Mayari woke up from a familiar feeling of her body being light and relax. She slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw is a pair of glowing hands pressing deeply in her chest.
"Thank goodness your awake!" A familiar voice spoke and sighed in relief.
Mayari moved her eyes to see the owner of the voice, its Dr. Milan.
"Mayari!... How are you feeling?" Helen is just right beside her, she looked very worried.
Mayari tried to move but Dr. Milan stop her; "Don't move yet. Your still in a critical condition" Dr. Milan stated, pressing her hands deeper to Mayari's chest.
"What happened?" Mayari asked tiredly, in daze.
"I'll tell you later, Mayari. For now, just rest" Helen responded.
Agreeing to Helen, Mayari closed her eyes and let herself rest. The relaxing and light sensation in her body is making her quickly fall asleep.
"That's reckless..." She woke up once again in her subconscious lap. "You almost died".
"But I didn't" Mayari responded. "Is it me? or does this place seems more dimmer than usual?" Mayari asked looking at the darker sky.
"It's darker this time. Your body is tiredly exhausted specially your gate" Her subconscious replied. "it reflects your emotion, as well as your condition. You released a lot of spiritual energy during the fight, that's why."
"Oh..." Mayari simply responded.
"Do you have any other questions? I'm willing to answer it. We'll, as long if I can" Her subconscious offered, still having the same cold emotionless tone that they both used.
"About my ice magic" Mayari responded.
"The moon has a special energy towards any form of liquid like water. Since ice is compose of water and you, who use it, have a connection to the moon that made your magic in ice or any kinds of liquid advance and powerful" Her subconscious answered, "Any other question?"
"What's my connection to the moon?" Mayari asked curiously.
"..." Her subconscious sighed before responding, "That's the question that I have no knowledge to answer"
"You don't know either?"
She gave a nod in respond, "But I do know that we have a connection to it, we don't know for now, but I'm sure we'll figure it out soon".
Mayari woke up, she opened her eyes and saw Dr. Milan and Ms. Helen talking.
"Her condition is not critical anymore, she'll be fine as long as she don't use magic while her gate is still not fully healed" Dr. Milan stated, "I'll come back here tomorrow for her therapy. Make sure she'll rest" she continued.
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Dr. Milan" Helen thank. Dr. Milan just responded a nod with a smile then she left.
"What therapy?" Mayari asked sitting up. She also noticed the unfamiliar room she is in. "And where are we?"
"Oh, your awake already. You should rest more" Helen utter, walking closer to Mayari.
"I'll rest after the explanation" Mayari protest.
"Alright..." Helen sighed, cause she knew Mayari is pretty stubborn. No one knows Mayari better than Helen. Helen sat down to the chair near Mayari's bed before explaining; "We're in the palace, the queen thought that it's much safer for you and me to stay here after what happened"
"You mean the fight that happened last night?"
"Yes, you had released a lot of spiritual energy during your fight with the assassin" Helen started explaining, "You almost drained all of it from your body, and that made your gate exhausted and that's also the cause why you almost died"
"I see..."
"Dr. Milan will be coming to the palace everyday to treat your gate, that is the therapy, and during the time that your healing and restoring your spiritual energy, you mustn't use magic or you'll surely lead yourself to your own death" Helen continued, "Do you understand, Mayari?" Helen asked concern.
"I understand" Mayari nodded.
"How are you feeling?" Helen asked again, making sure that Mayari is alright.
"I feel tired" Mayari simply replied.
"You haven't restored all of the spiritual energy you've lost" Helen explained, "You must go back to bed".
Mayari nodded again as a respond. She then laid back to bed to sleep. The tiredness surrounded her entire body and that made her fall asleep with ease.
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Meanwhile...
-At the abandoned house-
"How could you fail?!" the hooded man roared in anger, "What kind of an assassin are you?! I'll tell you what, you're a failure!!!".
"Can you keep it down, I'm trying to rest here..." Jim just calmly whined as a respond, sitting on a chair and putting her feet above the table near him.
"How dare you disrespect me with that annoying whining of yours!!!" The hooded man spat, "Just as you said it is just an EASY MISSION, but why did you fail to kill a lowly, amateur magic user! Huh?! I need an explanation!" The hooded man roared once again in rage.
