Dark magic

Melina felt funny and silly trying to tiptoe past two guards who clearly couldn't see her.

She was not ready to get caught in this type of situation as she wasn't sure she would get out alive if she suddenly turned visible in front of these men.

They looked bloodthirsty and on high alert as they held their swords firmly. If anyone trespassed this alley, they were as as good as dead.

Not wasting anymore time, she ran off as quick as possible to the back gates of the palace.

Scared that she might become visible here, she began to walk carefully again. The gates were locked with large chains and the soldiers held their war chariots, ready for any sudden attack.

They were stationed at different parts in case the attack came from either sides.

Melina could see the fear and unsteadiness in the soldiers' eyes. The only person that held no fear or worry was King Albert, their ally.

She noticed a hint of curiosity hidden in his expression. He wanted to know who Dasha was, just as she also did.

The young woman seemed to turn heads with her presence and yet, no one knew who or what she was.

When Melina reached the gate, she placed her hands on the chain and iron bars, wanting to know if she could get past it since she was invisible but to her dismay, her hands didn't pass through it.

Instead, she felt a thick energy around it and she quickly removed her hand.

That only meant she would need the gates to be open before she could pass through it.

Something that was not possible at this point.

Albert who sat on his horse had so many things reeling in his mind but he had no answers to them. All his curiosity was about Dasha.

Who was this Vagarian Princess that was taunting different nations out here?

He knew his kingdom was no better as it was equally as mysterious as Dasha and Vagary but this was the first time he was amongst those who knew nothing about this mystery.

He was always ahead of other kingdoms on information like this. So being on the other end with no clue provoked him and made him feel out of control.

Suddenly, he noticed a presence, a frightening one at that and he quickly turned his head in the direction that he felt it.

Dark magic.

There was someone who shouldn't be here and the presence could be felt around  the gate.

He turned his head to face that direction, searching for the dark magic that was overflowing from that presence.

Since he left his kingdom, he had never felt the presence of dark magic but he could sense it now and his instinct wasn't wrong.

Meanwhile, Melina halted abruptly when she saw a pair of black eyes stare at her with shock.

Her heart leapt in fear and she could hear her heartbeat pacing faster.

She had forgotten that the person who stood here was the same person who had called her a witch.

Oh God.

Could he see her? Was he an exception to her magic?

If he was, then she was doomed.

He was going to think she had lied about not knowing anything about herself as a redhead.

He would believe she had tricked him into thinking she was innocent and not a witch when she had been wielding dark magic the entire time.

Her unsteady breathing increased indefinitely as she subtly stepped back, gulping at Albert's pruding gaze.

Albert had his eyes widened as he looked around, feeling the dark magic spread but he couldn't find who was wielding it.

Was Dasha perhaps a witch? Was that how she managed to reached District 2 without anyone's knowledge?

If truly she was and she was the one wielding dark magic here, then there was going to be big trouble because there was no way he could alone, stop dark magic that was already inside the palace.

It was going to end in defeat. There would be tragedy in Vlamunda and the Vagarians would conquer them.

Albert was not going to allow that.

He dropped down from his chariot and ordered, "Open the gates!"

An order that stunned the entire troop of armies before him.

It had taken them so long to tie these chains to the gate as the irons in it took lots of strength and energy to even move or carry.

Also, the priest had laid simple spell on the chains. It didn't mean they couldn't be broken but it will take longer to break.

And now that they had to be on alert, this king who was their supposed ally wanted them to open the gates.

However, Albert didn't bulge with the shocked expression on the guards' faces.

He unshielded his sword and walked to the gate before looking at the guards, "Now!" He yelled and seeing he was serious, they immediately began to do as they were told.

Melina felt her world crumble to the ground when he kept staring right at her.

The guards were not allowed to ask questions as it was an order so even if they were skeptical, they had no choice and began to unlock the chains.

However, they noticed something. The chains were very easy to remove compared to what they had expected.

Albert noticed that too and his hands slightly trembled.

Whoever it was had used dark magic to break the spell cast on the chains and the savannah king's only guess was Dasha.

Unless he was missing something, no one else that he knew of in this kingdom could wield such magic in a short time.

The redhead he had assumed was capable of such knew nothing about what she was and was currently helping in the palace to treat the injured.

At least, that was what he reasoned.

What he failed to realize was that that maidservant was standing right in front of him at the moment and she was the one who had unknowingly broken the spell on those chains when she touched them.

In fact, she was gaping at him with complete dread, thinking he had figured she was here.

When the gates opened, Melina stepped back subconsciously instead of quickly running out.

Her gaze was fixed on the king that kept coming towards her, his eyes blazing with urgency and desperation.

At first, she thought he had really caught her but then she observed that he only kept looking around as if searching for something and she finally discerned the situation.

He could not see her.

He could only sense her. He knew someone was here but couldn't figure out who it was.

This brief moment of truth made Melina sigh in relief and her furrowed brows straightened.

That only meant he was aware someone was here but didn't know who.

Somehow, even though she was relieved, it also made her suspicious of him.

If he was truly just a king, how could he sense her? Surely, something was off about him too.

She took a while to get over herself and slowly began to walk towards him where he stood by the gate.

Albert felt the energy grow closer and somewhere within him, he was frightened.

He had never been caught off guard like this before and for the fact that he couldn't trace who was responsible made him more frustrated.

When the presence passed the gate, he ordered again, "Shut the gates." And the troops didn't waste time before they obeyed, making sure to lock it properly.

Melina picked the fastest pace she could gather at that point. Her legs worked faster than her mind, running down the village streets that were left deserted like no one lived around there.

There were no market women selling or children playing. Vlamunda simply looked empty with no single soul present.

The sight clenched her heart but she didn't have the time to mourn. She needed to get to the war zone as soon as possible.

Her heart raced rapidly as she looked back thinking King Albert had followed.

Albert, however didn't follow her even when he had felt where the presence went.

Instead, he buckled down for what was to come.

He prepared the minds of the soldiers, telling them to be ready for any sudden attack and they obeyed the command, hopping in their chariots and setting a line.

They also informed those at the main gate to ready themselves for what was to come as even Albert couldn't get a full view of the picture.