Sensing her sudden change in mood, the lioxx, which had been nestled silently in her arms, struggled a bit and affectionately licked her cheeks, as if to comfort and remind her of its presence.
—-
In the study room of King Leo, both Shadow Master Ethan and the king himself were lost in deep thoughts, deeply concerned about the current situation.
With evident worry in his voice, King Leo turned to Ethan and asked, "Ethan, tell me, do you think that mysterious person will make things difficult for us now?"
Ethan's thoughts, however, were conflicted. His mission had been to eliminate Princess Ava from the beginning, but despite his best efforts, he had failed. Coming to the lower realm solely for this purpose, he had expended significant time and power, deceiving the foolish king to become his trusted aide in this mission. Yet, despite his failures, Ethan managed to maintain his composure.
"My liege, the situation is indeed complex," Ethan replied cautiously, concealing his true role as the mysterious person the king feared. "But rest assured, I will ensure that nothing harms you or our kingdom. I will go to any lengths to protect both."
Despite Ethan's reassurance, King Leo's unease persisted. He couldn't shake the feeling that their past actions might come back to haunt them. Fear gnawed at him, knowing that the mysterious person possessed formidable abilities that could bring devastation to his kingdom and even claim his life.
"I can't escape this unsettling feeling in my heart," King Leo continued, his voice betraying his anxiety. "I fear that this person could destroy everything I hold dear."
Ethan couldn't help but smirk inwardly at the king's naivety. Little did King Leo know that he was face-to-face with the very person he feared. Nonetheless, Ethan maintained his facade of calm and replied, "My liege, you need not worry. I will take every precaution to protect you and our kingdom. For now, we must remain cautious and vigilant."
As the conversation continued, Ethan couldn't help but relish in the knowledge that he held the upper hand over the king and the kingdom with his hidden identity. However, amidst his satisfaction, a sense of worry gnawed at him. The thought of killing a defenseless little girl, even though she had been powerless before, now awakened with newfound abilities, troubled him deeply. He questioned himself, uncertain of what course of action he should take now.
—
In the confines of her bedroom at Luminar Manor
"I'm uncertain about the motives behind this, but I doubt they're in my favor,"
Ava muttered, her thoughts troubled. After wandering through the grand estate, Ava had become convinced that the cause of her inability to awaken her magical abilities was far from ordinary. During her time in the wilderness, she had uncovered a startling revelation – her body had accumulated a slow-acting poison. While not immediately deadly, it had blocked her meridians and weakened her physical state.
"What about those assassins I encountered during my journey?"
Back then, Ava hadn't paid much mind to the encounters, shrugging them off as mere bandits. After all, who would attempt to eliminate a seemingly inconsequential princess already marked for sacrifice? Yet now, she was starting to suspect that there was more to it than met the eye.
Ava's suspicions extended even to her own maids and servants. She found herself unsure of whom she could truly trust.
"Mmm, there are plenty of things I don't comprehend right now, but that doesn't imply I won't grasp them in the future,"
Ava mumbled to herself. After a few minutes, her contemplation ceased and she launched into her intensive magical training program.
With her palms raised toward the heavens, she began by performing a sequence of intricate hand seals, each one a manifestation of her focused intent. As her fingertips formed the final seal, a quiet hush enveloped the room, and the air seemed to hum with anticipation.
In response to her movements, a soft, luminous glow began to emanate from Ava's fingertips. Each of her ten fingers shimmered with a distinct color, representing a different magical element. The tips of her fingers transformed into miniature orbs of vibrant energy – earthy green, fiery red, aqueous blue, ethereal white, and a multitude of other hues.
After this she performed another series of hand seals, weaving intricate patterns in the air. As if following a cosmic choreography, the ten distinct colors started to converge, swirling around her body in harmonious unity. Like threads of light, they intertwined and intermingled, forming a luminous tapestry that enveloped her form.
In that pivotal moment, a profound connection was established – a bridge that transcended the boundaries of the physical and the metaphysical. Ava felt herself linked to both the heavens above and the earth below, an embodiment of the sacred balance that magic epitomized.
As the currents of magic flowed through this newfound connection, Ava's body began to react. She could sense the essence of each element permeating her being, infusing her with their unique qualities. The grounding stability of earth, the passionate intensity of fire, the fluid adaptability of water – all merged within her, a harmonious symphony of power.
Ava's body functioned as a conduit, absorbing the essence of magic much like an expansive sea that cannot be swiftly filled.
