I string my arrow onto my bow and wait for the target to be in sight...even though I know he wouldn't be here. After reading the letter I sent him in secret, he should be at the edge of the capital now, running for his life. I hold on to that thought desperately even though there is a nagging thought in my head telling me he wouldn't do that.
My hand grips my bow. My eyebrows furrow in concentration as my eyes scan the crowd for him. I have a good view of the plaza from the window of an inn where my team and I are waiting to launch an attack. I keep a keen eye on every person's face all the while chanting the words in my head.
I hope he's not here. He can't be here. He shouldn't be.
The plaza is busy. Crowds of people go back and forth, nobles visiting some shops, and the fountain at the center is brimming with couples sitting around its edge. It is to be expected on a weekend.
Sweat trickles down my temple as I narrow my eyes to a figure behind the statue of the King at the center of the fountain. I only see half of the figure but judging from the muscles bulging out of a long-sleeved fitted black shirt, it belongs to a man. He is sitting quietly as if waiting for the right moment.
Curiosity gnaws at me and the doubt in my mind causes my heart to hammer in my chest. I shake my head, hoping to shake off the uneasy feeling with it. I tell myself I'm just overthinking.
"Status report," I say to my subordinates who are also keeping an eye out for the target.
One is a woman in her late twenties with short ginger hair dressed in her knight uniform, designated at the window facing the road to the left of the plaza. The other, a young man, a talented new recruit that has just been knighted, to the opposite side of the room, observing the river from the window on my left.
"Nothing, Captain. There's still no sign of the Second Prince," the young Knight answers, as he moves to tie back his shoulder-length red hair.
The woman's eyebrows furrow in impatience and frustration. "I don't understand. The spy said that he would be here today to pick up his sword from the blacksmith's shop."
That's true. That would've been the case if I hadn't sent that letter. I purse my lips, quite guilty that I am fooling them.
The other members of the Holy Knights are waiting on the ground floor also keeping an eye. I breathe out. Maybe he really ran away.
Relief floods through me. Until...
the figure moves. He walks out of the statue's cover and raises his river green eyes in my direction. I jolt in surprise and terror.
The tall man has jet black hair, pale skin, and a lean-fit build. He is wearing a black, v-neck long-sleeved shirt that fits him enough for his chest to be formed, khaki-colored pants, and brown leather boots that reach just below his knees.
I gulp.
He stands still, chin held up in a challenge, and his green eyes spark with mischief.
Idiot.
I curse under my breath in annoyance. I never should've hoped he would run away.
Prince Cassian Raphael Philetus, Second Prince of the Tiviena Kingdom, and branded a traitor by his very own brother. It is recently discovered that he is a Black Mage, someone who deals with forbidden magic. It is prohibited, even more so, in the kingdom having a foundation of strong belief in the creator, Diem.
Forbidden magic stems from making a pact with the devil. It corrupts its host to the very edge of madness and cruelty. There is only one way to get rid of all the Black Mages—killing their Supreme. And the only one who can fight someone so powerful would be...me.
Lady Everald Altair, Daughter of Grand Duke Altair, Chosen of Diem, Captain of the Holy Knights. Diem chose me even before my birth. Both of my parents have auburn hair, as a result, my elder and youngest siblings also have the same hair color. However, because of the Divine Power in me, my hair is white and my eye color is golden. They appear normal, but when I use my ability, they become jewel-like. In contrast, my skin is a soft tan just like theirs.
Being the Chosen, the word 'different' is the norm for me. I need to control my emotions every time because whenever I feel overly happy, sad, or angry, my powers affect my surroundings.
I have to maintain my composure because whenever I'm nervous, my divine power gets out of control to the point that people around me get difficulty breathing, the same thing happens when I'm mad.
My train of thoughts is cut when footsteps running up the stairs are heard outside the room we're in. Not a minute after, the door springs open. I don't need to listen. I know what the blonde-haired Knight under my command would report.
"Captain!"
"I know." I cut him off.
How can I not? We're having a stare-off at the moment.
I meet his piercing stare.
You shouldn't have come.
If he got the message from just my unwavering eyes, he only gives me nothing but a lopsided grin and a wink.
Then his shoulders went up and down as he heaves a sigh. He holds out his arm to me, palm facing up, then he folds his fingers towards him.
Bring it on.
I close my eyes, torn between giving the order or not. As the Captain of the Holy Knights, the right answer would be to give the order to catch him. But as his only friend, the right thing to do would be to let him go and betray the newly crowned King.
He must have known I am hesitating because when I open my eyes again, his right hand reaches for the hilt of his sword and pulls it out seamlessly. In a second, the blade is engulfed in a black flame.
The Knight, standing by the door, waiting for my order asks in panic, "C-Captain, what should we do?"
I clench my jaw. "Clear the area, now. Do not engage in a fight with the Supreme. I will handle him." I throw him a quick cold glance. "Move."
How unfortunate. If only it was me who discovered the truth. I would've tried my hardest to save him.
My chest tightens as I will my bow and arrow to morph into a sword and swing my leg to step on the wooden window sill.
"Freya, Dion. Help me deal with the other mages with him," I tell the two Knights with me. "also, make sure to stay away from the Prince."
"You're not thinking of facing him alone, right?" Freya, the ginger-haired knight, says in a worried tone.
I give her a side glance. "Wasn't this the reason I was born?" Without listening to what she is about to say, I jump out of the window, two floors down, and land seamlessly on the ground.
As I approach him, I never look away from his eyes, still hoping he would give up this charade and escape.
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