Behind The Silhouette Of A Mute Slave

BLOOD of lifeless bodies scattered around the white angelic structure of Kingdom Parzatine. The tranquility and euphoria were wrecked by the screams and shattering of bodies that fight for their beloved kingdom. The elders and young ones that wanted to escape were being perished brutally by the heartless barbaric warriors of King Amari of Kingdom Perimoze, because they wanted to capture Princess Nieva. But King Narcissus and Queen Rieva didn't want to give their blessings to let their only daughter marry a heartless king who only wanted to cause disaster in every kingdom.

King Narcissus and Queen Rieva knew that their daughter had a prophecy to carry the powerful child, and they didn't want to let their precious daughter entangled to an incompetent king or leader, and they wanted their daughter to marry her mate or whoever the man in her fate was.

"Father! Mother!" Princess Nieva screamed as her parents fought towards the Barbaric General of the warriors of Kingdom Perimoze.

Her father, King Narcissus swayed his ice sword towards the Barbaric General that was holding a hammer. Her mother, Queen Rieva throwed some blazing shards to back up his father's moves, and also to kill some barbaric warriors.

The Barbaric General mocked cheeky King Narcissus while they were clashing their weapons. "Stop battling, Rotten King. I only wanted your daughter to marry our king, and we would leave peacefully the Kingdom of Parzatine."

"No! I wouldn't let my precious daughter marry that fool king of yours," King Narcissus stated with complete annoyance, and continued to fight.

The Barbaric General laughed in full sarcasm. "Princess Nieva would definitely be caged in the arms of our King Amari. Your fate was to become our queen. Surrender now while we had a little mercy for this ungrateful kingdom or else all of the Parzatines would be wiped out. The Kingdom of Perimoze would rule the whole world!"

"Defeat me and my ice sword before you mock my beloved kingdom. I wouldn't show mercy on you! The prophecy wouldn't fall in Perimoze, and definitely your imprudent kingdom would taste downfall. I would love to behead you and your idiot king!" King Narcissus retorted, and swayed his ice sword to slash the Barbaric General of the Kingdom Perimoze that had a smirk on his face.

"I would love to bring your head to my king. Warriors, don't let Princess Nieva out of your sight or else you would taste the fury of our King Amari. Any intruder that would interfere would be perished. Show no mercy on any civilians of Parzatine."

The barbaric warriors began to move when they heard their superior's order at a fast pace that made the Parzatine warriors alert and clashed with them with the help of her mother, Queen Rieva.

"Princess, let's go!" Her personal companion, Daffodil exclaimed and held her arms. Three warriors of Kingdom Parzatine ushered her to leave the palace, including her two personal companions. Tears shed from her eyes, because she didn't want to run away without her parents while they were fighting for their lives. She wanted to help them, and protect her precious kingdom. Her chest ached with grief.

Her mother, Queen Rieva gazed at her direction and smiled, and mumbled through the wind that only she could hear. "Guard yourself in your journey towards peace and love. I love you, My Beloved Daughter. May the deity of ice bless you."

Daffodil and Deja hooked their arms around her, and moved in a fast motion to guide her out of the castle to escape. With the help of the three warriors of Parzatine who were slashing out the enemies that would interfere with their moves. Another explosion was thrown by their foes that made their palace completely damaged, and many warriors from Kingdom Parzatine were perished. Loud cries and screams for help from the innocent civilians from their kingdom were heard everywhere. She couldn't see where they were, because of the thick black smoke from the explosions. Her heart was shattered into pieces.

"Princess, please always wear your necklace with the fire amulet that was given by the deity to keep you in becoming a human, so that King Amari and even the foes from the other kingdom who wanted you wouldn't trace you throughout our journey to escape," said Deja, her other personal companion pulled her by arm, and they run away from the Palace using their agility, and they went to the trees to hide.

Her tears kept on falling while silently crying for her beloved kingdom that was wrecked. She wanted revenge, but King Amari was heartless and more powerful than her. She clenched her fists while shaking in anger.

'Someday, King Amari would taste his own downfall, and also his kingdom. I wanted to see it with my own eyes.'

"We wished that you would be safe, Beloved Princess. We were truly blessed to serve and protect our only princess," uttered by the Second Command General of Kingdom Parzatine, Bracken. He gave her a cloak that hid her identity and a necklace with a fire amulet.

"Thank you, Bracken. I wanted you to be safe too after this, and also some innocent civilians. All of you deserved to live out of here," she mumbled, which made him smile, but there was gloomy in his eyes.

