“Haaaaah…” Violet sighed heavily. “I want a bath….”
Melody giggled. “I agree.”
They were about two days out from the capital now. Melody had hunted five more beasts that attempted to attack the caravan, so she was stocked up on food. She would also check the forests for any rare plants or ingredients.
“I’ve been using my cleanse spell….” Annabelle pouted.
“Ah! Don’t get me wrong, Anna. I feel clean. I just miss the feeling of being enveloped in warm water and the flowery scent of my soap.”
“Oh.” Annabelle giggled.
“Danger.”
“What?” Melody stopped, a chill running down her spine.
“What is it, Melody?” Violet asked, pulling out her short staff after seeing her friend’s concerned expression.
“Run. You must run.” The voice called out to her once more.
Several voices called out to Melody to run.
“The forest… It’s… We have to go!” Melody called out.
“RUUUUUUUUU!” A sound vibrated through the mana in the air.
“What is that?!” People from the caravan were panicking.
The cracking of trees sounded as if something heavy was approaching them.
“Quickly! Run!” The forest called out to Melody.
It was too late. A large log flew out from the forest and struck Melody, knocking her over.
“Melody!” Violet called as she floated herself and Annabelle to the ground.
Melody coughed as she quickly got to her hands and knees. “Why… didn’t I sense anything?”
Whenever fighting an opponent, she had always been able to feel their intentions toward her. Why was she not able to pick up what was attacking them?
It broke through the forest. A massive construct made up of metal.
“No…” “It can’t be!” Violet and Annabelle looked upon the hulking being.
A golem.
“Dammit!” Melody sprung into action. Readying her bow, she fired off several nature arrows at the golem as it lumbered after her. “Get out of here!” Melody called out to the caravan people.
The golem cracked the earth as it pursued Melody, none of her arrows slowing it down.
Violet hit it with a large ice shard spell, causing it to pause momentarily before continuing after Melody.
“Mel! Keep it distracted while I hit it!” Violet cried out.
“Let me try this! Dig!” Melody used magic to bury the golem in the ground, but her magic failed. “What!?”
“It generates an anti-magic field! Anything that is within range of it gets canceled! I can only hit it with physical attacks!” Violet called out, launching another massive ice shard.
Melody fired a weaker nature arrow at the golem only to see it disappear several yards away from its body.
Annabelle ripped a large rock out of the ground and hurled it at the golem, but due to its metal body, it shattered, doing nothing more than pushing it a tiny bit.
“Run! You must run!” The forest called out in alarm once more.
“RUUUUUUUUU!” Another metal golem broke out of the forest behind Melody.
“AH! LET GO!” Violet cried out.
Melody looked at them to see several men had grabbed hold of Violet, and others were fighting to restrain Annabelle.
“NO!” A red aura flashed over Melody. “No… Not now! Please!”
Wrath, her cursed skill, was boiling to activate. She had gone a long time with keeping it under control, but seeing her friends in trouble caused it to stir.
Melody struggled to keep it in control, but a third golem broke through the forest beside her. Before she could react, an explosive force from behind robbed her of her consciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Violet was dragged into an office, and they finally let her wrench herself free from their grasp.
“Miss Cambel. So good to see you.” A man called out.
Violet turned to him and narrowed her eyes in anger. “Talane.” She growled.
“That is Duke Talane!” The deposed son of Baron Vance stated while slapping her, knocking her to the ground.
“Lionel, please, don’t be rude to our guest.” The duke cruelly smiled.
“Where’s Anna? What did you do to Melody!?” Violet demanded to know. She wanted to set the arrogant man on fire, but the prisoner collar around her neck prevented her from using magic.
“Miss Annabelle is fine. She is comfortably sleeping in a cell.” Duke Talane snidely answered.
“What do you want?” Violet demanded to know.
He chuckled. “I want you and your pet giant out of the way. That monster and her ilk undone every carefully planned scheme I took a painstaking amount of time to perform.”
“If you think she is a monster, you might want to look in a mirror.” Violet angrily stated.
The other man, Greggory, kicked her in the gut. “Do not disrespect his grace. You are lucky he wanted you alive.”
Violet coughed, trying to get back her breath. “You won’t… get away with this…”
Duke Talane laughed. “You think so? When Duke Caldwell hears of this, he won’t have time to stop my plans.”
Plans? What is he…? Oh… No… He can’t be… Violet looked up at Duke Talane in shock. “You are planning a coup. Those golems… you made them.”
A wicked and victorious grin came to the duke’s face. “That’s right. After tonight, I will no longer be a duke. I will be Emperor Faust Talane.”
Violet calmed her nerves. She needed to know what had happened to Melody. “What did you do to Melody?”
He laughed. “You think she can help you? She is a prisoner as much as you. But do not worry, my dear. You will find out tonight.” He cruelly grinned down at her. “Take her away. Tell the maids to dress her in something nice tonight.”
“Yes, your grace.” The two replied and dragged Violet away.
Hours later, very late into the night, Violet fought against the maids who tried to bathe, primp, and prim her until the head maid issued a threat from the duke. “If you resist more than this, your friend will suffer.”
