his companions. “The city is shielded by holy magic. The wyverns are no threat to us.”“But those poor villagers outside require our assistance,” Duke Carrington replied. “The wyverns need to be dealt with before they can bury the surrounding villages under snow.”Esmeralda bowed at once. “Your Grace, I admire your courage and selflessness, but you must value your life as well. We need to get you to safety.”“I am not going to hide in my mansion while those monsters ravage the villages!” Duke Carrington protested. “I think now is the perfect time to show the necr
The sudden appearance of the Frost Wyverns caused widespread panic among the residents of Magaravia, prompting the City Guards to spring into action and empty the streets. Even the Royal Guards moved out to secure the palace and guard the king.The ensuing commotion allowed Ezra and Tanya to sneak out through one of the rear gates and leave the palace grounds without being spotted.When Ezra and Tanya returned to Verdant Gardens, they found the place swarming with commoners. There were hundreds of people armed with blazing torches and rusty hatchets, and some were even carrying old-fashioned single-shot flintlocks and double-barreled hunting rifles.“We know she is hiding here!”“Yeah, let us have her, and no one gets hurt!”“I swear all this is happening because of that chestnut-haired witch!”The guards stationed at the mansion pointed their blunderbuss rifles at the angry mob, trying to keep them at bay. But none of the rowdy miscreants were ready to back down.“What’s going on? “Wh
Confronted with his past, Ezra found himself conflicted. He had always wanted to hide his true identity and continue living like a Romanov. But Zala’s keen instincts had discerned Ezra’s dormant powers and seen right through his soul.“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Ezra sneered, turning away to avoid the conversation.But Zala wasn’t ready to let go. “I see the darkness clouding your mind. I can see it follow you like a living shadow,” he whispered ominously. “I know you can feel it too. Such a gift cannot be tossed away so easily. It connects you to the Lord of Decay.”Tanya’s expression gradually changed, her brow creased, and her eyes glimmered anxiously. “What is he talking about?”“I think my brother is unwell. As Zepheroth’s influence grows, so does Zala’s madness,” Glenn replied, trying to cover for his brother.But Zala chuckled in their faces. “I may be mad, but I am no liar. Lord Ezra was born of the same darkness that forged my chains. He is tied to the Lord of
Ezra had already shot his own brother outside the gates of the ruined city, but he found consolation in knowing that Ramel was no longer a Romanov and had sold his soul to the Lord of Decay. However, Zala was suggesting a different kind of killing. The dark mage spoke of sacrificing an innocent human still untouched by corruption. “The Lord of Decay demands sacrifice,” Zala whispered in his husky voice, inching closer to Ezra. “Only by spilling innocent blood can you awaken the dark powers slumbering within your veins.”“I am not a monster!” Ezra rebuked sharply. “I became a Gunner to protect the innocent, not sacrifice them to gain power. This is not who I am.”“He is right. By sacrificing an innocent human to Zepheroth, Ezra will commit a sin beyond redemption. And if he walks down that dark path, Ishani will never aid him again. The Goddess of Light cannot stand bloodshed,” Tanya replied, enforcing Ezra’s ideals.Even Glenn did not like what his brother was suggesting and tried to