1.The Scheming Smile

The burning remnants of once a peaceful village of the Farcon clan had made the Protector of their cube collapse on his knees. His failure to get a clear prospect of the results of his plan had lead to devastation of their village.

Tormented by despair, his lip shivered and tears formed on the corner of his eyes.

"Oh my! What happened to your village?"

From a distance, the click-clack of stilettos on a cemented path way became louder to the sorrowful Protector. He gazed at the brassy woman, wearing styleless clothes, that was approaching him so arrogantly alongside her underlings.

"Oh, haha, I nearly forgot that We were the ones who turned your village into rubbles and ashes. Silly me!"

Said the lady in a shrill—quite annoying —voice.

Being in great pleasure and excitement, she couldnt help but to smile.

In front of the protector, she stopped, and entertained her soul with the view of pain, suffering and distress to an extent that she bursted in laughter.

"Ahh!This is such a wonderful view!"

Tears shed off the poor protector's cheek until they hitted the floor. He was depleted of mana and his foot was cut; Neither fighting back nor fleeing was a choice.

Consequently, he let the fate rule over.

"I-if you just didnt interfere!"

The man smashed the cold floor and bursted in tears.

"What more does your greedy alliance want huh?!You have all the luxuries in life yet you still steal away the hopes of other clan?!"

Although weak, because of various injuries he was suffering to; short of breath, because he had consumed all his mana from rigorous fights; he still managed to yell with all his might.

Afterall,he had nothing left except the hatred inside him.

"I dont think i will symphatize with you.It is your fault in the first place right?You know The Great Family Alliance is seeking the power cubes of the Haza clan and you guys still plan to seize it."

Replied the lady.

"I am praying for your defeat!Someday your alliance will face the same fate as ours!"

"YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED!"

Yelled the man as he looked intently to the lady's eyes.

On the other hand, the lady fell on her left knee, positioning herself close to the miserable guardian. She drew her mouth close to his ear and whispered.

"With this trashy power you possess, I am surprised you could say such words confidently. You must be full of yourself. Your clan isnt on the same league as the Hazas, frankly speaking.We,the strongest,will succeed no matter what."

She then drew back her face, briefly patted the guardians head and sighed

"Well, we left you no choice, didnt We? To fight back for the safety of information you hold? Or submit for the safety of your clan? To decide for your clan's fate isnt granted to you or any of your members, but to us."

Said the lady so dearly and softly to him as she put over her left hand on his chest. White, shimmering fragments went out of his chest and was following the motion of the lady's hands until it formed into a luminant cube of red.

After she had successfully absorbed the cube from the guardian of the Farcon clan, she stood, flipped her shoulder-length orange hair, and did an about face.

"By the way,you're a handsome man."

Praised the lady to the him as she took her steps away.

"The mission is done! To obtain the map, which identifies the location of the Haza members; to steal the Farcons power, which will come in use when we face the remaining Hazas. Ahh, what a great day! The Queen will be very much pleased with this news--"

The lady gladly announced the good news to her underlings but was interfered by a sudden insult from the powerless Protector.

"You are w-worse than a demon..."

Paying a heed to the guardians words, she looked back at him with a sharp gaze. As the Protector gradually turned into dusts, he uttered his last words to the lady.

"S-someday, someone will destroy you all!"

He added as he focused his piercing gaze to the lady's eyes.

"Then we will surely twist that fate."

She replied and turned around, leaving the protector slowly fading away behind her.

"Lets head back! Ruk! Tell the other guardians that we're heading back!"

She ordered to one of her underlings, Ruk.

"Understood, Bishop Silvya."

Ruk complied and took her leave.

The lady flashed a psychotic smile as she rested her cheek on her cupped hands.

"Guys, tomorrow will be my day"

She then let out a harsh, loud laugh.

The Farcon mission—specifically the seizing of their power and acquiring the crucial information to pinpoint the Hazas location—came out succesful; It was led by an outstanding Bishop, Silvya. Consequently, the Queen threw a celebration for their victory. The important people who strenghtened the foundation of alliance were on the scene—the Protectors, Bishops, Heads, and some special guests.

The marvelous, quite spacious hall of the palace had been occupied by guests. The hall was constructed with marble. The pillars were of classical designs; it was heavily inspired by column designs from the west Tartarus. There were classical arts on the walls and

the chandeliers were looking majestic and classy. On the ceiling, the fresco depicted the major feats of the Great Family Alliance.

The noisy crowd came silent when a Queen's sword—a personal bodyguard of the queen—took her steps at the front.

"Mic test, mic test. Goodevening! Everybody!"

