49-53

"We're back. We're finally back on the city surface. It feels like it has been years since I've been back here."

Aurora could not help the smile that stretch across her face at Rita's words. The currently-elder female seemed to be teary-eyed to see the upper surface of the city.

As good as Rocx academy was, it was still limited in resources due to its location.

It would take time for that place to get as fresh and worthy as the planned city around the tower was.

"Rita, don't wander off on your own. We are not here for sightseeing. Let's buy our tickets before we are recognized."

Aurora pulled the bigger hand holding her own and she tugged Rita toward the bus stand.

While enjoying oneself was all good, Aurora was worried that someone would recognize her in her younger body.

And if someone did recognize her, they would call the tower immediately. Aurora was not sure if she would be able to fight the tower in her current form.

As for Rita? She was nowhere near a goddess level right now.

"Aurora, just relax. You're a kid right now. There is no way you will get recognized in your current form."

Rita was right. There was no way in hell that someone would look at Aurora and think of her as the same person who caused so many problems to the tower.

Maybe something good did come out of her temporary curse.

"You're right. Still, we should hurry up and get out of the tower radius. It will take us a day to get to the northern republic."

"Fine. You're a killjoy even as a kid."

Aurora only smiled back at Rita to hide her real feelings.

She did not know why but Aurora could feel that something would happen before they reached the northern republic.

"Ticket for two to the northern republic."

The man at the counter did not even look up when he handed Rita her ticket. He seemed eager to go home and rest.

This lack of attention was fortunate for Aurora and Rita. It reduced their chances of getting found out while out here.

It was not until the air was seated in the train that Aurora breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good.

"See, I told you nothing would happen. You were just worrying for nothing."

Aurora was inclined to believe Rita more after the lack of action. Maybe it was an indication that everything was going to be alright for now.

"Maybe you were right. Maybe I was worried for nothing."

Maybe the lack of sleep was finally catching up to Aurora now.

[System warning. The user Alexander is nearby.]

The warning came too late.

One second Aurora was walking around as if nothing happened, the next second she felt her body collide with something solid in front of her.

"Aurora, you alright? You did not get hurt by the collision? Right?"

Rita sounded worried but Aurora was more concerned about the silent arrival of Alexander.

"Oh, it's you again. How did you manage to get yourself so small? Even your magic feels negligible. I wouldn't have recognized you if not for the system."

Double shit. Alexander had not only managed to run into Aurora, but he also recognized her.

Everything Aurora had done till now to remain hidden felt like a joke.

"Huh? Are you sure you are talking to us, mister? I think you made a mistake just now. You see, this girl here is my younger sister and…"

"Lying to me won't help you out. I can help you get out of this town undetected."

"And why would you do that for us?"

Aurora decided to break her vow of silence. There was no use in staying quiet now. It was more than obvious that she had been found out.

The man sounded confused before understanding slammed in his eyes.

"I'm thinking of taking your offer. And for that, I need to make sure you remain unharmed. So I will help you out for now."

Aurora felt her eyes widen at the confession. She had made this offer initially as a joke.

But Alexander seemed serious about taking Aurora up on her offer. This was a weird twist of fate.

"Are you trying to trick us? What offer could Aurora have made?…"

Aurora stopped Rita from finishing her sentence.

"I understand. I can see that you are serious about that offer. In that case, help us out and I'll send a letter of recommendation for you at the Rocx Academy."

"Consider it done."

Alexander did not look worried about his ability to get the pair out. And Aurora was not particularly worried about his betrayal.

Alexander's aura of corruption was as good as gone.

It was clear to Aurora that he had benefited a great deal from this system's support but she did have the heart to look his file over.

"Are you sure we can trust him? He's from the tower."

Rita had a legitimate reason to sound worried. Aurora had not expected to end up in this situation as well.

But surprisingly enough, Aurora was not worried about anything regarding Alexander. Somehow, his arrival elevated some of Aurora's worry.

But the heavy feeling inside her had not disappeared yet. She still felt like something big would happen.

"I don't think we have anything to worry about from Alexander's side. I have a system tracking his every move. He won't be able to betray us."

Aurora decided to reveal her trump card.

"Ohhh. So that's why you were confident in him. Then I guess we can trust him."

Aurora nodded before she decided to look up.

And her eyes instantly met a familiar pair. As soon as that happened, Aurora ducked her head and pulled Rita's hand.

