Everyone on your toes! Faster! Faster!" Emily's voice cut through the organized chaos. Sounds of harried footsteps echoed in the hallways as maids rushed back and forth, their movements a blur of cleaning, polishing, and cleaning. The clatter of pans and the sizzle of cooking meat mingled with the sweet scent of pastries.
The countless chefs in the kitchen, making sure their dishes are perfect. Tables were being set up and carpets were laid on the floors, all in preparation for the king of Frostfire. King Mcdannald had invited the king of Frostfire to ally with the kingdom of Emberfall. "Make sure everything is clean, ladies," Emilly stated. "Martha, take those clean white cloths with the golden lining and place them on the tables," she told one of the maids as she governed the rest of them, making sure everything was in its place. Emilly couldn't help but wonder what the king of Frostfire would be like and what the alliance would mean for Emberfall.
The kingdom of Frostfire, rich in the supply of beasts, flourished with wealth. Hunters went in the forests hunting beasts, gathering hidden treasures, and defending the kingdom. Frostfire was on top of the line when it came to resources. Merchants came from all over to buy from them, hunters of different cultures came to their forests to hunt the countless monsters in their forests, and they had a top-tier defense that no one would dare to cross the kingdom. The hunter in Frostfire didn't just hunt monsters; they also helped the kingdom in terms of defense and offense. The hunters were people who mastered the cultivation of Mana.
Mana cultivators, a group of people who harnessed the mana in the power around the atmosphere and gave it a physical form. Some imbued that energy in their bodies and weapons to make them stronger and more durable. Those people were called hunters. Some would manipulate that mana and give it a physical form, like a body or an element; those people were called mages. Though cultivators were spread throughout the world, only Frostfire was the one dominating in the act due to its countless supply of bests from its forests.
Once a beast is killed, its bones are used as raw materials to make swords, spears, and arrows. The stronger the beasts, the tougher the bones, and the stronger the weapons made. Some beasts have flexible skin that is more durable than iron. Its use was to make clothing for hunters. The clothing made from them was fireproof and durable, and reduced a quarter of the impact from strong beasts. It was armor in the form of clothing. Scales were used to make armor and shields. The lightweight materials made it easier for the people to move in, and when it came to durability, nothing compared. Hunters would take hits from dragons, be bitten with razor-sharp fangs, and get thrown through walls, but would come back scarless.
Depending on a beast's strength and rank, its body could be used to craft armor, clothing, weapons, and even intricate jewels. Some nobles even display monster bones, statues, and even heads as trophies, but the most valued thing that came from the beast was the Mana stone.
A Mana stone, a condensed Mana in the form of a crystal found in beasts. The Mana stone was found in the beast's chest, right next to the heart. Frostfire would use them as light sources for their roads and houses. Things like cooking were made easy. Blacksmiths crafted stoves that drew their flame from the Mana stones. These stoves burned at immense temperatures, often lasting a decade before the crystal needed replacement. Water, pure as mountain spring and sparkling like a thousand distant stars, flowed freely from taps found throughout the kingdom.
The Mana stones hummed faintly as they shimmered against polished metal, a constant reminder of the magic woven into everyday life. They harnessed energy from the atmosphere, transforming it into liquid. From heating stoves to lighting streets and even powering weapons, Mana stones were the heart of Frostfire.
Many utilities were made, using the Mana stone as their energy source, but that wasn't the only use. Blacksmiths would place Mana stones on the armor, swords, spears, and even bows. Mages had Mana stones on the staves. This made them significantly stronger, as the Mana stones would amplify their Mana, making them stronger, denser, and more durable.
The impact from the dragon's fiery breath barely registered on the hunter's Mana-stone-infused armor. The scales shimmered like a mirror, deflecting the heat. Weapons glowed faintly with condensed power—sharper, stronger, and more lethal. Even mage spells hit with the force of mini tempests.
Frostfire thrived on these stones. Its streets were aglow with shimmering lights, and water flowed from the taps. Heat, drawn from crystals, cooked food, and forged metal. All of this—the ordinary made extraordinary—rested on the power drawn from slain beasts. Fueled by this power, Frostfire grew rich and bold. Now, its monarch—King Edward—was on a diplomatic journey to Emberfall.
