Ruby was chosen to represent the kingdom of Benvento as an ambassador to the kingdom of Sanctum on the day that Amber left. They had to pass via the villages of Benvento in the north, which were formerly simply fields, to speed up their route through the kingdom even though it was not far away—a day-long carriage ride would get them there. The king, who believed that having a healthy and flourishing country was crucial and that food was sacred in those days, however, had commanded people to use them for cultivation..
Meanwhile, in the castle, the squad that Amber led before was preparing to depart for the kingdom of Sanctum. Abel was instructed to go to the king's throne room before leaving. As he walked with a slow pace, he could hear the raised voices coming from the room. It seemed that Ruby had not given up on her sister yet, as he could hear her screaming and yelling.
Although the king was very patient with her, he did not want to agree with what she was saying. Flustered, Ruby headed to the carriage that was going to Sanctum. She opened the door without waiting for the soldiers to do so and saw Abel in front of her. Frustrated, she walked away without a word. Abel then entered the carriage, and the guards closed the door.
"Looks like you woke up with screams and yelling, Jasper," Abel joked with the king and made a small bow with his head.
"Speak carefully when addressing me, King Jasper," the king responded with an irritated voice.
"Anyway, why did you want to speak with me, Your Majesty?" Abel sighed.
"You're going to Sanctum, and I want you to take care of my daughter," the king ordered.
Abel gave a menacing look to the king, who sat on the throne. The guards pointed their spears at him, but the king waved his hand, ordering them with a loud voice, "Put down your weapons if you want to see tomorrow!"
The guards complied, and Abel walked closer to the king to hear him better.
"I didn't come out of that prison to be a bodyguard for princesses. You know well why I came," threatened Abel.
"The time hasn't come yet, but if there's a person who I believe can protect my daughters, it's you," said the king. Even though he looked like death had come for him, he still stood tall.
Abel smiled a little and walked to the room's window. "Why don't you pick that old man?" he said, pointing at the view.
"Silvio, you mean? He's powerful, but in the Kingdom of Sanctum, there are things that even a human could not handle," said the king, while sitting back down on the throne.
"Too much? Ha! They're just priests and priestesses. They may be powerful, but that place is too holy for them to dirty themselves with blood," laughed Abel. But the king still had a serious look on his face, as if he knew that Sanctum was not a joke.
"A lot of things have changed since then," the king crossed his fingers, a worried look on his face.
"What do you mean?" questioned Abel.
"That was a kingdom where priests and priestesses trained, but now it's more than a playground for the King of Sanctum. You'll see it for yourself," said the king.
Abel didn't say anything regarding that but asked the king, "What about the other heroes? Do you have any information?"
"Sadly, I haven't found anything about the others. Their whereabouts may be far from Benevento," said the king.
"So now, only Rafael and Marcus are the ones you have information on. Looks like you have to improve your spy work and send them to other kingdoms," mocked Abel the king.
The king didn't like being ordered, but he knew that Abel was too dangerous. One wrong move, and a whole war could start. The king looked at something with anger, which made Abel grin a little. The soldiers opened the door, and Abel went to the carriage that was outside of the castle.
As Abel stepped into the carriage, he noticed Ruby seated with her arms tightly folded, staring out the window with a scowl. Abel took a seat opposite her and spoke, "During this trip, your father has entrusted me with your safety."
Ruby let out a profound sigh and retorted, "I do not require anyone's protection. I am fully capable of managing myself."
Arched eyebrows, Abel replied, "I have no doubts regarding your competency, Princess. However, your father is apprehensive about your welfare."
Ruby rolled her eyes and grumbled, "He is always fretting about something."
"To be honest, I don't care, my Princess. However, for now, I must protect you. Your constant complaints must come to an end. I am not a babysitter," Abel declared, signalling the soldiers to begin moving.
As the soldiers started to move…the king looked from the window of the throne room Silvio and Anibal were waiting for him
"My lord is time even for us to move now" said Silvio bowed down
Two maids entered the throne room, one carrying armour and the other a sword. The king began to remove his royal attire, and the maid holding the armour assisted him in donning it.
The grey armour was adorned with intricate carvings of a fierce dragon, accented with seven shimmering gems. Taking the sword in his right hand, the king began to wave it, displaying impressive movements despite his missing arm.
He examined the sword's grip, which was decorated with delicately etched circles, a testament to the skilled craftsman who had fashioned it. It was a remarkable piece of equipment, fit for a noble warrior.
"It is time to see if age has taken me," the king said as he set the sword on the shelves.
Walking alongside him were Anibal and Silvio on both sides.
In the king's mind, they were just one thing. "I'm counting on you, Abel. Keep my daughter safe."
*To the village
Ruby and Abel had been silent for nearly five hours. Abel was dozing out like an old man, while Ruby was sighing constantly.
Ruby opened the window of the carriage and looked at the village
The settlement was encircled by expansive fields and rich vegetation, lying at the base of the hills. The streets were crowded with people, and the thatched-roof homes and wooden fences were beautifully placed. While adults went about their regular tasks, kids played games in the sandy pathways.
