"Good Morning, Adira." A woman, hanging out her laundry, greeted the girl, with messy long ash-like locks, passing by and smiled kindly to her.

The girl, as if jolted out from a deep thought, flustered for a bit and shyly smiled back at the woman which oddly made her irresistibly cuter.

Goddesses, if I were a man, I'd really steal this girl and marry her instead. But well, her husband is quite a looker too so they suit each other well.

The woman thought to herself in while waving her hands at the girl.

"Are you off to shop?"

"Umm, Yes."

"Oh? Where's your handsome husband then? That worrywart will turn this village upside down again if he can't find you in your home."

The woman joked and remembered the first few days, when these two arrived and settled somewhere close to them, and the wife decided to stroll around. The husband came back and couldn't find her and he almost went insane looking for her everywhere.

Like a mad dog. Poor lad.

"He knows, Madam. He had something to do so he couldn't accompany me." Adira replied to their neighbour who introduced herself as Maria.

"If I were him, I really wouldn't let you off my sight. Haha! A girl as beautiful as you attracts too many eyes even when your hair is so unkempt."

Truly, a royal's beauty shines through even with a disguise. So why use a disguise?

Adira remembered herself saying something along those words while helping someone put on a disguise. But which royal was it? The first or the second prince?

But even as she asked herself, she also thought to herself that she's never been close with any of them, so why would she remember something like that? Why would she say something like that?

Something along that memory didn't make sense. It didn't fit anywhere in her memory lane. She can't remember how, why, and who it was.

"Adira?"

"Oh! I'm sorry. Were you saying something?" She apologized as Maria snapped her out of her trance.

"Are you okay, dear? You're turning pale. I think it's better for you to return home for now. Or else, your husband will definitely worry about you."

Adira clenched the basket in her hands as static noises rang in her ears again-grating, annoying and irritating her.

"Ye-Yes. That may be best." She quietly replied while supporting her throbbing head.

Why do I feel as if I'm forgetting something important? What is it?

...

Casimir, together with Heise, was prepared to march towards the Alynthi Kingdom donned in full armor.

It wasn't that they were necessarily seeking for war, but as a precaution in the worst case that their kingdom refuses to surrender Triton and Adira, then, of course, he'll fight his way in.

Iris Latifolia, who heard this news a little too late, rushed to catch up to him before they departed. She was perplexed why no one informed her when they were going to war!

As the maiden of light, wasn't her power the desiderata?

"Your highness!" She called and the man acted as if he couldn't hear anything.

Well, technically he could but his mind, soul and focus was somewhere else so nothing was really registering as of the moment. That or he just deemed her not worthy of his attention.

"*ad comitem trium, quae de me obliviscaris."

Iris muttered while clutching the gem hanging on her neck. It glowed dimly that it attracted the prince's eyes-not only that, but because he recognized the language Iris used.

He was wondering what the woman was doing speaking a dead language and figured that she must be scheming something again.

You really don't stop. Even attempting to poison my mind.

The stone encased inside her hands continued to glow dimly for three exact seconds before a sharp cracking sound invaded her ears as the gem shattered and fine dusts slipped through her fingers.

"Wha-Was that supposed to happen? Did I succeed?" She mumbled under her breath and looked up to Casimir to test the waters.

...

While somewhere, a man enshrouded with a hood, clicked his tongue and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Aah~ it failed, huh? So she truly wasn't the maiden of light? Ohoo~ what is she then? A fake borne from a forbidden ritual, is it? How peculiar.

Now, now, now, where art thou~? Oh miss beloved child of the heavens~? Come out, come out wherever you are~~ Let's play~

I wonder if you will you come out if I destroyed this empire~ Hmm~?"

...

"Ca-Casey?" She softly called his name-the name she heard only Adira uses.

Casimir stiffened as soon as he heard that name. He opened his mouth, about to reply to her, when loud booming sounds pervaded all throughout the capital-alerting everyone.

Casimir's attention was immediately diverted to the scattered noises that came in rapid succession. Without much thought, he held Heise, who was standing just beside him, and told him,

"My son, go high. Fly straight to your mother. Do not turn back no matter what happens or what you hear. I will catch up after I deal with things here."

And the child, sensing that his father must've already formulated a plan inside his head, obeyed and nodded his head before running away and finding a secluded place where he could take off.

Before Heise could get far though, Casimir caught the child's shoulders and hugged him once before whispering,

"You've done well, my son. I'm leaving your mother in your care until I catch up with you."

And he promptly let the child go before he turned to face his men.

Heise watched the broad and resilient back of his father before he, as well, turned around to go ahead first and reclaim his mother.

Iris, who was left with Casimir, felt joyous. It was the perfect moment to display and show to everyone her prowess as the Maiden of Light.

And quite possibly capture Casimir's heart that she reset.

"Your highness! I can be of help! I am, after all, the Maiden of Light." She stated proudly and glowed golden before pulling a sword out from a portal.

Casimir just gave her a silent glance before barking his orders to the army, who was fortunately suited up and ready to go.

"The sounds came from three regions-southward, westward and somewhere in between those two points!

Squadron 1 and 2 will go with Alexander and William to check the one on the west side. Squadron 3 and 4 will go with Roman to the one next to it. Squadron 5, with me to the south!"

Each squadrons dispersed and proceeded to each of their assigned regions. Firm and readying themselves to fight should they need to.

It has been a while since they've been attacked in broad daylight. The last was a decade ago and they were taking orders from an eight year old boy, who seemed as if he was only playing a game of chess.

But now, that eight year old boy is personally leading them this time.

Notes:
*At the count of three, you will forget all about me.

Hi! So I used latin as a dead language here so please don't pick on that and say mean things again. I love the language that's why I'm using it.

I'm a bit busy so I won't linger long. Tomorrow again everyone! Banzaaaiii~ 🎉

P.S. I'm hoping to read more comments so I'll find my motivation and drive 💕