Chapter 3: Decision and Preparation

"How is Ella, did she stop crying?"

King Rollant ask, in front of him was his wife, and one-sided love, Octavia.

After sipping the tea, Octavia answered. "Yes, she's fine now, but she is currently busy with something. How are the hero and his friends?"

"They are at their rooms now. It seems like the Hero took a liking to our Ella right away." Rollant smiled, happy about this. Even though he love his daughter so much, but the priority of the hero is a must because Rollant knows how powerful the hero will become if Ella is helping them.

Winter is coming and it's not just a simple winter. This winter will turn into a blood bath.

Octavia didn't respond to what the king said then closed her eyes for a moment before speaking again. "I and Ella will go to the Thetholm Pinnacle tomorrow. She has a dream last night that Goddess Thirlena spoke to her." Octavia's voice sounded serious, so Rollant believe this was an important matter for both the mother and daughter pair.

"Really? Thirlena spoke to her?" Rollant replied with a raised eyebrow. "What did she tell Ella?"

It's the first time the Goddess of Fate and Destiny spoke to Ella first instead of the latter asking advice. This made the king curious and somehow excited at the same time. There should be a reason why this occurred.

"She wants Ella to head at the south, there is something Ella should have there or maybe meet."

Rollant's eyes squinted. What does the Goddess want from his daughter, why does Thirlena want to let Ella go to one of the most dangerous places? But if it was what the Goddess have told, then he only had to agree. It's a taboo to disobey the Goddess of fate and destiny.

Rollant has no way to verify if what Ella told Octavia is true, but he knows Ella well and trusted her daughter.

"That's good to hear! We should also let the hero and his friends follow us. This helps them learn about this world more and maybe Ella and the hero will develop their feelings there!"

Octavia calmly shook his head. "First of all, there is no us. It will only be Ella, Hilda, my Elite guards, and me. You are the king so you should stay here. Second is, the hero and his friends are not ready, they will be in danger or maybe a hindrance to us."

Rollant can't argue about this but he still tried to suggest. Octavia then stood up and spoke. "I will now take my leave."

Octavia left the room without saying any word, after Octavia's silhouette vanished, the King's five concubines then entered the room. Octavia didn't even feel jealous about this, instead, she was happy that she will not sleep with the king on the same bed anymore.

It might be cold for some but this is what she honestly felt. Octavia regretted she wasn't able to marry the person she love back then, but also she didn't regret giving birth to Ella. Her daughter is her life now and she is very happy spending every minute with her alongside Hilda.

- - - - - -

The next day, early at dawn, around a hundred Elite guards were preparing to leave the kingdom.

All of the Elite guards are wearing magic armor and weapons with the Winged-Lion crest of the Kroya empire at their chest. These guards have an average level of 200, very high if compared to the levels of the people in this world.

They are carefully chosen and trained by the Queen herself.

Octavia on the other hand is level 450, already known as a Godlike existence in this world, even the king was a hundred levels behind her.

But despite the level difference, Octavia was unable to stop their arranged marriage.

Hilda and Ella are level 250. In every fifty levels, they will meet a bottleneck that needed a large number of Soul Points to proceed to the next level. It's because the comparison of every fifty levels is huge.

In conclusion, the Kroya kingdom is the most powerful in the Eloris continent.

"Mother, I'm ready..."

"It's time to go, we are already late. Go and get inside the carriage." Ella and Hilda entered the carriage right away while Octavia rode her own Black Winged-Lion. The biggest and strongest Winged-Lion ever found. Octavia is wearing her Battle Gown, and her most used weapon, a sword, and a shield crafted by the best dwarven crafters from another continent.

[ AN: I will upload Character Photos on a new page.]

The reason why they want to leave at dawn is to avoid disturbing and causing a ruckus in the kingdom. The second is the Thetholm Pinnacle is a week trip.

Most people hate long trips but Ella was happy about this because she will not see the hero for the time being and to be requested by her father to stick with him and become closer.

Ellena looked at the Elite Guards and yelled, "Everyone! I already told you where we are heading. It will be a very dangerous journey but would you remind me what you guys are?!"

"Chosen by the Gods! We are Lions!" The Guards shouted in unison with pride.

"That's right! We are Lions! We are a Pride! I don't want anyone dying out there! Do you understand?!"

"No Lions will be left behind! We will fight as one!" The Elite Guards responded.

"Let the Gods and Goddesses guide us in this journey! Onward!"

After Octavia's last cry, the Elite Guards roared, as if they were Lions. Octavia used magic to lessen their noise. The reason for her speech is to increase the morale of her warriors and to motivate them to not, well... die.

Octavia glanced at the castle walls for a moment then lead her army to start their journey. While the King, the hero, and his friends were also there watching how the Queen led an army in amazement. How lucky was the king to marry such a woman?

[End of Chapter 3]