[User] The world anticipated its opportunity, at the mercy of all the pins stuck into it. Finds herself amid the blood, gazing around at the dozen bodies. Although she was no older than fifteen, she was fearless, with dark hair and eyes of deepest night. Her face was as lovely as a work of art, yet it was entirely blank. This young queen, swarmed by assassins only a moment before, smeared away the flecks of blood on her cheeks. "I’m sure you wish that the lofty ideals of your mission had prevailed."

[Assistant] The assassins were the ones who had branded her the Usurper Queen and sought to eliminate her. In a sense, their methods weren’t wrong. After all, this nation of mages was historically governed by the strongest of their ranks.

[User] They had attacked the girl en masse, trusting strength in numbers, but were unable to touch a hair on her head before she dispatched them. Recently, it had become a common occurrence. In the year since the queen’s coronation, there had been no end of those who feared her, spurned her, and sought to dethrone her.

[Assistant] Crowned because her fellow candidate for ruler, Prince Lanak, had gone insane and died, she was a rarity even as she sat at the pinnacle of the nation. This girl was the only ruler since the founding of the country to have full command of all twelve mystical spirits.

[User] Frowned at the piteous scene before her. Her dark gaze fell upon the one remaining man, an older gentleman and magistrate who had served the court since the era of the previous ruler. Even after the new queen’s enthronement under unprecedented circumstances, he had remained loyal, backing her up and offering thoughtful advice. Smiles at her subject. "Did you think you could kill me if you caught me by surprise and overwhelmed me?"

[Assistant] "I…"

[User] "You spent so long pretending to be obedient and submissive, and now you’ve gone and ruined it with your shortsightedness. You should know that I never let down my guard around anyone, no matter how many years pass." She said.

[Assistant] "Y-you monster!" he shouted, his cry becoming an attack spell.

[User] Before he could finish weaving the magic’s configuration, his head split open like a ripe fruit. Her smile didn’t falter. His body slumped backward onto the ground.


[User] Now that everyone in the vicinity was dead, some of the tension drained from Tinasha’s shoulders as she sighed. “No one ever learns, do they? Honestly.”

[Assistant] The lady-in-waiting appeared around the next corner. “Your Majesty… Ahhhhhh!” The lady-in-waiting shrieked at the gruesome spectacle.

[User] Tinasha cocked her head at the woman. “Yes, what is it?”

[Assistant] “Er, well, you have a guest. A royal of Farsas.”

[User] “I’ll be right there,” the queen replied. Tinasha was about to rush off before she stopped and turned. “Senn, could you clean this up?”

[Assistant] The spirit in the form of a young man, appearing in response to her summons. “Sure, but aren’t you gonna track down their coconspirators? There’s bound to be some sort of group behind all this.”

[User] The queen gave a brisk shake of her head. “That would be a never-ending task. They’ll keep coming anyway.”

[Assistant] “Got it,” he replied, vanishing the pile of corpses along with the blood spatters.


[User] “Your Majesty, I thank you deeply for agreeing to my humble request,” he stated formally.

[Assistant] “There’s no need to stand on ceremony. We will have much to learn from you as well,” Tinasha replied.

[User] When she smiled at him, the man’s polite demeanor cracked a little as he returned the expression. “My, what a young queen you are. My brother is young for a king, too, but he must be at least ten years your elder.”

[Assistant] “Yes, we do have some customs that tend to surprise those not of Tuldarr. However, Farsas has Akashia, does it not?” she countered.

[User] Tinasha’s guest gave her a placid smile. “Are you interested in Akashia, Your Majesty? Most mages are.”

[Assistant] “I’ll admit to some curiosity.


[User] "It is a national treasure,” she answered, keeping her response vague. A sword that could neutralize all magic certainly was a mystery. Oscar had let Tinasha touch it once, but she was unable to glean what it was made of or what enchanted it.

[Assistant] The man nodded. “For Tuldarr, Akashia may certainly be an object of vexation. No matter how sturdy of a barrier or defensive charm you cast, it can nullify it entirely.”

[User] Tinasha said nothing, keeping a smile on her face. Was this a mere show of force or an open provocation? If Farsas decided to utilize Akashia to mount aggression against Tuldarr, it would crush the Magic Empire to bits. Farsas was the one country Tuldarr needed to remain vigilant around. This was the Dark Age, and Farsas was a land of preeminent warriors. Time evidently did little to dull that prowess, as Farsas was still mighty during the era of his birth. If Tinasha let herself grow blinded by personal feelings, her country would fall to pieces. She had to use whatever means were available to her, no matter what they were. A ruler had to march onward for the people, even if it meant getting dragged through the mud. For just a moment, all sorts of thoughts rushed through Tinasha’s mind. Whether he noticed that or not, a mischievous look came over the man’s face. “To commemorate your agreeing to receive me, I would like to gift Your Majesty with a tale from my travels. No one knows whether it’s true or not.”

[Assistant] “A story from your journey?”

[User] “Yes. About three hundred years ago, the man who would go on to become the founding king of Farsas received Akashia from his future queen. At the time, Farsas was nothing more than a ragtag bunch of cast-offs and runaways from other countries. The leader of that group had a wife. The story goes that one day, she traded her own power for a sword that would not decay, and presented her husband with Akashia.”

[Assistant] “Traded her own power? So she was a mage?” Tinasha questioned. If the tale were true, that would make Akashia a mage’s creation.

[User] Noticing the queen’s interest, the man gave a wan grin. “Who can say? This is merely a fable from long ago, and no history speaks of it. It was simply used to put the children of the royal family to sleep. But according to this fairy tale, the loss of the queen’s power meant she could no longer return to where she was from. Perhaps she was a water spirit.”

[Assistant] “Surely not,” said Tinasha with a cynical smile upon hearing the ludicrous myth. There were many legends of blighted love between water spirits and humans, but that didn’t mean a water spirit was capable of producing Akashia.

[User] “She was very mysterious, even compared to other accounts from that time.


[User] "Oh, and the legend does give her a name, although there are no historical testimonies to support it."

[Assistant] "It was never recorded?"

[User] "There was no time for record-keeping when the country was founded. Such a young, upstart nation only wrote down the name of the first king."

[Assistant] "That sounds very much like the founding of any other nation in the Dark Age." Tinasha commented.

[User] "I appreciate that acknowledgment, Your Majesty. According to legend, the lady who met our first king at the lake was named Deirdre."

[Assistant] "Deirdre…?"


[User] "Shall we shorten your reign a little?" She threw a searching look at the man sitting across the desk from her.

[Assistant] "Huh?! " yelped Tinasha from a desk in her study, her voice a squeak.

[User] Legis, son of Tuldarr’s former king, smiled at Tinasha.

[Assistant] "Shorten my reign? Have I done something careless again?"

[User] Legis, son of Tuldarr’s former king, smiled at Tinasha.


[User] Legis smiled faintly. "It isn’t a question of anything you’ve done, Your Majesty. However, you’ve had no lack of troublesome situations ever since you took the throne.”

[Assistant] “Y-you may have a point.” Tinasha admitted, head hung.

[User] Legis's gentle tones wash over her. “And as there’s no one in Tuldarr stronger than you, things may be a bit safer if you go ahead and marry into Farsas now.”

[Assistant] “Hmm…”

[User] “To be completely honest, the king of Farsas has also reached out to me about this. He’s asked if it would be possible to move up your abdication date. I believe he’s worried about letting you out of his sight.”

[Assistant] “I see.” Tinasha sighed, resting her elbows on the desk, taking care not to bump her cup of tea, and burying her head in her hands before raising her head, raking a hand through her hair.


[User] “I really don’t know what to say… Why do all these things keep happening to me?”

[Assistant] “Anyone else would’ve died immediately, and we’d have never gotten to the root of any of the crises,” Legis remarked. “That’s terrifying in and of itself…”

[User] The queen was a special breed, able to narrowly beat all the formidable enemies who had come rushing at her.

[Assistant] Legis smiled and nodded. “Should you wish it, we can certainly move up your abdication. You’ve been a great help to Tuldarr, and you’re free to make any selfish demand you’d like.” The meetings and proposals to draw up the new parliamentary system were proceeding apace. She was currently shouldering a third of that work as well as her regular duties. It was an awful lot to hand off to Legis. Still, the young man was steadfast. “Don’t worry about the workload. While I’ve been very fortunate to have your help all this time, it’s no hardship at all if you hurry your abdication along. I wish for nothing more than for you to be safe and to forge a bond with Farsas.”

[User] Despite Legis’s somewhat droll tone, Tinasha crossed her arms and frowned. What he was saying was entirely correct. He was capable of handling things going forward as king. And while Tinasha’s power gave Tuldarr an advantage, it also put the nation at risk. “You may be right. And since completely unpredictable enemies may keep showing up as long as I’m here…I suppose I’ll prepare to abdicate once my wedding attire is ready. Is that all right?”

[Assistant] “Of course it is,” Legis replied. A fleet of artisans had begun crafting Tinasha’s bridal attire a month ago; it was set to be completed in three more. Should everything go smoothly, she would vacate the throne half a year after her coronation. Her reign would be exceedingly short, but not without precedent. About five hundred years before, there was a king who ruled for a scant two months before stepping down.


[User] Legis and Tinasha went on to review several other things. While most were resolved by immediate agreement, Legis raised an eyebrow as he made one last inquiry. “What will you do about that magic orb? Will you transport it to Farsas?” He was referring to the magical item that could send the user backward through time, an enigmatic artifact that had the power to remake the world. Certainly, Tinasha couldn’t leave the matter as it was, yet she had no idea how best to handle it. At the very least, there was Valt to contend with, a mage who knew much more about the orb than she did. The sphere had a twin, and the pair were collectively known as Eleterria. It was Valt’s mission to obtain both.

[Assistant] “Yes, that’s a good question. Valt knows that Tuldarr and Farsas each have one. I’ve sealed off ours, but I also need to do the same for the Farsas orb.


[User] Tinasha sighed

[Assistant] "A being who was not human pulled Akashia from that lake…" She recalled that four hundred years ago, a member of the Farsas royal family told her about Akashia’s origins.

[User] Tinasha made a mental note to search for her diary during a spare moment.

[Assistant] Unable to settle on a solution, Tinasha left the question unanswered.

[User] Legis picked up the paperwork he’d completed and stood to leave.


[Assistant] Lazar entered the royal study with a disgruntled expression.

[User] Oscar glanced over at his friend and caught sight of it, he frowned. "What? What’s happened?"

[Assistant] "Some very suspicious business has come to light, and frankly, I don’t want you learning about it. But I’ve been tasked with informing you…"

[User] “What’s going on, then? Who wants me to know?” Oscar pressed.

