PROLOGUE

A DAY BEFORE THE YTHER'S SEIGE

THE FIRST THING Gatria saw, the moment she entered the throne room of Citadel of Krahika— the central temple in the middle of Yther Kingdom were the queens resides together— was Sollel and Aenwyn kneeling in front of a strict looking Astrid who was tightly gripping a whip made out of wind.

"You two...! How many times do I have to tell you to behave...?!" Astrid slammed her wind whip on the floor tiles and the sound made Sollel and Aenwyn winced as if it hit them.

Who would blame the two? The sound Astrid's whip made was razor-sharp that it put pressure in the air. 

Gatria sighed at what she was seeing and decided to stay at the door to the throne room to continued watching even though she knew how things would unfold. She actually just didn't want to participate. Astrid was enough to discipline the two most disastrous queens of Yther.

Sollel, the Mistress of Flame and also known as the queen of destruction, and Aenwyn, the Mistress of the High Seas, who's considered an eccentric queen because of her out of this world antics were both looking down at the floor and shaking in fear because Astrid slammed her wind whip again and it hit the floor in front of the two.

Gatria knew Astrid meant to do it, to warn Sollel and Aenwyn, and she smiled at that. Astrid had always been strict to others and to herself as well. And it was not like this was the first time Gatria witnessed such scene. She had witnessed this a hundred times already— that's how stubborn Sollel and Aenwyn were.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to cause ruckus inside and outside Yther?!" Astrid was still fuming mad and from time to time, her wind whip would slam on the floor causing Sollel and Aenwyn to flinch in fear. "Are you two  deaf that you couldn't hear my warning...?! Do you want to be punished again by kneeling for a year?! Is that what you two like?! Answer me!"

Mustering her courage, Sollel did answer Astrid. "But we're not even doing anything, Astrid. We were just playing—"

"You made a volcano erupt!" Astrid shouted to Sollel before her eyes went to Aenwyn. "And a tsunami nearly devoured the archipelagos! Is that what you called playing?! We are here to protect Azitera's inhabitants! We are blessed by the deities and it is our job to take good care of Azitera, not destroy it!"

Mustering her courage as well, Aenwyn answered. "But like Sollel said, we were just having a friendly match—"

"Sollel nearly burned a forest, If It was not protected by Gatria, it would have been burned already! And you, Aenwyn, made a lake out of nowhere, destroying the settlements nearby! If not for the guards evacuating everyone in time, what do you two think would've happened, huh?! I told you to behave and not use your destructive abilities, but you never listened! This is the reason why those Descendant of Sappher fools waged war against us. You two are part of their reason!"

Sollel and Aenwyn immediately fell silent. They knew when to fight and gave up and in front of Aenwyn, they always chose to give up.

"Astrid, if you continue shouting, you'll stress yourself out. As if those two would understand your predicament." Gatria's calm and gentle voice filled the throne room, it seemed like she could no longer watch in silence.

The three queens turned their heads towards Gatria who just spoke and it was Sollel who got up with a wide smile on her lips to receive Gatria with loving arms— but Astrid's angry voice was heard.

"Who told you you can stand up, Sollel?!"

Astrid's voice boomed in every corner of the throne room, and almost immediately, Sollel fell on her knees as if afraid and kneeled.

That made Gatria chuckled and softly caressed Sollel's hair when she passed by her. "I told to behave, but you wouldn't listen."

Astrid's strict voice was heard once again. "Sollel, Aenwyn, pay for your stubbornness. Go to the corner, kneel for the whole day and repent."

Both looking down and shoulder slumped, Sollel and Aenwyn went to the corner of the throne room and kneel to repent.

Seeing the two, Gatria shook her head and sighed before facing Astrid. "How's the settlement that was destroyed? Was there any casualties?"

Astrid shook her head before she sat on her throne, the throne chair that had Astrid's symbol on its back. "Fortunately, there's none. When the guards saw the two fighting, they immediately evacuated everyone knowing what will happen. And since they couldn't stop the two and they knew the catastrophic event that will occur while those two were fighting, they sent an emergency message to Citadel to inform me. Though If I didn't arrive in time, the damage would have been severe."

Gatria massage her temple and she breathe deeply. "We really have to put a rein on those two."

"Yes." Astrid agreed firmly. "I'm planning on making them kneel for a whole year, so we'll have a whole year of peace."

Gatria managed a dry, calm smile. "I can already hear them complaining."

"I don't care." Astrid replied firmly without emotion whatsoever. "I want one year of peace from those two battle maniacs."

Gatria just chuckled and didn't say anything until she felt Astrid's gaze on her. "What?"

Still no emotion in her voice, Astrid asked. "When are you going to break your relationship with that man?"

Gatria frowned, not following Astrid. "What...?"

Astrid crossed her arms over her chest. "That Descendant of Sappher you'd been hanging out with."

"Treven?" Gatria asked.

"No. Treven is fine," Astrid said matter-of-factly, "he's our spy. I'm referring to the other one— the one with a war hammer."

"Oh," realization dawned on Gatria and she smiled. "You mean Kar?"

