Dream saw in the corner of her eye that Cherry and Kiwi are trying to get up after the impact. Apple on the other hand are growling and seem to be waiting for an opportunity. Dream can also see the shadow under shadow making strange movements.
"No!!!" Dream yelled.
Apple was surprised and lowered her head and the shadow also stopped moving.
Dream then focused all her strength in her fingers to remove the hand on her neck.
"Oh!" Soliard's eyes looked amused. He then lift up his right leg and kicked Dream on her stomach.
The light body of Dream flew towards the barrier. Her body slammed to the invisible wall. Dream felt the whole impact but at the same time there is another sensation that she felt as soon as she made contact with the barrier.
"Wow, even though you are only a halfling, your body is still indeed made of a Spadian."
Soliard was clapping his hands.
"When I kicked someone from Hearth country, they will be vomiting blood and passing out."
Soliard is actually not happy that Dream did not do so. He started to loathe the thought that Dream have the body that he always wanted.
The strength and durability of the Spadians. The only ones blessed with such strength and durability in the continent thanks to the grace of their predecessor, the angel that was named Spade.
But Dream does care on whatever Soliard is saying.
"Do not show yourself Night, not until the barrier .... Night?"
Dream was whispering to herself in aim to calm the owl, however, it is starting to act strange.
-'Dream... The earth is crying.... The aura of death is too strong...'
"Huh?"
Dream abruptly looked back to the barrier. Now that she is closer, she noticed the black grass and the dying trees.
That weird sensation she felt earlier.
"The trees are crying...." Dream unconsciously said that reach Soliard's ears.
He laughed out loud.
"Ha, ha, ha, I know you were a strange child. But you can actually talk with the trees?! What kind of witchcraft..."
-'I can-not control myself...'
The black shadow suddenly spread out.
"Night!"
"Get away from me, it is dangerous, I will not be able to control the power of death." Night who is panicking started letting out his voice through the shadows.
"What is going on?!" One of the knights yelled.
"Your Imperial highness, we need to get out of here!" The other one yelled to Soliard.
"No! Without me killing that witch!"
Soliard charged forward to Dream. One of the knights noticed that the barrier is dissipating and he instinctively grabbed Soliard and the knight barricade Soliard's body from the incoming miasma.
...
"Your Regency, everything are in place."
Ace who is riding a stunning dark horse, look beyond the barrier.
"Good." He answered his vassal with a monotonous tone.
They all look forward and watch the thick deadly miasma beyond the inner barrier.
When they first erected the first barrier, they noticed right away the amount of sacrifice it needs from the earth. The trees were slowly darkening and the grasses emits a foul smell. They know that they had to quarantine the area and make sure it will not touch their people.
The elder priests told Ace, this phenomenon are almost identical to what happened in the legend. Thousands of years ago, the death and darkness gobble everything that is alive. The earth were slowly dying and so the livings with in.
In the legend, it is because the angel who were born with the seal of darkness is unable to control itself as the balance of the world were off.
In the legend, the four angels with the seals, Diamond, Spade, Heart and Clover unite their powers to create the seal of light. The balance was created and everything lives in harmony since then.
The barrier created an imbalance as it excluded itself from the world. With that, and in order to maintain such powerful barrier, the miasma started seeping out of the earth.
Ace and his people decided that in order for them to survive, they have to open the outside barrier to release the accumulated miasma.
They know that they will be putting everything outside in grave danger, so with a good ounce of their conscience, they will also release a great amount of healing power. The Clover Country is famous for it's power of healing. However, that is only going to reduce casualties, people will still die.
Ace tightly gripped his saddle.
In order to save his people, the people outside will suffer.
Thousands of soldiers are waiting outside the barrier, waiting for the opportunity to invade Clover, once the barrier is broken. Unbeknownst to them, that the Cloverians will also use the miasma to make the soldier immobile and reduce their numbers.
A sharp pain stab Ace heart. He look towards outside with unrelentless gaze but he is in pain and mentally exhausted.
More than half of those thousand soldiers are Spadians. The same thick blood that runs in his veins.
He knows, when his father was mortally hurt, he knows that he must choose only one side. He can only protect one. He knows he cannot save everyone.
He have to let go the other half of himself to protect the people who took great care of him.
"How was he? For sure he did not listen to anything I or Prince Kahel had said." Ace called out the Knight who just given him a report.
"Ah... ye-yes..." the knight looked down as they failed one thing that their regent had asked.
Ace deeply let out a sigh.
"He is the symbol of stubbornness. I heard my looks was identical to his but good thing I have my mother's demeanor. I at least think and reconsider before acting out of wit."
No one refute what Ace said.
"Prince Kahel said that he will make sure he will stay by the King of Spade's side." The knight reported.
"See, he is a burden. And he does not see it. With his two limbs being useless, how can he be an asset to this war?"
Ace words are full of contempt but the knights know that Ace is only worried about his father. He was finally found after they combed the gorge he fell into. It was a miracle that he was found alive after months of missing. The King survived by himself however, what happened before he fell to the bottom of the gorge had cause the king of his right leg and left arm.
