In a luxurious coach encased with pure gold and precious gems, a young woman was sitting on the comfy seat. The lady had orange hair and eyes and she did not look any older than twenty four. Her waist was slim but her bust and hips were curvaceous.

Two maids accompanied her. Both of the young women, who were sitting opposite her, had excited smiles on their faces. It was not everyday the two can get out of the Imperial Citadel- the place where they had been trapped their entire life.

The brimming smile on the two’s face prompted the the orange eyed woman’s lips to curl up. “Don’t lose yourselves. I have the feeling that you two might ruin my face once we arrive at the Raymond’s.” She gave them a teasing look.

One of the maids opened her mouth. She had a beauty mark on her cheek. “Your hi-“

The orange haired woman, who was an Imperial princess scowled.

The maid looked around with caution despite being in an enclosed environment before turning to the princess. “Sister Cassidy…”

The princess’s brows relaxed.

“They say that Edenshield is not any less compared to the capital. Is that true?” The maid asked with shining eyes and a lustrous smile as she arched forward.

The princess thought for a moment before saying, “I visited it once when I was very young. I don’t remember much but there is something that I can never forget.”

“What?” The other maid’s bent towards the princess as well. She was making the same face as that of her comrade’s- one filled with anticipation and excitement.

“The walls.” The princess looked up as is she were reminiscing about the past. “They were the tallest I have ever seen. It was at least twice the height as of that of the capital’s.”

“Really?” Both of the maids widened their eyes.

“Who knows?” The princess shrugged with a giggle. “Maybe because I was little, so it seemed tall to me.”

The maids were just about to laugh when the carriage abruptly stopped.

*Neeigh!*

“What’s that?!” Sound came from outside. “It’s an ambush!” “Protect the princess!”

The princess removed the curtains to her side. She could see that the horses were stopped in place, wriggling in place as they neighed hard. The riders tried their best to control the horses, but to no avail.

She noticed that the trees were slowly rising up. No… they were going down.

The maids panicked and clenched each other’s hands, fearing the worse. And sure enough, the coachman confirmed it.

The small window at the front opened. “Your highness! We are under attack!”

“Uncle Rio should be able to take care of it, right?” The princess declared, consoling herself within.

“I have already sent some messenger to the front carriage.” The coachman replied.

Soon, the messenger came back. He was a wind circler who was keeping his feet a few inches from the ground. His eyes were opened wide agape; his whole body was trembling.

A foreboding clasped the princess and the coachman’s hearts.

“Vice Commander… he… he is dead!”

Silence ensued.

“What?!” Everyone shouted in chorus.

“He…” The messenger gulped, shock still prevalent on his face. “An arrow pierced through his heart!”

“An arrow?” The princess scowled. “Impossible!” She cried out. “Uncle Rio is a level 8. How could he not sense a mere arrow?” She shoved the door open. “I will check myself.”

“Please stay inside your highness!” The coachman urged. “There’s a master marksman out there.”

As if the heavens heard is call, a moment whistling sound rang through the air before a guard fell from his horse, onto the quicksand below. The magic instigated quicksand devoured the guard in no time.

“Stay alert! Get away from the quicksand!” A rough voice reverberated through the convoy. It was the second in command. It came from the back.

*Clank!*

Someone crashed onto the roof of the carriage. The young maids screamed as they grasped each other. But the princess remained calm.

A middle aged man wearing an orange striped black cloth hanged from the roof and hopped inside the coachman.

The man looked at the princess. “Follow me, we need to go out, now! Else, we will have to lay our graves in the quagmire!”

The princess nodded and looked at the maids. “Let’s go!”

The man snorted. “Leave them be. They will slow us down.”

“They are coming with me!” She declared her stance.

“As you wish.” He looked at the maids. “You better not slow us down. Don’t forget that we have the address of your family.” He grabbed them by their napes and threw them into the forest.

He then aimed for princess.

“I can go on my own.” She jumped out, stepped on a horse and landed safely at the solid roadside before helping the maids up.

The man reached the ground with one strong leap.

All the surviving soldiers followed and landed on the same side of the road. A few had already fallen prey to the arrows.

The maids barely got up on their feet. The intense fear of the situation covered the pain from the bruises and the fall.

The forest was dense. The day was getting darker and darker every moment and it would be night soon. A serene music floated into their ears. Wait… music?

A tranquil music entered everyone’s ears. The fear they had garnered completely died down. A sense of relaxation and peace hit their cores.

Ah… it felt so good. Their eyes lids turned heavy as their knees grew weak. Just as they were about to close their eyes-

“Wake up!” The middle aged man shouted as he kicked the closest guard to him and knocked the poor fella into another.

The commotion brought everyone including the princess back into reality. Cold sweat drenched their skins.

“Everyone!” The acting leader grabbed everyone’s attention. “We are heading West. The enemies have someone who can affect our minds. Stay alert, and protect her highness at all cost!”

“Yes, sir!” The guards stomped their feet.

The man looked above. It was already dark.

“The night’s going to be long.”