Chapter 7.
Ember's eyes opened up and she was in an all-white room, a room she feared more than anything. This was the room where she had been tortured in for almost a month, this was also where she had created Fury. Sure enough, the girl who looked just like her, only with white hair was standing in the room.
"Took you long enough," Fury rolled her eyes.
"What do you want, I was having a good dream," Fury rolled her eyes.
"Look I wanted to talk to you about something," Fury snapped her fingers and two chairs appeared. "Take a seat this won't take long."
Ember took a seat in front of her more twisted self, "what is going on."
Fury sat down, "listen up I had a little chat with this Duchess mom of your."
"You didn't hurt her did you!" Ember snapped.
"No, I just wanted her to know that while you may trust her, I don't and if she hurts you I will kill her like all the others," Fury answered.
"Of course you did," Ember remarked.
"Also she knows about your past about this room, and how I was made," Ember sighed.
"Does she love me?"
"Yes your mommy still loves," Fury said in a mocking tone of voice. "She loves you very much actually, I was wondering something."
"Wondering what?"
"When will you no longer need me? When can we combine back into one being?"
Ember shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know yet, I still need you…".
"You are worried about that crow Ivy aren't you?" Ember nodded her head. "Don't worry I won't be leaving until you want me too. And I want a rematch with that brat and her master."
"He almost killed us," Fury growled darkly.
"I know," Fury hissed. "But I know that I can win this time, as long as our Kaguna stays active I will kill him!"
"Well my body isn't strong enough to keep our Kaguna open for that long," Fury shot up to her feet throwing her chair back in the process.
"Idiot if you hadn't spent so much time crying and whining like a brat and actually trained your body. We wouldn't be that weak!" Ember stood to her feet as well.
"I told you that I don't like using that power that much!" Ember screamed as Fury rushed her and pushed back into a wall. Fury held her sharp nails against her neck, making Ember shake in terror.
"Listen well, I care for you, but if you do not try to get stronger, I will lock you in here for a week while I get stronger!" Fury let go of Ember and she dropped to her hands and knees. "You are strong, you fought that black girl by yourself without me. Once you get scared you forget how strong you really are!"
Fury turned on her heels and walked away through the wall, "go back to your dreaming, and ask that woman to train you!"
Ember eyes snapped open and sat up in bed sweat dripping from her forehead. It was dark and moonlight was slowly filling her room, she turned towards the window and saw that it was open. Ember walked towards the window and closed it. "Mom must have opened this window before she left." Ember looked out of the window and enjoyed the sight of the moon.
"Maybe Fury is right… maybe I should do some basic training tomorrow. I wanna protect Ms. Tilly…. Mom I want to protect my mom. So I should get stronger," Ember concluded.
The Next Morning After Breakfast.
Orion and Chrysta, as well as a centaur protector, had arrived after breakfast and after questioning Ivy. Orion concluded that it would be the right move, to have himself and Chrysta stay in Enchancia for a while. Just to make sure that nothing bad would happen.
"Is this Jing-Shuan that much of a threat?" Sofia asked.
"Yes," Orion said a bit darkly. "Jing Shuan was a former general of China. However, he quit and left the country after a dispute with the empire. Now he serves as a bounty hunter, and he is a very powerful warrior and threat."
"Did something happen between you two?" Sofia noticed Orion tone turned a bit dark.
"We had a fight a years ago after he had killed a centaur. He had paid his crimes but someone wanted him killed and hired Jing-Shuan who put him down. I found out and regretfully wanted revenge so we fought, our battle lasted 3 days and 3 nights. I lost that battle and almost died…" Sofia reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder. Earning a smile from the winged man, "it was on that day that Jing-Shuan was no longer allowed to enter the isles. However, he still comes for business, I had no idea that he was also a ghoul hunter."
"And Ivy?" Chrysta groaned when Sofia has said that.
