Prince Billard stood before them with his silver hair fluttering in the air and giving them the chill and the thick atmosphere conveyed that it was the end of their lives today..

Seraphina felt her feet and hands were going numb against the powerful being before her. She knew Prince Billard was anything but a weak Dragon Prince. She had always been wary of him as if there was something in him that told her to never mess with the crown prince and it terrified her. It could have been the dragon power he had but she knew well it wasn't just only that.

She had always felt that the crown Prince had some hidden power and a hidden personality in him which he tried to deny or didn't want anyone to witness. But now she was witnessing him through her very own eyes, the masked Prince of The Salamanders. The other personality which was the exact opposite of his gentle nature. His golden eyes were sharp like a killer and his face was devoid of any emotions. It reminded her of Demian.

The brothers were alike but the older one was only hiding it under a mask of gentleness. His right palm rested on the hilt of his large sword as he scrutinized all of them with his hawkeyes moving from one to other.

Seraphina felt her knees weakened at seeing his sword. It was large enough to kill all three of them in a swing. However, the other sword he held in his free hand made her confused. It was the sword the dwarfs made for her. Why did he have that with him?

Billard might have read her confusion as he said, "Confused as to why I am here with your sword?"

His voice held no gentle vibes; instead it was the voice of a predator, who was waiting patiently for his prey. Was he going to kill her?

Seraphina didn't say anything, she stood with a stupid face and thought if he were to kill her then so be it. But she would try to talk with him. Because right that moment, she knew saving Demian was her priority and she would do anything to do that even if she had to cross paths with the future king of the Dragon nation.

"Did you think you could go and cause more trouble for us and for my brother?"

"I -"

"Silence!" He said, "I don't want to hear any word from the mouth of a wizard who keeps dragging my brother into his grave."

Seraphina was at a loss of words as she knew he was right. He had all the rights to get angry at her and even doubt her. It was her fault in the first place.

But it hurt her as he discarded her because she was a wizard. She didn't have a choice on her race but she had a choice on who would be in her life and what would be her decision.

"Then don't listen." Seraphina said, gathering her courage as she clenched her palms. If he didn't want to hear her, she had only one choice that was to make him hear her forcibly. If he didn't want to let her go, she would have to do it forcefully even if she had to fight. "Watch me as I save Demian."

"Save my brother?" A dry scoff left from Billard's throat, "You don't even have your powers anymore. The flame queen is long gone. How can you save my brother?"

Seraphina clenched her jaw but took a deep breath as she said, "I never liked to be called by that name. I don't even remember who had given me that name. All I know is that it is my duty to keep Demian safe as all of these happened because of me and I take full responsibility."

Her eyes looked straight at the golden eyes of him. It was daring to keep eye contact as the crown Prince seemed vicious and very threatening at the moment.

Billard was silent for some time as if he was trying to read her or finding anything suspicious about her as he narrowed his eyes to the slit. "I don't trust you."

"I know that very well but I am not going to beg you to trust me. I don't have time and besides, I am a wizard in your eyes so anything I would have to say to you, you will find it suspicious anyway." Seraphina said.

"How can I trust you that you will not run away?" He asked.

"I can bet my life on it, Prince Billard," Celia said from beside Seraphina taking a step ahead and it was praiseworthy that a human could dare to speak to him even when his glares were murderous. "If she runs away, you can kill me and tell my nation that I had betrayed all of them."

It was amusing as the maid was that much confident in a wizard even though she was a completely different race.

"Then you will take full responsibility. However, if I lose my mind, I will abolish the whole human nation." Billard said his voice coated with venom which made Celia shudder but she held her ground.

"Yes. I take full responsibility." She didn't falter back, instead she was confident in Seraphina. The trust, the bond, was visible in her eyes and it somehow itched Billard. Because it was amusing to watch how a human could bet everything for a wizard. The human race didn't like the wizards yet the irony happened right before their eyes.

He threw the sword made by the dwarfs at Seraphina's feet and said, "I will let you go only if you counter my attack."

"If you can't counter it, I will kill you right this instant." He said and took out his sword as he pointed it out at her. If anyone had seen the death glares Billard was giving her, they would have run away through the windows but Seraphina wasn't the one to run away from that.

She nodded. If this was what she had to do to save Demian then so be it. She took the sword from the ground as Master Valentine intervened. "But Prince Billard, you are one of the finest swordsman in this whole nation. Please consider that the girl doesn't have enough experience." The worry in his voice confirmed that Billard had experience on combat and fighting which worried Seraphina a little.

Billard scoffed again, "If she can't even save herself from my attacks, how can she save my brother from the hands of those devious wizards."

And it made her blood boil in the pit of her stomach. She clenched her teeth and her eyes fired up as she tried to control the rising anger.

"But try to understand, she is still young and the dark wizards need her. She could be useful if we were to save the young Prince." Master Valentine said. He was trying to forfeit the battle as Prince Billard was a pupil of the great sword master, Senozo Mihama. His master was the number one swordsman of the whole world and he was very picky on his students. He never took a pupil who had no potential or had average quality. Fighting with Billard was like a suicide for her yet she had no choice to make her way through him.

"It would be better for her, Master Valentine, if she dies in my hands, she wouldn't have to go through the tortures the wizards would present her." Billard said.

"But Your High-"

"Master Valentine, I have too much debt of you being a great help all these years but despite that, I may have some questions for you." Billard looked at him as Master Valentine's face paled. "I am finding it amusing that a mere wizard can draw everyone around me into herself just in a short span of time."