[Assistant] Lazar looked unhappier by the second. "This is coming from the nobles and wealthy merchants. There is a certain brothel where a song is being sung that will kill anyone who listens to it. Almost a dozen nobles and merchants have fallen victim to it, but no one wants that made public, the location being what it is… They have made a confidential request to have it investigated." Lazar explained reluctantly.

[User] "A song that kills anyone who hears it? Is the singer that bad?"

[Assistant] "No, it’s not that. Rather, the nobles suspect it’s a curse song. Also, there is apparently someone in a tavern singing a song that drives those who hear it to suicide. These are two different singers, and while almost all who heard the song at the brothel went on to die, only a few who heard the tavern one have committed suicide."

[User] "A curse song…" Oscar frowned.


[User] A while ago, he heard Tinasha sing such a tune. He was well acquainted with the power such a thing possessed to warp one’s perception. It sounds like a pain, but people have died. I can’t very well do nothing. The king couldn’t deny that it also sounded interesting. He grinned as he caught a whiff of a mystery. “Guess I’m going to go hear it for myself, then.”

[Assistant] “Are you insane? !” Lazar yelped.

[User] “I won’t know anything until I listen to it with my own ears. And it’s happening right in town, so it’s close by and everything.”

[Assistant] “Now hold on just a moment! You should send someone else with you,” Lazar protested.

[User] “But what if they die? I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’ll be fine going alone. I suppose I’ll hit the brothel first,”

[Assistant] “Would you please learn that baseless confidence is not a good thing?! And don’t you think it’s unwise to go and visit a brothel with your wedding just around the corner?”

[User] “It won’t be an issue if I don’t get caught,” Oscar stated dismissively. Just as Lazar opened his mouth to object, the door to the study gave an ominous crack and collapsed inward. Both men turned to look. With a terrible grating noise, the thick wooden door disintegrated into a heap and fell to the floor like a wadded-up ball of paper. A matter of seconds had reduced it to a pile of debris that was no longer reminiscent of its original shape at all. It was too strange to be believed. In the doorway stood General Als, rubbing at his temples, and a sunnily grinning Tinasha.

[Assistant] “Pardon the intrusion. I certainly didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but I happened to overhear quite the fascinating story,” she greeted sweetly, even as the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Lazar and Als fixed their gazes on the floor, clearly wishing to make a swift escape. Oscar pinched the bridge of his nose, at a loss for how to react. Subconsciously, he checked to make sure he had Akashia near. “May I offer to help you? Would you like me to vaporize that brothel you were just discussing? All I have to do is boil it up. It’ll be easier than making tea. Just say the word,”

[User] “Hold on now, Tinasha,” Oscar placated.

[Assistant] “Or maybe I should vaporize you, hmm?” The queen narrowed her eyes at him. Cold fury blazed within them. The windows behind Oscar started to crack.

[User] He got up and held both hands out to Tinasha in apology. “I’m sorry. I was only joking.”

[Assistant] “It didn’t sound that way to me!” she cried.

[User] “Calm down, please. Don’t blow anything up,” Oscar pleaded, opening a desk drawer and taking out a silver bracelet. Snapping it open, he tossed it to Tinasha. With a sour look on her face, she took it and put it on.


[User] In a flash, the torrent of magic that was swirling around the room vanished into thin air. Anger was still distorting Tinasha’s beautiful features as she floated into the air. She fumed like a petulant child. “I wouldn’t even be here if Legis hadn’t asked me to come on business! Ugh!”

[Assistant] “Don’t get upset. I messed up.” Oscar said, beckoning her to come back down. As she descended sulkily to a spot behind the desk, Oscar pulled her onto his lap. He took the papers she had brought with her and flipped through them. “You’re advancing your abdication?”

[User] “And I’m already regretting that decision.” She spat tartly.

[Assistant] “Don’t be like that. I’m really happy to hear it.” Oscar replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

[User] Still turning away from him, pouty and huffy. “If our positions were reversed, you’d be pinching me so hard my cheeks would swell up.”

[Assistant] “Of course I would. And I’d go kill whoever the guy was.”

[User] “All right, then I’m going to go vaporize her.”

[Assistant] “I didn’t do anything, though. Don’t blow things out of proportion. All I want to know is if curse songs can kill.” He admitted in a blatant attempt to change the subject.

[User] Tinasha’s eyebrows raised in shock, but then she sighed with resignation. From her position on Oscar’s lap, she crossed her legs. “It’s not possible. Even I can’t do that. At most, a curse song could make a person depressed, but only if they were already prone to despair. So I very much doubt the veracity of these stories, both the one about the tavern and certainly the one about the brothel.”

[Assistant] “So you think there’s something else at play here?”

[User] “Someone’s just killing these people, aren’t they? Plain and simple. That’s what I would do.”

[Assistant] “Gotcha…”

[User] “If you’re going to go listen to the songs, I’m coming with you. I’ve already told Legis that I’m taking today off. Oh, but in exchange, sign this.” Tinasha handed Oscar a separate set of forms from the ones pertaining to her abdication.

[Assistant] Oscar leafed through the sheets, which described security at the Farsas and Tuldarr border. Oscar checked everything over and nodded. With Tinasha still on his lap, he signed it.

[User] Tinasha glared at her fiancé and stuck her tongue out. “You’re welcome to let me know if you’d like to take any mistresses.


[User] "That happens all the time, doesn’t it?”

[Assistant] “You won’t vaporize them?”

[User] “I’ll curse them so they can’t sleep unless they’re cuddling a rabbit.”

[Assistant] “…” Just the idea of it was terrifying as he repressed a shiver.

[User] “All right, let’s go and listen together. I have a feeling you might disintegrate the entire castle if I go without you.”

[Assistant] “Oh, don’t worry on that account. I would only disintegrate you,” the beautiful queen stated serenely, a gracious smile on her lips.

[User] After removing the sealing bracelet, Tinasha informed Oscar she would be leaving the paperwork with him before teleporting herself back to Tuldarr temporarily.

[Assistant] All three men in the study let out deep, relieved exhales as Lazar glanced over at Als, who was still frozen in the doorway. “General Als, you should have told us that Queen Tinasha was there.”

[User] “I had only just run into her here in the hall… We weren’t trying to be sneaky. When I went to open the door, we heard your conversation,” Als explained.

[Assistant] The nature of said conversation was what was really to blame as Lazar and Als turned cold, reproachful eyes on their king, who only played dumb.

[User] “Jealousy is pretty entertaining, huh?” Oscar remarked.

[Assistant] “How? Did you miss the part where she said she would vaporize you? !” Lazar exclaimed.

[User] “It wasn’t entertaining at all. I thought I might die,” added Als.

[Assistant] Ignoring his advisers, who were both at their wit’s end, the king remarked, “We’ll have to get the door and windows repaired.”

[User] While Als swept up the splintered remains of the door, Lazar bemoaned the state of the windows. “I’m afraid you’ll never be able to take a mistress.”

[Assistant] “I don’t need one. As long as I have her, I have everything I could want,” said the king.

[User] “If that’s how you feel, be more considerate of your actions! And words! And behavior! Sooner or later, you’re going to exhaust her affection for you!”

[Assistant] Oscar grinned. “No way.”

[User] Als and Lazar could only shake their heads in disbelief, bite their tongues, and silently get back to work.


[Assistant] The sky was a soft lavender hue as twilight fell around the alleys and lanes, the man who owned the brothel went outside to open the shop.

[User] Glancing around, the man noticed that the establishments all around were lighting their lamps as


[User] The long black hair that fell to her waist was more lustrous than silk. She had fine features, like a work of art crafted to perfection. Most captivating was her aura of mystique. Noticing him, she turned around, and the man could not help but gasp at her beauty. She stared at him hard enough to bore holes through his skull. "Are you the owner of this place?"

[Assistant] “I—I am… What business brings you here?” He thought she was clearly not a prostitute. One glance was enough to tell that the woman was a high-class lady of some sort. Perhaps she was here to cause a scene after learning of a lover’s infidelity or something of that nature. If that was the case, things could get hairy.

[User] Her red lips parted to tell him her business, but then a man called from behind, “Tinasha, don’t run ahead of me! Are you really going to vaporize it?”

[Assistant] “No, I’m not!” she protested.

[User] The man’s clear, refreshing voice prompted the brothel owner to turn around, only to be struck dumb.

[Assistant] The one who approached the woman and stroked her hair was none other than the king of Farsas. He pointed to the somewhat sullen-looking woman next to him and stated, “This is my fiancée,” which meant she was the queen of the Magic Empire of Tuldarr.


[User] Clara and Simon, ushered onto the stage in a rush, stared in horror at the pair waiting for them.

[Assistant] Apart from political might, this duo possessed unmatched power between the two of them.

[User] Clara had at least one guess as to why they were here—the song that invited death. But even if word of the song had made its way to the royal castle, there was no definitive proof. All she did was sing. The people who listened to her tune may have perished, but no one could prove she carried any culpability. While Clara reassured herself of that, she was unaware that Simon, who stood behind her, was watching Tinasha with the gaze of a man resigned to his fate.

[Assistant] The queen peered right back at him.

[User] Oscar and the brothel owner discussed something, seemingly arriving at an agreement. Their business concluded, Oscar turned back to the performers and his fiancée. “Well, let’s hear the song, then.”

[Assistant] “That won’t be necessary,” Tinasha interjected, pointing one slender finger at Simon. “He’s the one with the magic. If you’ve got anything to say, we’d be glad to listen.”

[User] At her impolite gesture, Oscar and Clara both turned to look at Simon, who bowed his head without a word.

[Assistant] “What? Simon, that can’t be right. Tell them!”

[User] “Is that true, Tinasha?”

[Assistant] “It is. Her magic is very weak, so he’s the only one who could do something… Shall I summon a spirit?"


[User] “High-ranking demons can tell when a human has killed someone, you know,” Tinasha said, a finger pressed to her temple while her eyes remained fixed on Simon.

[Assistant] With his head still bowed, the man stated, “No, Your Majesty, there’s no need. It is as you say—I did all of it.”

[User] “Simon? !”

[Assistant] “Clara, I’m sorry. Go back to your room.” Simon wore a gentle smile, the sort he always did. However, there was no light in his eyes. He wasn’t looking at anyone, not even her. In the three years Clara had known him, she’d never seen him like this. She realized she had no idea who he really was.

[User] “That was over fast.”

[Assistant] “Why do you sound disappointed?! Go and play to your heart’s content if that’s what you want,” Tinasha snapped.

[User] “No, I’m good,” Oscar said, wrapping his arms around his angry fiancée from behind. He leaned in close to her dewy cheek. “Ooh, you’ve gotten soft. Once we get back, I’m going to run you through some training.”

[Assistant] “It’s been so long. I can feel the bruises already!” she moaned.

[User] Voice dry, the king retorted, “What are you whining about when you wind up covered in blood practically every day?”


