Primotheus Capital

Alexa noticed a glowing pendant hanging from Adolf's chest, so she immediately cast a spell to retrieve it, despite Adolf still being in Ludwig's frenzy. Once she retrieved it with her outstretched hand, the atmosphere seemed to warm greatly, and Ludwig reduced Adolf's body to mere dusts.

Liam could only shake his head in hopelessness as the evening breeze swept the gray dusts away, carrying it onward to nowhere.

"He has lost control again," whispered Liam disappointedly.

At any moment, Ludwig could explode, and anyone in close proximity could be turned to ashes at his whim. The extent and degree of the explosion were unknown. No one had yet to tell, no one had survived. Only Ludwig's anger could decide the outcome, which made him even more dangerous. The immensity of his power was despicably unpredictable, most especially, invincible.

Liam could sense that Alexa was also concerned. It was nothing to be worried about, theoretically, as they could withstand the heat and pressure if Ludwig lost his temper. However, they didn't want to exacerbate the situation further if Ludwig did explode. They had arrived unannounced and were not permitted to do so, so they must depart without leaving a visible trace.

"There are over a thousand souls nearby and according to my estimate," Alexa informed, "only a few lucky ones could survive such destruction, mainly the three of us."

"The Ravager?" asked Liam. 

"Unfortunately, it would survive for sure. They are strong as hell anyway, yet the rest will be fried, burned, and worst, pulverized into nonexistence. It could instigate the chaos, though. Shit, the Ministers and the King would surely cook us alive if ever that actually occurs. We shouldn't let that, of course." 

Liam clenched his palms. "Why," he said, glancing at Alexa. "Why do they always have to intervene?" Then he grinned with a supposed laughter. "The hell with them. They don't own the whole Etherealis, anyway. So that's that."

Liam's anger was apparent, and Alexa said nothing to add fuel to the fire. One outburst was enough. She couldn't manage another man's uproar.

Presently, Alexa utilized the remaining knowledge she knew about sorcery to stop Ludwig from ruining the place, but it was trivial. The spells of various colors only deflected and faded as they hit the unintended being. Even charmed and pacifying incantations were not effective. Ludwig's inevitable annihilation was unstoppable. Who knew what or who could restrain him.

"We should stop him, now or never," said Alexa out of desperation. She paced back and forth before Liam, while Ludwig, with his closed eyes and stabilizing breathing, attempted to prevent himself from making another mistake. He remained seated, motionless, pledging allegiance with silence and stillness.

Liam told her, "You know very well that we couldn't do anything, right? No one can stop him when he's at that point. Not even the Golden Lifeblood."

Hopelessness filled Alexa's countenance. She knew that Liam was right. Even when they still had the power and authority over Fortunalia, they couldn't stop their grandfather from unleashing mass destruction. It was certain then that this couldn't be reversed any longer. Sure, they had the same power, but unbeknownst to everyone, Ludwig was more than just King's firstborn grandson. He was a ticking weapon with no stop button, no reset, no cancellation—just endless waiting until he finally exploded.

"I should've studied more. I could've done something. I could've helped Ludwig, and this place." Alexa kept on chanting as she flipped the old pages of her spell book. Liam just sighed and rolled his eyes before deciding to return to his idleness. He couldn't do anything anyway. His power had limits and merely for offense.

Alexa punched his forearm. "Help me, you moron."

Liam took flight thereafter. This way, he could contemplate the unthinkable. It was the Fae's way of meditation, being one with the skies, the rulers of the lands and seas. He observed from above that Ludwig's fair skin had become pinkish, though it wasn't clear since he was wearing a dark cloak. Ludwig roared and smashed everything in sight, but his attempts seemed futile.

"This," shouted Alexa, pointing with an index finger to a page in her book. The passage was written in a language that had long ceased to exist, but Alexa was fluent in it. "A teleportation spell. How could I not think of that!" There was relief in her cheerful voice. "If we transport him to the wilderness, there will be no casualties but the trees. It's better, right, Liam?"

According to hearsay, Ludwig had only caused explosions three times, yet each time he left the kingdom of Fortunalia in great catastrophe, resulting in mass casualties and months-long hunger. Liam had been with Ludwig during his latest explosion, and at that time, it seemed that Ludwig had not been able to control his anger, making him even more dangerous now.

Guilt crept over Liam. "It's all my fault," he declared. He descended to the ground and cowered in the corner, seeking refuge from the chaos unfolding around him.

Alexa stopped reading when she sensed the approaching threat. 

Numerous shadows emerged from darkness. "Who brought you here?" called the newcomer in a cautious manner, a raccoon with an eye patch over his left eye. He held long spears in both hands. He waited for an answer, but it never came, only silence greeted him.

Liam wasn't sure if he should be glad because the raccoon couldn't recognize their presence due to Alexa's invisibility spell. 

A fellow followed. "Who are you?" asked the hedgehog, demanding an immediate reply. He made an offensive stance, spiking himself. It seemed they were both the squad leaders. "Speak, or die."

The troops of various animals soon followed and increased in number, surrounding the place. They were keen observers, their eyes scanning the premises for any signs of strangeness. 

Alexa whispered to Liam, "Distract them while I am preparing the spell. Just make sure to cover your face so we won't have any problems."