He looked at Alonzo, "Too many trusted people that I have been relying on yet no one would go against her." He gave a vicious smile, "Interesting, indeed."

Both Alonzo and Master Valentine hung their heads low and Billard said to Seraphina, "Hold your sword, Flame Queen. I want to see what you are made of."

Seraphina tightened her grip on the sword and recalled everything Merlene and her father had taught her. She could not make an effort to lose this battle as it binded two lives.

Billard took a leg before another as he took a position. His posture was perfect and it confirmed that Seraphina was going to fight the toughest battle in her life. Seraphina's eyes watched his movements as Merlene had taught her to always read the enemy's movements. Even small details could give much information on their next move.

"Come at me with full force otherwise you will be dead by the time my sword lands on you." Billard said and charged on her without even a warning. In an instant Seraphina countered his attack with her sword and growled, "You didn't even say when to start!"

The swords met with a clang and Seraphina felt her fingers were about to be ripped off from such force and the Crown Prince said, "Your enemies won't tell you when they will attack."

Billard swung the sword and it went for Seraphina's neck. But she sidestepped and avoided it by a few millimetres. Two threads of her red curls fell on the ground like autumn leaves as she huffed. It felt her energy drained by half already even when they just started. Just how strong were his attacks?

Billard didn't give her a chance to think or to have a short breath as he charged on her. His sword was larger and heavier than her yet she was finding it hard to see its movements. One moment the tip was just far from her and the next it was around her as if he wasn't swinging his sword, the sword just came at its own will.

She evaded again as their swords struck together with a crying clang. "You are avoiding my attacks!" He shouted.

It seemed he was indeed a great swordsman and the rumors about him were all true. She felt she would lose if he started to get serious.

She pointed the sword at him as she tried to read his movements but it was as if he was hiding his moves under decoys. It wasn't easy enough now with his deceiving moves, it was even tougher.

She found an opening and went into offensive as her sword tip was about to cut his chest but Billard easily took her attack and countered it as if it was nothing. Seraphina huffed and her body filled with tension. Sweat covered both her palms and forehead. What if she could not win against him? Was she always that weak?

He was a Dragonborn, of course he was far stronger than her. Her mind said it but she shook it away as it was an excuse.

'There is no excuse for a worthy opponent' is what Merlene used to say and yes, she was right. She could not make any excuses. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She was forgetting who she was. She was Seraphina Flameheart of Arctic Flames. She was trained by Jord Flameheart and Merlene, the youngest high tier wizard. How could she let their names go to the dust? She had been training and now just because her opponent was a bit powerful that didn't mean she had any excuses for that.

She let go of her emotions and worries and looked him in the eyes. Billard swung the sword as she held it with the tip of the sword and slid to the hilt to avoid getting her own sword flying away. The moment her sword hilt came closer, she twisted it which made Billard lose the grip on his sword and Seraphina yanked it away. The large sword went flying and thrust on the floor with a hard clang. All of their eyes went to the sword but Seraphina took the chance and put the tip of her sword just under Billard's chin as she heaved for air.

Master Valentine, Alonzo, Celia and the two guards, all were looking at Seraphina with round eyes popping out of their sockets but Billard wasn't surprised as he looked at her with a grim expression.

Their eyes moved toward Billard and the atmosphere filled with a thick silence.

Seraphina took away the sword and said, "Now I shall go."

She was about to leave when Billard said, "Wait!"

She looked at him with tense filled eyes.

Billard came closer, his face darkened and it made everyone who were present worry. "Be sure to make them taste hell or, I would be very displeased."

Seraphina looked around as Master Valentine released a sigh and nodded.

"My men are waiting for you at the back entrance as General Houjou might have placed his watch dogs around the whole castle walls." Billard said as he turned around, "I am certain Master Valentine had chosen the best men who could make you go through under their noses."

Seraphina looked at Master Valentine who was equally awestruck as her.

"Y-you knew, Your Highness?" Master Valentine asked.

"I am not that dumb, Master Valentine." Billard said as he turned to him and said, "I just didn't feel like questioning your moves."

He looked at Seraphina and said, "I don't care if she is a wizard or a Flame Queen. She is an important person for my brother and she became our family the moment my brother cloaked her." Billard smiled at her and this time his smile was genuine. There was no mask and it was from his heart, "I would never allow anyone to harm my family."

"I can't go but I see you have potential in yourself, Seraphina," the Crown Prince said, "Just don't die otherwise my brother would die as well."

She nodded as Prince Billard ordered the two guards behind him, "Take her to the back entrance and disguise her well."

The guards bowed and left as the led Seraphina to her destination.

As Seraphina left, Celia and Alonzo left as well, leaving Master Valentine and the Crown Prince.

Billard's eyes stayed on the way where Seraphina went and he asked, "Say, Master Valentine, will I be a good king?"

Master Valentine nodded, "Of course, your Highness. You have long surpassed your father already."

Corners of his lips curled up as he nodded and then the smile vanished as he asked, "Master Valentine, I'm afraid you have started to hide things from me."

"Err... It was because of necessity, Your Highness." Valentine scratched his chin as he averted his eyes from him, "But I promise, from now on, I would not hide anything."

Prince Billard nodded as he said, "Then why are you hiding the fact that Zenith had made those villains come into our castle?"