Carriages stormed through the streets of the kingdom of Emberfall. Inside the taverns, plates clattered from the shelves, and mugs danced on the tables as the carriages thundered. Sounds of carriages rumbling through the brick roads, bouncing from rock to rock, echoed through the kingdom.
King Edward, king of Frostfire, was charging through the streets of Emberfall with his seven carriages at full speed. The carriages carried him, his two sons, and nobles from Frostfire. When they arrived at the castle, they were met by the knights of Emberfall. They stood in order, leaving a path that led to the castle gates.
Their spears made a resounding thump as they saluted, the sound echoing through the kingdom as the knights stood at attention, heads held high. A young boy, no older than five, suddenly popped his head out of one of the carriages. His eyes, wide with wonder, reflected the polished gleam of passing knights' armor. He gaped, utterly awed.
He felt a grab at his neck, pulling him back as he fell to the seat with a thump. "My word, that was rude!" Jayson yelped. "Jayson, act like nobility; we are here for diplomacy, not to sightsee," a stern voice scolded him as they entered the castle gates.
The carriages stopped at the foot of the palace doors. Out of the carriage, King Edward stepped out with his sons and accompanying nobles. "Welcome to our humble abode," King Mcdannald greeted them. "I hope the trip was to your liking," King Mcdannald continued as they came to the doors. "It was fine, though the roads were a little bumpy," Edward replied.
King Mcdannald stood at the door with the first queen of the Emberfall kingdom and their young daughter. "Is this the young lady your kingdom has been spreading rumors about?" Edward scoffed, looking down at Lilly. Like a swan preparing to take off, Lilly took hold of her dress and executed a perfect curtsy.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Lilly, the first princess of Emberfall," Lilly stated as she gracefully stood up straight. Jayson's face turned red, his palms slick with sweat, and he rubbed his hands on his shirt.
"N... Nice to meet you, m... my name is Jayson," stuttering in the face of the young lady.
"Impressive, King Mcdannald, you've raised quite the refined young lady," he said, with a sly smile. "She managed to sway my son's heart," he added with a short laugh. He then introduced his other son, Mark, who was five years older than Jayson.
While the banquet was being prepared, one of the noblemen silently slipped away from the carriages. He moved like a shadow, slipping past the palace guards. A soft breeze stirred the air around them. As the guards turned their heads, they saw nothing but a single leaf drifting gently in the moonlight.
Inside the palace, the banquet began. Platters of food lined the tables. Jayson sat nervously, his hands still damp with sweat. His fingers shook as he picked up his spoon, the bowl of soup before him rippling like a raging ocean.
The soup spilled onto his thigh, scalding, boiling. A searing pain shot through his nerves like tens of thousands of ants biting at once. Jayson leapt from his seat with a scream, twisting in agony, dancing to the burn. His older brother burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face as he doubled over with amusement.
Jayson felt the room begin to close in around him. His brother's laughter echoed, bouncing off the walls and ringing in his mind. He glanced at Lilly—she didn't even look at him. Not a flicker of concern. His heart cracked. Unable to bear it, he ran from the banquet hall in tears.
Out in the palace courtyard, Jayson found one of Lilly's younger brothers. The boy was sitting on the edge of a fountain, legs swinging.
"Hey! Want to play with me?" the boy called out cheerfully.
Jayson approached. "Young fella, why aren't you inside at the banquet with your sister?" The boy's expression shifted. He looked away.
"Lilly never plays with us," he said quietly, sniffing. "She only spends time with Mother... and sometimes goes out with Father." His voice cracked as tears rolled down his cheeks. Jayson froze. His breathing quickened, fists clenching at his sides. The image of Lilly—trapped, distant, joyless—began to consume him. A young woman, robbed of her childhood, was used as a pawn.
"I've never even seen her smile," the boy whispered. Jayson's jaw tightened. His heart pounded with fury. "I'll make sure Lilly is happy," he said through gritted teeth. He crouched beside the boy. "What's your name?" "Peter," the boy replied. Jayson stood and looked toward the towering walls of the palace. The wind picked up. Silence fell.