"That little brat," Chrysta began. "She is a twisted little girl, who only wants to fight strong people. She wields that scythe like a master, and she has been used as a spy for years. She knows how to lie, and she knows how to cheat!"
"Did something happen between the two of you?" Chrysta slammed her hand on the table in front of them startling Sofia.
"That evil child, cut off the wings of a close friend of mine just to get away from justice! That evil child has just as much blood on her hands as her wicked adopted father!" Chrysta snapped. "I hate her Sofia, and if I see her again then she will pay for her crimes!"
"Which brings me to my next point," Sofia looked towards Orion who was giving her a calming look. "Sofia you are skilled in basic magic, your sword fighting is getting better, and your skills with your enchantlet is also getting better. However, it is time that we begin to work on more self-defense, like hand to hand combat."
"I'm ready," Sofia said.
"Good because your training starts today," Sofia stood from her chair looking excited.
"How do we start?" Orion chuckled a bit.
"For starters, it's time you choose a basic element to study," Orion answered.
"Can I learn three of them?" Orion laughed at that.
"Easy Sofia, start with one and then we will move our way up," Orion remarked.
"Ok, how about wind magic?" Sofia suggested.
"Wise choice," Chrysta said. "Orion is amazing with wind magic, he is the one who taught me?"
"Then I'll go change," Sofia answered as she quickly left.
Once she had gotten changed, the group went outside where Orion had Sofia sat a seat in the grass. "Well, what do we have here," Sofia turned her head and saw that Ember and Tilly were walking up. "Doing a bit of training Sofia?"
"Yes," Sofia answered, "what are you and Ember doing today?"
"The same," Tilly reached down and placed a hand on Ember's shoulder. "Ember wanted to do a bit of training today."
"Hello, again Mr. Orion." Ember greeted with a bow.
"No need for that," Orion said gently. "Lift your head."
"So this is the little ghoul you told me about," Ember turned towards Chrysta. "My name is Chrysta, I'm Sofia mentor."
"Pleasure to meet you Ms. Chrysta," Ember said shyly.
"Orion if you want, you all can join me and Ember today. I was gonna take Ember here to a secluded location near here. She doesn't want anyone to know her secret." Orion nodded his head.
"That would be great, I would love to see what this little one can do," Orion remarked. "Perhaps a little sparring would do wonders for them."
"Alright then, Sofia why don't we go and get our horses, we won't need a carriage for this." Sofia stood up and followed her aunt to the stables and got their horses as well as an extra helmet for Ember. Once that was done, the group (except the Centaur named Trion) followed Tilly as she led them to a place that only she knew about. It was the center of a forest, that had a perfect circle in it covered in red grass.
"Welcome to my secret training grounds," Tilly said.
"Why is the grass red?" Sofia asked.
"According to a legend a witch used to live here and cursed the lands. So now people are afraid to come in here." Tilly explained. "I used this land a lot when I first began to study magic, I came up with a lot of good spells here."
"Can you show us one?" Sofia asked hopefully.
"Of course," Tilly took her wand from her pocket and pointed it to the sky. "Which one, wind, light, fire, lightning, or water?"
"How about wind?" Sofia suggested.
"No problem," Tilly closed her eyes and focused. "Airwave," Tilly pointed her wand towards the towards the trees and a sudden blast of wind made 5 of them collapse to the ground.
"Whoa!" Sofia exclaimed in surprise.
"Now my airwave spell is actually capable of knocking down more trees than that, but you get the basic idea," Tilly put her wand away. "Now Sofia before we start your practice, I believe you need some basic hand to hand training."
"I've never needed to use my hands," Sofia said softly.
"I understand that," Tilly answered. "However, in the case that you do need to truly defend yourself. You need to learn hand to hand combat in case you cannot get a weapon." Tilly turned toward Ember, "Ember if you don't mind I think a little sparring with Ms. Chrysta would do some good for you."
"If she accepts," Ember said softly.
"No problem kiddo," Chrysta cracked her knuckles. "Let's see just how well you can fight."
