Six burly men carrying spear and sword in their hands entered the hall. Following closely behind was a humanoid rabbit and the other one a squirrel, two orcs, six human maiden, and last of the procession, entered an enchanting lady who wore a golden crown almost as tall as her own head. She put on black gowns, black cape, and a long gold staff in her hand, slightly taller than she was.
The burly man had been tugging her clothes, gesturing her to lay flat like everyone else behind her. The guard leading the procession suddenly halted. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. The whole procession abruptly stopped, their heads turned to her. – Shocked, bemused, and infuriated. Their thoughts were written all over their faces.
The Queen, being the last one on the procession, pointed her finger at the captive. Her face turned red in fury, her mouth spewing language her brain couldn’t process. What is it? Russian? Slovik? Greek? Does it matters? She couldn’t understand anyway.
‘Gosh, I hate language barriers.’
She stood tall as she explained, “I mean no harm. If this is a prank, I hope it stop now. If this is a dream, I guess I can play along. But first thing first, I really couldn’t understand anything at all.”
The Queen squinted her eyes with a disdained look on her face. Another word came out from her mouth, and the procession continued where it stopped. She sat on the throne, her eyes scrutinizing on the crowds on the ground. Then if fell on her.
The Queen lazily waved her hand, and in that moment, she slumped on the ground followed by a shrieking moan. She squirmed and gasped for air, her throat were burning hot and her lung shrunk.
The Queen spoke again, this time to the burly man who came with her. Pointing her finger at the girl on the floor, words came out from the Queen on the throne. The burly man replied in a similar language that were foreign to her.
Few minutes had passed when they finally reached an understanding. The Queen closed her eyes and began to chant softly. Soon her whole body was shrouded by a faint black smoke.
As the Queen pointed the gold staff toward the girl on the floor, a streak of red light were formed at the end of the staff and came shooting at her. It entered through her forehead, penetrating deep into her sea of consciousness. It stirred the inside of her, she was enlightened with new knowledge and revelation.
Congratulations, you have received a blessing: The Gift of Tongues
Blessed by the mercy of the Queen of Rheathea, you are now able to understand and speak in the language of the living.
“Now, talk. Who are you and who sent you here?” The Queen spoke coldly, her fingers fidgeting on the armrest.
For a moment, she was thunderstruck by the words that came out from the Queen’s mouth. Did the Queen finally decided to speak in her language? Or was it her who could understand her words? And what was that blessing all about?
The whole room turned their heads on her, waiting for an answer. Her mouth opened slightly, then she closed it abruptly.
‘Who am I?’
She thought for a while before she answered, “I am called Luna Moirae.”
The name she gave was a fake one, but it was a name she always scribbled on her notebook.
A hologram screen appeared in front of her, displaying a set of information.
Name: Luna Moirae
Level: 1
Race: Human
Class: Undertermined
XP: 0/100
Health: 100/100
Stamina: 100/100
Mana: 100/100
Agility: 10+
Endurance: 10+
Strength: 10+
Intuition: 10+
Wisdom: 10+
Active skills: None
Passive skills: None
Blessings: Gift of Tongue
Eyes of the Death
Luna studied the screen for a while, her brain grinding hard.
‘What the hell?? Someone tell me what is this??? Did some mad scientist implanted something into my brain? What happened last night? Why am I seeing things??’
“Who send you here and what is your intention?” The Queen asked again.
“No one sent me here. I’m not sure what happened. I passed out last night, and somehow ended up waking up here.”
“Don’t you even dare to have the slightest idea of fooling me. Do you think anyone can casually break into my protection array and sleep in my bushes? You are here to assassinate me, am I right?” A trace of fear and hatred written all over her face as she fidgeted on the throne.
‘Assassinate?? Do I look like I have that much free times? My manager would probably assassinate me first if I didn’t show up at work this morning. As a matter of fact, maybe he’s already expecting me with his machete at the front door of the office.’
“My beautiful, enchanting Queen, I truly have no intention of assassinating you or anyone. I really have no idea how I ended up at your place, but I didn’t mean to trespass at all. It was probably a mistake, an unfortunate accident. I’m harmless, not a single weapon on possession!” With a pitiful look on her face, Luna pleaded and begged.
“It doesn’t really matter whether you’re telling the truth or lie, for it is still a fact that you trespassed my territory. Have I been acting lenient lately? Have these commoners forgotten about the consequences of trespassing into my territory? Now, tell me, what should I do with you?”
