CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: BLOODLINE

The sun slowly disappeared below the horizon, signalling the end of the day.

In Andania, a little girl of five, her face smeared with dirt and her brown hair tied into messy pigtails, ran towards her home with a large brown paper bag of apples clutched in her arms.

As she hurried along, her foot caught on a rock. She stumbled forward and fell hard to the ground. The bag slipped from her grasp and apples rolled in every direction.

Wincing, the girl rubbed at the small cut on her knee. She slowly pushed herself back to her feet and began gathering the fallen apples. Just as she reached for the last one, a pale hand entered her view and held it out to her.

She looked up.

A young man stood before her, smiling kindly.

“Are you all right, little one?”

The girl stared in silent awe. The young man looked no older than fifteen, perhaps ten years older than she was, yet he carried himself with a grace and calm that made him seem far beyond his years. Ignoring the worried glances of the bodyguards behind him, he lowered himself onto one knee and gently placed his hand over the cut on her knee.

A soft glow flickered beneath his palm.

In the space of a second, the wound vanished.

The little girl gasped. Her eyes widened as she pressed a finger repeatedly to the smooth skin, as though to make sure it was real. Then her face lit up with delight.

“Thank you, Master Oracle!”

“You are most welcome.” Fye smiled and rose to his feet. “Be careful on your way home now.”

The girl bowed quickly before running off with her bag of apples, thrilled by the knowledge that she had met the most respected and influential man in all Fulaina.

“Master Oracle Fye.”

Two broad-shouldered men in White Wolf Clan armour approached him from behind. Between them stood Lord Eden, guarded by two more men.

“Glad you arrived safely,” Lord Eden said as he stepped forward. “My apologies for dragging you away from your busy schedule, Master Oracle.”

The two men shook hands.

“It has been some time since I last visited this place,” Fye replied, glancing down the street. “It is good to see the recovery efforts progressing so well.”

Lord Eden nodded. “Andania suffered the worst invasion." Even so, with support pouring in from everywhere, we have managed to restore much of it far faster than expected.”

Together, the two men began walking through the town, their guards trailing behind them as they headed south.

“Any news regarding the Princess and her companions yet?” Lord Eden asked.

Fye shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. I attempted to contact them once, but the signal broke. I can only hope none of them have come to harm. I did, however, receive a report from Prince Makai’s team. The last I heard, the weather had become too dangerous for them to continue travelling, so they were forced to camp in a cave overnight. Sir Leo informed me this morning that conditions had improved and they intended to resume the mission.”

“That is good to know. If anything happens to the Princess, we will be the first to know. I already have my men positioned outside the Kingdom to monitor any changes.” Lord Eden paused. “That aside, Master Oracle…”

His tone shifted, becoming more formal.

“The reason I called you here is to discuss the next successor of Andania. Lord Andania and his family have all been executed. God rest their souls. So tell me, who is to lead Andania now?”

“Currently, the House of Eden and the Senators are still reviewing the matter,” Fye replied. “A few candidates have come to mind, but no final decision has been made. Given what happened with Lord Ranfel, we are taking every precaution possible. People have become wary of authority, and understandably so. They suffered for months while the truth remained hidden from us until it was nearly too late. We cannot afford to repeat history. The next Lord of Andania must not only earn the people’s trust, but prove capable of leading this Kingdom into a better future.”

“Hm.” Lord Eden tapped two gloved fingers lightly against his mask. “Then perhaps I might suggest someone who ought to be considered.”

Fye stopped walking and turned to him, caught off guard. “Who?”

Lord Eden looked to one of the guards. “Who has been acting in charge here during my absence?”

“Lady Claire Boyce, Vice-Commandant of the Luyas Knights, Sir,” the White Wolf guard replied at once. “She came as a volunteer to help rebuild." According to Sir Grants, Lady Claire grew up here, so her return was only natural.”

“I see.” Lord Eden gave a slight nod. “Do we know where she is now?”

“At Lord Andania’s mansion, Sir,” answered one of the Black Raven guards.

“Of course she is.” Lord Eden looked back to Fye. “Shall we?”

He then turned to the guards. “That will be all. Thank you for accompanying us. You are dismissed for the day.”

“Thank you, Sir!”

