I took a deep breath as I wandered through the palace garden, captivated by the array of beautiful flowers. I bent down to smell one, a soft smile lighting up my face. Flowers had always been something I liked, though I couldn't quite explain why.
Just as I was about to pluck a flower, a voice interrupted me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," it said cautiously.
I turned to the source of the voice and saw a soldier, perhaps in his fifties, dressed in the King of Konica's army uniform. He stood with a confident posture, arms crossed and eyes sharp. His confident appearance and powerful armor suggested he might be a general. He also looked familiar, like I had seen him somewhere before.
"And who might you be?" I asked, my hand instinctively resting on the hilt of my sword. I kept my eyes steady, ready for anything. We locked eyes as I waited for him to answer.
"General Roderick," he declared with a proud tilt of his chin, his voice filled with confidence. "And you, I believe your name is Kira. You have the honor of serving as a grand general in the powerful Dragon King's army. I must admit, it's surprising to see a mere woman holding such a leadership role in such a domain of power."
A sly smirk curved across my lips as I took a deep breath. I was offended by his comment, but I brushed it off. Women are often considered weaker compared to men, but people like me are here to prove that idea wrong. I decided to address the question that was on my mind. "Tell me, have you come across any sightings or heard any rumors about Vedan recently?"
He looked at me, curiosity flickering in his eyes, before he started walking through the garden. I followed close behind. "And what concern might you have with a Vedan?" he asked.
"It is a matter that does not concern you," I replied sharply, growing impatient. I wasn't one to enjoy being asked too many questions. "Now, I ask once again, have you encountered any Vedan recently?"
His expression hardened, and I could sense a hint of hidden hatred in his voice. "Your kind is not welcome in these lands, woman," he said, stopping abruptly. I stopped as well, locking eyes with him.
"You wouldn't be the first to remind me of the unwelcome status of my kind in these lands," I said coldly. "I am well aware of the unfortunate truth, and I do not take pride in being half-Vedan. However, General Roderick, a simple question deserves a straightforward answer."
He was clearly annoyed as he replied, "There have been no sightings of newborn Vedan in recent times."
"Not a mere newborn, but a fully grown Vedan," I pressed, holding his gaze intently. A flicker of shock crossed his eyes as our stares remained locked.
"For many years now, no Vedan has survived a single day in Konica," he responded . "They have been ruthlessly killed when discovered. What makes you think we would allow one of your kind to grow and thrive?"
"What if there's one that managed to pass your attention?" I pressed, hoping he would give me a lead to help with the situation I was facing.
"None of them ever did," he replied firmly, his face in a stern expression. But for a moment, a brief memory softened his expression as he added "Except for that one..."
"Which one?" I asked, my brow lifting in confusion as I waited for him to clarify.
It was clear he wasn't willing to answer my questions further, which only frustrated me more as he said"Return to your kingdom, Vedan. These men here hunger for your death, and the longer you stay, the greater the risk," he warned, his voice low and serious. "You do not want your head to be on a pike, do you?" I couldn't tell if he was genuinely concerned for me or if he was trying to intimidate me—it was hard to tell.
I stared at him, my irritation growing. "Your men alone won't defeat me," I said, my eyes locked on his. "You will l share what you know."
He turned to face me directly as stares at me, a sign that he was challenging me before asking "And what's your plan if I decline?"
I hated to use my powers, but I had had enough of talking. I fixed my eyes on him, and the atmosphere around us seemed to change. I could see the confusion and discomfort in his eyes as I used my magic to compel him to look at me. My eyes glowed a bright red as I used my natural magical ability from being half-Vedan. .
Besides being the powerful grand general of Konica, I was also known for my skills in illusion. I prepared to cast a powerful magic to extract the information he held with my eyes. If he didn't cooperate, he would experience nothing but pain.
Time seemed to slow as his expression shifted from confusion to pain. "Are you going to tell me what I want to know?" I asked in a low, commanding voice. He tried to resist, but his attempts only increased his suffering. "Tell me what I want to know."
His hands shook, and his whole body quivered as he struggled against the spell. Just as I was about to completely capture him in the mind spell, a voice cut through the air, breaking my focus. "The king wants to see you."
The red light in my eyes faded quickly, and Roderick blinked repeatedly, visibly disoriented. I could tell he was struggling to process what had just happened. He would be confused for a while, but will soon regain his memory.
"Grand General, the king requires your immediate presence," General Cedrick said. He was the general of our army, while I held a higher rank as the grand general.
"We will continue our conversation later," I said calmly to Roderick, who remained confused, trying to make sense of our brief encounter.
He didn't respond as I turned away, beginning to walk alongside Cedrick as we walked into the main building and down the corridor . "They are hiding something, and Roderick seems to hold a clue. Uncover any hidden truths you can," I instructed.
"Very well, Grand General," Cedrick replied, falling into step behind.
As I walked, I began to piece things together. The girl might indeed be here, in Konica of all places, where Vedans were traditionally killed at birth. It was my duty to find her no matter what. She was needed for the great war that was coming.