"We need to get going. We will be in trouble if we stay here any longer."

Aurora had a sudden realization of why she was having this bad feeling.

Out of everyone whom Aurora could have met her eyes with, why did it have to be Lady Mei?

And she was not alone. Aurora had also caught the sight of the tower master with her.

This was a combination of Aurora's nightmare. If those two joined hands then Aurora was sure something troublesome would happen soon.

But that was the tower's headache. Aurora could just wash her hands off this topic.

"What happened? Did you spot someone you recognized? Hey, stop pulling."

Despite her complaints, Rita's aura looked happy at being bossed around.

Aurora had no time to correct Rita's behavior. Not if she wanted to get away from the nightmare following behind her.

"Hey, kid. Wait right there. You are not allowed to leave this place."

Shit. Aurora had been spotted and it seemed as if Lady Mei was heading toward her.

The only stroke of good luck Aurora seemed to have was that the tower master looked as surprised as her to see Lady Mei headed their way.

"What are you doing? Start moving now."

Aurora's pulling had turned into a full-force struggle now.

Thankfully, Rita realized the situation. And she finally started cooperating a little too late.

The people around them made it difficult for Aurora and Rita to move. They tastefully blocked their way.

The pair couldn't risk hurting the crown in their struggle to get away from Lady Mei either.

There would be no choice for them but to meet the goddess.

"Hey, come this way. Hurry up."

But not all hope had abandoned the pair. After all, they had someone from the tower on their side as well.

People gave way in confusion as Alexander coaxed them to step aside.

Since Lady Mei had never specified to whom she was ordered not to move, the crowd became confused.

Alexander used this confusion to lead Aurora and Rita out of the way.

"Let's get going now. I booked our tickets for the northern republic. You were headed there, right?"

"How did you know where…"

Rita started the question before realizing that the terminal they had met Alexander belonged to the northern republic.

It was a well-educated guess to think of that place as the destination.

"Thank you for the tickets. I suppose you will be accompanying us?"

Aurora would not mind having Alexander with them to help out.

Sometimes, having someone affiliated with the tower cleared out a lot of obstacles for you.

And Alexander seemed bright enough to keep himself out of trouble.

"I might as well accompany you. If Lady Mei spotted me and reported me back then I would be in big trouble with my father. I'll rather take my chances with you." 𝚒𝐧𝐧re𝚊𝙙. 𝙘o𝓶

Aurora nodded in agreement. But she also needed to draw the line.

"You can come along. But don't act too familiar with us for now. I don't want rumors to spread that we're affiliated with her tower."

"Don't worry. I'll be discreet while under operation. And besides, I will not remain as a tower official for long."

That was true. Once Alexander left the tower things would become clear about Rocx academy's affiliations.

But it was just better not to poke the ashes and cause a potential fire.

With the assistance of Alexander, it did not take long for the duo to escape Lady Mei's pursuit. Mainly because the people around them helped the trio out.

In the end, the trio managed to successfully board the train in time for departure.

"I cannot believe we managed to give Goddess Mei the slip. She's known to be ruthless and black-hearted."

Rita melted into her seat as soon as the soft surface touched her bottom. Her eyes closed in pleasure and she looked on the verge of sleep.

The day had been hectic so Aurora did not blame Rita for being exhausted. Even she felt tired from all the detours they had to take.

"Lady Mei might be a goddess but she's also a public figure. It is difficult for her to do everything she wants. I just took advantage of this fact and helped us escape."

Alexander sounded confident in his synopsis. And seeing as how he had helped Aurora out, there was a decent enough reason for him to be cocky.

"Man, it must be such to be a higher-up member of the tower. They are always in the public eye. It's a wonder how they managed to get away with so much."

"Being under the public eye is not a hindrance but a benefit to them. It helps them sway public opinion and create a false image. But it is not something everyone can understand."

"Why you? Are you belittling me?"

Aurora was amazed at the change in the native guard. In a matter of weeks, the old and weak guard she had threatened was gone. And in his place stood someone who understood how society worked.

Had it not been for her system, Aurora would have sworn that this was an entirely different person in front of her.

"Rita, let it go. He's an ally for now so take his words to heart."

"B-But! Alright. I won't get angry for no reason again."

Rita went back to sulking but Aurora did not console her this time. She could not always hold Rita's hand and make her behave.

