Chapter 6

    Cassandra

   How was it that she found this weird boy deep inside the black woods? Cassandra asks herself as she continues to walk inside the dark, humid forest. With Red Sun by her side she could feel the strange state her mount was in. It was dull and it didn't have that proud air around it. "Sunsun, what's wrong? Are you hungry?" His large ears were drop to the side and it's straight neck was slightly hunched down. It was as if he was down because of something, no... These feelings? Is he scared?

    The thought didn't elude her, Red Sun has been with her for more than ten years and she herself raised. She took him since it was recently newborn, fresh out of his mother's womb. Cassandra has feed it drops of her blood since forever to stimulate his heritage. So far she has successfully stimulate it's Innate Powers and both of them have grown a Mystical Bond. A fantastic state were she would know where it was and how it's felt. Now, she felt his depression and disbelief, but behind all that there was a denial to the fear that made it's bone tremble.

    *AOU* Red Sun understood her and look up at the twins light illuminating the dark forest in front. In her mind an image was shown like a vision. It was the same boy that she just encounter but behind him there was a black inhumane shadow that grew higher than the tree tops and stare down at her. At what she thought it was the head, three eyes open and glare down at her. When those eyes glimmer in the surrounding shadow, Cassandra vision abruptly ended and cold sweat cover her back.

    Cassandra didn't dare to believe what she saw and couldn't help but look at Red Sun that was walking with slow and heavy steps beside her. The Mystical Bond was a state that let each other be connected through thoughts. What she saw wasn't what her eyes could see but what Red Sun felt in the presence of that weird boy. After traversing the forest for more than half an hour, lights appear around the inside of the forest, transforming it into a magical dream. Now, the fairy creatures bounce from branch to branch and happily dance around in the air. 

    It was now that she remember that before she found that boy in the open field, all the fairy creatures mysteriously disappeared. Why did they also act so strange tonight, as if they were hiding from something. Realizing how weird this forest was she made her way to where the royal caravan were camping. Through the way Red Sun was feeling better, a feeling of relief spread across her chest but that feeling was not coming from her. Looking back at were they came from Red Sun also look back and a slight shiver travel down her spine, again not coming from her own emotions.

    She has never felt so many different emotions coming from Red Sun since the moment it was born. Beast were not emotional creatures, they are instinctual and brutal beings. Cassandra caressed it's fur while walking and thinking back at her father's proposal. "Enter the Gate and hunt a Vreg’s Heart. If you do us this favor your royal father will abdicate the throne and give you my unwavering support against your older brothers for the heritage."

    Vreg, this is a Strange Monster not found by common eyes and not kill by common means. If she wants to rule the Seven Kingdoms, she needs the full support of her father and the opportunity to awaken the King's Vein. She always knew that her father never truly wanted to be a king but the death of her mother was the driving force for her father starting the War of Change.

    While lost in thought she reach a tall cliff wall that was covered in tents with a tall and big wheel house in the middle, just like a moon surrounded by stars. The Royal Guards were patrolling the trees surrounding the camp in their crimson armor and white cape. Even with the magical lights of the living forest they all still walk around with torches in their hands, "Who goes there." One of the guards shouted. With a *SWISHING* sound the Royal Guards that came out from behind a tree spotted the two shadows faintly shimmering with the fairy lights. Martial Force sway the leaves and the branches rustle against each other as if to make an announcement for the upcoming battle.

    But when the two guards saw the beast they instantly shut their mouths and put away their weapons and seal their pores to retract their Martial Force. They kneeled down on one knee and tremble at her presence. Looking, and hearing the rustling sound of metal that was a sound she was all too familiar with, Cassandra found the two kneeling guards. The sound of chain mail scraping the steel plate armor underneath show how fearful they were of the princess. This night was truly strange, if it was any other night she would have slap them at the back of their heads for their stupid mistake and let them suffer a painful headache that would last for a couple of days. This is the least she could do for such mild offense but in her history not many have gotten the mild offense treatment, because most offenders are now dead or crippled in more ways than one.

    Passing beside them she was still deep in thought. She entered the field were the tents were set and walk to a slightly big tent beside the big wheelhouse in the middle. Entering the tent a small little maid stood up from her small bed and walked rapidly towards Cassandra. Still in deep thoughts she let the little maid help her out of her coat and leather armor. Wearing nothing but a short silk skirt, long sleeve tight shirt and cotton shorts underneath, the little maid later twirled her golden locks as she sat on the wide bed. The little maid came back after heading outside with a bucket of hot water and laid it before her. She kneeled down and started to massage her feet. 

