A Story Of The Past

"Sorry Jay, but I cannot speak of it at the moment." Queen Auburn said as she stood up and bid farewell to Jay.

"Weird. Never heard about it before. For Queen Auburn to take it seriously, just what the hell is it?" Jay questioned himself and decided to set this thought aside for now and tried to remember everything he can about the abandoned mines.

...

Somewhere deep within the Nix River was a hidden cave entrance that leads to an abandoned mine. The abandoned mine's entrance was discovered by lucky players before who had nothing to do and decided to swim around the Nix River.

Later on, after a lot of exploring since the abandoned mines was pretty large, players found out that the mines were filled with something called Azurite Crystals. There were also some Level 40-50 monsters roaming around the place. There were even some lord ranked monsters that were guarding some rare equipment.

Azurite Crystals just looked like small blue pebbles. The special thing about these crystals was that it can be used in almost anything. Blacksmithing, potionmaking, alchemy, cooking, and can even become a frost grenade when magicka is pumped into it.

Due to the many variations of how to use it, when players mined the Azurite Crystals and sold it, it immediately became the most popular item sold. Some players even went further and asked people to pay for it with real money. Some went even further and did all shameless acts just to obtain these precious crystals.

But later on, after a few months of mining, the players discovered a hidden boss deep within the mines. The worst thing was, this boss was a Mythic ranked monster. Unlike lords, grandlords, or overlord monsters, mythic ranked monsters were really different.

Mythic ranked monsters can travel anywhere they want, they can do whatever the hell they want. If they want to sleep on a random village, then they sleep there. If they want to destroy cities, then they go ahead and destroy cities. And speaking of their abilities and combat prowess, Jay was not sure if they are just below the power level of Divine Beings or if they have the same power level since he never fought with a Divine Being during his 10 years of gaming life before.

...

"As long as we avoid that guy, then our economic status will even rise further." Jay told himself after thinking about that stuff.

"Mythic ranked monsters... I seem to remember that Fellis is the same rank when the Wither curse got removed from her... No... that's just plain stupid." Jay thought to himself since he suddenly had a crazy thought of messing with the mythic ranked monster within the abandoned mines.

Then just as he was about to leave the library, his guild emblem vibrated and Heda spoke to him.

"Master. Four of our core members are back. Annie, Abbie, Bloody Harvest, and Roselia. They are currently in the hub center."

"Hahaha... Good timing." Jay chuckled and immediately went to the hub center of the guild to meet up with them.

...

The moment Jay arrived at the Hub Center of the guild hall, just like what Heda told him, the four core members of the guild were there waiting for him. And besides them, Prince Frederick was also waiting for him.

"Jay. I just wanted to bid farewell before we leave. We were supposed to stay until tonight but mother told us there was an emergency." Prince Frederick immediately said the moment he saw Jay.

"Oh. Okay then. Safe travels to all of you." Jay said before Prince Frederick shaked hands with him and left.

After that, Jay looked at the core members sitting on a wooden bench, waiting for him. Of course, he was a bit surprised the moment he saw how Abby's physical features changed. But he decided to ask her about it some other time since he really cannot wait anymore and was excited to think about the things inside that abandoned mine.

"Hey, how's everyone doing?" Jay asked since he before he officially starts a team, he wanted to make sure everyone was in perfect condition.

"Just doing fine. So, what's this thing on your mind Jay? Heda told us that you have something planned for us." Bloody Harvest said as he stood up and looked at Jay.

"Abandoned mines. Strong monsters, nice loot, and a great adventuring experience. Come meet me outside when you guys are ready." Jay said before he suddenly felt a jolt in his hand.

Bawk Bawk!!! ("JAY!!! Don't leave me again!")

Nuggets spoke to Jay in bestial language since she really wanted to spend some time with Jay.

"Fine, you can come along." Jay said as he gestured Nuggets to perch on his left shoulder. After that, Jay, Abby, Annie, Bloody Harvest, Roselia, and Nuggets set off on this task at hand.

But due to his excitement, Jay forgot to give the storage ring he got from Prince Frederick to Heda for safekeeping.

...

Somewhere on the road from the Golden Phoenix guild hall towards Greengarden...

Inside a golden carriage...

"Mother, what's with the hurry? You were just getting lovey-dovey with Jay and now you are rushing us to go back to the city." Princess Hailey said as she looked at Queen Auburn, who now had a serious look on her face.

"It's your brother, Alfred. He is back."

The moment the two princesses and prince Frederick heard the queen say that, they suddenly broke out in cold sweat.

"Brother is back?" Princess Auriel said while she stuttered and felt chills all over her body.

"He is currently holed up in Bloomridge together with that b*tch Amanda. Jay was the one who told me about this." Queen Auburn said while she took out her teddy bear from her spatial storage and hugged it tightly while having and enraged look on her face.

"My traitorous son. Killer of my father and mother. The one who stole the greatest treasure of our city." Queen Auburn mumbled softly and squeezed her teddy bear even more tightly, venting out her anger on it for now.

"Mother..." Prince Frederick tried to comfort the queen while he suddenly remembered that bloody scene from the past.

...

--- Greengarden, somewhere within the Graycastle ---

10 years ago, inside a hidden room within the castle...

"Mother, save us!!!" Prince Frederick, who was still a 4 year old kid at this time shouted loudly. He was on the corner of the walls, crying, with blood running across his face.

In front of him was Prince Alfred, who was still around his 20's, King Arlon, and the previous queen, Queen Aela.

King Arlon was in his sleeping garments, a green silky robe. He had long, curly, blond hair and a moustache. As for Queen Aela, she was wearing a fitted gray colored gown. She had short black hair and had a small ribbon tied on her hair.

