"The land of Ulenov. A forbidden part of the great empire that governs the whole continent. A mysterious place with so many legends surrounding it. Only few to enter have ever come out. And by few, I mean one; the most powerful mage in history.
But her powers disappeared after she came out. Only the tiny sliver of her life force remained which diminished slowly as she spoke about what she saw.
There is a barrier around the land that cannot be broken unless magic, which is said to have vanished from the world, is used.
The land of Ulenov is a place where creatures of darkness, demons and monsters roam freely. A place that is ruled by the 'Lord of Nightmares'.
The cursed land had been there since the founding of the empire which has stood strong for thousands of years.
There came a time when demons left Ulenov and roamed the empire, bringing sickness to people so the great Empire with power from the temple did their best to invade the land and destroy the 'Lord of Nightmares', many times but failed at each." As more butterflies appeared around her Beneditel and Veloryn could feel something powerful brewing, and would not dare take their eyes of Erionella who spoke each word with meaning.
"Just imagine if an army finally succeeded in invading Ulenov and destroying the Lord of Nightmares. Won't the lieutenant's and commanders of that army be greatly rewarded? And what if that army is that of the Duke Garcia? Will a mere knight title and permission as the head of their family be hard?
Precisely ten months and two weeks from now, the army of the Garcia Dukedom joined with soldiers from other nobles, will march into Ulenov, with particular people going for the 'Lord of Nightmares'"
"…..!"
"Wait. Why would you go through the trouble of telling me when you already have the soldiers of the Garcia family and other nobles? Just put it in mind that I will not give you the Herlento soldiers for such an otiose plan" Beneditel pointed out sharply at Erionella.
"If we wanted the soldiers, we would speak to the real head of the Herlento family. Make no mistake, we know about your younger brother but we kindly reached out to you." Erionella said coldly making Beneditel keep quiet at the mention of her brother.
'I feel horrible for using her short comings against her, but in order to survive I cannot afford to be weak'
"Both of you, are magic users"
"….!"
"…..!"
"How I know? The Garcia family's roots is built on the base of magic. I have been sent by the Duke to acquire both of you into the army as high ranking officers"
It was technically the truth as the Duke tasked her to find some magic users.
"Even if you have up to a hundred magic users, that power is still not enough unless there is a mage. And I could bet all my life savings that there isn't a single mage alive" Veloryn said with an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
"Then you'd become a pauper if you did that" The butterflies flapped around the table as a green glow emitted from them. A glyph appeared on the table which was known in this world as.
"A magic circle?"
The butterflies multiplied in number as they danced, the wind blowing and changing speed by each second.
Erionella sat back at the table and raised her hand to the air as another glyph appeared in her hand and the strange wind calmed down.
"Plans for the invasion have been rapidly developed. As a mage I will be at the front lines among other magic users" She turned to Beneditel and spoke specifically "Also at the front lines will there be people with holy powers gotten from the temple. That is if the engagement ceremony between I and Duke happens there. And it can only happen if the eldest daughter of the Herlento family follows me"
Erionella stood up once again before dropping two envelops in front of each lady.
"You have a week to think the deal over and send a reply. By all means must the letter be sent discreetly. Have a nice day and enjoy the rest of the salon activities"
Her green eyes held confidence as she walked out of the court yard leaving them and approaching Mareeonel who had been waiting for her.
"Ouch. My stomach's been hurting. I think I need to go home" Erionella lied looking for a way to leave the salon because she wasn't ready to show herself in the society. In truth. She didn't think she'd ever be ready.
Mareeonel's golden eyes held understanding as she helped Erionella back into the carriage and they left the Herlento estate, leaving the disappointed nobles to continue the salon activities.
As she was in the carriage Erionella thought quietly to herself about her future plans.
'In this world you'll have enemies for being in the position somebody else desires. Like Elisa Juiian. I've heard she's been going around trying to slander me but Crinoel has done quite a good job for quieting down her words.
But. I need my own power. Even if it's only temporary.