Rita had to learn how to behave for the most part. She was an adult now and such behavior was not accepted among the higher-class people.

The rest of the journey passed in relative silence. No one had the heart to talk things out so everyone remained silent.

The night was also equally quiet. The only light to illuminate the outside came from the abyss beneath the train track.

The bridge that lined the two huge masses of land was built a long time ago and was maintained with magic.

For most people, it was the only way to travel across continents. If something ever happened to the bridge, then the most common means of communication would be cut off.

"It is beautiful. The abyss looks like a gigantic water body from this far above."

Rita sounded lost when she spoke those words. Aurora understood the mysterious allure the abyss cast on the viewer.

When she had first seen this view, she had been bewitched as well. It had been Quince that had knocked him and Clove out of their thoughts.

Aurora still remembered what he had said to her.

"The more beautiful a thing is, the more ugly secrets it is trying to hide. The abyss is a giant gem filled with wonders. But it also hides the deadliest of poison in its fangs."

Aurora did not know why, but those words had struck her in her heart.

Even more, after she had traveled to the abyss once. The darkness it held could not be compared to anywhere else.

"I'm surprised to hear this from you. As far as I know, this used to be an old tower saying. Hardly anyone uses it nowadays. It makes me wonder about your connections to the tower.

Alexander looked suspicious. Aurora had not expected the man to know this saying. She had not come across this saying after Quince had said this to her that one time.

"Would it surprise you to know that it was someone from the tower that told this to me a long time ago? That person no longer exists but the saying struck me."

"Is that why you want to take revenge on the tower? For that person?"

"No. He's not the reason but he is a part of the reason. Not that it matters much now."

Aurora did not deny the accusation of revenge against the tower. Even she knew that there was no point in denying something true or could easily be guessed.

The talk ended on that note and right in time for the announcement of their arrival to come.

/Reaching Northern Republic center station in fifteen minutes. Passengers are asked to be prepared to step out./

The sun was rising on the horizon and the train was finally pulling up to the other continent.

It was a peaceful time when everyone could enjoy the tranquility and the beauty of the northern continent. The country of snow and wind was being approached by the train.

This journey was going to be over soon.

Or so everyone thought.

/Emergency warning issued. Everyone is asked to not leave their seats and sit tight. An abyss monster has been spotted near the northern continent./

/I repeat, Emergency warning issued. Everyone is asked to not leave their seats and sit tight. An abyss monster has been spotted near the northern continent./

/Forces from the northern front have arrived on the scene./

Aurora cursed her rotten luck.

These attacks by the abyss monsters were common enough to occur outside of the abyss and in areas with such dense abyssal energy leaking out.

But Aurora had not expected the attack to take place just as their party was about to arrive at the station at that.

"What should we do now? Should we sit back and let the Northern Republic deal with the monster? Or should we help out?"

Rita sounded divided. Aurora knew it was because Rita was a noble soul who could not let anyone suffer if she could help it.

But Aurora had no intention of helping those republicans out. Doing so would put Aurora in a tough situation and also cause the republic to question her motives.

"Let's not interfere more than we have to."

"B-But"

"I agree. Let's stay here for now. Things will be over soon."

Outside, the battle raged on with a ferocity seldomly seen outside of the abyss. Northern forces were slowly but surely taking out the abyssal monster.

Aurora could not see what kind of monster it was that was rampaging outside of the train but she had a bad feeling about it.

"H-Hey, I think I'm going to sleep. I can't keep my eyes open any longer."

Rita slumped in her seat as soon as she finished speaking. It would not have been such a bizarre situation had she been the only one to fall asleep.

Aurora's bad feeling became worse as Alexander collapsed in his seat as well. And not only him, but the whole train couch also seemed to be falling asleep.

The scent that filled the train felt familiar but Aurora could not open the door to check the situation outside.

The curtain on their couch door also hid the outside corridor from Aurora's view and blocked most of the magical aura from being visible.

Aurora was left with a few visible clues to figure out what was happening outside on the train.

A shadowy hand reached out for the curtain of Aurora's train curtain and she tensed. She was not in any condition to protect herself from any external attack.

