After they finished eating…
Ryo (mouth full and unable to move from eating too much):
"Oi… Ren, help me, please…"
Ren (looks at him, then turns his back and walks away):
"Rely on yourself, child."
Ryo (shocked):
"Hey, Ren! Wait! What are you saying?!"
But Ren walked away, not letting Ryo finish his sentence.
Elyria (laughs quietly):
"What a strange friendship you two have."
Then she looked at Ryo with a serious tone:
"Have you trained in the ice element?"
Ryo (with childlike excitement, his eyes sparkling):
"No! Not yet! Are you going to train me?!"
Elyria (raises an eyebrow in surprise):
"Calm down a bit, what's wrong with you?... Yes, I'll train you, but can you handle my training? Your small body doesn't look ready."
Ryo (with confidence and pride):
"Of course I can! Don't worry about me! When do we start? Now? Let's go!"
Elyria (tries to calm him):
"Slow down, Ryo… we'll start in three days."
Ryo (suddenly looks depressed, his eyes turning empty):
"Really?... I must be such a failure that no one wants to train me… death is knocking on my door..."
Elyria (sighs):
"Oi, what's wrong with you? It's only three days!"
Ryo (with childish anger):
"Three days is way too long! Why?! What's so important?!"
Elyria (serious):
"There's an enemy on the way."
Ryo (his expression becomes serious):
"Enemy? Who?"
Elyria (starts to explain):
"Ten years ago, a conflict broke out over the rule of the Great Ice Kingdom, between us, the ruling family Leverance, and the Lambrigen family. A war erupted, and the victor would rule the kingdom. In the end, my family won, but the Lambrigens were oppressive and aggressive. They tried to overthrow the kingdom many times but failed, and the remaining ones were executed for high treason.
Now, there is a girl named Zalauria Lambrigen, the last survivor of that family… She was recently seen in the city, armed with swords and tools as if preparing for battle.
It is said she can annihilate entire armies alone, without even relying on her retainers. That's why… I'm worried. This time… the kingdom may fall."
Ryo (whispers with excitement):
"Zalauria… She must be really strong… I feel thrilled!"
Before Elyria could respond, the window suddenly flew open, and a strong wind blew out the candles and stirred the curtains.
Elyria (steps back and closes her eyes from the force of the wind):
"What's happening?!"
Some guards appeared, and suddenly… a girl stood there with long black hair fluttering in the wind. Her eyes were sharp as blades, and her gaze alone was enough to plant fear into hearts.
The guards attacked her, but she walked through them confidently. Anyone who got close fell to their knees without touching her — her aura alone released a pressure that forced them to kneel.
One guard tried to strike, but she blocked his sword with two fingers, then broke it with one like it was paper.
Elyria (retreats into a defensive stance, sweating):
"Zalauria Lambrigen… What are you doing here?!"
Zalauria (appears behind Elyria in an instant, with a cold and terrifying voice):
"Is this how the queen welcomes members of noble families?"
Elyria (turns around in shock but finds no one behind her. She looks forward to find Zalauria approaching):
"What is going on…?"
Zalauria stopped, her aura subsiding slightly. The guards saw a chance and attacked all at once — dozens of them.
But she looked at them coldly, and before they even touched a strand of her hair, their heads flew in an instant. Blood splattered everywhere.
Zalauria (angrily):
"Such annoying insects! You deserved this!"
Ryo (watching from afar, terrified, whispers):
"Who is this girl?! Am I seeing a demon?!"
He was drenched in sweat, instinctively backing away… his instincts screaming to run.
Elyria (with a trembling voice, covered in the guards' blood):
"What do you want?! Why are you here?!"
Zalauria (laughs loudly):
"Hahahaha!!"
Elyria (serious):
"What's so funny?!"
Zalauria (wipes her tears of laughter):
"Nothing… Just the sight of you trembling was hilarious. You never changed, Elyria… Still weak. How can a girl like you rule a kingdom?! That's truly amazing."
A moment of silence fell.
Then Zalauria spoke through mental communication with someone:
Zalauria (in her mind):
"What do you want?"
Voice:
"You must return now. There's an important matter."
Zalauria (sighs internally):
"That fool…"
She looked at Elyria with a cold gaze… deep as if piercing through her royal shell, then bowed before her with an exaggerated mockery, as if mocking the idea of respect itself.
"So, will Your Majesty allow me to leave?"
She said softly, but each word carried a dagger of venom and contempt toward Elyria.
"This was just a small greeting… to let you know I'm back."
She didn't need permission from anyone — the entire room bowed before her aura — but she wanted to send a clear message, especially to Elyria:
That the queen is weak… and her crown is the only thing giving her worth.
Then… heavy silence.
(Elyria, embarrassed by the situation, finally spoke with a trembling voice trying to cover it with anger):
"Get out… and never come back again!"
(Zalauria smiled lightly, a smile that carried a thousand promises of destruction, then whispered):
"As you wish… Your Majesty."
(She walked toward the door, and just before crossing it, she stopped without turning around and said):
"But I will return… and I will take everything from you. Just wait..."
Then she left.
She left behind only the terror she instilled in everyone who saw her — no one forgot her. She was like an unforgettable nightmare.
Elyria collapsed to the ground, panting as if she had climbed a mountain, and Ryo's eyes teared up, still stunned.
Ren and Yui rushed in, panting.
Ren (worried):
"What happened here?! I felt a massive aura and overwhelming killing intent!"
Yui (afraid):
"Yeah… She was so strong! We ran at full speed!"
When they saw Elyria and Ryo on the ground, with blood covering the room like a lake, they both whispered in shock and fear:
"What happened here?!"
To be continued…