There is no clear 'motive.' No matter how much time pa.s.sed by Kristy couldn't figure it out. What exactly are they trying to do? Why cause this war in the first place? It would be fine to create a war if they were more prosperous and more powerful. But they aren't. The Mist Kingdom has remained in a rather neutral state since Lyn took the throne. Even during Queen Orthez reign, everything was moderate. So why is the Snow Kingdom going so far?

For power? Lyn's power? Though Kristy studied alongside the girl in the academy, she never knew of the full extent of the girl's capabilities. Though Kristy knew the current case with her friend's life spam, she never thought that people would go so far as to try and extract that destructive power. Kristy paused as a thought came to mind. Extracting the power, what happens next? Does that mean the burden that came along with those powers would vanish?

It was a 'trick,' not a trap. The moment they got there and saw no places blew up and people going about their business. Kristy immediately turned to the forest and concentrated her magic, Queen Lyn leaving with a group of people.

Lan's eyes widened in alarm, and he turned to her with a panicked look. Blood had drained from his face, "Use your magic; let's go back quickly."

Kristy obeyed his command immediately, and in a flash second, they teleported back to the spot where they were. The trio from the Sound Kingdom remained, two looked injured. No traces of her friend remained, and Kristy clenched her fist.

But she immediately noticed that Lyn wasn't the only one missing, "Where's Rhys?"

"The idiot went after her immediately. He jumped onto the back of the carriage; I don't think they spotted him."

Kristy nodded, "Then I suppose that's good," she murmured. Though she wanted to beat herself up for this situation, Lan was already doing that.

If it's Rhys, he will protect her even if it costs him his life.

.....

Mist Kingdom - Main Castle, Queen's Audience Chambers -

The return to the main castle was awfully miserable. Naturally, it would be. The guards at the gate already heard of the situation and looked just as upset.

She should never have left her side.

On the way inside, Kristy muttered that to herself repeatedly.

Kristy had a lurking feeling that something would go wrong today. Although she never believed in superst.i.tion before she has always trusted the words of King Kazuya. That gut feeling she had and that dream, it wasn't a coincidence.

' If, if by any chance something were to happen to me. If by some unforeseeable circ.u.mstance I'd have to surrender and leave everyone. I want you to watch over those two.'

Before she had left, Lyn spoke those words to her. Ah, she should have known the second her best friend said it. Lyn must have known this would happen.

"Idiot," Kristy murmured. The idiot she is referring to is herself. This must be the reason why Lyn came along. If she weren't distracted, then Kristy would have noticed the signs. Usually, she would have and used her magic.

' I want you to take care of them both.

To make sure they remain sane to guide everyone.'

Kristy glanced up; she was currently in the Queen's audience chambers. Since Kristy arrived earlier, King Allen had paced back and forth the room several times. When he pa.s.sed by the carpet shoes sc.r.a.pped the carpet lead to an occasional creak on the ground.

King Allen eventually sat down; he placed his hand on his forehead. The man looked pale.

"King Allen."

"I should have gone instead. Orders bind those three, so they cannot disobey her. Had it been me, then I could have roped her in to not surrendering."

Indeed when she heard the situation of the 'hostage.' Had King Allen been there he could have easily grabbed both Lyn and the other kid before the enemy made a move. However, even if he did that, she's sure that Lyn would have eventually gone. Lyn most likely surrendered because she knew about the enemy.

"There is no use in having regrets now; what's done is done."

Kristy didn't mean to sound so blunt about it. But really, they can't do anything about this situation now. When she recalled Lyn's words about who to take care of, she knew immediately who the girl meant, and that's why she asked to see King Allen immediately. Though Kristy she isn't good with words of comfort, why did Lyn ask her for this favor?

....

After her talk with King Allen, the man fell asleep, and that moment she noticed Lady Cordelia entering the room. Kristy had never spoken to her before, but she was familiar with her. Kristy nodded in, and Lady Cordelia did too. Kristy watched as the girl walked over to Allen. She seemed hesitant about something, and Kristy pointed to the chest by the chair, "Lyn keeps some there."

"Thank you."

Cordelia opened the chest and pulled out a pale blue blanket. The woman took light and delicate steps across to where King Allen sat, and Kristy watched as the woman wrapped the blanket around King Allen.

"There's something I have to tell you," Cordelia murmured. Kristy nodded, and Cordelia paused, "I'm Gabrielle's cousin."

Eh? A blood relative? Her eyes shot wide open at these words.

Gabrielle nodded, "I wanted to talk more about the events as of late. While they mainly figured everything out, there's something I have to add," the next words that pa.s.sed Kristy's eyes alarmed her, "So you see, this is the reason Queen Lyn went with them."

"There's a chance Gabrielle is alive?"

"As a mage, you should know of certain magic like that. The Snow Kingdom's Somina isn't that good with magic. So there is one more person who's involved in this incidence. I don't know whether you've heard of her, but there is a somebody in the Empire that can match up to your skills. She isn't a mage but a witch."

Kristy paused, a witch? In the Snow Kingdom? She honestly never cared about other people with high levels of magic before. The only person she ever paid attention to in terms of strength were those she was close with. A witch in the Snow Kingdom, Kristy tapped her fingers, "Interesting."