But the problems did not come from them. The real danger lay with Ludwig, who at that moment, broke through a wall before them. Both of them sighed in defeat, feeling overwhelmed by the dire situation they found themselves in.

Liam stood up and adjusted the emerald cloak he was presently wearing. With determination in his eyes, he jumped into the air and, in one swift motion, fired his water ball pressure. The inattentive ogre was hit in the chest and immediately fell to the ground. Liam continued to shoot attacks as the troops finally recognized their presence and advanced. In no time, most of them were defeated. The remaining ones ran for their lives. 

Panting heavily, Liam returned to Alexa's side, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion. It seemed she was only halfway through conjuring the spell. But time wasn't on their side. Liam was aware that another wave of attacks would come, and he wasn't certain how long he could withstand them. 

""This is getting worse," Liam said, distress evident in his voice. He was about to turn to Ludwig when suddenly, out of nowhere, a feminine voice erupted.

"Move, away!" she shouted. The volume was so intense that Liam had to cover his ears. Alexa gasped beside him. He followed the line of her vision, and they both blinked in succession as they marveled at the bizarre sight before them. 

A woman dressed in cottony white was swinging on the thick branch of the vines. She was rapidly falling down the night sky, but the direction, of all things, was toward Ludwig's tantrum. It was too late for Alexa and Liam to react when her delicate body collided with Ludwig's hard one. They both ended up rolling on the ground with horrible thuds and groans, the impact of their collision reverberating through the air.

The woman was lying on Ludwig's chest. She raised her head, and her shaking fingers fell to her bleeding nose, the crimson liquid running across Ludwig's dazed face. 

"Shit," she muttered, wincing. "My head."

Her annoyed eyes darted to Ludwig's astounded ones. "I told you to move," she scolded him, gritting her teeth. "Are you deaf? And god, why are you so stiff? Look what happened to me because of you."

Alexa and Liam looked at each other innocently. In their minds, they thought the same thing. "She's dead."

Soon the woman rose to her feet, brushing off the dust from her dress. She roamed her observant eyes around the place. The mess Ludwig had made was scattered everywhere. There was a huge hole in the left wall, while the one before them was completely ruined. The metal bars had been scraped and tangled with each other. 

She looked at herself and her limbs and grinned as she whispered. "At least, I didn't sustain broken bones. Thanks." 

She returned her gaze to Ludwig, who was still motionless and drifting into unconsciousness from the impact. Suddenly, Alexa's eyes widened. "Next time, don't just stand there, okay?" She clasped her fingers. "Either stay out of my way or save me, kid." Like the wind, she was gone as quickly as she arrived. She gracefully ran through the hole and into the silvery moonlight.

Silence reigned in the place for a while. No one dared to speak, to break the silence that had been caused by the woman's presence and subsequent departure. Groaning, Ludwig sat up, his cloak drifting a few meters away. He was half-naked, his muscles rippling as his elegant hands touched his temples. Alexa and Liam's shocked faces remained muted. Ludwig wasn't in a berserk state any longer. He was sitting upright, breathing delicately as he composed himself.

"It was her," Alexa mumbled beside Liam. "Who is she?" Her mind raced as she pondered all the events that had transpired. Liam didn't know the answer to the question of who, or how that woman managed to stop Ludwig and restore him to normalcy.

"No way," Liam exclaimed, his warm voice stuttering. "It cannot be."

Ludwig was wiping off the blood on his face when, suddenly, the color of his eyes changed.

Alexa glanced up at Liam, her face full of disbelief and curiosity despite her attempts to hide it. Liam knew that she was as troubled as he was. All they had were questions, with the answers remaining out of their grasp. In a flash of a moment, Ludwig's eyes sparkled into gold-blue ones.

"Gold," Liam said, his mouth ajar. "That means…"

Before Liam could speak further, Ludwig had already disappeared from their sight. He stood effortlessly and followed the woman's escape path.

Alexa called for Ludwig in a concerned tone. "Ludwig, wait!" But Ludwig proceeded as if he hadn't heard a thing. Instead, Alexa stared at Liam and showed him the pendant she had retrieved from Adolf. "It's a symbol," she said, her voice gentle as she analyzed the golden pendant adorned with rare jewels. "'Percival's cohort," she added.

Liam was aware of what that actually meant.

Alexa immediately hid the pendant when the place trembled and heated up. "This was not normal," Liam noted. "Ludwig."

Alexa was about to follow suit toward Ludwig's location when she stopped midway, sensing an overwhelming aura emanating around them. Liam felt it too, and goosebumps surged through him. They were still far away, but both of them could already sense who they were: Werebeasts, Goblins, Trolls, Leprechauns, and other feral monsters currently residing in the Primotheus Capital. There were hundreds of them, crowded in one place. It was rare for different species to gather, which only meant one thing.

Roaring laughter and applause reverberated across the expanse of Primotheus. There was a loud ringing, then a cheerful voice.

"Let the 26th Annual Primotheus Auction commence."

Alexa grinned, and so did Liam. Who would've thought that the infamous illegal auction was actually held in the most predictable place?

He sighed. "It seems I won't be getting much sleep tonight, will I?"