‘Uhhh… I would like to have a tour in your palace and drink tea with the Queen if possible…’
“I beg your mercy, Your beautiful Majesty. I’m a newcomer here. I didn’t know this is your territory. How about you let me go? I will go away as far as possible, please.”
“Let you go?? What a joke! How about we have a welcoming tea party, too?” The Queen smirked, her cheek fuming in red, “I wouldn’t be the Queen of Rheathea if I simply let uncivilized trash like you go as you pleased. Guards, take her to the town and chopped off her head in the square!”
“No, no, no. Please! Let me go! I beg your mercy, Your Majesty. I really didn’t mean any harm. Please don’t chop off my head. I’ll sweep your lawn! I’ll polish every stones in the garden! Anything, but please, let me keep my head.”
“If you’re really determined,” The Queen sniggered, “Would you paint my boudoir in red with your own blood?”
“That, Your Majesty, I think that’s too much,” Luna hesitated, “But I do have experience with painting before, just not with bloods.”
“Take her away!” The fuming Queen yelled at the guards.
The burly man pulled her arm and pushed her towards the door out from the hall room. Her negotiations were ignored. Luna struggled to break free from the man’s grasp, wriggling her body to and fro.
“Don’t try to do anything silly or your death won’t be easy.” The burly man warned.
The Queen leered as she leaned back on her throne, pleased with her judgment. She lifted her finger, signaling her maid to come over to her side.
Bang!
One of the guards was sent flying into the room with a powerful force. The door wide opened as it slammed against the wall. The guard laid helpless on the ground, holding his chest as he coughed blood. The audience stood aghast when a group of men in black rushed into the hall room, carrying a murderous aura and weapon in their hand.
“Protect the Queen!”
Wielding the long sword in their hands, the hall room turned into a battlefield. The two forces fought against each other, their swords met with sparks as they engaged in a test of strength. Rays of light flashed in the hall room as the wizard in red raised his staff, turning another man into a frog.
‘Now, that is what you called a magician! Can’t believe that I was forced to buy a hundred dollar ticket to pull an underwear from inside my bag!”
A bitter feeling rose inside her. How angry she was that unlucky day when she was conned to buy a front seat ticket for a charity show. As if it was not miserable enough, the so-called magician also made her pulled out a red underwear from her handbag. Bet they sneak it in there when she wasn’t looking.
As the fighting turned tenser, Luna retreated to one side of the wall. Mindful not to get caught in the fight that is none of her business.
“Sister, today, I will get my revenge!”
A young lady in a red cape and black tunic scurried in with a long sword in her hand. Her eyes locked on the Queen, proclaiming her revenge as she pointed her sword towards the Queen. No matter how many times she tried, Luna couldn’t find any resemblance between the two sisters. The Queen of Rheathea looked like a normal human being, but this lady looked like – an ogre?
‘If it’s not because I’m about to lose my head, I would love to stay to watch this drama.’
Her face scrunched up in anger as she bolted towards the Queen. The sword swung as she scurried forward, cutting a person or two who dares to block her way. Blood dripped from the edge of her sword, leaving a trail of blood on the ivory marble floor where she passed. A Queen, an ogre, a wizard and dozens of man fighting against each other. The cursed frogs leaped around the hall room, chased by the flaming bird as it spits fire from its mouth.
Luna hastily made a plan for an escape. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented before her, only a fool will not make any attempt to run when her head is on the stake.
She thoroughly made her calculations as she approached the entrance door. Everyone was occupied with fighting that they had forgotten about her. Luna made her narrow escape as she sneaked out from the palace.
Congratulations! You have unlocked a new skill: Stealth (Novice rank)
You have embarked on your journey to become the best stealth master who will one day steal a treasure from god’s vault. But for now, you can barely hide from your mother’s fury.
‘Ah, no, you’re wrong. Wasn’t I’m a grandmaster of sneaking away from mother’s fury?’
Turning left as she exited the palace, Luna flee towards the tall hedges on the side. She continued hiding behind the fifteen feet tall hedges, evading the fierce battle that took place in the front garden of the palace. Her eyes aggressively scanning for an escape route or unwanted company.
Just as Luna was about to sprint fast, a pair of hairy hands came out from the hedges behind her. The hands grabbed her tightly and shut her mouth. She squirmed and struggled, but her strength were too weak against the pair of hands. A hot breath passed her neck, goose bumps creeping over her skin.
“Shhh… Don’t make any sound if you still want to live.” A hoarse voice whispering behind her ears.
