You shouldn't be here

It was evening when Cordelia finally the outskirts of Melan. It took Cordelia seven days to get to Melan. Traveling through blistering colds and scorching deserts. With fierce fire of determination burning in her soul, Cordelia journeyed from the northern part of the Continent straight down to the south. Traveling through the heart of the Continent was not the safest way travel because of the harsh weather conditions but it was the fastest. The safest way to travel is by traveling by the sides of the Continent but it was the longest. The minimum amount of days to travel is three weeks. Cordelia did not want to wait for that long just for her safety. She hated each time the sun rises and sets and the Monarch who destroyed Evalon was alive to see another day. The boiling feeling of revenge was what kept her going.

Cordelia rode on her horse further as she saw the colossal gates of Melan. A small smile graced her chapped lips. She rode her horse through a small moving crowd of people that were going back and forth. She passed through the giant gates,

"I made it . The first step is cleared", Cordelia muttered to herself as he gaze travelled round the principality she was in.

From what she saw so far, she could tell that Melan was a beautiful country, filled with fine people and magnificent buildings. Cordelia cannot even tell the difference between a commoner and a noble. It seemed everybody lived in equality and balance. An attribute Evalon as well as other kingdoms she had visited lacked. But she did notice something about the people. They seemed to be in a hurry.

Cordelia jumped down from her horse.

"Excuse me", She stopped a woman, "Is something going on?", she asked curiously.

The woman looked at her skeptically with her eyebrows drawn together, "Are you new here?", the woman asked her.

"Yes, I am traveller", Cordelia answered, wondering why the strange woman asked that question.

"Did you come here to meet someone?", the woman asked her.

"No, I-", Cordelia tried to say,

"Come with me quick, No one must be seen outside after nightfall", The woman grabbed Cordelia's hand and pulled her to follow her.

"Wait, I need to get my horse",

"Your life is much more important your horse", The woman cut in.

Cordelia said no more but series of questions began to fill her mind. She decided to keep those questions for later to be answered.

As Cordelia and the woman hurried down three road, she saw other people moving as fast as they can. Trying get to their various houses before the sun sets.

The woman stopped in front of a pub house. The woman brought out a bunch of keys from her bag. She took out a key and unlocked the door.

"Get inside", the woman said and Cordelia quickly complied. The woman shut the door and locked it. She went behind the counter and placed a lantern on the counter, she lit the lantern.

"What is your name, traveller?", The woman gestured to Cordelia to siton a chair and brought a bowl of fruits for her to eat.

"Thank you", Cordelia did not know how hungry she was. She had went on without food for a day, "I am Cordelia, Cordelia Mendel", she introduced herself. Cordelia knew she shouldn't disclose her identity–based on what she came here to do, but what she can only render. She should have lied abut her name, but she saw point in lying since she would not be here for a long time.

"My name is Jael Watson", the woman spoke, "I wonder what you came to Melan to do because you shouldn't be here since you have no idea about what is going on in Melan",

"What do you mean by that? Is there something I should know?", Cordelia probed. Looks like her questions were about to be answered. She hoped whatever was going on would not stop her from carrying out her mission. She must kill that Monarch no matter what!

"Over the years now, people and travellers do not dare come to Melan", Jael began to explain.

"Why?",

"There is a beast that roams on the forest grounds when the night falls",

Cordelia's blue eyes widened. That was new. She never expected something like that. Why does she feel that this piece of new was a red flag waving at her to back off.

"I never heard of something about a beast that troubles Melan", Cordelia uttered with a hint of surprise in her voice, "when have this been going on?"

"For twenty five years", Jael answered.

Cordelia's eyes nearly dropped from their sockets and her jaws dropped. How come news like this never reached Evalon. Maybe it did and she didn't listen.

"Can't the beast be killed?", Cordelia asked,

"Based on what I heard, the beast is invincible. It cannot be killed by physical weapons or magic, this beast kills people as if they were insects and no one escaped to narrate their encounter", Jael finished.

"Silly me, you must be very tired from your journey. Let me prepare a warm bath for your journey. Let me prepare a warm. bath for you and arrange a room to sleep in upstairs", Jael smiled and stood from the chair, "Let me take you to upper room, that's where I live in", Jael stood and walked to the wooden staircase and Cordelia followed her.

After Jael showed her the room she would use, Cordelia rested on the bed. She thought about what she heard this evening. That was definitely a red flag but she cannot go back now when she had come a long way and no, she was not going to back out until she killed the Grand Prince.

She can still go on with her plan since the beast only roams the night. She can carry it out during the day. She just have to be meticulous about it.