Oh, the humanity! Fire spreads across the capital, leaving only ash and devastation in its path. The night practically turns to day with the fire providing an insane amount of light and warmth.
And yet, this inferno isn’t as wild as one might think. Crowds gather all around the capital to witness the sight; some are far more fortunate than others.
“What are you baboons doing!? DO YOUR DAMNED JOBS!!! PUT OUT THE FIRE!!!”
Peculiarly enough, the fire only seems to spread to select districts, mostly focusing on those where nobles have fortunes rivalling the royalty itself. It’s as if the mega-rich are being targeted by Mother Nature!
Maybe a group of firefighters amongst the crowd might know the reason…
“Sorry my Lord, we’re under strict orders to leave certain buildings untouched. Everything is listed in this dossier. This entire street is blacklisted.”
“Yup, orders come from the royalty itself. If it wasn’t listed, we’d fight the fire. Thinking about it, our entire department isn’t doing much tonight. It’s like the fire is magical or something!”
“Don’t worry about it, my Lord, I’m sure such a noble person as yourself has a great deal of money stashed away. You’ll be back up on your feet in no time!”
All three firefighters can’t help but show wicked smiles to the dejected noble, although the masks cover them up. This is the most they can wish for in a world where status governs all…
“Look at this! What kind of evildoers think burning down the city is a good idea? We’ve got to get them!”
“I’m really following around an excited pup, it seems.”
The excitable alchemist is followed by the irritated adventurer. Two opposites temporally join forces, walking side by side through the capital streets. Some are pristine and untouched by the fire. Others are filled with embers, rubble and destruction.
“Pup? Hmm… that seems awfully nice considering it was bitch earlier on.”
“I misspoke. I meant to say drooling mutt.”
“Eh, better than nothing. Considering your temper, I appreciate the help, Mr Eunach.”
“D-Don’t call me that, she-beast!”
“Mr. Eun. Ach!”
“Blasted whore!”
With every conversation, a new insult is introduced between the two, so it’s best to let them get on with it. You know what they say, there is a thin line between love and hate…
Eventually, the woman’s nose leads both the unwilling partnership to where the fire burns brightest, enveloping the entire manor in its warm embrace. It’s as if the entire street has been hit by a tornado, tearing apart each building one by one.
…
The two who look on pause momentarily from the sight, both again having completely different reactions. The woman can’t help but raise her brow with more curiosity, while the man would prefer to be anywhere else.
It's as if he has a rough idea of what’s going on...
“I don’t get it! One moment, an entire street is on fire! The very next, only a single building burns!”
“Have you never encountered a mage, dog?”
“That’s not what I mean. Everything in its path is burning up far too quickly.”
Regardless, the woman spots a bunch of hooded figures holding weapons, several of which possess books, and some even read them aloud outside the mansion. At first glance, one might think this is a religious inquisition or a witch hunt!
Outnumbered twenty to two, only a fool would try fighting against such odds, correct?
…
“You stupid woman! How desperate are you to kill yourself!?”
Only a person of pure righteousness would face such a challenge head-on. Or, someone who has little choice.
“I’ve no choice, God demands I put an end to those looking to inflict harm on the innocent! I know it’s suicide!”
“What? You’re a religious nut as well!?”
Ignoring his insult, the woman charges in, reluctantly raising her dagger and preparing herself to make full use of the power that dwells inside her.
Except, instead of entering battle, more men who hide under helmets and hoods appear, blocking the way forward long before they can get close to the fire.
“Is she on the list? Can we afford to let her—”
Whack! The one hiding his blonde locks smacks the one hiding his chestnut locks!. Even if he wears a helmet, that looked like it hurt!
“Moron! You know the rules!”
“Stand down, stranger! This doesn’t concern you! We’re under strict orders to put down anyone who interferes!”
The three that converse seem a little different from the hooded group behind them. If anything, they seem far more unprofessional and dopey compared to the shadows.
“How can I stand down when you put innocent people in harm’s way!?”
“Innocents? You think these people are innocent?”
“You dare to question our leader’s intention like this!? All of this is meticulously planned!”
“Lower that blade immediately, criminal scum! Don’t involve yourself with matters involving politics!”
Suddenly, a lightbulb shines inside the inquisitive woman’s mind.
