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Alice walked towards the location where Vexana is. She's still a bit dizzy after her little hangover from earlier. Alice deeply regrets drinking too much alcohol. Her stomach felt like it was punching itself and her head was throbbing rather painfully. She felt so horrible at the moment that she wanted to vomit.

But she can't go to the bathroom at the right now. Alice received an important call that awoken her from her slumber. It was a call from Bane and he immediately informed her that he, his ship and the troops have arrived to attack the City of Scholars.

The blood demon Queen immediately got excited after hearing the news. She couldn't wait to get there and have a fantastic feast with her subjects. Alice vividly imagined covering the walls and streets of the City full of its citizen's blood and guts. And with the Great Scholars gone, all of them will be panicking and the City of Scholars will soon meet its ultimate downfall. The Abyss will scavenge their technology and go to the next destinations, The Elven Kingdom and then Alaghat. If the defeats of these two large realms become a success. The dark, powerful beings will conquer the rest of the powerful realms until the Land of Dawn is the last standing hope of light left.

Alice felt like she was in the Great War. A story that she was told when she was just a young demon still learning the dark ways of Hell. She admired the being who started it all. The ancient who created the twelve forbidden spells to expand the Abyss until it nearly swallowed the world whole. She was disappointed to hear that this evil ancient got defeated by heroes and heroines who came from different realms. Few of these heroes and heroines are still breathing and alive. They earned the title Legends for their bravery and heroic acts. Zyrie and Elion to name a few of these living Legends. What Alice didn't understand is that most people believe that this ancient, evil being does not exist. That these titled Legends only ended the war.

Once Alice arrived in front of the large doors of the Throne Room. The blood demon Queen placed both of her hands on the surface of the two doors then pushed them forward until it became wider for her to enter. "Vexana, the party is starting. Are you ready?" Alice asked the woman who was standing still as souls surrounded her body. Alice felt a short moment of a venous stare, chills going down her spine. "Tell me, dear friend. When was the last time I was not ready?" Vexana did not answer Alice's question, instead, she asked her. The Queen of Doom's voice was different than her usual. As if something was shocked inside of her to wake up. She sounded malevolent and eerie. Alice got strange feelings by this and decides to take a step back. "I do not know." Alice simply answered, quite feeling nervous. Why was she nervous towards Vexana right now? She would never harm her, it would break the ties and plan that Vexana specially created.

The Queen of Doom slowly made her body turn to face Alice, her blank eyes piercing like knives. "Go ahead first, I'll catch up. I have a meeting to attend first." Vexana said, her face not showing a slight sign of expression. Alice wanted to ask why she was suddenly acting like this, but right now it doesn't seem like a good time. The blood demon Queen nodded her head as her reply and then quickly fly away.

"Great acting, you can instantly change into this attitude to an insane woman." A deep, male voice said. Doing an applause before he appeared out of the shadows to reveal his identity. Vexana let out a childlike chuckle, turning her head to look at the man. "Elion, it's good to see you. Did you bring the book?" Vexana asked, slithering towards the previous Elven King without cautious. She is fully aware that this elf can kill her before she could even notice it. Such a talented man that fell into dark magic. Elion made a large book appear on the ground, kicking it towards Vexana's direction. "A deal is a deal. I give you the book and you tell me the forbidden spell that I desire to take knowledge of." Elion said, a slight bitterness in his voice. He was impatient, not wanting a minute to get wasted.

Vexana formed a grin, flicking her fingers to cast a fire spell on the book. The book caught on fire and turned into ashes at a medium pace. "Which poor soul will you take away to revive the one who is dear to you?" She asked first before she could give the spell to Elion. "One of my family members. He is naive and a fool. No wise eyes to see the truth or a mind to solve countless issues. Estes wants to kill your ally, Alice and that is already enough to call him stupid. Let alone, he's bringing that night elf with him. He'll surely get betrayed by that dark creature. Once I revive Katrina back, I'll force her to speak out the first forbidden spell." Elion answered, clenching both of his hands into a tight fist. Not only will he have the second forbidden spell-the resurrection spell, but also the first. Killing his own son is just a bonus.

