"What of the Chancellor's theories?" Raven said. "Do you think it could be true that there is Black Magic involved?"

Priya raised a hand to scratch her nose, as if she was uncomfortable with the question asked. "I do not know whether it can be called Black Magic but... Gabriel's attack was something that science cannot explain. I saw his corpse, empty as a shell. It was almost as if someone could just step into his shell and wear his skin."

Anya swallowed down bile.

Raven pressed for more. "Was there any blood on the insides of the skin?"

Priya furrowed her brows, as if trying to remember. "Yes, there was."

Anya involuntarily visualized it, and her breakfast churned in her stomach.

"And what of any marks of penetration on the outside of it?" Raven questioned.

Priya chuckled. "Even the General and the Chancellor did not ask me this many questions."

Anya forced herself to speak. "Can you please answer her?"

"Of course," The older woman looked surprised. "I do not remember that clearly, but as far as his face, neck and arms were concerned, there wasn't a single scratch on him."

Raven nodded thoughtfully, as if she were jotting Priya's words down in her head.

Anya turned to grasp Raven's shirt, making the latter look at the former. When their eyes met, Raven's widened, and Anya realized her discomfort must show on her face.

"Should we leave, Your Royal Highness?" She asked gently.

Anya nodded, grateful.

They took their leave, and when they reached Anya's quarters, she felt the sudden urge to apologize.

"I'm sorry," She said, unable to meet Raven's eyes.

"For what?" Raven sounded confused.

"For making us leave the infirmary so soon. I felt a little... nauseous."

"That's not something to apologize for, Princess Anya." The gentleness in Raven's voice made Anya look up at her. "Besides, I had already run out of questions to ask."

Just the way Raven said her name, even with the honorific...

Anya nodded, and they parted ways, each heading to their respective quarters.

Neither of the two girls received much sleep that night; one thinking of Priya's descriptions, and the other thinking of the former's softness.

.

.

.

Raven had been unable to stop pondering over Priya's words. She had not wished to admit it, but she felt that Chancellor Reginald had been right.

Gabriel Santiago's attack was not human.

Raven realized that most of what Priya had told them was already mentioned one way or the other in the journal she had received from the Chancellor, and a part of her strangely felt reluctant to carry out this secret investigation when he had already given every piece of information they had.

She did not, however, wish to stop.

Perhaps it was her young age, perhaps it was the thirst to see something unusual and interesting, perhaps even the urge to prove that she was not just a liability, but Raven felt that there was something underneath the table that not even the Chancellor or the King knew about.

And she meant to find that out.

She knew now, however, that it would be considerably easier if she had help from Princess Anya.

Raven did not know how to comprehend the Princess's words which she had spoken by the sea. She only knew if she asked for help Princess Anya would never refuse her.

So, as Princess Anya climbed back into her carriage after a tiring day of diplomacy, instead of taking seat with the coachman like she always did, Raven got into the carriage.

The Princess looked a little surprised, but Raven shamelessly sat opposite to her, and then tapped her sword against the inside of the carriage wall, signalling the coachman to start moving.

She wasn't willing to sit there for the whole carriage ride back to the Castle, but she needed to talk to Princess Anya about their next step.

As the carriage jostled into motion, Raven leaned forward. "Pardon my intrusion, Princess Anya, but there is something I wished to discuss with you."

"Oh, of course, what is it?" Anya recovered from her surprise, giving Raven one of her graceful smiles.

"Does General Allyss not keep a record of personal information on every warrior to have ever served Navaya?" She asked.

"Yes, she does." Anya answered, her face showing she had no idea where this conversation of theirs was leading.

"But if that warrior was to be Gabriel Santiago, who would have it?" Raven pressed, and realization dawned on the other's face.

She took a moment to ponder. "I suppose either Chancellor Reginald or my father."

Raven nodded, and her brain immediately scouted for any and all ways she could confirm exactly which of the two had the information she so wanted.

But Princess Anya's voice cut through her reverie. "Do not think of trying to get your hands upon it, Raven."

Raven looked up, and she saw a concerned expression on the other girl's face.

"We're speaking of the two highest positions in the administration of a kingdom: Chancellor and King." She continued. "Not only would their offices be heavily guarded, the people themselves are incredibly smart, and cannot be tricked with ease."

Raven looked away from the unbearable expression before her eyes. The Princess was obviously just trying to warn her, but Raven couldn't help but think of how this was probably the first time in her entire someone was trying to look out for her.

Princess Anya's brows were furrowed, and her big eyes were imploring the other girl to not take an impulsive step.

Raven cleared her throat, and then placed her elbows on her knees, looking out of the carriage window at the trees and houses that whipped past them.

Her brain was running in all different directions: Gabriel's attack, The Princess's expression, personal information, The Princess's concern, and so much more.

After a tiring struggle to collect her thoughts, Raven looked up at the Princess.

"Their offices might be heavily guarded, but not against you."

Princess Anya's eyes widened. "You wish for me to steal from my own father?"

"It does not have to be your father." Raven reasoned. "It could be the Chancellor."

"The Chancellor's office stands right next to my father's!" Princess Anya's voice rose an octave.

"So what do you propose we do?" Raven said, her voice rising involuntarily in volume. "Sit and back and watch as more corpses attack the castle?"

The Princess flinched.

The mood in the carriage had changed drastically.

Princess Anya was staring at something on Raven's waist, her eyes wide. Raven followed Anya's line of sight, and realised her hand was back on the hilt of the sword that hung there, and her knuckles were white from gripping hard.

She quickly removed her hand.

"I apologize" She muttered, not looking at Princess Anya's face.

She had not been about to lash out at the Princess; she knew herself enough.

Yes, her anger was never in her control and yes, she was very impulsive. But she could not hurt Princess Anya.

She just could never.

.

.

.

Anya felt miserable.

She knew what Raven was saying, and also why Raven was saying it. Yet she simply could not do what she was being asked to.

Her father might have lied to her, but it was for her own good. He must have been worried that she would grow cautious, and discontinue to smile the way she did. Her father was the sort of person who would worry about that, even when Anya's life was at stake.

But if so, was lying to him not for his, and upon extension, Navaya's, own good? Would it not be great if Raven could help the Chancellor figure something out?

Anya was so confused. She knew not which decision would be wiser.

'Decisions are what make your throne, Anya.' Her father had told her once. 'If you make good ones, you sit on flush seats made from flowers and silk, beautiful to look at and comfortable to sit on. If you make bad ones, however, you have to lower yourself on thorns and hard rocks. Whatever happens, always remember, your decisions will come back to you. So chose accordingly.'

Anya looked at Raven.

The other girl had been silent ever seen her hand had left her sword, and Anya felt Raven was perhaps ashamed of her actions.

She trusted Raven, and knew that the latter would never willingly hurt the former. And yet, for a moment, she had been reminded of Raven's duel with General Allyss.

It made her feel so miserable.

The carriage jostled to a halt, and Raven stepped out without a word, leaving Anya to follow. They stepped into the Castle, climbed up a staircase, and reached their respective quarters.

Just as Raven was about to enter her room, Anya stopped her, placing a hesitant hand on her arm.

"Good night, Raven."

Anya wanted Raven to look at her. She wanted their gazes to meet, so that she could at least try to fathom what the other girl was thinking.

Raven, however, simply stared at the hand on her arm, and said, "Good night, Princess."