[WARNING. MASSIVE ABYSSAL ENERGY DETECTED. THE USER IS ASKED TO RUN AWAY. 𝘪𝙣𝓃𝒓𝗲𝒶𝗱. 𝐜o𝗺

WARNING. ASIOAOJSKD=-=[';L.';.;";';/]-==-='/]

Whatever was outside of the door was causing Aurora's system to go out of control. It had to be something massive to cause such a disturbance in her magic reserves.

A goddess's magic reserves were something sacred. Even the curse that had bound Aurora's magic and held her captive in this form had not touched her system.

'[Are you there?]'

Aurora's breath got caught in her throat as she heard the voice question her.

It was a breathy voice that was barely audible to anyone. And Aurora had no idea why it was asking her this question. Did that voice not knock out everyone asleep in one go?

But then one hand became two and then four. It continued until the whole curtain was filled with nothing but the silhouette of those hands.

Those bony hands tried to pry the curtain open and Aurora quickly moved toward her seat and closed her eyes.

Maybe if she pretended to fall asleep, she could get out of this situation without alerting the others about it.

And if things did become dangerous, then Aurora would think of a way out.

'[Something is different here. Things are different this time.]'

The owner of those creepy hands was not leaving and Aurora's fists clenched in fear. She needed to do something to make those monsters leave.

'[Something is different here. Things are different this time.]'

The owner of those creepy hands was not leaving and Aurora's fists clenched in fear. She needed to do something to make those monsters leave.

For some reason, the monsters were getting more and more agitated the more they observed Aurora's cabin.

'[IT'S HERE. IT'S HERE. IT'S FINALLY HERE. OUR TREAT IS HERE AFTER A LONG TIME]'

'[MASTER! MASTER! HURRY UP. WE'RE HUNGRY]'

'[CAN WE EAT THIS TASTY TREAT? CAN WE?]'

Aurora did her best not to tense up as the voices got louder and louder. At this point, the only thing remaining between her and the owner of that bony hand was a thin curtain.

Aurora knew she could run away as a last resort. But she also had to take care of Rita and Alexander. Those two were still unconscious.

But the shadows seemed not to be leaving the cabin. They were reaching inside for someone and Aurora felt her throat get blocked by her fear.

'[WE'LL EAT IT UP]'

"Don't touch them. I will not allow you to touch them."

Aurora knew it was a foolish idea for her to use her powers in this situation. She had almost no energy left and her curse could become worse if she let her recovered powers out.

But Aurora knew she could also not sit back and do nothing. 𝓲𝓃𝐧𝓇𝗲𝒂d. 𝑐𝐨ｍ

Her aura flared and her body grew to her original size in a matter of seconds. Her hand also held her spear at ready.

'[IT'S THE ABYSS. IT'S THE ABYSS]'

'[OUR LORD'S AURA IS HERE. OUR LORD IS BACK]'

'[OUR LORD BROUGHT US A TREAT. LET'S INDULGE IN IT]'

"I asked you; what are you doing? Did I not tell you not to touch them?"

Aurora had no idea where her power was coming from. Maybe it was the nearness of the open abyss that was fueling her magic, maybe it was her desire.

But one thing Aurora knew for sure. No one would be able to touch her in this form.

Aurora wanted to eradicate each and every single one of these shadowy hands and creatures that were reaching out for her people.

She did not show mercy to those trying to take her things away. Those Aurora had chosen were her and no one else was allowed to keep them.

Aurora tensed as another massive aura headed toward her cabin. This one felt different from the shadowy figure groveling around her.

This one was dangerous and it would be a challenge to get him to cooperate.

"Are you here to challenge me as well?"

The man looking back at Aurora looked familiar. Aurora was sure she had seen him before but she could not figure out where.

There was just something about those golden eyes and blue hair of his that seemed familiar to her.

"You all, Scam. If you value your life then you won't show your face again in front of me."

Even that voice of this new person sparked something inside Aurora. But she knew one thing for sure.

He was not someone she had met in her previous life. Nor in her present one.

Those golden eyes and blue hair were not something one could forget just because they wished to. Nor was this man's aura something that Aurora could ignore if she wished to.

"Don't give me that look. I will not attack you just because I wished to kill you. I was just here to check up on something."

"A pet of mine escaped my clutches a while ago so I was trying to track him down. I see now how he managed to get past my defenses."

Aurora traced that golden-eyed man's gaze back to Alexander.

It was not to out two-on-two together and figure out who that man meant when he talked about the 'pet'.

"So sorry to steal your dog. But I need him with me."

