Chapter 46

"Second Queen! The fourth princess is waiting at the place gates!" A servant ran into the queen's courtyard where the other queens were seated, talking to her gently.

As soon as she heard the news, Alice sprung to her feet and hurried to the gate so she could see for herself. She didn't even want a confirmation.

True to the servant's claims, Kassy was standing by the palace gates. Although the guards bowed in front of Kassy, she didn't seem to have accepted it because she was standing still, staring blankly, hugging her arms with a gloomy expression on her face.

"Kassy!" The second queen ran towards her in her elegant attire that was springy around with the action she took. It was a floral gown made from satin.

Wrapping her arms around her daughter, she began to sob. "What happened to you?" She pulled away, still keeping her hands on her daughter's shoulders. She looked at her from head to toe, "you look even worse than the first time you returned."

It was true, the lilac gown Kassy had been wearing was tattered because she had run into some pointy twigs on the way and had managed to trip over, getting mud stains plastered to the gown.

She heaved a sigh, "I couldn't get the Lord to be pleased mother, he didn't find pleasure in the things I did and when his friend thought he would help me, he got what he wanted. I heard from the people he will be initiated today. He was supposed to get me to talk to the water lord, he wanted me to work with him and then go against him by warning Ash of his moves, and be a hero so Ash would find me and consider being affectionate towards me, but he has what he wants now and…"

"But why do you need Ash's affection?" Alice frowned, wiping her daughter's tears with the pad of her thumb.

"He is the only one that can order father to take me back, no one has that kind of power,” he sighed.

"Do you know how miserable the King has been in your absence, my dear? Those words were angered words laced with pain. He cares about you more than anything." The queen sobbed, "you shouldn't have left, you really should not."

"But…"

"We haven't even gotten news at the Palace that Ash isn't lord anymore, what is that about?" The queen asked, only just realizing what her daughter had meant when she said initiation.

"I…I really don't know. I didn't care. I was soaked in my own depression." Kassy sighed. "Do you think father would have been willing to listen to me? Or accept me back?" Kassy sighed again.

"Come on in." Alice frowned, "I have you here with me a second time and I'm not going to let you go. He could either listen to me or listen to me because nothing will change my mind."

Kassy nodded and took her mother's hands, going into the Palace with her.

***

Myan was rinsing Ash's clothes in the lake when a bird dropped by her feet. She screamed in the fear, standing upright after picking a stick that was lying beside her. Using it as a weapon, she pointed it in the direction of the creature and sighed in relief when she saw that it was only a delivery bird.

It left a note where it had landed and took flight. Still watching it, she knelt to receive the note from the floor, only paying attention to its content after the hard was completely done.

The ground was filled with all types of stones, from high to small, granites and marbles and even the clear lake had a massive lot underneath.

The old shack they were in seemed like it was going to tear apart after a while, if they were not very careful with things.

Myan widened her eyes and left the clothes, taking the note inside the house to where Ash was sitting, his lower region wrapped in goatskin.

"Ash, Minrad is getting initiated today. Everyone knows you're no longer lord, I…" she trailed off when she saw the lack of interest he had on.

With a sigh, she sat on the floor by his foot and laid her head on his laps. "I’m sorry. It will be fine Ash. I just know it."

Ash ran his fingers through her hair. "No, it won't. What am I without my powers? I've never felt so useless in my entire being,” he admitted.

"Are you going to his initiation?" She lifted her head to look at him, already knowing what his response would be.

"If you want me to come back with a dead person, then yes."

She couldn't help but smile. "I'd very much like to see him dead but I don't want you responsible for it." She stood to her feet. "Come on, you can still hunt, your powers never defined your strength and we do have to eat something eventually,” she said, making moves to leave the room, hoping he came after her.

***

Frost sat steadily on Lolita, making his way through the once upon a barrier that had hindered him from coming into this world in the first place.

He was going to avenge his beloved Anna, finally.

As soon as he crossed, he held out the bag in his grip, holding Lolita with the other hand and then as he flew on, he let the content fall free from the bag. "If Ash doesn't have his powers, I don't see why his people should,” he smirked to himself, as he spilled the power seizing beans. "Now, no one can stop me."