"While that is going on, I will teach Sofia the basics," Tilly remarked. With a wave of her wand, Tilly had changed into more fighting attire.
Sofia looked towards Orion, "what about you Orion?"
"I will be observing Sofia," Orion answered, "hand to hand combat isn't really my style, once we move to your wind magic. Then I will join in."
Back at the castle.
"Orginal Ivy!" Ivy growled as one of her clones came into her room through a window. "The Duchess left this morning with Princess Sofia, that new girl, and two of the protectors."
"So there are no protectors in the palace right now?"
"No right now there is still a centaur on the guards, he almost saw me this morning. He seems to be moving in a circle around the palace," Ivy rolled her eyes.
"Such a silly move," Ivy remarked.
"Not so silly since there is also a copy of him on every floor of the castle," Ivy's smile disappeared.
"Smart move," Ivy sighed and pulled out her wand. "Ok both of you can get some rest, well go again when the moon is at it's highest." Ivy waved her wand and a portal opened up revealing Jing-Shuan. "Jimmy, we have a problem."
Jing-Shuan sighed after he had heard Ivy's report, "so Orion is there and he has brought help. Sounds like trouble…. Sounds like he wants a rematch against me for all those years ago. Don't be reckless."
"Also I think the ghoul we are looking for has been adopted by the Duchess," Ivy answered.
"Why do you say that?" After Ivy had explained it to him, he facepalmed himself. "Ivy that is the ghoul we have been looking for!"
"Really?" Ivy looked up cutely. "I thought she had white hair?"
"Ivy her hair was black and then turned to white, remember that is when she almost beat you." Ivy pouted cutely, "you know she almost beat you cause you underestimated her."
"Ok, I didn't know that she was gonna get stronger!" Ivy snapped but quickly calmed down. "So what do we do now? I can't take her on with broken ribs, and she is my rematch, not yours!"
"Easy, we wait," Ivy pouted at that. "For now you gain the royals trusts and try and get one of them to tell you that she is a ghoul. Once you are healed you have my permission to attack. Also, I have to leave for business on a different bounty so I will be gone for at least a month. If you are healed before I return to Enchantcia, you have my permission to kill that ghoul."
"Thank you love you, Jimmy," Ivy said.
"I love you too," Jing-Shuan answered back and the portal closed.
Ivy smiled, she deactivated her spell and her clones disappeared. "Perhaps I can have some fun." Ivy got out of her bed and left her room. "Now what spell do I use to call Boobies?"
"Ow!" Ember yelped as she got caught with a punch from Chrysta.
"Come on," Chrysta smirked as she flew above the girl. "That wasn't even a strong punch little ghoul. Shall we get a bit more serious and stop holding back?"
Ember flipped back to her feet and let out a growl, "man she is kicking your ass!" Ember groaned as Fury's voice filled her head. "Not now Fury go back to sleep!" Ember ran towards Chrysta and threw a punch. Chrysta flew into the air and spun around kicking Ember in her chest sending her flying back. The sparring match between Ember and Chrysta was a quite a sight to behold. With Ember using her natural speed, going up against the quite flying and quite dodging Chrysta. Chrysta would dodge each of her attacks and counter with perfectly place strike of her own.
As Ember flew back, she activated her Kaguna and two of her four tails came out. She stabbed them into the dirt and stopped herself. "Well, I didn't know you had tails?" Chrysta said as she hovered in the air. "Glad you have something to stop yourself now instead of rolling across the grass again." She lightly teased.
"Alright, that's it no more Mrs, nice girl!" Ember eyes turned bright red, and she ran forward.
"Well then give me your best shot!" Chrysta answered as she dove towards the girl.
"Sofia focus," Sofia turned around and looked towards her aunt. "Come on Sofia." Sofia held her hands up like her aunt taught her and began to move towards her. "Let's try this again shall we."