[Assistant] The brothel owner was bewildered as he watched them bicker. He heaved a sigh and then glanced behind at Simon, who was smiling wordlessly after soothing and sending away an utterly perplexed Clara. His placid gaze was on Tinasha, who noticed it and raised her eyebrows at him.

[User] “I have heard that Your Majesty the Queen of Tuldarr is an exceptional and incomparable mage. Would you do me the honor of answering one question?” Simon said blandly.

[Assistant] “What is it?”

[User] “Is it possible to use a curse song to kill a mass of people?”

[Assistant] Tinasha frowned; Oscar had asked her a similar question earlier. “It depends on the method, but it’s not possible to accomplish that directly. A curse song can incite people with latent hostility in their hearts to make war, but it would be exceedingly difficult for an ordinary singer to escalate that to mass murder.”

[User] “I see,” was all Simon said in response.

[Assistant] His arms still around Tinasha from behind, Oscar put in, “Why do you want to know?”

[User] “Oh, I’ve just always been curious… Here I have Her Majesty right in front of me, and I’ll likely be put to death soon anyway, so I thought I’d satisfy my curiosity before it’s too late.”

[Assistant] “Why were you interested in something like that?” Oscar pressed.

[User] “My village was destroyed by a curse song,” Simon replied, prompting the king and queen to stare at him.

[Assistant] “What do you mean?” Oscar said sharply.

[User] Simon gave a wan smile. “I’m afraid this isn’t a very pleasant story, but since you asked…” He then launched into a tale of his village’s demise from three years prior. Simon’s village rested in a corner of Mensanne, a Great Nation east of Gandona, Farsas’s direct neighbor in that direction.


[User] The town had a long history of crafting musical instruments, and many living there were musically talented. Simon himself specialized in the zither and in writing tunes, while his younger sister was the finest singer in the village. She had no training, but her sheer charm and clear singing voice had suitors lining up around the block. One day, she met a man in the woods. His sister never discussed him in detail, only claiming that he taught her a song that could kill. From then on, she began to hole herself up at home. Concerned over her growing lack of appetite, Simon barged into his sister’s room one day only to find her an emaciated husk of herself. Her eyes looked possessed, with a strange light in them. The next day, he headed into the forest to find the man responsible for transforming his sister into someone he hardly recognized. Yet after traipsing aimlessly through the woods for half a day, he turned up nothing. Come nightfall, when he was dragging his weary legs home, he spied a terrifying sight. His hometown was a red sea of flames. Even from a distance, he saw masses of people collapsed in the streets. No one was moving. Over this nightmarish sight floated the faint strains of a song sung by a woman. “And once I realized who was singing, I ran from the village. Everything about it was terrifying. I knew that no one would survive, not even my sister, who was reciting a tune I had never heard before.” His story concluded, Simon closed his eyes.

[Assistant] Tinasha shook her head, brows knit in consternation. “But…was it really all due to your sister’s curse song? I find that a little hard to imagine. Why didn’t you go and make absolutely sure?”

[User] “I’m aware I’m a coward. Even if I could revisit that day, I still wouldn’t set foot in my village. What I saw was too horrific. I learned that day that nightmares could turn into reality.” Simon muttered, a faint smile on his lips. Indelible terror flickered in his eyes. “After speaking with you, Your Majesty, I feel some modicum of closure. Until now, I couldn’t tell anyone else about this. Thank you.”

[Assistant] Oscar asked, a cynical grin on his face. “Does that have some connection to you killing others?”

[User] Tinasha, however, still looked baffled.

[Assistant] Simon’s weak expression grew into a sunny smile. “No, it isn’t related at all. I simply wanted to repay a bit of gratitude to Clara for saving me.”

[User] “Killing people is repaying gratitude?” Tinasha questioned.

[Assistant] “Yes. As word spread of a singer who could bring death, customers flocked to her with the express goal of hearing her sing. Curiosity is a strange beast. Once I got involved, her customers doubled.” Simon explained, making no attempt to disguise his disdain for the victims.

[User] That made Tinasha openly uncomfortable, even as she elbowed Oscar in the stomach warningly.

[Assistant] Oscar maintained his composure, however.

[User] Abruptly, Simon’s face twisted.


[User] "Besides, none of her clients ever saw her as a person. Swanning about all arrogantly, they treated her like an insect. Someone like you wouldn’t know what that’s like, would you?"

[Assistant] "You’re right. I wouldn’t." She knew there were limits to one’s imagination. No matter how she sympathized or envisioned what it must be like, it would only come off as trite and clichéd.

[User] "But from Clara’s view, wouldn’t it make her much happier to have you with her forever as opposed to the deaths of those she hated at the cost of losing you to execution?" Tinasha wished to say as much, but she held back. Instead, she looked up at Oscar.

[Assistant] "Well, it’s up to you now."

[User] "Thanks for the help. I’ll have the soldiers take him in."

[Assistant] Tinasha glanced at Simon, whose expression had relaxed, looking placid again. The sight of it made some manner of indescribable bile rise in her throat, and she bit her lip.


[User] Als was making his way down a corridor in Farsas Castle when he caught sight of Doan, Sylvia, and some other mages huddled by a courtyard-facing window. They were staring down at a patch of ground that was lit up bright as day for some reason. "What are you doing?"

[Assistant] "Oh, His Majesty is playing with Queen Tinasha."

[User] "Playing?" Als repeated skeptically. When he looked closer, he found that the king of Farsas and his fiancée were sparring underneath a magic light.

[Assistant] While Tinasha was sweaty as she thrust her sword at Oscar, the king handled her easily. "I told you, that’s too high! Lower it!"

[User] "Nope. You’ve gotta compromise."

[Assistant] As they kept shouting about “high” and “normal,” Als grew increasingly unable to make sense of their conversation. "What are they talking about?"

[User] "They’re negotiating grain taxes."

[Assistant] "Wow…" From an outsider’s perspective, Oscar was taking a very underhanded route. The discrepancy in their physiques and skill was clearly taking its toll on Tinasha, and Oscar buffeted her with questions.

[User] "If you don’t lower it, I’m going to wreak some havoc around here!"

[Assistant] "That’s a threat, you know."

[User] "Grrrr!" Tinasha lunged forward and swept her sword up sharply. But Oscar parried it away easily and brought his practice sword down on her neck, stopping it just before it made contact.

[Assistant] "I suppose we can set it at seventy percent. In exchange, I want you to lower taxes on our textiles."

[User] "Fine," Tinasha agreed after some quick mental calculations. Neither proposal would put Tuldarr at a disadvantage. Good weather had blessed her country with a bountiful grain harvest this year, so this was perfect. Crouching, she inhaled deeply to steady her breathing. "Did you do that on purpose?


[User] “Of course I did. Waiting until your opponent’s sense of judgment is dulled is lesson one in negotiations.” Oscar stated smugly.

[Assistant] “I will throttle you…” Tinasha stood, keeping her hands on her knees. She had taken hits on both arms and her back, which were likely to bloom into bruises; she healed them before they could.

[User] Oscar took her sword from her. "Your moves have gotten better. Maybe it’s all the combat experience?”

[Assistant] “What? Do you really think so? I’m actually pretty thrilled to hear that.” Tinasha knew that all the battling had honed her magical instincts to a fine point, but she had no clear assessment of her swordsmanship. Praise from her very first combat instructor made her break into a happy grin.

[User] Oscar ruffled her hair like she was a little kid. “We should get back. I’ll get a change of clothes ready for you, so go and wash off all that sweat.”

[Assistant] “Okay,” Tinasha sang, trotting off.

[User] Oscar glanced up and met Als’s gaze through the window. A devilish smirk was visible on his face.


[Assistant] “What happened to Simon after his arrest?” asked Tinasha while combing out her wet hair after using the bath in Oscar’s chambers. She was freshly changed into a white dress of light silk.

[User] Oscar was sitting on the bed, his knee propped up and his chin resting on it as he gazed at her. The fine silk clung to the lines of her soft curves, sending a frisson of arousal through him.

[Assistant] Tinasha looked back from drying her hair. “Oscar? Are you listening?”

[User] “Huh? Oh, he was executed after thorough interrogation. The girl got a stern reprimand.”

[Assistant] “I see,” she said, carding her fingers through her hair. Any remaining damp strands dried instantly at her touch. Once her hair was completely dry, she picked up her comb again and came to sit next to Oscar as she brushed her long tresses. “It was just such an odd story he told… I really am suspicious of the man his sister met in the woods.”

[User] “Is that still on your mind? What if he was lying?”

[Assistant] “It didn’t seem that way,” she replied.

[User] Oscar didn’t say anything, but he felt the same. Simon’s story was likely true, and that incident had changed the course of his life.

[Assistant] “Witnessing the destruction of his village and abandoning his sister must have left deep psychological scars. As a result, he became fascinated with the idea of a curse song. I heard the one he made, and it was well done. Creating a melody that can be used as the base for a curse song might be within the realm of genius.”

[User] “It was a nasty story, and he was a strange little man,” Oscar remarked. There was no way of knowing just how significantly Simon’s past had traumatized him. It hardly justified his murders, however.

[Assistant] Tinasha vanished her comb and stroked her jaw.


[User] "It’s too disturbing to ignore. An entire village was destroyed. Did that ever happen in Farsas? Villages left in ruins, cause unknown?” Briefly, Oscar cast through his memory of the past decade. “I guess there’s one case like that. I think it was two years ago… Everyone in a settlement near the border perished."

[Assistant] “What did they die of?”

[User] "All kinds of causes. Two or three days had passed by the time anyone realized it. According to reports, some had burned to death, while there were also signs of people fighting with one another. There were no survivors, no one to give testimony. It was left unsolved.”

[Assistant] “Two years ago… Simon said his village was destroyed three years ago. I’d like to check up on records across the mainland.”

[User] “Oh? Do you have some clue what it might be?” Oscar inquired, winding his fingers through Tinasha’s still-warm hair and caressing her nape.

[Assistant] Tinasha jolted a little out of ticklishness, but the pensive look on her face remained. “Nothing specific, but something about this is jogging my memory. After all, a curse song is capable of subliminal provocation.”

[User] “Which could make friends fight one another or drive people to arson?”

[Assistant] “Hmm. In theory that is possible, but only a mage of my caliber could incite such widespread effects across an entire village all at once.”

[User] Oscar frowned. Tinasha’s words suggested she was likely the only person capable of doing something like that. And in that case, the source of these incidents couldn’t be a curse song.

[Assistant] Tinasha hugged her knees to her chest. “But if it were an ordinary hex instead of a curse song, that would dramatically expand the list of possible culprits. Still, only a very powerful mage could pull it off. And unless we’re talking about an eccentric who specializes only in hexes, a mage that good would find it easier to simply attack a village using regular means.”

[User] “Do you think a mage destroyed those towns?”

