Ragn

?" Ludwig's concerned voice ec

vaguely while she ate he

that. Ludwig already had so much on his plate. She didn't want to

to accompany you," Ludwig added, crossing his

sides, ever since she had come to live at Fortunalia, Ludwig had become he

to go out alone, without the knights

her safety, so she didn't protest, thou

town. Besides, I was only gone for about two hours, shorter than the royal meetings. I didn't want to

a. You know that. And I am certain they won't babysit you. Leonel is eight y

"Which makes it worse, Ludwig. I'm older than both

They're protecting you. There's

handle danger myself

nt coming from her. And she knew it was a bluff. She couldn't even do a

ombat and much more willing and determined to fight and kill." Lud

more, to assure Ludwig she was capa

r irritation vanish. She just released all her feelings into

water. "I'll bring them along next time so you won

ivalz won't die." There was a deafening silence between them. "I know this setup

eyes. "She captured Hiyasmin," he said, almost denying

ell what Ludwig felt at that moment

attered papers on his wide wooden table. "

"I used magic

nister

d Alexa. "Don't worry about

w," Ludwig said, star

xa met Ludwig's gaze. "I've been hungry si

ers before him. "But you never ate more than seven. Usually, you

d, yawning as sleepiness seemed to crawl into

r clasped fingers. She was scared Ludwig noticed sh

us guest Louise talked inside Hiyasmin's room, S

d never felt before. She didn't know the true problem, but she noticed

it was sufficient. But now, it seemed two sacks were n

ting Hiyasmin regularly. She s

ighten Ludwig's burdens in any way she could. Bu

Ludwig softly

hey decided to walk for a bit, savoring the tranqu

to Ludwig, who was standing beside her

was wrapped securely in ordinary fabric. She hadn't op

" Alexa asked. "I bet sh

ps tightly sealed. "You should go,"

ew Ludwig wanted to see Louise. She co

ression unreadable. Her eyes widened in surprise. She was about to roast him fu

ur human maiden." She shook her head, laughing. She already knew Ludwig felt somet

ary. She was just a few feet away from the g

xamined it. Surrounded by men and only having Hiyasmin as her usual com

ir. Then she conjured a Mirror Spell to see how it looked o

an't

e took another peek. But it did not change, not at all. This w

ant and colorful hair was the distinct symbol of witches, just like how pointed ears

matter what one did, no matter what spell was cast,

shed her hair. Maybe her Mirror Spell was broken. But then,

he didn't look like a witch any longer. She thought, does this m

dmitted it to anyone, but it was tiring being judge

ount of time trying to understand the inner workings of th

it in a cabinet in her room and soon treated the eight white

leaning it when, suddenly, a soft knock thudded on her chamber door. Instead

lanced down and saw a young boy holding fiv

no one else but them and the silence. "What are

d servants in Lancaster Castle, so

p at her, then his cracked lips said, "The

ered, finishing the

and eyes widened as her hands froze. "Who..." S

e boxes at her feet. Then, without any sort of farewe

e Alexa decided to follow hi

at rhyme. It was written by her mother before she

someone else

back to her chamber. She attempted to search for

still lying idly on the floor. Ale

to do just that. But before she could reach the me

r body reacted on reflex. She had heard that famili

g her Teleportation Spell. She kept mes

understood. Her ey

tained Telepo

arby. Her hands trembled with her hammering heart. Sh

s on the ground shook like quakes,

ike a second heartbeat before it grew heav

ck metallic walls. Then it curled and opened and sw

es. But before the Sealing Spell fully caged her, the boxes exploded with resounding bangs. It rang thick in Alexa's ears, and s

ed to create a soft cushion between her and her shield, but it was already to

on blurred. Her throat felt raw from shouting in pain. Now she

ouple of times and clasped her hands around her ears, but it d

stopped. The shaking of her protective metal case ceased, a

herself tightly, afraid that if she move

ently palming the wounds on her head. Hissing in pain and discomfort, she

ant form. She gripped it and tucked it into her satchel. She was about

e ruined building looked exactly like th