After Narra cleansed the soul of Astrantia, she stepped back, allowing the spirit a moment to acclimate.
"Hello, Astrantia. My name is Narra," she said gently.
"I'm here to help you."
Astrantia looked at her with a mix of gratitude and confusion.
"Thank you, Narra. I... I don't remember much."
Narra nodded.
"That's understandable. Do you remember anything about the key to your coffin?"
Astrantia shook her head, a look of confusion clouding her eyes.
"I... I'm sorry, Narra. I don't remember anything."
Narra sighed but gave a reassuring smile.
"It's okay. Let me explain everything to you. You have an inheritance, a mission that was given to you long ago. It's connected to the Spirit Coin lady who vanished after we succeeded in cleansing your soul."
Astrantia's eyes widened in realization.
"So that's why I feel this strange connection to you and this place. I want to help you, Narra. It's the least I can do to repay you for saving me."
Together, they made their way back to the house. As they opened the door, the entire structure began to shake violently. Dark mist swirled around them, accompanied by angry, echoing screams.
One of the dark mists lunged at Narra. Astrantia, quick on her feet, drew her sword and defended Narra, the blade glowing as it cut through the mist.
"Stay close to me!" Astrantia shouted.
The floor beneath them started to collapse, and they found themselves running through the house, heading towards the dungeon. Dark mists surrounded them, their visibility reduced to almost nothing. Suddenly, the mists pulled Narra away, separating them.
"Narra!" Astrantia screamed, hearing the faint sounds of Narra's struggle. She infused her sword with energy, casting away the dark mists around her. She spotted Narra being dragged into a hole in the floor.
"Astrantia, help!" Narra cried out, her voice filled with fear.
Astrantia reached out, trying to grab Narra's hand while fending off the mists with her sword.
"Hold on, Narra! I'm coming!"
The dark mists closed in on Astrantia, making it harder to see. Despite her efforts, the mists overpowered her, and Narra slipped deeper into the hole, disappearing from sight.
"No!" Astrantia shouted in frustration and desperation, swinging her sword wildly. But it was too late; Narra was gone.
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Narra woke up inside the dungeon, disoriented and sore. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light. Her eyes fell on an open door within the room. Steeling herself, she stood up, took a deep breath to regain her composure, and stepped cautiously out of the room.
Ahead, she saw a staircase leading downwards. The memory of the message she had seen on the floor when she first arrived at this house resurfaced in her mind:
"Find the coffin to release Astrantia's shackles."
Driven by urgency, she descended the stairs. At the bottom, in a shadowy chamber, lay a solitary coffin.
Her Heart is pounding so loudly, but Narra bravely approached it. Her fingers trembled as she reached out to touch the coffin's surface. The moment her skin made contact, a rush of images overwhelmed her, pulling her into a vivid vision of the past.
Narra found herself in the midst of a grand celebration. Astrantia, resplendent in her armor, rode a majestic horse through a bustling parade. The crowd cheered and celebrated her return from war. Narra watched in awe as people showered Astrantia with flowers and accolades, their faces alight with admiration and gratitude.
The scene shifted, and Narra was now inside a lavish banquet hall. Astrantia, dressed in elegant attire, moved gracefully among the nobles and the royal family who had gathered to honor the returning warriors. Laughter and music filled the air as Astrantia was greeted with warm embraces and respectful bows.
As Narra marveled at the scene, it changed once more. She found herself hidden behind a curtain on a grand balcony overlooking the kingdom. The night sky was dotted with stars, and Astrantia stood at the railing, gazing upwards with a look of longing and contemplation.
Narra held her breath as the King approached Astrantia.
The king stood quietly for a moment, then spoke softly.
"Astrantia."
Astrantia turned around quickly, her eyes widening as she recognized the king. She immediately knelt and bowed her head in respect.
"Your Majesty," she greeted.
The king motioned for her to rise.
"Astrantia, welcome back. Thank you for protecting our borders. You are truly the strongest and bravest warrior in our kingdom!" he said proudly.
Astrantia inclined her head in gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. But I could not have done it alone. My comrades also put their lives on the line to protect our kingdom."
The king nodded.
"Yes, that is true. Their bravery is also honored. Now that the war is over, I have decided to appoint you as my personal knight. As a king, I need to secure my lineage and produce quality offspring," he stated.
