Chapter 37

Vivian's POV

Twenty years ago… The messengers from the neighboring kingdom came to our kingdom and requested to speak to the royals. Their kingdom was on verge of defeat due to the existence of an unknown dungeon that just appeared a month ago. Strong and gigantic monsters appeared from the dungeon, raiding their kingdom and killing its citizens. After a long talk with the messengers, the royals requested an audience with Queen Ashe. At that time, we just came back from battle against the monsters on the borders.

"And what may I help you with, Count Libero?" Queen Ashe said. She just returned from the battle on the borders so she was still wearing her bloody, silver body armor. Her hair tied on ponytails while sitting cross legged on her throne.

"Your majesty, thank you for giving this lowly servant your time." Count Libero said while he was down on his one knee and lowering his head to show respect to the ruler.

"You may speak, count. We have no time and I have a report to make." Queen Ashe said. Her voice was calm, yet there was authority behind her tone.

The count nodded. He explained to Queen Ashe the messenger's arrival, their discussion about their kingdom, the unknown dungeon that appeared, and how the dungeon was causing problems to our neighboring kingdom. After Count Libero explained everything to Queen Ashe, she dismissed the count and everyone else in the room besides me.

When everyone was gone, Queen Ashe spoke.

"I'm too tired to make decisions, sister." She addressed me informally. Whenever we are in private, we drop formalities to each other.

I chuckled at the tired Ashe. "I know. Do you want me to make the report on your behalf?" I asked, but she immediately shook her head.

"No. I have to report this or else they will think 'The Queen is slacking off' huhuhu…" She said mockingly, making me laugh. The joke wasn't funny, it was her mimicking them that made me laugh because I know that's what they always say.

"You're right. Those fools never get tired of spreading rumors. It seems that they haven't given up yet on taking you down from the throne." I said and we both sighed.

"Where are those three idiots?" Ashe was talking about Nashia, Cecilia, and Alexis.

I shook my head. "They went straight home after. Cecilia said she wants to have a nice, long bath and sleep after. Nashia went home and is currently at the bar. Alexis is eating in the dining room."

Ashe stood up from her throne. "Let's bother her." She chuckled. The two were like cat and mouse. Always arguing and fighting each other. But no matter how much they fight, when it comes to battle, the two always have each other's backs.

After bothering Alexis and stealing her food, Ashe and I went to the war room to report on the battle that had happened to everyone. Well, the Queen need not make a report. But she went anyway to show the royals what a true leader does. Thanks to her presence in the battlefield, the Army was able to subdue all monsters that tried to push their way through the borders. In the end, Ashe received a lot of gifts and medals, earning her the title of "Queen Of Battle". This title was a slap to the face of the royals, making their plan to bring her down hard. Of course, Ashe knew about this but decided to be oblivious to it. Nothing good will happen if she acts first. So she was waiting for them to make their own move.

We were both tired, so we called it a day and rested throughout the night. A week has passed and Ashe has assembled her generals and us, her sisters, to the war room. Some of the royals were called as well since their family have been in the borders fighting for almost a decade.

"I have called all of you today to discuss this unknown dungeon that appeared between our kingdom and the Venada Kingdom." She said.

One of the royals spoke. "Our family have been doing research on this dungeon since it appeared a month ago, your highness. Would you want me to share with everyone in this room what we have found out?" He asked. Queen Ashe nodded.

"As you all know, it is very rare for a dungeon to just appear. Even if they do, the dungeon is either empty or not. However, this dungeon seems to have a huge number of monsters even though it just appeared a month ago." He said, giving each of us a thick pocket of documents about the dungeon. He proceeded to brief us regarding this unknown dungeon for almost two hours. To make it short: the dungeon has been active before it appeared and the monsters were the followers of the Black Dragon.

The war room was filled with noises, discussing what to do with the unknown dungeon and its threat. Since the Venada kingdom has given up on raiding the dungeon, kingdom Borne has the opportunity at hand to raid it instead. In the end, Queen Ashe gestured everyone to be silent. They stared at the queen as she assessed the situation, the risk, and the rewards they could get from the dungeon. After a deep thought, Ashe spoke.

"Raiding this dungeon will gain us no benefit. But if we leave the dungeon alone, chances of the followers of Black Dragon attacking our kingdom next when it is done with Venada is near hundred." She looked around the room, waiting for someone to rebuke her.

Nashia spoke. "Let's raid it, your highness. Like you said, leaving the dungeon alone with its Black Dragon's followers could affect the peace of our kingdom. Also, monsters who follow the Black Dragon tend to get stronger as they devour mages."

"I agree with Nashia, your majesty." Cecilia said. "Besides, we might loot something inside that would benefit our kingdom and our troops. Our military needs new armor and weapons anyways, so if we find an ore inside, we could use it to craft powerful armor and weapons for our military."

Everyone agreed to Nashia and Cecilia. After making a decision, Queen Ashe agreed to raid the dungeon, calling it: Operation Que.

After weeks of preparation, Operation Que commenced.