"Parzatine only wished that you would escape from here. We knew that once you crossed-paths to your mate or a powerful kingdom that would hide you from the foes. Our ice powers would fight for your safety until the end, Princess Nieva. Live, and be strong because that would be the happiness of every Parzatines."

Daffodil and Deja nodded in unison and stated. "I agreed. We both swore under the reign of our beloved King Narcissus and Queen Rieva that we would do anything to keep you safe until our last breath, Princess."

Her heart filled with so much euphoria by having a very loyal Parzatine that was willing to keep her safe and swore under the Kingdom of Parzatine, and also to her parents. Their breath hitched when they saw a monster from the Kingdom of Perimoze, and she knew that it was one of the pets of King Amari, and another batch of catapults of ball of fire flew above the air, and another loud booming sound was heard while the ice ground shook.

"This place wasn't safe anymore for our Princess Nieva. Let's defend her at all costs away from peril, until our last breath," he stated. "Deja and Daffodil, assist Princess Nieva to escape safely, and go to the secret route towards the Kingdom of Cervantez. Me and my warriors would block the passage of the secret route to keep all of you safe."

Deja nodded, and helped her wrap herself in the cloak given by Bracken. She stared and swayed at the necklace with the fire amulet that automatically now dangled around her neck like her life depended on it. Her silvery hair turned into dark hair, and her long dress turned into a simple dress without any elegant embellishments. She looked at her reflection to a cracked ice, and she saw a human form of herself. She wished that her parents would also be with her, but she knew very well that her parents would fight their kingdom until their last breath, because they swore to the deity of ice.

Daffodil and Deja used an ice shield to defend themselves from the foes that would dare to advance in their direction while the three warriors were fighting to defend her. Daffodil and Deja helped her to ride the ice sleigh, and it glided fast against the ice towards the secret route to come out from the Kingdom of Parzatine.

She looked back while the ice sleigh was gliding fast, and saw the three warriors including Bracken fighting against the barbaric warriors of King Amari. She even saw Bracken fight against three enemies, because two of his warriors were already defeated. She froze when she saw him being slashed by the foes, but still blocking the way. He even used a chant to close the secret route, and ice crystals blocked it. She lamented her heart's out, and screamed in agony and pain.

'Why all of this happened to us? Did we do something wrong to feel this horrible situation? Where was our deity of ice that we praise? All of my beloved Parzatines were perished, because of me, and I wanted to be with them too.'

She clenched her fists while shedding tears that made her nails dug through her skin, and she didn't mind it. She even heard Daffodil and Deja sob while navigating the ice sleigh with their ice powers. The prophecy from the deity of ice that was blessed to her was a curse not a gift to her. All of the Parzatines sacrifice their lives just to save her. She felt guilty. She fell asleep while blaming herself throughout their journey using the ice sleigh that was gliding fast on the ice.

'I wished that everything was just a dream, and woke up from this nightmare. I wanted to see again the beautiful Parzatine Kingdom that was full of happiness in every civilian living peacefully and with love under the reign of my parents, King Narcissus and Queen Rieva. If only I could turn back time, and change everything.'

PRINCESS NIEVA startled from her sleep, and she saw that the ice sleigh stopped. She saw Deja and Daffodil looking at her worriedly. Their eyes were both puffy, but they showed her how strong they were to protect her from all costs.

She sat properly from the dried leaves, and gazed around. She felt warm, and long gone from the cold feeling she loved the most when she was young. It was very peaceful unlike in the Kingdom of Parzatine. She suddenly wished that she could save all of the Parzatines too. "Could we go back to the Kingdom of Parzatine to save my parents and also the other civilians that were still alive?" she asked.

Deja sighed before answering. "We were far away from the Kingdom Parzatine, and now on the route towards Kingdom Cervantez. The ice sleight melted, because of the heat of the ground. We should use a horse or a wagon to proceed."

The nightmare was truly the reality. Her body became weak, and she felt hopeless. She couldn't do anything to save her beloved kingdom, and she left them while they were fighting for their lives. Another batch of tears fell from her eyes, and groaned in annoyance.

Daffodil moved to hold her hands, and whispered. "Princess, don't belittle yourself. The whole kingdom of Parzatine wanted you to escape, because it would be a complete disaster if King Amari caged you into him. King Narcissus and Queen Rieva planned everything if the foes would dare to seize our beloved kingdom. They wanted you to be safe, and away from the heir of any kingdom that only thinks only for themselves. We do believe and also the whole Parzatine that you would be delighted if you marry and have a family with the man you love or your mate, and not forcefully be abducted to get impregnated by a delusional heir. Definitely King Narcissus and Queen Rieva would be grateful if a powerful mate of yours would take revenge for you. Don't lose hope, because we were both at your sides."

