Here begins

- My king, you have finally arrived.

- Tell me! Why did you call me at this time of night, Keil? asks the king as he opens the door to his office.

-This... What happened is that one of our citizens went mad and tried to murder his daughter, but young Ezekiel and his friend were on the scene. Keil says as he enters the office behind the king.

I guess those two managed to restrain her, didn't they? he said as he positioned himself in front of his desk.

—E... No, my king, the woman was able to kill them both...

—... What! shouts the king hitting his table.

-That's why I suspect the elf didn't go crazy, and that's why she was so strong.

I see... None of our ordinary citizens would be able to knock those young men out.

Exactly, the young people managed to distract her for quite a while until Eldran, the captain, arrived...

...Captain of the second company, eh? he interrupts while looking carefully at the palm of his right hand.

That's right, he took the woman down, put a binding spell on her, and then I sent her to the research department. By the way, the spell is [Heavenly Theater].

I see... And, father is still not back from his trip?

-Not yet majesty, he is supposed to arrive in these days. I have sent the only brigade we have at the moment to report the moment your father is back.

The king thinks for a few seconds until he stands up 6 with an imposing voice says:

Summon all the lords, the knights, the available captains and also those two boys for tomorrow after lunchtime, in the throne room.

And, as he looked out of the office window, which occupied an entire wall, and where the whole kingdom could be seen at a great height, he says:

I think something really big is coming our way....

---In the meantime ---In the meantime ---In the meantime ---In the meantime ---In the meantime

Hours passed and John still did not wake up. In the room was Ked, who was left taking care of John, as he felt guilty and only thought about how he was so useless in front of that enemy.

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, someone knocks on the door and tries to enter, but the door was locked from the inside and only one person inside the room could open it.

Ked, thinking it was the doctor treating John, opens the door and sees that it was the woman gentleman who took care of them when they were unconscious.

- Still not awake? says the woman in a sweet voice that reassures the young man.

Not yet... The doctor who treated him said that he will wake up in a few hours, but he will have to take care of his right arm for a day, since it was the most serious and he was not able to cure it completely.

I see... I'll stay here to take care of him, I mean, in case you want to go and rest, I imagine that your body is not yet fully recovered from the fatigue.

Thank you for the consideration, but it's not necessary, just sitting here is enough. You can still be here, it's not like I'm trying to make you leave.

And so they continued talking for a few hours, the woman, Jenipher, stayed in that place more than anything else to rest from her occupation, since otherwise she would have to be silently guarding the entrance to the castle.

After a few more minutes, John begins to open his eyes, feels a slight but nagging pain coming from his left arm, looks at it and sees how it was carefully bandaged.

- Hey! You're awake... How are you feeling?

John moves his eyes from side to side trying to get his bearings and ending his gaze on the woman standing next to Ked. For a few seconds he mistook the crazed person for Jenipher. That look was so cold and deep that it made the elf's skin bristle completely and made her hesitate whether to be on guard or not.

After a few moments he manages to come out of his confusion and in a lazy voice answers:

Ignoring all these blows... Good.

Next time you should be more careful, you're lucky you didn't get hurt too badly. says Ked.

At that moment John remembers the fight again and desperately asks:

Hey! How did it all end? How's the girl? And your psychological wounds?

Ooye... Calm down, Eldran arrived, he shot her down and the girl is in the casti... What did you mean by "psychological wounds"?

- Oh! That's right... I came here to deliver a message from the king. says the woman.

- Message? And you only remember it now?

- Yes! The king summons you both, first thing in the morning, after lunch, at the palace. He said you should eat and recover a little, that's why the schedule. I guess it's to talk about what happened.

It's ok... John, now you have to rest, tomorrow will be a long day and besides, the doctor said to take care of your arms for at least one day.

-I-it's okay. -answers

Ked is the first to leave the room and head to his room, while the woman extinguishes the candles in the room and proceeds to leave the room.

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- Brother, help me! Please! I don't want to... I don't want to die... Please! says a boy with ash-colored hair and elf ears, badly hurt and without a leg, looking and trying again and again to grab the person in front of him.

- Brother! Please... Help... I'm...

Then, the person to whom he asked for help, thrusts his sword into the child's mouth, causing instant death while tears fell into the void.

- My king! My king wake up!

Suddenly the king wakes up with tears dripping slowly down his cheek, he quickly wipes it dry by rubbing it.

My king, are you all right? asked the woman who had awakened him.

- Yes! Uh... I just had a bad dream. he answers in a hoarse voice.

If you allow me, I can bring some medication, it really doesn't look good.

No need, really, thank you..." he replies.

Hours later. Lunch was over and everyone was gathered in the throne room. The king on his throne, the lords in front on the right and the knights along with Ked and John on the left.

- Bring the woman! says the king.

After a few minutes of just listening to rumors from the gentlemen, the woman is brought in and placed in the center of the room.

The woman screams in agony, as if inside she was in constant pain. Thus, all the lords were surprised to see how the woman's skin had changed from a light color to a very dark one, since there had never been an elf of that color.

That woman is possessed by the devil, keep her!

How can they have such an aberration in the throne room? It is a sacred place and yet the king does not respect it at all.

These were some of the insults that came from the mouths of the gentlemen.

I congratulate Eldran, for his magnificent binding spell and quick reaction. Also to young Ezekiel and his friend, for the magnificent performance in protecting the girl, but, I am very sorry that they ended up wounded. says the king.

My king! Allow me to point out the ineptitude of these young men, since they are disciples of their father and ended up in a pitiful way. Eldran says while smiling.

It just took us by surprise! Besides, we had to protect the girl. Ezequiel answered.

- Silence! Eldran, you must recognize that they are still young, they do not have the same experience and power as you.

Forgive me your majesty, I will not underestimate them again. Eldran replies.

-And you two, you must not underestimate your enemies, any move and you could have been killed, well, that would have witnessed the worst scenario.

Frustrated Ked just nods along with John.

- My lords, what you see here is a woman possessed with dark magic, an ancient magic that disappeared many years ago. says the king, addressing the audience while pointing at the woman with his gaze.

All the lords and gentlemen of the place were surprised to hear those words, since that kind of magic was only used by evil cults, and they had disappeared many years ago.

In a moment the air became tense, everyone was surprised and puzzled, they had so many questions that no one could answer at that moment.

By standing up, the king completely eliminates the tension by saying:

This woman will stay with the research department, they will be in charge of finding a way to return her to normality. And as for the solution, if previously I asked for extreme vigilance and security; at this moment I ask for 5 times more than that. We all know how dangerous ancient magic can be and we don't want our kingdom to fall into despair.

After those words, tranquility returned to everyone's hearts, as if they trusted the words of that king who was in front of them all.

- At this moment I declare a red alert for the kingdom! shouted the king with maximum security.

Prum!

Suddenly the doors of the throne room open and a desperate man enters and says:

- My king! We have received more than 20 notices dealing with people in the same state as that woman.

- What?

Yes, my king, several deaths have already been recorded in the course of 10 minutes.

All knights, deploy, your priority is to capture them and bring them back alive, but if that's not possible you can finish them off! shouted the king.

All the knights start to leave, Ked and John stare at each other, and almost at the same time nod their heads, signifying that the two will join the battle.

You two! Be more careful than anyone else. Whatever I do I can't stop you, but take care of yourselves, for I don't want a scolding from my father.

The young men nod to the king and run to catch up with the knights.

-I suppose... This is where it begins, Edward... says the king, sighing and looking at the ceiling of the throne.