THIRD PERSON'S POV
The sun's high in the sky and some ladies went back to the camp to take a rest, while others kept on trying their best to catch a single boar.
Some of the knights have entered the mountain to take the boars that were killed, but they have only brought back three boars as of the moment.
Sia was in her tent, replenishing herself with a quick bath and a new dress. She wanted to tell Prince Forest what happened or at least talk to Prince Arias about his fellow Echo resident, Zemira, but she knew Amy will handle it when she comes back.
Aiven, Regin, and Prince Arias were talking about the plans that they were talking about from the past days in Amy's tent.
They're sitting in front of each other, while Aiven was fanning himself.
"The meeting yesterday went well, King Ludovic said he'll lend us an army that can come when a battle sparks," Prince Arias spoke.
"What did you tell His Highness to let Prince Arias go here?" Regin turned to Aiven who looks as if he's burning from the heat.
"I said he wants to watch the trial, find out who the brides are, and enjoy the mountain," Aiven groaned as he stood up for water.
"Is he not curious why you two are here in Miss Amy's tent?"
Prince Arias shook his head, "I said I'll stick with Aiven to avoid getting in the Prince Forest's way."
"Do you want water?" Aiven offers a glass after he filled himself with the refreshing drink, then suddenly Lulu entered the tent.
The maids were all in a place where they cook food for their ladies and for the others, and Lulu came with a worried look.
"His Highness is calling Mister Untzer and Prince Arias for lunch, Sir Regin, you can join the other knights too, they're preparing to eat."
Regin stood up, but he knew something's wrong with the kid's reaction, "Why? Is something wrong, Lulu?"
This young girl is always composed, relaxed, and confident, and the worry and anxiety on her face are odd.
"Uh," she hesitated to speak, she doesn't know whether it's needed to be heard, but since Sir Regin asked, it'll be rude to close the conversation, "Miss Amy hasn't come back since the morning. I'm worried something happened to her. She doesn't have anything to drink or eat."
"Is Princess Tellusia done?" Aiven asked as he goes out of the tent, followed by the others while Lulu stands with her hands intertwined.
"Yeah," she nodded.
Sir Regin sighed, "Don't worry, Lulu. Amy's fine, you don't have to worry about anything," he said to at least lessen the worry of the young maid.
But of course, he's not confident with his answer. What if something did happen? But knowing Amy, she's not the type who likes to take a break while doing something.
Even during their practices, she'll only take a break when it is over that's why she's starving after their practice.
"I'll ask Princess Tellusia if she saw Amy," Aiven shook his head in worry as he goes to the Princess' tent.
"Do you want me to look for her?" Prince Arias suggested after he noticed the distress between the people around him. He can fly and search the mountain for Amy and he's sure he'll be able to spot the black clothes and beautiful arrows decorated with gold.
"No, it's fine, Your Highness. Please do go to Prince Forest's tent, I'm sure he's waiting. Thank you for your concern," Sir Regin commented as he points to the Prince Forest's tent.
Lulu was still wearing the same frown, something's bugging her, it came not a while before they started cooking and still hasn't left until now.
"Lulu, she'll go back here after she catches three boars," Sir Regin turned to the girl and gave her a forced smile, "She can take care of herself."
Regin wanted to puke after saying those words, he knows Amy can't protect herself. She still doesn't know about her powers, he thought.
Lulu nodded and went back to the other maids who were about to eat as well.
Aiven came with Princess Tellusia who already changed her clothes.
"She said she gave Amy some apples," Aiven said as he turns to Princess Tellusia, "I'm sure she's not hungry that's why she hasn't come back."
Princess Tellusia nodded but then she heard a familiar voice that's been laughing seductively as she passes by Aiven. She waited for the woman to go away before she rolled her eyes.
"That woman stole Amy's kill," Princess Tellusia sighed heavily as she peeks at Zemira who's about to eat with the other brides.
"Lady Zemira?" Aiven whispered, "How?"
