-•-

"Amazing!" Cressida greeted him clapping at his performance-like exchange with the newly arrived prince, "Heh, nothing too fancy, I'd love to send him off a nice first impression" Gabriel brushed some dirt off his clothes and exercised his arm from the fall damage, saying those words proudly with his eyes closed after the demons and their pets hid their tails and ran away.

"We should go back, healing the blighted forest takes a lot of time for shrine maidens to do." Calyx interrupted their conversation, adjusting the tie around  his hair, "Captain, please stay here until the shrine maidens arrive...we still don't know if those demons will return."

"The S.E.S.Y will now overlook this matter Sir, have a safe trip home"The Captain who aided them gave a salute and off the trio went to report back and leave the country at once.

-•-

Strandethorn

Strandethorn. As its name implies, the kingdom is almost sunless. Cold and dark due to its closeness to the northern pole with harsh blizzards comparable to the crown's hold to its people. Though as independent Strandethorn looks it's warded by the Goddess of the Moon: Rosalind, though as conformed by the Heavenly Circle millennia ago, she left the kingdom under the care of her 'children'.

"You say..your Prince, is a blood-sucking monstrosity?" The Tzarina's authoritative voice boomed across the court. Hushed voices and whispers rose from people who joined the trial.

"Ha! You can't protect him anymore! Everyone! Ivanov dynasty crumbles as ages pass, full of liars who can sway you with their promises! As abyssal monsters walk our lands, Strandethorn was tainted with a blight the royal family hides! Vampires! And Prince Jadiel is one of them...and I, Avos' have my evidence!" The man named Avos' fished his pocket and within minutes of nothing, the council spoke.

"Silence!" One of the Porusha snaps and everyone turned their eyes back to the center seats. Tzarina Miroslava sat composed amidst the rumor addressed towards her son and tapped her fingernails announcing her annoyance.

"Avos', do you acknowledge the fact that speaking against the crown will cost your life?" A feminine voice sounded with compassion towards the man. Avos' was now in disarray, he was sure he kept the pictures he documented before trial. Before....

'The Queen!' Of course! She has eyes even on walls, waiting for her direct command. He was a fool to trust his luck.

"Yes, I do, wise one. I had evidence! Her! She covered it up for her son!" The Tzarina guffawed at his statement, "Ah, Avos'....you intend to increase your sins against the crown? Enough! I've heard enough of your frivolous blabbing!" The court fell silent as her Majesty rose from her seat and raised her hand.

"Your majesty-" The same feminine voice from the council tried to stop her but one look from Miroslava was enough for her to be seated.

"Off with his head!" Collective gasps were heard as the condemned staggered to catch what was going to happen to him.

"You can try Tzarina! But even the hardest stone erodes" Miroslava can only raise her head in ignorance.

Young Princess Izavellia flinched upon seeing her mother behead a commoner. She knew he had it coming but isn't beheading a bit too much? Poor he and his family. Rumors would soon spread like plague about her brother, she can only give him tears as the cure was yet to be discovered. Although the court was exclusive only to the Tzar, Tzarina, nobles and the Porusha, the white haired princess managed to sneak and ghostly watch numerous trials on behalf of her brother.

The meeting was adjourned and everyone left the court with Avos' being escorted to his cell until 2 days passed for him to meet his end by guillotine.

"Katya"

The Queen beckoned one of her trusted generals who emerged from the shadows and whispered near her ear, "Find someone who's a look-alike of the prince and expose him for information dispersement..... afterwards dispose of him." The general nonchalantly agreed, placing a hand near her heart and bowed down.

"Understood."

Miroslava craned her head slowly to where she heard rustles of fabric. Izavellia hitched her breath and looked for ways to avoid being caught. Heels clicked on the cold hard limestone of the castle as the Queen strides towards the thick long curtain, she paused and as quick as lightning, she uncovered the possible assailant spying on her plans and actions only to find an empty space.

