Chapter 50: Red Steel [Free]

Allyria jumped on the low ceiling, trying to knock it. She just heard something earlier and she knew better than to think it was anything good. It happened at the castle. And now here. Trouble really does love to follow her every time.

"Kaius, you heard it right?" she asked, "Something happened."

Kaius nodded and did the same thing, checking what was above there. He speculated they were underground and it just confirmed what he was thinking after they sensed the impact overhead.

Allryia tried to kick the walls in hopes of breaking it but it was as hard as steel. She could hear the sound from up there but it didn't make any sense. It was as if they were in a different space in time. She could hear the commotion, the sounds of people conversing but she couldn't feel anyone's presence from where they were at all.

Kaius went to the steel bars and tried to pull it. 

Allyria chuckled despite herself, "You can't break that open. You know that, don't you?"

Kaius narrowed his eyes and gave a scornful smirk, "Of course I can't. I was just testing it."

"For what?" Allyria raised her brow in question.

She found her answer when Kaius slammed his back into the cell. Particles of dust and cement fell down on the floor from the collision. He didn't mind whether it hurt and did it again. Twice. Thrice.

Allyria gaped at him like she couldn't believe what he was doing. Sometimes, Allyria could only question if Kaius really was a prince. He could be a fraud or an impostor. Who knows? There were two sides of him: the one she thought was the princeliest man she's ever met and there was him now.

She leaned on the wall, crossing her arms. Kaius could go on for hours doing it and Allyria would just be there waiting and laughing at his lunacy.

Allyria tapped her feet on the floor, "Are you done?"

Kaius jerked his head in her direction, "What?"

"Pushing it with your body won't work, Kaius."

"I know."

Allyria chortled, "Then why try at all?"

"Because it might?"

Allyria shook her head, "Okay, whatever floats your boat."

She couldn't keep still knowing something's happening up there. The numerous possibilities happening kept bugging her mind. If she had known, she would have forced Mr. Federova to open the iron bars earlier. She could come up with something. Allyria never liked the thought of threatening anyone but if there was nothing, she could be forced to use it as her last resort.

The end doesn't always justify the means. However, there are things that have to happen to even the playing field. Besides, taking no risk is just accepting defeat and she didn't grow up to be that kind of person at all. That might even be the reason why her mother has always been indifferent towards her. Among her siblings, she is the brashest. She acts out of impulse. She speaks her mind out. Playing princess has never been her forte.

The sounds of screaming made her jump to her seat. She raised her head. Someone was there. She tapped on the ceiling repeatedly, "Hello? Is anybody there? Help! Please help us!"

Kaius stopped slamming the bars open and drummed the ceiling, "Help!"

They continued to do it for several minutes but no one answered. 

Allyria slipped her body on the floor, the hope fading out from her. It was useless. They would never be found in here. She rested her head on the steel bars, gripping on the rod.

There were a lot of bad days in her life. From the day she was born until the present but nothing can defeat the haplessness she was feeling now. Every muscle in her body had knotted up as the realization flooded in, that no matter how fast she tries to run, bad luck will always chase her wherever she goes. 

It had caused her to feel so small and insignificant. Still, she forced herself to stand up and fight once more. Giving up has never been one of her options but right now; all she wanted was to eat a bowl of strawberry tarts, sleep and forget about all of these. 

It was already exhausting. She's been fighting her whole life—fighting for a place in her family, fighting to be loved the way her parents love her siblings, fighting to get the freedom she's always wanted. Most of her life has been trying to shrink herself. Trying to become smaller, quieter, less sensitive, less opinionated, less her and more of a perfect princess. All she wanted was to take up space, to honor her feelings, to make herself a priority but someone always gets in the way.

"Allyria!" 

She jolted back to reality when Kaius called out for her name. She mouthed him a question but what took her attention was Kaius' expression. He was ashen, his lips almost gray. He stared at her hand, dazed and unable to move.

She followed his gaze and pulled away from it after seeing the steel turned bright red. 

At first glance Kaius would have sworn it was just the reaction of the steel bars, given the temperature, it was the most likely guess even if it didn't make any sense. But when he bent to touch the rod, he almost screamed. It was hot, burning hot. 

He waggled his hand, the unsettling pain traveling to his body. 

"A…are you okay?" Allyria asked and was about to grab his hand when Kaius backed off. She could sense his fear as he slowly scrambled towards the corner, "I didn't know what happened I swear. It just…" she checked the steel again and a part of it had already melted.

Adrenaline flooded her system. It pumped and beat like it's trying to escape. She thought her heart will explode. Her body wanted to either run fast for the safety of the hills or to the crate of weaponry, but instead she remained where she was.

Allyria tried to mask her fear and went to approach Kaius, her eyes a glossy gray, "I didn't mean it to happen. Trust me Kaius, please."

Kaius shook his head, "You… You did all that by your hand," the astonishment was still apparent in his face, "Steel melts at a thousand degrees and you managed to do it."

Allyria bobbed her head back and forth. As much as Kaius couldn't understand, she also felt the same way. There was nothing she could think of that will explain what had happened. Panic and worry flooded her. She was just as frightened as him.

When Kaius was calmed down, Allyria drew nearer; glad Kaius didn't flinch at her touch when she raised his hand to see the burns. His fingers were already red to the touch, blisters starting to form.

"I'm sorry." was all she could say.

She tried to make sense of it all. A little explanation was the only thing she needed. At least it would stop her from thinking she was getting insane. 

Although despite her reasons, there was one that out stood out from the rest of them but she didn't want to think of the possibility. No matter how hard she tries to think about it, it was impossible.

She's an Aleshkovsky. They don't practice magic. 

She's not supposed to be an Ikigai.

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Written and edited by ephemery.

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Allyria will hunt you down to the ends of Arde Terra and cast you out together with the Undying in the Islands of the Cursed. You've been warned.

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