Aurora did not know why she decided to defend Alexander from this powerful man, but she just moved in front of the unconscious pair behind her.

It was foolish of her to give in to her instincts, but Aurora wanted to face this man head-on.

"You need him? Alright, you can have him. But in return, you will need to visit the next time you enter the abyss. Enter any of the overlooker chambers and call out my name."

Aurora felt a growl build up inside her throat as those golden eyes eased their hostility toward her.

Suddenly, the situation had become a lot clear to her.

This man was an overlooker of the abyss. But his aura was completely different from Ava's. just standing in front of him caused Aurora to go out of breath.

"Why should I come to look for you?"

"Because you own me for sparing your life. I hope we meet each other soon."

Aurora wanted to chase after the man once he left. But she knew she could not leave her people or the train alone.

The presence of that golden-eyed man was leaving the vicinity of the train but the smaller shadows had not left yet.

They were waiting for Aurora to allow them to capture the energy of her companions.

"What troublesome creatures. It's a pity that I have to rely on the Northers Republic soldiers to take care of these things for me."

Aurora cursed openly but she was relieved to have a reason to not go after that dangerous man.

"Fuck my condition."

Aurora could feel her power flowering out of her body. It was almost like a leaking tap, unable to hold onto her residual power.

Before Aurora knew it, she was back into her kid form.

"Open the door and let us check inside. It is by the order of the Northern Republic, let us in now."

Aurora almost jumped as soon as she heard the door open. Her body flinched at the noise the door made when it opened.

"This was the best sleep I've had for a while. So, what happened while I was asleep?"

Rita finally woke up after the soldiers forced their way into their ward. Aurora felt her temper cool down as soon as she watched it happen.

"It's a kid. Seems like she was awake during the confrontation. Do you think we should take her into custody?"

Aurora wanted to scream but she could not say anything at all. The republic soldiers were looking at Aurora with an interested look.

"Hey, kid. Come with me. I have something I want to ask you."

Aurora took a step back as the soldiers advanced toward her. She did not want to get caught and be held in protective custody by anyone right now.

But the soldiers either ignored her discomfort or did not care about her comfort at all. A hand closed around Aurora's arm with a hard grip.

"Let her go. You have no authority to touch her."

Aurora's body froze at the familiar presence behind her. Aurora had not expected to feel Rita's older presence again.

Aurora took a step back and knocked her back into Rita. Aurora's eyes quickly looked up into a familiar pair.

Rita had a nostalgic look in her eyes when she looked at Aurora. To Aurora, it almost felt like she had stepped back into her past.

Was it possible that Rita had some of her past life memories?

Rita had acted all this time like she was a completely different person. So to see Rita's this mode was a surprise for sure.

"Authority or not, it is not for you to decide. State your name and your purpose for being here. We will decide what to do with you."

The guard was not willing to back down from his words. But it seemed like Rita was not about to back down either.

"I'm with the Rocx academy. I'm here on official business and it will be in your best interest to let me go."

Aurora wanted to pat Rita's back to congratulate her for remembering. The guards seemed to be hesitating after hearing Aurora's words.

Rita knocked the final nail in the coffin by bringing out the official documents. The guards had no other choice but to back down after seeing those documents.

"Our apologies. We were not sure whether to believe you or not. But since you are our esteemed guests, kindly come this way and we will take you to the royal palace."

Rita's expression was disgusted. Aurora was sure that Rita would not agree with the guards.

So Aurora decided to interfere before Rita could sabotage our chances.

"Rita, let's take their offer. I think their offer is worth considering."

Rita finally calmed down after Aurora spoke those words. Her eyes did not lose their hostility during the exchange.

"Fine. Lead the way."

The guards hurried up to accompany the trio. Alexander stayed a little in the back to hide his presence. But he still kept alert.

As for Aurora? She had a weird feeling as soon as she stepped into the Northern Republic. Theis place was hiding a huge secret.

White dominated the landscape of the Northern Republic. The snow-covered slopes welcomed the incoming train from the central continent.

The information preserved in the archives made it possible to tell that the Northern Republic was established on top of ruined Russia. But all the traces of the former nation had been eroded by time.

The only thing the once large nation remained was its snowy white peaks.

"Here we are. I would like to apologize again for our misunderstanding. Kindly keep our encounter to yourself."