Her heart clenched. They always wanted what was best for her, even though they sacrificed their lives just to save a princess like her. Daffodil was right. She wanted to have children with the one who was destined to be with her until the end, but because of the prophecy, many heirs of every kingdom that was very hungry for power began to wreck her life and even her beloved kingdom. The Kingdom of Parzatine was the last frontier around the boundaries, and many kingdoms dared to seize them, because of the coldness. They were all dumbfounded that the Kingdom Perimoze had been triumphant in wrecking her beloved kingdom, and killed many lives of Parzatines. She promised to herself to get revenge on King Amari of Kingdom Perimoze in the future, and rebuild her beloved kingdom with her own family. She had high hopes, because of that.

"I'm still grateful that the both of you stayed with me, and I would do anything not to let you down. I had a planned, throughout our journey I wanted us to had a facade to be a slave," she said that made their mouth agape.

"Princess, we wanted King Thesaurus to acknowledge your arrival in the Kingdom of Cervantez––"

She shook her head that made Daffodil stop. "I wanted them to know that I'm dead, so that other heirs wouldn't chase me anymore. I didn't like the Kingdom of Cervantez pitying me, and being a burden to them. I would want to live normally while waiting for my mate to arrive at the Red Blood Moon like in the prophecy stated. My life wasn't like before, and I wouldn't let both of you take the risk to defend me and perish too. The both of you were the only persons I had that were so precious, and reminds me of Parzatine. Please, don't leave me throughout this journey, and I swore that I would definitely rebuild our kingdom in the future."

Both Daffodil and Deja's faces filled with sorrow, and their eyes swelled in tears. She sighed, and stopped herself to be emotional again, because she needed to be strong for them.

She knew that they would be against her decision, she wanted to live normally without any royal treatment, because her enemies would definitely know that she was still alive, and hiding under the roof of Kingdom Cervantez. The war that Kingdom Parzatine encountered caused a trauma to all of them, and she pledged that it wouldn't happen again because of her.

Deja kneeled while crying. "Princess, please forgive me for disobeying your words, but I wouldn't let you to be a slave of Kingdom Cervantez. They were powerful to protect you against King Amari and the other enemies that would abduct you for their pleasure. Let King Thesaurus know of your arrival, so that he could set out a doughty defense and care instead of you being a slave in their kingdom."

She sighed, and smiled. "I didn't want to bring shame. I could do anything, so don't be petrified of what I'm planning to do. I didn't have my ice crown above my head, therefore I'm not a princess anymore, because my kingdom has been diminished. I might be worthless, but I didn't need to be burdened, and to be pitied by anyone. I wanted to suffer too in my own way, and that was to be a slave. My words were sealed with finality."

They knew that once a kingdom had diminished the civilians or even the princess and all royal delegates would be automatically be a slave of the seized kingdom or if they abscond and went to other kingdom to offer themselves as their slave. She perceived that this was the start of her second chance to live, and she wouldn't waste this moment.

'Mother, Father, and my beloved Parzatines, bless and guide us throughout our journey. I wished that I would see the man that was destined to be with me to stop the delusional heirs of every kingdom that wanted to chase me to be their queen and to bring forth their spawn. Behind the silhouette of my facade being slave, I promised to continue the Parzatine legacy in the future, and to retaliate my anguish towards King Amari and his kingdom.'

PRINCESS NIEVA stood up from the dried leaves that were made of Daffodil and Deja to be her temporary bed to lay on when she fell asleep a while ago. She was truly fortunate to have her personal companions by her side regardless of what tragedy happened. Their love and loyalty towards her were really priceless that she wanted to keep until the end.

"While I had been concealing my true identity, don't call me Princess Nieva instead Eva would be my pseudonym. I didn't want anyone to recognize me at Kingdom Cervantez. I would show my true self once the Red Blood Moon manifested in the sky, because according to the prophecy my mate would come out to meet me," she said.