[Assistant] “I strongly suspect so. I believe it’s all linked to the man Simon’s sister encountered in the forest, though I don’t know how direct of a hand he had.” Tinasha sighed. Tilting her head to one side, she peered up at Oscar. “So that’s what we know. I’d like to do some research into this.”

[User] “You really do love poking your nose in some weird places.” Oscar commented dryly.

[Assistant] “Hmph. It’s who I am.”

[User] “I suppose one of the ruined settlements was in Farsas. If the same person’s responsible for both tragedies, that needs to be dealt with. Ask me for any help you want.”

[Assistant] Tinasha grinned, dimpling like a child. “Thank you.”

[User] Oscar smiled fondly as his fiancée’s more childish side came out. “I really can’t take my eyes off you for one second.”

[Assistant] “Hmph."


[User] "So you asked Legis to talk to me about speeding up my abdication?"

[Assistant] "I did indeed. I told him things are so dangerous that I’d like to have you with me now. I think it was pretty effective, since I also told him about you fighting a witch and an all-powerful demon."

[User] "And after I did my best to hide that part from him!" she cried.

[Assistant] "Don’t do things like that!" he retorted, even as he pulled her close to him and pressed a kiss to her glossy black hair. "Come to me now."

[User] "Once you do, I’ll protect you with everything I have. I’ll drive back any enemy that comes knocking at our door."

[Assistant] Tinasha blew out a hot breath.

[User] "About what we were discussing this afternoon…"

[Assistant] "Which was?" Oscar asked.

[User] Tinasha looked guilty. "The whole mistress thing… I mean, you’re not cursed anymore, so you can do what you want. It’s your right and all."

[Assistant] "I don’t need mistresses. Don’t worry about it," Oscar assured her.

[User] "Are you sure?"

[Assistant] "Have some more confidence in yourself. It just sounds like you hate other women."

[User] "Well… Confidence is easier said than done."

[Assistant] "Personally, I find who you are as a person to be much more interesting than your looks or your magic. Although both are a bit too conspicuous already, more than capable of inspiring envy on their own."

[User] "I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean… Most people don’t get to know me as a person, and for a good reason. I have enough power to rival a witch, after all.


[User] "I would be ludicrous of me to expect anyone to look past that."

[Assistant] "I’m not looking past it. You’re you because of it."

[User] Oscar caught hold of Tinasha’s downturned face, tilting her chin up. He gazed searchingly into her dark eyes. "Anyway, I have a little favor to ask."

[Assistant] "What is it?"

[User] "I want you to put a transportation array in here connecting my rooms to yours."

[Assistant] "What? I can, of course, but why?"

[User] "So I can come pick on you every day."

[Assistant] "Absolutely not!" she shouted, tumbling off his lap and onto the bed. Her limbs splayed out from the center of the wide bed.

[User] Oscar scooted over to sit next to Tinasha and pinched her puffed-up cheeks. "Please?"

[Assistant] "Ouch! Is that the sort of attitude you have when asking someone a favor?!" Tinasha flailed wildly for a bit before laying her head in his lap. "I mean, all you have to do is call for me, and I’ll be there. Stop trying to bully me whenever you want."

[User] "But there might come a time when I can’t just call for you. If something happens to me, you’ll know because of the protective charm you have on me, but I don’t have anything like that to tell me when you’re in trouble."

[Assistant] Oscar pointed out.

[User] "It’s all well and good if nothing happens, but you have a lot of enemies. It’s perfectly natural for me to fear you’re tangled up in something. Let me at least just check in on you once a day."

[Assistant] "Oscar…" Tinasha looked remorseful.

[User] Curling in on herself, Tinasha said, "I’m sorry. I guess I don’t really know how to rely on people."

[Assistant] "Well, I don’t mind if you think of it as indulging me. I’ll be very mad at you if you die."

[User] "I understand," the queen replied, rising and glancing around until she found an out-of-the-way spot in a corner of his bedroom. "Should I make it one-way?


[User] "Two-way?” she asked.

[Assistant] “Two-way. I need to be able to get back,” Oscar answered after deciding.

[User] “Okay, and are you the only one in the castle who needs to give permission for this?”

[Assistant] “Of course,” he said.

[User] smiles, nodded, and held up her hand. In a clear tone, she spoke an incantation. As it ended, a transportation array appeared on the floor. She stood on tiptoe to inspect it and then turned back to Oscar. “It’s done. It will activate once you step inside.”

[Assistant] “Oh yeah? Thanks.”

[User] “I’m the one who should be thanking you,” she corrected with a tight smile. Flopping back onto the bed, Tinasha rolled to her stomach and kicked her feet back and forth in the air.

[Assistant] Looking at her in such an obviously good mood, Oscar remembered something. “Don’t you need to be getting back?”

[User] “Oh! I don’t have anything on my schedule tomorrow morning, so I thought I’d stay here.”

[Assistant] “Got it. You really are a defenseless little kid…” Even prior to their engagement, Tinasha had never displayed much shame around Oscar, but that was because she thought he didn’t have any interest in her as a woman. He’d assumed that his proposal would show her that wasn’t the case, and she would change her behavior. Although Tinasha did reveal a cuter side now, blushing and growing flustered around Oscar, she still left herself quite vulnerable. At night, she would turn up and fall asleep next to him, then refuse to get out of bed in the morning. While it occasionally felt as though he were being demanded to exhibit superhuman restraint, Oscar himself had chosen to remain on the safe side. He knew that the loss of Tinasha’s chastity would weaken her powers, which was why they lived apart. Seeing as Tinasha said she was fine with that, he had to just resign himself to it. It was more important to give her time to relax, away from her duties. “Well, having our rooms connected affords us a bit more flexibility, so maybe I’ll rethink that.”

[User] “Rethink what?” Tinasha inquired.

[Assistant] “Just how far I can test the limits of my patience,” Oscar grumbled.

[User] “Hmm? Good luck with that,” she replied, not understanding what he meant, and Oscar burst out laughing. He lay down next to her and cuddled her slender frame. She burrowed her head in close to him like a cat, then abruptly peered up. “Oh right. Oscar, do you know the story of the first queen of Farsas?”

[Assistant] “What? Where’d that come from? No, I don’t know it.”

[User] “Really? You didn’t hear about it as a fairy tale that only the royal family gets to listen to?”

[Assistant] “I…don’t remember that. I have no memory of a story like that,” Oscar replied.

[User] What had brought this on? Tinasha’s face turned pensive. “Maybe it’s been lost in the past four centuries, then. I heard about that story a long time ago and just happened to remember it the other day.


[User] "The first queen was the one to give Akashia to the founding king.”

[Assistant] “First I’m hearing of it. All I know about Akashia is that someone who wasn’t human fished it up from the Lake of Silence.”

[User] “Exactly, which I didn’t know until you told me. What I originally heard was that the first queen may have been a water spirit.”

[Assistant] “Who told you all this?” Oscar questioned. If it was a story told only to the royal family, then she had to have heard it from a Farsasian royal. Farsas and Tuldarr were neighbors, providing plenty of opportunities for such chats, but he wanted to know who would bring up such a casual topic of conversation.

[User] Tinasha’s long eyelashes fluttered with sleepiness. “Someone who came to study in Tuldarr. After that, the war with Tayiri happened and I forgot all about it. I think I had to send that person home early.”

[Assistant] “Man or woman?”

[User] “Man. Why is that important?”

[Assistant] “Because we have a lot of weirdos in our family tree.”

[User] “It’s been like that since the Dark Age, huh?” Tinasha remarked dryly. Tinasha buried her face in Oscar’s chest and let out a little yawn.

[Assistant] Stroking her hair, he said, “Go to sleep. If you don’t wake up tomorrow morning, I’m dumping you over to your own room.”

[User] “I’ll wake up…” With a little sigh, Tinasha shut her eyes.


[Assistant] He leaned close and pressed a kiss to her eyelid.

[User] She giggled. “Oscar.”

[Assistant] “What is it?”

[User] “I love you.”

[Assistant] He dropped a kiss onto the petals of her lips. “I know.”


[User] Of the twelve mystical spirits Tinasha commanded, she always had three summoned. All twelve took turns as these watch guards, stationed on the northeastern border with Tayiri, in the capital, and on the southern border, respectively. Usually, any spirit not serving as a watch guard would only appear when summoned by the queen. There were some exceptions like Mira and Lilia, who remained near Tinasha unless called away by duty, as well as Karr, who came as an adviser, but that was far from the norm. As a rule, high-ranking demons carried no interest in humans, so the spirits would not manifest without an order from their master. It was an unspoken boundary line between them and mortals. Ever since Tinasha first heard of the strange case of villages falling into ruin for no discernible reason, she had taken to researching it whenever she had a spare moment between royal duties. That said, her research did not consist of consulting other countries’ records; she couldn’t gain unfettered access to those accounts simply because she was curious. Instead, it was more along the lines of dispatching her spirits and diplomatic advisers to ask around for information in cities and towns. Many nations besides Farsas owed a debt of gratitude to Tinasha for saving them, including Yarda, Cezar, and Former Druza. All graciously acquiesced to her somewhat personal request. Once all the information she collected was assembled, a hazy picture emerged. "So the earliest case happened seven years ago. If it really is all the work of the same person, they’re pretty clever. Moving from country to country, destroying entire villages without leaving a shred of evidence… We’re looking at nine sites altogether. Had those all happened in the same country, it would’ve been too conspicuous, but they were all in different nations in locations and dates that were too disparate to be noticed." Tinasha said to Pamyra, who had answered the queen’s summons for help sorting her royal paperwork.

[Assistant] As Pamyra looked over the investigative report, she blanched. "Did the same person really do all of this? There are so many victims…"

[User] "Hmm. My instinct tells me it’s not the same person, but there’s really not enough evidence to say for sure." Across the nine villages, a little over two thousand people had died. If Tinasha’s information was correct, this was a major historic incident. Curiously, not one of the victim villages belonged to Tuldarr.

[Assistant] Pamyra was puzzled. "Why didn’t they come to Tuldarr? Despite how big the country is, we don’t have that many settlements. If something happened to one, it would take a while before news reached the neighboring communities. At a glance, it seems like an easy target."

[User] "I think it’s because the person doing this is a mage. No matter how remote the village, a place in Tuldarr is likely to have a dozen or so mages."


[User] "Whoever’s behind this wouldn’t want to face them." Tinasha surmised. "Ooh, I see…" Cursing another mage required much more effort than doing it to an ordinary person. A mage would also be able to escape easily using teleportation. Escapees who could give testimony defeated the purpose of destroying an entire village. Someone carefully evading detection wouldn’t risk targeting Tuldarr.

[Assistant] Tinasha signed some documents Pamyra brought to her and stated, “The real problem we have to deal with now is how to catch them.” With her chin in her hands as she pondered the quandary, the queen glanced over and noticed the time. She called back the spirit placed at the northeastern border. “Itz, thank you. Let Sylpha relieve you.” Her magic-infused words reached the ears of the distant spirit.