The guards saluted before departing in different directions.

Once they were alone, Fye looked at Lord Eden with quiet suspicion.

“Was there any particular reason you dismissed the guards?”

Lord Eden smirked behind his mask and gestured for the younger man to continue walking.

“Let me tell you a story on the way.”

***

The grand mansion that had once belonged to Lord Andania and his family now stood silent and hollow.

Bloodstains still marked the walls and floors of the darkened living room. A shattered chandelier lay on the ground. Half-broken bookshelves lined the room, their scattered contents torn apart and stiff with dried blood.

Claire Boyce stood motionless at the threshold, her back straight as she took in the sight before her.

Her honey-blonde hair, usually worn in a neat bun, was tied into a single high ponytail. She had long since shed the stiff uniform of a Vice-Commandant and now wore a worn white shirt, dark trousers, and a pair of old army boots.

Months ago, during the invasion, that iron-willed Vice-Commandant persona had been stripped away.

Now she was not the Vice-Commandant of Luyas.

She was simply a woman.

A survivor of war. A volunteer. And something else she had buried for years.

She moved deeper into the room, carefully stepping around splintered wood and broken glass until she reached the office beyond.

The door stood slightly ajar.

Claire took a slow breath. Her hands trembled as she reached for the knob and pushed it open.

Inside, the office was in ruins. Papers lay scattered across the floor. Drawers had been overturned. Shelves stood half-emptied. At the centre of the desk rested a broken family frame.

Claire approached it carefully and lifted it into her hands.

A family of four stared at her.

The Andania family.

But Claire’s gaze fell only on one face.

Lord Alexander C. Andania V.

The man she had barely known, yet had spent years chasing in silence. The man who had stood so close to her and yet remained forever beyond reach. The man she had wanted to ask the truth of, but had never found the courage to face.

“Ah, there you are, dearie.”

Claire spun around, one hand flying to the sword at her hip. The moment she saw Lord Eden and a startled-looking Master Oracle Fye standing in the doorway, she let out a breath and lowered her guard.

“Lord Eden. Master Oracle.” Claire bowed her head. “Forgive me. I did not expect visitors.”

“No need to apologise,” Lord Eden said easily. “If anything, it was our fault for startling you. Now then…” He tilted his head. “Lift that lovely face of yours, Clarence.”

Claire froze.

Her eyes widened in horror.

No one had called her that name in years.

Slowly, she raised her head and stared at the two men.

“How did you…” She swallowed. “How did you know that name?”

Claire was not foolish. She had always known that one day her secret might come to light. It had only ever been a matter of time before someone noticed the resemblance and began asking questions.

She had denied it every time, of course. Brushed it off as coincidence. Pretended there was no connection between herself and the late Lord Andania.

But Lord Eden XIII was no fool. For all his eccentric habits, he was one of the sharpest men in Fulaina. Claire would have bet her life that he had suspected far more than he had ever openly admitted. In fact, she would not have been surprised if he had long suspected Lord Ranfel’s treachery before the invasion itself.

He had simply waited for proof.

Waited for the right moment.

And now, apparently, the same patience had led him to her.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Neither of the two men seemed eager to press her too forcefully. They both understood that what lay before them was deeply personal.

At last, Fye broke the silence.

“Lord Eden has already told me the details regarding your… past,” Fye said carefully. “I want you to know that neither he nor I wish to intrude on your private life. However, this matter is now too important to ignore. We need to know whether the truth is as we believe it to be.”

He looked at her gently.

“Are you truly Lord Andania’s illegitimate daughter?”

Claire bit the inside of her cheek.

Of all people to learn the truth, it had to be these two.

Then again, if it had to be anyone, perhaps it was better that it was them.

She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“My name is Clarence Joy Frederic. Joy was my mother’s maiden name.” Her voice remained steady, though only barely. “Yes. I am Lord Andania’s illegitimate child. He never knew I existed.”

Her fingers tightened around the broken frame.

“My mother was an innkeeper here in Andania. A pure-blooded Andanian. She worked hard and built a good name for herself. My father, as we all know, was a nobleman born into one of the most powerful political families in the Kingdom. When they were young, they fell in love.”

Claire gave a humourless smile.

