Chief Lisun halted at the large tree trunk that had been fashioned into a bench. It was a rustic piece, the bark rough and gnarled, yet it had been carefully carved to serve its purpose.
With a gentle motion, Chief Lisun removed his coat and carefully draped it over Rara, who was sleeping soundly. He then settled onto the bench beside her, allowing her to lean against his shoulder.
Her breathing was steady and calm, contrasting sharply with the tension that gripped the rest of the scene.
The king, watching from a distance, was seething with fury.
His normally composed demeanor had shattered, replaced by a smoldering rage that he struggled to contain. His face, usually a mask of regal serenity, was now etched with anger.
Yet, the events of the day had left him momentarily speechless. He could only shoot Chief Lisun a baleful glare, his eyes narrow slits of molten fire.
Assistant Panda, who had been standing stoically beside Chief Lisun, felt a cold sweat trickle down his forehead as he caught sight of the king's discontented gaze.
His thoughts raced with confusion and anxiety.
'Why would Chief Lisun risk angering the king for this wild woman?' he wondered.
She wasn't just any wild woman but a notorious kingdom offender, an affront to all they held sacred.
The kingdoms, including Haguar's, had long sworn to eradicate any supernatural beings that dared to appear within their borders. Despite countless expeditions and searches, the main base of these supernatural beings remained elusive, like a phantom just out of reach.
As the ritual drew to a close, the crowd began to disperse, their relief palpable. The king's gaze remained fixed on Chief Lisun, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. For centuries, his kingdom had maintained its supremacy, and he was determined not to let a mere Head Guard and a rogue magic practitioner disrupt his reign.
Chief Lisun, fully aware of the king's simmering hostility, endured the heated stares with a stoic demeanor. Inside, however, he was a whirl of frustration and self-reproach. I'm only following orders, he thought bitterly. I'm a Head Guard, not a babysitter. Why must I protect this wild woman?
His concern extended beyond his own predicament; he was puzzled by his master's interest in such a troublesome individual. The question gnawed at him, adding to his discontent.
Just as the last of the attendees turned to leave, a sudden, violent whirlwind erupted, tearing through the area with an ear-splitting roar. The wind howled like an enraged beast, its force relentless as it whipped around them like a frenzied hurricane.
Those with lower cultivation were immediately swept off their feet, tossed around as if they were mere ragdolls. Their terrified screams were swallowed by the furious wind, while the more powerful individuals struggled to maintain their footing, buffeted violently by the gale.
Chaos ensued. People screamed and stumbled, their panic intensifying as the wind howled and roared. The White Tribal family, witnessing the chaos, trembled uncontrollably. They dropped to their knees, their heads pressed to the ground in a show of abject fear.
The atmosphere was thick with dread. The fairies, guardians of the punishment ritual, had clearly been angered. If it hadn't been for the girl's interference, they wouldn't have been stirred to such wrath.
King Magdon, his face a mask of terror, clutched Queen Lustia tightly. His heart pounded so fiercely he feared it might burst from his chest.
'We've offended the Gods!' he thought in panic.
"Your Majesty, what should we do?" Queen Lustia asked, her voice trembling as she clung to the king's arm.
King Magdon's mind raced as he tried to suppress his mounting fear. He glanced at the queen, desperation clear in his eyes. "My Queen, this matter... I'm counting on you to solve it..." His voice was a strained whisper, his face twisted in anguish.
The queen's confusion was evident as she processed his words. After a moment, understanding dawned, but she hesitated. It had been years since she had performed the ritual, and she was unsure if she could remember the ancient procedures.
"Yes, Your Majesty..." she finally responded, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
The queen stepped forward, her movements deliberate and careful. She placed her index and pinky fingers to her temples and closed her eyes, concentrating deeply. The king, watching from the sidelines, clenched and unclenched his fists in a futile attempt to manage his anxiety.
Despite the queen's efforts, the wind continued to rage unabated. Thick fog began to roll in, obscuring the field and plunging the temperature to frigid levels. The air grew heavy with an oppressive chill, and everyone huddled together, their breaths forming clouds of vapor as they shivered.
