Family Betrayal

"So, I see you brought a friend with you. And what's your name, dear?" My father asked, glancing toward Naia.

"Umm... it's Naia," she replied, attempting a curtsy.

"Naia, thank you for watching over my little one. I heard you two did exceptionally well," he said with a grin.

"News travels fast, I see," I commented, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Yes, it does. After the commotion you caused in the Adventurer's Guild, there's word you almost took someone's head off, he said.

"But, Father—" I began.

"You did well. I'm proud of you. You had every right to send him to his death for threatening the crown, but you handled it another way. Keep this up, and they'll vote you to succeed me," he said with a smile. 

He then turned to Naia. "I also want to reward you, Naia. I can tell you're a true friend. So, what do you say?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said, her knees buckling in nervousness.

My father chuckled at the sight. "Not only nine dire bears, but you also took out some trash from the Hero Kingdom. Your mission was to hunt ten, but I'll accept it since you dealt with more than just the bears."

Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room.

"You may enter," my father said, gesturing for us to take a seat.

The door swung open, revealing my uncle Ezekia, dragging a man bound and hooded.

"This is my gift to you, Naia," my father said, his voice calm yet serious. I had no idea what was going on, but if my father was involved personally, that man must have done something foul.

My father walked over and placed a hand on Ezekia's shoulder. "You did well. Stay with us for a while."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Ezekia said, then threw the bound man to his knees, tearing the bag from his head.

"Village Head!" Naia gasped, confusion written across her face.

My father stood over the man. "I personally send letters to every village chief under my banner because I care for my people. I don't rely on messengers. I've always received replies saying everything was fine. Yet, today, I learned slavers have been kidnapping women and children and pillaging goods—while you and your family remain untouched. Care to explain that?"

Naia's gaze hardened as she looked at the village chief. "Please don't tell me you're working with those" Her fists clenched tightly.

The village chief looked up at her. "I knew nothing about that," he muttered.

My father called out Ezekia's name, and in an instant, Ezekia grabbed the chief's shoulder and snapped his collarbone. The man's scream echoed through the room.

"Do not lie," my father warned. "It'll only get worse. Fingers next."

I was too stunned to speak, witnessing this harsh side of my father. Was he a king or a mafia boss?

The chief whimpered, swearing he knew nothing.

"Naia," my father called.

"Yes, Father?"

"Break his finger."

"Yes, sir," I replied, walking over to the bound man. I gripped his pinky and bent it back until it snapped. His scream filled the air, saliva dripping from his lips.

Another knock interrupted the tension. "You may enter," my father said. It was my mother.

"What is going on here?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

My father explained the situation to her. She nodded in understanding, though she didn't seem pleased with my involvement.

"It's good for her to see the world as it truly is," he insisted.

My mother turned to leave, but my father stopped her. "By the way, he gave information to the slavers about the forest Luna was in for her mission. They tried to kidnap Naia, who happens to be Luna's friend. What do you think they would have done if they had discovered our daughter's identity?"

My mother's horns grew longer than I had ever seen, her claws extending as she grabbed the village chief by the collar. "SPEAK!" she roared, flames erupting from her mouth, scorching his face.

"They paid me! THEY PAID ME!" the man screamed.

My father rushed to calm my mother down, but I was more concerned about Naia. She had fallen to her knees, her eyes vacant. I dropped to the floor beside her, hugging her tightly, her head resting on my shoulder. It took a few minutes for her to come back to her senses.

Naia stood and walked toward the village chief. For a moment, I thought she might strike him, but instead, she slapped him, tears streaming down her face. "You were family to me... How could you?"

The village chief hung his head, too ashamed to meet her eyes.

My father placed a hand on Naia's shoulder. "I know what I'm going to ask won't bring back your father or ease your pain, but I leave his punishment to you."

Naia wiped her tears, her expression now filled with anger and hatred. "Public execution... by fire." She stepped closer to the chief, whispering, "I want to watch you burn."

The room fell silent. Even my father seemed surprised by her decision.

"Done," my father said.

The village chief, now desperate and spiteful, sneered. "Your mother was a whore anyway."