[User] An entity in the form of an old man appeared and bowed deeply. “There have been no changes at the border.”

[Assistant] “Good.” Tinasha responded. The northeastern border faced Tayiri, the country that abhorred magic. To the east were Farsas and Former Druza, while the south road led to the breadbasket nation of Magdalsia. Only Tayiri harbored antipathy toward Tuldarr. And while Tuldarr did maintain constant vigilance against Tayiri, it didn’t seem like Tayiri had any desire to go picking fights with Tuldarr. The report that there was nothing out of the ordinary relieved Tinasha. While she had Itz there, she asked him, “By the way, have you ever seen any destroyed villages?”

[User] “Ah yes, that mystery. Fortunately, I have never seen any, so I cannot offer you any clues.” He answered.

[Assistant] “I thought so.”

[User] “However, I did catch sight of an unusual personage in a town near the border. Perhaps this individual may provide some help in solving your case.” Itz suggested.

[Assistant] “An unusual personage?” Tinasha frowned, having no idea who that might be.

[User] “Yes, indeed. An unerring fortune-teller.” Itz opened a teleportation portal for Tinasha that led to a town on the edge of Tuldarr that was home to a grand waterfall. In any other country, it would’ve been inconveniently located, as far as it was from the main high road. However, Tuldarr’s network of teleportation arrays helped this location flourish as a tourism site.


[Assistant] As Tinasha made her way down the main avenue, her curious gaze roved all over the bustling stalls and stands lining the street. “Reading about this place and coming here in person are two totally different experiences. There are many more people than I imagined.”

[User] “People say that all born in Tuldarr must come and see this waterfall at least once in their lives.” Pamyra remarked with a smile, here to accompany her queen. Both during her life in the Dark Age and her life now, Tinasha spent almost all her time in castles or on battlefields. She had never toured any of her own nation’s sightseeing locales. Even this break was wedged into her tight schedule.


[User] Facing the spirit, the queen inquired, “So what’s this unerring fortune-telling?”

[Assistant] “It’s most likely a supernatural ability, like precognition or fate-seeing.” He answered his master’s question with a smile.

[User] “Ah, I see.”

[Assistant] Itz pointed farther down the road. "That’s her.”

[User] Tinasha’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “What is that magic…?” Tinasha’s face screwed up in a grimace.

[Assistant] “What? !” yelped Pamyra despite herself, then hurriedly clapped a hand over her mouth.

[User] “This is an acquaintance of mine from a very long time ago, though I don’t believe she remembers me. As you can see, she is a powerful mage, but she is not someone who would bring harm to others. She does not get deeply involved in anything; she simply passes the time with amusements like this.” Itz chose his words carefully.

[Assistant] “If she has that much magic and you’ve known her for a long time, she must be someone who once held great sway in Tuldarr. I’m curious to know why someone like that doesn’t appear in any historical records and is still alive today, but I will take your word for it.” said Tinasha.

[User] “You are very perceptive and generous, my lady,” Itz replied.


[User] Tinasha approached the fortune-teller’s table and examined the girl on the other side.

[Assistant] "Would you like to have your fortune told?"

[User] "Please," Tinasha answered, pulling out a stool and sitting down. Now that she viewed the girl from head-on, Tinasha noticed she had a face as pretty as a porcelain doll’s.

[Assistant] "I’m looking into something. Several villages have been destroyed by a mage. However, I don’t know where to start looking. Do you have any clues?"

[User] “It won’t be long before they come to you.”

[Assistant] “What? Really?”

[User] "Her fortunes are absolute, although it’s possible to change your fate once you’ve heard the prediction." Itz commented from his position standing next to Tinasha.

[Assistant] “Hmm, I guess that means I should continue my investigation,” Tinasha mused.

[User] Still feeling confused, Tinasha placed a large stack of coins on the table. "Thank you. That was helpful.”


[Assistant] As Tinasha placed a large stack of coins on the table, the girl muttered. “So many shards are sticking into you.”

[User] “What?” Was this also part of her ability to see the future?

[Assistant] “The world is waiting for a revolution.”

[User] “I feel like I’ve received a vaguely ominous premonition about my future,” Tinasha grumbled, once back in her royal study as she picked up a sheaf of papers.

[Assistant] When pressed for an explanation, the girl had replied, “I can only see it.


[User] "I can’t comprehend it.” Tinasha couldn’t seem to relax. What made her most uneasy was the feeling that she’d heard a similar claim before. “Wasn’t…that…?” It wasn’t four hundred years ago. It had been much more recently. Everything was touching her. She understood everything. About the world, about herself. Just like trying to recall a dream, it was beyond Tinasha’s grasp, although she felt it tickling the tips of her fingers. She had felt something identical, and she later told Sylvia about it. “I was in a strange place where I understood everything.”

[Assistant] “Oh. That was when Simila consumed me.”

[User] It was no wonder Tinasha couldn’t remember what she’d glimpsed within Simila, the snake that appeared from the lowest plane of existence. Human senses didn’t work on other planes. No matter what she learned there, she couldn’t take the memory out with her. “The mystery deepens…” With no hope of an answer, Tinasha had no choice but to let it go. The nature of war meant that it was not uncommon for broken shards to be stuck into her. And if that happened, all she had to do was heal herself. As Tinasha concluded her thoughts there, Legis entered the study.

[Assistant] “You’re back, Your Majesty. How was the waterfall?”

[User] “I didn’t see it. I certainly couldn’t shirk my duties to go sightseeing.”

[Assistant] “It’s a beautiful place. I went once when I was a boy. I believe that town didn’t exist at the time of your reign four hundred years ago.”

[User] “No, it didn’t. I hadn’t heard of any waterfall until waking in this era,” she replied. A lot could happen in several centuries. So much was new to her. If this was what it was like to cross through time, how vast was everything that fortune-teller girl witnessed? Musing on that notion, Tinasha accepted a stack of documents from Legis. She flipped through all of them, from most urgent to least, until finally she paused on one page. “Tris is going back to visit her hometown. She’s from Tayiri, huh?” Tris, the girl who assisted in resolving the kidnappings at the Academy of Magic, had since become a court mage. She was requesting approval for her visit home, as all those who served the court of Tuldarr needed to file for advance permission before entering Tayiri.

[Assistant] Legis peered over at the national departure register and gave a wan smile. “Her family lives in Tayiri, while she’s living with a relative in Tuldarr. I heard that on her visit last year, Tayiri soldiers discovered her and chased her around.”

[User] “Oh… And she became a court mage this year. If she’s ever caught, we’ll be in for a diplomatic incident,” said Tinasha. Tayiri ostracized mages. In some cases, unfortunate children born with magic were killed.


[User] "I think I’ll arrange for an escort for her trip. We’ve only just begun the crystal excavations in Cezar, and I don’t want to provoke Tayiri. Another war may wipe Tayiri off the map.”

[Assistant] Legis’s expression turned grave, and he bowed. “I apologize for the trouble. Thank you for doing this.”

[User] “Sure,” Tinasha replied, regretting how she’d thought Legis would laugh off her comment.

[Assistant] While reflecting upon that, she summoned one of her spirits.

[User] “I’ve been a spirit of Tuldarr for a long time now, but I gotta tell ya, this is the first menial task I’ve been assigned.”

[Assistant] “Don’t say that name here! And don’t talk about being a spirit, either!”


[User] “I’ve only been dragged into this because you had to go and get caught by Tayiri soldiers last year,”

[Assistant] “Y-you be quiet… There was just a bit of a holdup at the border, that’s all,” Tris muttered.


[User] “I have an errand to run for Lady Tinasha in Gandona, so I’m headed there now. When are you going back to Tuldarr?”

[Assistant] “I don’t need you to escort me back! I can get back on my own!” Tris protested.

[User] “What? But I was ordered to come and collect you for the return trip. Well, I guess if you run into any trouble, you can contact Tuldarr and have Lady Tinasha call for me."


[User] "You can use magical telepathy, can’t you?”

[Assistant] "I—I can…”

[User] "Okay, then see you." After an uninterested farewell, Ein drew up a teleportation spell.

[Assistant] Tris hurried to give him a wave. “Um… Thank you.”

[User] “It’s fine. Be careful,” he replied. That was all he had to say before he vanished.

[Assistant] Free of her inscrutable companion, Tris sighed out all her pent-up frustration before setting off at a run toward her family home.


[User] The night air in Tuldarr was cool. Tinasha had the windows in her bedroom open as she scanned some papers, and she found herself shivering. Winter was a while off yet, but she was freezing in her light nightgown. Setting the documents down, she went to close the window. As she was leaning out the window, a sudden and mysterious sense of unease struck her. “Hmm…?” There was a faint thrumming of magic in the air. Tinasha had felt this sensation of drifting magic once before—when she was reading the invitation from Farsas to the banquet. It was daytime then, and she hadn’t been concerned, reasoning that someone in the castle was casting. What could anyone be doing this late? It was very, very weak. Tinasha couldn’t sense any sort of spell configuration, either. The magic was so faint that it was impossible to tell where it was coming from, but it still left Tinasha wary. She frowned. “Am I overthinking it…?” This was the Magic Empire, after all. In the town at the foot of the castle, people were surely using magic. She was shaking her head to dispel her worries when someone wrapped their arms around her from behind, nearly causing her to fall out the window.

[Assistant] “Oscar! Don’t sneak up on me!” she cried.

[User] “I wasn’t trying to. Were you thinking hard about something? You’ll catch a chill out there,” he warned, reaching past her to close the window. He had arrived via the transportation array. Noticing how cold his fiancée had gotten, he placed his coat around her shoulders.

[Assistant] A faint blush on her cheeks, Tinasha said, “Thank you.”

[User] “It’s nothing. Have you been a good girl? It doesn’t look like anything’s changed,” Oscar commented. Ever since Tinasha had formed the array, he’d used it every night to come over and check to make sure everything was all right.

[Assistant] Tinasha wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Having someone look after her so carefully made her feel like she was living in the Dark Age again. Her powers were on par with a witch’s, which meant no one treated her the way her fiancé did, like she was a child to be cared for. As Tinasha went to fetch the liqueur she kept for Oscar, she shrugged. “No, no changes. Oh, but about my investigation, this wild-goose chase has finally led us to one person I’m very suspicious of.”

[User] “Oh yeah?” Between dispatching spirits to investigate and her visit to the fortune-teller, Tinasha had been busy gathering information from all over.


[User] The key to the puzzle ended up coming from Aurelia, a member of the royal family of Gandona, one of Farsas’s neighbors. Confidentially, Tinasha had asked Aurelia to relay anything she knew about mysterious cases of entire villages being destroyed. Aurelia, with her natural perceptiveness, intuited what Tinasha was after. In addition to details on cases in Gandona, Aurelia passed along a description of an incident from eight years earlier in a small country to the east.

