Deep within the forest shadows, several men cloaked in black bravely made their way towards an elegant golden gate that separated the wilderness from pure darkness. One of them shifted uncomfortably, "Is it just me or atmosphere here's getting heavier every time we report to him?"

The other man sneered and ignored his companion. The last thing he needed was a friendly reminder of what dangers awaited them. After muttering the incantation, the rogues took the lone road that led them up to a dark mansion. It's exterior shone under the moonlight of the twin moons, towering over the trees.

Footsteps reverberated within it's walls as a man raised his head up from the book he's reading. He lazily eyed the two low-class wizards that hurriedly bowed their heads. Blood red eyes studied them in silence. At last, the younger male stood up and spoke, "Late as always, I see."

The two wizards paled.

A murderous laugh echoed.

"Just kidding. Now, have you found her?"

They shook their heads and grunted a few explanations that fell on deaf ears.

The mysterious man smiled. "No matter. It'll all be too late before that girl interferes with our plans. Tell the other rogues that the Black League will reestablish within a week's time."

At what he said, the wizards shook in fear. One was about to give his remarks when a bolt of lightning struck him before he could even open his mouth. His companion witnessed his body go limp and fell on the carpeted floor, lifeless.

A dark smirk graced the evil man's lips. "Let that be a reminder that no soul should dare go against Alistair Austrice."

*

Aza Sterlings thought that her story would end the moment she went beyond those walls. But to her surprise, it didn't..

"Aza, are you listening to me?"

The dark haired girl averted her gaze from the window, only to meet striking golden eyes staring back at her. The woman in front of her wore sophisticated clothes and had her long  brown hair in a braid. She's Princess Lysia and she was only a year older than Aza.

"Yup. Don't worry, I heard every word you said." She assured and yawned.

Lysia cocked an eyebrow. "Really now? Then can you tell me who invented the first wand to come from a mermaid's hair?"

Aza gulped. I should've just snuck out of the room when I had the chance, the witch thought. She sheepishly scratched her head and was about to apologize to the royalty when a familiar voice rang inside her head.

"Sir Elbert Walkingstick."

"Sir Elbert Walkingstick." She said. Lysia, on the other hand, sighed and shook her head. "Correct. Anyway, let's move on to the History of Trolls..." Aza groaned. Listening to troll history is the last thing she wanted to do for today.

And as if on cue, someone barged into the study room and flashed the two girls a charming smile. His golden eyes shone like the sun. "Hello there lovely maidens. Might I join in?" He then slumped on a seat next to Aza and grinned like a Chesire cat.

Lysia visibly rolled her eyes. "Making a move on Aza, again, brother?"

The prince laughed. "I see no reason not to. Besides, I think Aza's looking a little pale. She needs some fresh air. A walk perhaps?--"

The woman eyed her brother suspiciously, "Oh, no you don't--!"

"--so we'll see you later, Lysia. Bye!"

It was too late. In a blink of an eye, Aza Sterlings and her brother vanished in a cloud of smoke. Princess Lysia gaped in astonishment.. she exhaled, a ghostly smile on her pinkish lips. "He really cares for her."

*

Aza felt a gush of cold breeze hit her body. She held onto the man tighter, almost gripping his shoulders, the moment they materialized and landed on solid ground.

"You can open your eyes now."

So she did. When the young witch opened her eyes, she took in the fresh floral scent of their surroundings. Aza saw several rows of vibrant flowers in different hues--pink, blue, yellow, red--and smiled when she realized where the prince magically teleported her. It still looks like spring here. Aza Sterlings turned to the prince and curtly bowed. "Thank you for saving me from your sister, your highness."

Lysander frowned and poked her head, "Cut the formalities, Az. Besides, I knew you needed a break from those  exhausting lessons. I learned that from experience."

She nodded her head and sat on the grassy ground. The prince sat quietly beside her.

Her chocolate brown eyes drifted off into a distance.

It's been almost a year since she landed on their kingdom. Aza could vividly remember the first time she met the prince in this very garden.

Almost a year ago, Aza ran away from Liondalle's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry to venture out beyond the walls that concealed them. It was Christmas eve when Aza did that daredevil stunt and, unexpectedly, the moment she jumped over the walls  ocean waves ungulfed her. She then woke up on a shore and followed the black fox, leading her to Prince Perseus Lysander Earlhart. Later on, he explained that he sent Nari, his shadow spirit fox, to guide her here.

Prince Perseus Lysander and his sister, Princess Lysia, are the only survivors of the Earlhart purebloodline. Their lost kingdom had been concealed from the other magic folks, separated by the great walls. The prince confessed that he had been watching Aza ever since she stepped foot in the MidWorld. Aza frowned when she remembered the prince telling her that he was the one behind the mysterious voice that kept talking to her in school. Honestly, I still find him a little creepy.

When Aza asked why he was doing all this, Prince Lysander would just smile and tell her that it was all for the Prophecy their deceased oracle left them with.

It's been months since Lysander promised her that he would explain everything to her when the right time comes. Meanwhile, Princess Lysia prompted that Aza would need to be more educated with the MidWorld and catch up with her history lessons. Since then, Aza stopped questioning her fate, until today..

"Lysander?"

"I know what you're thinking, Aza. You don't have to voice it out."

Taken aback, Aza stared at the prince. He wasn't even looking at her. His eyes remain on the vast ocean ahead of them. Blue garden butterflies that gave off their glow circled the them. Aza timidly nodded, "you're really good at reading people. Is that some kind of special talent? A charm maybe?"

Finally, he met her eyes. A faint smile luminating his lips. "You're actually a readable person, Aza. There's no magic involved."

Aza didn't know whether she'd be delighted or offended. Before she could even reply, Prince Lysander spoke in a hush voice.

"Old Elfen Walkingstick was Sir Elbert's eldest brother. He served the Earlhart bloodline for more than a hundred years. My father used to take me with him whenever he seeked advice in ruling the kingdom and even listened to the old man's messed up stories.. I honestly thought Old Elfen was insane until the day he told us the prophecy.." The young prince threw a pebble by the waters and continued, "'The Earlhart bloodline will perish. Your kingdom will fall. A great war will come. But one day, a special maiden from the Land-dweller's world will come and save us all', that was what I remembered from the prophecy." He glanced at Aza.

Aza furrowed her eyebrows. "That can't be me.. A war? A maiden? Are you sure the prophecy's not talking about my aunt?"

She stopped, remembering her aunt's kind face. Ruella Vines had been the one to drag her into this world. Aza could clearly recall how she would guide her in her first days as a witch. Then, she found out that her aunt was the 'Prophet', the woman who saved the MidWorld from Sir Austice and stopped the war. Now that she thinks about it, the oracle must be talking about her Aunt Ruella.

But Lysander shook his head, "That was what we all thought but Old Elfen died after Sir Austice lost the war.. When he gave the prophecy, we thought he was just delayed by age. We all thought it was over, that the war he was talking about already happened and that we already won. But somehow, Old Elfen managed to whisper one last word that changed our beliefs.."

"What was it?"

"Fox."

Brown eyes widened. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Lysander gently touched the side of her face, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ruella Vines knew it, too. I honestly have no idea how, but she knew the prophecy wasn't about her. At the same time, Nari started wandering around this garden and kept glancing at the twin moons. My shadow spirit knew you'd come one day, Aza."

This made the young witch tremble. B-But..Aunt Ruella... A war? Me? Aza struggled to breathe. "T-That means.. No! I-I can't be.. No... I--!"

Lysander Earlhart smiled at her, "You are the Prophet everyone's waiting for. You will save this world from an even greater war."

*****