"Well..." Jim took the envelope where Mayari's information is keep, "This information paper you gave says that she's just a weak tyro that couldn't even cast a single spell" He then shred the paper into pieces, "which is a BIG LIE!" His voice became loud in irritation, and his expression is full of resentment as he spat back.
"My information is no false! I have a 100% reliable source" The hooded man defended himself, "And you should be grateful that I'm saving you effort with the informations you need"
"100% reliable, huh?" Jim gave a chuckle as he took the arrow that was lying in the table, "I battled against her myself! Her speed is like almost similar to us elves, and her magic are advance enough for her to become a master" he observe the arrow's head closely, and then throw it to an old dartboard, "And that's what you call a lowly, amateur magic user?!" He questioned with a tone of irritation as the arrow hit the center of the dartboard.
The man didn't reply immediately, his lost for words. He doesn't know what to respond, its Jim who saw her power and he hasn't. In fury he just clenched his fists tight and gave a growl. "You're just making that up to blame me"
"No, I didn't. See for yourself, and get your eyes popped to her power" Jim said it with a very disrespectful manner.
"That's it I'm through with you! You're lacking respect! Your fired!" the hooded man then roared before leaving and loudly shutting the door.
"Yeah, yeah" Jim responded annoyed.
After the man left, silence engulfed the entire room. Jim leaned his head to the back of the chair to gaze at the old, dirty ceiling of the house as he enjoyed the quietness enveloping his pointy, long ears and calming his mind.
The ceiling is dusty, old, and full of cobwebs, also with cracks but Jim keeps on staring beneath it for hours with his ashen, gray pair of eyes. His black ebony hair is being slightly blown by the wind coming from an aperture of the dusty window that is being nailed with wooden planks. And his fair skin that is covered with different kinds of scars are being illuminated by the sunlight coming from the holes of the roof.
He slowly moved his hand and used his fingers to gentle touch the clean, white bandage that is being tightly wrapped in his shoulder. His gaze is still focus on the old ceiling above him.
"Don't worry, Ms. May. I still haven't earned my pay back so I'm very sure we'll see each other again" An evil smile was being formed in his lips as he spoke those words with a mixed tone of happiness, anger...and malice.
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Nighttime
-At the Palace-
Mayari woke up because of the groaning sound she heard quietly inside of her stomach. She slowly opened her eyes and found LIssy sitting on the chair that Helen once sat.
"Your awake" Lissy spoke after noticing Mayari's eyes are open.
"Where's Ms. Helen?" Mayari asked sitting up.
"Ms. Helen have an important work to attend to, so she asked me to look after you" Lissy answered.
"Oh..."
"Do you need anything, Ms. Mayari?" Lissy asked.
"Well, I just need to eat" Mayari replied going out of bed but Lissy stop her.
"No need to stand up, Ms. Mayari. Dr. Milan strongly recommended that you stay in bed" Lissy informed, "I will take care of your needs for the time being until you fully recovered" Lissy continued, as she gently push Mayari back to bed, " So you just need to rest here and wait, while I'll take care of the food" She then left the room.
Mayari stared at Lissy as she opened the door, closed it behind, and till her shadow from the opening segment beneath the door walk away.
The room is dark, illuminated only by the moon's light from the glass door of the balcony across the room. Mayari averted her gaze to the moonlight. Her dark brown pair of eyes reflect the moonlight like a mirror. Her untied, long, straight, midnight black hair are laid beside her shoulder and it gave a faint glow as it reflected the moonlight in each strand.
Gazing at the moonlight always takes her back of how the moon always guided her with its light through the night, it's always heartwarming to thought of those memories of how the moonlight touched her eyes with beauty. It's beautiful but also a painful burden, it reminds her of her parents and how she always stained its guiding light:
In every assassination she does, a pool of crimson blood always will be formed, and the moon illuminated it with its crystal, clear light. It'll always highlighted the pool of crimson fluid making it glimmer through the night like a beautiful precious ruby...
While the victim's corpse laid lifeless to the side, soak and wet with its own blood.
Every time she recollected those memories, guilt will always run down through her body... but she doesn't regret, she needed them dead to survive.