"All right then, I'll give you the spell. But I must warn you. The first forbidden spell can kill its own spell caster." Vexana said before taking deep breaths and closing her eyes shut.

"Reveal to me what is Hidden.
For I must know the Forbidden.
I dare to cast a spell.
Used by an ancient to quell.
Unfold this magic that I seek.
Another soul for them to keep.
Make their body full of life.
A sacrifice for them to rise."

After saying those chilling words, nothing happens. The words were quite well aligned and rhymed. Vexana opened her eyes and slightly smiled. "That's the second forbidden spell. In order to get it to work, you'll need a particular soul for the being you want to resurrect. If you gave the being a weak soul they'll be weak." Vexana said, glad that everything is going according to plan. "Thank you for staying true to your words. I must now leave this place." Elion said before instantly vanishing into thin air.

Inside the realm of the Land of Dawn. Natalia didn't know where to go. She just sat there on the cold, blanket of snow, letting herself slowly freeze to death. Her hope instantly crashed into despair in an instant. How can she be so blind and forgetful? She even pledges to make it up to Tigreal when he saved her when she was young. This isn't making up for him, this is disappointing him. Natalia accepted this fate, to die in the cold. The coldness of being abandoned again. She couldn't compare her pain to Tigreal's. He loved and searched for her time and time again even if she pushed him away. Such a true and marvelous friend that is a rare gem, that Natalia couldn't unfortunately see. "Tigreal..." She mumbled her words, her body shivering violently as tears continue to rush down to her cheeks. Just saying his name stabbed her heart.

Gradually she let her frosty body collapse into the snow. As the blizzard continues to storm the area, she closed her eyes shut. This is it, her punishment for being so cruel and cold-hearted. She gradually lifted one of her arms towards to the grey skies of the storm. It was quite hard to lift her arm because it was freezing stiff! As if it was becoming ice. But that didn't matter to Natalia right now. She left herself try to recall her memories of herself and Tigreal. She is successfully able to recall some, but not all. It made her heart ache terribly, like a million needles stabbing it until every inch of her heart is full of holes. Natalia let out a cough and then spoke the words that may be her last. "I...Love you..." With that, Natalia made her arm that she was lifting collapse and wait for herself to disappear and enter death.

"Oh god, a body!" A female voice suddenly appeared, she sounded like she could faint any moment.

Natalia felt her body being wrapped around by warm arms. She didn't open her eyes to see who was trying to carry her. She wanted to lay on the snow and accept her fate, but this random woman wasn't allowing it to happen. "C'mon, I'm getting you out of here." The woman softly said, managing to carry Natalia's body without being scratched by her long, pointy claws. "Leave...Me be.." Natalia spoke, her voice weak and whispery. Her lips were frosted and her body is terribly cold. This woman that is currently carrying her can tell that she was close to getting killed by the coldness of the harsh blizzard. "I'll take you somewhere warm." The woman softly said, casting a teleport spell to appear herself and Natalia in front of a Chinese designed fortress.

The blizzard was even crueler in this location. Even with the dim vision of the surroundings, the armored guards that posted at the top of Korean designed fortress immediately saw the two beings. They raised their bows and prepared their arrows in unison, pointing them at Natalia and the woman who is carrying her. "Wait! We mean no harm! I found this freezing lady in the distance. She's about to die and needs help!" The woman said loudly so that the guards could hear her voice.

The woman's voice caught a tall figure's attention. They began to appear out of the light, holding their large, golden bow. He stood great and tall as he looked at the two. Yi Sun-Shin's eyes widened when he saw them, his grip on his golden bow tightening. "Sakura Miko! Your death was announced throughout the Japan Empire to the Korean Kingdom and the China Empire militaries!. We will not allow any tricks to fool us into letting you enter this territory." Yi Sun-Shin said, his voice clear and loud than the blizzard itself. He glanced at Kagura-or Sakura Miko with eyes that are like venomous snakes. It was strange indeed to see Sakura Miko standing right in front of his sight. He assumes that it is an illusion spell to make him and his comrades get fooled.

