Chapter 4

The woman set the water, her eyes darting around as her heart pounded louder in her chest. She grasped the vial, uncovering it and pouring the whole content into the bath water. She watched as the black liquid dissolved in the water.

As she straightened up, a shadow appeared behind her. She screamed, stumbling back into the water with a loud splash. Before she got out a sizzling sound of burnt flesh spread through the room as the woman screamed in pain.

‘’Help me,’’ She begged, but Ariella stood there coldly as the woman struggled with screams of pain coming out from her lips.

‘So this was her faith if she had entered into the bath water.’ She thought, her heart chilled at the viciousness of this scheme. She could see the woman’s aura dimming weakly, and the smell of burnt flesh filled her nose. A frown crossed her lips.

She left the room and went to her room to sleep; whoever sent this woman should clean up after themselves. She has to save her strength for tomorrow; her only regret is that she won’t have her night bath.

A black shadow swopped into the room; Ariella picked up the sound, and her hand moved for her cane but paused when the person went to the side room where bath water was. The shadow looked at the weak woman in the bath, he swopped in and slit her throat soundlessly.

The woman's eyes grew dim, and her last thoughts were filled with regret. The man cleaned up the crime scene swiftly, removing the woman’s body.

The man left to deliver the news of what had occurred, while Ariella drifted into sleep.

In the other quarter, sounds of breaking cups and angry screams echoed through the night.

The next Morning.

Lights shone in through the window on Ariella's figure; her eyelid twitched before opening slowly; a smile left her lips as she watched particles of gold light flash around her; she took deep breaths, taking in the morning breeze into her lungs. It always amazes her when she sees the sun aura, every morning.

As she mused, she suddenly saw a large green aura covering the golden particles. She could hear the loud beating sounds of wings coming from the sky and almost thought the city was under attack. But she didn’t hear the sound of the warning bells before her mind clicked that the dragons were here.

She sat up from the bed quickly and wanted to call for her servant, then recalled what had happened yesterday, and she changed her direction to the door, her cane calmly tapping for direction when no plants were nearby to guide her with their auras.

Ariella could only see their auras, but the whole city froze in awe and fear as they looked at the three enormous dragons up in the sky. Their body covered the sunlight, and their bodies were covered in sharp scales, as the wind from their beating wings pushed everybody backwards, scattering dust looking like the start of a hurricane.

Seeing they were in human civilization, they swooped down, landing on the ground before their bodies began to shrink, scales retracting as they transformed.

When the dust settled, three men were standing in place with a fur bag across their waist. They opened the bags, taking out trousers, and as soon as they put them on, a carriage headed in their direction.

When the horse got closer, they shrieked in fright, almost running mad; the three men noticed and reduced their dragon's breath from their bodies before the horse ridder could control the horses to get closer to them.

The carriage stopped, and a trembling middle-aged man came down; the guards escorting the carriage felt fear as they saw the three men. Their experiences in battling with the abyss made them sense these men were on a different level and it's impossible to win against them in a fight.

‘’Are the brides ready? Our travel is long.’’ One of the men asked, his eyes falling on the trembling middle-aged man, who was so ridden with fear that he couldn’t form words.

The man nearly passed out in fear when he felt the man's predatory glance. On a normal day, he was known as the right-hand advisor of the king, oozing with confidence and charisma. But all of it was lost here, standing in front of such tall, muscular men who could destroy the country with just a blow of their dragon's fire.

‘’Yes, honoured guest, follow me to the castle.’’ The man stuttered so badly that the three men frowned, smelling the stench of fear dripping from his being. The three of them exchanged glances and saw their frustrated glances.

Wanting to go back to their lands, they leapt on the carriage roof, and the blue-haired man motioned with his hands for them to go. He had a feeling if he talked to the middle-aged man, he might faint.

The guards held the noble into the carriage and whipped the ground, making the horses move. Reaching the city, the lively city was empty as a ghost town, but the three of them could feel fearful, curious glances coming from closed windows.

Meanwhile, the bride's families, all over the town and inns, packed their daughter's belongings, some hugging them with ears in their eyes, others telling them to marry a dragon lord and bring honour to their family names.

Ariella, Mary and Liora's boxes were packed. Alaric looked at Ariella with a regretful gaze. Ariella felt a heated gaze; from his aura, she knew instantly who it was. ‘’Your Grace, I left something in my room for you, goodbye,’’ Ariella said from outside the carriage opening.

Alaric felt touched, thinking she was grateful for their upbringing. Even his tone grew softer, ‘’Remember, bring glory to the Magsworth family.’’ As he said this, he tapped the horse's body, signalling for them to take off.

He quickly turned back and strode to Ariellla’s quarters, a smile forming on his lips when he entered to see a box with a recording shell on top.

He opened the box first and was blinded by the golden light; his heart was shocked, wondering how much money could be in her hands. He rubbed the shell. ‘’If you are hearing this, it means I have left for the dragon realm. This money covers the cost of my and Mary's upbringing. I assume you accepted. With this, we sever our ties to House Magsworth.''

Alaric eyes grew dark from anger, falling to the ground in a faint. The stimulation was too much for him to handle.