"Control kingdom"
Once those words were pronounced, a purple light pierced through Prisilla.
"...!"
Everything happened so quickly that Prisilla couldn't react. First Prisilla felt a daze; her senses spiraled out of control; her thoughts passed quickly one after another, until she felt a deep sleep. She took a few steps until she sank into the bed.
The last thing she saw was Marlo, who was still with his hand raised and his threatening eyes still fixed on her. Slowly but surely, everything faded until there was only darkness.
So this is what death feels like? Priscilla thought.
In the middle of the darkness, Prisilla felt like a restless spirit, trapped on earth where she had no destination to follow.
However Amid the darkness, a scene appeared in front of Priscilla.
It was mid-afternoon at the entrance of the town; the place was crowded with a lot of people, mostly women. Priscilla looked around until she saw a makeshift wooden platform ahead.
The platform was rustic and raised on multiple wooden supports. It had visible planks making up the surface and a small staircase leads up to the platform on one side. On the platform stood soldiers along with men of different sizes, all of them bound in handcuffs.
"That's strange; a few seconds ago I was attacked by that kid" Priscilla murmured.
Prisilla tried to talk to the ladies around her; she was confused and wondered why there were so many women gathered.
"Excuse me, ma'am" Priscilla said to a lady in a dark dress.
But when she reached out to grab the lady's arm, her hand went through the lady's body.
"Huh?? This can't be... Am I really a ghost?"
Desperately she wandered around the place, and once again she passed through the bodies of the people, until a loud trumpet sounded from the platform.
That sound caught everyone's attention; some were anxious, others started to cry. Priscilla, for her part, was confused, so she looked once more at the men who were on the platform. Among those men, one caught Priscilla's attention.
A blonde man with an imposive presence, the man had a muscular frame and had a long barbarian beard. His eyes were shut as if meditating on something.
"D-Dad?" Said Priscilla as her heart strated to beat faster.
Priscilla couldn't believe it, but that man on the platform was her deceased father. At that moment, Priscilla remembered this was the day her dad, uncle, and friends were killed.
One of the soldiers stepped forward while holding a letter, announced in a clear voice for everyone around to hear. The soldier said: "Eustace Kanto, knight of Verulia, you are accused of treason against the new king. However, the king has chosen to show mercy If you all swear your loyalty to him, what is your response, Eustace?"
The man slowly opened his eyes, revealing cyan-colored eyes, and with a firm and confident voice said "Isn't it obvious? My loyalty is to King Jamis. That Lombardo is a traitor; his actions disgrace the essence of a knight, and I will never plead my loyalty to a coward like him."
All the men around Eustace shouted "That's right!"
"Very well" replied the soldier, then he signaled. Another soldier besides Eustace raised his sword high. Eustace closed his eyes again and...
Slashh!
"Nooooo!!!" Priscilla screamed with all her might, tears running down her eyes.
That day the new king decreed the execution of every male member of every family. The reason? The town's knights refused to accept the usurper of the throne as king, that is, the new king, Lombardo. Luckily, Leo was able to save himself, but the other men in town met that tragic end.
"Stop pleaseeee!" Priscilla continued screaming until once again everything faded to darkness.
"...."
Prisilla opened her eyes; she had apparently been sleeping and found herself facing the familiar roof of her house.
"Sorry for that, woman... I mean Priscilla..." Priscilla looked to her side to find Marlo this time, looking at her gently.
Prisilla blinked several times in confusion.
"Now then, could you tell me more about that king?" Oh, by the way, I also would appreciate it if you could help me with something else..."
.....
"I'm running out of time! I need to do something quick!" In an office, the mayor of the town was nervously scratching his head while sweating profusely.
"Sir, are you okay?"
"It's none of your business! Leave!"
Rumble Rumble!
There was a small tremor in the ground, causing the mayor to panic even more while his secretary was even more curious.
"What was that? An earthquake?"
"Never mind, just go!"
The mayor ordered his secretary to leave the room; this day, for some reason, the mayor, Lenorio, was more nervous than usual, as if it were a very dangerous situation that put his life at risk.
The mayor drew all the curtains in his office and locked the door, double-checking that nothing was left unsecured.
"Damn, why my life is like this!" he muttered. "Anyway, the good thing is that no one believed that idiot Leo, so maybe I'm safe. For now."
He took a book from his bookshelf and tilted it.
Whooosh.
A hidden passageway appeared behind the bookcase; at first the mayor was hesitant to follow, but after swallowing, he gathered his courage and entered the secret tunnel.
He walked through a brick tunnel lit by flickering torches; its length was unknown, but it was clear the tunnel extended for several meters long.
The mayor stopped until he noticed a giant mass in front of him wrapped in a cloth.
"H-hi, sir?" The mayor said with a broken voice.
The giant mass moved, and two glowing yellow eyes stared directly at the mayor. "Did you find the kid?" The creature spoke with a hoarse and deep voice.
"M-my lord I have searched for the boy everywhere but couldn't find him. Besides, I thought you would be able to catch him because, after all, he is just a child...
"Urrrghh" That gigantic creature let out a pained moan as if something hurt it; that noise made the mayor tremble with fear.
"Hiii!!! Sorry sorry!!!"
"It is true he is just a child; however, he should not be underestimated; that child single-handedly took down my squad. Moreover, when he succumbed, I was sent to another place... Who could have imagined a member of the Maiden's cult would be here?" Said the giant creature, looking at Liz, who lay asleep handcuffed to a rock wall.
Then the creature threw an object at Lenorio. "This should help you catch the boy; here take it.
"W-What is this?"
"An amulet."
Lenorio grasped the object, a ring with a purple gem gleaming in the middle. The gem illuminated Lenorio's face as a subtle smile appeared on his face.
The creature continued, "However, don't let your guard down; that boy is peculiar; there is something unnatural about him. Now I understand why the king has his eyes on him; a boy like that could easily be a royal knight. No. He could become a king!"
"In the state I left him, I'm certain you can retrieve him! Now go and bring me that kid!"
"Hiii! Yes, yes, I'm will!"
The creature watched the mayor flee in terror and then muttered, "Next time I won't hesitate to use my amulet." A blinding red light illuminated the entire cave, accompanied by the thunderous roar of a beast.
Once in his office, the mayor arranged everything, leaving no clues of the passageway where he came from.
"Damn-"
Knock knock "Mr. Lenorio, you have a visitor."
Before he could throw a tantrum, the mayor was interrupted. Who could it be at this hour? He thought.
"Come in!"
When the door opened, the mayor saw the figure of a familiar person, but it was not at all pleasant.
"Ahh, Leo," he said with disdain.
"Mr. Lenorio, we have an emergency. Pricilla and I found a strange boy; what's worse, he could be tied to the new king!"
"!!!"
The reason Leo decided to tell the mayor this is for simple reasons, because everyone in the town secretly despised the new king and his loyal knights. Leo assumed that the mayor, despite being a disgusting man, also shared this conviction.
A wicked smile appeared across the mayor's face. The mayor took the ring and aimed at Leo. "I never liked you, Leo, but how about I let you be my first test subject?"
Leo's eyes narrowed at that ring. "Huh? Is that an amu—?" The ring caught his attention.
"GAHHH!" However, before he could say a word, he felt an invisible force grip his throat, but there was no one there, only the mayor.
"So tell me, where is that boy you speak off?" The mayor said with a twisted, scary face.