In the underground prison of the Yunyun Stronghold, past the hundreds of armed guards and countless thick stone walls, there were four sad-looking individuals sharing a cell. It was none other than Elizabeth, Benedict, Shirley, and Freon. Although their gags and restraints were removed, no one felt like talking or moving. It was a very heavy mood. To be captured by the Xingyuu Empire, and even transported to the Yunyun Stronghold… There was no question about their fates. They were finished. Needless to say, Elizabeth could not even find the courage to break the silence. By now, everyone probably understood she was the reason behind their capture. There was no way she could say something!
After an insufferably long silence, Freon gritted his teeth and growled in a low voice, "Elizabeth, don't you have something to say to us? If you don't say anything soon, I'm going to start beating it out of you!"
"I…" Elizabeth was lost for words. The guilt was crushing her so hard that she found it difficult to breath. "I'm so sorry! I didn't think this was going to happen!" she cried. "I never would've wanted this to happen!"
This was in a way true. Elizabeth never would have expected that the Xingyuu Empire would set its sights on her. After all, how long has it been since she arrived in Sor? Two or three months? In that time, what did she accomplish? Nothing! Nothing at all! How could she pose a threat to the Xingyuu Empire? In her mind, she earnestly believed that she was still that insignificant farmer girl from New Havens without any connection to the outside world. Who would think that such a titanic civilization would target a harmless girl? There was no one! Therefore, she thought she would be fine travelling the Alzar Kingdom. Moreover, Port Silic was even a military stronghold, a gathering point of hundreds and thousands of soldiers. However, the situation quickly exploded out of control and before she knew it, she was captured.
"Sorry? It's a little too late to be saying such things, don't you agree?" Freon frenziedly shouted with reddened eyes. "Is what they said true? You're the heir of the Alzar Kingdom?" This time, even Benedict had to turn his attention over at that question.
Once again, Elizabeth felt awkward. "Yes, it might be true…"
Benedict finally came to realize the strange unnerving feeling he had since leaving Algard. Ever since he met Elizabeth on New Havens and discovered she had the Holy Reingolian Medallion, he had his own suspicions. He believed she was someone of paramount importance! Of course, her looking and acting like Isabella spurred him on further. However, much like Elizabeth once thought, connecting the Royal Family to New Havens was simply too hard to accept. He could understand if she somehow found the Holy Reingolian Medallion. But being the heir of the Alzar Kingdom and King Harth's daughter? It sounded like a fairy tale!
Nevertheless, the clues made sense once he realized the truth. All at once, Benedict felt betrayed. As a knight of the Alzar Kingdom, his loyalty towards the crown was the utmost of importance. Being a Hawken, this was especially emphasized. Though he knew that the Alzar Kingdom released a search order for Elizabeth, for her to be the heir of the kingdom… There were no words to describe how he felt! Forget what the Hawken Household might think, being the prime reason over the Alzar Kingdom losing its heir was enough to damn him several times over! Even with a dozen future generations, there was no way he could repay this enormous injustice he did! He thoroughly despaired. To be the one who led the kingdom to destruction…
As if sensing his thoughts, Elizabeth hurriedly added, "I didn't mean to hide anything from you, Benedict. This isn't your fault! This is mine! I shouldn't have pushed you into leaving Algard with me!" Seeing him fall silent only made her feel worse.
"Elizabeth, clench your teeth!" Freon demanded.
Before she could understand, a fist was already flying in her direction. She could not react in time. It landed squarely on her cheek, embedding itself deep into her skin and teeth. Blood filled her mouth as she collapsed backwards in pure shock and pain. This was the first time she was punched! Her cheek felt burning hot as she reflexively spit out blood. It hurt a lot! Freon was not holding anything back! Even her teeth felt slightly loose as she tried to regain her senses. Fear filled her eyes. Was Freon going to beat her?
Benedict moved a second later, standing between the two of them. Although he understood Freon's frustrations very well, he never considered resorting to physical violence. Despite all that happened, he was still her knight. He made a vow to protect her. Moreover, Elizabeth was a girl! Hitting a girl went deeply against his own principles. However, against all expectations, Freon did not attack again. The boy's shoulders relaxed as his fighting intent disappeared.
"I understand as well as the next person that violence isn't going to help us," Freon seethed. "I just needed that one hit to help me calm down."
"This…" Benedict hesitated.
"It's alright, Benedict. I understand how he feels," Elizabeth said.
