At noon, the entire royal palace was busy as usual, those working inside the palace had resumed their normal chores. The guards and maids who happened to be nearby the tower heard some disturbing noises. This caught their attention, and soon, they saw thick black smoke coming out of the windows in the tower.
One of the guards immediately left to inform the king. As minutes dragged on, the servants in the palace had gathered to see the black smoke, but no one dared to come close and inquire about the situation as fear enveloped them.
And not long, the sound of the emergency bell in the palace began echoing throughout the palace.
Soon, even the people outside of the palace saw it too. The tower was tall and it was easy to see the thick black smoke under the clear, bright sky. The entire capital was gripped in horror as tales of the incident spread widely.
"The witch is up to something this time."
"She must be practicing her black magic."
"Stay inside at home and don't come out."
"Don't know who will die tonight."
The news of something unholy happening had spread everywhere, and soon, the streets went empty, and the capital became a deserted land.
The common people all ran for their lives as the princess was practicing her black magic.
****
The Wolf King and his right-hand man were riding their horses along the riverbank outside the walls of the royal palace. Lykaios was scouting the area, wanting to take a look at the places near the palace. The Wolf King wanted to know his surroundings as his claims.
Just as they reached the backside of the palace, Lykaios heard a disturbance and then saw thick black smoke behind the tall walls. His right-hand man followed his sight and was startled.
"What's going on there?" Egon exclaimed as he continued looking at the black smoke moving towards the sky. It didn't stop coming out from the window of the tower. "Did the tower catch fire? No… it seems something is burning."
Lykaios didn't seem to hear him and was focused on something as he eyed a particular window of the tower. His eyes darkened. Just what is happening up there.
"I was wondering if what people say about the witch is true. They say when she does black magic, something like this tends to happen."
Lykaios gave him a questioning look, "Something like this?"
"This black smoke and…"
"Who knows? Maybe something is really happening up there." The Wolf King commented as he signaled his right-hand by raising his hand to keep quiet.
It's seemed like Lykaios heard something again, and this time causing his eyes to darken even more.
"Your Highness, did you hear something." Egon asked feeling puzzled.
They continued to ride along the riverbank around the palace, and when they returned to the palace, as expected, everyone was whispering among themselves. Of course, Lykaios could hear what they were talking about.
"Don't know what this witch is planning this time."
"Should we leave the palace?"
"She must be practicing some black magic."
"Look at that smoke, its not stopping even after a long time it looks like she is planning something dangerous."
Not only the common people but also the royals within the palace were worried about what the witch was doing. News had traveled everywhere like a wildfire.
King Theodore was aware his people were in panic, but he was even more worried as he wondered why the princess went to the tower. He called the guard who had just returned after checking the tower.
"Is she fine?" King Theodore asked.
"Apologies, Your Majesty. We can't enter inside the tower because of princess Elara's magic." Knight Barberton informed him after bowing.
This worried the king. "Try to find a way to know about her condition. If you can't, I will have to enter the tower personally."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Knight Barberton bowed again.
"Keep the security tight and don't let any of the Queen Mother's people close to the tower."
"We have already taken full measures, Your Majesty." Lord Barberton informed.
King Theodore looked at Lord Saka. "Minister of court affairs?"
Lord Saka understood what king Theodore meant and replied to his unspoken question, "He went to see Her Majesty, Queen Mother Deanery's. the visits are frequent these days…"
"They must be up to something again," Knight Barberton said coldly, his eyes showing how he was annoyed with this politics and he wished to use his sword and finish everything at once.
The minster of court affairs is nothing but trouble.
"That's why you need to be more alert this time," Lord Saka said as he looked at Knight Barberton.
"I can sense those two are up to no good this time as well." Lord Saka added.
"This time I won't go easy on them," Knight Barberton hinted at his intensions. As a knight, it irked him every time he had to let them go because the schemes concerned the Queen Mother and to keep the peace between the nobles and being his mother; the King could never openly punish the Queen Mother for her small dirty tricks.
After all, because of her identity, even if not the Queen, there were other people who would create troubles for her. All King Theodore could do was to protect his daughter.
Amidst all this, King Theodore was in confusion, why was Elara at the tower? Was it because his mother talked about the tower this morning or was, she trapped to go there?
King Theodore was in turmoil, he was well aware of how badly the Queen mother desires to get rid of her own granddaughter.
While the entire capital was gripped in terror about what evil schemes the witch was up to, inside the tall tower still emitting thick black smoke, there was one princess who was standing amidst the fire erupting from the tower.
Elara was in turmoil, she could only create fire and not put one out.
But this one, she didn't create it.