[Assistant] "It’s a nation called Cathlys. Eight years ago, every single person in a small settlement abruptly died." Tinasha explained.

[User] "Eight years ago? That’s the oldest one yet." Oscar remarked. Every night, he had a drink with Tinasha, listening to how her investigation was proceeding. He was slowly drinking his way through the bottles of liqueur she kept on a shelf in her room as decoration. No matter how much Oscar consumed, his behavior didn’t change at all; Tinasha wondered if he might not actually have been human.

[Assistant] Her own glass of chilled water in hand, Tinasha passed Oscar the documents she’d been reading. "They know who attacked the place in Cathrys, however. A mage named Bardalos used magic and hexes to raze a village of nearly one hundred to the ground overnight."

[User] Oscar nodded. "Sounds almost exactly like all the others. What was his motive?"

[Assistant] "A town-wide attack experiment. A long time ago, Tuldarr also had mages who devised large-scale forbidden curses that would target cities. In reality, it’s completely impractical for one person’s curse to destroy an entire city. But this mage supplemented his hex with regular attack magic and psychological spells, thereby making it possible to lay waste to a town. He brought his proposal to the Cathlys royal castle."

[User] "That’s…one weird court mage." Oscar commented.

[Assistant] "No, he wasn’t a court mage. While he possessed plenty of talent, he was refused because of issues with his personality. In response, he presented his town-wide attack idea, but naturally, his designs were ignored."

[User] "Of course. He was only making it worse for himself at that point." Oscar remarked, shaking his head in dismay.

[Assistant] Tinasha agreed with him. Bardalos fell into disgrace because he didn’t understand the social implications of his proposition. Or perhaps he did and brought it before the court for the hell of it. Cathlys ignored his proposal, so Bardalos set out to prove just how viable his theory was. Tinasha perched on the armrest of Oscar’s chair. "He had numerous other offenses, too, and likely more that haven’t yet come to light. It’s no wonder he was barred from becoming a court mage. Apparently, he ran about, completely uncontrolled in the smaller countries on the border."

[User] "And they couldn’t stop him after all that?" Oscar asked.

[Assistant] "When he wiped out that village, they were going to execute him. But Bardalos annihilated the squadron sent to capture him. Only one man survived. Based on his testimony, those in charge verified that Bardalos was indeed responsible."


[User] "Because the casualties had piled so high, Cathlys gave up on capturing him and banished him instead. No one knows where he went after that…”

[Assistant] “What the hell? Why’d they just let him go? He’s a threat to society.”

[User] “Cathlys is a small country, and they didn’t have enough mages who could fight back against him. I wish they had consulted with Tuldarr before things got so bad.” Tinasha sighed, refilling Oscar’s empty glass. She set the liqueur bottle on the shelf and resettled on Oscar’s lap. "We’ve made some major progress now that we can identify our suspect, but catching him will be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Still, I’ve uncovered what he looks like, and I know I’m going to catch him one of these days." She stated firmly.

[Assistant] “You know you’re going to?”

[User] “Oh, that’s right, I didn’t tell you. Oscar, do you believe in the concept of a fortune-teller with completely accurate readings?”

[Assistant] “I do not.” He replied immediately, which Tinasha had half expected.

[User] She was a little disappointed, but she knew that explaining the mysteries of precognitive abilities would derail their conversation. She crossed her legs from her position on his lap. “For the time being, all I can do is continue my research while alerting the rulers of each country that’s involved.”

[Assistant] As Bardalos continued his attacks, it had occurred to Tinasha to place barriers on every village, but there were simply too many. While Tinasha was still unsure of what action to take next, Oscar said decisively, “When you’re up against someone like that, you just have to beat them to the next spot they’re going to hit.”

[User] “I considered that, but there are far too many potential targets. I wish we could at least narrow down the country." She responded.

[Assistant] “We can.” Oscar said flatly, which made Tinasha gape at him.

[User] She turned in his lap to look him in the face. “What? Really?”

[Assistant] “With about fifty-fifty odds. Did you notice that there are one or two cases a year and that the number of casualties has been steadily rising each time?”

[User] “I did recognize that. At first, it was rural farm villages, but the latest one was a pretty bustling community.” Tinasha said.

[Assistant] “Whether he’s doing it to test his limits or to shake things up, he keeps attacking larger places. If this keeps up, they won’t exactly be villages anymore, will they? More like towns. But there’s probably going to be some professional mages in a town.”

[User] Tinasha nodded. “Well… Yes, that’s true. At least one or two.” Simon was a magic user who had lived in a village, but he wasn’t a mage—he was a musician by trade. However, he was an outlier. There were a few dedicated mages in just about any town, whether for defense or healing purposes. That much Tinasha could follow, but she didn’t understand where Oscar was going with this and gave him a puzzled look.


[User] "Bardalos is definitely giving Tuldarr a wide berth. If Simon’s story is to be believed, there’s some time between when he decides on a target and when he goes through with destroying it. That means he carefully avoids any potentially dangerous elements. A person like that wouldn’t consider widening their scope or risking battle against mages." His blue eyes regarded her evenly.

[Assistant] “Mm-hmm. That’s right.”

[User] “But there’s one country that doesn’t have any mages at all—that won’t permit mages, no matter how big the city is.” He pointed out.

[Assistant] “Oh…”

[User] Oscar’s smile was tight as he stared into her dark eyes.

[Assistant] "You think their next target is Tayiri? !" Realization dawned on Tinasha, and she cried.

[User] “That’s what I’d do, anyway. Low risk.” He confirmed immediately. Oscar didn’t miss the displeasure that flashed across his fine features.

[Assistant] Leaning into his chest, she let out a low groan.

[User] He was exactly right. Two of the incidents had already occurred in Tayiri, but all other countries had only seen one attack each. That didn’t exempt Tayiri from being the next target. In fact, it probably spoke more to how much easier it was to operate there.

[Assistant] Tinasha floated up into the air and wound her arms around Oscar’s neck. "We could send them a straightforward warning… No, we couldn’t. I don’t think Tayiri would listen to anything I have to say. Maybe I’ll send out some spirits."

[User] “If you’ve got something you want me to do, you better tell me. You’re not allowed to get up to anything dangerous.” He warned. He set down his glass and stood to embrace Tinasha.

[Assistant] She cuddled into him innocently, and he grinned as he pulled her close. “I’ll be careful. You’ve told me enough times already.”

[User] “If you were truly being cautious, I wouldn’t need to hold myself back so much.” He replied dryly, conscious of her body heat through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

[Assistant] When she cocked her head at him like a bemused kitten.

[User] Oscar grimaced and set her down on the bed. He tousled her hair. “I’ll be heading back now. See you tomorrow.”

[Assistant] “You’re not going to sleep over?”

[User] “I’m not up for the chore of hauling you into the bath in the morning. It’ll make me late and I’ll end up soaking wet, too.”

[Assistant] Reminded of that fact, Tinasha looked abashed. “I-I’m so sorry. But I don’t think I can fix it in three months…”

[User] “Then you need to work harder! But I suppose once you come to Farsas, you can sleep as much as you want."


[User] “Urgh, no, I’ll work on it…” While Tinasha was busy with her everyday royal duties, her wedding was fast approaching, as was her abdication. Once she became queen consort of Farsas, Tinasha would have much less work to do, but that didn’t mean she could sleep in all day. As Tinasha curled up remorsefully, Oscar pressed a kiss to her forehead.

[Assistant] “Go to sleep. Good night.”

[User] “Good night.” She whispered back. Then Oscar returned to his own bed. But there would only be a little while longer of that.


[Assistant] The boy ran along the main avenue with arms full of the fruit he had bought for his sister. When he approached a crossroads, he noticed a crowd of people gathered. They were all clustered around a notice board with a poster stuck to it, buzzing among themselves. The boy stood on his tiptoes, struggling to see between the gaps in the throng.

[User] “What does it say?” The boy asked a man next to him.

[Assistant] “It says a serial killer’s escaped. Farsas and Cezar are both looking for him. You better watch out, kid.”

[User] The boy’s eyes grew wide. Ultimately, the boy gave up on fretting over some piece of paper he couldn’t see and headed home.


[Assistant] "Wait, you’re a mage?" Tris could tell at a glance that the man had magic. Snapping out of her shock, she gave him a relieved smile.

[User] “Are you back home for a visit, too? I’m so glad it’s a fellow mage who caught me! I thought I was going to worry Queen Tinasha again.”

[Assistant] “Queen Tinasha?” The man repeated, his eyes narrowed.


[User] The girl didn’t notice, lost in her own thoughts.

[Assistant] “Do you mean the Queen of Tuldarr?”

[User] “Yes. She’s very beautiful and strong! Where are you from?”

[Assistant] “I’m… I live in Farsas now. But wow, I’m jealous. I’d love to serve Tuldarr.”

[User] “Oh really?”

[Assistant] “You’re a court mage? That sounds great. Hey, would you mind putting in a good word for me? I really want to study in Tuldarr. I have a younger brother who has an incurable disease.”

[User] A cloud passed over her childlike features. “Your little brother…?” She recalled her own brother, who was just twelve years old. Tris had fled to Tuldarr when she was five, so they had barely played together. Still, she loved him dearly, and her brother worshipped her every time she came home for a visit. Tris wanted to bring her whole family over to Tuldarr and give them a life free of hardship. Sympathy welling within her breast, Tris made up her mind and looked at the man.

[Assistant] “Okay, sure, I’ll do that for you. Oh, can you make teleportation portals?”

[User] “As well as anyone, yes.”

[Assistant] “Then could you take me to the town outside Tuldarr Castle? I’m not very good at long-distance teleportation.”

[User] “Sure. It’s the least I can do in exchange for an introduction to people in Tuldarr.”

[Assistant] “Thanks! Let’s meet again here tonight, then. Sound good?”

[User] “Yep. I’ll see you then.” Bardalos agreed, an amused smile on his lips as he watched the girl grin and run off with a wave.


[Assistant] Bardalos produced forged identification papers and stated his purpose of entry as study.

[User] Impressed, Bardalos praised Tuldarr. "Just as I’d expect—the Magic Empire has special defenses built into its main city. I suppose that’s also why they limit the amount of magic that temporary visitors can use.”

[Assistant] “They do? I had no idea.”

[User] “You’re a court mage, so you have no limits on your magic."


[User] "But all other citizens of Tuldarr and temporary residents are divided into grades, and each grade dictates the amount of magic you can use. Of course, no one will be punished right away for going over that limit, but you need to apply in advance. If you fail to do so, you must undergo a royal inspection afterward. In short, the castle will sense any outsider’s unauthorized use of large-scale magic and come to question them. That’s also why there are wards strung up all over the city. They’re quite meticulous."