Sofia let out a huff as she began to throw punches towards Tilly, they were very wild and uncoordinated. Tilly caught one of Sofia punches, "your punches are still very wild, remember to throw a variety of strikes." Sofia threw another punch and Tilly caught that hand as well. "Also try to catch a larger opponent off balance." Tilly placed her foot on Sofia's chest and kicked her away for the 9th time today.
Sofia stumbled but this time keep her balance and raced back for another round. Sofia was a quick learner, and all of the criticism that aunt provided wasn't falling on dead ears. Sofia was throwing a variety of punches this time around. However, her aunt being them ore experience fighter knew how to block and counter each one. Tilly frowned a bit, and a sudden right hand that stopped in front of her made Sofia stumble and fall. "Remeber to stay on guard, your punches are getting better but stay on guard." Tilly smiled and offered her hand to Sofia.
"Sorry," Sofia said, and she looked back at Ember and Chrysta battle.
"I know what you are thinking," Tilly looked at their match as well. "You are thinking, I will never catch up to those two."
"How did you know that?" Sofia asked.
"It's all over your face my little adventure," Tilly answered. "What I would suggest for you my dear is not to compare yourself to two them. Especially not to Ember, she has had to learn to fight to survive. Her speed and strength, as well as those powerful tails of hers, give her advantage over anyone."
"It's just amazing," Sofia said as she watched Ember dodge a kick from Chrysta and counter with her bright red tails. "She is two years younger than me, yet she is so powerful."
"It is amazing," Tilly said. "Come on a couple more rounds then we can start your training in wind magic."
"How long did it take you to learn to fight?" Tilly placed a hand on her chin.
"Years, learning magic, hand to hand combat, and my skilled with a sword took a long time," Tilly waved her wand and summoned two wooden swords. "It was a long hard process, but it is worth it."
"Who trained you?" Sofia asked she took a sword from her aunt.
"Oh a lot of people through my brother was a good rival in sword fighting, so sparring with him was great practice." Tilly spun her sword around in her hand before pointing it towards Sofia. "Now let's see what you can do with a sword, my dear." Sofia held her sword out point aimed at Tilly and came rushing in.
"I see the training at Royal Prep has been working great?" Tilly noted. She was amazed at Sofia's skills with a blade, yes there were flaws but she seemed to be great. "Don't leave yourself too open," Tilly spun around and landed a soft kick to Sofia's side. "When your off balance, recovery as quick as you can." Tilly slashed her sword towards Sofia knocking hers out of her hand. Tilly finished it off by patting her on the head with her blade. "Also keep a tight grip on your handle don't let that sword go."
Sofia nodded her head and grabbed her sword again, "again please!"
"Of course!" Tilly smiled proudly as she ran towards her niece. "I won't be holding back this time!"
"Your pretty good," Chrysta remarked as she blocked Ember's next attack. Chrysta flew back a bit as she dodged a barrage of strikes from Ember's tails. "You are pretty good for a little girl."
"Well," Ember ran towards Chrysta and jumped towards her. "I've had a lot of practice."
"I can see," Chrysta used her better speed in the air and flew behind the girl. "However you shouldn't try and fight an opponent who is better equipped for the air!" Chrysta kicked the girl in the back knocking her to the ground. Ember landed one her feet and rolled out of the way barely avoiding a punch from Chrysta. Chrysta let loose a barrage of punches and kicks towards Ember, who dodged every one of them. Ember blocked one punch and used one of her tails to swept Chrysta's legs out from under her. Chrysta landed on her back and rolled onto her stomach and flew into the air.
"Nice work," Chrysta praised, "You almost had me for a second."
"I think I was winning," Tilly said with a smile.
Chrysta rolled her eyes, "yeah I don't think so?"
"You know you don't need to hold back on me, I heal really fast so I can take a hit," Ember remarked as she got back into a fighting pose. "I wanna get stronger, so come at me even stronger."
Chrysta smiled even brighter, "well then let see what you can do little girl. But first, a water break, cause when we start next time it is gonna be a lot harder."
