I was stressed out again.

It was nearly to the point where I couldn't sleep at night. I made simple mistakes while trying to govern my husband's domain. I was a complete mess. I wondered from what point did I change from a loving mother to an overly attached, selfish mess.

Yes, I was selfish. She was safer with her father and yet I wanted her right next to me, forever, under my embrace. I knew these thoughts were wrong, and yet I couldn't resolve them.

I'm a terrible mother.

“Zara, are you listening?”

“Huh?”

“Ha, look I understand that you miss Tene. It's natural for a mother to feel such emotions, but she’ll be fine. She's a strong girl, especially for her age. Besides, her father is with her. Tell me how many people can best that monster that I raised?”

There she goes again. Trying to placate me from being useless while she has to pick up my slack.

Useless.

In what ways have I grown since then? How have I changed? I thought I could become a stronger person when I met Samel. When he showed me how easily he conquered his tribulations, tribulations that far eclipsed mine. I thought I could learn from him. Become like him.

I was wrong.

“Yes, I know Lizette. I just worry that she might be getting herself into unnecessary trouble. You know how that girl is?”

“Leave that to my student to handle. We have far more pressing matters to deal with here.”

“Yes, for a village so close by to just be eradicated. Without any tell signs or survivors…”

“A dangerous threat indeed. I can name the number of individuals capable of such a feat on one hand. Are you prepared Zara?” Lizette asked while looking me dead in the eye.

Yes. neither of us said it out loud, but it was obvious. Whatever threat that caused the city and village to disappear was certainly close by.

Was I prepared? She meant if I was prepared to risk my life.

It was what I signed up for when my father married me into this family. A blessing disguised as a curse. Honestly, with the vile rumors that surrounded Samel, I long thought I would receive a fate far worse than death. I couldn't help but giggle thinking back on those days. Like a hero from those fairytales my mother would read me, not those fake heroes that strode around, pushing their power upon others, but like a true hero, he banished the darkness from my heart. Like he has for so many others.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. But what scared me far more was losing my husband, losing my daughter, losing my family. The fact that I was alone was the only thing that brought any sort of silence to the chaos in my heart.

Hahaha, do I want her here, or far away? I really am a mess.

“Of course I am. What of the message to Samel?”

“It should have already arrived. He'll be on his way. Although whether he gets here before ‘it’ is still unknown.”

‘It’ was the only thing we knew about the monster that killed so many. Before I met Samel, such a fact would have made me feel indifferent. Perhaps I had changed somewhat? Either way, we still knew far too little about the threat and although Lizette was powerful, an unknown capable of eradicating cities was something I wasn't certain she could deal with. I truly was putting my life on the line.

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“Based on the destruction we have seen so far. What do you think your chances are Lizette?”

“I'll win.”

Lizette was truly a mystery, even to Samel. She had raised him almost like a son, basically always being a staple part of the household. A prominent figure that always seemed to be around, never leaving. Like that painting or vase that you knew was there ever since you were a child, yet you couldn't help but wonder.

Who bought it originally? Has it always been there?

What is its origin?

I had asked Samel many times about her, after all even though she was family, where did she come from? Yet, every time he would answer that he wasn't too sure himself and that she had always just been around.

Samel himself wasn't particularly bothered since he trusted her, and once he decided to trust in somebody, he truly became the embodiment of the word. Questions like where she came from completely escape his mind and became irrelevant.

“!!!!”

“Impossible, for it to escape my sight?” I heard Lizette mutter softly under her breath, her voice too low for me to interpret her words.

“Prepare yourself, Zara. We have company.”

RUUUUUMBLEEE. The very ground began to shake as the mansion walls and ceiling began to crack and crumble, barely resisting whatever outside force was smashing against them. Dust and debris began to fall onto the table we sat at as murky black smoke began seeping through the gaps in the window.

I see.

It came far faster than we had originally anticipated. The unknown monster that wanted my husband's head. For it to have tracked this location as quickly as it did…

The original plan had been for Samel to split with Tene and for Lizette to protect me at the main household. At that point it would either attack the city, which meant it knew the direct location of Samel or it would attack the household, meaning it only knew of our family's lineage. Since it had wastefully eradicated an entire city, the most likely outcome was that it didn't have Samel's direct whereabouts. Meaning the most dangerous location was this very mansion.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands.

The murky black smoke was quickly expanding within the large living room. The once wooden floorboards quickly took on a black sheen as vapid smoke rose from its body.

“Milady, I will encounter the monster outside. I'll teleport you to the safe room underground. As long as I hold my breath, I guarantee your safety.” Lizette said.

Was she–Smiling?

“Ahhhh, with what magic did it escape my senses? I must find out immediately.” Once again Lizette whispered something under her breath.

“Well Milady, hopefully, I won't be too long,” Lizette said, snapping her fingers.

Suddenly, my vision became hazy, a rush of violet colors seemed to pierce my mind as I lost control over my limbs. I felt this strange feeling of being pressed into a narrow hole, barely making the squeeze through. then, nothing.

When I reopened my eyes, I was in a dimly lit damp cellar.

So this is what she meant when she said safe room. We had no saferoom in the mansion. It was built by Samel's ancestors, those within his lineage were never the type to hide or cower. So instead, she had brought me to the underground wine cellar.

Not a bad compromise. I guess ill just wait here until the eventual good news–or…

…

…

BAAAANG

BAAAANG

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG

Over and over again the rough sounds of continuous destruction echoed freely within my underground ‘safe’ zone. It wouldn't be so safe if the mansion collapsed around it now, would it?

Sitting on the only small wooden chair in the empty cellar, I wrapped an old musty blanket around myself. Trying to shield myself from the cold. Cold?

I was shivering.

Hahaha, this cellar was awfully similar to the basement in my old mansion. Musty, cramped, cold, and dark. My father would use it as a ‘deterrent’ from me misbehaving. Though by misbehaving, it was really just any small diversions I took towards the narrow straight path he had set for me since birth. Some noble daughters were lucky enough to hold enough talent to be given some leeway in their life and decisions. Sadly, I wasn't so lucky. Besides, by my father's standards, I would have needed to be far more talented than even the talented for him to weigh my choices over his.

You would be surprised what staying in rooms like this can do to a child's mind. I couldn't help but be slightly impressed by my father, he had a way of controlling people without resorting to violence. Twenty years ago, just the thought of entering his ‘punishment’ room would have sent me kicking and screaming.

Do battles between mages really last this long? They've been at it for almost two hours now?

Quiet. As if to laugh at my lack of patience, soon silence filled the cellar. The occasional shaking and impacts of destruction are now silent.

haaaa, haaaaa, haaaaaaa

I began to shake heavily, my breathing hastening. Trying to calm myself I attempted to take deep breaths. I thought I didn't fear death. Yet here I was, with death potentially directly in my face and all I could feel was fear. Within the next couple of minutes, Lizette would either teleport me out of the cellar.

Or I would die.

…

…

…

Five minutes, ten minutes, one hour. Nothing happened. There was no teleportation spell. I had already begun to fear the worst long ago. Although she could have also run out of mana, It shouldn't have taken her two hours to simply walk down here and alert me of her victory and safety.

I was beginning to completely lose control of my breathing. Attempting to calm myself, I climbed up the short cellar ladder and pressed my ear against the door. Trying to listen in on anything that could give me some kind of hint or clue. If Lizette truly lost, then I could only bide my time here and wait, while praying for Samels return.

Silence. I still hear nothing. I had to consider the worst.

But if even Lizette lost to that creature. Could Samel win? No, he had to win. Just like before, surely, he would save me from this darkness.