After the threat, she allowed them to clean her up and dress her in a gaudy dress and precious jewelry.
She was escorted to the estate’s banquet hall, where a large grouping of Aristocratic Party nobles was gathered. They wore masquerade masks to hide their identities, but Violet thought the idea was stupid. She could easily make out who many of them were.
Violet was dragged to the center of the room where Duke Talane awaited her.
“Ah, just in time.” He said to her before turning to the group. “My fellow nobles! I thank you all for coming on this fine night!”
The nobles gave positive responses to his words.
The duke continued. “Tonight, we see an end to a thorn in our side. Tomorrow, things will change for all of us! For our empire!”
The nobles cheered his declaration. Violet was disgusted by the duke’s ecstasy of being fawned over.
“This lovely little thing here.” He pulled Violet forward, holding her at her waist. “Will be my future concubine, who will birth the next genius of magic from my loins.”
Violet tried to push away from him, but he was stronger than her.
“What of the monsters in the forest?” A noble asked.
“Ah! That is an excellent question! On the morrow, my forces will invade and burn them to the ground. We have no need to bow before monsters. Thus they will be exterminated!”
No… The Grove is in danger! Violet tried to smack the duke, but he pawned her off to his two lackeys.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Hahah seems my future concubine is shy.”
“You bastard! I would rather die than be with you!” Violet shouted.
He chuckled and leaned toward her. “You will cooperate, or your friend, Annabelle, will be your replacement. And I promise.” He let the words hang in her mind. “I will not be gentle with a commoner.”
Hopeless. That is what Violet felt.
“Now! Onto this evening’s entertainment! You all love the monster battles! Now I present the best one of all!”
A section of the floor split and opened to a metal frame with glass panes floor.
“What?” Violet looked below. “MELODY!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melody stirred. The back of her head hurt. She cast Regrowth on her head, healing the damage and dulling the pain. Opening her eyes, she seemed to be in a massive, reinforced room.
“MELODY!” Violet’s voice sounded from above.
She looked up to see multiple people looking down at her. Violet was being held by two men.
Melody reached for her hatchet but found it was gone, along with her bow and pack. The only thing she had was her armor. She attempted to call into nature for help, but there was something… corrupt with the location. Melody could not reach out.
Wrath stirred against her once more.
“No… You can’t….” She struggled. The ones above might be enemies, but Violet was there. She couldn’t risk using it.
“Greetings, monster. You will be this evening’s entertainment!” A man that seemed to be in charge called down to her.
She scowled at him. “Duke Talane, I presume?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
“I warn you. My family will not be happy about this. If you value your life and those up there, I recommend you release us.”
The nobles above laughed at her.
“Funny that. They will be joining you at sunrise.” The cruel man smiled down at her.
No… Melody tried to reach out once more but failed. I need to get out of here.
The large doors to the room opened, and the three golems entered.
“Now! Let the battle begin!”
The three golems charged at Melody.
She was thankful she was faster than them, but her actions were limited due to the size of the room. Melody flipped, dodged, rolled, and kept them from hitting her.
“Come on, monster! Stop running!” A bloodthirsty noble cried out.
“Fight!” “Such a pathetic being.” “This is hilarious! We thought this thing troublesome?”
Wrath stirred more. Furious of their disgusting nature.
Melody’s movements slowed as she struggled against Wrath.
“RUUU!” One of the golems struck her, launching her against the far wall.
“MELODY!” Violet cried. “Please! Stop! I’ll do what you want! Please let her live!”
What he wants? That bastard demanded something from her!? The aura of Wrath pulsed over Melody.
“Hold her down!” Duke Talane commanded.
The three golems held Melody to the ground.
“So, if I let her live. You will cooperate? You will marry and bear my child?”
Disgusting! No… Hateful! Don’t… Kill! Please… He will suffer! I can’t… Destroy them! Violet is there… Rip them apart! I will not hurt Violet! We will not hurt Violet!
“What?” Her thoughts of violence changed ever so slightly.
“Yes… I will do as you command….” Melody could hear Violet sobbing.
No… We will rip… We will tear… We will destroy… We… Melody’s red aura of Wrath grew. Will kill them all to save Violet!
Melody activated Wrath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tears ran down Violet’s cheeks as Duke Talane grinned cruelly down at her.
“Very-.”
“RAAAAAAAAGH!” A mighty roar of anger shattered the glass floor and all the windows of the banquet hall. Several unlucky nobles fell through holes or hung onto the bars for dear life.
Violet looked below to see Melody wrapped in a terrifying red aura. The three golems struggled to hold the enraged giantess down, but she got one of her arms free.
“RAH!” Melody swung her arm back and knocked the one on top of her off.
The last golem grabbing her arm failed to hold her, and she pounced on it like a wild beast. Grabbing hold of its left arm, she began pulling. “AHHHHH!” Melody roared as the metal strained to hold together, but the giant ripped it off before long.
“W-What the hell is that!?” Duke Talane was terrified.
Violet nervously grinned. “That, you bastard, is Wrath.”
Melody beat the disarmed golem with its own arm, crushing the head and much of the upper body.
