'The sight of the mountains peaceful standing worth every struggle I bear before making up here. I wonder if I can visit many mountains in the future?' a young lady sighed because of what she thinks. She knew herself that this may be the only and last mountain she can somewhat at least watch with peace.
Black roses stands still--
Red leaves helplessly sigh...
Sounds of misery lingers around...
Those words are the exact same thing she can describe about what is about to happen when she turns around and leave.
A group of three people are standing in front of a cliff with a woman in lavender clothes. They have been out for about two days, in search of this young woman who is being hunted by all mages and warriors. And lady luck is in their side. They can't imagine the rewards of their master once they ended this fallen person's life.
And they were about to unsheathe their spiritual swords when a man's voice boom behind them and powerful aura of a mage bursted from that voice.
"Lady Anastasia! Lady Anastasia Philip!" hearing a familiar voice, a young girl who wore a pure and simple lavender dress that reaches her knees, calmly scattered her eyes to find that familiar voice who called her. Seeing three people who are astounded when she looked at them with her doll eyes, she paid no attention from what they are about to do. Hence, she was about to give up when she locked her gaze to an amber colored eyes behind the three assassins.
In a second, she remembers the eyes of the person who can make her feel like her heart missed a beat. Too bad, she couldn't help but to feel disappointed because she won't be able to catch a glimpse into that pair of eyes in the future.
"What does the Archduke is doing out in the wilderness?" the lady's sweet voice could make everyone feel she is a fairy. Even the three assassins were dumbstruck at that point.
But sweet dreams can turn into worst nightmares.
When the lady in lavender moved her hand in the directions of the three, their heads were severed and are already rolling to the ground---making the three die before their body hit the cold land.
"Lady Anastasia of the South---" before the man finish, the lady already turned around and acted as she didn't hear any.
"I think you are mistaken. I am no Lady of the South. Lord Archduke, you've got the wrong pers---"
"Milady, the Emperor of the North wants to see you." the Archduke's words made the lady stop and look at him with indifference.
"I am sorry. I have no business concerning the Emperor of the North. I am just a wanderer." she said while she started to walk away when the Archduke stopped her trails. His look no longer holds arrogance and authority like earlier, rather it now holds pleading and helplessly eyes. And just like that, she surrendered and began to neat her dress as she speak slowly.
"I wonder, did you come here as an Archduke or as a big brother?" seeing she hopelessly asked, the Archduke can't help but to shook his head.
"No. I am here as a big brother. I somehow missed you, sister-in-law." when he said 'sister-in-law', Anastasia couldn't help but to twitch her thin lips.
"Brother Andre, who are you calling sister-in-law? I remembered I have no fiancé!" her words shocked the archduke. What does she....
"Are you saying...you broke your engagement with my younger brother---the Emperor?" if her words truly meant it, he would possibly run in his brother's palace and be a banquet destroyer! He then remembered that his brother said he invites him to a banquet to announce his fiancée to everyone. If this young Lady said she has ko fiancé, who the hell is his brother's future empress?
"Anyways, big brother, what are you doing in here?" her tone is casual---gleeful and full of life. Not the tone he is expecting though she didn't answered his question, he forced out a smile.
"Big brother...why do you look at me like that? Aha! Aren't you going to the midnight banquet today prepared by the Emperor? If you're going, do you mind uh guiding me out of this cliff?" she was smiling while telling this to him but he gaped his mouth and couldn't believe! She is also invited? Why would....
"Oh? Did I got it wrong? Perhaps you are here to enjoy the scenery? Pardon me but can you accompany me in enjoying the scenery big bro?" after seeing her beautiful smile that could melt even the hardest stone, he nodded and walked towards her, not even glancing at the pile of bodies in front of him.
Once he reached her, they stand before the cliff's dangerous edge, not fearing what could happen next.
"Little Ana, aren't you hurt?" the archduke gathered enough courage and spoke to her, awaiting for her answer. Yet he only got a low chuckle and a cheerful voice answered him.
"Big brother, if a falling flower yearns for love but the flowing water is heartless, why would the fallen flower stay with the raging water? Of course, the flower couldn't do anything but to let the rushing water send her to her destined fate. Furthermore, a swallow couldn't be paired with a phoenix, no matter how high the swallow can fly, it is impossible to fly in the same flock the phoenix is in." her words contained wisdom, but also contain sadness of the story. She again chuckled as she reminisce the past.
She, being one of the most powerful mage in their Forgotten Realms made many be envious to her. Many princes from other lands wanted her and asked her hand in marriage, but she all put their hopes down. Even other princes forced her to marry them or else they'll wage war against the Southern Kingdom - Hyboria, the kingdom she was born. But what kind of crazy bastard can kill a goddess like her?
She, however, ignored everything everyone had said. She focused more on her training and cultivation. But a young man caught her attention. He has this eyes that are forever meant to be cold and indifferent. Once in a competition and she was invited to become a guest of honor and a judge, and coincidentally found him as a contestant.
She found out that he is second son of the Prime Minister of the Thedas - the Northern Kingdom of the Forgotten Realms. Though he is a young duke, everyone couldn't help but to throw mud at his name. Because he is the infamous good-for-nothing duke!
She, being Lady of the South, didn't think so. If he is a good-for-nothing, why would he join a dead or alive competition?!
Representatives from the other three kingdoms mock him. Not only them, everyone who sees him looking at him mockingly. Anastasia just kept silent. She knew that this young duke is no ordinary.
The competition went well and gnawed at least three weeks to complete all stages. But when the judges saw that there are three outstanding people are remaining and there are no more stages left. They turn their heads towards Lady Anastasia, who is just sitting there idly, drinking chrysanthemum tea. They began asking her for help and was about to cause panic when the young maiden smiled and turned to the last three.
And she saw what she just need to see. Therefore, she smiled calmly and took a sip from her cup of tea.
"Actually milords, I just have found a Divine beast from my quest in Pandora Forest. Why not, let these young lads try taming the Legendary Fire Dragon? And if one of them could tame it, only he then could be the champion and I, Anastasia Philip, personally give the Legendary Dragon to the champion as a reward, how about that milords?"