After much thought and learning about this world, I have come to realize that I can never survive by being weak or kind.
Which isn't exactly a problem for me as its obvious I am no saint nor kind person'
"Are you feeling any better big sister?" Mareeonel said gently with worry evident on her face.
She's even calling me 'big sister'
"I'm okay" Erionella answered shortly.
'And I have also decided not to get attached to this world. Because I have to leave. So I will continue thinking about this world as a novel. Not as a real world.
I will think of everybody just as characters. I won't accept their warmth. Because I am just to wicked for everything I have done to Felix to be worthy of the love of this world.
I guess its true when they say having a close death experience changes a person. But actually dying has made me think a lot.
I also feel guilty for taking over Erionella's body and the love her family has for her.
So I distance myself from her family. While seeing this world just as a novel.
******
A sigh left a ladies mouth as she heard Erionella's thoughts. Her red hair was packed in a ponytail and her grey eyes held a type of unreadable sadness.
"Harlyn" She looked up at the door at the call of her name.
She turned her empty gaze to the magnificent golden door which stood in the empty white void.
She walked over to the door then opened with an unreadable expression on her face.
She came to view with the 9 solid golden thrones in which each were occupied by people with a majestic aura surrounding them.
"Aren't things being disrupted by the girl you pulled in while doing 'that'?" A man whp sat on the 8th throne, with jet black hair and equally black eyes with a domineering aura asked as he glared down at Harlyn.
"I apologise if things aren't going according to your plans, sir. But at that moment I had to do 'that' to clear up the situation. And the girl was tied up with fate so it was bound to happen" Harlyn said as she bowed deeply.
"Spare us the excuse. You made the mistake of bringing her into this world due to your incompetence" A woman sitting om the 3rd throne said with a sneer.
"That's right" The man sitting on the 4th throne nodded in agreement.
"Now now, you don't need to blame it on Harlyn. After all she wrote a novel for all of our entertainment!" A woman with pink hair and blue eyes said enthusiastically as she sat on the 7th throne. "And my daughter, Arin, said it isn't much of a problem"
"Are you stupid?" The man on the 4th throne said angrily to her. "Harlyn is very much to blame. If the plot of that novel is disrupted by that girl, things will take a bad turn for us! But what was I to expect from someone who has a human child"
"Leave Arin, out of this, old man" The woman with pink hair on the 7th throne said with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
The man on the 5th throne which was in the middle raised his hand for all of them to stop.
"Enough of bickering. Harlyn. Since you have brought the girl into this world, you will be punished by your 'holder' whatever way she sees fit.
You will be trapped in the void for the next 2 weeks and you aren't allowed to take part in the mission. Arin's master is set on killing Erionella and as long as she has 'that' we can't afford to go against her.
And Erionella dying and her soul being destroyed is very beneficial to us, because if her true self is awakened, she will become a danger to us.
Do not get any ideas about joining Erionella. Because, though she will become a danger, she isn't strong enough 5o destroy us.
Harlyn, always remember. No matter what you do, you will never be free. This is your fate. Just be proud you wrote such a book"
With those words, the people on the nine thrones faded away from her vision, and once again she was in the empty white void.
The golden door slowly disappeared like a mirage and she was left alone in the tiring emptiness.
Just be proud you wrote such a book.
She sighed as she recalled those words.
'Writing that cursed book, will always be my greatest regret. If I had known, that book would do all of this. I would have never dreamed of being a writer'
No matter what you do, you will never be free.
Slowly tears trickled down her face as she cried to herself.
'Even though it seems like wishful thinking, I atleast want to try to be free. Free from all of this'
This is your fate.
Fate. She hated it. This book that she wrote. She hated it. Her only hope now was Erionella. But the problem was, the rules did not permit her to warn Erionella of the true dangers.
Maybe if fate was on her side, Erionella would find out about the dark road ahead.
But fate, had proven to hate her, just as she had hated it.
'All of this, rests on you, Erionella'
_____