"Well then, are you going to explain why you ran away from Algard?" Freon demanded. Elizabeth held her head in shame as she began explaining all the circumstances surrounding Lord Korogin and King Harth. When she finished, Freon shook his head, "I finally understand everything. To think that King Harth would put his hopes on someone like you…" he sighed.
"You're Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel?" Benedict muttered in disbelief.
"What's going to happen to us now?" Elizabeth asked with a fearful gaze.
"What do you think?" Freon replied. "As the heir of the Alzar Kingdom, you're destined for nothing good. Truthfully speaking, you're bound to suffer many times more than either Benedict or me."
"No way… Can we get out of here?"
"That's impossible," Freon stated. "We don't even have a way to get out of this cell, much less the entire stronghold."
"Didn't you say you could use Arcania? Can't you do something about this situation?"
"I did say that but…" Freon sighed. "Like how swords are indispensable to swordsmen, wands are indispensable to Arcanists. Without a suitable way to conduct Magical Energy, there's no way I can cast a spell."
"Even if we could get out, we'd still have to secure a way back to the Alzar Kingdom," Benedict added somberly. "Crossing the Maelstrom Gulf isn't easy, especially with the number of Xingyuu fleets. I'm afraid that we're…"
Freon really wanted to cry right now. The strings of fate were truly relentless! He already had a tough time being the older brother of Nassandra. As the only relative of Nassandra, the youngest Ten Dawn and the one widely regarded as having the highest Arcanic Potential in history, everyone thought highly of him. Arcanic Potential was a hereditary concept which served to measure an Arcanist's potential. Therefore, he was subjected to the same glamourous spotlight that his sister earned. However, he was inept! Try as he might, Arcania simply did not like him. Despite all his efforts, he was a Low Gaseous Fog Core Level, the lowest of the ladder. Meanwhile, Nassandra was at Condensed Drop Core Level, an entire level above him! Much like the divide between the Fundamental Realm and the Perception Realm, it was a nearly uncrossable divide.
Nassandra served as an excellent example of what he could be, but he fell far. Everyone would see him differently, as if he was a waste of space, a failure in society. Once the disparity between him, the failure, and his sister, the mighty Ten Dawn, was set, nothing could change it! Reputation was like a tower of cards: hard to build up, but easy to break down! Indeed, every year in the academy and the university was truly aggravating. Mocked, bullied, humiliated… All sorts of ridiculing acts would be pinned on him. In the Alzar Kingdom, noble status reigned paramount, but in the Zino Kingdom, power was the only factor! Without strength to back up your words, did you have a right to say anything?
Frustrated, he decided to serve his required years in the military. However, with a pitiful Core serving as his foundation, there was no way he could be a soldier on the frontlines. As a result, he was delegated to be a mere paperboy in General Illion's army all the way in Port Silic. The older brother of Ten Dawn Nassandra was a lackey! How could that not be the very definition of humiliating? But he held his temper and acted his own part out well. He was more aware of his limits than anyone else. But who would have thought that his misfortune would run deeper by meeting Elizabeth? Now, he was even captured by the Xingyuu Empire! Certainly, Freon wondered if the gods wanted him to die! What did he do to err so badly?
"Maybe I should just kill myself," Freon laughed with a tone of ridicule. "It would certainly be quicker!"
Elizabeth's heart thumped as she heard those words she once said. Back in Port Silic, she threatened the Imperial Sentinel that if they killed Shirley, she would commit suicide. She said it in the heat of the moment, but the Imperial Sentinel caught her bluff. She needed Freon to save Shirley. Afterwards, they were gagged and restrained for weeks until arriving in the Yunyun Stronghold. Without a way to apologize, the guilt she felt was nearly second to none. She thought, Honestly, I'm such a terrible person. I nearly let my friend die and I was prepared to watch it happen. If Freon hadn't spoken up at that time… Elizabeth looked around to find Shirley. Surprisingly throughout the entire conversation, she was absent.
She found the girl sat in a corner, her knees hunched up, as if hiding herself. Shirley was deathly still and silent and strangely delicate, as if the slightest wind could come by and shatter her. This was a sharp contrast from what Elizabeth remembered. Ever since they met each other on the ship, Shirley was a very vibrant, out going, and happy individual. Shining like the suns itself, there was nothing that could bring her down. But here she was, quivering in fear. Elizabeth could not leave Shirley like this. She stood up and approached Shirley, but Shirley immediately panicked and cowered further. Elizabeth stopped and thought. Everyone had their own circumstances in this war. Surely, Shirley must have her own…