Daffodil and Deja were a bit hesitant, but nodded in agreement that made her smile. She removed her necklace with a fire amulet that brought back her in true form. She blew a small amount of blizzard, and a sharp shard of ice came around her palm. She cut her wrist with that that made her wince in pain. Her blood dripped on the ground. Her eyes shined into blue crystal, and her doppelganger suddenly showed. She struck the ice shard into the chest of it, and it automatically dropped into the ground besides her blood. In a swift moment, her doppelganger turned into snow. A royal blooded Parzatine that died would turn into snow. That was her hidden skill, to create her doppelganger using her own blood.

"This would give a hint that I was being perished while escaping, so they would definitely stop chasing me after this. My remnants would stay, but once a Perimoze saw, it would automatically vanish through the wind," she added.

Their mouths agape with full amusement. She swayed her hand and the necklace with a fire amulet flew and automatically entangled around her neck that turned her into a human form that nobody knew ever since. She looked up at the sky, and saw the heat of the sun that made her eyes shut.

'I needed to adapt in this kind of environment or else my foes would notice my facade. I didn't want to drag Daffodil and Deja to another misery. I must be vigilant around me, because foes were scattered everywhere.'

"We both decided also to be slaves too, Princess Nieva. We swore that we would be by your side until our last breath," Daffodil uttered.

Deja nodded in agreement. "Allow us to be by your side throughout your plans while we were at Kingdom Cervantez."

Her heart swelled with full love and euphoria. "Thank you for the cooperation, my beloved personal companions. I treated the both of you as my siblings that I really didn't have. The loyalty you were giving made me stronger, and willing to be more powerful."

"Along our journey, we should also take note that the Kingdom of Cervantez had skilled warriors, so we should also make our facade not doubtful. Their kingdom had four strong barriers to protect themselves from any intruders that would interfere. Any witches also were verboten to enter the kingdom. There were four sorceresses at Kingdom Cervantez who kept an eye on the four barriers."

She suddenly became interested in what Daffodil told. She didn't know exactly the Kingdom of Cervantez, but only her parents went forth and back there. Before when she was young, it was verboten for her to be seen by any heir of the kingdom or else he could face death, but once she turned into the right age to meet her mate the curse began to uplift that made the heirs eager to chase her.

Her parents told her before the cursed princes of King Thesaurus, and the youngest were twins who didn't escape in the curse too. According to the hearsays, there was a young lady who was a witch that was so close to King Thesaurus before when he was young. The Lady Witch always helped King Thesaurus to have victorious battles by offering enchanted potions that made him mighty. Time flew fast, King Thesaurus needed to get married and have descendants that made the Lady Witch very hopeful that King Thesaurus would profess to be his queen and to bring forth his descendants that she had always been dreaming of. But that didn't come off, because she needed to travel to the other boundary to get something for her potions, and it took many years to come back to Kingdom Cervantez. While the Lady Witch was away, a beautiful princess from Kingdom Leviticus named Princess Allarisette suddenly arrived at Kingdom Cervantez to seek help. By instant, King Thesaurus was enchanted by Princess Allarisette's beauty, and helped her to gain power. They began to be smitten with each other and got married. They were blessed by seven descendants, six of them were handsome princes and their only princess who was the youngest had an alluring beauty like Queen Allarisette. The whole kingdom was full of joy, but vanished when the Lady Witch arrived. Betrayed and loathed, the Lady Witch's fury was extreme, and cursed the descendants of King Thesaurus and Queen Allarisette to be beasts. But they didn't know that Queen Allarisette had powers too, and destroyed the curse into halves. Their young children became mortals that could turn into beasts when they wanted to, and their powers could make anyone's life in peril in an instant. Queen Allarisette was perished while defending her young descendants, and King Thesaurus perished the Lady Witch with his sword. King Thesaurus verboten any witches or a mortal with a blood of a witch not to enter the Kingdom of Cervantez.

"If we passed one of the barriers and entered the Kingdom Cervantez we were all safe from any foes that would chase after you, Princess Nieva. Be vigilant that nobody except us shouldn't be trusted to speak about anything. Tittle-tattles spread like a wildfire, and it could alarm our foes to chase you again. I'm also petrified about your unique serene voice that was renowned amongst every kingdom," Deja interjected.

She also reminded herself of that, so she had a plan. "Now, I would hide on my facade as a mute slave, so that no one would dare to ask me any query at Kingdom of Cervantez. All I wanted was to have a strong shield to defend me. Let's stride on our way to Kingdom Cervantez."

'It was final, I would conceal myself behind the silhouette of a mute slave.'

