Chapter 2 Fateful Encounter

~Eighteen years later~

King Eldar heard the light footsteps of a girl hurrying up the castle stairs, entering the main chambers where every meeting was governed by him. He would recognize that patter of slender feet among a thousand others as she was his little bundle of joy, his princess:

Crystal Rosette Aquislanada.

Being the oldest witch of the world, granted some extraordinary powers, one of those was his hearing capabilities. Outside, she appeared to pause before the door for a moment - then thrust it open.

There she stood: a slim, white figure, red hair grumbling down to her waist, eyes blazing like sapphires, even in the dim light of the lonely oil lamp that illuminated the room. She was just as lovely as her mother. King Eldar felt his heart swell with pride and love. For the moment, she caught sight of her ageing father, and she walked towards him in her warrior suit as she was training the army.

"My sweet Crystal," Eldar said. "What do I owe this pleasure to you visiting your old father?"

Crystal glared up at her father and said, "Why didn't you tell me about the plunder?"

"What plunder?" Elder asked, maintaining the emotionless face.

Crystal could see conceal flicker in his eyes for one single moment. He concealed it well, but she had been looking for it.

Darn it, Father! Crystal thought.As a princess of a country, she was always well protected by her father. She was brave and good at fighting since she was a child. She really wanted to fight for her father and her country. But, never allowed.

"How could I have been so stupid?" Crystal whispered, staring up into Elder's hard face, into his dull blue eyes. "You wanted me to train the army so that you could send Dimitri in the town, right? I can lead them to fight too, Father. " Asked, Crystal.

She remembered it well, yesterday- how her father asked her to train some witches who could control and generate fire as they were fire Benders.

"Tell me, Father," she said. "Or do you think I'm incompetent in handling the crisis?"

Elder's blue eyes were fixed on her. They turned cold, as he said in a harsh voice, "You are everything, Crystal. I wanted you to train those fire Benders ,But you are so precious that I can't risk involving you, because you are the only water Bender left in the Aquislanada Empire."

Yes, it was true. After her mother died in an accident, she would not rather talk about it. Crystal was the only Water Bender left.

Water bending, one of the four elemental bending arts in sorcery, was the hydrokinetic ability to control water in all of its various forms.

"Then you should at least tell me the truth. I am a princess and I have the right to know what crisis is happening in my country. " Asked, Crystal.

"Because," Elder said, his eyes calm, "Your brother got the situation under control."

"So, there will be no more plunders?" Crystal heard herself questioning.

He nodded. "Yes, the problem is under control. Don't worry." The king looked at his daughter with love and relief in his eyes. His daughter is the only remaining witch who can control the water, and her preciousness is beyond words. She is also her favorite child. In any case, as king, he couldn't put the princess in danger.

"Sorry, I should not have yelled." Apologized, Crystal.

He stood from his throne while walking down the aisle, towards his daughter, "It's okay, Princess." He said, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Rest for now, we shall meet at the dinner table."

"Yes, Father." Said, Crystal placing a small peck on her father's cheek as he exited the main chambers.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she did not believe his father's assuring words. If that problem was under control, why did he look so tense? Thought Crystal.

Anger was taking up far too much space in her mind right now, regarding the invasion caused by some criminally minded people in her Empire.

Crystal felt her irritation rising even higher. She had to look into the matter herself!

It was her birthright and her responsibility to save her people from any kind of awaited danger and she would do it at any cost.

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After a while, at the town's entrance beside the dark forest. From the bush where he was hiding and waiting for his next victim, Zarek could hear the light hoofs of the horse, approaching fast. The rider seemed to be in a hurry. Just when the animal was about to pass him, he broke free of the brush, to block the path of whoever was unfortunate enough to be his prey this day.

"Halt!" He shouted, holding up his sword.

The rider's horse was startled, it reared and the young girl on its back had to hold on for dear life. Zarek watched her efforts with a hard face, hiding inside the mask he wore. He contemplated the chances of her landing on her behind in the dirt.

