❄❄❄
ON the second day of the school festival, we were to present the results of our training.
I felt uneasy. I’d heard that the northern princess, who had arrived incognito the day before, was going to be in official attendance. I hope it’s just me being jealous, I thought as I peered across the stands, searching for familiar faces. I had invited the female cavalry unit to observe the proceedings. I figured the chance to see the cadets fight firsthand would do them good.
I eventually found them. Lounging in dresses, they were completely unarmed and had gone all out, many of them excited to visit the royal capital for the first time. Lilia was sitting with them.
Two teams, one in red, the other in white, would compete: first in martial arts, then swordsmanship, followed by horseback riding and mounted archery, before finally facing off in a mock cavalry battle. Magic wasn’t allowed, and participants in the mock battle wielded wooden swords and wore paper balloons strapped to their heads. Whichever team popped more of the other’s balloons while on horseback won.
The sight of cadets solemnly duking it out with balloons on their heads was funny yet oddly captivating at the same time. The cavalry battle was so popular that there were apparently even gambling rings staged around it each year.
Stern led the white team while Felzen captained the red. I was on the latter. After a tight contest, the white team just barely edged out a victory. Stern acted all high and mighty about it, much to my and Felzen’s chagrin. Soon all that was left was the closing ceremony and our sword dance.
An autumn breeze blew over the restless coliseum as the ceremony began. A sense of loneliness crept over me at the realization that our final school festival was nearing its end.
“Our northern neighbor has brought us a gift.” The host’s announcement caused a stir among the audience. He indicated a square box with a large cloth draped over the top.
Why do I sense some kind of monster in there?
The northern princess stood beside the box, smiling. Her hair was a luscious black, reaching all the way down her back, while her skin, in contrast, was as white as snow. I could almost feel myself getting sucked in by her seductive, blood-red lips.
She—she desired Stern, and yet he’d rejected her. Why is she, of all her family members, here? Why would a royal family send their daughter to a kingdom whose prince had just rejected her? Did she want to come here herself? Did she want to see Stern? Has she…not given up yet? I shook my head. So what if she hasn’t? It’s not like you have a say in anything!
Stern looked at me. “Is something wrong?”
“Just admiring her beauty is all,” I said.
“So she’s your type, then?”
The resentment on Stern’s face sent a shiver down my spine. “Not really, no. She’s just pretty, you know?”
“I don’t,” he said, sulking. “You’re the prettiest one here.”
My face went pink. “Me? Prettier than a princess?” I muttered, ducking my head, only to raise it back up when I felt an ominous aura radiating from her. Stern glanced her way as well.
Sensing Stern’s gaze, she grinned, her black eyes glaring as she placed her hands on the fabric cover. The hairs on my skin stood on end. I looked to the stands and saw the cavalry unit waving. They’re here. I exhaled, calming myself. It’s okay, it’s okay.
“Rise, Lilitu!” She tossed the cloth aside, revealing a large bird in a cage. The bird spread its brightly colored wings, letting out a shrill shriek when the princess opened the cage door.
“Monster!” a cavalrywoman yelled. Spinning around, I saw cadets crouched on the ground, clutching their heads.
I unsheathed my sword, squaring off against the bird. Its large wings kicked up a scorching gust. Fire magic.
“Obey me, and I’ll grant you the one you desire,” reverberated its words inside my head.
The princess stared at the bird, admiration in her eyes. Did she…unleash it on purpose?!
“Obey me, and I’ll grant you the one you desire.” The offer resounded once more, Stern’s face flashing before my eyes as the monster deflected my weapon with its talons.
Grant me the one I desire? I felt my conviction falter.
No, Stern’d never forgive me for giving in to a monster.
All the cadets had collapsed, immobilized by pain, even Stern and Felzen. Lilitu’s curse. The men in the audience were just as enthralled, while the women looked on in horror.
The Lilitu charged toward me. With my ice-enhanced blade, I cut through the wave of blistering heat that preceded it only to see its claws plunge into my chest. But then it leaped back, bewildered. The four-leaf clover brooch pinned to my front had repelled its talons.
Get a grip, Bern! Are you so weak as to give in to some monster just to win the man of your dreams? You’re not. I know you’re not. I want to believe you’re not.
The Lilitu screeched as though mocking my glare. I whipped my head to the side, whistling to the female cavalry unit. They’re part of the Cavalry Brigade, they’ll know what to do. Several women wearing dresses raced down the rows of panicking spectators.
I swung my sword, erecting a pillar of ice. The Lilitu kicked up another burning wall of air, slicing down the barrier and knocking my sword out of my hand.
“Bernstein!”
“Grab a sword, quick!”
The cavalrywomen wrested the cadets’ swords from their scabbards before surrounding the Lilitu. I froze its legs to the arena floor, preventing it from flying away, and enchanted the cavalrywomen’s swords with ice. They bravely charged in but were beat back by its fiery wings.
Other monsters began to emerge from beneath the earth, attracted to the Lilitu’s miasma. It was all I could do to hold them back: the cavalrywomen couldn’t use magic. The cadets were in no condition to fight. It was looking bleak. We needed something, some kind of weapon or spell powerful enough to bring down the mind-controlling beast.
Stern! If what Lilia had said was true, there was only one way to remove the curse. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but what other choice did I have? I ran to Stern, who was clutching his head in pain, and pulled him into my arms. His muddied eyes stared into mine, shock on his face. He seemed to be calling out to me, yet no words left his mouth. He recognizes me. There’s still hope.
“Forgive me,” I whispered, on the brink of tears, wrapping my cloak around him. My first and last kiss, the beginning of the end. Our lips touched in the darkness underneath the cloak.