THE journey had been smooth for Kafle’s team after they left the underwater passage. Although the weather had slowed them down, they had not encountered any threat that could harm the princess.“I can’t believe Mora had become a frozen wasteland in a span of three years! The villages and towns I once knew seemed to be completely erased from the map.” Kafle could not believe his eyes as they continued traveling to their destination.Bucca and the twins were in front, clearing their path as Kafle looked out in the rear.“Hanum became this hopeless after the siege of Firth. Even some members of the royal council had betrayed our race,” Bucca said, heaving a sigh. “Like Alka. She used to be loyal to the king and the prince's trusted nursemaid. I can’t believe she’s serving the duke who killed thousands of our kind.”“It makes me wonder, Bucca. What happened to your family?” The princess inquired.“We are orphans. Our father was one of the late king’s guards, and our mother was also a warr
“GIRLS, free everyone. We’ll take down these monsters.” Bucca ordered the twins. “Be careful. Visagus monsters are known for stealing their prey's likeness and powers. They are extremely powerful compared to a Doppelis.” “Yes, brother!” The twins said in chorus. Deirdre and Delaina moved like whirlwinds, freeing those who were captured and unbinding them using their ice magic. It seemed like an easy feat until they discovered that the cave was the home of the Visagus monsters. “There’s a horde of them. We better get out, Princess.” Kafle forced Baharini to run away, but she was stubborn and did not flinch. “I can’t let our kind suffer here, Kafle. Look at them. They’ll all die if we leave them.” Baharini strengthened her resolve. “They were already dead when these monsters dragged them into this pit! Listen to me, Princess. Your life is more important compared to the hundreds of them. Now, let’s go!” Baharini freed herself from Kafle’s grasp and glared at him. “I am the sole su
TZEITEL kept silent as the dragon procession from Ankhe to Kaitseri took place. Not long before the golden chariot landed on the island of rich Kaitserian soil in North Vatre, she had many companions, but as they slowly approached the Elsher Castle, Princess Tzeitel felt like it was a death march.“Princess…” the voice of her lady-in-waiting made her blink twice for being too preoccupied. She paused for a long time a few meters away from the castle.“I’m all right, Marina,” the princess dismissed her.She had been delaying her travel to Kaitseri, knowing it could be her death sentence since her betrothal to one of the heirs of the House Elsher.Tzeitel took a deep breath as she found the courage to step closer. She thought of Iridessa. Her comforting words were enough to toughen her up, as this union might obstruct her goal of obtaining the imperial throne.“The imperial princess has arrived!” a middle-aged man announced beside the gate. Based on the crest on his copper-colored unifor
THE princess awakened the following day with a subtle knock on her door. She stretched her hand and immediately got up.“Come in!”Marina got inside, holding a tray with a cup of tea. “Good morning, Princess! Here’s your favorite floral tea.”“Thank you, Marina. Please put it there. What’s for today?”Marina put the tray on the bedside table. Her eyes twinkled in enthusiasm. “Lord Cariux is waiting outside. He’s elated to be with you to venture into Elsher Estate.”Tzeitel scoffed. “Elated, my foot.”Marina was shocked to hear her utter those words. “Is something wrong?”“Nothing, Marina. I’ll be out in a while.”“Yes, Princess.” Marina excused herself.Cariux appeared in a good mood while waiting in the hall near Princess Tzeitel’s room. The princess smiled radiantly in return as she greeted him despite what she had witnessed last night. The last thing she’d do is let them know about her hidden agenda in the Elsher Estate.“Your beauty shines brightly today, Princess Tzeitel,” Cariux
“YOU’RE FIRED!” A thunderous roar echoed inside the room. Jie flinched as he clenched his jaw in silence. He somehow expected this to happen since he argued with the boss regarding his request for an increase in his salary. He had been working hard, and the company took advantage of it. Paying him less despite him working like a dog. Jie needed money. For his mother’s medication and his little sister’s schooling. If only his father hadn’t passed away, leaving them buried in debt. “Leave! I don’t want to see your face here. Ungrateful bastard!” The boss turned and sat back in his swivel chair. For a while, Jie stood frozen. Lost in his thoughts. What would happen to his life now? He had no savings. The only money he had in his wallet was a few hundred pesos, enough for three days. At twenty-five, he was far behind his peers. It didn’t matter, he’d always been in survival mode for as long as he could remember. “What are you waiting for? Get the hell out of here!” The old man glared
“BROTHER…” a childish voice murmured. She appeared to be a little girl with long, unruly golden hair. Sunburn had turned her face a crimson hue. “Brother, wake up! We are still alive!” She slowly tapped her brother’s cheek. She knew he was still alive because she checked his heartbeat a while ago. Scattered across a huge desert was a tiny oasis, where the young man lay. The girl continued to check on her brother. “Please, brother. You have to see what’s going on! There’s a miracle!” Optimism radiated from the young girl. Especially when her brother grunted. “Look at me! I’m perfectly well now. I can run!” The girl, although her brother could not see her, ran around the oasis and kept shouting. “I’m alive and well!” She was humming a happy song while playing around. “Brother, I dare you. Look at me!” She urged more. But her brother lay motionless. In her young mind, it was liberating to feel that, despite all the hardships they had been through, they managed to survive the arduou
JIE kept track in his head of how many hours they had walked. He estimated it lasted nearly eight hours, with a short break in between just to think about whether they made progress in choosing the right direction. “I think we’re lost.” He studied the surroundings. The vast desert seemed endless. But for some reason, he felt his strong vitality despite walking in the scorching heat. It was almost sundown. “We shouldn’t go back,” Nyssa murmured. “I heard that, kid. We should find the entrance to the village before it completely turns dark. Who knows what other deadly creatures are lurking here at night? I don’t want to be the fresh dinner of another giant scorpion.” Nyssa scowled. “Then let’s keep following the markers.” “Are you sure you’re not yet exhausted?” Jie wondered because, as a child, it would have been hard for her to follow him in this hostile environment. “Surprisingly, no. It has something to do with the orbs. It told you!” “Orbs. Here we go again.” Nyssa rolled he
“PUT me down, you piece of shit!” Jie struggled with the talon’s grasp. Despite knowing he’d die at any time, he still hoped to escape. The beast let out a growl. It appeared like a crossbreed of an eagle and a lion. It had a bird’s face with a lion’s body. “I taste bad! Put me down!” Jie was dripping in his sweats. He died once in the hands of those thugs, and now he’d die for the second time in the talon of this monster. What an irony, because in this strange world, he was still unlucky. Jie motioned his hand out of desperation, hoping to wield magic just like how he accidentally killed the giant scorpion. But no magic came out. Rather, he was squeezed out, almost making his eyes pop. Even in this life, I couldn't escape death. The harsh truth hit him. The creature holding him screeched suddenly as if it were in pain. Jie’s eyes started to blur. Death would probably greet him once again. At least, the feeling wasn’t new. Then there was a sudden spurt of a black liquid that sm