"She painted Amy's kill before Amy," she groaned, "I want to tell Prince Forest or Prince Arias, but Amy said she'll do it when she comes back."
Sir Regin and Aiven stare at the rather attractive woman, but they both know about who she is - a snake. It's still a wonder why King Ludovic overlooks such a woman with a bad background.
"Anyway, she'll be back later. You guys don't have to worry," Princess Tellusia turns her heel to the lunch table, leaving the two men in front of Amy's tent.
Prince Arias told Prince Forest the worries of Amy's attendant, and without any other words, Prince Forest called Fisher who suddenly arose from the shadows that even surprised Prince Arias, making him choke from the food.
"Are you alright?" Prince Forest worriedly ask.
"I apologize for my sudden appearance, Your Highness," Fisher bowed.
"It's fine," Prince Arias laughed after drinking water, "I'm sorry. I'm not used to surprises."
Prince Forest ordered Fisher to look for Amy, and within a second, the knight was gone. Prince Arias noticed how much everyone's worrying over the lady who he gave a thumbs-up earlier. It struck his curiosity about who she is, and why Aiven even wants him to work with her.
After lunch, other brides went back for hunting, while Fisher still runs around the places Amy might be hunting at. However, the sun's beginning to set, and no lady with black clothes were seen around.
Fisher went back and reported, making Prince Forest feel a chilling rush run through his spine.
Something happened.
He went out of his tent, called for Regin and Aiven, but he knew if he suddenly sends out Knights to looks for Amy when other brides haven't returned yet, they might panic or even think that he's biased to Amy.
"Amy's not in the mountain," Prince Forest whispered while he's inside Amy's tent while Lala closes the opening of the tent.
Regin shook his head in the devastation that something might've happed to her while Aiven and Prince Arias looked at each other. Is it possible that its the Alpha's work?
"Fisher looked everywhere but he can't find her." Prince Forest walks back and forth in the tent while taking a deep breath to calm himself.
What if something happened to her?
"Your highness," A guard called outside the tent, "Everyone's here, except for Miss Amelia."
They've been waiting for this report since it means they can freely look for her without any comments arising from the other brides.
Prince Forest went out and called the knights, including Regin.
They all lined up before him. The brides were in their tents, watching, afraid that something did happen to Amelia, which means that they might be in danger too; Amy's maids were all frowning while wishing that their Miss is alright.
Aiven and Prince Arias were conversing outside the tent, and they agreed that they'll search for Amy as well.
Arias flew while Aiven turned into his wolf form and ran towards the forest.
Princess Tellusia also joined, she closed her tent with only her maids inside, and calmly sat on the ground where she can completely connect with the earth. She closed her eyes and relaxed. Every sound and every movement of the plants and ground were connected to her body. Her mind sent a message to search for Amy to the ground, but it's been a few seconds and no information about her location has been sent.
The Prince commanded everyone to look for Amy, and the knights immediately entered the mountain. He went to Fisher who was standing behind him, and said, "You're in charge, I'll look for her too."
Fisher nodded and moved to the other knights of the bride candidates, "Secure the ladies, we'll start the ceremony once Miss Amelia's back," he said.
The sky's starting to welcome the night and some maids were already starting the bonfire. The boars that were caught were all aligned in front of the woods, and only six were killed.
The colors, yellow, green, violet, white, blue, and red were painted on the boars.
The ladies who were able to catch were all relaxing in their tents, waiting for Prince Forest return after they all take a bath, except for Princess Tellusia who still hasn't got anything, but suddenly a mud spirit's voice came through her.
It said that Amy went pass by him during the afternoon, she went down a cliff.
Princess Tellusia rushed outside, and ran to Fisher who's assisting the others on the bonfire, "She's in a cliff," she said fast.
Fisher replied with a nod and vanished into thin air, leaving Princess Tellusia praying that nothing happened to Amy. She was perfectly fine earlier, how come she went to a cliff?
Fisher ran towards the Prince who's walking with the other knights, and called him.
