Without magic

Aruna didn't answer, she knew there was something else, and she hoped Alba would know as she knew it had to do with royalty. After a while, Alba commented – Oh, apparently there was a meeting with the other leaders about a possible alliance with Waterfall.

Aruna stared at Alba with narrowed eyes – Were you and Alessa the only ones who didn't participate?

– It seems so.

Aruna nodded again, getting up. Alba wasn't a very communicative person, but she still talked to her, but today Alba seemed strange, something was bothering her, and she knew it must have something to do with her family – Okay, you look worried, you should rest.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

– Where do you think he could be? Leah asked as soon as he met up with Bavellis.

The general had just returned from Silverleak. He didn't find him there, and his sudden presence at the institute ended up scaring many students.

At that moment they didn't even care about the law, several dragons, of different colors and sizes, flew over the cities in search of the prince.

– That's not like him, he must be somewhere...

Leah pursed his lips, returning to his form, he flew to the highest point of the palace, landing and looking around. Bavellis had followed him, landing beside him.

Two large dragons watched the people below.

– We've been looking for him everywhere...

His mouth didn't move when he spoke, as Leah thought about Long's whereabouts, Bavellis finally fixed his gaze on a specific spot, disbelieving for a moment – Not everywhere…

Leah glared at him, following his gaze into the dungeons. His pupils narrowed as he hurried down to the spot.

Bavellis followed him, they, besides the king and queen, were the ones who kept in touch with Long the most, it wasn't just out of respect for him being the prince, but because they really liked the boy.

Leah, returning to his human form, ran inside. The guards, startled by his presence, and seeing the general following close behind, thought that some prisoner had escaped and that they even didn't notice.

Leah grabbed one of them – The prince, have you seen him?

Bavellis ran inside while Leah questioned the soldiers.

Pausing thoughtfully in the halls, this was the only place they didn't look, but why would Long be here...

Leah approached him, the two stared at each other for a moment before expressing understanding, both coming to the same conclusion.

– The half-breeds – As soon as Bavellis spoke aloud what they thought, Leah ran to where the suspects had been placed.

Once there, they found one of the suspects poking across the cell at a boy who was unconscious on the floor.

Bavellis threw a knife at the man, hitting the hand that touched the boy. The man screamed in pain and backed away as he spoke – We didn't do anything, I swear, spare us, General, he passed out on his own.

Leah ran to Long, picking him up in his arms he tried to feel his pulse, and relieved that Long was still breathing, he sighed, but after feeling for a while he looked at Bavellis scared – There is no magic.

Bavellis looked at him, confused – What?

Leah lifted Long and ran outside, the soldiers who saw the prince in his arms were shocked, kneeling down desperately, Leah and Bavellis ignored them, running back to the palace.

In front of the throne, Rairin emitted a murderous aura, looking at Long, unconscious in Jiaohui's arms, he spoke – I'll ask you one more time, how did this happen?

The guards swallowed hard. There were all the guests in the throne room again, shocked by the situation, watching with murderous eyes the suspects kneeling in the center of the hall, who were shaking in despair.

Nobody knew how to answer this question, even Ikalles couldn't do anything right now.

Leah and Bavellis looked at Long. Jiaohui hugged him tightly while smoothing his hair, her image was a mess, kneeling on the floor while holding her son in her arms, her eyes full of tears made others in the hall feel sorry for the situation.

Ikalles felt his pulse for a while before sighing – He'll be fine, it's temporary.

Jiaohui smiled in relief, pulling Long closer while laughing lightly.

There were gasps all around, that's good, the prince didn't lose his powers, but still, what happened to him?

Rairin nodded, looking at the men in the center of the throne room.

– My king, we're speaking the truth, we did nothing to him, he was the one who...

The man suddenly stopped, gulping hard, this boy found out some information about their plan, it would be better if he never woke up.

Jiaohui looked at them – What did he do?

The men lowered their heads, before Rairin could say anything, Jiaohui stood up, offering Long gently for Leah to hold.

Wiping her tears, she pulled the sword from Bavellis' waist and walked over to the suspects.

No one moved, Rairin was a bit stunned by her attitude, as were Leah and Bavellis, who looked at his sword with a lost expression, made of his own scales, his sword was now in the queen's hands.

Everyone thought at the time that she would just threaten them into telling the truth, but Jiaohui changed at that moment how others saw her.

Going to the one she judged to be the weakest and least important, she raised the sword in her hands, and without any effort, she slashed at him, cutting him in half.

– Jiaohui!

Rairin quickly ran towards her, pulling the sword from her hand and throwing it at Bavellis, who had also approached in shock.