The king continued, his tone turning serious.
"On the south side of the kingdom, there is a house hidden in the forest. Inside are very important people whom you must protect and keep away from the queen."
Astrantia's eyes flickered with concern.
"Important people, Your Majesty? Why must they be kept away from the queen?"
The king's expression darkened.
"It is not your place to question my orders, Astrantia.
"Their safety is of the utmost importance, and you are the only one I trust with this responsibility."
Astrantia's expression hardened slightly.
"Your Majesty, you promised me a peaceful life away from the kingdom after the war. I don't want to be involved in the kingdom's affairs anymore. I was living quietly before being called back. I've already risked my life. Why are you reneging on your promise?"
The king's gaze turned stern.
"It seems to me that you are disobeying my commands. I'm not asking, Astrantia. I'm commanding you. Or do you not care about the children in that orphanage you look after? Do you wish for them to become mere servants for the old nobles?" he said menacingly.
Astrantia's eyes flashed with anger, but she held her ground, staring intently at the king. After a moment, she knelt again.
"I will do my best to protect the people in the house on the south side, Your Majesty," she said through gritted teeth.
The king placed a hand on her shoulder, a brief moment of softness in his otherwise stern demeanor.
"Good. Their safety is in your hands. Do not fail me, Astrantia."
With a heavy heart, Astrantia nodded, rising to her feet as the king turned and walked away, leaving her to contemplate the weight of her new mission.
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The scene shifted again, and Narra found herself back in the house. This time, however, she was amazed by its original state. The house was pristine, with beautifully groomed trees and a sense of tranquility that filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the dilapidated structure she had seen before. Narra realized she was merely a spectator in Astrantia's memories, unable to interact or be seen by anyone.
As she wandered through the house, Narra saw elegant ladies moving about. Some were running around playfully, while two of them argued inside. Another lady sat in the living room, engrossed in a book. In the pavilion, a pregnant woman watched the others with a peaceful expression.
Narra's attention was drawn to Astrantia, who was dressed in a maid's uniform, approaching the pregnant lady in the pavilion. She listened intently as Astrantia spoke.
"Lady Camellia, the king has sent word that he will not be able to visit you and the other ladies this month. He mentioned he has urgent matters to attend to and needs to be discreet to protect you all from the queen's wrath," Astrantia said.
Before Lady Camellia could respond, the conversation was interrupted by the sounds of laughter and shouts. Two girls were running near the pavilion.
"Dahlia, stop chasing me! Astrantia, do something!" one of the girls shouted.
Astrantia turned to them with a calm but firm demeanor. "Lady Gena, it is not ladylike to run and chase Lady Dahlia. Please take a seat at the pavilion, and I will serve the afternoon snacks."
The two girls giggled and obeyed, walking to the pavilion and chatting excitedly about the snacks Astrantia always prepared, which they adored.
"Lady Camellia, when will the baby arrive?" Lady Gena asked curiously.
"Soon, Lady Gena. I was hoping you could help me take care of the baby when it arrives," Lady Camellia replied with a warm smile.
"I would love to help you, Lady Camellia," Lady Gena said enthusiastically.
"Me too!" Lady Dahlia chimed in, both girls then began to boast about who would be the better helper.
Lady Camellia laughed softly. "Thank you, ladies. I appreciate it."
As Narra watched this tender moment, she felt a deeper understanding of the life Astrantia had once lived. These memories were filled with warmth, responsibility, and bonds that extended beyond the battlefield.
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Narra was shocked to see that Lady Gena and Lady Dahlia were so young, barely more than children.
"I wish the King would not visit us for three months," Lady Dahlia said, her voice filled with frustration.
"I don't like him being here. He always scolds us and does whatever he pleases."
Lady Gena nodded in agreement.
"He ruins everything when he's around."
Lady Camellia, sensing the seriousness of their words, intervened.
"I understand how you feel, ladies, but please, don't say such things out loud. You could get yourselves in trouble. We don't have a choice in this matter, and besides, our lives are better now. We eat more than once a day, we have baths and a house, and we even have Astrantia to help us with chores."
Lady Dahlia sighed.
"I suppose you're right, Lady Camellia."