"Take him to the dungeon," my father ordered. "And gag him so he can't bite his tongue."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ezekia replied, hauling the man away. As they left, we heard another sickening crack, followed by the chief's scream.

"Sorry, Your Majesty," my uncle said with a grin. "My hand slipped."

The door closed behind them, leaving the room eerily quiet.

"Mama, this is Naia, my friend I met on the mission," I said, trying to shift the mood.

My mother walked over and gently fluffed Naia's hair. "Good day to you, Naia."

Naia, still shaken from the revelation, remained quiet.

"Mama, Papa, I want to go," I said, glancing at Naia.

"We know, Luna. Be careful," my mother said, hugging both of us.

"Make sure you check your equipment before you go," my father added. "And take Naia to the armory to ensure she's well-equipped."

"What's going on?" Naia asked, still a bit dazed.

"We're not just getting your mother out," I told her. "We're freeing everyone."

Naia blinked, her eyes still swimming with disbelief. "How? The slavers—there are too many of them."

I smiled at her, trying to project more confidence than I felt. "We'll figure it out. Come on, let's get you ready."

I led Naia out of the throne room, feeling the weight of both our missions pressing down on my shoulders. My parents' kingdom had always been safe, a place I had felt sheltered in. But today, that illusion has shattered. Slavers from the Hero Kingdom? Corrupt village heads? It wasn't the first time I'd seen the ugliness of the world, but now it felt personal.

We walked through the long hallways until we reached the armory. The double doors loomed ahead, tall and intricately designed with symbols of dragons and flames. I pushed them open, revealing rows upon rows of weapons, armor, and enchanted items, all neatly organized by faction and purpose.

Naia hesitated at the entrance, her eyes widening as she took in the vast collection. "This... this is incredible," she whispered.

"Take whatever you need," I said, stepping inside and scanning the racks for something that would fit her. "Armor, weapons, anything."

She nodded, still looking overwhelmed, and slowly stepped inside. I could see the gears turning in her mind—her focus shifting from the betrayal to the mission ahead.

I grabbed a set of light but durable armor for her, crafted from dragon scales. "Here, this will protect you from most physical attacks. It's flexible too, so you won't feel weighed down."

Naia gingerly took the armor from me, running her fingers over the scales. "It's beautiful… Are you sure I can—"

As she changed into the armor, I grabbed two daggers with a gleaming, enchanted blade from the wall. The moment I touched it, the air crackled around it producing something similar too an electric current.

"How about this?" I asked, holding it out to her.

Naia inspected the daggers, her eyes narrowing. "That's… it feels powerful and it matches my affinity."

"It is," I replied. "It has strong enchantment. Perfect for cutting down anyone who tries to stand in our way."

She nodded, taking the daggers and testing its weight in her hand. "It's light. I like it."

"Good," I said, grabbing a few more items for myself before heading for the door. "Now let's go."

Just as we were about to leave the armory, Naia stopped me. "Luna…"

I turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Thank you," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "For everything."

I smiled softly. "You don't need to thank me, Naia. We're in this together."

We made our way to the castle's terrace, where the vast open sky stretched before us. Below, I could see the forests and villages of my father's kingdom, stretching into the horizon. The wind ruffled my hair, and I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar rush of mana flow through my body.

"Ready to fly?" I asked, giving her a grin.

Naia looked nervous, but there was also a spark of excitement in her eyes. "I've never flown before."

"First time for everything," I said, taking her hand and helping her climb onto my back. "Hold on tight."

With a deep breath, I focused on my magic, letting it pulse through my body. My wings, now fully formed, stretched out behind me, With a powerful flap, we lifted off the ground, soaring into the sky.

Naia gasped in awe, her grip around my shoulders tightening. "This is... amazing!"

"Flying we won't be spotted and we will be there in no time," I called back to Naia over the sound of the wind. "Remember what my father said—use the scent eraser just in case."

Naia nodded, her face still lit up with the thrill of flying.

As we soared through the clouds, the tension of the last few hours melted away. I knew the battle ahead would be tough, but for now, in this moment, it was just me and Naia against the world. And I wasn't going to let anything stand in our way.