Queen of Chaos and The Forgotten Witch

The next object we needed was a bone from the skeleton of the first creature ever made. Long before creatures controlled the Kingdom, humans ruled everything. To humans, creatures were no more than tools- weapons that would be used to defeat enemies in battle. They created the creatures to be their pets.

Back then, creatures didn't look like we do. They looked like animals. Beasts. And when they died, the humans tore apart their bodies to craft weaponry imbued with their powers. Bone swords and crowns. Impenetrable fur armour.

Quite literally, they wore the creatures' bodies on their own.

Over time, the more that humans wore this armour and channeled this energy into themselves, the warriors morphed into something that wasn't quite human or creature, but rather a mix of the two. Creatures became more like humans and humans like creatures until one day, they were all merged into one.

The curse, by blocking off access to the creature essence, made us all look human. But when the curse is no longer in effect, all creatures will regain some of those animalistic features.

Some pure humans remained, but the majority all migrated to one area along the South Eastern sea on the opposite side of a strip of land that had been destroyed, leaving it barren and carved into the ground. The mountains on their side provided a vantage point that they used to monitor the land and protect themselves from any intruders.

My muscles tugged tight as we rode across the Madzia bridge, on edge and more alert than the last time we were there. Killian's advice was one I always heeded, and my lesson was learned.

Levi learned it, too. Astute eyes scanned the area, one hand gripped firmly on the reins, and the free hand rested atop his thigh, ready to reach for the swords strapped across his back.

The others remained unconcerned, engaging in casual conversation.

While we tracked down the location of Marlon's bone, Killian returned to the palace to provide the Queen with an update and to ask her, now that she was aware of what we were doing, if he could search through the hidden archives for any relevant information.

Deimos, on the other hand, was probably lounging in his bed without a care or concern in mind.

"I can't believe Deimos called me dickhead," Phoenix sneered.

Khali snorted. "At least he put Mr in front of it."

Phoenix did often say and do things with the sole purpose of aggravating Deimos. Not that it excused Deimos's behaviour. But I often wondered if it was a defense mechanism for Phoenix- acting aggressive toward Deimos in order to conceal the fear boiling inside.

"You, Mira, and Aspen were all a part of Killian's team?" Alvira said to Sage.

Sage leaned forward, looking down the row of soldiers to me. "Yup. Like how Killian chose Levi and then he chose all of you, Killian chose Mira, and then she chose the rest of us."

"Indeed I did," I said, surveying the area before us.

"Did you meet Killian in the military?" Khali asked.

"I did."

"Liar," Levi mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

My head swivelled to him.

Both brows lifted in silent challenge. "You met Killian long before you joined the military. That much I know is true."

Every possible excuse or lie vanished from my mind. Instead, I said nothing- only bringing more suspicion to myself. To my previous lies.