"Your highness, Miss Amelia was in a cliff," Fisher reported then he went back to the camp fast to avoid missing anything in the camp.
A knight pulled out a map and looked for a cliff, "Your highness, the only cliff around the mountain is the one next to the Avean River where the river nymph lives." He pointed at the river beside the mountain.
Prince Forest clicked his tongue and headed to the direction of the cliff. Avean nymph loves taking humans, he knows if she saw Amy, she won't think twice.
Princess Tellusia saw that Fisher was back from her tent then she spoke to every Earth spirit, "Help them go down to the cliff," she whispered.
Aiven was able to sniff something from the air, the smell of blood. But the scent of boar's blood was covering something else. He howled for Prince Arias to notice him, but instead of Aiven, Prince Arias saw something else from the air.
The trees were moving and pointing in a direction.
He immediately flew to the place they're pointing, and below a cliff, he saw a lighting nymph while trapping someone in a large water bubble.
"Avean," Prince Arias whispered when he got near and saw the river nymph that loves taking humans as prisoners in a bubble dream. Her long black hair that moves as if the river flows with it and a tall stance was a beauty that gives shiver to someone's spine.
Humans that she caught are her puppets, they drown in bubbles, and soon, they'll change their appearances into small fishes who're forever living the dream that the river nymph gives them.
Prince Arias saw Prince Forest rushing towards the cliff, but once he gets to the river, Amelia might be transformed into a fish already.
He sent a strong wind that will guide Aiven towards the cliff, then he flew straight to the bubble that traps Amelia. Then he snatched her at took her to the end of the river, near a waterfall.
But he's already late, Amelia's drowned in the bubble. Her blue lips and face that's beginning to turn into scales say that she needs air.
"Amelia, wake up," Prince Arias called, but she's unresponsive, but the sudden tears that came from her eyes shocked him, what is she dreaming about?
Whatever she's dreaming will be her prison once she turns into a fish.
"Bring her back," the river nymph cried with a shrieking voice as she moves towards them.
"I'm so sorry, Prince Forest," Prince Arias whispered as he leans in to give Amelia air.
The only way he can give her air is through mouth-to-mouth, Amelia's lungs are drowning now and his power is the only thing that can save her.
"Fo--rest, Forest," Amelia muttered, then her hair turned into the bright fire color, the scales dried up on her skin, then she opened her eyes.
Prince Arias was startled and moved a bit far from her due to the heat she was emitting.
She pushed herself from the ground and sat while taking deep breaths, Prince Arias saw smoke coming from her mouth as she breathes. Is the water drying up in her lungs from the heat?
"Prince Arias?" Amelia turned her head and saw the young man with a shock expression, then slowly her hair changed back to normal without her knowing what even happened to her. "Who's that?" She pointed at the river nymph that was walking towards them.
Prince Arias stood up and wielded his sword, he knows no one can defeat a nymph. They'll only die if their soul gets crashed, and only a monster can do that.
"Stay behind me, Amelia," Prince Arias strongly stood with his sword pointing to the nymph. At least he can defend her before Prince Forest arrives.
"Bring her back," the nymph cried, "Bring my child back," she added as her river of tears appeared.
Prince Arias was taken aback of her words, fishes... She's talking about fishes. She thought humans are fishes and it's her child.
He felt his arms growing weak as he felt the nymph's pain.
According to the folklores, Avean was once a beautiful young lady that takes care of this river. It once holds different fishes, and they're all protected by Avean. But people started taking the fishes as food, and to sell to the market, until she decided to fight them back and that's when she died. Her blood flowed through the river with the fishes.
"Avean," Prince Arias whispered, it pains to hear her cries.
The river nymph continued to cry as she moves near them, even Amy, who also read the story of Avean on Aiven's book felt pity for her.
But she knows what she'll do if she catches them, they'll turn into fishes.
They have to get away from her, she knows Prince Arias can never hurt her because of his kindness, that's why running is the only thing they can do.