Now that would be an entertaining sight, thought Zarek.

However, she managed to control the animal. Well, well. Here was something you didn't see every day: a female who could manage to stay in the saddle. Her face was hidden inside her cloak, until she looked at him, unveiling the most beautiful face he had ever seen.

"Who are you?" She asked, clearly showing the authority in her voice. The girl's sapphire icy blue eyes were blazing at his action.

"None of your business," Zarek Retorted.

Through the slits of his mask, he saw the girl's eyes go wide and enjoyed the show immensely. Oh yes, she wasn't talked back in her whole life.

The girl had come to a conclusion. After throwing him a wary look.

"What do you want?" She asked.

Zarek had to work hard to suppress the smirk. "Now," he said, "that's a simple enough question: all that you have."

She stared at him, still not understanding. "You! Why are you invading my land?" She hissed.

Behind the mask, the cold grey eyes begging him to turn into fuming red, after listening to her confrontation brought back the hatred towards the Empire in his heart. The way she was pressing her rights onto this land was enough proof to determine that she belonged to the royal family of the Aquislanada Empire.

"Aye," he said, very pleased with himself, "I."

"How can you do this?" Demanded the girl.

Swallowing his anger as it was very tough for him, but the years of training paid him very well.

"Oh, it's quite easy, if you know how to. I'll let you in on my secret if you promise to keep it to yourself. You see, unlike warriors, normal people don't usually carry weapons. That makes them very easy to rob." Zarek just shrugged and spoke.

"Get out of my Empire," the girl made an imperious gesture with her small hand. "Leave this land and I will overlook that you even came here."

'Her empire'? Judging by her attire and her arrogant tone, she must be from the royal family. How can a princess who should be kept in a castle gallop through the forest on a horse? Zarek found it interesting。

Zarek almost burst out laughing, cold-heartedly. "What a generous offer, little girl. But alas, I have to rob you first."

"You dare defy me?"

Pretending to think hard on the subject, Zarek scratched the side of his helmet. "Yes, I think I do. Dare to defy you, I mean."

Girl's eyes were fuming in anger at his words, as he saw the wind picking up the speed causing her fiery red hair to flow in the air. The way her eyes were sparkling was giving him the idea that she was far more than the normal girl from the royal family.

"You dare to invade my land and defy my order." She hissed, glaring at Zarek. Then she muttered something in her native language, from which he was very well acquainted.

Raising her right hand in front of Zarek while thrusting it forward, she said, "Glacies!"

'Oh, she is a witch', Zarek thought. But her little spell didn't have any effect on him which shocked the girl and him as well.

‘Why the hell didn't he turn into ice?’ Crystal did not understand why her mana was ineffective against him.

Taking the opportunity as she got distracted for a moment, with lightning speed, Zarek drew his sword and swung it around. It came to a stop only half an inch from the girl's slender white throat. Rider and horse froze, both sensing the danger. Thoughtfully, Zarek moved the blade a bit, pushing aside her long, red hair. It made a nice contrast against the silver gleam of the steel.

He hoped it wouldn't be necessary to add red to the colorful mixture, but the hatred towards her race took him a second to press the steel sword hard against her neck as a few droplets of her blood briskly drifted down her neck.

Surprised, she blinked and stared directly into his eyes. "I dare you." Challenged him.

Zarek's eyes darkened as he watched the blood flow, as if the blood was calling for him. He could feel a longing in his heart that was slowly growing.

It took all his willpower to restrain him from tasting her blood.

The intense eye contact made Zarek feel his emotions being greatly swung. He turned his head to avoid such a gaze.

He felt his eyes were going to change their color from grey into red. The girl had an effect on him, and Zarek was so displeased with this discovery that his anger was about to diffuse out of his eyes.

The girl caught Zarek's baffled state followed by the loud sound of growl from the forest's side. It got her distracted for just a moment and when she looked back, Zarek wasn't there.

"You escaped, but I'll find you and when I do, I'll have you punished for every crime that you've committed!" Crystal pledged.