    As the night deepened Cassandra was still in thought, she looked at the little maid in front of her and said. "Did you bath with Jasmin oil today." The maid tremble like a small rabbit and look up, "no, no, your majesty. Jasmin oil is one of your precious collection, how could a low born dirty maid like me used." Cassandra didn't doubt her but she couldn't help but to wrinkle her brows if that's the case. The smell was heavy in her nose and mouth, she could swear that she could taste it deep down her throat.

    "You can rest now. Tomorrow we will reach Valleyfall and I will need you to get your rest." The little maid nodded, she stop her massage and started putting turtle cream on her ankles and calves. Taking a towel she dry her feet and took the bucket outside. Cassandra's eyes were narrow as she stares at the flickering flame of the candles that were all around the tent, giving it the warmth that the outside refuse to give. Taking her bed sheets that were made out of thick mink fur, Cassandra found the warmth of the south again and slowly stop revolving the Martial Force inside her body. Finally entering the land of dreams.

    "Cassandra come, come! Let's go and hurry up and meet her." The two of them were running beside a big stream in a forest, jumping and skipping on top of the river rocks. Cassandra was in her royal dress as she grabbed the hem of the dress and slowly but surely follow the steps of the energetic girl shouting at her in front. The other girl had a servant attire with an apron on top, the maid was jumping barefooted on the streams were water traverse in rage and rocks were slicker than a wet lizard back.

    "Where are we going? You told me that you meet what, a witch?" The girl was skipping in front of her and turn around saying, "yes, I found her hut by accident. She has all these weird exotic herbs on her shelf and the thick books made out of beast flesh, with bodies and organs inside transparent vases shows the clear sign that she's a witch. My lady mother ounce describe these strange traits of them." The girl continue to skip around and Cassandra follow suit.

    After entering deeper into the woods she look back and couldn't see the tall walls of First Light anymore. Through the canopy on top of her head, only the clouds were spread out and waving through the sky. The sun shining down on the earth was hot and refreshing with a windy, cool breeze. After who knows how much time passes they found an old hut inside a mushroom tree. Completely cover behind it's curve down branches and thick, large leaves.

    The servant girl swipe away the branches and continue on with Cassandra closely behind. The little girl didn't mind her manner as she barge through the door with Cassandra doing the same. In the dim room, there was only a living space for one person to sleep in with the left walls covered in shelf and fill with unknown herbs that release a peculiar lights of their own. In the middle of the room there was a desk with all sorts of paper scattered around. On the papers there were circles draw upon, some made in black ink and others made in blood. Some had two circles overlapping each other with strange symbols or unknown tongue scribe in between. There was one with a big cross in the middle colored black with blood red words filling the space between the circles.

    An old woman was resting her head on the pile of paper and she heard the creaking sound of the door the old woman slowly sit up straight and look at the girls.

    "Look there your majesty! See those herbs, those are the things that my mother told me the witches will use for their evil potions." Cassandra has long realized the uniqueness of those plants but now her eyes were on the old woman sitting in front of them. She couldn't help but take a step back and had the urge to just run out of this forest. Witches are evil humans who made deals with the Devils and sell their soul to them for the gift of magic and witchcraft.

    A small, soft hand hold hers and pull her inside towards the old woman. "Don't worry your majesty. Not all stories about witches are true. They don't kidnap children to feed them until they are fat and sweet to later eat them in the night. Those are just stories to scare children into not going towards the woodlands and encounter a beast or other monsters from nature." Cassandra wants to believe her but she has seen the power of the witches first hands when the war was almost over. That terrifying power was nothing to joke about, even if the stories were just exaggerated songs for children to fear, no one can't deny their abnormal existence.

    The girl pull her over to the haggard old woman and said, "See granny I told you that I serve the royals." The mouth of the witch curl up and from the corner of her wrinkle lips, her crooked teeth were partial visible to Cassandra, causing her a scare of how ugly, yellow and twisted they were. "Girl...give me your hand." The voice of the old woman was even more displeasing than the clashes between two sharp weapons. Cassandra didn't want it, something told her not to do it but she couldn't resist that voice. She put her palm on top of the old woman and saw her muddy eyes glow with a magical light. The once dim hut was illuminated by the light coming out of her eyes and Cassandra eyes were stared at by those glowing eyes that didn't have any pupils.

    With a voice that seems to filter through a fast spinning fan she said in Indifference. "Your future partner will be a man followed by darkness. A man swirling in the abyss, consuming demons as snacks. He will be a man that will fill you with uncontrollable lust and greed. You, the daughter of heaven will be burdened with the responsibility of controlling this monster that must stay in your hands. In your life you will have it all, power, wealth, position, respect and would be worship by millions. But him, it will be a challenge to simply keep him by your side. His role in this world will be one of a destroyer, a devourer that will leave mountains of bones in his wake.