Chrysta and Ember sat down in the shade of a tree and Orion gave them each a cup of water. "I must say Ember you are strong?"
"Thank you, Mr. Orion,," Ember responded.
"As for you Chrysta, I see that you have improved your combat skills to a new level," Chrysta smiled at her praise. "Now Chrysta if you want, you can use a weapon if you want."
"If that works for Ember then I will," Chrysta remarked.
"I would like to fight Chrysta at her full power, I can tell that she is much stronger than she is showing," Ember answered.
"May I ask you something Ember?" asked Orion.
"Of course."
"Do you still feel pain when you heal?"
"Yes," Ember answered. "Even though ghouls heal really fast, we still feel the pain, but after all of the pain I've gone through it doesn't hurt that much."
"Ouch!" Chrysta winced as she watched Sofia take a hard kick to her side knocking her to ground. "She is not going easy on her."
"Knowing Sofia she probably asked for her aunt not to go east on her," Orion responded.
Sofia stood weakly to feet and took deep breaths, "your getting better." Sofia looked at Tilly who was walking towards her, "your doing pretty well Sofia, just keep your guard up and always be ready to dodge. Come on let's take a break and then we can start your practice with wind magic."
"Alright," Sofia followed her aunt to where the others were seeing and laid down on the grass.
"You know Ms. Tilly, there is a difference between not going easy on your niece and trying to injure her," Chrysta smirked.
"She wanted me to go harder and harder on her," Tilly answered,
"She's right," Sofia sat up and was handed a cup by Ember, "Thank you."
"You are skilled with a blade Sofia, just need to fix a couple things and you will be doing much better," Sofia was happy to hear the praise from Orion. "Now once you are ready, we can begin your wind magic training."
While Sofia was recovering, Ember and Chrysta had begun round two of their battle. "You know kiddo," Chrysta began as she summoned a weapon from her enchantlet, dual short swords. "If you want we can keep on with our hand to hand fight."
"No," Ember summoned her last two tails making four in total. "I would rather take you on at your best. I can't stronger if I don't fight you at your best."
"Well then let's see what you can do," Chrysta spun her blades around in a circle before gliding towards Ember.
"Trust me you'll like what you see," Ember answered as she ran towards Chrysta.
As the duo fought, Sofia watched in awe as she was truly seeing the power of Chrysta and Ember at hand. Every time Ember's tails would come into contact with Chrysta blades sparks would fly and a loud clanging would be heard. However, it was very obvious who was the more skilled of the two. Ember was starting to think that maybe she shouldn't have accepted this match with Chrysta. The difference between Chrysta with her swords and Chrysta without her swords was huge. It was either that or Chrysta had been holding back in their first match.
"Again she is kicking your ass!" Ember growled as Fury's voice was heard again only this time she was laughing.
"Just shut up!" Ember snapped as she jumped back to try and gain a bit of distance but Chrysta wasn't allowing that to happen.
"You know she is going for the kill my dear if you want I could tag in," Fury suggested.
"No, you wanted me to train! So I am gonna fight her myself!" Ember thought.
"No problem," Fury faded away.
Sofia finally recovered and was taken into the woods by Orion. "Why are we going into the woods, Orion?"
"Because this training is gonna need quiet," Orion explained. After they had gotten a bit farther away, Orion had Sofia sit down before him. "Now I am glad that you choose wind magic since it is one of the more easier ones to learn. See converting your magic energy into an element takes a lot. For example, using a water spell with no water nearby takes more energy than casting the same spell when there is a source of water nearby. That is what makes wind magic, one of the most basic and strongest of them. Because it doesn't take a lot of energy to cast cause wind, air, it is all around you." Orion held his palms out, "Sofia hold out your hands and channel the air into your hands."
"Don't you need a wand to use magic?" Sofia asked.
