MISTRESS OF FLAME

CHAPTER 4

After the decline of Sappher, the seven remaining royal families of Sappher scattered throughout Azitera to strengthen themselves with a vow that someday, they would gather again to defeat the Ytherians. And three generations later, the warlord still hadn't met a descendant of Sappher other than his traveler good friend, Xeke.

The warlord took a deep breath. "Very well. As one of the descendants of Sappher, I will hunt her down, but I will do it alone. You and your soldiers will only slow me down."

The warlord's arrogant tone did not sit well with General Adri. He, too, was a warrior and shouldn't be looked down upon. Not only that, but the warlord was also much younger than the general, and the general believed that young warriors should pay respect to their elders. But even though he felt insulted by the warlord's arrogance, he still nodded and agreed. The emperor's order was clear, and that was to ask the warlord's help to drag the Mistress of Flame back to her prison.

The warlord looked at General Adri's retreat as he left the great hall. When the general was finally out of his sight, he called Gabin, his right-hand man and the commander of his troops.

"Your excellency." Gabin bowed his head and reached out his hands that were holding a simple set of garments: a cloak, two unappealing blades, and a slightly worn-out combat leather boots. "Everything is ready."

The warlord got up from his chair and accepted all the things Gabin was holding out to him. "I will leave the castle to you, Gabin. If anything happened, you know how to contact me."

Gabin bowed his head. "Yes, your excellency. May the deities bless your travel."

The warlord smiled. "I'm already blessed, Gabin."

Gabin smiled because he knew the warlord was speaking facts.

♕♕♕

"WHERE ARE we?" Sollel asked for the third time after sensing that they were lost. Sollel was just following Cira because she said she'll be her guide, but Sollel immediately regretted her decision after walking on plains for three days and sleeping on the ground for two nights. And now they've entered a forest and they're definitely missing.

Cira turned to face Sollel but couldn't look at Sollel's eyes. "This is the shortcut to the Kingdom of Treterra. I'm sure of it, really!"

Sollel just nodded at Cira and urged her to move forward. And as Sollel followed Cira deep into the forest, she left traces of burnt leaves along the way, just to make sure that they were not going in circles. Hours later, Sollel saw the same leaves she burnt.

Sollel looked around. All she could see were trees and grasses. There's not even a single path that she could see. "We're lost, aren't we?"

Cira looked away and pretended to look for a path that could lead them out of the forest.

Sollel sighed. "What happened to 'I know everything there is to know about Azitera'?"

Cira looked at Sollel and bit her lower lip. "Azitera...changed while I was in Beastrela?"

Sollel stared blankly at Cira and was about to scold her for hiding the fact that they were lost when she heard a rustling sound. Seeing that Cira was about to speak, Sollel signaled her not to say a word. Cira immediately held her tongue and readied her bow and arrow.

Sollel felt hopeless while the rustling sound got nearer and nearer. She didn't have any weapon, and even if she could find a sword, it would melt in an instant after using her blood of flame. Basically, all she could rely for now was her ball of flame.

As the rustling sound got nearer, Sollel summoned a ball of flame in her hand while carefully backing away, not making a sound. And from the thick trees, Sollel and Cira finally saw where the rustling sound was coming from.