Daffodil and Deja sighed in relief, and nodded their heads. They started to stride towards the land route of Kingdom Cervantez. She couldn't help but to gaze everywhere, because she wasn't familiar with the surroundings. Everything she saw was very new to her, and she even wondered what else would make her dumbfounded along their journey. She began to appreciate everything she saw, since she didn't dare to leave her beloved kingdom when she was young until now. She might resemble a bird that was caged for a long time, and got freed in a spur moment to find a better shelter.

She couldn't help but to hug herself around her cloak when she felt something uncanny, and stopped on her tracks.

"What happened to you, Princess Nieva? Are you famished?" Deja asked anxiously.

She was about to answer it when they heard a loud booming sound of thunder that made her eyes closed and her heart clenched in sorrow. While it was still sunny, the rain started to pour heavily.

'The Parzatine was defeated.'

She couldn't help but to be more emotional. She broke down with tears, and her knees turned weak that made her sit on the wet ground. She didn't mind it, and screamed in agony while balling her fists above her lap. She looked up at the sky, and saw that it was white as snow that resembled it to her beloved Kingdom of Parzatine.

"I sensed someone on our way. Be quick, and let's hide around the bushes," Daffodil pulled her by her arms with the help of Deja to hide from the bushes, and she didn't oppose, because she was too weak to do that. They didn't mind that they were soaking wet from the heavy rain while squeezing to hide around the bushes to keep them safe.

Both Daffodil and Deja ready themselves if ever there were any foes that went after them while peeking at a small space around the bushes. They heard some horses galloping along their way, and they even saw a very elegant carriage that captured her attention. She even saw a sophisticated lady inside. It moved very fast away from the route where they were striding into. They waited for a while to let the horses that rode by warriors along the carriage got away.

"Hmm. . . I'm suddenly interested in who that person in the carriage was. Did you see the elegant embellishments around it? Only a royal blooded kingdom had that kind of carriage and such beauty. In the Kingdom of Parzatine, we usually used ice sleighs, ice carriages or any beast that could take the coldness of Parzatine unlike here that travelers usually used a carriage, wagon with four wheels or even horses. I hope we could pass by a wagon, and reach for help all the way to the Kingdom of Cervantez," Daffodil mumbled.

She was dumbfounded because of that. She looked up at the sky, and the rain stopped. She sighed, and wiped the water from her cloak, and she was even helped by Daffodil and Deja to clean up, and they wiped-off her tears that made smile weakly.

"Let's pursue, because once daybreak comes it would be difficult for us to travel. We wouldn't want to encounter another foe along our way, and we should also eat to gain some strength to carry on," Deja stated.

She nodded in agreement, and they even helped her to stand up, so that they could resume. While they were walking to the land route towards Kingdom Cervantez, she couldn't help but to feel envy towards other princesses who lived normally, and not being chased and harassed by other heirs.

"Did you go to the Kingdom of Cervantez before?" she asked, which made Daffodil and Deja to look at her. They were both sisters, and Daffodil was the eldest.

"We didn't personally go there, but Father went there to assist King Narcissus to visit King Thesaurus. Father always told what Kingdom Cervantez looked like, and he was truly amazed at how tough the barriers around the kingdom were that no intruders could enter. He also added on how powerful Kingdom Cervantez was," Daffodil answered with a smile.

Curiosity filled her mind, so she couldn't help but to ask another query. "How about the cursed descendants of King Thesaurus? Did he see them too?"

"Father told us how handsome the princes were and how alluring the youngest princess resembled the beauty of Late Queen Allarisette. They were being praised and worshiped by the townsmen of Kingdom Cervantez, because of their ability in brawling at a very young age," Daffodil answered calmly.

She was dumbfounded, and couldn't help but to felt thrilled to meet them when they arrived at the Kingdom of Cervantez even though they would be a slave. Her target was to be the slave around the vicinity where King Thesaurus and his descendants were.

"Were they nice or not?" she asked again.

Daffodil and Deja just shrugged their shoulders.

"I don't know, but they had different abilities or powers that only each of them possessed. I wished one of the princes at the Kingdom of Cervantez would be your mate," Deja butted in.

She suddenly imagined, and it brought shivers through her body.

'I also wished that my mate and I would cross-paths while we were at the Kingdom of Cervantez to be slaves while hiding from our foes. Would he adore me for who I am? Would he accept me as his mate?'

She had lots of queries swirling in her head, and she couldn't help but to bite her lip. She felt petrified that now she had no kingdom to show off, and it was impossible that no princess would fall in love with her mate. That thought made her mind blank.

Daffodil tapped her shoulder lightly while Deja caressed her back to calm her.

