Astrid took the wine glass. It was probably her third or fourth. She wasn't counting. She looked at the window of his office, the wind blowing the curtains. She felt something wet cover his hand. The glass had broken and the woman had not even noticed.
That was a bad omen. The liquid stained his skin, like blood. The woman closed her eyes, thinking about how her life was those two things: evil and blood.
When she was little, her father kept her in the castle, only with the company of servants and relatives. Her older sister, aged 7, had been kidnapped and killed due to the war. The day another princess was born, the king wanted to protect her at all costs. He would not allow another daughter to die because of him. The war was over, but Edwin still had that guilt in him. Her only companion was his older brother, Renien. As a teenager, she could only go out accompanied by guards and his lady-in-waiting. Astrid told her she could defend herself. She was a warrior. Someone with magic didn't need someone else. But the king wouldn't let his guard down. To him, she was still a little girl who needed her protection. Until she was 20, her father told her she should get married. Your fiancé would have to be strong enough to protect you.
The king expected him to be a prince, or a warrior. However, Astrid had not married any man who met her father's expectations.
One day, while walking through the city, the girl saw a young artist. He was a hybrid, half-elf, half-human. He was pale, he had red hair and blue eyes. Every day she went the same way and passed in front of the square. Every day he was there.
Astrid approached him. The princess went on to praise his works. There was truth in his comments, did not praise him for being interested in him. Pietro Betwein was really good. His works were wonderful and the woman loved every detail.
Days later, the couple managed to escape. Edwin was disappointed. Her daughter had left, because he had forbidden her to be with those she loved. That way, the elf stopped looking for her.
A year later, the king fell ill and Astrid returned to see him. But she arrived too late. His father had already died.
Months after the king's death, Simon was born. Their home was filled with happiness. Until the day it happened.
Astrid was asleep. She was tired because of the baby. She didn't hear the enemies come in. Suddenly a sound caught her eye. She stood up and noticed that his hands were handcuffed. Anti-magic handcuffs.
"Shiake." - thought.
She looked at the crib and Simon was not there. She heard his cry coming from the room. She ran to the place, but stumbled on something. It was a hot liquid.
Blood. It was the blood of your beloved Pietro.
Astrid screamed. She screamed as loud as she could. Nobody came.
"No one will come to her aid, ma'am. " said one of them with a black skull-shaped mask muffling his voice. He held the baby in his lap.
"What do you want here? " she said crying. She didn't care anymore about keeping her composure. "I didn't do anything to you. Let go of my son! " she cried.
She struggled trying to break free of the handcuffs.
"It was our task to come here and get the baby. Your husband meddled. We just want his magic. A disgusting hybrid can not be so powerful in this way " mercilessly the man stabbed the child's chest, and so she stopped crying. His blood fell into a large vial.
The men turned to leave.
"And me? Aren't you going to murder me too?
"We were not commanded to do so. Moreover, if we do your brother will come after us. We do not want trouble.
The man looked again.
"I'm so sorry, miss.
They left, turned to dust, leaving her alone with her son's body. But before they go, she can see a red symbol. Astrid knew that symbol and the anger boiled inside her. It was a group belonging to the Shiakes, but they were worse than them. They were wolf bones, led by King Neelas.
As the men had gone, the handcuffs were gone with them. Astrid took her son's body and cried even more. She did not have the courage to change clothes. She buried her son in the grave next to his father's. When she was left alone, Astrid knelt before the king's grave and said:
"You were right, Dad... You were right.
Now, she fixed the glass with magic and moved it delicately, even though he had nothing inside. She remembered the girls, Mira and Kendra.
Since the day her nephew Liam told her that his aunt, Sophie had sent the girl to a place without magic she was curious. Would the child be like the father? And the boy? So she and Luminus Teorys began to observe the kingdom of Harlisze. When he heard that the king was killed by his own son, he did not know what to think. The young man was on whose side? She did not know, so she spent so long observing the behavior of the new emperor. Liam told her about a kind of protection that the girl had and could not be found by anyone.
However, the protection was losing its effect as it approached its destination. And so, with much research and contacts, Astrid discovered that Sophie and the god Eluin placed two seals on the girl. One in her memories and one in her powers. One seal would be undone when she went willingly to her homeland. The other? Only the god of healing knew the answer. But the elf thought it would be good to stay alert. She wanted to protect that child who had survived that horrible man.
Until one day the woman realized that the emperor attacked a certain village without magic. Arriving there, she came across Mira Collins and Kendra Millers. The one Alice to whom his nephew spoke so much had raised the girl very well. She could not leave them alone.
She sent a note to his nephew, warning him that she would take them with him, because it would take him a long time to get there.
Upon meeting them, the coordinator identified with the children. Two victims of that man. Just like her.
She heard the noise of the door opening, probably Liandel. And as always, she was right.
The elf sat in the chair in front of him and said:
"You seem to have grown attached to those children, Astrid.
The elf stared at her. Was she really attached? It had been a long time since I felt any sense of protection towards anyone, but those girls were different.
Seeing the thoughtful friend, the elf held out a cup and asked:
"What are you thinking?
As she filled her friend's bowl with the purple liquid, she replied:
"That girl was very lucky not to remember her hateful father.