"Yes. Him." Astrid had an indifferent look on her face. "When are you going to cut ties with that man? I understand Treven because he didn't really like his race after those bastards chased him away just because his preference in romantic partner is different than theirs, but that man? Gatria," Astrid narrowed her eyes on Gatria's green ones, "we defeated their whole race in a war and now you're having a relationship with  one of them? A warlord, even! Are you not thinking? What if this was a ploy to get your guards down? What if that man was sent to earn your trust and betray you—"

"Kar is not like that." All the emotion on Gatria's face disappeared and her eyes became sharp and cold. "He's different. He would never betray me."

Astrid scoffed at Gatria's naïve thinking. "Forgive me for not believing your naïve words, Gatria. I know you have a good head compare to those two," Astrid sent a glare in Sollel and Aenwyn's direction, "that's why I am hoping that you will make a good decision that would not harm our kingdom and Azitera. Please, keep in mind that you are one of the queens of the Yther Kingdom. If something happened to you, it will affect all of us."

Gatria clenched her fist. "Do not speak lightly of Kar as if he would do something bad to me, Astrid. He's not like that!" Gatria couldn't control her anger, she raised her voice. "He would never betray me! He would never hurt me!" Sappher only love one person in their lifetimes and Gatria knew this, that's why she knew that Kar would never betray her.

She was the love of his life. They had met on the battlefield and he pursued her after the war. Kar did not stop even after Gatria raised her sword at him and nearly killed him.

Even when her sword was buried in his chest with so much killing intent, he smiled and told her that death would be better than not having her by his side.

It was the first time for Gatria to meet such a resolute and impassioned man that she faltered. Instead of killing him, she pulled out her sword and healed him.

That was the start of their connection. A start that Gatria treasures.

Thus, to hear Astrid spoke of Kar like he would harm him, when it was the opposite, it made Gatria's blood boil.

"You don't know him, so don't speak so lightly of him." Gatria boldly and coldly told Astrid that made Astris's eyes widened. Astrid was not expecting that Gatria would say those words to defend a Descendant of Sappher fool. "My relationship with him has nothing to do with you, Astrid. So stay away from it."

Gatria turned around and left the Citadel with a different mood than she came in earlier. Her happy mood had now become sour. And it didn't escape Sollel and Aenwyn's radar who were kneeling in the corner.

"What happened to Gatria?" Sollel whispered ay Aenwyn who was combing her curly hair with her fingers as they kneel. "Do you have any idea, Aenwyn?"

Aenwyn gave Sollel a 'are you not thinking' look. "We're both kneeling in the corner, Sollel. What made you think I have an idea what they were talking about?"

Sollel glared at Aenwyn. "Because you're crazy."

Aenwyn glared at Sollel back. "What does it have to do with that?"

"Because the servants in my temple said that you're crazy because you know a lot of things. That's why I'm asking you. I'm worried about Gatria."

Aenwyn gave Sollel a deadpan look. "Do you even realized that you just outed your servants gossiping about me?"

Sollel nonchalantly shrugged. "What gossiping? It's true that you're crazy, Aenwyn. No need to gossip about that. I always tell you that all the time."

"You..." Aenwyn sighed in exasperation seeing Sollel's unoffending look. Aenwyn couldn't really understand how Sollel brain works most of the time. "Gatria will be fine, don't worry. She'll figure it out. And for Astrid, she's just being strict and overprotected as usual."

Sollel frowned at Aenwyn who had become serious all of the sudden. "Is it that serious?"

Aenwyn nodded. "Apparently, Gatria already gave herself to her lover."

Sollel gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. "Truly?!"

"Yes."

"Did Gatria told you if it felt good?"

Aenwyn gave Sollel an incredulous look. "You're more curious about that than Gatria giving herself to that man?!"

Sollel nonchalantly shrugged again. "I'm sure Gatria has a good reason why she did what she did. I trust her. And yes, I'm more curious about their intimate relationship than anything. She's the first of us to be intimate with a man! Of course, I'm curious. We were taught how to do it, but I'm pretty sure the real thing is different."

Aenwyn was still looking at Sollel with an incredulous face. I don't know what to say. I'm speechless, Aenwyn thought as she looked at Sollel's excited face.

"Sollel, you do know that if you did it with someone, you'll burn them alive, right?"

"Yes." Sollel answered without an ounce of hesitation.

"And yet, you still want to be intimate with someone you love knowing you'll kill them?"

Sollel showed Aenwyn the Solaris on her wrist. "I just have to find a man worthy to wear my Solaris, then he'll be protected against my flame. Easy, right?" Sollel had a smug look on her face. "I'm ingenious."

Aenwyn sighed at Sollel. "For someone who only thinks of fighting and destruction, you actually used your brain for other things."

"Of course! Anyway, you think Astrid doesn't like the man Gatria chose for herself?"

Aenwyn sighed. "It's complicated. That man is a Descendant of Sappher, you know."

"Oh. Those puny warrior who wage war against us?"

Calling the Descendants of Sappher 'puny', only the queen of destruction and the Mistress of Flame could get away with that.

"Yes. Apparently, Gatria's lover is a nobility of Sappher. A warlord."

