“Finally, it’s quiet.” Aura sighed. She kicked her heels away and sank into a lavishly decorated bed that could comfort an entire family.

“People want to celebrate, I guess.”

Ragna's eyes followed Aura's movements, and she sat next to the princess. She took a bite from the caviar on the silver platter they had taken from the banquet and looked around. Aura's periwinkle room was the same as ever. On the east and the western sides, two doors connected this giant hendecagon of a bedroom to the third floor’s halls.

Through windows that covered the walls, cosmos roses basked in the night light. On the desk next to Aura’s bed, Aura had put a tablet and a picture frame. Unless she had replaced the photo, it should have been the one when she, Aura, Freya, and Eliza played in that field of lilies in the royal garden.

Didn't her mother take it? How long ago had that been?

Above the desk, twin swords decorated the walls like a trophy that had resigned itself to a life of dust catching, and diagonally opposed stood Aura’s bookshelf. Though, the number of books on her shelf had increased since last year.

How many were there?

From her position, Ragna tried to read some of the titles: ‘The fall of Camelot’, ‘The art of Realpolitik’, ‘Persuasive Psychology’, ‘Basics of human behavioral science’, ‘Myths of Aes’, ‘History of Aes', and ‘Advanced Void Theory II’.

“Still, did they have to applaud that loud? My ears are sensitive, you know?” Aura rubbed her long dagger-like ears – a parting gift of a vicious illness she once had.

“You liar.” Ragna chuckled and let her fingers slide over Aura's ears. A warm sensation spread through her fingertips, but Aura showed no reaction.

Ragna pouted.

When they were younger, her ears had been Aura's one weak point. Apparently, she had overcome that.

“But it’s nice to see you again," said Aura. "How long has it been? Almost a year, right?”

"Being a princess must be hard. You don't even have time for video calls."

"I had to beg Gras...Marcus to accept your father's proposal." Aura straightened her back and leaned towards Ragna. She blew air into Ragna’s neck. Ragna startled at the warm sensation, and Aura giggled.

“I’m still responsible for you.” Ragna grabbed the champagne bottle and rocked it. The liquid swayed back and forth, signaling that half of its content was gone. “How much did you drink already?”

“Don’t worry. Nothing I can’t handle.” Aura took a glass of champagne from the silver tablet and emptied it in one breath. As she snapped her fingers, Dead11’s ‘Pendulum’ played in a low volume.

“I swear, the last days were the worst. Made me want to pull my hair out. Politicians and generals can be such a pain in the ass.” With a sudden movement, the princess let herself fall into Ragna’s lap. Unable to deny her request, Ragna let her rest, and the princess continued to speak. “Peace is fragile and complex. Even a mistletoe could destroy everything. Instead of holding it together, letting everything fall apart seems so appealing. Thousand years of conflict…Makes you wish to annihilate the other side."

Aura reached for the bottle and refilled her glass with champagne. She returned the bottle to the platter and emptied her drink again.

Should she talk and tell her opinion? No, it was better to let Aura finish her soliloquy.

"Honestly, we haven't started a war yet because we want to be labeled as the good guys. I mean, who doesn't? Everyone wants to be a hero who defeats villains. And because of social media, even more so. We wish and have to be on the side of light and justice. But that's difficult, so we just call the others evil and automatically become heroes. Everyone is just waiting for that one moment that allows us to strike with these labels.”

“Well, Vaix are the bad guys. It would be just exposing the truth. If they didn't exist, wouldn't the world be better? Wouldn't there be peace?”

Ensuring that she didn't disturb Aura, Ragna stretched out her legs and took another bite from the food plate's appetizers. She offered the plate to Aura. The princess, being content to peek inside her empty glass, declined.

“That’s like saying killing all the poor people would solve poverty and overpopulation. Removing Vaix would hinder humanity itself. All the possibilities, all the brilliance, they too are part of humanity’s glamour.”

Ragna lowered her eyelids, and the plate in her hand started to shake. “And they bring pain and misery. Friends from the academy fell in missions against them. My mother and Sven’s parents would’ve been sitting behind you today."

"Yeah, that's true. But Vaix also did many good things. Look at your gravity glove."

"My mother had stolen that from an enemy. Not sure if that counts."

"Okay. How about animal rights?"

"So, it's okay if you do bad things as long as you also do good things? If you do bad things, then you're evil. You can't just put that on a scale and make it equal. It wouldn't be just. What do you want to say to all their victims? That they should forgive and forget? Why is it always the victims that have to be better? If I had to choose between this "potential" and their smiles…” Ragna stopped and shook her head. “Fuck. We haven’t seen each other for almost a year, and I waste this time arguing.”

“If it’s you, I don’t care what we do.” Aura smiled. Without moving an inch, her arm reached towards the plate. She picked a fishball and held it in front of Ragna, who devoured it. “And conflict’s important. So, we move forward, engage with other ideas, and gain new perspectives. Do you want everyone to be the same?"

Ragna shook her head, and Aura continued. "If there's conflict, then it means we're diverse. Our job is to reduce unnecessary suffering and pain.”

Ragna returned a smile and studied the black, square overhead lights that lit up the princess’ chamber in bright blue.

