After finishing their meal...
Ryo (mouth full, barely able to move from overeating):
"Oi... Rin, help me, please..."
Rin (glancing at him then turning his back and walking away):
"Depend on yourself, kid."
Ryo (surprised):
"Hey, Rin! Wait! What are you saying?!"
But Rin kept walking without letting Ryo finish his sentence.
Eliria (laughing quietly):
"What a strange friendship you two have."
Then she looked at Ryo seriously:
"Have you trained with the Ice element?"
Ryo (childishly enthusiastic, eyes sparkling):
"No! Not yet! Will you train me?"
Eliria (raising an eyebrow in surprise):
"Calm down, what's wrong with you?... Yes, I will train you, but can your small body handle my training?"
Ryo (confident and boastful):
"Of course I can! Never worry about me! When do we start? Now? Let's go!"
Eliria (trying to calm him):
"Calm down, Ryo... We'll start in three days."
Ryo (suddenly gloomy, eyes going blank):
"Really?... I must be such a failure that no one wants to train me... Death is knocking at my door..."
Eliria (sighing):
"Oi, what's wrong with you? It's only three days!"
Ryo (childishly angry):
"Three days is way too long! Why? What's so important?"
Eliria (serious):
"There is an enemy on the way."
Ryo (serious expression):
"Enemy? Who is it?"
Eliria (starting to tell the story):
"Ten years ago, a conflict erupted over the rule of the Great Ice Kingdom, between us, the ruling Leverons family, and the Lambrigen family. A war broke out, and the winner would rule the kingdom. In the end, my family won, but the Lambrigens were tyrants and aggressive. They tried repeatedly to overthrow the kingdom but failed, and those left were executed for high treason.
Now, there is a girl named Zalauria Lambrigen, the last survivor of that family... Recently seen in the city, armed with swords and tools as if preparing for battle.
She is said to be capable of wiping out entire armies alone, without relying on her entourage. For this... I am worried. Maybe this time... the kingdom will fall."
Ryo (whispering excitedly):
"Zalauria... She must be very powerful... I feel excited!"
Before Eliria could respond, the window suddenly opened, strong winds blew out candles and stirred the curtains.
Eliria (stepping back, closing her eyes against the wind):
"What is happening?!"
Some guards appeared, and suddenly... a girl with long black hair flowing in the wind stood there. Her eyes were as sharp as blades, her gaze alone enough to instill terror in hearts.
She walked confidently among the guards. Everyone who approached her fell to their knees without being touched; her aura alone radiated immense pressure forcing them to kneel.
One guard tried to attack, but she blocked his sword with two fingers, then broke it with one finger as if it were paper.
Eliria (retreating defensively, sweating):
"Zalauria Lambrigen... what are you doing here?!"
Zalauria (appearing behind Eliria in an instant, cold terrifying voice):
"Is this how the queen welcomes noble families?"
Eliria (looking around panicked, but finds no one behind her. She looks ahead to find Zalauria approaching):
"What is happening...?"
Zalauria stopped and lowered her aura slightly. The guards took the opportunity to attack all at once, by the dozens.
But she looked at them coldly, and before they could touch her hair, their heads flew off instantly. Blood splattered everywhere.
Zalauria (angrily):
"You annoying insects! You deserve this!"
Ryo (watching from afar, terrified, whispering):
"Who is this girl?! Am I seeing a demon?!"
Sweat poured down him, and he began to back away unconsciously... his instincts screaming to run.
Eliria (trembling voice, covered in guards' blood):
"What do you want?! Why did you come?!"
Zalauria (laughing loudly):
"Hahaha!!"
Eliria (serious):
"What's so funny?!"
Zalauria (wiping tears from laughing):
"Nothing... just your sight trembling was funny. You never changed, Eliria... Still weak. How can a girl like you rule a kingdom? That's really amazing."
A heavy silence fell.
Then Zalauria spoke through mental telepathy with someone:
Zalauria (in her mind):
"What do you want?"
The voice:
"You must return now. There is something important."
Zalauria (sighing mentally):
"That fool..."
She gave Eliria a cold, deep gaze like piercing her royal facade, then bowed sarcastically, as if mocking the very idea of respect:
"So, will you permit me to leave, Your Majesty?"
She said softly, each word dripping with venom and mockery,
"That was just a simple greeting... to tell you I'm back."
She didn't need anyone's permission. The entire place and everyone present kneeled before her aura's pressure, but she wanted to send a clear message to all, especially Eliria:
That the queen is weak... and her crown is the only thing giving her value.
Then... a heavy silence.
(Eliria, embarrassed, finally spoke with a trembling voice trying to cover it with anger):
"Leave... and never come back!"
(Zalauria smiled lightly, that smile carrying a thousand promises of destruction, then whispered):
"As you command... Your Majesty."
She walked toward the door, and before crossing it, stopped without looking back, saying:
"But I will return... and I will take everything from you. Just wait..."
Then she left.
She left behind only the terror she planted in everyone's hearts. No one who saw her ever forgot her. She was like an unforgettable nightmare.
Eliria collapsed to the ground, gasping as if climbing a mountain, and Ryo's eyes watered, still stunned.
Rin and Yui rushed in, panting.
Rin (worried):
"What's happening here?! I felt a massive aura and a suffocating murderous intent!"
Yui (fearful):
"Yes... she was so strong! We ran as fast as we could!"
When they saw Eliria and Ryo fallen on the ground, covered in blood, the two whispered together, shocked and scared:
"What happened here?!"
---
To be continued...