"Care to share your thoughts, Princess Nieva? We were here for you," Daffodil calmly asked.

She sighed. "I'm scared. . . What if my mate was one of the princes of King Thesaurus? Did you think he would accept me? What if he would reject me, and fall for another princess that was much better than me?"

"Hush. No princess could surpass you, Princess Nieva. He should be fortunate to have you as his mate. You had tons of beaus who worshiped your enchanting beauty, and he was one of a kind foolish man if he relinquished such an enchantress like you," Daffodil praised her that made her face flushed.

"I agreed. I really admire you, Princess Nieva. You were an epitome of beauty, and modest. You were every lady around Parzatine being fancied," Deja added.

"Both of you flattered me that much," she mumbled, which made Daffodil and Deja laugh.

"No, we were just telling you the truth, Princess Nieva. No princess could outshine you, so don't think too much, okay?"

She sighed, and smiled. Suddenly she felt the urge of hope and determination to meet her mate if ever he was at the Kingdom of Cervantez. Her heart fleeted with enthusiasm.

'I wish I could see you while I'm hiding in the Kingdom of Cervantez, and I'm eager to cuddle with you under the moonlight.'

Deja delightfully remarked. "Oh, I wonder what your descendant looked like, and I bet he or she was as charming as you, Princess Nieva."

She dreamily sighed, and she couldn't help but to smile. A thought of having a descendant with her mate would be a genuine moment for her whole being. "Yeah, I prayed for our deity of ice that moment to happen in the future. I also wanted to live and rebuild our beloved Kingdom of Parzatine with my own family, and yours too. I like to see that both of you forged a devoted relationship with your mate, and had children too."

Deja smiled innocently. "I also hope for that too in the future. But I wanted to see if your dreams come true with your own family. For sure, King Narcissus, Queen Rieva and all of the Parzatines would be delighted. Your descendant would be the new generation's hope and savior among the foes that ran after you."

"Yes, I agreed with you, Deja. And be aware that we were both fortunate to serve and defend the mother of the powerful descendant," Daffodil looked at Deja, and then to her with full admiration.

She knew that even though she was here outside the boundary of Kingdom Parzatine her beloved kingdom supported her back to be triumphant through her plans. Despite the fact that she wasn't as powerful as the others, both of them gave me hope and strength to survive. However, if she couldn't triumph, she knew that her descendants would take revenge against her enemies, and save their legacy.

'I wouldn't let you down, Father, Mother, Daffodil, Deja and Parzatines. Our legacy would continue until the end.'

TWILIGHT arrived, and that made Princess Nieva, Daffodil and Deja stop to search for a brief shelter to rest for tonight. They saw a huge tree that could give them a shed, even though they could cope with the coldness of the night breeze, because they could endure the chill.

Daffodil and Deja came back with some wood chunks, twigs and a big boar to be their supper. While the two were gone, she hoarded plenty of dried and fresh leaves around to make a temporary bed for them. She looked up at the sky that was turning into darkness, and a cold wind gushed. She closed her eyes, and embraced the coolness that she loved the most through her skin on her face.

Until she smelled the delicious scent of the roasted boar that Daffodil and Deja were preparing which made her stomach rumble unexpectedly that made her face flushed in shame that made Daffodil and Deja chuckle. She cleared her throat to hide her uneasiness.

"It's alright for us, Princess Nieva. No need to be coy with us, because we were all famished and thirsty," Daffodil reassured her. "Let's just wait for a little while for the roasted boar to be cooked, so just sit there and relax."

She sighed and nodded. Deja suddenly moved closer to her, and took out from the pocket some wild berries and put it on her palm. "Take these wild berries, Princess. I tasted them a while ago, and they could satiate your hunger while we were preparing our supper."

She smiled at Deja, and slightly bowed her head to appreciate the effort Deja made for her. "Thank you, Deja. You could also have the other wild berries, and share it to Daffodil too."

Deja shook her head. "These were all yours to be eaten for a while. I gathered lots of it, and hoarded some inside my ice crystal, so if we got famished along our journey, we had food to satiate our hunger."

She was truly amazed at how clever Deja was, and also Daffodil too. She met both of them when she was young. At first, Daffodil and Deja's mother named Dayanarah was her Protectress before, and guided to upskill her powers when her parents weren't around to run errands to the other alliance kingdoms. But Protectress Dayanarah died, because of illness that mourned most of Daffodil and Deja's father who was Master Warrior Jaedil, a high rank warrior and personal companion of her father, King Narcissus ever since.