She didn’t understand how Aura’s words could be true, but talking to her was enough.

"So, you’ve decided to become President?" Ragna asked.

"That's years from now. And I would still have to win the election before I could rule over the kingdom."

"I will support you, but..." Ragna sighed. "Promise me, whatever you do, do it because you want to. Not because you think you have to."

Aura stood up and grabbed Ragna's hand, her eyes looking over her head. "I promise.”

"I just want you to be happy."

"You can't say that." Aura let go. Imitating a young maiden who had found her first love, she moved her hands towards her cheeks, giggling and shaking. "I might fall for you."

"Curses." Ragna inflated her voice. She pulled the tips of her pigtails over her lips, transforming it into a mustache, and raised her arm like a third-class drama actor. "My nefarious plans have been exposed. Now I’ve no choice but to take you as my wife."

"Lindi, Lindi...To steal an engaged woman...What have you become?"

"We shall rule the world with an iron fist. The peasants will beg, the rich will fear, and all the dandies in the world will beg even more."

Aura burst into laughter, and Ragna joined her.

“By the way." Ragna wiped away the tears from her eyes. "You and Captain Graswald? How did that happen?”

“Why not? We look good together, and the people love it. The tabloids were shipping us for years. The most popular Captain and Midgard’s beloved princess. Doesn’t that sound like a match made in Valhalla?”

Ragna shrugged her shoulders.

Better if she kept her opinions to herself. It was Aura’s choice, and in the end, people fell in love for all kinds of reasons.

"During the last few years, we couldn't go together, but tonight, we've time," Aura said. "I’ve reserved a table at the Nix. Eli's not here, but let’s bring Altera too. It’s her big day.”

Ragna arched her brow.

Wait, did she mention Altera?

Suddenly, Aura lifted her head and looked frantically through the room.

“Something wrong?” Ragna asked.

Aura tried to speak, but as a booming noise disrupted her words, her bedroom rumbled. Books fell from their shelves, and fissures drew through the windows.

That came from the west.

Ragna jumped up and ran towards the western door. Ready to draw her saber, she knocked against it.

No one answered.

She knocked again and shouted, but the guards didn’t answer.

That wasn’t good. First, the explosion, and now the guards. What should she do? Was Sven all right? Should she open the door, stay, or run in the other direction?

Ragna looked at the princess.

Did an assassin infiltrate the castle? Should they risk running into a trap or staying here like sitting ducks?

Cursing her indecisiveness, Ragna knocked a third time. The alarm bells rang, giving her an answer, and Ragna turned around.

“We need to go.” She took Aura’s hand. Outside the room, screams erupted.

Had someone invaded the castle?

Ragna pressed her glove, but nothing happened.

Why didn't it work? Was it malfunctioning? No, that couldn't be the case. Then, could it be that the invaders had somehow disabled her device? But how? Without it, fighting would put Aura's life in danger. She had to bring her to safety.

Ragna ran, distancing herself from the door, and drew her sword.

The western door burst open, and a hooded figure came forth. A sable black bird-like domino mask covered their face, and in their hand, they held a scythe half as tall as themselves. Mana was dripping from their body like blood and oil.

A white hood concealed all but a grin. The figure stopped and looked around. They moved to Aura’s work desk, picked the photo up, and studied it.

Whether the assassin displayed arrogance or an interest in Aura’s life, Ragna wouldn’t wait to find out. With the princess in her hand, she ran to the eastern door.

“Ragna, wait.” Aura shouted to her, but Ragna didn’t listen. With all the Mana oozing from the assailant, she wouldn’t be strong enough to defeat them without her gravity manipulator. If she fought, the enemy would strike them down. To survive, they had to run.

The assassin turned around, smashed the photo against the desk, and walked towards them.

Ragna grabbed the bottle of champagne from the bed and threw it at the assailant. They raised their scythe and slashed through it. Shards and liquid splattered across the chamber, and Ragna threw the silver platter at the intruder. They cut that too. The two halves dropped to the ground, and the assassin advanced further.

Ragna kicked the eastern door open, but the moment she tried to step out, the assassin jumped, dashed over the walls, and landed in front of the doorstep. Not waiting for a reaction, they slammed their elbow into Ragna’s ribs and catapulted her across the room.

Ragna gobbed saliva and groaned. Holding her ribs, she tried to crawl towards the princess.

She had to protect Aura. No matter what. She had to hurry.

Hurry, hurry, you damn body.

Why didn’t she move? Was something holding her down? She had to do something.

A hiss turned the attention of the assassin away. The princess struggled on the ground. Anyone who would watch the scene would realize there was nothing she could do. Princess Aurelia’s life was about to end.

The assassin gave the princess one last glance and swung their scythe until its edged curve pointed at Aura. With one movement, it would slice off Aura’s head from her body. There was neither hesitation nor haste, just dramatics to savor every moment of Aura’s demise. The assassin smiled and let their scythe fall.

“Winkelried!”

A spherical light hurtled towards the assassin. They turned around and stopped their weapon in midair. The sphere grew and buzzed. Its glow brightened to the point that it blinded. Like an alarm, its sound increased in speed. Faster and faster, it hissed and rang within milliseconds until it went off, taking all colors from its surroundings.