Chapter 7: The Icy Facade
[Sellirina Arc II]
This chapter has been edited.
"Princess! Wake up! Something's going on!"
Saya groggily woke up due to someone shaking her shoulders. She then sat up her bed and rubbed her eyes only to see Haji looking at her with apprehension. Wait, what? Apprehension? why would her knight look at her with apprehension?
"Haji? What's wrong?" Saya asked, now awake. Haji is acting pretty strangely today or maybe she's just imagining stuff? Haji usually just calls her name to wake her up without shaking her because he knows very well she slept lightly. Something is really...off. She doesn't know why but her guard went up subconciously.
Haji shook his head at her and instead took her hand as they headed outside
Saya looked at him with confusion and wariness. Something's not right. "Haji, where are we going?" she asked as he just continued to drag her along the winding corridors and hallways of the ice palace. He was silent and didn't answer her question.
She waited for him to say something but in the end he just stayed silent. That immediately confirmed her suspicions.
She pulled her hand away from his and smiled ruefully. It seems the enemy has been with them all this time. "Tell me, who are you and where is my knight?" she asked realizing the man in front of her was just impersonating. She also grew worried as well. If her knight wasn't with her, where was he?
The so called "Haji" turned around to face her and grinned. Just seeing her knight's face on the enemy in front of her made her so angry she wanted to tear away his real face.
"It would seem you are not stupid after all." the man said with a grin as his real face was slowly revealed, the magic that hid it scattering with the wind, revealing an all too familiar face.
Saya was mildly surprised but not too surprised that the face in front of her belonged to the Ice Kingdom's King. It made sense for how can a large scale abnormality in the kingdom escape the notice of both rulers? It can only be that they new all along and were even the instigators.
She frowned. "Where is my knight? And why did you drag me here?"
The Ice King smirked. "It's simple, really. I was ordered to lure you away from the main hall where the rest of your precious friends are, facing their imminent doom at the hands of your mortal enemy," then he shrugged. "but of course, it is also to face you one on one."
Saya sighed and activated her powers showing her battle armor and now glowing red eyes. "Well then, let's finish this quickly."
Border between the Fire and the Ice Kingdoms
Forest of Red and White
"We must hurry. I feel that the rest need our help immediately." Urika said, already in her battle armor and mounting the Lava Beasts together with her cousins, the princes and their knights heading towards the Ice Kingdom's palace.
Just as they were about to cross the border to land in Icy lands, an army of white stood tall to intercept them. It turned out it seemed that they already knew they were heading towards the castle to provide aide.
"A bunch of annoying ice blocks." a fire kingdom soldier remarked at the side.
The rulers of the Fire Kingdom really guessed correctly that the Ice Kingdom would send troops to stop them and thus the Fire Kingdom sent troops of their own to face the Ice Kingdom's troops.
"Let's just get on with this s***" Blaize remarked while scrunching his knuckles in preparation for a fight.
V just sighed at Blaize's attitude and turned to prepare for battle ahead.
Ice Kingdom
The Ice King fell with a dead faint as his body slowly disintegrated into red dust, his eyes held no resentment, his soul completely devoured my the evilness of his heart.
Saya paid him no glance for he deserved his death for everything he has done to his very own people. She then ran back to the room she previously slept in and opened the doors of the dresser. After fighting the Ice Kingdom's king, he revealed that Haji was just tied and was hidden behind the dressing room's doors.
As soon as she opened the door, a figure plashed past and she was sure her head would separate with her shoulder if she hadn't reacted fast. She turned and looked at the person only to find a flabbergasted Haji looking at her with shock, his blue eyes glowing like sapphire gems.
"S-Saya?" he asked in bewilderment but then frowned as he scolded her about suddenly opening the doors without caution, what if it was an enemy she encountered and the dangerous consequences if that really happened.
He was still scolding her when Saya suddenly hugged his waist and cried. "I- I really thought they did something to harm you..."
Haji sighed and laughed gently. Ah, she was still really his Saya, a crybaby.
They broke free of their hug as Haji patted Saya's hair in comfort. "As much a I would also like for you to eat breakfast, there are much more pressing matters at hand."
Saya looked at him. "You mean Rose Reaper?"
Haji nodded. "Hm. It would also seem that the Ice Kingdom's Queen is Rose Reaper in disguise." he then held her hand and the two dashed off towards the main hall of the castle.
But soon, the both of them noticed something strange for wherever they went, it seemed like they kept going around in circles!
"What in the world is going on?!" Saya exclaimed. She was really getting frustrated at this castle.
"I think we're trapped in an illusion." Haji replied with a somber expression.
"Great, they're really intent on letting us through." Saya said sarcastically but then thought of an idea.
Haji noticed her expression and immediately shook his head, realizing what she was about to do. "Saya, you must not do it. It can only be used as a last resort." he said worriedly, if she did that not only would her powers disappear momentarily, she would also be vulnerable.
Saya sighed and smiled at him. Just as she did so, Haji's brows furrowed deeply in worry. "It's alright considering Sumire isn't here with us, it's the only solution in this situation. Besides, I know you will be there to protect me if something ever happens."
Haji sighed. knowing Saya, she will stay stubborn with her decisions until the end.
Seeing that Haji didn't oppose anymore, Saya readied her breath and energy for what she was about to do for it required massive amount of energy and power that after doing it, she had to sleep for an entire hour to regain her strength.
🎶Illusions that binds us prisoners in place
Come be broken as I sing this phrase
The master of darkness in which caused this all
Bring to me her figure wrapped in chains unbreakable.🎶
After singing the spell, Saya immediately collapsed in Haji's arms. The spell was incredibly powerful for every word sung would come to be. Every Rose Princess had this ability but with massive disadvantages.
"That's some powerful spell there, princess." at the sound of that voice, both Haji and Saya looked up to see Rose Reaper with that ever creepy smile on her face. her entire being was wrapped in thick chains.
But those chains didn't last long before hell fire engulfed them and turned them to ash. "I must say I'm quite impressed the lot of you saw through my plans. Though I can say you need some practice, still. I did break out of those chains of yours." she commented as she smirked darkly, her ominous voice echoed around the room. Despite the cover of the dark hood, her figure was incredibly familiar but was never remembered.
Saya looked on in unbelievable shock while Haji tensed as he held her tightly in his arms.
Seeing their reactions, Rose Reaper laughed darkly. She was amused.
"Aaah... as much as I would love to skin you both alive, it seems your stupid "friends" have arrived." she said suddenly, stupefying them. With a wave of her hand, as black smoke slowly engulfed her dark figure. "Well then, I guess we'll just have more fun with each other then. Chiao~"
As soon as Rose Reaper's figure disappeared, leaving both people confused and baffled, but before Saya could think about anything else, her whole world was engulfed in darkness...