A lively lass took the attention of the people inside the hall. She had a long, blonde slender twin tail hair and petite body. Her eyes resembles the colour of the deep ocean; It was kind yet mysterious. She was known to be one of the five Queen's sword; A group of powerful individual that was handpicked by the Queen herself all over the Tartarus.

"All right, everyone, lend me your ears! My mama is tired of lying on her bed all day and wants to bond with her bed a little more thats why she sent me here in her stead. I think she likes her bed more than me."

She jokingly said to everyone so as to entertain them. Everyone were smiling at her and were very pleased to see a young cute kid entertain the crowd with such confidence.

"Now, lets start the honoring ceremony! Let me hear your applause!"

The hall was filled with noise by the whistle and applause from the crowd.

"Wow, thats Aurie, right? She's already a Queen's Sword at a very young age! Im so jealous. Like her, I want to personally serve the Queen too."

"Dont get fooled by her looks; she once nearly annihilated a whole clan."

Her eyes widened then she looked at her friend sitting near her. She harshly put back her goblet on the table that some red wine from her goblet was spilled because of the impact.

"What?!"

She asked in a suprised tone.

"Yes, you heard it right"

Briefly replied her friend as he repositioned his glasses using his pointy finger.

"Min, dont you know? You stained the place mat because you were careless. Also, you're being loud; the Queen hates loud people. So if by chance youd meet her, She would automatically dislike you because you cant stop babbling around."

Bluntly said her friend.

"How are you so sure that she'll dislike me Fran. Idiot! I have a great potential! I am a Protector candidate. So, I have a chance to become a Queen's sword. It's so cool you know!"

Angrily explained Min, a Protector candidate from the Ko'obe clan.

"Who cares? The Great Family Alliance isnt needy of a stupid protector."

Said Fran, a Protector candidate from the Faenza clan

Min briefly glared at him, crossed her arms and looked away.

"Now, everyone, the next on the list had achieved an excellent feat. She had succesfully accomplished the mission that was ordered to her by mama. My mama said to grant her alot of golds that she could bathe in! Amazing right?"

Said the lass in a lively tone. On the other hand, some were in awe after hearing what she said; murmuring of others could be heard.

"I hate that woman. Even to us, her kinfolk, she still give us that condescending attitude of hers."

Said a man from the crowd faintly, with a trace resentment in his voice.

"Please, come here in front miss Silvya."

Called the cute lass Aurie.

Looking fabulously confident, Silvya gracefully walked in the front; seemingly flaunting her colorful cocktail dress that looks really out-of-style. She wore a thick make-up so as to glam-up herself and grab some attention from men.

However, after all her effort to groom herself; only the sigh of the wind was making noise for her, none had exerted an effort to applaud.

(These people must be blind!)

Next to a decent old man she stood; it was her fellow Bishop that served the Queen for a very long time. On the corner of her eyes, she wandered over her gaze to the decent old man. He possessed a pair of ocean-blue eyes, the left eye wore the monocle; A slicked back, white hair that plunged over his neck; He had a wrinkled face yet she could tell that he was a good-looking man in his youth. Under his slightly tight tuxedo, Silvya could tell that he had toned and muscular build by his wide chest, and a bit bulky biceps—he had a good posture too.

Silvya was arrogant and boastful yet she was mindful of the old man's capabilities.

After that, she flipped her hair and stared at the next lady that had been called in the front.

"The next one that my mama wants to honour is a very beautiful woman! She succesfully fulfilled the mission that was ordered to her by mama; it was to steal the power cube which enables the caster to detect a limited range of area. With that power, you could tell if an enemy is lurking somewhere! Ooh scary!"

Aurie said, trying to frighten the crowd.

"Now, Miss Aria may I call your presence here."

Dressed in a starry-long gown, an elegant lady took her steps so gracefully in the front as the crowd were whistling and applauding for her. She gently stroked her glossy silver hair flowing over her waist. She possessed a ruby-red eyes; a pair of naturally fierce,piercing eyes. A sculpted body that was envied by other women.

Overall she was a beauty.

Before she positioned herself next to Silvya, she beamed a sweet fake smile at her and then stood next to her. She then gladly waved at those boys chanting her name at the table nearby.

(What a stupid look.)

Silvya disgustedly looked at Aria from head to toe. Although Internally irritated, she had no choice but to smile and pretend.

She placed her cupped hands onto her mouth and coughed.

*cough* "fake" *cough*

"Sorry, it seems like I caught an allergy. Perhaps, there is a SNAKE nearby; I'm allergic to snakes."

Explained Sylvia to Aria in a mocking tone and sneered. She intentionally put emphasis to the word snake to imply that this certain species of reptile is similar to Aria.

Aria, preparing to throw her rebuttal, gently blew her nails and stroked her hair.

