"I've always wanted to ask though, did you really hate Lyn?"
The question caught Ayah of guard; she didn't expect Kristy to ask this.
"Of course I do, it's because of that woman that I lost everything."
"I wonder if that's true," Kristy reached over and extended her hand out, "Let's see shall we?" a bright glow emerged in the woman's palm.
What is she doing?!!
Ever since Ayah was little, she has always been curious. Why doesn't the witch, who uses her magic to change her appearance? In myths and legends, the witch has always been portrayed as an ugly and disgusting creature. Somebody with a disfigured face or some say the opposite — a witch with an enchanting appearance but with a cold heart. Ayah always saw herself as the latter, and she was. For the longest time, Ayah wondered why she couldn't understand people's emotions.
If the witches use her magic to change their appearance, won't they feel happy? They won't feel discrimination. The witch does not use her magic on herself because she knows the emptiness that follows when the spell breaks. Because that happiness is temporary, it does not exist from the very beginning. If magic can dispel peoples unhappiness, there would be no need for others to work hard. For someone like her, though, even working hard is something that will not work out.
Ayah has always wished to be accepted by her surroundings. She tried to change herself for that reason. But, she doesn't care if she is disliked. She doesn't care if she doesn't have a place where she belongs. She doesn't mind if everybody rejects her, it's already something that isn't new to her. For the longest time, people have people regarded her as a devil in human skin, even long before she got stronger.
A devil? If that's how people see her, then so be it. She will be the devil they want.
That's how it is supposed to be, and yet every time she acts like a bad person. That woman named Lyn always pulled her hand along.
Ayah quickly broke the spell. Kristy deeply sighed, "Ah, just when I almost got it."
"How dare you try to read my thoughts? And you're calling me the bad person..."
"Take it easy; I just wanted to confirm. If you treat our Queen as your enemy, then I can get rid of you no problem. But, if there is something there, even I would hesitate."
"Ridiculous, I have no such feelings. That woman, I'll kill her."
....
It surprised Ayah that the meeting with mage Kristy ended just like that.
'That woman, what was the point in coming to see her? To inform her they'd face each other properly soon?' Ayah thought.
It made little sense to her; there would be no need to declare that formally. Ayah walked back and forth; she was currently in the fortress and inspecting the soldiers training. She was briefing them on the attack details.
If the world were to end tomorrow, who you spend your last day with?
How strange, ever since earlier she hasn't been able to get that phrase out of her mind. During the course of the day, Ayah actually visited some old academies in the area. To say she wasn't curious was one thing; after all, it's the place where that person visited before. The place where they met her, she wants to see. Wants to see what sort of world that is.
It looked like a regular academy, there was nothing special about the appearance - but there were certain areas in the academy that gave of a peaceful feeling. A feeling of peace and tranquility that you would not be able to get anywhere. When she entered the place, Ayah understood.
Exactly why the girls own ideals were pushed out. To think that they had such activities when they were younger, being asked such a question at such a young age. She wonders what sort of answer they came up with. She had not been able to hide her curiosity, so the girl's teacher had secretly shown her. It's that person name, and yet she had seen the reverse side with the cross beforehand.
For the one named Lyn, perhaps it really is already clear to her - that it has been for a long time. The person she loves. She had already decided only truly to give her love to one person.
Ayah didn't even know why she was thinking about such pointless things.
For someone like her, she has never once thought of love. A person like her born into a family with such a lineage clearly means she has to focus on her work. Feelings such as those are ones that she ought to discard. Ayah could clearly remember it, others asking her what she will discard to prove her loyalty. She sacrificed her heart, her emotions.
Even before then, she was already an emotionless doll since birth. Ayah felt as though she wasn't sacrificing anything at all. But that was wrong when she met that person that changed completely.
'Ayah! Come sit with us for lunch.'
'Ayah. I knew you'd be here; look! I have an extra one. Don't tell the others.'
Ayah clenched her fist; it's not like that. She frantically shook her head. That woman took everything from her. Because that woman appeared, things changed for.
It's because of that woman that she even lost the trust of the woman she loved — the First Knight of the Snow Kingdom, Luke.
That person truly changed. Ever since then, he treated her with contempt - because of the issue with Rhys, he lost his faith in her. If she didn't encounter Lyn, then she wouldn't have bothered using Rhys. Everything started because of that woman, that's why Ayah wanted to get rid of the source.
Expectations? Will things change? Ayah long gave up on anything change. She knew from the very start, even if she were to get stronger, even if she were blessed with beauty and talent. People would still treat her like the plague.
"I have something to report; our east wing is being attacked."
"Queen Lyn?"
"No, it's--" the soldier's sentence fell short when Ayah saw it. A familiar black swirl mark in the sky.
So, Rhys wants to play this game? Interesting. Ayah thought the naive fool would stay put because of his injuries. But it seems like that guy doesn't get it.
Ayah didn't bother wasting anytime and simply used her magic. In seconds she appeared in front of the gate, the forces who were fighting seemed to stop, and she hears the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Injured fool, you dare stage an attack?"
Rhys gritted his teeth, "I thought long and hard about it. But I don't trust you not to use sneaky means to win."
"Isn't the Queen supposed to be strong? Why bother with a person like me?"