They were not completely cut off but the limbs were in vegetative stage and the king can only barely use it.
Moreover both of his eye sight were also gone. The Duke of Virgo whose body also in the same condition and for being old he could barely walk and use his arms. But his eyes were fine, he closed his eyelids tight when the strong light engulfed everything on that day. So, he offered both his eyes to the King of Spade, but the King accepted only one.
Ace and Kahel had told the king to stay put but when he heard about today's plan, he dragged his limping leg to the battlefield. He said that he accepted the Duke's eyesight so that he can raged on the upcoming war.
Ace and Kahel could not stop his stubbornness.
The king and Prince Kahel are on the other side, they will be anticipating Cloverians that were left outside to enter through there. There might be some soldiers that will still try to fight even after inhaling the miasma. So they need to make sure no other ones will enter but the Cloverians and some allies.
On this side, Ace is expecting some allies to enter too. Moreover, there is someone very special that will enter through here.
The Heart seal bearer. He expected that this side will be more dangerous as Soliard might come after her. There are also more Spadian soldiers on this side.
"Hmm?"
With his sharp senses, Ace could see that there is a ruckus on the other side of the barrier.
"Something is going on... tell all the priest and healers to get ready!" Ace yelled.
"Heyyah!"
Ace's horse runs towards the barrier so that he could have a better look.
"Did Queenie got caught?" Ace feels like there is something stuck on his throat.
They might have to open the barrier ahead of the schedule.
Ace eyes widened. He saw a man with a light blonde hair with his icy glowing blue eyes.
On his hands was a neck of a short being. The girl have a long flowy black hair.
His heart start beating really hard.
"YOUR REGENCY!!"
The knights yelled to Ace as to stop him from coming nearer to the barrier.
He saw with his two red eyes that the man kicked the girl. Ace saw her body being slammed on the barrier.
Ace sharpened his looks and made a determination that he must open the barrier now.
However before he could give the command, the earth shook once and the outside barrier started dissipating.
His eyes widened and his mind was numb for second trying to think why the barrier start dissipating but he recollected himself. There is something they must do.
"WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, SEND THE HEALING SPELLS!!!!"
Ace yelled to the top of his lungs.
....
The barrier is gone and as soon it was, a dark foul gas spread out. Dream watched the two knights fell on their knees with their hands on their necks. Their skins started turning purple.
"Apple, Cherry and Kiwi!!!" Dream yelled the wolves names.
She heard them whimpered and see soon find the three wolves squirming on the ground.
"No.... what should I do..."
It seems the peebles she put on their necks are helping a bit but it is not enough.
Then she soon see a faint glow of green power of healing. That must been the healing power that is coming from Clover.
She then looked back to the two knights, but their state is the same. It was not enough. These knights will die.
"Night...." Dream finally remembered the one who could fix this.
"Night!? Where are you... ouuff..."
A hand came out of the thick gas and grabbed Dream's neck.
"You witch!! This is all your doing huh?!"
It was Soliard.
"H-how?..."
Dream then saw the glowing orb on his other hand. Dream then remembered what Night said earlier. The orb have Light's aura.
That aura is protecting Soliard from the toxicity of the miasma.
"Arrgg.."
"I was planning to drag you with me and present you to father. No... I want to kill you in front of him. Just to see that pretty face of him twist with all kinds of emotions. To blow a good amount of emotional damage on him but you know what, just your head is enough!!!"
Dream could no longer think. She is suffocating. As Soliard's grip tigthens, her vision is starting to blur.
But then she fell onto the ground. She started gasping for air but as soon as she did, a great amount of the miasma went to her lungs.
"Arrggg...." she can feel the the seal on her forehead burning.
As soon she can focus her eyes, she saw the black round owl in front of her.
"Night..." she whispered.
"Child, I cannot control my body due to the great amount of darkness. The trees are crying and I cannot control my power. We must get away here. I have a bit of reason left in me. I can teleport the both of us."
Dream can see the black aura trying to gobble Night's body.
"Hahahahaha! Is that Scarlet?!"
Soliard who was pushed by a mere bird is losing it. As soon as he saw the black feathers and the scarlet eyes of the bird, he remembered the raven that used to live in the Spade Castle.
"That obnoxious bird, I knew it, it is your familiar!!! You witch and that disgusting thing, I will kill you all!"
Dream's chest tightened. She looked around and saw the three puppies having trouble breathing and could not stand up. Then the two knights that came with Soliard are on the ground, Dream hopes that they are not dead. She then look far on her left, the miasma is thick. She can feel the healing spells being send by the Cloverians but even with that the casualty will be huge on this side.
Two knights that accompanied an Imperial prince were knocked out in mere seconds.
With her shaking limbs, Dream stood up.
"What are you doing?" Night's eyes widened.
"This is the only way."
"Don't...."
Dream watched Soliard ran towards her. His hands are ready to grab her neck once again.
But she does not care. There is something she must do.
Dream put her hands together, as if she was begging the Father up above in Heaven, she wish with her all might, to save everyone.
