Ryoma woke up, feeling his chest hurt. Sitting down, he coughed. He was inside his room, still in Alani. Getting up, he reached the main room guided by the voices of Shuichirou, Yura and Syuusuke. The general and his bride arrived there as soon as the orange elf sent him a hawk about the tragedy. Kunimitsu stayed in the castle, taking care of things.

"Ryoma-kun!" Kayo went to his side as he coughed again. "Here, drink some water. You aspirated a lot of smoke; your lungs are still recovering. You have been sleeping for a whole day."

He obeyed. The human had never seen the elves with such expressions. Syuusuke had some bruises on his face but he seemed fine.

"Where is Sakuno?" he was finally able to speak again.

"Akio-sama took her to Murasaki." Koharu responded, she was leaning on the wall. Her crossed arms were covered in bandages and he noticed her long aquamarine hair was shorter, a little below her shoulders.

"What happened to you?"

"She pulled you from the fire." Kayo said. The young human looked at him with no emotions.

"What about the people at the festival? Are they well?"

"I was able to control the flames with my powers. Most of them only had superficial wounds. But, they are afraid of Sakuno-sama. The General came and spoke to them."

"Koharu-san told us about Akio's plan." Shuichirou looked at him. The green eyes were filled with pain. "She also told us you tried to help Sakuno. Thank you very much, Ryoma-kun."

"I already notified the older human lords so the city can be evacuated. We don't know what the queen can do under his command."

"How is he able to control her like that? What is that thing on her neck?

"Akio-sama purchased that from Shigeo-sama. He is the last one of an ancient line of elf hunters."

"Elf hunters?" Ryoma was shocked to know there was such thing.

"Many centuries before the Great War, some humans used to hunt elves and sell them as slaves. They used that stone, made from the bones and flesh of white elves to control them." Yura explained.

"White elves? Like Ragna?"

"Yes. Most of them were slaughtered in such times, since they were the most powerful of us." Kayo completed, the copper eyes taken by sadness. "A white elf cannot be controlled, so the humans kidnapped the children. They were killed in horrible ways. Since they only live on the mountains, they were cornered by the hunters that outnumbered them."

"A human queen was the one who forbid elf slavery on the human country. But, it was too late already for the white elves. Since they could not reproduce with the rest of us, their population only declined. We thought all the stones had been destroyed back then."

"Koharu-san and I will go to Murasaki." Shuichirou said, seriously. "I will bring our queen home. If I did not interfere she could have killed him back then and this would not happen." The green eyes, always so calm and gentle were glistering with anger.

A loud noise was heard outside and the earth trembled. The main gates were opened and Amaya appeared on them. On her back, the huge black dragon was silently observing them. He was much bigger and menacing than Rae, but he behaved in a calmer way. His eyes were icy blue.

"What is that thing?" Koharu's dark green eyes were wide in shock.

"What is he doing here? Aren't they banned on the mountains?!" Ryoma was also surprised.

"I broke the spell." Amaya responded, seriously. She grabbed Shuichirou's hand firmly. "Take him and save our queen."

"I am sorry I made you use such energy in your state. Are you and your child fine?"

"We are, do not worry."

"I am going with you!"

"Ryoma-kun, you will not." Syuusuke stood in front of him. "You are still weak and there is nothing you can do. Stay with us."

He felt frustration running all over his blood.

Shuichirou and Koharu started to cross the hallways when he noticed Yura walking by his side. He immediatly stopped and looked at her.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think?" the dark blue eyes were hard. "I am going with you."

"You will not." It was the first time she noticed how taller and imponent her fiancé truly was. "You will stay here where is safe."

"I am not useless! I am a representative and I also serve the queen! My powers are not as great as yours, but I have a named sword!" I can use water if there are flames, so…"

"I cannot risk losing you too!" he touched her face with both hands, gently but firmly. The blue elf noticed his skin was tremble and he was on the edge of tears. "I cannot go into battle with the possibility of you being hurt. Please."

"Shuichirou…" she embraced him tight, her heart was hurting.

"I promise you I will return." he showed his bride a small smile. "I will be your husband and you will tease me for the rest of our lives."

Her fingertips were on his jawline and she whispered. Her words were heavy with tenderness.

"Save our queen and come back safely to me. It is an order, General."

"Yes."

Shuichirou kissed her with all the love he carried on his chest. But, he was not able to glance at her a second time as their lips separated. Deep inside his heart, he knew he would do anything to bring his daughter back. Even at the cost of his life.

###########

Akio's tongue licked Sakuno's breast slowly and he sucked her nipples. The queen was naked on his futon. Her eyes were still completely white and lost somewhere else. Rae was outside, guarding the castle.

"I was waiting until our child was born to use the necklace with him, but I am an impatient man and had an even better idea." He whispered between her breasts, touching the white stone. Sakuno did not move or made a sound. "Why should I have only one powerful son if I can have your body at my mercy and make more children?"

Coming close to her face, he smiled on her pointy ear.

"I will make an army out of you. The world will be mine."

###########

Sakuno was in the middle of absolute darkness inside her mind. She was holding her whole body tight. Her muscles were painful and stiff and the long red bangs covered her face.

"Do not touch me. Do not touch me. Do not touch me." She kept repeating those words, over and over, her voice filled with loathe as she was able to see everything Akio was doing to her, but couldn't control her body. "Do not touch me. Ryoma is the only one I want to touch me. Ryoma is the only one. Ryoma is the only one. Do not touch me."

Her scarlet eyes were glistering, saliva dripping down her fangs in a twisted smile and her whole body was trembling.

"I will kill you. I will absolutely kill. I will definitely kill you, Akio."

He entered her roughly; his face and the satisfied smile were hidden by the long blue hair. The human king did not notice the tears falling from the elf queen's lifeless eyes were matching his trusts.