An eerie silence settled in the throne room after Rairin's scream. Jiaohui looked at the dead man in front of her, watching as his blood stained her dress.

Breathing hard, she glanced at the other suspects, who were shocked to see their dead companion beside them.

It was Jiaohui who finally broke the silence – What did he do?

Under the death gaze of the beautiful woman in front of him, the man fell down in fright, speaking hurriedly – I don't know, he suddenly appeared, speaking some strange words… he, he forced me to talk about the attack, I don't know what happened… – The man coughed suddenly, as if he were choking, unspeakable liquids leaking from his mouth as he looked pleadingly at the queen.

Jiaohui watched him die as she thought about his words, Long forced him to speak...?

Ikalles walked over to the man now lying on the ground, his body still convulsing, under the gaze of everyone present.

Rairin looked at Ikalles. Mentally thanking his guardian for his speed in taking this attitude, killing this man as soon as he said what he shouldn't.

Jiaohui looked at the only one who was still alive, raising an eyebrow, she asked with a soft look – Did he force it?

Easily understanding his situation, the man shook his head in denial – No way, he didn't force us! I really don't know what happened your majesty, please spare my life...

The man tried to reach over to grab her skirt, but Bavellis stopped him with his sword as Rairin pulled Jiaohui behind him.

Rairin spoke while looking at the man – Jiaohui, leave.

At his order, Jiaohui just took a deep breath, and turning around she looked at Leah. He got up with Long in his arms and then they left together.

Rairin watched his wife leave the throne room, remembering the crowd watching.

– Thank you all for your help, the prince will be fine, you can go now.

His tone wasn't polite, he was ordering everyone to leave.

Bavellis took the man back to the prison, and as soon as Leah returned, they interrogated him. The scared man told everything that happened, from the moment Long appeared before them to the strange words uttered by him, he spoke as his colleague, now dead, told absolutely everything he knew about the attack and how he fainted.

Jiaohui shook her head – Where did he learn that?

Ikalles nodded – It's impossible that he saw something like that, it's a forbidden spell, that…

Ikalles looked at Rairin.

Rairin was sitting beside Long, holding onto his hand as he stared into nothing, thoughtfully.

Jiaohui sighed, pacing back and forth.

– My king, should we cancel the trip?

Rairin looked at Leah, who asked the question, answering lightly – No, prepare everything, you will leave tomorrow.

Leah nodded, pulling Bavellis out as he did.

Jiaohui looked at Ikalles – If it's temporary, there must be a way to hasten the healing, right?

Ikalles pursed his lips thoughtfully – Well, if he has a source of power to fuel his body...

– And if we give a little of our power away daily, how long do you think it will take for him to improve?

Ikalles lowered his eyes, the queen's desperate expression made him uncomfortable, but Jiaohui's speech actually made sense. He replied in a low voice – That might work, my queen, it would be great if both their majesties gave a little of their energy to the prince daily.

Rairin nodded – Let's do this now, shouldn't you be packing your things for the trip?

Ikalles looked at him – Are you sure, your majesty?

Coming out at a time like this, not only did the prince lose his powers, but the queen killed a man in front of a good portion of the nobility. Most likely, all this news has already leaked.

Rairin nodded – You yourself said it's temporary, it's okay Ikalles, we can't have any more problems happening... go.

Ikalles sighed, bowing.

As soon as he left, Jiaohui hurried over, sitting on the other side of her son and stroking his hair – Rairin.

Rairin looked at her, seeing her beautiful eyes as cold as the coldest mountain in the far north. She said – You know something…

Rairin quickly looked away, interrupting her – I'll take care of it, don't worry.

In the evening, as he said goodbye to Leah and Ikalles, Rairin dismissed his guards and walked the halls. Heading toward the back of the castle.

Arriving at the same library where Long had discovered the spell.

Rairin sighed lightly, calling out to the person he had assigned to guard this library.

– Yarin.

It didn't take long for someone to appear, answering his call.

Yarin was the fair-haired young woman Long called his elder sister,. The child born of rape, the bastard, as she was called by some of the older servants of the palace.

The young woman bowed – Your Highness.

Rairin remained silent for a moment, looking at the girl who reminded him of his worst torment. He closed his eyes, turning so he didn't have to look at her.

– Do you know the mistake you made?

Yarin looked at his back with an indifferent expression – Yes, Your Highness.

Rairin sighed – You are not to blame for what happened in the past, that's why I allowed you to live here, but hurting Long, your own brother...

– He wanted to help your majesty, how could I refuse a request from the crown prince? The only son of the high king of dragons.

Rairin narrowed his eyes, hearing her words.