Against the backdrop of the fire, the light reflects on one of their helmets. The sight is small, yet significant.
They could be impostors, but legally speaking, there is only one faction allowed to use the eagle as a crest. The Koenig Kingdom’s flag is based on an eagle after all…
“Wait… are you lot knights!?”
“…”
All three men hold their tongues and freeze in place, not knowing how to react. They were ordered to keep their identities anonymous, but the cost of failure wasn’t specified! They could tie up a loose end, but only those explicitly listed are to be killed!
Sure, accidents happen, and innocents die, but knights are supposed to be above making simple mistakes. Considering the one behind this operation is famous for the belief in reciprocal justice, any error in judgment will be met with the same kind of action.
With the fire’s main goal a means of distraction, or a method to inflict punishment against those listed for and NOT for execution, strangers getting involved isn’t part of the script! What do they do!?
Before they get the chance to react, the curious woman is waving goodbye, excusing herself and them from the issue.
“My sincerest apologies! I’ll let you get on with your work!”
“Huh!? Now you’re happy to leave!?”
“God’s will demands saving innocents, and inflicting righteous justice on those who deserve it.”
“If it’s political, then there is no right or wrong, just the lesser of two evils. It’s too much of a grey area to involve myself in.”
As they both leave the area, the man can’t help but continue to grumble and grow even more frustrated with the woman. He just can’t understand her motivation!
Politics is where she draws the line!? Who gives a shit about right or wrong!? The entire kingdom revolves around politics!
“You continue to baffle me, wench. You run into a dangerous area with no regard to your safety, then you only stand down because it’s political!?”
Unlike his usual annoyance with her lack of regard for safety, this time, he’s annoyed for her choosing to back down.
Sure, she’d end up getting bested, but it would’ve brought a smile to his face. Losing any royal knight would be a blow to the royalty, albeit an insignificant one.
For some reason, he holds a peculiar feeling that she has the strength to best at least a royal knight or two. She may appear weak on the surface, but beneath that exterior, a wild animal bares its fangs.
“Are you really some kind of dog who only listens to those above your station!? It’s weak. It’s pitiful. It’s—"
Before the man can continue his barrage of harassment, the “weak” and “pitiful” alchemist rushes forward in a blur and completely catches him off guard again.
What he fails to remember is that she found his weakness long ago…
“I’m growing tired of your disrespect, sir. Please know I’m grateful for your assistance, but my patience is growing thin. Mr. Eun. Ach.”
“…”
With a hand now tightly embracing his most intimate area, he now knows when to hold his tongue. If he doesn’t learn when to shut it, the future of Koenig is in jeopardy! The entire kingdom shall someday rely on his crown jewels!
His batshit insane sister has already proved she can’t be relied upon to produce an heir, so destiny will present itself someday! This woman has the potential to destroy everything!
“Again, I’ll apologise for what happened in the forest. But if you think that gives you license to go around attacking me with words, I’ll give you a REAL reason to hate me with all your heart.”
Her lecturing speech ends momentarily when the fire spreading across the city provides more distraction.
The sight in the distance is somewhat mesmerising, a relentless flame that brings light to the darkness could be compared to a piece of art. Seeing a city of this size up in flames is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
But of course, the beast she holds still needs more training…
“Catch another scent to investigate, do—”
“D-DON’T TWIST THEM! Will y-you stop manhandling me!?”
A cryptid? A mythical phoenix from legend? A dragon possessing a mortal form? A tremendously powerful mage that holds the power of the ancient ones?
She doesn’t know what the sight is, but even she knows this is a creature to avoid. When God itself gives a warning telling her to stay far away, it’s best to listen to such advice.
“I think I saw a face… but that’s impossible. No one could survive in those flames, even if they were resistant. Breathing would be impossible.”
“You underestimate the control a master magician has. A magician never feels the urge to inhale or exhale. They breathe precisely when they intend to…”
“We surrender, we surrend—”
“ARGGHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh…!”
“You overreacting brutish bastards! I kneel for no—”
…
Screams echo down every hall, and more and more fall victim to the chaos erupting in this devastated city. So many men cut down and butchered, all for the future of this kingdom.
Here, the rest of us await having just filled up on dinner, yet the food goes to waste as most have already thrown it up. I’m... more of the composed type when it comes to working under pressure.
