Soon, a soldier from the palace arrived, bearing a critical message. “Under no circumstances are we to strike the larks first,” he announced.
Another soldier, arriving shortly after, offered further clarification. “It’s due to magic, they said. They believe you’ll understand, General, once you hear.”
“Magic?” Lester echoed, a shiver running down his spine. The fear wasn’t born from the encroaching larks, but from the realization of a deliberate, controlling force. If such power fell into the wrong hands, it could wreak havoc upon the world. And then, he noticed a figure amidst the approaching horde.
“General! There’s a person there!” a soldier exclaimed.
“Yes, I see them,” Lester replied, his gaze fixed on the figure.
As the distance between them closed, the figure became increasingly clear. It was a woman, her dark hair a stark contrast against the sky. She rode atop a lark, a surreal sight that defied belief. As she neared, the entire horde of larks halted, their menacing advance abruptly ceasing. The woman dismounted and began walking towards them, her steps slow and deliberate. She paused, a mere twenty steps away.
Lester narrowed his eyes, deciphering her intent: she sought a representative. He discreetly signaled a soldier, who, in turn, relayed the message to others. They slipped away, disappearing into the crowd.
Lester advanced alone, walking towards Flora. He instructed his warriors to prepare to strike, their best marksmen poised, ready to fire without hesitation. He moved slowly, buying precious time, stopping just within speaking distance.
With a knowing smile, Flora spoke as if she could read his thoughts. “If you harm me, the larks will lose control and attack indiscriminately. Not that you could succeed, of course. Such an attempt would be futile, and the consequences would be dire. No weapon can harm me. If you’re eager to test that claim, I won’t stop you, but be prepared for the inevitable.”
Lester could sense the truth in her words. While he could reach her before the larks, her confidence, despite her seemingly vulnerable position, was undeniable. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “Why are you doing this, Anika?”
“I came to see Jin,” she replied. “There’s a matter between us that you wouldn’t understand. Don’t worry, I won’t enter the palace. Just tell Jin that if he wants to protect his kingdom, he should come to where you stand.”
***
“Her Highness is leaving the palace,” the soldier reported, his voice barely a whisper.
Lester’s heart pounded in his chest. “What?!” he roared.
“Verus, you madman…” he muttered under his breath. When he had relayed the insane woman’s message to the palace, he hadn’t meant it to reach the queen. He’d merely delivered the message, unable to defy her command. He’d assumed the ministers would escort her to safety and prepare the palace for the impending siege, awaiting her final instructions.
Soon, a convoy emerged from the palace gates. Ministers, officials, and palace attendants poured out, their faces etched with worry. And then, Eugene, the crown prince, descended, the last to leave.
Lester’s mind raced. The image of the king’s cold, unforgiving gaze flashed before his eyes. If anything happened to the queen, even if she returned unharmed, the king’s wrath would be swift and severe.
He’ll kill me, he thought, a cold dread settling over him. It would be a more honorable death to fall at the hands of the larks. With renewed determination, Lester vowed to return the queen safely to the palace. Yet, he knew the futility of his efforts. Even Verus and Marianne, with their extraordinary powers, had failed to dissuade her.
Eugene resolutely dismissed Lester’s pleas. “If His Majesty were here, would you stand in his way, General?”
“Your Majesty, I implore you, out of loyalty. Please reconsider,” Lester urged.
“It’s not that I doubt your intentions, General. I must step in because I alone can resolve this. Open the way, General—if you truly acknowledge me as your queen,” Eugene declared.
Defeated, Lester retreated.
Eugene approached Flora, closely followed by Sven, his expression heavy with the weight of the world. Eugene had intended to face Flora alone, but Sven’s insistence, born from deep concern, had compelled him to accompany her.
Eugene stopped where Lester had stood earlier. The two women regarded each other in silence. Flora glanced at Sven briefly, then spoke with a mocking tone. “Are you so afraid of facing me alone? As an Anika yourself, you shouldn’t fear the larks.”
“I am the queen, Flora,” Eugene replied, her voice firm.
“Ah, a noble figure, are you?” Flora retorted.
“It means I can’t always do as I wish,” Eugene admitted, her tone tinged with melancholy.
Eugene studied Flora intently, noticing a stark difference in her gaze and expression compared to the woman she had seen just hours ago. Was it the magic that had transformed her, or had it merely unveiled her true self? Either way, the realization filled her with sadness.
“Flora, don’t let that magic control you. You can break free from it whenever you choose. The elders of the wanderers warned you repeatedly about the dangers of that magic. It’s not too late,” Eugene pleaded.
Flora erupted in laughter. “Dangers? How hypocritical of you to pretend to care. Let’s be honest—you fear my newfound power.”
She spread her arms wide, her face illuminated by a manic glee. “I am freer than I’ve ever been! I’ve never felt my heart so liberated!”
Raising her hand, she clenched it into a fist, a gesture of power. At her command, the larks surged forward, then retreated. The warriors, tense and anxious, readied themselves, their hearts pounding as the vast swarm of larks moved.
“No one will take this freedom from me. This power is mine,” Flora declared, her voice echoing with defiance.
Eugene thought she saw a fiery intensity burning in Flora’s dark eyes. “Freedom…” she murmured, her gaze lowered. She closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them, her expression now devoid of emotion.
“Very well. If that’s truly how you feel, then I have no choice.”