The guard that led Aurora and company out of the train had a sheepish smile on his face.

But Aurora was not fooled by the soft surface emotions she saw in that man's eyes. There was something shrewd beneath that easy-going exterior.

It was that guard's aura that screamed that his words were spoken in jest. 𝚒𝚗𝒏𝐫e𝒶𝙙. 𝒸o𝑚

"We understand."

Thankfully, Alexander caught up on the real meaning of the guard's words and stopped Rita before she could open her mouth and disagree.

"In that case, you all are free to roam around the northern republic for the next few days after you get yourself chipped."

"Chipped? We are not some crimin.."

Aurora jabbed Rita softly to make her stop speaking. Their guard had a sour look on his face when he faced the trio.

"I'm sorry, but rules are rules. It would be faster if you cooperate with us."

Aurora tugged at Rita's pants. It was a signal for Rita to agree with that man's demand for the time being.

Rita had a conflicting aura around her but she did follow Aurora's command in the end.

"Fine. Show us the way. Let's get this over with."

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as soon as the guard turned around to lead them out. This encounter had been far too close for Aurora's comfort.

Aurora tried to glare at Rita to express her displeasure but the elder pointed to her wrist. Aurora heard a familiar ping and opened her system to check the notice.

/Is it alright for us to get chipped? Won't it affect our moment in the Northern Republic?/

Aurora was not surprised to see this question being asked. This was something Aurora had wondered about during her first visit to the Northern Republic.

/It won't be a problem. The system would make sure we are not being detected. But we need to keep up appearances for the time being./

Entering the Northern Republic was akin to entering a viper's pit. People had no loyalties here except for their benefits.

God Karan might be the ruling deity of this region but he never actually stayed here for long. People had no faith in him and had taken up the governance by electing leaders.

/Still. I can't help but feel like we're being treated as criminals./

/Endure it for the time being./

Endure. This was all the advice Aurora could give Rita for now. Since the republic did not trust outsiders, it was impossible to refuse such a big rule being set by them.

Aurora found this whole interaction distasteful as well but she knew there was no going around this topic.

"We're here. You will need to go in one by one to get chipped. Don't worry, it won't hurt or make you sick."

Aurora must have made a weird face for the guard to turn toward her and speak.

"So, who would like to go in first to get chipped? How about you, Miss representative? Would you like to go in first?"

Rita's aura screamed discomfort all around. She would not be the first one to step up and make her way inside.

And Aurora would also have preferred to be the one to head in first for getting chipped. Mainly to check the changes in the chipping process.

But Aurora's current condition would make her move very suspicious.

"I will go first. Aurora can go next and Rita can go last. You won't have a problem with this arrangement, right?"

In the end, it was Alexander that decided the order. He walked in with a straight face and the other pair waited outside.

"Rita, make sure to switch off your system before going in. The Northern Republic is much more advanced than the central capital. We can't risk them detecting the system."

"Alright."

It did not take long for Alexander to return. He looked to be alright so Aurora decided that the process must be safe for them to experience.

"Little one, come in now. It is your turn."

Aurora entered without much delay. The chipping room was as dark and cold as she remembered it being.

Even the surgical devices that lined the wall of the hall were the same as in her previous life.

To say that the room resembled a torture chamber was more than accurate.

"Come here. Don't be afraid of these devices. I'm not going to use them on you. Yes, come here. You are a brave girl."

Aurora could not express how humiliated she felt at that moment.

To be treated like a child due to her current situation was one thing. But the person in charge of chipping her was treating Aurora like an invalid.

Not to mention, that fake and sickening tone was causing Aurora to develop a headache.

Aurora picked up her pace and quickly sat in front of the chipping person. She also held her arm out so that the process of chipping could not be delayed any further.

"Is this your first chipping experience? Don't worry. This chip will expire and be dissolved in your body within a week. It is magical so it won't harm you."

Aurora wanted to say that she knew all this already. But staying quiet and letting the chip lady do her job was the best outcome for now.

Aurora didn't even flinch when the chipping machine touched her arm. A small sting could be felt at the place where the chipping matching her pierced Aurora's body.

"And we're done. See, it wasn't that bad, right?"

Aurora nodded before she stood up and left. She knew what was coming next and Aurora wanted to escape before she could be humiliated any further.

"Ah, where are you going? Don't you want candy in return for being a good patient? I know that children love candy."

