Yura woke up with Shuichirou kissing her neck and she smiled. He had spooned her during the night. Opening her eyes, she noticed the strange object on her finger and she sat down, quickly, looking at her hand.

"What is this?!" the ring had an infinity shape, made of white gold with a blue sapphire in a square cut.

"It is an engagement ring." He sat down in front of her with a smile.

"I know what it is, I meant why is it on my hand?!

"Because I want to marry you." he seemed so calm for someone panicking just the night before. "I had this made for you, I just got it two days ago, I was hoping to talk to you then, but so much had happened. I ask for the colors of your hair and eyes." His fingers touched her face, gently. "Did you like it?"

"Of course." She put her hand next to her heart. "It is lovely. But, you did not have to worry about such thing; I do not want you to do this out of obligation or…

"Since that night at the beach, I have been thinking about you and a life together. I told you I would not come to you with half hearted feelings. After Sakuno-sama conceive the heir, Syuusuke and Kunimitsu can take care of things just fine. I am going to retire and I want to live with you in Viorel." The green eyes looked extremely determinate. He, indeed, had thought things trough.

"Are you sure?" the general touched her hand with the ring and kissed it, before looking at her again. "Do you really want to let your whole life behind?"

"I am." He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I want to share a new life with you, Yura. Would you accept me?"

She jumped on his chest, with a big smile, making them fall on the bed again. Her arms were around him, tight. The blue elf could hear his loud and sincere heartbeats.

Before she could kiss her fiancé, there was a brief knock on the door and Kunimitsu opened without waiting for a response. After so many years of friendship and working together, he had the liberty to do so.

"Good morning, General, I…" he took his dark eyes from the papers he had on his hands and stopped by the door at the sight of a naked Yura straddling his friend who had some sheets around his waist.

"Kunimitsu!" Shuichirou pulled the sheets over his bride. He felt his entire body burning in deep embarrassment.

"I am so sorry; I did not mean to interrupt." He turned around and left the papers on the desk near. There was no change on his austere face. "These need your signature, but, there is no need to hurry. I will ask for a breakfast tray, you two must be hungry. Also, General, lock your door next time, would you? Yura-san, pardon me for the indiscretion. Please, enjoy your stay."

"Ye…yes." His voice left his throat in a trembling way.

As they were alone again, Yura couldnt stop herself to laugh at the situation and at the mortified General.

#############

Ryuu looked for his wife, since she was late for dinner time. He found Amaya at the balcony facing the top of the Ragna's mountain. It was a beautiful night, the full moon illuminated the landscape. His wife's long purple hair waved with the night breeze and there was a concerned look on her eyes.

"Amaya, are you all right?" he held her hand.

"Rae is restless. There is something wrong." Even though it was too far to see the dragon, she could hear his cries. Her heart knew he was not on his usual self. The dragon keepers could connect with their feelings.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Do you think something happened to Sakuno-sama?"

"Syuusuke-san told me there was a problem with Akio-sama. He attacked Ryoma and Sakuno interfered. He called her an object and she showed him his fangs."

"That is horrible!"

"She was about to kill him if the general did not interfere. The queen expelled him from the castle."

"Can she do that?"

"She needs him to bear a child. Even if they hate each other, she cannot get rid of him yet." He noticed his wife's hand trembling. "Such hard circumstances our queens have to deal with. Sometimes I wonder if it is right for the rest of us being so happy. Why I am able to conceive a child out of love but the same is denied to them?"

The dark elf held his wife and kissed her forehead.

"Don't feel guilty. You always do your best to help Sakuno-sama. Our queen is young but very capable. Let's hope she can have an heir soon and can be free of such man."

"Okay." Holding her husband back, Amaya's heart was still troubled.

###########

Ragna woke up as listening the loud groan of the red dragon as he reached the cave's opening. Arriving at the door, the beast was shaking his head and walking in circles. Seeing the white elf, he stopped and looked at her with distressed yellow eyes.

"I feel your pain, little one." She said, emotionless.

Her long white hair moved as the dragon growled loudly at her, asking for help.

"My hands are tied. I cannot stop what is bound to happen."

His roar was low, almost like a pledge and he rubbed his face on her body. Ragna held his head gently and there was also some sadness on her white eyes.

"Her strength needs to be tested. There is nothing we can do about it. I only hope she can win against herself. Otherwise, all lands will burn again."

############

"You look so handsome, Ryoma-kun!" Kayo said, happily, as seeing the boy with one of Aubree's official clothing.

