Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

Two Years Later…

I crouched silently at a tree branch and watched the movement of the huge bear-like monster in front of me. The monster, a theger, was three times bigger than a regular bear, had red fur, really big claws and a pair of black horns sprouting from its head. It was a C-Class monster that relied on its claws and weight when attacking. Its fur, claws, and horns were usually sold as commodities and the monster core was differently a little expensive than the usual monsters I hunt, but I had other uses for monster cores. Also, the meat was delicious if cooked at the right method. It was also one of the common monsters anyone could see anywhere in Celestine Territory.

Once the theger had become focused on eating its prey, I summoned one of my twin swords, Rile, and immediately coated it with energy. Upon two years of hunting, I had learned that the best way to kill a theger, was an instant attack.

I coated my legs with energy and leaped very high in the air. Thru the perfect calculation of my trajectory, I went freefalling just above the theger's head. I thrust my sword downward and let gravity pull me. Without any problems, my sword pierced both the theger's head and heart which killed it immediately.

"We're having theger meat tonight." I muttered.

I started cleaning the monster and packed it to the spatial ring Aunt Zaira gave me for my tenth birthday. After doing so, I went home happily.

After being legally recognized as part of the Celestine Family, I started training with both combat and mystic arts under Aunt Zaira. Her methods of teaching were as harsh as my sister's back in the fox clan's realm, but it was effective. If I didn't have my will and determination, and a self-regeneration ability which I discovered after being heavily injured after one of our training sessions, I would've long died.

As for my new family, I became closer to them and got to know them better, even the stone-faced Zach.

Eliza was like a happy-go-lucky older sister that would spoil me with clothes and jewelries, except she would gift me with combat gears and weapons. She would also sometimes accompany me in practicing my mystic arts. Although the theory and process were different, there were some magic skills that resembled a few techniques present in mystic arts.

For example, teleportation. Although only a few could actually perform it, in magic, they had to visualize the magic formation to activate the spell and at the same time visualize their destination. Meanwhile in mystic arts, I just direct the natural energy around me to create a rip in space from my location and the other side in the destination I visualized. I suppose the difference between magic arts and mystic arts was that, magic arts needed spells and formations to be casted, while mystic arts needed imagination more than anything. Anyway, since Eliza could perform teleportation, she helped me out a lot in practicing.

Next was Edmund. He was like a nagging older brother with an overprotective streak, especially to me and Eliza. And it was probably because we were both girls and we were the ones that made most trouble. He's good at giving advices and he's really good at sword fighting. He was fond of using a three-foot long double edged sword and could storm in a group of monsters without breaking a sweat. His combat magic was also really good. I sometimes spar with him but I had never defeated him in pure combat matches.

Sebastian on the other hand was the opposite of Edmund. He was very childish but also very protective of us. He also aspired to be a magic knight like Edmund and practiced with a thin sword that specialized in speed rather than strength. It was fun going against him since his speed was very incredible especially when he's using combat magic to enhance himself.

Then there was Zach. I began to get to know him better throughout my stay and I found out that the reason why he seemed hesitant to become my friend at first; he gets easily uncomfortable around girls. Except for those close to him, like Eliza, other girls made him uneasy. I also found out he had a soft spot for children. His calm and silent demeanor on the other hand was just really his personality. Anyway, he was good at using the spear and other than combat magic, Aunt Zaira said he had an aptitude for fire magic and could become a magus knight, so she taught him a few fire spells that could help him in a battle.

And lastly, there's Aunt Zaira. She's powerful, that one is sure. She could perform all forms of magic arts and has really good combat skills, especially with the sword and the bow. But even though I feel comfortable around her, she's also a little scary. Her expressions were neutral most of the time and from what I had learned as a fox deity before, people that cannot be easily read are always dangerous and those who can hide their intentions behind a smile are even more so. Aunt Zaira gave off those kinds of vibe. And I wasn't surprised when she started teaching us strategies. She was one heck of a schemer. All her plans made her a few steps ahead of her opponents.

Unfortunately, the first four had reached the proper age and had started attending the Imperial Academy in the capital of Praiji Empire, Azte. Once a citizen of the empire reach fifteen, whether a commoner, a noble or a royalty, he or she is eligible to take the entrance exam of the Imperial Academy. If they pass, they will study there in the next six years and those who graduate usually have really bright futures.

I heard Zach got invited twice since he was a year older than Seb and the others, but he chose to enroll at the same time as them.

The four received their invitation letters a month prior and had departed two weeks ago for the entrance exam. I could only see them during their summer and winter breaks, or when I visit Azte, which was next to impossible since Aunt Zaira does not allow me to step out of the territory until I reach fifteen. It seemed to be the same case for Eliza and the others before. There were special cases like secret missions and stuff where she would bring me along but there wasn't that much.

Overall, life was well in the House of Celestine and the Celestine Territory. That was until a trouble arrived in the house.

It was the middle of August, I stood at the gates of the Celestine Estate and was about to depart for my usual hunting activity, but my plans were ruined. Under the heat of the morning sun, a grandiose carriage was making its way towards the direction of my home.

Usually, it was very dangerous for regular people to travel the roads inside the Celestine Territory, that was why teleportation ports were set up on the four human settlements and the closest settlement to the Celestine Estate, Herb Village, was an hour away. I was wondering how the carriage survived the journey since monsters tend to pop out almost every five minutes in the road. But then I saw the armed escort that surrounded it, I guessed the answer. When they got closer, I saw the scratches and injuries the armored men had suffered which I guessed they received from fighting.

The entire entourage stopped just a few feet away from me. I was a little confused at what was going on since I never heard from Aunt Zaira that we would be expecting guests that day, not that we usually had any in the first place. In my mind, I was debating whether to return inside and inform my aunt, or just proceed with my plans.

All of a sudden, a figure came running to me. He was wearing quite nice clothes and he seemed to be an important figure to the entourage.

"You there! Are you a servant of this house?" but I didn't like his tone.

I confusedly pointed at myself then at the Celestine Manor behind me. I then looked down on my clothes. I was wearing simple hunting clothes that day. I was staring skeptically at the stranger. Usually, information is very dangerous and Aunt Zaira had always kept to herself. And since I didn't know the guy, I just decided to lie that I was indeed a servant.

"May I know who you are?" I asked. "And what is your purpose?"

"This stupid girl!" he exclaimed which made me surprised. "Don't you recognize the crest in the carriage?"

He pointed to the grand carriage which was surrounded by the armored men. There was indeed a crest at the flag which was in front of it, but I did not find it familiar.

-A noble? But who would travel extravagantly like this? Not even the Emperor's messenger travels that way when he comes here.

"No, I don't." I said honestly. "So, what is your purpose of coming here? It's a dangerous journey, you know."

"Indeed. Listen well brat." he sneered. "My name is Hijik, a butler of the Chrishni House. I suppose you know what that is?"

I shook my head.

"Foolish girl. Anyway, we're here to see the archduchess." he said.

I stared at him then to the rest of his companions. I then held out my hand. He gave me a look that was asking what was I doing.

"Invitation. You can't enter the Celestine Estate, much less the territory without permission or an invitation." I replied.

"How impertinent! Does a family with the status of an earl need invitation?"

Before I could answer, the big group suddenly started shouting, especially the female servants that were huddling beside the carriage. From the side of the road a monster had appeared. And it wasn't just a regular monster, it was a C-Class monster so average knights wouldn't be able to deal with it. Especially fatigued ones.

Honestly, I was debating whether to help them or not, but I suppose I still had some heart.