‘We haven’t gotten to the cheese and biscuits yet! It’s as if we’re trapped rats, lured in by the delectable taste of cheese.’
Too much is happening to be a simple coincidence. This entire building is surrounded; every route leads to doom. Tonight, the Princess has revealed the true capability of her madness.
‘She’s finally shown her true resolve to all of us. I’d admire it if she hadn’t made enemies of us all. This is something she’ll live to regret.’
“What do we do, Lord Reynold!? Think!”
“Help us escape this mess!”
“…”
Three ways out of my manor, yet every route is destined to fail. The closest involves the back exit, but as you can hear, that option leads to a lot of iron and steel...
“Nooooo! Not like th—”
“Spare us, spare m—”
Clank clank clank! Metal smacks against the wooden flooring, as if an army of armoured soldiers marches through my halls, making sure to cut down every man in sight.
That leads us to option number two…
“Death to the nobility! Rip them apart!”
“No more oppression! FREEEEEDOOOOOM!!! My life as a boy toy is over!”
“We spill your blood as offerings to the Gods!”
“Settle down. We’ve work to do.”
The next exit is currently locked down by a pack of escaped beasts, hacking and slashing any person of nobility, all led by some shirtless animal who continues to rile them up! He’s even managed to provide them all with weapons!
‘Heaven knows how he managed to sneak into the pack! The Princess must’ve sent him, I’ve no doubt.’
The last exit involves the main stairwell out of the mansion. For the most part, that seems fairly quiet and peaceful.
…
However, any fool who steps into that fiery abyss is vaporised instantly. I’ve… seen a whitest of men turn into a charcoaled mess before I had the chance to blink!
‘The Princess is foolish! She’s monstrous! She’s barbaric! In what world do you treat nobility like this!?’
My façade is quickly fading in this mess we’ve found ourselves in, so much so that the sweat I’ve built up has started to stain. This shirt alone costs more than a commoner makes in five years!
“Shit! Shit! Shit! Is there no reasoning with that monster!?”
“Are you just going to stand there, Reynold!? DO SOMETHING!!”
“…”
My fellow men look to me, but what am I supposed to do? The choices ahead of us are simple. Be cut down by soldiers and slaves, or burn to a crisp at the hands of an insane Princess.
All this because we decided to scheme!? What happened to that reciprocal justice the Koenig family have famously been for!? This isn’t how someone civilised handles matters!
“My man, Aaronhart! Do you have an opinion to shar—”
“You think I’m staying here and going down with you fools? Unlike you suckling dinosaurs, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.”
The blonde-haired fool of all things smashes the window on the side that isn’t on fire, then begins to climb out! It looks like he's heading up to the roof!
Sure, that might provide an exit, if you’re happy to break every bone in your body in the fall! The building is surrounded by hooded thugs as well; that option may end up being the most painful!
But it would be hypocritical of me to berate him too much. Some people turn to dust under pressure, while others turn to diamond. It may be accidental, but he has provided me with an idea.
‘What a selfish bastard! At least this provides inspiration. Maybe complete and utter selfishness is the key…’
[Burn-Out]
Spoiler
The Shameless Princess watches over the city in her monstrous form, her fire slowly dwindles into a thick smoke as today’s event draws to a close.
So much energy was expended tonight, usually her entire body would be ravaged by fatigue after so much fire. But she's become so accustomed to this, it no longer holds the same weight it did before.
“Did tonight live up to your expectations?”
Caught in thought, she nearly forgets about her comrade behind her. His presence is further noticed after he places a robe over her naked body.
“Somewhat. I'm just tired now.”
“That's understandable. I also made sure that the envelope was sent back alongside Nova. By now, it should be going where it needs to.”
“…”
There aren’t many alive who have witnessed her true power. This beast, however, is one of the few who have. It’s safe to say, he has seen far too much from someone who should be a devoted wife!
But matters of decency mean little to her. Even after so much needless killing, she only has one person on her mind…
‘Why did Frost insist on this level of involvement!? No pure mind will walk out of this unscathed. Was it too much to wish her happiness? Am I always the problem?’
‘Maybe my madness is contagious; all those I support get swept up and dragged into hell. Next life, I’m on my own, no more assistance. No one should share my fate…’
[collapse]