“But love was never enough. Their statuses were too different. His family forced him to end the relationship to preserve their bloodline and honour. He went on to marry his late wife. My mother left Andania soon after she discovered she was pregnant with me.”

Her eyes lowered.

“She came back only once. To bury her own grief.”

Fye listened without interruption.

Claire went on. “I returned to Andania when I was fourteen. A month after my mother died of illness. I came here hoping to find him. Hoping to tell him the truth. About us.”

“How old are you now, Miss Clarence?” Lord Eden asked quietly.

“Twenty-three.”

Claire looked at the broken frame in her hands.

“The first time I ever met Lord Andania was shortly after I arrived. Ironically, it was he who recommended Lord Ranfel allow me into the Knight Academy after watching me beat a group of thugs half senseless.”

A small, broken smile touched her lips.

“I still remember what he said to Lord Ranfel. ‘You won’t regret having her as your knight. I guarantee it.’”

Tears slipped down her cheek. She brushed them away quickly.

“I wanted to tell him the truth so many times. Truly, I did. And when he was meant to visit Luyas before the first Spirit invasion, I thought…” Her voice caught. “I thought that would be the moment.”

She lowered her head.

“But I couldn’t do it.”

That was all it took.

The fragile composure she had been clinging to finally broke. Claire covered her face as quiet sobs escaped her. Lord Eden and Fye could do nothing but stand there in silence, pity heavy in their hearts, while her grief echoed through the ruined room.

It did not take long for Claire to compose herself again, though her eyes remained red by the time the three of them stepped outside the mansion. Two groups of guards, a mixture of White Wolf and Black Raven, were already waiting nearby to escort them back to Luyas.

Fye studied Claire for a moment before asking gently, “I know this may sound ill-timed, Miss Clarence, but… what do you intend to do now?”

Claire stared ahead, arms folded tightly across herself.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. Everything I came back here for is gone now. I returned to my mother’s homeland at fourteen to find my father and tell him who I was. But now that he’s dead…” She exhaled shakily. “Perhaps I should leave too…”

She paused.

“For now, though, I mean to do whatever I can to help Andania recover.”

“Then…” Fye glanced briefly at Lord Eden before speaking. “Would you consider becoming the next Lady of Andania?”

Claire turned so sharply she looked as though he had grown another head.

“I… I beg your pardon?”

“Allow me to explain,” Lord Eden said. “Now that we know there is a surviving member of the Andania bloodline, the right of succession belongs, by blood, to you. This Kingdom is the homeland of both your parents, is it not? And you yourself were raised here for part of your life.”

He held up a hand before she could interrupt.

“We are not forcing anything on you." If you choose not to accept such a role, that is entirely your right. However, both the Master Oracle and I believe you deserve to consider it carefully.”

Fye nodded.

“Choosing a replacement for your late father is no simple feat. Not after what happened with Lord Ranfel. The people are frightened. Many fear that history may repeat itself under a new ruler. And you, of all people, understand the consequences of silence, of hidden truths, and of poor judgement.”

Claire remained silent, though her expression tightened.

“That is why the House of Eden and the Senators are proceeding with extreme care,” Fye continued. “Several candidates have already been considered, but no decision has yet been made. If you were to step forward as the sole surviving blood of House Andania, there is a real chance the people might trust you more easily than they would another stranger.”

“The last thing this Kingdom needs right now,” Lord Eden added, “is a civil war born from distrust.”

Claire looked stricken.

“But then everyone will know what I am,” she said quietly. “My father’s lovechild. His name will be stained.”

“Perhaps,” Lord Eden said after a pause. “But such truths can never stay buried forever, dear. Sooner or later, they always rise.”

He took a step closer, his tone gentler now.

“However, if you choose to continue your father’s legacy, both the Master Oracle and I swear we will do everything in our power to smooth the path ahead. It will not be easy. The Fulaina leaders and the people of Andania may not accept you at once. But if you are willing to take that risk, it may prove worth it in the end.”

Claire lowered her gaze.

For a long time, she said nothing.

Then, ever so slightly, she nodded.

Fye’s expression softened into a warm smile.

“It will be all right. Take your time. Think it through, and follow your heart. There will be a meeting of the world leaders in Eden soon. You may give us your answer then.”

