The Most Beautiful Mage (3)

When people don't like the man named Rhys, it's usually because of two things.

His personality - let's face it; the guy has an awful personality. His womanizer ways aside, he's not very good with words. And no he doesn't have some sort of tragic past attached to him. At least not that Kristy knew of. No matter what though, nobody should have an excuse to treat others the way Rhys does with other people. Though there are exceptions to this odd behavior like Queen Lyn and King Kazuya.

His feelings for Queen Lyn - of course, anybody who belonged to Queen Lyn's personal circle is either part of the King Kazuya side or King Allen. Though the latter is mainly Pupillam's guilt about what happened in the past. Nobody wants to see some random guy trying to break apart the relationship between their King and Queen. Kristy recalled when Lyn gathered the knights for the first time since her sister took the throne. She gathered them one by one and their initial reaction to Rhys was hostile.

How does she feel about the guy, one may wonder? Honestly, it's not like she particularly hated or liked him for that matter. Kristy didn't have a real opinion on him. Why would she? She spends half her time worrying about Lyn and the other half on mundane and random things. People call her the mysterious and beautiful mage. Kristy always found the beautiful part as being unnecessary though. Who cares whether or not she's pretty? All that mattered to her was her ability. She knew Lyn cared more about the ability factor too.

People saw her as lively and bubbly, Kristy would have to agree with them on that part. She would describe herself in the same way. A person who is carefree and has no worries at all. Somebody would argue that no person is completely free of worries.

That somebody is the very Queen she is serving and her dear friend Queen Lyn. Kristy genuinely had no problems. But from the moment they met Lyn confronted her on the issue. She recalled their first meeting all too well and remembered how the girl had shed tears for her upon learning of her family circumstances.

Her family circumstances? The family she lost before she even got to know them? Kristy belonged to a small family that hid in the Mist Kingdom borders. This is due to the conflict they caused with Lyn's grandmother, the thirty seventh Queen. If it were just her family alone, then she doubted that 'tragic' incidence would have happened.

The tragic event she speaks of is the incidence where a whole clan of mages vanished, and the sole survivor to that event was her. Funny enough the one who saved her life was the very daughter of the woman who destroyed her family and village.

Yes, it was Queen Orthez, Lyn's mother. Back then she was still in the middle of training to be a Queen. But Kristy recalled how the woman desperately rushed over to stop the situation.

She was only an infant - but due to her being born as a mage. Kristy could conjure up the images. Kristy didn't think to do this until she grew up though. In the orphanage, people told her that she owes her life to Princess Orthez. Kristy wanted the details, but of course, nobody told her. They all thought she would react negatively to the news.

They all thought she would hold a grudge against the daughter of the woman who killed her family. However, Kristy never saw it that way; she only wanted to say thank you. Later on, she did catch a few glimpses of the woman named Orthez when she became Queen. Only from time to time but they never spoke before. It wasn't until the day before she enrolled in the academy did she receive summons from the Queen.

'Look after my daughter.' What the woman wanted was short and brief. She was to watch over Lyn from the shadows. Queen Orthez didn't hesitate to use her as a pawn openly. But Kristy didn't mind; the woman saved her life after all. When they first met Kristy was vaguely surprised, the woman seemed a lot different from the one who saved her. When she brought this up as a passing comment, somebody told her that the Queen changed considerably after she met King Daichi. Whether or not that change was good, nobody really knew.

Suddenly Rhys pulled Lyn into his arms, he reacted much faster than the rest of them and threw his blade into the bushes.

A yelp is heard followed by sighs, "Your too loud! What if they hear us?"

"A blade just hit my shoulder."

"Gah? Seriously."

Lan made his way over when...

Rhys stopped him, "Wait, they aren't the enemy."

Kristy nodded in agreement; she sensed no malice or blood lust. So who could it be? Soon three people emerged from the bushes. Ah? These people.

"Fukami, Beth, Yuzuhara. What are you three doing here?"

"You see Kazuya said, 'If I'm not back within a certain time frame. Go to the Mist Kingdom and assist Lyn. Do not, and I repeat do not leave her side until I say so.'" Beth repeated.

Kristy raised her eyebrow at that message. King Kazuya, that's too vague. Couldn't he have at least provided some details on why Lyn needs protection? But huh, the Snow Kingdom really want to lure Lyn out. For what purpose though? It's not like Lyn has anything valuable they could use. Their Kingdom is far more prosperous than most. Maybe, "Her powers?" Kristy said out loud.

Fukami nodded, "Kazuya said that they most likely want to use the Lady's powers. I think the Snow Kingdom has found a way to extract powers successfully; otherwise, they wouldn't take on such a risk."

Rhys frowned, "Why her powers? Didn't Queen J get something from the battle a few years back? I'm sure she grew stronger with whatever she obtained, so why would she want more?"

"Ask yourself that question. You trained her."

Lyn who remained silent this whole time seemed unusually calm. No, even though Rhys still held her. Kristy could see the girl was trembling. Lyn knows something about this matter, doesn't she? Rhys must have noticed since he hugged the girl tighter, "Lyn?"

"I want to see Kazuya..."

It was a faint whisper, but everybody heard her loud and clear. To others, it may seem random. But for everybody here who knew her quite well. For those who witnessed the relationship between the two before, then it's normal. It was clear that even Rhys didn't know what to do. He appeared very frustrated. Kristy couldn't blame him, even though he's holding the girl he loves in his arms. She is still calling another man's name.

Kristy opened her mouth to speak when they hear a massive explosion not too far from where they were. She turned to Lan, "Were going on ahead."

Lyn who seemed to be in a daze only nodded. The girl was shaken up by something. Later, she will ask her later. Even if she had to use magic, Kristy will learn from Lyn precisely what happened back then. What happened during that battle?