    The same heavens that gift you, of that divine power of yours, it will also send others just like you to destroy him or capture him for their selfish reasons as he is the forbidden treasure of the world, forbidden to all and to you most. Meeting him will be the meeting of death, he will appear as the most innocent creature of the world, harmless and likeable to all but he will be surrounded, followed by death." The whispering words of the witch continue to haunt her nights as the dream of that fateful meeting plague her sleeps. Cassandra was a girl of ten when she meet her in the Whispering Woods. Cover in dirty old rags and with unkempt mud fill silver hair. That was the only true witch she has ever meet face-to-face, Maggie the Mud Witch.

    That morning was like a wake up call for her, she didn't believe in the mention of her future husband as she didn't see any man on this Earth worthy of her, but the mention of her heavenly powers came true. Since the day she started training, her powers have advanced with no obstacles. It was like the hands of heavens were pushing her with unrelenting force. Her understanding came as if something from the other side was guiding her on the perfect, supreme path.

    But if that part came true with no doubt whatsoever, then what about the other? It was then that the words of the witch became haunting songs every night for the last fifteen years. Since coming to this realization she works extremely fast, working hard for not being tied down by the witch words. Since her naming day, her father, the king has thrown her to dozens of arranged marriages but fearing the words of the witch she strive to become strong, stronger than her father and not be tied up with his political struggles. 

    Not only did she strive for power but also acquire her own forces in secret under her father's nose. Using his influence as a stepping stone to build an impenetrable wall that will shield her from the power struggles of the capital. She didn't like the thought of such an evil being becoming her man, becoming her other half. Such darkness wasn't welcome in her life. She train her mind to not be consumed by lust and greediness but it seems that…

    Cassandra abruptly woke up from her sleep and felt her heart racing like never before. She touched her chest and was in shock to feel the beating of her heart so strong. She couldn't calm down and stood up from her bed, she took the coat that was hanging at the corner and walk out of the tent. The servant girl also woke up but Cassandra stop her from standing up and walked away from the tent. She walked around the cliff and enter the forest behind it. She continued walking down into the forest until she reached a small pond, she reached down and wash her face, scrubbing her face with the force of ripping her eyes, nose and mouth off. Later she put her head inside the pond and let out a scream full of pent up stress and resignation.

    

    Looking at the clearing reflection, her golden locks came down over her face. She thought that her mind was strong, that after surpassing her father in strength she finally had the freedom to swim in the heavens. Discovering others Heavenly Gifters like her. Rally them to her side and mimicking her father steps and truly uniting the seven kingdoms under the same banner. Going into the mountains and forcing the Martial Clans to bend the knee and be under the same rules. Destroying the Immortal schools and steal their thousands of years of Esoteric Knowledge. This was her strong ambition, and she was only half a step away from starting it. Only the item inside the Gate was needed, the item that was lost with the last surviving member of the former royal family. The Mythical Horn. With it she can acquire the magical power of the most fearsome beast of this earth, all that power in a single human body.

    Last night she met that boy name Cyrus and he was exactly as the witch describe. Surrounded by death and harmless as a fly. If she didn't have the mystical bond with Red Sun she wouldn't have seen that image. Then maybe she would have never realized that it was him. That vision was too dark, the menacing and dark feelings of that being was almost subtangible. The evil that the witch prophesied was this exact thing. There was no malicious thought nor ill intent but there was dark thoughts swirling that shadow of his. One doesn’t need to do harm to actually be categorize evil. Thoughts and emotions were sufficient for that matter. If you’re dark enough to manifest that kind of dark energy then your power is evil enough to hurt without intent. That’s what the witch meant by evil. Even if that boy becomes the Hero who defeat the Demons of the south no one would ever see him as a saint because of the powers he holds. 

 If it wasn’t for that, for that small coincidence of having Sunsun by her she wouldn’t be able to realized. By the time she came to the truth it will already be too late and he will wake up be side her in her bed. This was what probe her to wake at the late hours of the night. With that smell of red Jasmin that enter her nose, she dumbed down believing that it was the servant girl who used her collection, but she knew full well that it was the smell of that boy's body. The smell of flowers that made her stare at her reflection from late night to early morning.

    The golden, purple crown rose up from the East, painting the skies in magical dreaming colors. Cassandra stood still on the same spot, staring at her reflection and poking at the water with her long red nails.

