ONE IN THE PROPHECY

At the same time, in front of the most majestic and extravagant manor in the Crimson Castle area…stepped out a woman with long blonde hair that shined like the sun and purple eyes akin to those of iris flower.

She was donned in a glorious white armor, one that was worn only by the greatest of the greatest of knights. On her hip was belted a sword that exuded with an aura of antiquity and formidability.

Her beautiful and determined face ever-presently emanated with the sense of the dignified. There was this commanding air that persistently lingered around her, as if everything is meant to submit to her being. All in all, her existence was deemed untouchable and overwhelming.

"Your mount is ready, Your Highness." said a butler greeting her outside.

"Thank you, Charles. Any words from mother?" asked the woman.

"Her Majesty said that she would patiently wait to hear the triumph of your conquest in Grimcloud."

"Then tell mother it will not be long until those words reached her ears."

"I see you're prepared, Your Highness…" interrupted a voice.

A golden magic circle appeared on the ground beside the woman and emerged from there was an old bearded man cladded in magnificent silver robe. He was oozing with powerful mana.

"Good morning, Sir Magus." greeted the dignified woman. "Are you, yourself, ready to lend me your service?"

"Of course, Your Highness. We can depart for Grimcloud any time you want."

"Very well, I shall be expecting a lot from y--"

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

A footman guarding the entrance to the manor suddenly came to the woman. He was all looking flustered.

"How dare you interrupt Her Highness!" reprimanded the butler.

"My apologies!" said the footman bowing his head. "But there are guests here asking to see the princess!"

The woman formed a frown.

"I was not expecting any since I'll be departing on a quest soon. Who could they be?"

"They said…" said the footman, hesitating with his words.

"Speak, man!" urged the butler.

"They said they're here for the mage selection!"

 The people there frowned even more upon the servant's words.

" 'Mage selection'?" repeated the butler. "But Her Highness already selected a mage to aid her!"

"Sir Magus is a seven-circle wizard and lauded as one of the greatest in the Empire." said the woman. "What could these guests offer that Sir Magus can't?"

"The throne of Terraluna, Your Highness!" a new gallant voice answered the woman's question. They all turned to see who sounded it.

Standing in front of the dignified woman were two silver-haired men with golden eyes dressed in dark suits. One was way older than the other, but both shared the same conniving aura of a snake. They were none other than Lucius and Desmond Edelweiss.

"And who might you two be?" asked the woman.

"Pardon our intrusion, Your Highness," said Desmond with a bow. "I am Baron Desmond Edelweiss from the southwest region of the Empire. And this one beside me is my son, Lucius Edelweiss. We're here to employ our service to you as people of magic."

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Baron Edelweiss, Sir Lucius." replied the woman politely. "But how did you two even enter the palace? The mage selection was over yesterday and the palace guards are not accepting more mage visitors anymore."

"Ah, such mere obstacles are nothing that our powers couldn't handle, Your Highness." said Desmond unapologetically.

"You mean you intruded yourselves here?!" questioned the butler in anger. 

"Let's not get ourselves distracted from what's important, Your Highness." said Lucius finally stepping up. He proceeded to walk closer toward the dignified woman in front of him. "As my father said, we're here to offer you our service. One that could get you the throne of the Empire."

The dignified woman grinned at Lucius's words.

"As tempting as that sounds, Sir Lucius, I already have a mage to aid my journey to the throne." said the woman eyeing Sir Magus to her side. "I'm not sure I can make room for you."

Without giving the woman another reply, Lucius simply formed a sly smile and turned to Magus. He pointed his palm to the old man and casted a spell.

[Dark Arts, Changkram Hold]

Magus suddenly was lifted to the air by invisible force and began to suffocate as if an invisible ghost was strangling him. The sight of him suffering brought great terror to the butler and the footman that were present there.

The dignified woman, on the other hand, simply raised her eyebrow upon this scene. While Desmond could not help but smile as he watched the poor mage struggled for air.

Once the old mage passed out, Lucius lowered his hand and caused Magus to instantly drop hard on the floor unconscious. The silver-haired young Edelweiss turned his gaze back to the woman once more.

"What do you say, Your Highness?"

The woman giggled at Lucius's question. She was not at all bothered by the disturbing event that just transpired.

"How can I be certain you'll be able to bring me to the throne?" asked the dignified woman back.

Presented with such question, Lucius summoned the Fortuna Grimoire to his hands. The ancient book floated up and shined with crimson radiance. From the glare on the woman's face, she immediately understood that it was no ordinary book.

Lucius then kneeled in front of the woman and raised the grimoire to her presence.

"This book knows the path to the blessings you needed in order to become the next ruler of Terraluna. A book granted to me by the Goddess of Prosperity, Fortuna!" told Lucius. "As the owner of this book, I promise that I will guide you to these blessings and get you crowned as the future Sun of the Empire!"

Presented with the ancient artifact and the grand offer, the dignified woman turned her gaze down to Lucius.

"Are you certain that I'll become the next emperor if I follow your guidance?"

"Without a doubt, Your Highness."

"Are you certain that I am the Little Sun mentioned in the prophecy which will become the Sun of the Empire that will bring the entire world to a grand new age?"

"The one and only."

The dignified woman smiled at Lucius's answers. She proceeded to extend her hand to help him get up from his knees and spoke to him with a gentle and trusting voice.

"Then I'll be counting on you, Mister Wizard."

Lucius reached for the woman's limb and leaned his lip on the back of her hand, giving it a soft kiss.

"I shall dedicate my entire existence for your sake, Your Highness the First Princess, Titania Arturian Doulosaima."