Mother's trap

Just moments before the deafening shout, the knights were diligently conducting their daily security check, their eyes scanning every corner of the castle walls. As an aside, the knight holding a sleek black sword leans in to whisper to his comrade, "Have you ever wondered why the city lord visits here once he crosses thirty years of age? Is he truly immune to the curse, or is he merely pretending?" The second knight, without missing a beat, quips back, "He doesn't come here for lust, but to reunite with his true love." The black sword-wielding knight raises an eyebrow in confusion and probes, "Who is this true love of his? Hasn't his wife already passed away?"

Despite the mystery surrounding her choice to reside outside of the city lord's palace, rumors abound that this woman may be the true leader of the city. Many residents believe that she wields the true power, making all of the decisions for the city lord. As the second knight pondered the possibility, the sound of a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. Without hesitation, the woman sprang into action and dashed toward the source of the commotion.

Upon arrival at the door, the knights knocked frantically and shouted out in concern, "Miss, is everything alright?" After a few tense seconds, a voice boomed out, "Yes, everything is fine. I just had a strange dream." Assured of the woman's safety, the knights nodded to each other and prepared to depart. However, they couldn't help but wonder what other secrets the enigmatic woman might be keeping.

Inside the dimly lit room, Alex and his companions gathered around the memory projector, transfixed by the emotional scene unfolding before them. Anna, desperately trying to hold back her tears, eventually succumbs to her emotions, her tears streaming down her face. Her mother, moved by her daughter's pain, extends her hand and embraces her tightly, holding her close in a long and heartfelt embrace.

As they hold each other, the room is filled with the soft sound of their sobs and the warmth of their embrace. Eventually, Anna breaks the silence, pulling back from her mother and looking at her with confusion etched on her face. "What is she doing here?" she asks, her voice cracking with emotion.

Her mother takes a deep breath, composing herself before responding, "When the assassins came to our village, they were seeking monsters, not humans. They mistakenly believed I was a prisoner when they found me, so they spared my life and left. After that, I ventured into town to find out more about you and what had happened to our village." The room falls silent once more, as the weight of her mother's words sinks in.

Anna's anxiety-prone mind often leads her to question the past, and one of her go-to queries is, "How did you end up here?" Her mother, Lilly, is always there to provide an answer, and she tells Anna a story that is equally parts puzzling and mysterious. Lilly recounts her visit to the town, where she asked about the nocturnal attack and the unknown assailants. Initially, the villagers were unaware of the incident, but upon further probing the next day, they suddenly had amnesia about everything, including the village, the goblins, and even Lilly and Anna. Despite her confusion, Lilly persevered and ultimately uncovered the truth.

Anna chimes in, acknowledging that she too had experienced a similar incident upon returning to the village. No one seemed to recognize her, and she had suspected that it had something to do with the city lord. However, Lilly clarifies that the city lord is not to blame; rather, it was the dark witch, the queen of the kingdom, who orchestrated the whole ordeal. The revelation leaves Anna and Lilly with more questions than answers, and they wonder what other secrets lie hidden in their past.

As Lilly spoke those words, Alex was caught off guard and felt a jolt of surprise course through his body. He opened his mouth to respond but halted mid-sentence when he saw the fear etched on Maya's face. Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted their conversation, causing Alex to recoil in disbelief. To his shock, it was Maya who had uttered those words. Despite her trembling frame, her voice rang out clear and unwavering. It was evident that Maya had taken control of the situation, wielding her power over the spell with precision and expertise. As the events unfolded, Linda remained aloof and indifferent, seemingly unaffected by the chaos that had ensued.

- To be continued