As she engrossed herself in her practice, the young lioxx observed her with bright eyes. Normally adorable and somewhat silly, often seeking refuge in Princess Ava's arms, he now appeared a tad different. His gaze held a hint of intelligence, fixated on Ava's every move.
"She couldn't possibly be from the Everglade Realm, could she? This power, this magic, it seems beyond the scope of this realm!"
Contemplation consumed the mind of the little lioxx. He had been present when the merging of Ava's soul occurred, witnessing the tangible shift in the environment. This event coincided with his own impending demise. In that critical moment, just as he teetered on the edge of mortality, a surge of magical essence surged through him during the amalgamation, unexpectedly sparing his delicate life.
He held a firm belief that without that fortuitous magical occurrence, his life would have surely met its end. Having witnessed this transformative scene and granted a second chance at survival, he chose to align himself with Ava. To achieve this, he adopted an appearance of cuteness and gullibility, although it went against his natural demeanor. This strategic facade, though detrimental to his image, was a pragmatic decision made in the interest of self-preservation. This event now formed a shadowed chapter in his history.
Little did he realize that Ava's interest in him wasn't driven by his adorableness. Her sentiment was founded on pity, as she reflected on her own past where parental abandonment had led her down a path of rigorous training during her early years. Despite her extraordinary talents, others had assumed her journey would be smooth, neglecting her well-being entirely. Yet, the reality was far from kind; her passage was marked by suffering and a trail of bloodshed. During the time when she should have been cherished and cared for by her family, she had faced death on numerous occasions.
Upon encountering the little lioxx, memories of her past self resurfaced. The creature's resilience resonated deeply with her – its refusal to succumb in the face of death mirrored her own struggles. This tenacity to survive struck a chord within her, prompting her to take pity on the small being and offer it a chance at life.
"Investing my fate in you, little girl, I can only hope my choice won't lead to regret," sighed the little lioxx inwardly, resolute in his resolve. He began to absorb the lingering magical essence that Ava had left behind, embracing the wellspring of power, recognizing its profound benefits for his own being.
If Ava had heard this little lioxx refer to her as a "little girl," she would have surely playfully punched him. Currently, this small lioxx himself appeared as a six-month-old child and was calling Ava a little girl.
As Ava immersed herself in her training, Ethan's mood took a downturn. He had dispatched his faithful subordinates to assess Princess Ava's condition and, if she somehow managed to endure the harsh weather, eliminate her. While he believed Ava's survival to be virtually impossible, he was unwilling to leave anything to chance. He had invested a substantial amount to orchestrate this scenario.
"How... How is this even possible? Not only is she still alive and well, but she has also connected with magical essence, whereas I have lost my power once again. Not only did I bear the immense cost of conjuring this cursed winter, but my loyal subordinates also met their demise."
"What steps do I take now? Must I endure the wait once more, accumulating magical essence just to deal with a mere girl?"
Ethan seethed with fury, his study in disarray. The room bore the brunt of his wrath, with shattered furniture scattered about. His hands were smeared with blood, his eyes ablaze with an inferno of anger.
Meanwhile, King Leo found himself lost in introspection. Memories of the past paraded through his mind, each one triggering a cascade of emotions that shifted like the seasons.
"Well, it's not as though I've evaded my commitment. In fact, I've upheld my word – I've never inflicted direct harm upon her,"
King Leo whispered to himself, his inner monologue a mix of self-assurance and conflict. His heart resembled a labyrinth of emotions, and his thoughts were embroiled in a tumultuous storm. Uncertainty clouded his mind, leaving him undecided about his next course of action.
"Your majesty, please refrain from overthinking. Everything will work out fine; after all, they haven't visited her all these years. We never caused her any harm – in fact, our love for her surpassed even that for our own biological child, just as we promised. There's no need to be anxious about this matter."
As Queen Elara spoke these words, she grappled with her own uncertainty. Despite their awareness of the actions taken against Ava, she attempted to reassure herself.
"Indeed, my queen, your words hold truth," King Leo concurred, though he also needed to reassure himself in the process.
Princess Ava had spent nearly a month in seclusion, and during this time, she had not ventured outside her chamber nor had any of her attendants welcomed any guests. She explained that she was feeling quite fatigued during this period and needed rest.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Princess Ava was actively honing her magical abilities. Faced with uncertainty about identifying allies from adversaries, she chose to maintain a low profile and clandestinely enhance her powers. She was determined not to be ensnared without adequate preparation.
Smooth sailing prevailed, and even the disquiet of King Leo and Shadow Master Ethan had diminished. However, in the dead of night, when slumber held sway over everyone, a deafening noise reverberated, causing the entire capital to tremble.
"Boom. Boom"