The night was different in the capital city of the kingdom. The people were dancing, their cheers rising like a living tide. Music wound through every alley, while cheap food and drink flowed freely. The festival was at its peak, wild and unrestrained...
In the castle, those of higher class enjoyed the festival in a more…classy manner. Slow melodies guided elegant dances. Some were chatting away on politics or ways to improve their businesses while the rest decided to gossip away, an evening favourite pastime.
At the high table, the royal family together with the Baskerville family were enjoying themselves with polite conversation, quietly arranging the marriage between the first princess, Sarah, and Borris.
On the balcony, secluded from the festival inside and below Valor stared off to the night sky. She had noticed how all of a sudden the wind had gone silent for a while before coming back more lively, it swept her long radiant hair off her back.
The moonlight had accomplished something impossible, it had made her even more breathtaking.
The light seemed to bend around her, bowing to its queen. A pleased smile touched her lips as she gazed towards the distant lands.
"My, oh my, Valor! I can't believe it!"
Her smile vanished. She knew the teasing voice all too well.
"You HAVE to tell me. Who's the man that's been able to get your attention!" Aaron teased as he made his way next to Valor.
Valor decided it was wiser to ignore the fool.
"Aww…calling your brother a fool isn't very lady-like." Aaron laughed. "Then again, I wouldn't say leveling a whole city is either."
"Don't you have your little band of concubines to attend to?" Valor's voice was a floodgate of authority yet ethereal as if she had authority to command the spirit realm.
She wondered, not for the first time, how the people had confused them as siblings.
She glared at Aaron, both their eyes meeting each other. Moonlight amplified her eyes, making her gaze hypnotic and terrifying — like the death of a star.
Aaron's golden eyes shone brightly, the kind that made it nearly impossible to dislike him. Yet in Valor's presence, their charm failed completely.
"Alright, alright. I'll leave." He raised his hands in defeat.
"Just know I've always wanted to be an uncle-" He vanished in a blur, narrowly avoiding the tip of Valor's summoned spear.
She made her spear vanish, a sea of sparks leaving her grasp. If not for the dress the king had forced her to wear, she would have struck him. Grimacing as she turned back to her former position, her thoughts flashed back to her.
Emerald eyes.
The peaceful moment shattered again as loud, obnoxious voices drifted up from the balcony entrance. A group of noble teenagers had chosen the spot for their gossip. Her knuckles were going white from gripping the marble railing, cracks spreading like cobwebs.
Then a familiar name drifted to her ears.
"You should have seen the look on Lancelot's face when he saw my brother get crowned. That fool looked like he would have popped a vein."
Laughter rippled out of them, each noble trying to outdo the others.
"He's a repulsive peasant who doesn't know his place."
"How did he even find the courage to punch you, let alone speak to you?" a girl asked.
"I don't know either," the boy replied smugly.
"It's shocking he's survived this long."
"He's a cockroach. Barely clinging to life."
"A repulsive one at that."
"Aren't all cockroaches repulsive?"
Valor listened to every insult in silence, their laughter like nails grating on stone. She wasn't angry, she already knew trying to discipline these brats was a waste of time. Besides, she had faith in karma.
Then came the worst line.
"To make it even worse," one voice sneered, "I heard a rumour that the Crimson Knight has been sleeping with that mutt. How the mighty have fallen."
Valor knew the voice that dared speak such atrocities. She turned slowly, her expression as calm as still water. Their snickering died in their throats as they froze.
She ignored the others, her eyes locked on the culprit.
Maelick.
He held her gaze for only a second before shivering under the cold intensity of the Crimson Knight. Valor approached with measured steps, stopping just close enough to the last born of the Baskervilles.
Then, they felt it. The crushing pressure of the Crimson Knight as if gravity was commanded to kneel. The more they resisted, the harder their bones creaked. One by one they dropped to their knees, heads bowed before her.
Valor towered over them like a castle over its subjects.
"Last born of the Baskervilles." Her voice was low, carrying deadly weight. Tell me… are all nobles immune to pain."
Before he could understand her question, her boot connected with his jaw in a devastating kick. The crack echoed through the hall as his body flew across the room, slamming high into the far wall.Stone spiderwebbed on impact.
He crashed down onto the high table with a heavy thud, food and wine spilling everywhere.
A high-pitched scream tore from the queen and princes. The music died. The entire hall fell into shocked silence.
The Baskervilles were outraged by the humiliation, ready to demand blood as payment.
Their rage vanished the moment Valor turned her glare on them. The air grew thick and oppressive. No one dared meet her eyes. They looked away like frightened children.
Valor glanced at the king, perhaps waiting for punishment.
The king smiled, waving at her. She was free to go.
Bowing, she gestured for the festival to resume as she turned back to the balcony. Music slowly restarted and the people's cheers resumed as if the violent interruption was just a dream.
Maelick's vision blurred. Pain paralyzed his body. The music faded into a distant hum. He fought to stay conscious, but it was useless.
The last thing he saw was his father looking at him with disappointment burning brightly in his eyes before turning to the others, to continue with their small talk.
Valor let out a sigh, the air around becoming stiff once more. The temperature around her spiked rapidly, drying the atmosphere in seconds.
Her fabulous dress burst to flames and instantly she was clad in her light scarlet armour, her right hand equipped with a spear. The tip seemed to drink the light around. Her scarlet cape swayed with the wind.
Her eyes were alert, glowing brightly scarlet, staring at the horizon beyond the mountains. They narrowed, calculating.
Then, with a powerful grunt, she threw it with enough strength to get everyone's attention… those in the capital city and nearby villages.
Five deafening explosions rippled through the air as her spear flew out of her hand, breaking in total five sound barriers in respect to the explosions.
The festival was halted, everyone's gazes directed towards her, astonishment across their faces.
She looked at her hand, scowling as if she'd made a mistake. "Still not enough."
She raised her head towards the horizon once more and after a few seconds, a minor earthquake shook the castle as she leaped after her spear. Her terrifying might shaking the stone beneath.
Aaron watched her vanish to the distance, laughing at what he'd just witnessed.
"Enlighten us Aaron," the king called bewildered, "what might be so funny?" The king was bewildered at her actions but not furious to say the least.
Aaron took a while to control himself, tears threatening to break free once again.
"Well your highness, that spear thrown beyond the horizon hit its target at the furthest corner of the continent…right here," he tapped his forehead, gesturing where it had hit.
"In just five seconds."