Queen Aela was currently held hostage by Alfred who held a knife to her throat. As for King Arlon, one of his legs were chopped off and he needed to use his greatsword to support his body.

"Why are you doing this Alfred?! You were such a sweet child." Queen Aela said while she felt the dagger biting onto her neck and tears flowed out from her eyes.

"Annoying sh*ts." Prince Alfred said softly before he threw a knife at Prince Frederick's right shoulder. After that, he kicked the greatsword of King Arlon which caused the king to slump down to the ground.

"Just tell me where the Shadow Puppet is." Prince Alfred said as he pushed his dagger more onto Queen Aela's neck.

Then suddenly, the door of the room was opened forcefully. Queen Auburn and Princess Frallia came rushing inside. Both of them were currently wearing the usual princess attire. A white fitted dress with golden trims and and intricate design. But unlike the present time when Queen Auburn is in her child transformation, she looked like a normal teenager now.

"Let her go!"

Frallia shouted as she took out a knife and rushed towards Alfred.

"FRALLIA DON'T!!!" King Arlon shouted. But it was too late.

Alfred killed Queen Aela without mercy. Slitting her throat before throwing her corpse towards Frallia who was rushing towards him.

"Mother? No... no..." Princess Frallia cried the moment she caught the lifeless body of Queen Aela. She dropped the knife she was holding and held onto Queen Aela's body tightly, as if she forgot everything and just wanted everything to go back to the way it was, before all of this.

"You ungrateful bastard!"

Queen Auburn shouted furiously and started casting spells frenziedly towards Alfred. No matter how much grief she had right now, her killing intent suppressed it within her as she looked at Alfred in front of her.

"If you just handed over the Shadow Puppet... too bad for poor grandma. Why don't I make it up to you guys? If grandpa comes with grandma in the next life, won't that be sweet?" Alfred said as he grinned evilly and stomped on King Arlon's head.

~Splat...

"AAAHHHHH!!!"

Queen Auburn lost it and rushed towards Alfred.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Prince Frederick suddenly appeared behind Alfred and stabbed him on the back of his head. The dagger Prince Frederick used was plunged in so deep that it penetrated through Alfred's skull and pierced through his left eye.

But it was as if nothing happened. Alfred just smiled as he grabbed Prince Frederick and just as he was about to slam him against the wall, Queen Auburn used a spell to move Prince Frederick away before blasting Alfred with a fireball-type spell.

Then at the same time, footsteps of knights approaching the room was suddenly heard together with some shouts.

"Hurry up! Protect the royal family at all costs!"

When Alfred heard this, he knew that his plans were not going as well as he thought it would be and he retreated. How? He just simply dived into a shadow portal he created and disappeared in front of everyone.

"You think you are going to leave this place alive?" Queen Auburn said and attempted to jump in the shadow portal but sadly, the shadow portal disappeared the moment Prince Alfred went through it and she slammed onto the wall.

"DAMN IT! DAMN IT!" Queen Auburn said as she was filled with frustration. She slumped down to the floor and tears flowed from her face.

Then just a few moment after that, Philson, who was still Chief Warrior at that time, arrived together with a group of knights. One of those knights was Morris, the current Chief Warrior of Wildergreene.

"We're too late... GODDAMMIT!" Philson cursed and tried his best to help everyone in the room. But the moment he approached Queen Auburn...

"Where were you at the time we needed you the most. TELL ME!" Queen Auburn said as she cried and kept throwing weak punches at Philson's body.

And to make the situation worse, a random nobleman suddenly entered the room, who seemed to be following the knights.

"Hey fellas. What's the rush? Let's drink some more! Did you see those weak s**ts from Holtheim running from us? Wahahaha!!!" The nobleman exclaimed happily while he drank a bottle of beer. He did not realize the grim situation in front of him since he was too drunk.

Sadly for him, Princess Frallia was in a really bad mood and just recovered from her trance. The moment she saw this nobleman in a drunk and happy mood, she was just pissed off and slashed his throat with the knife beside her.

As for Philson...

"You f**king..." Queen Auburn cursed Philson and looked at him hatefully. A great tragedy just happened within the royal family and their Chief Warrior was out drinking with some noblemen, how ridiculous!

"My queen, please don't jump to conclusions. I was mediating a brawl between drunkards and..." Philson tried to explain himself since he was really not partying around and was doing his job. As for why he and his knights did not manage to get here immediately was because some noblemen got in their way and tried to get them drunk.

"SHUT UP! GET OUT!" Queen Auburn shouted furiously and pushed Philson away.

Even though this tragedy happened, after a long discussion, Princess Frallia and Queen Auburn decided to keep this matter quiet from the rest of the world. It was just too shameful that a prince from the royal family caused all of this mess. And after a few years later on, the events that Morris once told Jay happened. And after that, things happened one after another until how things look like in the present. As for Prince Alfred, Queen Auburn faked the news and told the people that he was exiled from the kingdom, never to return. But in truth, prince Alfred was still being hunted down by some assassins hired by Queen Auburn.

...

Back at the present, inside the golden carriage...

"Frederick, I suppose I don't have to tell you how grave the situation is with Alfred's appearance." Queen Auburn said as he looked at Prince Frederick.

"Don't worry mother. It won't end up like the last time. I will hunt that bastard down until he dies." Prince Frederick said hatefully as he balled his hands into a fist.

"Mother, brother..." Princess Auriel was about to ask what was the story why Alfred is a potential threat to them since she and Hailey was not yet born at that time when the tragedy happened .

Queen Auburn did not reply but instead hugged the two princesses.

"Don't worry. You don't have to know. All that matters is that I will always protect the three of you."