Upon waking, only one thought crossed Milla's mind: what a wonderful night it had been. She looked beside her and saw Elzen still sleeping. For hours, they had enjoyed each other's company to the fullest, with every touch and every kiss. It had been an exhilarating experience. There was nothing she could regret now; her long and arduous path to achieving her goal began this morning.
Carefully, she got out of bed, doing her best not to wake her beloved Elzen. After getting dressed, she left two letters on the nightstand next to the bed. One with Elzen's name on it and the other with Duke Boltu's name. Before leaving, she gently kissed his cheek.
"Goodbye, perhaps I'll see you later. Be happy, my dear." She smiled and left the room.
After a long night of festivities, the city streets were deserted and quiet. Trash still strewn across the roads, and pale sunlight slowly touched the buildings. Wasting no time, she heads for the city's northern exit. Since learning of Felnatus's committee, she's prepared a small outpost near the border, the only established route between the territories. The place is perfect for storing all the supplies and equipment she'll need for her journey, and it also boasts a strategic position that allows her to monitor all traffic on the road.
The walk to the hideout is long; it would take an average person about seven hours to get there, but Milla is in a hurry and is already accustomed to long marches at a brisk pace. Before noon, she was already there, a simple makeshift hut perched atop a small hill. Nestled among the trees, the hut is almost invisible to those not paying attention. Inside, a rustic wooden bed with a mattress made from a combination of hay and Ghantalok wool, two pillows made from the same material as the mattress, and a blanket made from Ghantalok wool. Several chests contain her supplies and equipment for hunting and traveling, and among them are her two greatest creations: her full plate armor made from Mythirite, which took her almost a month to complete, and her double-bladed axe, a weapon she poured all her fury and hatred into crafting and named Retribution.
Now, all she can do is wait. According to the information she's gathered, the entourage would arrive in a Magicar, but she's ready to react to any carriage coming from Minarian's direction. Every minute that passes feels like an eternity to her; all the insults, mistreatment, humiliation, and tears she's shed over a long period of her life fuel the hatred that grows daily. But a thought comes to mind: what to do after she completes her revenge? Yes, there's still more to do to complete her journey, but what will she do next?
A new life in another realm? Change her appearance even further and register under a new name? The options were vast, yet confusing. For hours, she pondered what she would do until she spotted a common carriage in the distance coming from the direction of the city. She was ready, her armor covered her body perfectly, her weapon strapped to her back, but she couldn't act without confirming that it was indeed who she was expecting.
There was no bulky escort; it was a common carriage, not a magicar as expected, but something caught her eye. Two people were guiding the carriage, pulled by four horses, and one of them she recognized: it was Vivelle.
Four hours earlier, Vivelle stood in front of Duke Markash's mansion with three other guards who would provide the escort. A simple four-horse carriage was chosen for transportation; its rustic exterior belies the interior modifications made to accommodate the dignitaries in the committee more comfortably.
"Hey, Lady Vivelle, where are we going to put the cargo boxes?" asked one of the guards under Vivelle's command.
"We can put them on top like a regular carriage. The more we look like peasants, the better it will be for us."
Accompanied by Duke Boltu and his wife, the Felnatus siblings approached the carriage while chatting amiably. While the duke tried to convince Amiliath that the idea of using a common carriage was too risky, she argued that the concept was brilliant. After all, what nobleman these days would subject themselves to using a simple carriage on a long journey?
"Your argument may seem logical, miss, but you forget that if someone truly wishes you harm, this disguise, if discovered, will backfire. Your defenses are weakened, your escort minimal, and with all due respect, your combat skills are vastly inferior to any assassin who might attempt your life." Boltu's calm voice betrayed his experience. Atillo was convinced, but he was not the desired target.
"I thank you again for your concern, Duke. However, as you pointed out, depending on my enemy, not even a Magicar's defense with an armed escort will stop them. My stealthy departure will likely bring more benefits than acting like a common noblewoman." Her pride is the only thing that can overcome her reason and intelligence. Convinced that nothing he says will change her decision, Duke Boltu decides to drop the matter. Vivelle and the guards salute the duke when they see him approaching. He signals with his right hand for them to rest.
"Is everything ready for the transport, Squire Vivelle?"
"Yes, my lord. Everything is already prepared. Whenever you wish to depart, we are ready."
"Well, may the gods grant you the necessary security so you arrive at your home in peace." He bows slightly to the two siblings and turns his attention to the guards. "I want you to ensure their safety until they reach Felnatus' mansion. If you encounter any problems, ensure the best route so everyone emerges alive from this journey." The guards respond positively to Boltu's orders and, without delay, depart for the Archduchy of Felnatus.
The road to the archduchy is clear; there aren't many merchant caravans coming to the city due to the festival. The journey is expected to be smooth and trouble-free. Two guards are inside the carriage with Atillo and Amiliath, while Vivelle and another guard guide the carriage from the driver's seat.
"Are you happy with the journey, my sister?" Atillo, already bored, starts a conversation to unwind.
"Yes, everything went as I hoped. Our territories will prosper thanks to this treaty, and we can gradually return to our rightful place in society." She smiles triumphantly, her fears are gone, and now all she needs to do is keep her father in a weakened state until everything returns to normal.
The two distracted themselves to stave off the boredom of the journey, chatting about the future, the little they'd seen the day before during the festival, and their plans for when they returned. The hours passed, and the journey became tedious. A light tap on the small window between the coachman and the carriage prompted one of the guards to open it, and Vivelle's voice could be heard clearly.