    She felt her heart tremble, she didn't want to believe, she didn't dare to believe it. All her training, all her preparation for what, for this? Her will was stronger than that, she's certain of it. Her power was the same as the king now and she will soon become the new Queen. The most powerful woman in the continent. She can look for any man, get as many as she wants and as strong as she wanted. She will own everything under the heavens, but it has to be him? The words continue to echo in her head, the witch told her about lust. These dark feelings weren't supposed to be felt for the man of your life. It's supposed to be the butterfly feeling in your stomach, the fluttering waves of your heart. Feelings of nervousness and anxiety when together. But this?

    She felt disgusted towards herself, she lust after his body, even the fragrance of his skin rested on her nose as if she was a bitch in heat looking for a mate. The boy mustn't even know what he is, he most likely is in the dark of his own destiny. He must've been a lonely person not understanding his own body, and here she was lusting after him as if he was a thing to own for pleasure but not caring nor thinking enough about the danger he will face in the coming future. 

    She threw a punch at her reflection and look up at the sky and thought, is this a curse from the witches for approving the church witch hunts? Or is this the effects of my heaven defying power. I not only surpassed my father but the heavens themselves were left far behind. My methods not only proves my hardworking results, surpassing the human body limits but with my own means I plunder the heavens of their treasures, becoming a being not rule by the heavens but rule by my own way of the path.

    Cassandra stare at the clear sky surrounded by swaying trees, with the morning breeze waving her golden locks. She stared at the sky with unwavering eyes thinking, if this is your punishment then you would be looking down on me, I Cassandra Kylong too much.

    Behind her, heavy footsteps step over the frost cover grass, they were heard loud and clear when stepping on top of leaves and broken branches. A man bigger than two an a half meter tall, draping a heavy armor with not an ounce of skin showing step out from between the trees shades. His armor was color crimson red with a golden cape flapping with the fluttering winds. He stop behind her and stood like a metal statue. Not speaking a word and not even his breathing heard. 

    She turns around and look at Clayton, her only personal royal guard. A man with fearsome strength and overpowering might. "Am alright, I just woke up with a slight headache, that's all. Is royal father already started moving?" Clayton move it's stiff neck that was also covered in that metal scale like armor in affirmation of Cassandra words. He didn't speak, he didn't know the common tongue of the seven kingdoms. He was raised as a slave for slaughter and didn't know what words are or meant. Cassandra rescue him from the Coliseum, a place filled with carnage and madness as that was the only tradition left by the past royal family in the capital. From there she brought him out like a wild beast and train him as her strongest card.

    She stood up and wiped her coat of leaves and snow. Cassandra retained her calm and cool looks and went out of the forest with Clayton at her heels. Walking out from between the trees she enter the open field filled with moving pavilions and tents that surrounded a big wheel house standing in the middle. She made her way towards it and enter the curtains leading inside.

    The king stood in a long wide desk with servants and attendance working on documents. The king was a man bigger than two men together, a man built-in with a mixture of muscles and fat. His hair was yellowish blonde with a long beard reaching his chest. With a round pot belly he didn't look like the legendary man that usurped the kingdom and stole it's lands from the mad family.

    The king, Albert Kylong look up from his seas of documents and stare at his pride. Out of all the sons he only had this one daughter that gift him with endless pride and joy.

    "Cassie! Here, this is my final arrangements for your marriage." Cassandra was walking the wide room when she momentarily stood stunned on the spot. What the hell is this? This can't be…

    "The child's name is Cyrus Ventermir, just name after that being from the Ancient World. The Lord of Valleyfall has told me all about this child more than a year ago. At the age of seven he could kill creatures at the Sixth Evolution State, variants even, stronger than any Sixth Evolution Stated Beings. Even knights that have Congealed Soul Weapons couldn't hold a match to these creatures. He's just like you, a being blessed by the heavens. Surely you wouldn't be against it as you have told me constantly that only someone at your caliber could become your man." Cassandra had her brows crease as she heard her father. The heavy feeling in her heart thumbed once more as she had an incredulous look on her face. Her fear came knocking on the door too fast for her to adapt. Thinking that she had some room to adjust her state of mind and thinking about her own problems, but her father just had to threw a bucket of cold water over her head without leaving any room to spare.

    "With this arrangement I can finally rest in peace and let you burden the kingdom. With such heaven bestowing child you will finally accomplish this old man dream." Hearing his tone Cassandra took a step and sat down in front of his desk. By the time all the servants were out of the wheelhouse. From outside, General Beévarn screams and orders flew out for the moving of the army.