What could she do? she doesn't have a choice... no! she does have a choice, it's them to die or her.
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-At the kitchen-
All kitchen staffs are all busy preparing the Royal Family's dinner. Chefs are all in the kitchen cooking delicious dishes to serve, and the palace maids are setting and preparing everything on the long, big dining table.
Lissy knows her mistress is very hungry because she hasn't eaten all day, that's why she also cooked a lot of delicious food for her to enjoy.
Everything is now settled on a food cart that Lissy will use for the delivery. She is finished and was about to go but someone made her stop.
"That's a lot of food that you cooked, and it looks delicious" A palace maid who was just nearby, getting a big pot, complimented, "Who are you taking those foods to?" she asked.
"Oh, it's for Ms. Mayari" Lissy stopped and replied.
"You mean the apprentice of the Queen's younger sister, Ms. Helen?" She asked again,
"Yes, that's right" Lissy replied once again, "I should better get going. Ms. Mayari is waiting for me"
"Wait!" the palace maid stopped her again, "You better cover the dishes to keep the dust away, and also to keep it warm" she suggested.
"Of course! How could I forget?!" Lissy asked herself, scratching the back of her head, "It's my first time that Ms. Mayari will taste my cooking, so I got over carried with excitement, thank you for reminding me by the way"
"Your welcome" the palace maid gave a smile, "I think the lids are keep in that cabinet" she pointed her finger to a kitchen cabinet, far away from them. "I'll watch over the food while your away so you don't have to worry" she offered.
"Thank you very much, I'll be back in a minute" Lissy left fetching the lid from the cabinet.
"I'll be here"
While Lissy is away the palace maid put down the big pot she's been carrying, she took a little sack of powder from her pocket. She eyed Lissy for a moment and then look at her surroundings to see if someone is watching. The chefs and kitchen staffs are currently very busy, they do their work seriously they don't have time for observing someone.
After securing that no one is watching her, she took a minimum amount of powder and sprinkle it on each of the food. After she finished, she then put the sack back to her pocket, and carry the pot again.
Lissy came back holding a big round metal lid and cover it to the dishes. "Thank you for looking after" Lissy thank agan.
"Your welcome" the palace maid gave a light smile.
"I better get going, see you around" Lissy then left pushing the cart to deliver the meal.
Lissy was on a hurry to left that she didn't look back and saw the palace maid's light smile became an evil grin. She didn't even know what the maid did.
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-Mayari's room-
Lissy was taking too long, Mayari's stomach groaned once again. She tried to restore her patient composure but hunger truly is hard to resist.
She looked at the door and wondered why Lissy is taking too long. She stood out of the bed and left of the room to check on Lissy.
The first thing that greeted her, after she closed the door of the room, is a long, wide hallway. The hallway is luxurious and beautiful, painted with a bright yellow color. Lying on the floor is a red carpet extending through the whole hallway, with stylish lamps attached to the walls that brightly lighten the passageway.
Mayari saw Lissy's shadow walk away to the right earlier, so stepping on the red carpet she followed.
After a few steps of walking, she unexpectedly felt dizzy and her sight became blurry. She briefly closed her eyes to regain her normal vision but when she opened it, she saw the hallway's ceiling and found herself falling out of balance,
She prepared herself, but her falling suddenly stop. She did not feel the cold carpet against her back, instead she felt warm hands holding her waist and grabbing her hand tightly.
"Are you alright?!" A familiar voice with a deep tone of concern asked.
Mayari averted her eyes, from the ceiling, to the owner of the voice.
It's Prince Evan!
"Mayari, are you alright?" Evan repeated.
"I'll be fine..." Mayari simply answered, standing up but she only fell to her knees.
"Easy... Your body still haven't recovered all of its spiritual energy yet" Evan informed while scrunching in Mayari's level. "You shouldn't have left bed"
"Ms. Mayari!" Lissy called out from afar, running towards them, "What happened?! Are you alright?!" She asked panting, as soon as she reach them.
"I'll be fine..." Mayari repeated her answer, still trying to stand up...but to no avail.
When Lissy noticed Prince Evan, next to Mayari, she then bowed in respect to the prince and greeted him; "Greetings, your highness. Thank you for looking after my mistress, and I apologize for the trouble, I shall take it from here" Lissy then knelt down to help Mayari.