[Assistant] "But there’s no such thing as a perfect defense. You have only to use magic so weak the wards won’t detect it. That’s a very complicated spell and one that takes a long time, but…" Bardalos muttered.

[User] "Um, is something wrong?" Tris asked, looking up with some confusion at the man’s whisperings.

[Assistant] He smiled at her. "How about I treat you to some tea as thanks for bringing me into the country? Of course, I have many things I want to ask you about as well, so it’s not entirely a selfless offer."

[User] "I’ve only just become a court mage, so I probably can’t answer most of your questions, though." She pointed out.

[Assistant] "Oh? But I know how important you are. You know the queen, don’t you?"

[User] "Yes, but…"

[Assistant] "Then that’s perfect. I want to know what the queen is like." He said.


[User] He led Tris down an alley off the main road and into a tea shop, where he invited her to sit at a table facing the street.

[Assistant] She seemed hesitant, but broke into a smile when a cup of fragrant tea arrived. "Her Majesty is…beautiful. You wouldn’t even think she’s human like the rest of us. Also, she’s very nice. She even had a spirit accompany me on my visit.”

[User] “A royal spirit, huh? Does she always keep them around?”

[Assistant] “I don’t think so. Eir—one of the spirits—said he doesn’t come unless she calls for him. Most of the court mages have never met one of the twelve.”

[User] “She employs them sparingly, then. I suppose she only has them keep the surrounding countries at bay.”

[Assistant] “The queen often goes out to handle tricky situations herself. She lets Prince Legis, our next king, take care of the more day-to-day stuff.”

[User] “Yes, I’ve heard. People say she was at the head of the army when Tuldarr intervened in the war between Farsas and Yarda.”

[Assistant] “And when I first met her, she was disguised as a young girl and blended right in. I guess having that much magic means you have just as much freedom, too.”

[User] Her innocent words revealed how little she knew, and Bardalos smiled. It had been fun to secretly wipe out those villages without anyone catching on. Adjusting and changing his spells and curses bit by bit had allowed him to test his powers. However, it was lonely to be a powerful mage, which was why they—who stood apart from the crowd—flocked to Tuldarr. Gathered together, they would stand among equals. Bardalos believed that to be tantamount to lapsing into obscurity, though. Mages after companionship were only after the sense of reassurance that came from getting absorbed into a sea of identical others. That wasn’t what a mage should be. It was their duty to push their limits. Surely, the Queen of Tuldarr felt the same. How did it feel to know the future? It seemed convenient, but it was more likely a constant restraint on one’s thoughts and actions.


[User] "A request for an audience?" It was from Tris, who had returned from Tayiri the day before. After a bit of consideration, Tinasha went out of her bedroom and called for a lady-in-waiting.

[Assistant] Tris arrived about a half hour later in response to the summons. The girl bowed low in Tinasha’s bedroom doorway, abashed. "I’m so very sorry to bother you while you’re at rest. Thank you for sending the spirit with me. As I wrote in my request, I know someone with a brother who’s taken a sudden turn for the worse…"

[User] "It’s perfectly all right, although I don’t really specialize in healing. Where do you need me to go?"

[Assistant] "Oh, the mage is waiting outside now. May I invite him in?" Tris inquired.

[User] "Go ahead. Time is of the essence, isn’t it?" the queen said, tossing only a cloak over her loungewear. Returning to her room, she chose to sit in the frontmost of the chairs for receiving visitors.


[Assistant] Tris and the other mage arrived after a moment and sat opposite Tinasha, who regarded them evenly with a placid smile. "Tris, is this him?" the queen questioned.

[User] "Y-yes. I’m so sorry for the audacity." A bashful Tris replied.

[Assistant] "May I ask your name?" Tinasha inquired.

[User] "I am Bardalos, Your Majesty."

[Assistant] "Tris, you may leave. I’d like to discuss things with him personally."

[User] "What? But—"

[Assistant] "Tris," the queen interrupted firmly, and the girl half rose from her chair.

[User] "I’d like her to stay. Best not to go anywhere." The man placed a hand on his acquaintance’s shoulder.

[Assistant] "Huh?" Tris’s confusion deepened.

[User] With absolute poise, he remarked, "You seem very calm. I thought you’d been searching for me."

[Assistant] "I have been, and I’m certainly surprised. If it doesn’t look like I am, it’s because I’ve known this would happen for a while. Have you heard of unerring fortune-telling?"

[User] "What’s that?" asked the man suspiciously.

[Assistant] Tinasha gave a thin smile. "Tris went to Tayiri, and I gather you met her there while scoping out your next victims."

[User] Bardalos said, his tone growing enraptured. "You’ve figured me out, huh? Well, I’m glad I didn’t overestimate you. It would’ve been such a letdown if it hadn’t turned out to be you after all that preparation."

[Assistant] Tinasha listened to him, elbow on the armrest of her chair and her chin sitting in her palm.


[User] Tris appeared normal at the moment, but a close inspection was still in order. Folding her arms, Tinasha cocked her head to one side.

[Assistant] “And? I’ll hear out why you’ve come, although I’ll be smashing you to a pulp once you’re finished.”

[User] “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. You can’t cast a spell or summon one of your spirits. And do you know why?” Bardalos drew out a hollow triangular pyramid, letting it rest on his open hand. Tiny silver arrowheads dangled from a thin chain inside it.

[Assistant] Tinasha’s lip curled. “That thing’s still around? Isn’t it a relic from before Tuldarr was founded?”

[User] “Indeed. It’s an enchanted implement that can sense magical ability from back when mages were still persecuted and labeled as fiends. I’ve enhanced it so that it will react when any magic besides mine comes within range. Cast so much as a thread of power my way, and the curse tied to this object will trigger inside the girl’s body. It’s already taken root inside her; a painful death, to be sure.”

[Assistant] “What…? Queen Tinasha…?”

[User] “It’s all right, Tris. Stay calm,” Tinasha assured as she raised her hands to show Bardalos she would comply.

[Assistant] Proactive aggression was no longer an option for the queen, and Bardalos grinned broadly with clear satisfaction. “Isn’t it difficult protecting everything all by yourself? No matter how vigilant you are, there will always be gaps. And for all that, you keep bending your ear to whatever request some utter weakling brings to you. You may be revered as a queen, but you’re no different from a slave who serves these fools.”

[User] “You certainly have a lot to say. What does any of that have to do with what you’ve done? You’ve been so careful up until now. Did you really come just to insult me?”

[Assistant] “No. I came to invite you.”

[User] “To what?” Tinasha questioned, frowning. She didn’t miss the way Bardalos’s eyes shone with a sadistic gleam, and she made no attempt to hide her disgust.

[Assistant] He grinned, amused. “I can see you have a lot of opinions about my experiments, but we’re not so different. You’re just as capable as I am of cutting people down like frail blades of grass.”

[User] “Yes, I’ve killed people, but I’m not the same as you.”

[Assistant] “Yes, you are. There’s no whitewashing or justifying murder. You and I both devour others to survive,” Bardalos said, pausing there to regard Tinasha. While her beauty was enough to steal a heart with one look, it offered no warmth now. She exuded only animosity.


[User] “So I’ve come to tell you that you’re freer than that.”

[Assistant] “Freer?”

[User] “Yes. I can tell just looking into your eyes. You think all other humans are weak and fragile, don’t you? To you, they’re weeds you can manipulate with a wave of your finger.”

[Assistant] “So what?” Tinasha didn’t refute the assertion. It was the truth. She was aware that she was an entirely different breed from other humans, though she felt no sense of superiority about it. Because she had been chosen to rule, she would fulfill her duty as a matter of course.

[User] The edges of Bardalos’s lips twitched upward. “Won’t you join me? I want your magic.”

[Assistant] “Excuse me? How about you save the gibberish for the grave.” Tinasha fired back coldly.

[User] Tris jumped at that. “It’s not gibberish. Don’t you have fun when you’re fighting using magic? Doesn’t it give you a rush of pleasure to draw up the perfect spell configuration? That means you love exercising your power. But how much of it do you employ in your daily life? It can’t be more than ten percent at best. With me, you can let loose to your heart’s content. Nothing is taboo. You’ll be able to indulge in whatever comes to mind—all that you could desire. Neither magic nor your intelligence will constrain you.”

[Assistant] Bardalos had thrown off those shackles…and was inviting Tinasha to join him. “You get it, don’t you? Do you know how bored you’ll be spending the rest of your life cowed as the queen consort of Farsas?”

[User] Tinasha sighed in disgust. In one fluid movement, she crossed her legs. “I refuse. Don’t make me say it again. It’s too annoying.”

[Assistant] “You’re a stubborn one. I guess you don’t care if this girl dies, huh?” Bardalos reached out and closed a hand around Tris’s neck. The frightened girl’s eyes bulged.

[User] Face twisting with displeasure, Tinasha was almost on her feet when a blade of wind sliced toward her, opening a gash from her right cheek to her knees. A spray of blood went everywhere, and Tris screamed.

[Assistant] “Queen Tinasha!”

[User] “Don’t shout.” Then he turned to Tinasha with a smile. “I don’t wish to repeat myself. You understand the loneliness of a powerful mage. I can be the one who gets that about you.”

[Assistant] “You’re a very confident man, aren’t you? Did it not occur to you that I could kill you if we went off together?” Tinasha pointed out.

[User] “You do have a point. That’s why I’ll be taking this one with us for the time being. That’ll help keep you in line.” Bardalos leaned in to whisper something in Tris’s ear. She shuddered, and the life faded from her eyes. Tinasha watched it with revulsion.


[User] “Is that a hex, too? How tedious.”

[Assistant] “The good thing about hexes is that others can’t parse them easily. People are far weaker than they believe. You only need to work on the mind, and you can warp it without much effort.”

[User] “Is that how you got all those villages to catch on fire?”

[Assistant] “Yes, although it didn’t go that smoothly at first. Thanks to all my experiments, I’ve grown pretty confident in my psychological magic, though I’m no Witch of Silence.”

[User] Wiping the blood from her cheek with her thumb, Tinasha glanced at the clock.

[Assistant] Bardalos followed her gaze and noted the time as well.


[User] Bardalos looked at the clock again. It was nearly time.

[Assistant] Bardalos imagined the flames of which would rise high enough to be visible from the castle windows. And with that moment of distraction, Bardalos would plant a hex in her mind. Even this all-powerful queen couldn’t break another’s curse instantaneously. Once he was in, victory would be his. The queen was a fool, but she understood the loneliness and constraints of life as a mage. Exploiting that would allow him to manipulate her any way he desired. Ultimately, she was only a little girl with nowhere to go.


[User] Tinasha sat there silently, legs crossed primly, paying no mind to the blood oozing from the gash.

[Assistant] Before he knew it, Bardalos was holding his breath. But the fire was about to start. He couldn’t miss this moment.

[User] “Were you born with that magic? I’d love to see how much of it has seeped into your guts.”