Both Daffodil and Deja never left her side, and they almost grew together. Daffodil and her were the same age while Deja who was the youngest among them. She could easily tell apart Daffodil and Deja's skills. Both of them had magic powers using ice, and they had other skills too. Daffodil expertise in using bow and arrows made of ice while Deja used ice javelins within the reach or even though the opponent was far away from her.

"Did you remember how brave your parents were?" she all of a sudden asked, and that made Deja look at her with misty eyes.

"Yes, but I barely recognize them, since I'm too young when they were both gone in this world. I was only able to know them when my sister told me some tales about how undaunted they were to face their foes just to defend Kingdom Parzatine before with all their might even though Mother's death was due to her illness." Deja sat beside her, and hugged its own knees. "I desire the most to be just like them too, and to defend you from foes at all costs."

She smiled, and touched Deja's hair affectionately. "I'm sure they were both proud of you, and Daffodil too. Both of you were dauntless, very similar to your parents, and I would definitely share the legacy of your family to my descendants in the future. Together, we would rebuild our beloved kingdom, and take revenge towards our foes with all our might."

Deja nodded, and moved closer to hug her that made her chuckle. Their tittle-tattle was interrupted by a delicious scent, and they saw Daffodil holding a flat stone wherein the cut parts of the boar was, and laid the flat stone in front of her. "Princess, our supper was ready."

"Thank you for this delicious food for tonight, Daffodil and Deja. Let's all eat our supper heartedly," she encouraged Daffodil and Deja to join her, which made the both of them smile tenderly, and bow a little their heads. She grabbed the two legs parts of the boar, and gave each of them to Daffodil and Deja, which surprised the both of them, because they knew that she loved the leg part of any animal. "My simple offer to the both of you for manifesting my sincerest gratitude in saving my life, and defending me even though the both of you were risking your lives for me. The loyalties of the both of you towards me were priceless. But when the time comes, I would love to compensate the both of you after the battle."

She saw both Daffodil and Deja's eyes shone in tears while holding the leg parts of the boar to their hand. They wiped-off their tears using their other hand, and bowed to her. "We would love and be loyal to you until our last breaths. We would risk our lives just to shield and defend you from any peril, and be by your side at all times, Princess Nieva."

She grabbed the other leg part from the flat stone, and munched the meat that made her moan in delight in complete satisfaction, and nodded with full relish. "Your mates, and future family would be fortunate to have you both as their own light. I wondered what your mates would look like. I bet they would be handsome, because both of you were beautiful, caring and especially good cooks. I really wanted your mates to be strong too, so they could protect you when the both of you got pregnant."

Daffodil and Deja's faces blushed, but smiling sheepishly while holding the leg part that she gave to them. They were both adorable, behind their dauntless spirits. They were both passionate and selfless just to save the people they cherished the most. She could also do that too, and she wished that her powers were mighty enough to defend them.

"This roasted boar was so delicious that my mind flew in the air. Eat now before it would turn cold, and I knew that both of you were famished like me," she added, and even motioned Daffodil and Deja to munch their food and they followed.

She smiled, and continued to munch her food too, and drank the sap of the fruits Daffodil and Deja gathered. Even though their lives were in peril, they needed to eat and rest, so that they would have a vigor to continue their journey towards the Kingdom of Cervantez. She watched the flame dance to give them light through the night, while they were all eating the roasted boar that made them satiated.

After that, they decided to rest. Daffodil and Deja made an invisible ice barrier, so that no one could intrude their peaceful sleep. She lay down on their temporary bed made of dried leaves while gazing up at the dark sky wherein the stars were brightly glimmering, but what was fascinating the most was the round shaped White Moon that made her heart calm by its beauty.

She couldn't help but to hold her fire amulet to her necklace that was entangled around her neck, and raised it to emerge the moon that turned into a Red Blood Moon through her eyes only. She caressed the fire amulet that glistened. She remembered what her parents told her when she was young. She closed her eyes while reminiscing those sweet memories.

"My Beloved Nieva, you weren't as ordinary as other princesses were. You need to follow the prophecy no matter what happens or else there would be a havoc that would be a nightmare to all," King Narcissus, her father, told her.

Queen Rieva, her mother, caressed her hair softly. "As what stated in the prophecy from the deity, you were about to bring forth the most powerful descendant that could rule in the whole kingdom. I knew someday, foes would try to chase after you, but remember that you need to be clever and dauntless if ever you would escape from our kingdom. Our legacy and also your mate were in your hands."