But Evan stop her, "Don't worry. It's not bothering me at all. I'll help" Evan offered.
"Don't trouble yourself, your highness. Dinner is already ready downstairs, you should go" Lissy declined.
"Dinner can wait a few minutes, beside you still have a task to do" Evan is referring to Lissy's food delivery.
Lissy took a glimpse of the cart filled with food, that is standing in the center of the hallway and far away from them, I mean, that is where Lissy left it. Lissy sighed and gave a nod, before she run back to get the cart."Does your feet hurt?" Evan asked.
"No... I actually can't feel them" Mayari answered calmly, touching her feet, trying to feel them.
"Don't worry, you'll feel them again after you get better. Hold on just for now" Evan then help. Mayari hanged her arm around his neck, as she leaned to his side to be able to stand up. Evan supported her as they both stood up.
Evan slowly walked Mayari to her room. Before passing by the doorway, Evan motioned his hand into a straight side-line, then all the candles under the lamps and on the chandelier lighten, illuminating the entire room brightly. Then he gently sat Mayari on her bed.
"Why are you always helping me?" Mayari suddenly asked, looking right through his ultramarine eyes, "What do you want to gain from doing so?" she followed another question.
"Uh..." Evan is confused of Mayari's question. I mean, can't just anyone help without expecting any reward. "I have nothing to gain" he replied.
"Then why are you helping me?" She quickly again asked after Evan answered.
"I help those who needs help, I'm willing to do so without gaining anything"
There is a moment of silence after Evan replied. Mayari locked her gaze through Evan's eyes as if she was trying to tell if his lying or telling the truth.
"I see..." Mayari finally spoke and broke the silentness between them. She turned her head to look at her side, as she continued; "You're an idiot" she spoke coldly.
Evan was about to asked what was that for but the door suddenly opened, Lissy came in with the cart full of dishes, and his servant, Nino. "Prince Evan! I've been looking everywhere for you" Nino spoke. "Dinner has been served and your family is waiting for you"
"Alright, let's go" Evan then walk towards the door.
"Good evening, Ms. Mayari and pardon my intrusion" Nino greeted and bowed in respect to Mayari before he followed Evan.
While waking in the hallway, Nino can't help but asked; "So whats up with you and Ms. Mayari? Is it something I don't know?" He asked with a huge grin and a teasing tone, as he put his arm around Evan's neck.
Evan's cheeks turned pink, knowing what's behind Nino's question. "Your cheeks turned pink, my theory is right" Nino utter with a smirk.
Nino is a very formal servant towards Evan when they are in front of others, but when alone they are close friends, you could even hardly tell that they are master and servant because of their close friendship.
"No, your theory is wrong" Evan corrected Nino.
"Then what are you two talking 'alone' at her room?" Nino asked again still having his teasing smirk in his face. "What did she tell you"
Evan sighed before answering; "She told me something I couldn't understand why"
"Huh?" Nino looked confused. Evan is smart and can usually explain and understand deep words but why did he didn't understand what Mayari said to him. "What did she say?" he followed another question in curiosity.
"...he called me an idiot" Evan's expression is serious trying to figure out why she said that, while still looking ahead.
Evan felt Nino's arm shaking up and down around his neck, he then heard a chuckle next to him. When he turned towards Nino; Nino was covering his mouth trying to stop his laugh, but he couldn't and just let it go.
"Sorry..." He tried to stop his laugh again, "It's just how could a handsome, smart and kind prince like you being told by a girl an 'idiot'", he laughed again, wiping his also laughing tears in his eyes, "It's hilarious!"
"I think I'm having regret telling you about this"
"C'mon Prince Charming, don't be like that. You better tell me the details after dinner"
"What if I don't?' Evan asked smiling teasingly.
"Then I'll torture you to death in your sword training tomorrow" Nino sarcastically replied, as they both laughed.
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Meanwhile...
-At Mayari's room-
Lissy's cooked dishes are already laid on a table. Mayari took the spoon beside the plate, shove it to the dish in front of her, and ate it.
...
Then she vomited: the undigested food on the floor along with a red claret fluid.
-BLOOD!!!