[Assistant] “Why are mages like you always so eager to rip my belly open?”

[User] “I’m just curious. Your entire body is like a very, very valuable catalyst.” Bardalos explained, lifting a hand.

[Assistant] There was a soft noise, and acute pain lanced through Tinasha, causing her to double over. Glancing down, she saw a slender stake crafted of magic piercing her stomach.


[User] The black spike faded away to reveal fresh blood gushing from the finger-width wound it had left. Tinasha gave a shaky breath and sat back up, eyeing with a cold gaze the blood streaming into her lap.

[Assistant] “Tell me you’ll be mine. I can understand you.”

[User] “I have never once wished for someone to understand me.” Tinasha answered, smiling and shrugging.

[Assistant] Her grin made Bardalos uncomfortable, and he glanced at the clock. “What’s going on?” he muttered. No fire had started. It was past time, but that couldn’t be. He had checked the spell repeatedly while casting it.

[User] Bardalos heard the queen giggle—an exceedingly unpleasant sound to him.

[Assistant] Flicking his gaze to her, he saw blood running from her stomach, pooling on the floor of the dark room. “What did you do?” he demanded.

[User] “I haven’t done anything.”

[Assistant] “Then why are you laughing?”

[User] “Sorry… I was just considering the best way to kill you, and it slipped out.”

[Assistant] “You think I’m going to die?” Bardalos snarled, his expression tight as he threw out a hand to claw at her throat. He would cast a spell to forcibly show her who was in charge in this situation. Before he could, however, a man called from behind:

[User] “What do you think you’re doing?” The impact came as he spoke. Bardalos couldn’t get a word out; his world had suddenly gone dark. He couldn’t see a thing. By the time he finally realized his chair had been yanked from under him and he was pressed with his face to the floor, a sharp pain was cut through his right leg. Bardalos’s mind went blank and he screamed.

[Assistant] “AAAAAHHHH!”

[User] “I asked you what you think you’re doing. You’d better answer quick, if you want to keep your leg.” instructed a masculine voice seething with fury. Bearing the pain as best he could, Bardalos attempted to cast, but his magic refused to take shape. It wasn’t that he couldn’t concentrate—the power was dispersing as he called it. With his heel firmly planted on Bardalos and the royal sword stabbed into the mage’s leg, Oscar looked at his fiancée, tutted irritably, and snapped,

[Assistant] “What are you waiting for? Heal your wounds.” It was over too soon.


[User] Tinasha made a face as she approached Tris, who was unconscious. Pressing her forehead against the girl’s, she focused on the magic inside her. “Hmm, I think it’s a type of curse that makes you feel phantom pain. I can break it once I apply a pain-killing spell.” Tinasha thought up a spell, one that would be the most optimal in the shortest amount of time. She placed a hand on Tris’s chest.

[Assistant] “Recede.” The incantation was but one word. Tris shuddered, but that was the only change. She sank into her chair. Tinasha sighed now that the treatment had been successfully administered. With a hand on her stomach, she intoned another spell and mended the little hole.


[User] All the while, Bardalos’s screams echoed around the room. His foot still pinning the other man, Oscar fixed him with a glare and barked, “Whose woman do you think she is? You’re going to pay for that.”

[Assistant] Bardalos wailed, having lost all desire to fight. He thrashed about on the floor in an attempt to escape Akashia, which was stuck into the floor after slicing his ear off.

[User] Pressing his hands to his own ears to muffle the mage’s shrieks, Oscar said to Tinasha, “What a racket. Who the hell is this guy?”

[Assistant] “He’s the one who set all those villages on fire. He came here of his own accord.”

[User] “Really? What a complete idiot. And why did you let him do as he pleased to you?” Oscar demanded.

[Assistant] “He limited my magic. But also I knew you’d come if I waited.” Tinasha replied.

[User] That was why she had picked a chair close to the front of the room. She knew that her guests would sit opposite her, putting their backs to Oscar when he arrived via the array in her bedroom.

[Assistant] The explanation did little to ease Oscar’s anger, however, and his face twisted with irritation. “You get yourself into way too many scrapes.”

[User] Someone pounded at the door. Guards had heard Bardalos’s screams and had come running. On this no longer quiet night, the series of incidents that had claimed the lives of more than two thousand over the past eight years finally came to a surreptitious end. Bardalos was given a quick painkiller so he could talk, but he knew that did not mean he would be spared. While he was bound on the floor, a pair of men carried on a terrifying conversation about what to do with him.

[Assistant] “Give him to me. He destroyed a village in Farsas, so I’ll execute him there.”

[User] “But he was captured here in Tuldarr, and he’s harmed our queen… Let’s each take half of his body.”

[Assistant] “Lengthwise, then. Do you want the left or the right?”

[User] “Oh, but while we’re on the subject, we should consider the other countries he’s wronged, too. I think there were a total of nine.”

[Assistant] “No, two attacks were in Tayiri, so that makes eight.”

[User] “So then nine equal pieces including Tuldarr’s two shares.”

[Assistant] As the king of Farsas contemplated how best to carve up Bardalos with the sword in his grip, Tinasha stopped him.

[User] “Don’t do it in my rooms. The smell will be impossible to air out.”

[Assistant] “But there’s already blood everywhere.” Oscar pointed out.

[User] “Yes, removing the stains will be awful. We’ll probably have to replace the carpets.” Tinasha stood.

[Assistant] She’d healed all her wounds, changed into fresh clothes, and restored Tris. Tinasha had expected that breaking the curse would require much more time than it had. However, the caster was her prisoner now.


[User] Oscar’s rough interrogation method—torture—had pushed Bardalos to reveal what she needed to visualize the basic spell he’d cast, allowing her to neutralize it effectively. The queen approached Bardalos and knelt next to his head. "I have one last question for you. Do you know a man named Valt?"

[Assistant] A shadow crossed Oscar’s and Legis’s faces when they heard that name.

[User] Bardalos only swallowed a mouthful of bloody saliva and shook his head. After a pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "I don’t."

[Assistant] "Really? Well, I suppose that’s for the best. I puzzled over the most effective way to capture you for a while, yet you delivered yourself to me. Thank you." Tinasha said with a bright smile.

[User] Bardalos’s lip curled in a sneer. "Someday you’ll be lonely and regret rejecting me."

[Assistant] "No, I won’t." She replied decisively, placing a hand on his forehead. All the darkness of the abyss in her eyes pierced his own. "I’ve never once feared loneliness." It was the gloom she always dragged behind her. She had never thought it frightening or tried to avoid it. As far as Tinasha could remember, she had always been lonely. The only one to fill that void was the man she met when she was thirteen. Regardless of what the future held, and no matter what regrets awaited, she would never be dissatisfied for choosing him. She had reached her goal. "And there’s one more thing. I would never pick a weak man." She added with a sweet, beatific smile. Tinasha was a person capable of killing, the type who found battle fun. And she would use her power to claim another life now. There was no doubt in her mind.

[User] Bardalos’s face grew taut and pale as the queen’s magic coalesced and took shape.

[Assistant] Lacking all pity, Tinasha peered down at Bardalos and whispered, "Good-bye." His scream tore through the night. With her devastating power holding him down as he writhed in agony, Tinasha watched until the end, never looking away.


[User] "What you just did—is his brain broken now?"

[Assistant] "If it was, we’d have no way of interrogating him for the record. I simply ruptured his magic into pieces. I’ve planted a spell in his body that will shred his power again if it heals. It’s extremely painful, so it will be difficult for him to retain sanity." Tinasha explained with a self-deprecating smile, answering Oscar’s question as if discussing the weather. The two of them had moved from Tuldarr to Oscar’s bedroom in Farsas Castle. Following Tinasha’s destruction of Bardalos’s magic, she’d made arrangements to have everything cleaned up and taken care of. Then Legis had sent Tinasha and Oscar to Farsas, so the queen’s rooms could be scrubbed as an added safety measure. After an investigation, and once all of Bardalos’s crimes came to light, the other affected countries would be notified. If there were no objections, Tuldarr would handle the execution.


[User] Tinasha lay on her stomach on the bed as Oscar took her comb and started brushing her hair. She craned her neck to give him an odd look.

[Assistant] "What are you doing?"

[User] "It’s fun to watch it get shinier. It’s like grooming a cat’s coat."

[Assistant] Tinasha boggled at him for a moment before covering her mouth as she yawned. So much had happened, and it was three hours past her usual bedtime. She harbored no delusions that she’d be able to wake up tomorrow morning.

[User] Coldly, he warned her, "You’re way too careless. Don’t just let people into your bedroom."

[Assistant] "I told you that I didn’t seriously suspect him at first. And since my bedroom is where you teleport to, it’s actually the safest of my chambers, in a sense."

[User] "Unbelievable…"

[Assistant] She knew what time Oscar always dropped by, so it hadn’t seemed like there was any cause for worry. It had only been a matter of waiting until he arrived. Turning her face down, Tinasha let herself begin to drift off. A light pinch on the cheek from Oscar tugged her back into the waking world.

[User] "Ow…"

[Assistant] "You need to fight back as soon as you face off against someone! Don’t let them do whatever they want to you!"

[User] "Hmph. It’s not like it was a very big injury."

[Assistant] "But it hurts me to see you hurt." Oscar argued, setting the comb aside and lying on his back. His blue eyes glanced over at Tinasha.

[User] She closed her eyes and sighed. After some deliberation, she decided to come out and say it. "Oscar."

[Assistant] "What?"

[User] "He told me that I’m the type of person who enjoys fighting—that I devour others to survive."

[Assistant] "That’s ridiculous."

[User] "Is it?"

[Assistant] "Being strong makes killing easy, but that power doesn’t remove a person’s doubt to go through with it. Knowing you, I’m sure it makes you more hesitant, right? Besides, you’re so much stronger than other people that I bet it’s rare you feel exhilarated during a battle."

[User] "Oscar…" How did he understand all that about her so well?


[User] "If you’re having doubts about it, go ahead and have them. That isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. There are times when someone has to be the one to kill. And you’re capable of living with that, aren’t you?"

[Assistant] She couldn’t hold back a snort at that.

[User] "I…don’t think you’re telling me to just turn the negative into a positive or something optimistic like that. You only ever say things as they are… I love that about you." She confessed.

[Assistant] Aware that she had been slowly changing since meeting him, Tinasha gave a little smile. She used both hands to push her sleepy self upright and gazed into his eyes, which were the color of a young night sky.

[User] Tinasha closed her eyes and gave him a kiss conveying all the heat she was feeling. She pulled back to gaze down at his beautiful face. "I feel…desire."

[Assistant] "I swear I’m going to teach you to stop toying with a man’s heart one of these days." Oscar grumbled, letting out the most frustrated groan.

[User] Tinasha burst out laughing. She curled up next to him and closed her eyes.