And there it was, the treatment children got from doctors and others when they behaved.

"No need. I am alright."

Aurora just caught a flash of surprise in the nurse's aura before she sprinted out. Aurora almost gagged at the exchange she had with the chipping nurse.

To be treated like a child was an uncomfortable feeling for Aurora. One she hoped not to feel again.

"Alright miss, you can go in now. Then you all are free to roman around."

Rita passed Aurora a concerned look but she did not stand around for long. Aurora also gave her a relieved nod to continue moving.

"What's wrong with the child? She isn't reacting to the chipping, right? It should not be possible. But then again, she's such a slight child."

The guard that had accompanied the trio this far seemed concerned to see Aurora's flushed face.

His concern just jabbed at the sore spot in Aurora's mind.

"She's alright. You know how kids are."

Alexander was shouting death with his remarks. Aurora could see him squirming in front of her once her curse was broken.

That guy would regret making fun of Aurora like this.

"Are you sure? I have never seen someone go this red in the face because of the chipping process."

The guard seemed to be getting far too involved in their case. It was time to divert his attention away at all costs.

Even if it meant humiliating herself further.

Thankfully, that distraction came in the form of Rita and her exit. She had a flare in her step that attracted people's eyes.

"Finally, we are all done. So, are we free to go now?"

Rita's cold and biting words caused the guard to snap out of his daydream and snap to attention.

He quickly typed a few things on the screen and Aurora instantly saw three dots on it. They likely represented the chips the trio had been implanted with.

"Looks like everything is working as intended. You are free to roam the Northern Republic for the time being. We will send someone to collect you once we need you."

The guard bowed and left without any instructions.

Rita's tension also flew out as soon as they were alone. The cold and aloof persona from Rita's previous life seemed to be seeping out of her.

"Thank god the guard is gone. But I can't understand why he wanted us to wait around and not invite us to the royal palace? The princess should be there, right?"

Aurora had found it odd as well. And she was sure that there was a reason behind this change in the treatment they had been experiencing.

"I agree. It almost feels like the republic is trying to stall us out."

Alexander's words made far too much sense. But why and for what reason?

The cold walls of the Northern Palace felt restrictive to the small princess. The cold was seeping into her body, making her senses go numb.

But the small beauty was used to such treatment. Her body was used to enduring the cold since she had lived in such an environment for a long time.

"Hey, do you know when the people from the academy will be here? Will lord Karan accompany them as well?"

The small beauty's voice was extremely cold. It held no emotion and caused the maids around her to flinch.

This action of the maids did not even phase the small princess. She had long gotten used to such treatment and even lost hope that these people will come around.

It made taken years for the princess to realize that her maids feared her. They never told the princess why they feared her, but they did.

And they were not the only ones.

Everyone except the head maid feared her.

"P-Princess. The people from the academy will arrive in the Northern Republic shortly. The princess just needs to sit tight and wait for them."

The princess did not ask anymore after that.

Since her second question had been ignored, it was safe to say that Lord Karan will not be arriving with the party.

Not that the princess expected Lord Karan to come for her. He was far too busy in the to brother with her for now.

"I see. You can go away now. I want to be alone."

The maid didn't even give the princess a back look when she left. The maid left as if she was fleeing for her life.

It was like this each and every time. These people were afraid to anger her but they didn't make any effort to reach out to her either.

The princess did not want to stay cooped up with her thoughts so she decided to take a walk.

The princess was not supposed to take a walk alone. Her head maid had insisted for the princess inform her when she wanted to go out. But the princess wanted to be alone.

So for the first time, the princess decided to sneak out and visit the gardens on her own. She wanted to be surrounded by the white landscape and mute her thoughts.

The princess had a good memory and easily escaped from her room. The corridor was cold but not as cold as the loneliness the princess faced each day.

"-feel sorry for her. I mean, the princess was so enthusiastic when the head maid told her that it was Lord Karan's idea to send her to the Rocx academy."

"Don't feel sorry for that monster. She had it coming-"

The princess stopped and turned toward the conversation. She felt like she needed to hear that out.

After all, her head maid had refused to tell her anything when the princess asked about the academy.

"-but still, isn't it too pitiful? Lord Karan made this decision to send the princess away. But the academy he chose isn't even affiliated with the tower. Isn't that academy headed for doom?"