Her young self couldn't help but pout. Confusion and amusement lingered through her mind. "Really? But you could also defend me from the foes until I grew old, Father and Mother, right? No one could make my life in peril as long as I'm here in our kingdom. All of our beloved warriors were magnificent fighters to defend us from any foes that would interfere here. So, don't scare me, okay? I wouldn't leave our kingdom, because my companions were all here, and I truly love them."

Her parents nodded while laughing while looking at her lovingly.

"You were right, My Beloved Nieva. As long as I'm alive no one could make your life in peril, because you were the greatest gift that I received from your mother. I would defend the both of you no matter what happens, because I treasured the two of you until my last breath." Her father even kissed her mother on the lips that was so romantic in her sight.

She giggled in delight while her eyes glimmered in euphoria. "I wished that I also had a mate that was as charming as you, Father. Could I have a mate like that too, Father and Mother?"

Her mother, Queen Rieva nodded while smiling lovingly at her. "Of course. All of us had a mate to be paired with us for a lifetime. I also pray to the deity of ice to bless you with a mighty mate that could defend and love you and your descendants endlessly."

"When would I meet him, Father and Mother? Could we also play forthwith too?" she asked eagerly.

Her father sighed while her mother chuckled, and that made her look at them innocently while waiting for him to respond to her query.

He kneeled in front of her, and touched both of her shoulders. "You would meet him at the right time wherein the both of you were at the right age to get married and have your own descendants. It was verboten to see your mate since you were too young, and no one should see you from a royal blooded heir or else he would lose his life. For now, you could enjoy your youth while playing with Daffodil, Deja and other young descendants around our kingdom."

"Don't rush things. Have a whale of time in enjoying your youth, My Beloved Nieva. But remember as always that even if you had your own family, forever you were only our precious daughter that we cherished the most." Her mother added, and hugged her. "You would meet your mate when the moon turns to blood, because it was the right time to unite, and bring forth a descendant that would continue our and your mate's legacy in the future."

She gasped in horror, and felt petrified about what her parents said. "I don't want anyone to be gone, so I would be patient to wait for the right time to come. But, how come the moon would turn into blood? That was impossible to happen, Mother. You were just fooling me, right? The moon only had a white color like snow. Would we all be perished if the moon turned blood color?"

Her father shook his head while her mother hugged her. "Nothing would be impossible for you. Remember what we told you, and always keep in your mind that we cherished you so much. We wanted you to be safe from any enemies that would chase you even if we risked our lives. But when the time comes that all of us would be perished, I knew that your mate would defend you at all costs. Be clever and dauntless as always, My Beloved Nieva. Your Mother and I love you endlessly."

She opened her eyes, and a tear shed from it. She sighed weakly while reminiscing the nostalgic memory of younger self of asking innocently about her mate to her parents who answered all of it patiently and with a smile. She ached for the love and affection from her parents. It was difficult for her to think that her parents and even the kingdom she grew-up with had perished. She knew that their spirits would guide along her journey with Daffodil and Deja. Everything happened fast, and now she was on her way with her personal companions towards the other kingdom that she never in her life foresee. She couldn't help but to feel anxious about what they would encounter there in Kingdom Cervantez.

'Beloved Deity of Ice, Father, Mother and Parzatines, please guide us throughout our journey towards the Kingdom of Cervantez. I hope that you would accept my decision to had a facade of being a mute slave to conceal my true self while we were in Kingdom Cervantez. I didn't want to be burdened and pitied. I did that to save Daffodil and Deja from the foes that kept chasing us, especially King Amari.'

Her jaw clenched while her heart sought revenge, and she wanted to rip his head out of his neck. The thought of King Amari that was still breathing, and doing heinous delinquency made her outrage. He didn't deserve to be called and treated as a king. He was a monster that needed to be eliminated in this world.

'King Amari, I would definitely torment, and perish you. I would expunge your legacy and your kingdom into dust. I would also verboten that no one should remember your existence after I finish you off, and whoever worshiped you would be executed.'

Hope and gallantry overflowed in her spirit to revenge for her beloved kingdom. She wouldn't throw away the chance, especially that there were people who supported her from behind. She closed her eyes, and prayed to the deity and even the spirits of their beloved Parzatines that tomorrow would be a great day for her, Daffodil and Deja to continue their journey towards the Kingdom of Cervantez safely. After that she made herself comfortable, and drifted herself to sleep to have enough zeal for tomorrow with her mind full of determination.