Chapter 4 : Tough Decisions

"You are really amazing. Princess," said San, the general of the royal army, "however, it would be nice if you give a little emotion and enthusiasm in the match," he suggested.

Alex nodded without changing the expression on her face. Today is the schedule for sword training with the palace troops. From the morning, Alex already complained and gave several reasons to cancel her practice but the King strictly forbade Alex to skip classes for any reason. As a result, was in a bad mood, she didn't even seem eager to raise her sword.

"Princess, would you allow one of the soldiers to challenge you for today's match?" asked San respectfully.

Alex stared at him before shrugged her shoulder, "who?"

San glanced around, looking for faces brave enough to stand up to Alex's talent. Unfortunately, almost all of his students lowered their heads, hoping not to be one of the people with great bad luck that having to face the princess—who is known to be very skilled in swinging her sword and doesn't even hesitate to injure her opponent. Seeing the attitude of the young men who had little balls made San let out a disappointed sigh. Then he turned to his son, Kennard.

"Ken," he decided, "you can spar with princess for today."

Kennard gave a bow to Alex as he stepped into the arena. San patted his shoulder before walked away from the two best soldier on their generation.

Alex felt a bit challenged when she saw the person San chose as her sparring opponent. Ken was not an easy opponent, in the three meetings between the two, Alex was only able to survive without being given the chance to attack. Even though he could still balanced Ken's every attack, it didn't mean that Alex wasn't self-aware that she couldn't surpass Ken's power. The man purposely only blocked every movement of the sword that was aimed at him. Not letting the sharp iron tip hit him and trying hard to play safe so that every resistance doesn't have a bad impact on Alex.

But this time, Alex's spirit was on it's peak. Her desire to a victory and satisfaction when she could surpassed Ken was soaring. she was determined to push past Ken's limit, make the man go out of control and turn her attack with an attack too.

Alex tightened her grip on the hilt of the sword to prepare. She gave a sinister smile, belittling on her opponent. As soon as San gave the signal, Alex immediately attacked in rage. She swung her sword straight at Ken, but in a split second—as if he could read Alex's movement—Ken only dodged it by taking a few steps back before switching position

Alex growled, she was offended. Ken had clearly underestimated her for continuously dodging the attacks. This situation continues to repeat until thirty minutes have passed in vain. Alex wiped the sweat off his forehead, she gritted his teeth madly. Emotion overtook his senses. Her attack became uncontrollable in mess. Her eyes were blank, shrouded in a fiery red mist evoking fear in those who saw her.

"What happened?" Rows of questions coated with fear aired on the faces of the watchers.

A dark aura aroused around Alex. A golden glow emanated from the tips of the surrounding flames wich enveloping her body in a golden red light.

Ken fell silent for a few seconds as he noticed Alex's change. "Princess!" He called, throwing the sword out of the arena and rushed to Alex.

"Ken, back off!" San told his son. He lunged forward to grab them but a puff of hot air pushed him far out of the arena.

But Ken didn't budge, he rush to the princess's side, trying to grab her shoulder even though one of the sword slashes his left arm. He grabbed Alex's wrist to block the sword coming from the opposite direction. With a quick movement, Ken landed a punch that managed to make Alex drop her sword.

"Princess! Alex!" Ken's jolt was strong. His hands gripped both of Alex's shoulders tightly, asking her to focus on his eyes.

***

"Princess Alex, soon all our dreams of being together will come true. When that time comes, I promise to executed those who separated us and create a world of peace for us, my child."

Alex was mumbling in her sleep. Her mind was filled with dark shadows trying to pull her hand to follow them. Even though Alex refused and even brushed it off, they still forced her. Pulling Alex's body into a dark room where there was only one big chair full of red gems in the middle of the room. Alex was forced to sit there, wrists tightly tied to the back of the chair. As people moved away, immediately the fire was lit, circling the chair to burn Alex.

"No, no!" Alex screamed in fear.

Hearing his daughter's voice, the King and Queen immediately came to her bed side. "Alex, honey, wake up," the Queen patted Alex's shoulder gently to wake her up. She hissed at the feel of the heat radiated from Alex, "Honey, her body is very hot," said the Queen to her husband.

The king immediately touched Alex's forehead, too. "Call the healer!" he called out to the guard at the door.

"Yes, My lord."

"Dad, Mom, help me," groaned Alex in her sleep.

"Alex, wake up, my dear," the Queen cried. She panicked even more when she heard her daughter's moaning pain.

Alex's body spasmed before her eyes suddenly opened and stared at the King sharply. A mocking smile crossed her face along with a groan of pain.

"What happened, King?" Marfiato rushed into the room.

"Marfiato, help Alex!" King's yelled.

Alex chuckled softly as she raised her index finger at the King. "I will destroy this land, Achilles!" she roared in a shrill voice that sounded terrible.

The king gasped, he took a few steps back. Even in Alex's form, he felt that the gazes and voice belonged to someone else. Someone he had forgotten decades ago.

Marfiato drew a star symbol on his palm and then stuck it on Alex's forehead. Instantly a scorching heat rose through his hands and spread throughout the body. Slowly, Alex's body weakened as the heat in her body gradually decreased.

Marfiato stared into Alex's face, digesting what was really going on. One thing that really bothered him when he looked at the red eyes full of vengeance that appeared in Alex's eyes when the little girl threatened the King, that this was not the Alex they knew.

Marfiato turned to face the King. "May I speak privately with your majesty?" he asked. Marfiato bowed respectfully to the Queen, sending an apology.

The king glanced at his wife who gave him a small nod. The queen prefers to stay with Alex, whatever the royal adviser says is no longer her concern.

The king left Alex's room followed by Marfiato and two palace guards. They walked until they entered the palace library. Guards stood at the entrance while the King and Marfiato sat in the reading room, facing each other's with unreadable expression

"What are you want to say that you have to drag me away from my wife?"

"Forgive me, your majesty. There is something troubling my mind and I want to speak directly about it with you," inclined Marfiato.

The king fell silent. Were they thought about the same thing? "Say,"

"Did the King see anything strange? Just a moment ago, I saw another figure in the Princess."

The king sighed deeply. "You're right, Marfiato. I saw Prediano ," the King whispered heavily. "I saw my long-lost twin brother," he continued restlessly.

Marfiato nodded.

"But how can? Why?" The king looked at his adviser with a frightened look. "What really happened, Marfiato?"

"King, pardon my foolishness. But may I make a suggestion?"

The king frowned. "Say."

"How about we keep Princess Alex away from the palace until a certain time?"

"What do you mean? I have to throw Alex out of the palace?" the King snarled.

"No, my lord. It is for the safety of the family, especially princess Alex herself. I suggest that Alex's daughter leave the palace until the time comes."

The king rose from his seat and turned to face the large window carved with royal coats of arms. "Is there another way, Marfiato? I don't want to do the same as what my family did to Prediano ."

Marfiato looked at the King in pity. The first time in his life, he saw the King so fragile and lost confidence.

"Right now, we have only two options."

"Tell me, tell me! If there is, I would prefer another way," the king turned to look at Marfiato.

Marfiato took out a sharp-pointed object from under his cloak. "Stab the Princess' heart with this dagger."

The king was stunned. "You are crazy!" he hissed angrily.

"King, you must remember what caused Mr. Prediano to be expelled from the palace," Marfiato put the dagger on the table. "The same thing will happen again, if we are late in making a decision."

The king fell silent, his eyes fixed on the fiery red stone encrusted dagger with ancient letters carved along the blade. His mind was raging, at war with two difficult choices.

*****