"Well, I also heard that Rocx academy had a fall out with the tower recently. They are not going to last."

"So Lord Karan did care about us. He's sending the princess out to that failure of an academy to rot. We won't have to see her face again."

"For real. That monster gives me the chills. No emotion and so cold. And she's only twelve right now. I'm afraid to see how she'll become once she grows up."

The princess felt the earth beneath her feet shift. Her balance fell off and she realized too late that she was having a dizzy spell.

But the princess could not stop her emotions from ringing in her head.

'Lord Karan won't do that. He cares. He's the only one that cares for me.'

/But he's not here. He left you as well/

'Not true. He said he'll come back to save me. He won't lie.'

And then the princess did something she vowed to never do.

The princess ran away from the royal palace with only the clothes she had on her body. She did not care much for the cold, nor the thought of survival.

She just wanted to get away from her life.

And that was why she jumped down the first bridge she saw leading out of the royal palace. Even if she died, she would have no regrets.

Because at least she would be free. She would be free to be with her parents whom she has never seen in her life.

But life was not that grateful to the Nothern Princess. The cruel threads of fate will not allow her to escape her destiny.

Her head maid had told the princess how she was important and precautions had been taken against her death.

Now the princess would find out if the head maid told her the truth or not.

The freefall feeling was exhilarating. It made the princess's heart beat like crazy and she could not help the small grin that greeted her face.

But it was all over too soon and the princess crashed into something hard. Her fall was broken and she soon lost consciousness.

But at least this was the point in time where her fate changed. This encounter was fated to happen sooner or later.

And it would change the tides of the upcoming war for everyone.

===========================

"I agree. It almost feels like the republic is trying to stall us out."

Aurora had to agree with Alexander's analysis. The republic's actions did not inspire any feelings of friendship in Aurora.

Rather, they felt like an obstacle implemented to observing the foreign pirates.

"Does it matter what the republic is trying to hide from us? Whatever problem they are having is none of our business."

Rita was also right in saying this. Aurora and the Rocx academy were only here to take the northern princess away with them.

Whatever was happening in the Northern Republic had nothing to do with them. But that was what made the republic's actions so suspicious in Aurora's eyes.

If this all was a ruse to stall Aurora and her party, then why did the republic need to do so much?

"I think something happened to the Northern Princess and the republic is trying to hide it from us. That is the only thing that made sense."

The main reason for Aurora to think like this was because of the treatment they got from the republic.

While everyone entering the northern republic needed to get chipped, their party was the only one that had been accompanied by guards.

"Makes sense. They send a tone of guards to make sure we get chipped. Thankfully, they'll leave us alone now."

Rita relaxed after finishing her words but Aurora could not help but still feel suspicious of the situation.

Hacking the chips felt like a temporary solution to their problem.

"I still think we should be careful about how we handle this situation. But let's forget it for now. We should enjoy our time here. Remembers, don't do anything suspicious to attract the guard's eye."

Aurora's suggestion was based on her instincts. She could not help but feel like something big would happen soon.

That was why she decided to issue a warning and tell everyone else to be careful.

She was not sure why, but her instincts were trying to lead her somewhere. Ignoring them did not seem like a wise decision to Aurora.

"H-Hey, where are you headed? Didn't we decide on the marketplace to visit first? Why are you walking toward the opposite side?"

Rita's voice sounded panicked. Aurora had no idea why her body wanted to go the way it was going, but she could not help but feel like something was heading her way.

"Don't worry so much Rita. I just have a feeling that I should check this direction out as well. Maybe we will find something huge here."

Aurora's feeling was rarely wrong and as a goddess, her instincts were even stronger. So she decided to listen to them.

But she did not get very far when she felt something collide with her back and send her lying down.

Aurora felt the impact her body made with the snow but thankfully the soft cover broke her fall. It also prevented Aurora's chest from coming in contact with the hard concrete floor.

Whatever was pinning Aurora down was heavy and the impact hurt.

"Huh? A kid? Aurora, someone fell on top of you. I wonder where this child came from?"

Aurora would like to ask that question as well. Did kids rain down all the time in this capital? No one else seemed to be paying any attention to the trio.

"Looks like your instincts were telling you about this kid and her possible suicide attempt. So, what should we do now?"

What should we do now was the big question here.𝗶𝚗𝘯re𝐚d. 𝑐𝗼𝙢