Claire did not reply.

She simply stood there in silence, caught between the father she had lost, the truth she had finally spoken, and the future she had never imagined might one day be placed in her hands.

***

The secret place Ren had spoken of was a dark, eerie swamp hidden deep within the forest, where a narrow river disappeared into black marshland.

The swamp was said to be a dangerous place, filled with deadly creatures lurking in wait for any fool reckless enough to enter its domain. It was also the one place in the entire kingdom where even the tyrant King Lewis would not dare set foot.

What no one else knew was that, beyond its haunting atmosphere and twisted, menacing trees, the marsh was also home to magical creatures of every kind, both docile and violent alike.

“This is the place?” Mika asked as they stopped at the edge of the swamp. “I cannot believe such a place exists within the kingdom.”

“Neither could I,” Ren replied, “before I met Lucy.”

“Lucy?”

Ren nodded, and together they entered the swamp.

They had already gone over Ren’s plan several times.

It was simple in theory.

First, they needed to meet the Crown Princess and explain everything that had happened in the kingdom since her so-called kidnapping. If all went well, Medea would agree to let Mika take her place as the sacrificial virgin meant for the Huzzar.

The second step was far more dangerous. While waiting for midnight to arrive, Mika and Ren would set traps all across the marsh in the hope of luring the Huzzar in. Meanwhile, Princess Medea, under disguise, would return to the castle and warn the guards of the creature’s appearance. They were counting on her to send backup teams to assist them.

While Mika and Ren dealt with the Huzzar, Medea would confront the King with the truth and force him to put an end to whatever foolish decisions had dragged the kingdom into this disaster in the first place, since the King would always listen to her.

Or at least that was the hope.

The plan sounded simple enough, but the more Mika thought about it, the more obvious its flaws became. She had already pointed several of them out to Ren, which was why he suggested they rethink the details once they had spoken with the Princess herself.

Stopping in front of the still water, Ren brought both hands to his mouth and whistled a soft, melodic tune.

“I know that tune!” A high-pitched female voice rang out after a moment of silence.

Before Mika could even blink, a rush of wind brushed past her face. Then a tiny figure appeared before her, slender and fair-skinned, with a bright smile and wings fluttering so quickly they were almost invisible.

It was a fairy.

She had large, jewel-red eyes and unusually dark blue hair tied into a bun with a small ribbon perched on top. She wore a strapless blue-and-black tutu with matching ballet slippers, each decorated with a black rose at the front. On her back rested a pair of translucent wings.

“Um… hello?” Mika said slowly, her eyes wide with wonder as a smile spread across her lips.

“Your Royal Highness,” Ren said, “allow me to introduce Lucy. She is one of the inhabitants of this swamp, and the person I trust most to keep the Princess safe while she is being kept here.”

“Your Royal Highness?” Lucy flapped her wings faster and drifted closer to Mika, staring at her in open shock.

“Lucy?” Ren raised an eyebrow.

The fairy gave no answer. She simply continued gawping at Mika.

“Lucy, what is the matter?”

At last, Lucy blinked and shook herself out of her daze. Her voice dropped to a near whisper when she spoke.

“My apologies, Your Royal Highness. I did not mean to stare so rudely…”

“It’s all right,” Mika said gently. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucy. Please, call me Mika.”

Lucy looked up at her, eyes softening.

“Your father… Was he perhaps the late Spirit King? King Ferid?”

Mika froze. “Y-You knew my father?”

“Yes,” Lucy said quietly. “You have his eyes.”

“Oh.” Mika blinked, caught off guard. “Thank you.”

A loud cough interrupted them and drew their attention back to Ren.

“Lucy, is Her Highness inside? We need to speak with her immediately. It is urgent.”

“You needn’t ask Lucy that, dear cousin.”

The calm voice came from their right.

All three turned.

Seated atop the broad back of an enormous troll was an elegant young woman, poised and composed as though monstrous creatures were her preferred mode of travel.

The Crown Princess of Aquarius.

Princess Medea.

Her strawberry-blonde hair was braided loosely over one shoulder, and her blue eyes shone with cool curiosity. She wore a dark purple off-the-shoulder gown of flowing chiffon, with short capped sleeves and a light brown hooded cape draped over her shoulders.