"We're approaching the border. The road remains quiet, and fortunately, there's no traffic, so our chances of encountering have diminished considerably. I'll let you know again if anything happens or if we reach..." In an instant, before she could finish her speech, time seemed to stand still. The carriage came to an abrupt stop, but thanks to a mystical force, it didn't tip over.
Everyone in the carriage felt as if something were holding them down, a supernatural force controlling their entire bodies, preventing them from moving. Their consciousness remains intact, generating a sense of horror unlike anything they've ever felt before, as if they were prey facing a predator. Unable to see anyone approaching the carriage, the metallic footsteps can be heard as it approaches.
Silence, the footsteps stop in front of the door, and then...
CRAAAAACK!
The door is destroyed, sending shards of wood flying at the people inside. They can do nothing but watch in panic as a heavily armored figure thrusts a double-bladed ax into the space between them and enters the carriage. A helmet covers his face; the slightly blue armor reveals to anyone with knowledge of metalworking and forging that it is made purely of Mythirite.
"I knew it!" A female voice filled with joy can be heard coming from the mysterious assailant. "I must say, if I had followed the natural course of events, I would have missed the best opportunity to find you." The assailant begins to laugh sinisterly, a mixture of satisfaction and hatred. At that moment, the crushing force that had prevented anyone from moving is shattered for one person: Amiliath. Instinctively, she tries to move away from the assailant, but there is no escape from that carriage without passing through the armored figure.
"W-w-what do you want? I-if you're d-doing this for money, I c-can pay you double if you let us go." Amiliath's trembling voice was unusual, but understandable; she had never faced such danger in her life.
"Let you go? LET...YOU...GO?!" The armored figure quickly approaches her, places his hand on her neck, and begins to choke her. "There's no money in this world you can offer me. Today, the only payment I'll receive is your blood on my hands and a clear message to that wretch."
Amiliath struggles to breathe, tears streaming down her face, she tries to struggle, but all her efforts are in vain. However, her attacker doesn't seem to want to finish the job; she struggles to speak.
"I-I'm more useful, l-alive. I-if you kill me now, House Felnatus w-won't rest until you pay for this." Her hands slip, preventing her from getting a firm grip on her attacker's hand. She hopes to use her family's name to try to instill fear or apprehension, but she only hopes to disappear when a laugh erupts from her attacker.
"I hope they come, I want them to come. You weren't the first, and you won't be the last, to pay for your cruelty. I will destroy your entire wretched family, in fact, not all of them. There are a few rare people who will be spared." The attacker turns to Atillo, who watches helplessly.
"Y-you...are...crazy, you...won't be able to do anything...against my family."
"Ahhhh, I will do many things, but all in good time. First, I will have the pleasure of getting rid of you, as I did with your beloved Luccio." With her other hand, the attacker hits Amiliath hard in the stomach, sending her falling to her knees on the carriage floor. Hearing Luccio's name, the two siblings finally understand what is happening. Manila, their sister who has been mistreated for so long, has come for them.
"For years, I was left in the worst place in that mansion. I was treated like garbage every day by orders of that scumbag Luccio. I suffered physical punishments no one should receive, but I suffered in silence and simply continued to survive." Without giving Amiliath much time to recover, Milla kicks her hard in the stomach.
"Many knew what he was doing and did nothing to stop his cruelty. When I finally managed to escape that place, YOU helped him find me again, imprison me, torture me, and almost make me lose the will to live." Another kick hits her knee, and the sound of bones breaking can be heard. Still gasping for breath, she barely manages to scream.
"It was then that something that lived inside me broke free, took over my entire being, and took revenge on those in that cursed place. One of them was someone I considered a squadmate, who sent me a message from you, remember? He sent me your regards." Another kick, followed by another, and another, and another, and another, and another.
Tears streamed from Atillo's eyes. With each kick, he screamed inwardly. He wanted to beg for mercy for his sister, but his body wouldn't obey, and the beatings wouldn't stop. A few minutes felt like hours, and after so much punishment, Amiliath could barely move, her limbs broken, an unbearable pain emanating throughout her body. She could barely stay conscious when Milla lifted her by the neck.
"I could spend days punishing you for your mistakes, but I have other things to do. The time has come for you to meet Luccio, but don't worry, many others of your damned family will follow you." One hand held her by the neck, the other had her double-bladed axe, slowly pressing the tips of the blades against Amiliath's chest. Inch by inch, the blade dug into her body, the pain only intensifying, but her body was already too exhausted to react. Her last sight before dying was her attacker's eyes, expressing a happiness she couldn't understand.
As a final act against her, Milla threw Amiliath's lifeless body to the ground with all her strength, causing her blood to spray everywhere, hitting the guards and Atillo. She then turned to him and, in a calm, almost loving voice, said:
"You are not like them, so you are free to continue living, but if you become like her, like our father, you will suffer the same fate. And warn that damned man that I will use all my strength to destroy this damned family." Unhurriedly, she walked away from the carriage until she reached a distant spot where she could not be seen. It was at that moment that her magic was cancelled, and everyone in the carriage could move again.
Atillo drops to his knees beside Amiliath's lifeless body, his scream of despair mingling with the panic of the guards inside the carriage. Without thinking and overcome by terror, Vivelle raises a small rod high into the air and pulls a small cord at its base, causing it to release a luminous sphere that shoots high into the sky, then explodes into a reddish orb.
The escort has failed.