"Do I really have to wear this?" he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Of course. Everyone from the administrative uses formal attires on the fall festival first night." The representative was wearing a bright orange dress with long sleeves and a black corsage. Her short hair had a small sunflower pin on it.

"I am not an administrative." He said, bored.

"You are the queen's companion, right?" Kayo fixed the upper buttons of his vest and it made him blush.

"Where is Sakuno?"

"The queen is here." Syuusuke said, also wearing the capital's official dark green attire. He made a hand gesture before Sakuno entered the room. The queen had a long sleeveless dark green dress on, with a deep V-neck showing her round cleavage. Her hair was tight on a ponytail with a small sunflower on it. She was wearing many copper bracelets and earrings of the same color in her ears.

The counselor came close to the human and smiled at him as noticing he had frozen on his spot."

"The general would scoldyou if he caught you seeing at his daughter with such intensity, Ryoma-kun."

"Ah!" he averted his eyes, noticing he was staring. "Sorry. It looked very well on you."

"Thank you." she smiled gently. "Let's go. It is time."

A week had passed quickly. It finally stopped raining two days after they arrived and the fall festival preparations could start. Sakuno used that time to talk to her subjects. There were many elves and some humans and they were very excited as seeing the queen so close. Ryoma enjoyed observing her with her people. He was sure Sakuno was, indeed, loved.

People were already drinking and dancing under the full moon. There was a small group of musicians on a small stage and all the area was illuminated by small lanterns. Sunflowers were scattered on the wood pillars and there was a big bonfire burning, where people were putting fruits, vegetables and other offerings, asking for fertility on the fields and a bearable winter.

Ryoma was amazed by the beauty of the celebration and stopped on his way as Sakuno continued, accompanied by Syuusuke and Kayo. The elves stopped as seeing the queen between then and they smiled and made reverences as she walked to the stage.

Everything was silent as she stood in front of hundreds of sudits and she smiled at them.

"Good night to you all. It is an honor to be here. I am sure your efforts will be heard and the harvests in Alani will be magnificent." She bowed to her people, humbly. "Thank you so much for all your work."

Looking at her people again, Sakuno smiled widely and Ryoma was sure she was never more beautiful.

"The fall festival has officially started. I wish you all a wonderful night!"

The human boy was about to follow her. The music had started to play again when a sack was put on his head and he felt his body being dragged. He tried to scream but the sack muffled his voice and the person had tied his arms to his body too.

It only stopped as he felt his body being pushed to the ground and the sack was removed abruptly. He was inside of a small cabin and there was only one latern lit.

"Who are you?! Why did you bring me here?!" he screamed to the figure between shadows.

Koharu appeared in front of him, the dark green eyes were filled with anger. She grabbed his collar and looked at his face.

"How could you, Ryoma? You betrayed us!"

"What are you talking about?! I don't know who you are!"

"Do not lie!" she pressed her hand even more. "Momoshiro-sama gave you the mission to kill the elf queen and you just disappear! After all this time, I find you with the colors of her country!"

"What?" the golden eyes were wide in absolute shock. "Me, killing Sakuno? Why?"

Koharu punched his face and Ryoma felt a little blood on his lips.

"I lost my memories. Sakuno found me almost dying in the forest. I don't know who I am or who you are. I don't understand anything you are saying." The black bangs were covering his face but one golden eye looked seriously at her. "You can kill me, but, please, if you know anything about me, tell me. Please."

The anguish on his face made Koharu take a deep breath.

"My name is Koharu. We have grown up together in Matsumoto, a city by the mountains. You are 19 years old. Momoshiro-sama, the king, is your best friend. You are an assassin working to the human lords. When Akio-sama won the tournament, you were hired to kill the elf queen, so she could not give him an heir."

"Why should Sakuno be harmed? It wasn't easier to kill that bastard, then?" his voice trembled in anger.

"Akio-sama is not the problem, his child will be. He will kidnap the baby after it's born and conquer all the human lands."

"What?"

"That is why the queen needs to die." She looked at him, coldly. "Otherwise all human nations will be under the hands of that monster. Akio-sama did not only win the battles, he found joy in killing his opponents, even if it was not necessary."

"How do you know all that?"

"I am his Captain of the Guard. I have been monitoring him since his father did under suspicious circumstances."

"Sakuno would never let anyone take her child."

"She will not have a choice. The queen cannot leave the elf country and her husband cannot be harmed by them."