Sakura Miko's identity is rarely known that only a few people know her existence. The Kagura Family did their hardest to delete her connections to them for she fought with the darkness in the Great War. Even though she strengthened the Seimei umbrella beside Seimei himself. Sakura Miko committed countless bad deeds that angered the emperor of Japan, but in the near end of the Great War, she fought with the heroes and thus instead of drinking poison wine, she got a punishment that will last for a lifetime. Sakura Miko got imprisoned somewhere well hidden and is guarded by a formidable beast. She spent her life there until she suddenly got murdered by the previous Shadow of Iga.

"I only wish to leave this maiden in your care. If you accept I will do one command that you wish." Sakura Miko said, her voice loud, yet sincere and gentle like the petals of the cherry blossom trees. She kneeled down on her knees to beg and placed Natalia down on the snow. Yi Sun-Shin's gaze went towards to Natalia, observing her appearance. Something hit him after a moment, it was the person that Tigreal told him about and requested him to protect.

Tigreal did many good deeds and support to Yi Sun-Shin that he couldn't make himself say no. The young general accepted the request and pledge to protect this woman with all his power to repay Tigreal's support and kindness. But right now he couldn't believe if the woman laying on the snow in front of his eyes is Natalia, for the identity known as Sakura Miko is just standing right beside her. Then again, Sakura Miko knowing Natalia's identity is illogical.

Yi Sun-Shin doesn't want to make Tigreal disappointed in him or worse, furiously mad. It would break the bond between them and that won't end well. The young general took a short moment of thinking before signaling one of his men to open the gates. Sakura Miko immediately carried Natalia into her arms and without hesitation or doubt of being ambushed, ran inside the fortress. Once inside, Sakura Miko sighed in relief, her body freezing as well but it couldn't compare to Natalia's state. Yi Sun-Shin commanded his men to grab blankets, pillows, and lukewarm water for the two. He icily glanced at Sakura Miko, his eyes like knives and his expression hard as stone. Sakura Miko kneeled down on her knees to bow. "Thank you, kind sir, for saving this fair maiden from a terrible, cold fate." Sakura Miko said, not a hint of fear in her voice that Yi Sun-Shin was excepting. "Get up." He commanded, his voice quite harsh. He wouldn't give a single ounce of mercy to this being.
Sakura Miko stood up as she was told, her innocent and Goddess-like beauty appearance almost sickening. Everyone who doesn't know who she truly is will think that she is an ethereal flower that outshines the rest. How did such a pure looking maiden kill thousands of innocent lives? No wonder the emperor of Japan never forgave her even if she did countless good things. Her mistakes will never be forgiven. "Did you come back from the dead to get your revenge? We don't have any information where the previous Shadow of Iga went. All we know is that he suddenly killed you without a clear reason." Yi Sun-Shin said, quite curious to know why and how Sakura Miko magically revived herself back into the living realm. "I am not looking for him. I am looking for the current assassin Shadow of Iga." Sakura Miko simply spoke, closing her eyes to avoid eye contact. "Why do you want to meet him?" Yi Sun-Shin questioned, suspecting that Sakura Miko is creating something like a scheme.

"Because I have something to tell him." Sakura Miko simply answered, her pure face expressionless and unreadable that it made Yi Sun-Shin feel uneasy. Even though the young general felt slightly anxious, he gestured one of his men inside the room to slide a particular door open. He was curious to hear what this cherry witch was going to say to the Shadow of Iga.

The guard did what he was commanded and slid that particular door open. Sakura Miko's eyes felt betrayed, her eyes racing fast like it was about to erupt like a volcano. She saw the love of her life in front of her. His appearance capturing her entire being in one swap. Only, his cold, red eyes like blazing flames that looked like hatred terrified her. Kagura deeply hopes that Hayabusa will soon see who she truly is without her revealing to him. As for now. She must try her hardest to stay by his side with the plan working perfectly.

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Aw, Kagura almost got caught red-handed! <3

Oh, wait......