Back inside, the dining hall had quieted. Jayson stepped into the room and whispered, "Markes, I need you to kidnap the princess." From the ceiling, a dark figure emerged like a living shadow.
"As you wish, Your Highness," the figure replied, then vanished into the palace walls. Later, as the banquet drew to a close, the alliance between King Edward and King Mcdannald was sealed. Along with it, an engagement—Princess Lilly was promised to Mark, the foreign prince. "I'll keep my promise," Jayson whispered to himself as he stepped into the royal carriage, the echo of his vow trailing behind him like a ghost.
The next morning, a knock came from Lilly's door. When she opened the door, a man dressed in a black suit, white gloves, polished shoes, and well-combed hair stood at the entrance. "The king told me to help you prepare for your departure, Miss Lilly."
"I've never seen this man before in the palace, and he seems to be on a different level from the royal guard," Lilly's thoughts drifted. Lilly's hand gripped the doorknob, she planted her feet in her dress, and her eyes sharpened.
She then pulled out the doorknob and slashed at the man. "Father knows pretty well that I never go on trips I was never informed of," Lilly whispered.
Her slashes were all being dodged; someone suddenly walked in on them, and they both threw their blades at the person. The blades went directly at the throat, and his head was cut clean off.
The blood was sprinkled on the floor as the body fell to the floor. Lilly took out another blade from her thigh and aimed it at his neck, but it was blocked.
"Well, well, who knew the young princess of Emberfall was such a talented young lady?" he giggled. "Your movements are so precise, your movements so organized, and without using mana no less," the man laughed as his gaze suddenly changed.
His movements became faster; all Lilly could see was a blur moving around in front of her, then "Tap!"
Lilly's sight was fading, her legs felt wobbly, and she fell to the ground. "That was some workout," the man said. "The young lord has some taste in women."
He picked Lilly up, ran straight at a nearby window, and leaped out of the palace windows, five stories above ground. He landed on one of the guard posts in the palace.
The guard tried to take him out, but he was too fast for them. He leaped in the air and kicked both the guards in the head, and they fell unconscious.
"That was easier than I expected," he scoffed. "Even the princes gave me a better workout than this," he said to himself as he took the carriage that the guards were patrolling. He took off the armor from one of them and put it on.
He put Lilly in the carriage and drove the carriage to the castle gates. "May we inspect your carriage, sir?" one of the guards at the gate asked. He walked closer to the carriage and saw the young princess unconscious in it.
"She's asleep; well, she is still a child," the guard thought to himself as he ordered the gates to open for the princess's carriage.
"The king was out for a meeting in one of the guilds, and he sent word to the princess," Markes stated.
The carriage went out without a problem, and Markes got what he needed. They drove out of the kingdom into the woods that led to the kingdom of Frostfire.
Creaks from bugs in the trees, birds tweeting as they flew by, and the sun shining through the windows of the carriage. The bright rays shone on Lilly's face, waking her. Her hands and feet were not tied, and the carriage looked like it hadn't been inspected.
"He probably thought that I wouldn't wake up for some time," Lilly whispered to herself. Lilly reached for something under the seat. She took out a crossbow.
Lilly had hidden weapons in all the carriages at the palace. She aimed for the carriage driver's seat and pulled the trigger. "Swing!" then "Bang!" Silence enveloped the atmosphere. The silence, whispers of the wind passing through the open hole in the carriage.
The wind whistled in the carriage, then a sudden silence came. "Bang!" A foot came in through the carriage doors and hit Lilly. She flew out of the carriage, fell to the ground, and the carriage stopped.
"You're one little brat," Markes giggled. "I left you untied because I thought you'd sleep the whole way," he stated. "You even managed to scratch my skin." Markes laughed as he walked closer, then his heart spiked.
His feet got weak, and his vision got blurry as he fell to the ground. "What the hell is going on?" Markes whispered as he fell unconscious. Lilly stood up and stabbed a knife through his neck.
"That was convenient," Lilly thought. Lilly had the arrow from the crossbow coated in some poison, and before she aimed, she spread out her mana right before she pulled the trigger. The Mana penetrated through the carriage's walls and showed Lilly where he was seated.
Markes detected the mana from the carriage and moved out of the way right after the arrow shot through the carriage's walls, scratching through his skin.