"Well not really," Orion answered. "Using a wand to cast a spell is used to help channel your power to a more focused point. However, someone skilled in magic like myself no longer needs a wand to cast magic. Now focus… summon your magic energy into your hands and then feel the wind on your body. Feel the air run across your body, now breath in and out slowly. Feel the air run through your lungs and inside out your body."
Sofia closed her eyes and did what Orion asked of her a strange feeling of warmth filled her hands, she focused on the air all around her. It was weird, and it was an amazing feeling. Sofia opened her eyes and looked down at her hands, she watched as a small purple ball of energy began to form. It grew bigger and bigger and then it disappeared and was replaced with a ball of air. "There you go, your magic energy has been changed into the wind element."
"Amazing," Although she couldn't see it, she could defiantly feel the ball of air in her palms. "What next?"
Orion held out his hand, and a spellbook appeared in it, "this is yours to keep Sofia, it is a spellbook on wind magic. Study this book and learn the spells, for now, we are gonna try 3 of them. Wind Blast, Wind Dorm, and Wind Levitation."
"Wind Levitation, you mean I'll be able to fly?!" Sofia asked excitedly.
"No that is a way more complex spell," Orion answered. "Wind Levation will allow you to lift yourself off the ground."
"So there is a spell that will let me fly?"
"There is a spell like that but it takes a lot of energy that you don't have yet," Orion explained. "Right now you are only allowed to practice level 1 spells."
"How many levels are there?" Sofia asked.
"There are 5 levels," Orion answered.
"Ok," Sofia reached into her pocket and took out her wand. "So the key is reading the spell chant and then casting the spell."
"That is part of it depending on your magic energy, it will either cast perfectly or will be a little week. So don't get upset if you don't get it right the first time." Sofia nodded her head and looked at the first spell.
"Send a blast of wind towards my enemy Wind Blast!" Sofia pointed her wand towards the tree, and a blast of wand shot up and hit it. It wasn't very powerful and it only knocked down a couple leaves. "It wasn't very powerful."
"That is just the beginning with a little practice that spell will get a lot stronger," Orion held his hand towards the same tree. "For example, Wind Blast!"
Sofia's dropped as a large hole appeared in the trunk of the tree, "and that was just a level 1 spell?!"
"Yes, now let's try wind dome." Sofia nodded her head and quickly read the spell.
"Protect me from my enemies attack, Wind Dome!... Why didn't anything happen?" Sofia asked after a while.
"Read the steps of the spell Sofia," Orion corrected.
"Spin around while saying this spell," Sofia read out loud. "Oh okay," Sofia repeated the spell and spun around. She was amazed as she felt a dome of wind spinning around her.
"Wind Blast!" Sofia turned towards Orion who had shot a blast towards her, his blast broke through Sofia's dome and sent her rolling across the ground into a bush.
"At least warn me next time!" Sofia said as she pulled herself out of the bush.
"Well your spell was strong enough to slow down my attack, but wasn't strong enough to completely stop it," Orion answered. "Also if I warned you, you would have tried to put more power into it." Orion summoned flew up and sat on a branch. "Alright now using Wind Levitation jump up and to my location."
"Alright," Sofia answered. "I summon the wind from the sky above and left me from the ground below. Wind Levitation!" Sofia pointed her wand towards the ground and she managed to get a few feet off the ground. But she couldn't quite make it to Orion location, she dropped onto her knees and began to pant a bit.
"Alright let's take a break," Orion flew down to his student and helped her to a sitting position. "What we are gonna work on for the rest of the day is increasing your magic energy, right now you can handle about 3 spells."
"H-How do increase it?" Sofia asked.
"Well, it all comes down to this. The more you practice magic, the more your magical energy will increase." Orion explained. "Even know there are spells that take to much power for me to cast, I am still getting my magical energy up there."
"How many spells can you cast right now?"
"That depends on the spell some spells require a lot more magic energy than others," Orion explained.
"Can you show me your strongest spell?" Sofia asked.