Through the open windows of the homes, the beautiful perfume of wildflowers that bloomed by the roadside blended with the aroma of freshly made bread and sizzling meat. The villagers were summoned to prayer by the ringing of church bells.
The village's hub was a sizable square where merchants from distant regions showcased their exotic items and musicians entertained the people with upbeat music.
"Can we please stop so I can enjoy what they are enjoying?" Ruby asked Abel with a smile.
"Hmm? You are a princess and ambassador. You don't have time to visit such places," Abel rejected her request.
"It's not fair. I have never been to this place, and I want to enjoy what I can," Ruby complained.
Abel closed his eyes, dismissing her request.
Frustrated, Ruby shouted at the carriage man, "Stop here, please!"
"Sorry, my lady, but with the king's orders, I can only stop where the gentleman inside allows me to," the carriage man explained.
"I am the princess and high priestess, and I order you to stop!" Ruby insisted.
"Please, Princess, don't do this to me. I don't want to face the king's wrath," the carriage man pleaded.
The princess looked at the carriage man's scared expression and decided to stop. She closed the carriage window and gazed at Abel, who was still sleeping. Tears started to well up in her eyes.
As they walked through the forest, the sun gradually set, casting an orange hue across the sky. Suddenly, a warrior knocked on the window of the carriage, interrupting their silence.
Abel quickly opened the window to see the soldier on horseback. "We are in the forest of red leaves, sir," the soldier reported.
"Good. Walk through the forest and follow the fireflies with green lights," Abel instructed, closing the window.
The soldier hesitated at Abel's words, but he had no choice but to follow his orders. As they walked through the forest, the princess remained silent, still lost in her thoughts. Her tears could be seen in the dim light of the forest.
Abel noticed her sadness and tried to console her. "Is everything alright, Princess Ruby?" he asked gently.
She let out a heavy sigh. "No, everything's not alright. My sister is out there risking her life to protect our kingdom, and my father is not even supporting her.
Abel nodded in understanding. "I know it's frustrating, but your sister is brave and capable, and she has the support of the warriors who went with her. As for your father, he may be dealing with his own demons. We can't always understand why people act the way they do."
Ruby looked at Abel, considering his words. "You're right, Abel. I just wish things were different."
Abel tried to comfort her further. "The things we can't choose are destined to happen. As the princess of this kingdom, your priorities have changed, and now we are in a war. Sanctum will be a key to victory."
Ruby felt a lump in her throat as she thought about her sister. "But my sister was better for this mission. I'm not a warrior like her. She was my inspiration and my force, and now she's gone. I don't know what to do. I feel lost," she confided in Abel, tears streaming down her face.
Abel placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand how you feel, Princess. Perhaps visiting Sanctum will help you. But for now, I want you to open the window," he said with a small smile.
Ruby looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"
As they approached their destination, the voices of the soldiers could be heard in the distance. Abel motioned for Ruby to open the window of the carriage, and she did so hesitantly.
Her eyes widened with wonder as she heard the amazed voices of the soldiers. Ruby stepped out of the carriage and was greeted with a breathtaking sight of the forest lit up by the glowing green fireflies.
Awe-inspiring to see was the Forest of Scarlet Leaves. The most gorgeous red leaves, so brilliant and alive that they appeared to glow with their own inner light, were draped across the limbs of each tree, which stood tall and proud. But the forest really came to life when the sun began to set.
The leaves shimmered and sparkled, morphing into an amazing display of scarlet and gold as the golden light of night filled the canopy. Any person would gasp in awe at the sight.
Amidst the enchanted Forest of Red Leaves, the princess danced like a ray of sunlight in the gusts of wind among the trees. Her dress, a shimmering tapestry of silk and lace, flowed like a gentle stream through the branches, while her golden hair glimmered like the sun filtering through the canopy. Her ruby-red eyes sparkled with an inner light, as if reflecting the magic of the forest itself.
Abel stepped forward the carriage, taking in the ancient forest with a sense of nostalgia. Though the details of his memories were hazy, the familiarity of the place was undeniable. Ruby followed him, gazing around in awe at the forest.
"Looks like sacrificing something can lead to even greater things," Abel remarked, a small smile playing on his lips. Ruby blushed slightly at his words, but her expression was serene as she continued to take in the beauty of the forest.
Abel turned to the soldiers and gave orders. "The princess is tired and needs rest. We'll rest at some ancient ruins that are some meters away for the night. They'll provide us with protection in case of any threats.
Tomorrow, we'll take a shortcut through the forest to reach our destination faster."
As they made their way towards the ruins, the fireflies swirled around them, drawn to the princess's mana. Ruby couldn't help but admire their beauty as they fluttered by.
"They are so beautiful," she murmured, watching the glowing insects with fascination.
"They're drawn to your mana," Abel explained, his tone matter-of-fact.
Reaching the ruins, Abel surveyed the area and confirmed it was the perfect spot for their rest. "We'll rest here for the night, soldiers," he declared, taking charge of the situation.