"I need to talk to Sakuno now!" he stood up. "She needs to know what is he planning to do! Let me go!"

"And how are you going to do this, Ryoma?! When the elf queen knows about this plan she is going to ask you questions. Will you tell her that you were the one supposed to take her life?!"

Her words hit him like an arrow. Was his past self really ready to assassinate her? The image of the scarlet eyes, her smile and the warmth of her body came to his mind and he felt a tremendous pain on his chest.

"It doesn't matter what happens to me. I need to tell her. I need to protect Sakuno."

Koharu was heartbroken as seeing such devotion on his semblance. Not, it was more than that. Ryoma had looked like that before, but his eyes and expression were for her. Coming close, she cupped his face and kissed him. The young man was utterly shock and averted his face.

"Do you really not remember me?" small tears descended her cheeks and undid the stern look of some moments ago. "You said that the elf queen would be your last mission, that we would build a new life together. Don't you remember?"

"Koharu-san…"

"Do not talk to me like I am a stranger!" her beautiful face was taken by deep sadness. "I was waiting for you all this time! I prayed every night you could be safe and well!"

"I am so sorry." he had no other words. "But, I need to go to Sakuno. Let me go, I beg you."

Koharu gave up. Rubbing her face, she dried her tears and took a small knife from her pocket, cutting the rope in one stood there while Ryoma ran out, desperately.

"Sakuno! Sakuno!" he found strange the music had stopped again. As coming close to the main stage, all the elves were silenced and there was a heavy atmosphere. Syuusuke arm stopped him to get close and there was an unsatisfied frown on his face.

"Be still, Ryoma-kun."

"Syuusuke-san, what happened?!"

"We have an unpleasant guest." Kayo responded.

Looking ahead, Akio was there. Sakuno was standing in front of him and Ryoma's heart froze.

"What are you doing here?"

"Can't a husband miss his wife?" his smile was even more dangerous than his stern face. "I heard you had brought the little human with you. I told you before I was a jealous man."

"And I made it clear I did not want to see you anymore. Leave my country at once."

"Dear wife, I thought humans were allowed in this festivity."

"I will not repeat myself. Obey me, Akio. Otherwise…" touching the white stone on the necklace, Akio grinned as Sakuno's stone started to shine and she feel on her knees, screaming in pain.

"Otherwise?" he asked as looking down on her.

"Sakuno!

"Sakuno-sama!" Kayo and Ryoma screamed but Syuusuke put himself in front of them. The blue eyes were filled with hate.

"Roar, Kaze, Ame." Two short swords appeared on his hands coming from a blue light. They had silver blades and blue shafts.

"Syuusuke-san, you cannot kill him!" Kayo reminded him.

"I know." He looked at Sakuno crying in pain on the ground, her entire body trembling. "But I cannot let him hurt her. Shuichirou will never forgive me."

In a flash, Syuusuke ran to Akio and kicked his face, making the human hit a tree a few meters away. Throwing his swords, he cut some wood pillars fall on his body and they return to his hands like boomerangs before disappearing.

"Sakuno-sama!" he ran to the queen's side and she was still screaming. Before he could touch her, she was dead silent and stood up, grabbing his neck. Her fangs were out and her entire expression had changed to a very menacing one. Her eyes were completely white, just like Ragna's. "Sa…Sakuno-sama!" Syuusuke could not breathe. They heard Akio's laughter as he came from inside the wreckage and walked into their direction. The humans and elves were terrified and opened his way.

"You should not hurt the queen's husband. Right, wife?"

Sakuno growled on Syuusuke's face before throwing his body into the bonfire.

"Syuusuke-san!" Kayo ran after him and it was able to stop the flame using her wind powers and pulled his body out.

"You bastard!" Ryoma picked a staff near and attacked Akio fiercely, but he continued to grim at their lost luck. As hitting the king's face many times, he kneeled down and spit some blood. The grey eyes were filled with anger.

"Aren't you a nuisance? Sakuno, end this insect and everything here."

She was completely emotionless. Ryoma tried to run back to her side, but the ground shook. He recognized that familiar sensation and sound. Looking up, Rae was on the top of the castle. He noticed the dragon's eyes were also completely blank as he roared.

It only took a single breathe of fire for the entire festival to be under flames when the dragon came down.

The sight of Sakuno and Akio mounting the beast was the last thing he saw between the fire and the desperate people running, before everything on his mind was taken by absolute darkness.