    Slowly but surely the wheelhouse started to quake and shake with the movement of the rest of the army. Inside the wheelhouse the atmosphere was somewhat tense and Cassandra eyed her father with sternest. "The arrangements have been made, you have no word on the matter. Even if you make a racket and a tantrum you will not get out of this one. Father has search high and low for many years, even before your naming day. I let you have your way in the capital and let you cancel every single one of the past engagement because I knew that those were not the wisest choices. Not because there weren't enough benefits to have but because who's and what those people are. Some may plot, others are in cahoots with your brothers and the rest hate us one way or another. 

    Daughter, my time is soon to come. I had thought of arranging you to the Kavars but that was the last choice if there were no other better ones. But who would have thought that Bethran had a little monster holed up in his castle. He wrote me letters about how he found the boy in the southern Unknown Tundra and how he was in the center of a beast horde war. Something that is hard to believe as how a young child could survive in that place for so long. After taking him in, he saw how bizarre and special he was. His strength was off the charge, with no training whatsoever he could kill sixth Level Evolutionary Beasts, that of a Variant State no less. Not only that, he left him wander the catacombs below the crypts of his castle. Been able to survive in such an environment for eight years…

    Did you know, that place stretch around all the northern lands and even beyond the icy plains above the north, who knows where they end up really! That Cyrus boy is an Expert Combatant. Now not even the Masters in Valleyfall are his match, not even Bethran can control him. Now the boy is no older than fifteen, fifteen! For the Nine Divines, Cassie this is a man that should be rightfully yours, no, it's as heavens command that he is rightfully yours. Bethran is afraid that his power will grow too out of control and that's why he now, after all these years has contacted me and made me aware of his existence. He planned for me to take him as my student but my mind was shocked by all of this information, I wracked my brain to think if such a human could possibly exist in this world and later I remember how the northerners are straightforward and don’t like to beat around the bush. Moreover Bethran has fought in the war of change and help me climb the steps to become king. I know he is not the kind of man to lie about such absurd existence. As such my mind quickly came up with the idea of betrothed him to you. Both of you are children of heaven, now that my time is almost up, in the end I couldn't unite the Seven Kingdoms even though I was the ruler of all…

    My sons are plagued by their greed and lust for wealth and power and colluded with the other Noble household of the continent. They have forgotten our forefathers words and teaching, my brothers are also helping them behind my back and are looking for the Martial Clans and Immortal Schools for alliance. Now the only one I can count on and leave everything to, is you Cassie. And with this boy now turn man by your side, both of you will accomplish what this old man fail. 

    You can finally find your mother murder and annihilate his entire family if you so wish for. If he is from the Martial Clans rule above them and for the Immortal Schools if none are willing to bow down and bend the knee to you then exterminate their foundation and steal their Esoteric Knowledge. Daughter, you more than anyone wants to know who was the one who murder your mother. No matter how strong you become, even if you end up surpassing me one day, alone you will achieve nothing, but with him by your side you will break the heavens dome and reach the stars!"

    Cassandra crease brows were long gone and her gaze was daze for the rest of the conversation after hearing Cyrus incredible powers, powers that didn't lose to her but could actually be more impressive that she could have done in her childhood. When the conversation reach her mother's death her body shook and her expression was that of one facing internal struggles. 

    Should she tell her father, how that she already meet him and that she has known about him since her childhood? How his destiny will be one of twist and turn. How her body reacts to his. But with his power, can she truly search her mother murder? 

What benefits could he bring? She has wealth, power, status? What else does she need, is a man really crucial for her own development. Cassandra look up at her father and said, "How's your body fairing these days?" King Albert look up from his seas of scrolls and smile at his daughter. "About that, this old man days are number. Cassie, I know you are prideful, I know you feel that you don't need a man to help you with your goals and ambition. But think of it like this, if someone else has him and he will reach your level of status or even surpassed you. Will that not become an obstacle in your future? Are you sure you can make him come to your side then and if so, how or what do you need to sacrifice? Now is the best chance, he doesn't know much about the outside world. Now he is just like a cub learning about the world outside, imagine him as the strongest sword in the world, a sword only you and you alone can use." 

    Albert words resounded in her mind as she thought about them. Her father was poisoned by a Combatant from the Martial World after he became king, he was supposed to live a year but he has managed to live more than twenty of them. Now he knows that he will leave a mess behind after he died, all these troubles will fall on Cassandra shoulders after his death. His words made sense but she's not prepared for it to come. Her state of mind was in a mess, her confidence was all but shattered.

    Cyrus doesn't deserve her, what and how she thinks of him is completely different from how she imagined it. She bet he doesn't even understand what this union mean, maybe he will be like her and be consumed by their carnal desire but does she want to view him as such?