Gena chimed in, "Yes, but it doesn't make it any easier."
Before the conversation could continue, the scene changed again. Narra found herself witnessing a tense moment as many guards approached the house.
Astrantia, ever vigilant, quickly gathered the mistresses at the back of the house.
"We need to move quickly. Follow me," she instructed.
They hurried into the dungeon, the atmosphere thick with fear.
"Listen to me," Astrantia said urgently.
"I promise I'll come back for you. Stay hidden and be very careful. If the queen finds you, especially you, Lady Camellia, because you're pregnant and a threat to the throne, she'll have you killed."
Astrantia placed a protective barrier around them to hide their presence.
"This will keep you safe for now. Trust me."
With a final look at the frightened women, Astrantia returned to the front door to greet the nobles. The soldiers swarmed the house, searching every corner. Magicians among them used their trackers to detect any hidden presences but failed, thanks to Astrantia's barrier.
The scene shifted again as Astrantia was taken to the kingdom for questioning. The king, terrified of the queen's wrath, confronted her.
"You will stay silent about everything, Astrantia, you know what will happen to your family," he warned.
Despite his threats, Astrantia remained resolute, enduring the queen's torturous interrogations without revealing anything. The queen's fury was palpable, but Astrantia's silence held firm.
Eventually, the king intervened.
"This house is nothing more than a hunting lodge," he claimed, hoping to appease the queen. After a tense moment, the queen released Astrantia, her eyes filled with suspicion but lacking proof.
As Narra watched these events unfold, she felt a deep respect for Astrantia's courage and resilience. She understood now the extent of the warrior's sacrifices and the burdens she carried, vowing silently to help free her from her shackles.
---------------------------
Upon returning to the dungeon, Astrantia was met with a horrifying sight. The mistresses, Lady Camellia, Lady Gena, and Lady Dahlia and the other mistresses lay lifeless, their bodies emaciated from starvation. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized that during the two months she had been tortured and questioned, there had been no food or water provided to them.
That night, under the cover of darkness, the king secretly visited the house. His face was a mask of fury and desperation as he demanded,
"Astrantia, where are my mistresses?"
With a heavy heart, Astrantia led him to their corpses, her voice trembling as she explained,
"Your Majesty, they perished from starvation while I was held captive. I couldn't get back to them in time. Please, forgive me."
The king's face contorted with rage and grief.
"Forgive you?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the dungeon.
"This is unforgivable!" In a fit of anger, he attempted to strike her, but his frail body was no match for Astrantia's strength. She easily blocked his feeble blows.
Overcome with sorrow, the king collapsed to his knees.
"Bury them," he ordered, his voice breaking.
Astrantia, though heartbroken, obeyed. Together, they worked through the night, digging graves in the cold, unforgiving earth of the dungeon. By sunrise, they are already done, and the king left hastily, unable to face the reality of their demise any longer.
Astrantia knelt beside the fresh graves, her hands clasped in prayer.
"May your souls find peace," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
As she prepared to leave the dungeon, a mysterious force suddenly gripped her legs, pulling her back. She struggled, a powerful hunger and thirst overwhelming her senses, but the force was relentless. It dragged her deeper and deeper into the dark depths of the dungeon until she was swallowed by the shadows.
The scene abruptly ended, and Narra found herself back in the present. She immediately pulled out her pendant and called out,
"Crab, I need your help!"
The crab appeared, clicking its claws irritably.
"Why do you always call me crab, you brat? I have a name; it's Carcinos. Did you find the key?"
"No," Narra replied, her frustration evident.
"But I found Astrantia and her coffin. We don't know where the key is."
Carcinos sighed.
"Well, you need to resolve the conflict to materialize the key. That's the only thing I can tell you. Call me when you're done. Bye," he said, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.
Narra stood there, dumbfounded and irritated. Just as she was about to leave the place, she was surrounded by dark spirits. They lunged at her, their forms twisting in rage and despair. Narra quickly conjured a shield, the dark spirits clawing at it viciously.
As the spirits' forms became clearer, Narra's eyes widened in recognition.
"The mistresses," she whispered. These dark spirits were the trapped souls of Lady Camellia, Lady Gena, and Lady Dahlia and the other mistresses.