"The strongest spell I know is used for life or death since it will take every last bit of my magic to cast," Orion explained. Sofia noticed that the wind was starting to pick up, and she realized that it was coming from Orion. "However I can show you one of the most powerful wind spells I know." Orion held both his hands out, the force of the wind was almost pushing Sofia back. It was almost like all the air around them was being compressed into one place. Orion slowly closed his hands together, and his eyes opened up. "Come forth and strike down my enemy with your mighty roar." Orion opened his hands and Sofia was stunned as a huge white dragon came from his hands and let out a roar. "Wind Dragon!"
"Oh my God?" Sofia said true shock.
"Yeah, I can summon about 5 of these before I run out of power," Orion clapped his hands and his dragon disappeared.
"And that move is in this spellbook?" Sofia asked as she looked down at her copy.
"Yes it is a spell that I myself created about 15 years ago," Orion explained with slight pride.
"You made your own spell," Orion nodded his head.
"It is something that everyone wants to do create a spell that will make it into a spellbook one day," Orion could see the look in Sofia's eye. "Yes, we can get back to your training now."
"How did you know I was gonna say that?"
"Because I saw the look in your eyes, now let try those three spells again," Sofia gladly went back to her training.
By Sunset Sofia and Ember were truly exhausted after a long day of training. They arrived back at the palace just in time for dinner. They had just begun their dinner when Baileywick came into the room a little nervous. "Um, your majesty… someone is requesting an audience with you right now."
"Who is requesting this audience Baileywick?" Roland questioned.
"A bounty hunter by the name of Carolina Andrews," Baileywick answered.
"Carolina Andrews!" Everyone turned and looked at Orion.
"You've heard of her?" Sofia questioned.
"She is a bounty hunter who has quite the reputation across the isles, she has captured some of the most powerful criminals across the isles," Orion explained.
"Baileywick brings her inside, I would like to see what she wants?" Baileywick nodded his head and left the room and arrived a couple moment later with a beautiful woman dressed in all blue.
"Your majesty," The blond haired woman took a bow towards him. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Welcome to Enchantcia," Roland greeted. "Would you care for something to eat?"
"I ate before I came," Carolina answered as she took a seat and pulled a bottle out of her bag. Carolina slid the bottom down the table towards Kind Roland and it stopped in front of him. "A gift, wine from the isles of giants very strong."
"Thank you," Roland answered. "So may I ask what brings you to my kingdom?"
"I heard that a certain crow was spotted in the area, I came here to look for The Vicious Crow known as Ivy," Carolina explained.
"My apologies Ms. Carolina but she isn't in the area anymore, she was run off by my sister and royal sorcerer." Carolina shook her head and began to laugh.
"Oh you poor fools," Carolina answered. "Ivy isn't gone your majesty, she is still in the castle hiding."
"What!" Tilly said in shock. "We searched the whole castle top to bottom and she was nowhere near here. Or even in the surrounding area."
"Believe me your majesty Ivy wouldn't leave the area," Carolina explained. "She is an expert spy, and she could literally be anywhere in this palace. That brings me to why I am here, I have a proposition for you, put a bounty on that girl's head and I will capture her dead or even alive."
"Carolina," Orion spoke up. "I understand your motives, however, the protectors have been put here to protect everyone in this palace from Ivy."
"Orion you know that what I am asking is strictly for business," Carolina answered. "You are here to protect them, I am here to make some money, King Roland allow me to end this little girl before things get out of hand. I know her movements, I know her style, and more importantly, I know how her mind works, and I know what she is."
"And how would you know these things?" Chrysta demanded.
"Cause….I am the one who trained her." Everyone looked at the woman in shock. "And I also know why she is so strong and skilled with a scythe."
"Care to explain?" Roland asked.
"Of course… that child was an experiment by a wicked queen who wanted the perfect killing machine. So she combined a baby, with that of a monster… Ivy isn't just a girl, she is also…. Half Ghoul…"