"Oh is that so? Well then, what you need to do is to drink medicine to treat it. You know what? I had read a scientific study not so long ago that only the WEAKEAST people tend to suffer allergic reactions from snakes."

Aria rebutted to Silvya's mockery.

Silvya gave off a pretentious laugh so as to shake off the damage that Aria inflicted.

"In a duel, you will never be able to wound me."

"I dont talk to cheap-looking clowns."

Jeered Aria.

Veins popped out on Silvya's forehead and angrily looked at her dress.

"Ehem!"

Aurie cleared her throat to grab their attention.

Both had travelled their gaze over the silent crowd, noticing that all eyes were focused on them.

Aurie drew a sigh.

"You guys were so busy talking about something unimportant that you became unaware of the surroundings. Please act more disciplined and stop useless talks in a formal event. Okay? Your rewards are about to be given."

Rebuked Aurie in a quite calm way.

The two calmed down and held their tongues.

"All right! behold ladies and gentleman!"

Called Aurie to the guests.

"These three Bishops in front of you will now be given their corresponding awards for their accomplishments of certain missions. Please accept it with great pleasure."

The three had been rewarded the treasures that were reserved for them; Since those were heavy, a carriage will deliver those to their homes.

The rewarding segment was finally done and the event reached halfway.

Silvya decided to go to the washroom not so far from the hall.

At the door, that serves as an entrance to a long corridor, Sylvia crossed paths with Aria.

They paused for a second and glanced at each other.

"Oh, I didnt expect to see a snake here. Aria, arent you supposed to be in the forest?"

Said Silvya and gave of a high-pitched laugh.

"Gosh, I wasnt aware that they rented a clown here."

Mocked Aria and laughed too.

Both suddenly paused again and glared at each other long enough that sooner or later an electric spark would appear.

They raced towards the entrance; simultaneously, both entered the door, pushing each other, and jostling at the entrance.

But in fact, both of them could go through all at once.

"L-Let me through first bitch!"

Said Silvya and groaned as she pushed Aria to the left side.

"N-no, you let the pretty one go through first!"

Aria insisted as she forcefully pushed Silvya's face to the right side squeezing it against the door jamb.

"Then, that should be me! Let me through!urgh!"

Insisted Silvya as she also pushed Aria's face towards the door jamb with both hands.

Their groans and moans echoed throughout the spacious palace.

"Please excuse us."

Asked a lass

"Dont you dare ruin my hair! You dont know what it went through-"

"DONT TOUCH ME!"

Both had ignored the lass who was asking them politely.

"Umm, excuse us. Let us through because were on a rush."

The lass patiently asked again to Silvya and Aria who were barring the doorway.

However, none of them were wary of the lass at their backs so their catfight continued.

The lass drew a sigh of dissapointment.

Riding her pet ostrich, Muney, they forced their way through the door. Bumping into Silvya and Aria, both were sent sprawling along the corridor, she didnt bother to apologize.

Both of them immediately stood up and gazed at the one who did it and their eyes widened when they saw it was the Queen's sword Aurie. She was enveloped in a dark aura as she rode Muney along the corridor.

In that moonlit night, only the roaring sound of the wind could be heard.

The lass Aurie went to her Mama's dark, spacious room to personally report.

She fell on one knee and rested her one arm on it. She slightly bowed her head as a sign of respect to the Queen of the Great Family Alliance.

"Mama"

Aurie called in a low voice so as to show her inferiority.

A lady, facing against Aurie, who was resting on her wide bed lazily rose. Her midnight black hair remained sleek and manageable, although she was lying on her bed all day. She slowly went down on her bed, revealing her heel-lenght hair. A plain white dress was what she wore; A tight one that her body curves were perceptible.

She opened the window near her elegant bed, allowing the moon light through.

"Where are the power cubes?"

The Queen asked in a calm voice.

"Muney has the cubes, Mama."

Answered Aurie, still bowing down.

The queen laid her arms on the window sill and rested her chin onto her hand. Only the right side of her face was visible to Aurie's perspective and her right eye was covered by her side-swept bangs.

"The power cube that contains the Barrier skill, give it to the Protector of Ko'obe clan; they belong to the Shield branch located in Lily city. Then the cube that contains the power--Detect, deliver it to the Faenzas; They belong to Senses branch in Azalea city."

Ordered the Queen to Aurie.

"I will follow your order with great pleasure Mama. Please allow me to take my leave."

Asked Aurie politely to the Queen.

"Go."

The queen briefly answered, still sticking her gaze to the bright moon.

"Thank you Mama."

Aurie hopped on Muney and took their leave from the Queen's chamber.

The wind gently blew the Queen's hair, revealing her gleaming blue ocean-tinted eyes as a scheming smile formed on her dry lips.