“Your Highness!” Ren nearly shrieked. “What in the devil are you doing on top of that troll? Get down here this instant!”

The troll lowered its head obediently, allowing Medea to step down with practised ease.

“Oh, hush, Ren,” she said with a scowl. “Can a princess not have a little fun?”

Medea then turned her attention fully to Mika. She studied the Spirit Princess from head to toe with open curiosity, only to be interrupted by Ren clearing his throat.

“Your Highness, may I present to you Princess Mika of the Spirit World.”

“How do you do, Princess Mika?” Medea asked with graceful politeness. “It is an honour to meet you.”

“I am well. Likewise, Your Highness.”

Medea tilted her head slightly.

“I shall be frank. I am very interested to know what the long-missing Spirit Princess, who was said to have been killed by humans years ago, is doing in Fulaina. More importantly, what are you doing in my kingdom?”

“That is a rather long story.”

“Then let us discuss it privately,” Ren cut in. “Lucy, would you do us the honour?”

“Absolutely!” Lucy clasped her hands together in delight. “I’ve been waiting for this!”

Lucy took a poised stance and lifted both hands in front of her as though playing an invisible piano.

Mika watched in fascination. Before she could say a word, a strange breeze whispered past her neck. Her eyes widened as the water before them began to move.

At first it rippled gently, following the motion of the wind. Then the river spun faster and faster until the water churned into a violent whirlpool.

Everything happened in a blur after that.

When the turbulence finally ceased, a stone staircase emerged from the very centre of the marsh, leading down into an underground passage.

“After you, Your Highnesses!” Lucy bowed with an air of pride.

Mika smiled back and followed Medea down the staircase, leaving Lucy and Ren behind.

Once the two princesses had disappeared below, Lucy let out a long sigh.

“What is it?” Ren asked.

Lucy shook her head slowly.

“I made peace long ago with the thought that the past no longer mattered. What matters is the present. But seeing the Spirit Princess…” She looked down into the passage. “Seeing that she bears the exact same eyes as His Majesty Ferid… it makes me wonder whether I should tell her the truth of what happened that night.”

Ren looked at her sadly.

“Of the three Grand Witches who came to aid the late Spirit King, you were the only one who survived. You were the one who cast the final barrier around the castle and sealed away the Spirit Queen after the King had died.”

Lucy said nothing. She simply folded her wings close to her back and followed the two princesses into the passage.

***

Most people would assume that any underground path beneath a swamp must be damp, rotten, and foul-smelling, with algae and fungus clinging to every stone. No one would ever expect to find a small cottage at the end of it.

That, at least, was what Mika thought the moment her eyes fell upon it.

The cottage looked as though it had stepped straight out of one of the fairy tale books she had read as a child. It was built entirely of stone, with a rounded little door and several small windows framed neatly into the walls.

Mika let out an audible gasp.

If there was one thing in this world she had not yet seen, this was certainly it. Her surprise was cut short by the sound of soft giggling beside her.

Medea was making no real effort to hide her amusement.

Mika coughed lightly and turned her face away, cheeks flushed red.

“You are unlike any princess I have ever met,” Medea said, smiling. “I do not believe I have ever seen anyone look so delighted by something as ordinary as a cottage.”

“Please call me Mika, Your Highness.”

“Then you must call me Medea. We are the same age, after all.”

Medea stepped forward and opened the cottage door. “Welcome to my humble abode. Please, come in.”

Mika entered and immediately found herself mesmerised again.

Though the cottage was built of stone on the outside, the interior was crafted from polished wooden planks that gave the place a warmth and charm she had not expected. A single bed stood neatly in one corner beside a small desk and chair. A window overlooked the passage outside, and opposite the bed sat a brick fireplace and a small coffee table.

“Please make yourselves comfortable while I prepare some tea.”

Medea moved at once to the kettle.

Mika took a rounded chair near the table. Ren settled himself on the floor with his legs crossed, back resting against the wall, his sword propped beside him. Lucy made herself comfortable on Medea’s bed while they waited.

Once the tea had been poured and everyone settled, Ren was the first to speak.

“Let us get straight to the point.” He looked at Lucy. “I take it you have already informed Her Highness of the situation?”