"Guards!" She yelled and thirty soldiers clad in iron pauldrons and ash violet coats light for their scouting and combat uses were by her side.

"Scour the castle and bring me any suspicious individual." Came her cold order.

-•-

"How many?" A voice came behind closed doors.

"6 this week...brother"Izavellia solemnly replied.

"I'm sorry....I can't control it sometimes" Her brother, Prince Jadiel uttered and as his voice breaks in every word he lets go, she knows he feels pathetic every time he receives such information that why her heart aches for him to be free of this tribulation.

"Don't worry brother.... I'll talk to mama about this.... we'll find the cure for you" Izavellia starts to cry, slowly slumped down to the frostbitten floor. Jadiel heard it well thanks to his super-hearing attribute and tried his best to console his sister, hiding the fact that their mother is hard as stone when it comes to negotiations especially when their father died before Izavellia was born.

"Shhh don't cry for my sake, I'll be fine here....now go before mom interrogates you" as cold and distant the prince was before he turned, he always has a soft spot for his little sister.

-•-

Mylinggr

"Cass!" Saffron coloured hair swished as Princess Cassandra turned to address her sister.

Ylisse glides inside her room, twirling a beautiful sewn gown accented with laces and winged strokes. The overall gown pine green while the inner fabrics were basil hued, the colors favoured by the young princess herself.

"What do you think?" Ylisse held the tresses up and swished it side to side. Cassandra smiled and closed the book she's reading.

"Oh darling, you look lovely!" The golden haired princess got off her bed and studied the dress presented, checking the fabrics, the sleeves and accessories.

"Cass what are you doing?" Ylisse giggled. The older princess pushed back the bangs covering her left eye.

"Everything has to go perfect darling, even this dress.."

Beloved Ylisse Guilia von Frieden, the youngest princess of Mylinggr will be turning of age a few weeks prior to this day. Everyone in the castle frets the preparations and of course her doting sister is included; Princess Cassandra who even volunteered to sew the gown herself but she was put in the decoration committee, much to her dismay. The siblings seemed to have their mother's sweet personality as no one can suspect them of breaking a plate; and amidst the strict image of Mylinggr under Queen Izstahra's rule, these two princesses mellows the terrifying perception.

"Oh! A new book! What is it about sis?" Ylisse dodges Cassandra's prying hands and sets her eyes on the cover of a thick book lying on the vanity.

"It's a new story about a young princess transported to a strange land and meeting a dashing fellow who falls for her...ah~ the plot ropes me in to finish it in one night" Princess Cassandra exclaims with her hand over her chest dramatically.

"How wonderful to have a romance like that" She sighs. Ylisse rolls her eyes now that her sister is in her fantasy cloud.

"Cass...."

"Oh dear!" Cassandra shook her head and rushed to Ylisse, tossing her silky hair gently,"Atleast this once, let sister do your hair alright?"

"Hehe~ of course"And in an instant she was hugged tightly with her head being pillowed by Cassandra's big bosoms.

"Fear not, I'll make you the fairest!"

Ylisse could only smile at her sister's adorable antics and hugged her tightly.

-•-

Night time, where critters sleep in the breezy comfort of the environment. Stars enlightened the dark sky, presenting an ethereal sight to people who love to bask under cosmic bodies.

A pigeon flew amidst the lull of sleep to deliver a letter to a certain house in Icycillis. The woman who took the letter off the pocket situated around the bird's leg smiled and gave it seeds to eat. Replacing the parchment with another letter, she caressed the bird's soft feathers before it took off.

Shigemi scanned the contents of the letter with excitement, her heart swelling with joy and relief at each sentence.

Finally!

Her little sister is coming home.

—

Archive Log: Young Potential 

Shigemi Nobutaka, the youngest magic weapon user in the ranks, recommended by Queen Sumika when the little girl suddenly unlocked her potential at the age of 10; Unlike her, most magic users are born with it.