A guttural scream pierced the chaos. "G-aaaaahhh!!"
The king's heart skipped a beat as the queen suddenly opened her eyes, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He rushed to her side, his face a mask of panic and concern. "What happened?"
The queen shook her head slowly, her strength waning. "The Fogs Fairies... are angry..." she managed to utter before collapsing into the king's arms.
The king's despair was palpable. Even if they tried to escape, navigating through the thick fog would drive them mad. The Fogs Fairies would surely keep them trapped here forever.
Gritting his teeth, he turned to his four bodyguards. "Go and kill that girl! Perhaps her death will appease the fairies."
"Yes!" the bodyguards replied, their voices resolute as they surged toward Rara.
While the other three bodyguards engaged with the remaining guards, Blade approached Chief Lisun. Assistant Panda immediately stepped in front of Chief Lisun, his expression fierce as he faced Blade.
Blade's lips curled into a smirk as he assessed the situation. "Well, well, here I come..." he taunted.
In a swift, brutal movement, Blade hurled Assistant Panda aside and advanced on Chief Lisun. Chief Lisun carefully laid Rara back on the bench, his expression one of grim determination.
He and Blade locked eyes, their rivalry palpable, before they charged at each other, beginning their fierce duel.
Unbeknownst to Chief Lisun, Lash had crept up behind him and now stood beside the bench. A malevolent grin stretched across Lash's face as he seized Rara and tossed her roughly to the ground. The jarring motion disrupted Rara's consciousness.
"Damn it! My body is in danger!" Rara shouted, scrambling to her feet and cursing vehemently.
"That's my body!" Hara retorted, her voice a mix of frustration and alarm.
"Stop arguing!" Bun Kukkinos scolded, shaking his head. He moved stealthily behind Rara and kicked her into the dark void below.
"Ah! Old man! Why did you kick her out?" Hara cried out, her voice filled with panic as she peered into the darkness, desperately trying to locate Rara.
"Oh, hush! I just kicked her to wake her up..." the old man replied nonchalantly. He then lay back on the white floor, yawning with his legs crossed and his hands behind his head, as if the chaos were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Hara glared at the old man, her irritation evident. Did he really need to be so cruel?
Back in her body, Rara blinked as she found herself on the ground. The memory of the old man's kick ignited her fury. Old man, you'll pay for this! she vowed.
<...he's asleep...> Hara reported, her tone exasperated.
Rara, still fuming, knew she had to address the immediate threat. If her body was destroyed, the three of them would be doomed to wander the void for an eternity—a fate she was determined to avoid.
Rising slowly, Rara fixed her gaze on Lash with a steely determination. Clenching her fists, she was about to take action when a commanding voice echoed from above.
"How dare you?!"
A powerful growl resonated through the air as four fairy figures appeared, hovering menacingly above them. Their expressions were fierce, their eyes blazing with anger directed at Rara.
Lash, paralyzed with fear, raised his whip, ready to strike Rara in obedience to the king's order. In response, the fairies extended their hands, and the four Fogs of Punishment materialized, hurtling toward Lash with deadly precision.
"G-aaaaaaahhhh!!"
Lash's agonized scream reverberated across the field as his body was consumed by the Fogs of Punishment, vanishing in mere moments.
Rara took a step back, sitting on the bench with a look of relief washing over her face. She brushed her hands and cleared the leaves from her clothes, her gaze dismissive as she ignored the fairies behind her.
The fairies, seething with indignation, were outraged by her apparent disregard for their wrath.
"What an ungrateful little brat!" the wind fairy muttered bitterly.
"How could the Gods choose her?" the fire fairy demanded, her voice edged with frustration.
"I know! They must have chosen her at random!" the earth fairy speculated, a thoughtful expression on her face. She envisioned a whimsical lucky wheel being spun by the Gods.
"Grrr! How is she more powerful than us?" the water fairy fumed, biting her sleeve in vexation.