"Hmm. So, that's why Astrid doesn't like him— because he's weak?"

Aenwyn shook her head. "It's not about being weak or strong, it's about his lineage. I'm sure Astrid is worried that that man might hurt and betray Gatria."

"Gatria would kill him if he did."

Stunned, Aenwyn glanced at Sollel. "She will?"

Sollel nodded with no hesitation. "Yes. Gatria will. She might be calm and always gentle, but Gatria is very scary, you know. Remember what she did with the head of her temple when she found out the temple's head had been extorting money from other races?"

Now that she mentioned it, Aenwyn thought as she remembered that scene. "Gatria made the temple's head into a tree while staying alive inside."

"Hmm." Sollel nodded. "I think Gatria will be just fine. She can handle herself. She may look calm, gentle and meek on the outside, but she's one of the queens of Yther. She's blessed by the deities and no puny warrior could harm her. And If that puny warrior ever did, Gatria will kill him. That's for sure."

Aenwyn didn't say anything because of so much trust Sollel had for Gatria. For Aenwyn though, she was just as worried as Astrid. She just didn't like showing it. And also because they were busy kneeling in the corner. If they ever move an inch, Astrid will scold them again.

I don't want to kneel for a year again, Aenwyn mused. Why is Astrid so freaking scary? Aenwyn may be the second blessed queen of Yther, but that didn't matter in front of Astrid.

Because Astrid was a beast.

Aenwyn could still remember when Astrid pretended to forgive them after she and Sollel fought that caused a mini-destruction and Astrid flew her into the air and just above the clouds, yes, above it, Astrid dropped Aenwyn without mercy as punishment.

Aenwyn shivered at the memory. That traumatized her not to go against Astrid no more. It was a good thing that she fell in the sea and not on the land, but Aenwyn had a hunch that Astrid meant to do that.

"Huh? Aenwyn, why are you shivering all of the sudden?"

"Memories..." Aenwyn closed her eyes. "Astrid is really scary."

Sollel nodded. "Yes. She is. So let's kneel properly."

"Hmm. Let's."

The two continued kneeling for the whole day and only stood up when they heard Astrid's voice inside their head telling them to stand up and eat.

Meanwhile, Gatria was in Woodtry Hill. A hill miles away from the Yther Kingdom.

Gatria rode her favorite equine to reached the hill and meet her beloved.

Woodtry Hill was their place. A very special place for her and Kar. Because on top of the hill was a lone large tree and a simple cabin house beside it.

The cabin Kar made for them. Just for them.

It was a very special place for Gatria that a smile immediately appeared on her lips when she caught sight of it as she traversed the hill with her favorite equine. And her smile became even more wide when she saw Kar standing under the tree, his back was on her.

Happiness filled Gatria's body as she dismounted her equine and run towards Kar.

"Kar...!" Gatria called out and immediately wrapped her arms around him to feel his warmth that she loved.

Finally, Kar turned to face her and a frown made its way to Gatria's eyebrows when she saw how cold and distant he looked.

Her instinct told her to step away, but this was Kar, her warlord. She would never back away. She knew how much Kar hated it when she puts a distance between them.

"What's the matter...?" So, Gatria gently asked, concerned. "Did something happen?"

Gatria was waiting for Kar's answer when he smiled. Gatria returned it and smiled back as well.

"Are you feeling well now?" Gatria asked again. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry," were the words that came out from Kar's mouth before Gatria felt a sharp weapon pierced her stomach.

With wide eyes and parted lips, Gatria's gaze fell down at her stomach. Shocked was an understatement when she saw a dagger embedded in her stomach that she staggered back before her gaze slowly lifted to Kar who was just staring at her like she didn't matter.

"... why?" Gatria asked as tears fell down from her eyes instead of being angry or pulling the dagger out.

"Because I don't really love you. I just did what I did so I can bury that arcane curse dagger on you, Queen Gatria." Kar answered as if it was the most normal thing to say. He had no care for the bleeding Gatria. He was even looking at her vilely. "After what you did to my people, do you really think I could love someone like you?"

Another tear fell from Gatria's eyes. She was not moving and was just staring at Kar in shocked. Her mind didn't want to believe that this was happening— that this was real.

But the reality came crashing down when Kar moved to leave and killed her favorite equine before leaving her on top of the hill. Alone. Wounded. And cursed.

A moment later, her sight become blurry. She could hear the sound of boots marching, but she didn't have the strength to turn and look.

Her consciousness was robbed from her.

And when her consciousness returned, she dragged her wounded body back to her kingdom, only to see it being sieged.

Protect her kingdom and her people—these were her first thought, but she could feel her strength being sucked out of her body, leaving her in a weak, pathetic state before she could even save the attendants in her temple. Her consciousness was robbed once again and when she woke up, she found herself in a dark place, both her wrists and ankles were chained to the wall, a chain made by an unknown glowing mineral. Even her cage was made of the same mineral.

As the Mistress of Nature, she was ashamed to admit that she didn't know the mineral around her.

An unknown mineral that Gatria would later find out the name— the moonrite stone. Her weakness.

CECELIB | C.C.