At first, the raid was easy. But as we ventured deeper, monsters were bigger and stronger. Alexis almost died due to her childish and barbarian characteristics when it comes to battle. Thanks to Ashe and Cecilia, Alexis was still alive. She got a long and huge scolding after from the queen, from me, from Nashia, and from Cecilia.

Within three weeks, we raided almost the entire dungeon. In the fourth week, Alexis, Cecilia, and Nashia went back to the kingdom and aided the military at the borders again because they were requesting forces from our military. It was just me and Ashe left in the raid. Everyone else went back to assist the soldiers at the borders.

"Do you want to stop for now or keep going?" I asked Ashe as we finished raiding another area that we haven't raided.

Ashe shook her head. "We keep going. I could feel strong mana deep inside."

So we kept going. It took us almost two days to finish raiding the whole dungeon. As we got to the end of the dungeon, we stumbled upon an ancient door. We carefully examined the door and after we assessed that it was safe and no magic traps would activate if we opened it, we gently opened the door. We found ourselves walking down a series of stairs until we reached another door. As we opened the door, a sudden gust of wind passed by us and our surroundings shifted. We made ready our weapons and magic in case a monster boss appeared. Instead, a soft voice echoed around us.

"Fear not." A small, light Spirit appeared floating in front of us. "I am not an enemy, but an ally."

"Who are you?" Queen Ashe asked.

"I am an Ancient Spirit. A Spirit that came from the Spirit World. I have been waiting for the two of you, Vivian and… Queen Ashe." She said. I was surprised at how she found out who we were. As I was about to ask her a question, she spoke again. "The queen has been waiting for the two of you."

"What do you mean? Why was she waiting for us?" I asked.

"All of the realms in this world will soon fall from the hands of otherworldly beings." The Spirit said. Me and Ashe looked at each other confused.

"What do you mean?" Ashe asked.

"Our queen has the ability to foresee the future. In twenty years, this world will fall from the hands of otherworldly beings." She said.

"What does it have to do with us?"

"Our queen has been looking for a champion that has a strong willpower and soul to fight against the otherworldly beings. Upon searching for a candidate, our queen saw potential in you, Ashe." The Spirit said.

"So why was she waiting for me then?" I asked. If their queen only wanted Ashe, why was she waiting for me as well?

"For the prophecy, Vivian." The Spirit said.

"What?" I asked. The longer this conversation goes, the more dumb I become.

"To stop the otherworldly beings, we need you to fulfill the prophecy." The Spirit said.

"Tell us… What is this prophecy you spoke of?" Ashe asked.

 "The child and its father will fall, while the ones who hid in darkness will rise in victory and spread their wings. A hero will rise and get rid of the darkness. When the darkness is gone, the sun will shine its light once more. The child and its father will reunite, carrying the burden of the world on their shoulders until they die."

The two of us were confused. We wanted to ask more questions to the ancient Spirit, but she disappeared before we could even ask her. Our surroundings shifted again and we found ourselves back to the last area where me and Ashe found the door.

"What the fuck was that?" I asked. My brain was hurting from the conversation. I was demanding more answers.

"I don't know. But let us keep this meeting a secret from everyone." Ashe said.

Ten years have passed and I learned the betrayal of the royals. Alexis, Cecilia, and Nashia were planning to betray Ashe as well so I went and informed her.

"What should we do, Ashe?" I asked while anxiety filled me inside.

Ashe stared at the ground for a few minutes to ponder what her move would be. However, Ashe's eyes went wide as she remembered something. "Do you still remember the prophecy ten years ago?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yes. You can't mean to…"

"Yes, Vivian." She spoke over me, making me pale. "The child and its father will fall, while the ones who hid in darkness will rise in victory and spread their wings." She memorized the first line of the prophecy. "I and this kingdom shall fall, while they will rise in victory."

"Who is the hero then?" I asked.

Ashe remained silent for a while. "Whoever survives this upcoming destruction."

"So, me?" I asked.

Ashe shook her head. "I love you Vivian. But I need you to be part of their betrayal as well."

My eyes went wide and I slammed my hands on the table. "What do you mean, sister? Why should I betray you?"

"So we can fulfill the prophecy." She quickly answered. "In order for us to fulfill it, you have to kill me."

Tears ran down my cheeks, my vision becoming blurry. "Why should I kill you? I love you, Ashe. I have known you since we were children. I can't spill the blood of my one and only friend."

Ashe stood up and embraced me. Her embrace was warm and I could feel her love flowing through me from the inside and outside. "I love you too, Vivian. But I have to do this. You have to do this."

"Are you doing this for the world?" I asked her amidst my sobs.

Ashe shook her head. "For my daughter. For you."

That was the last time we both spoke. Few days later, the betrayal came. In the end, before Ashe could self explode, I dashed at her and pierced my blade at her chest.

Ashe looked at me before she breathed her last breath. "Thank you, sister… And I love… you…" Her body became weak and the life in her eyes left her, leaving me alone as I hugged her cold body for the last time.