A green glow of light came out of her body and from where she stood, the grass turn into a bright green and soon beyond.
She open her eyes and saw that the miasma slowly dissipated and turn into red colored leaves. Red colored leaves that was a sign of autumn. The natural process of the trees preparing themselves to rest for winter.
All of the trees turn to a beautiful color of autumn. Dream's beautiful vermillion eyes blended with the mesmerizing shade of the trees.
The trees danced with the wind and as they did the red leaves fell unto the ground and an abundance green leaves sprouted on the branches of the trees where the red leaves fell off.
Soliard saw the two seasons pass him in split of seconds. In the middle of it all is the seed of his hatred.
The girl who seemed gotten taller. The girl who have a pearly long black wavy hair. Her eyes then stared back at him. Those red eyes that he longed to have.
"You...."
Soliard grits his teeth together. He thought to himself that he should had killed her way sooner. Now this girl, even have the seal of luck and immortality. This girl have everything that he ever wanted.
All of it.
"I am going to kill you." He is determined than ever.
He started strotting faster toward Dream. He stretched out his hands, he is determined to grab it for the last time to twist it like a twig.
"No!!"
Night who knows that Dream is no longer in any state to run away came in between the two individuals but the round orb on Soliard's hand pushed him away. The orb that have Light's power made it impossible to Night to stop Soliard.
"Dream! Wake up! Run!! DREAM!!
The owl yelled.
Dream could hear Night's cries. However the extend of power she used today had reached her limits. She could only stand like a statue. She knows if she moves even just one finger, her body will collapse.
Dream used everything she have, because she wants to make sure that all the miasma is gone. That even the places that she could not see, should been healed. She is still wishing hard that her power reached everyone.
Dream closed her eyes. She could no longer hear any trees crying and begging her to kill them. It is quiet... she could no longer hear anything.
Then suddenly her body was jerked to someone's body.
Dream felt a familiar warmth.
She opened her eyes, and she could see a distorted face of Soliard.
"My arm!! My arm!!"
He is yelling something but she could not hear anything.
She then noticed a sword full of blood in front of her, her eyes were tracing the end of the blade but a hand covered her eyes.
"Don't look, it is too graphic for a fourteen year old. Just close your eyes and rest."
Dream could hear a mumblings above her head but she could not understand any of the words. With all her remaining strength, she lift up her head.
Her eyes saw a thick silver armor and a neck covered in a white cloth. Then as she look further up, she noticed a familiar wavy black hair. Hair that is identical to hers.
Then the man looked down to her. His familiar thick eyebrows knitted together then his familiar vermillion eyes stared back to her own.
Dream's throat felt dry but she wants to call out to him so bad.
She opened her mouth but no words comes out. She is too weak, she feel like a vegetable that was pulled out from a branch.
The man hugged her tighter and started yelling some more.
"Put it back! The land of Clover is cured. Our people is back to our land. Put the barrier back." The man yelled but Dream's brain could not understand any.
"You! You!-...."
Soliard yelled back while clenching his bleeding shoulders. It is bleeding as the arm that used to be there is gone. The right arm and hand the grabbed Dream's neck twice and almost killed her is on the ground.
The two knights that was knocked out due to the inhalation of miasma is now awakend. They are all healed up as they received the power of Clover first hand.
The two men thought they died but they woke up with no scratch or ailments in their body.
As soon as they woke up. They tend to Soliard as it is their prioritized duty, but their eyes are filled with sympathy as they looked at the person who saved them all.
All they could do is pull away Soliard who still wants to run to the millenial princess and grab a hold of her with his remaining arm.
They could also not dare to rush forward as the man who is holding the princess is emitting a menacing aura. Aura that is identical to the man they know well, the King of Spades, Joseph, no, this man is stronger.
"YOU!! WHO ARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU ADORN HIS APPEARANCE?!"
Soliard yelled to the top of his lungs. The man who cut his arm have the same black hair and red eyes. The same appearance of the person Soliard idolize as he grew up. The same appearance as the person he always wants to be.
"HOW DARE YOU!! HOW DARE YOU!!"
That was the last words they heard from Soliard until the barrier was perfectly put in place.
"He is loud. Kahel was right, such an unlikeable person."
He then looked back down to the princess on his arms. He can feel her limbs were shaking.
"You on the other hand is so stupid. How can you use everything you got in one shot? With this body of yours? Do you want to die? Are you a stupid suicidal sister? Hey, why are you not responding?"
Dream could see that the man is mad and yelling at her but she could not hear anything. Dream is trying to burn the man's appearance into her mind.
She rested her head on the man's chest. She used to do this in the past. She closed her eyes like she always did in the past also.
Dream smiled to herself. It seems like he gotten so younger since the last time she saw him.
"Dad..."
Dream managed to let out one word before she finally let her body lost consciousness.
"Huh? Who are you calling Dad?!"
"Hey stop yelling to an injured child!"
Night landed himself on the man's shoulder. The man does not look surprised at the talking owl.
"Are you the real brother that the heart seal brat was talking about?"
"You mean Queenie? The name is Ace, and who are you calling brat? You talking ball of feather."