Lucy nodded. “Yes. Her Highness knows what happened, so you may skip that part. What she does not know is why Princess Mika is here. Neither do I.”

“Good.” Ren gave a short nod. “I shall explain as we go. But the most crucial matter concerns tonight.”

He turned to Medea.

“Medea.”

She blinked and looked back at him. “Y-Yes, Ren?”

“Are you with us?”

“O-Of course I am.”

Ren did not look convinced. Not with the fear written plainly in her eyes.

He stood and crossed the room towards her.

“Hey. What is it? I know you’re scared, but you will be fine. I will not let anything happen to you. You know that, don’t you?”

Medea looked away and clenched her fists.

“Hey,” Ren said more softly as he sat beside her and took one of her hands in his. “What’s wrong? Tell me.”

Medea bit her lip.

“What if the Huzzar is real?” she said at last. “What if it is not just an old legend, but something real? You’ve seen how Father has behaved ever since those rumours began. If someone likes him, a tyrant king who trembles at the mention of the Huzzar… then what if he is right to be afraid?”

“Wait,” Mika said, turning to Ren. “Rumours? I thought it was only a legend.”

Ren sighed.

“Someone, from seemingly nowhere, began spreading stories about the Huzzar. Since then, the kingdom has been thrown into chaos. According to the legend, the only way to earn its forgiveness is to sacrifice a virgin maiden on the night of the Red Moon. That night is tonight.”

Medea lowered her eyes.

“My father truly believes it. He told me that becoming the Virgin Maiden would be an honour. That I should feel proud to die for my people and my kingdom. When Ren told me it was all nonsense and proposed his kidnapping plan, I agreed immediately. I trusted him.”

Her fingers trembled.

“But I do not want to die. Not like that.”

“Then why are you doubting now?” Mika asked gently.

Medea stood and began pacing the room.

“I only started wondering…” She hesitated. “What if the Huzzar does exist? And if it does, do we even stand a chance against it?”

For a moment, no one answered. Even Ren, who had dismissed the Huzzar as little more than a folktale, looked unsettled by the question.

“Huzzar…” Lucy murmured suddenly. “You said Huzzar?”

All eyes turned to her.

“What is it?” Ren asked.

Lucy closed her eyes, concentrating.

“I have been trying so hard to remember where I last heard that name…”

Then, all at once, her eyes flew open and she clapped her hands.

“I’ve got it!”

“Well, do tell us,” Medea urged. “Do not leave us in the dark.”

Lucy drew herself up.

“First of all, I am sorry to say this, but the Huzzar is real. Its name comes from Ancient Aspaniac. It means ‘Hellmouth’s Gate’.”

The room fell silent.

Lucy looked at each of them in turn, their disbelief plain on their faces.

“In the hierarchy of the Spirit World, the Spirits stand at the top, followed by the Dragoons, and lastly the Witches. The Huzzars were ancient Dragoons, creatures said to have lived for thousands of years. After the Three League War between the Spirits, Dragoons, and Witches ended, the Huzzars were believed to have perished in the war itself. Only a small number of ordinary Dragoons survived.”

She lifted her wand and pointed it towards Mika.

“To answer your question, Your Highness, yes. We do have a chance to defeat it. If the rumour proves true, then our best chance lies with you, Princess Mika. It is said that creatures like the Huzzar can be turned to stone by the blood of the Spirits. Not just any Spirit, but one of royal blood.”

Medea’s face tightened. She looked from Lucy to Mika and back again.

The fear in her eyes had changed. It was no longer fear for herself, but for the Spirit Princess now sitting across from her.

To drag an outsider, especially one of equal rank, into the kingdom’s disaster was not something Medea would ever have allowed under ordinary circumstances. But Aquarius was desperate, and desperate kingdoms often reached beyond their pride.

With a heavy heart, she lowered her gaze.

“But that is only if the rumours prove true… correct?”

No one answered immediately.

For a moment, the burden of Lucy’s revelation settled over the room like frost.

If the Huzzar truly came that night, then the fate of Aquarius might rest not on old legend, but on the blood of the Spirit Princess herself.

At last, Medea drew in a slow breath and straightened her back.

“Then let us put that aside for now and discuss our plan for tonight.”