One of the two remaining golems could stand and move to attack Melody.
“No… This can’t be happening… My golems…” Blood drained from the duke’s face.
Melody made quick work of the second golem, ripping it apart. The third golem rushed toward her, but she hefted the torso of the second golem and crushed the last one.
Melody was huffing furiously.
“What do we do!?” Lionel cried.
Melody’s eyes locked onto them.
“Damn… We’re leaving!” Duke Talane yelled, dragging Violet with him.
“MELODY!” Violet cried.
“OH, GODS! IT’S GOING TO-!” A noble cried before something crashed into the bars.
Several nobles fell below as the whole building shook.
“RAAAAGH!” The bars began to rip apart as Melody had leaped up to them, tearing them apart to get to all of them.
“Hurry!” Duke Talane continued to drag Violet behind him.
Violet saw Melody tear through the bars and pull herself into the room.
The nobles were petrified in fear as the enraged Melody stood at a magnificent height of fifteen feet.
“Melody!” Violet called out to her friend.
“Dammit! We should leave her behind!” Lionel cried as they exited the banquet hall and rushed down the hallway.
“It will be alright. It will be busy with-!” Greggory cried as a giant-size foot tore through the wall, ripping him apart at the force.
“Oh, gods!” Lionel cried.
“Damn!” Duke Talane let the struggling Violet go and ran away along with Lionel.
Melody ripped open the wall and saw Violet.
“Melody!” She was happy to see her friend but shivering in fear. It may be the last time she sees her friend, but at least she knew Melody would live.
Melody seemed to be struggling as she stood before Violet. “W… Where… he?” Melody growled.
Violet’s eyes widened. Melody was somewhat in control. She pointed in the direction the duke ran. “That way. Get him, Melody.”
After roaring angrily, Melody began tearing through the mansion to find the duke.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Duke Talane ran with every fiber of his being. How could this happen!? Why!? Everything he planned so carefully! Ripped apart by a monster! Why was his god not answering him? He promised him the throne! Immortal life! How could he let everything be destroyed!?
The mansion shook as the giant ripped through the building. He was sure the little bitch was dead by now, and the monster was just rampaging.
“The door! We made-!” A giant hand ripped through the wall and grabbed Lionel. “AHH! HELP ME! YOUR GRACE!” He cried as he was chucked aside, splattering through a wall.
“TALANE!” The monster roared as it tore through the house.
It was after him! He had to get outside! Knights would have shown up from all the commotion. He was sure he could escape and let them deal with the monster. The duke was confident that he could explain his way out of this, especially since the mansion was collapsing.
He was only a few feet from the door now. He would escape! A wild grin came to his face as the monster pursued him. He would thrive! “Help-!”
A giant hand grabbed him as he burst into the open.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Violet was successful in finding the key to the collar around her neck on Greggory’s remains and flew out of a window. She reached the front, where a large group of knights was set up to fight.
“Wait!” Violet cried out, landing nearby. “You can’t attack her!”
“Huh? Who are you? What happened here!?” The knight commander demanded to know.
“I am Violet Cambel, daughter of Countess Cambel. I was kidnapped along with my two friends by Duke Talane! We found out he was planning a coup using golems he created!” She explained.
“What? Is that what is tearing through there?” He asked.
“No. My friend, Princess Melody of the Gaian Forest, a close ally to Duke Caldwell, is fighting for us! She is going a bit berserk right now, but I assure you, I can calm her down.” Violet promised, unsure if she could, but she would do everything in her power to protect her friend. She was sure Annabelle was safe as nobles always kept their prisons near their home.
“Help-!” Duke Talane barely got out the door when Melody grabbed him. “AHH! SAVE ME!” He cried.
“RAH!” Melody tore entirely through the mansion.
“PLEASE! I’M SORRY! I WON’T DO IT AGAIN! I’LL LEAVE YOU ALL ALONE! PLEASE!” Duke Talane begged.
“No… more…” Melody growled. She reared back her arm.
“Wait! No! PLEASE!”
Melody threw the screaming man far off into the distance to splatter against the palace walls as the sun began to rise.
The giantess roared in victory as the mansion collapsed behind her.
“Ready yourselves.” The knight commander ordered.
“Wait! Let me try first!” Violet rushed forward, taking to the air.
The knight commander ensured his soldiers were ready for the moment if she failed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melody struggled. She couldn’t stop. Her blood boiled, and her mind raced.
“Melody.”
Violet. No. Stay away.
“RA-! Argh…” Melody tried to swing at Violet, but she grabbed it with her other arm.
“Melody, it’s okay. We’re okay now. We’re safe.”
She couldn’t. She couldn’t control it.
“R… Run…” Melody struggled.
“I trust you.” Violet floated closer.
Melody’s body tensed, but she could feel her blood begin to cool. It was working.
“Dammit! This is too dangerous! Take it down!” The knight commander yelled.
“NO!” Violet cried as she went to erect a protective barrier.
Melody’s target was now the knights. “RAAAAAGH!” She went to charge at them, only for her and the attacks from the knights to strike a powerful barrier.
“What?” Violet looked at the barrier, then her hands. She didn’t get her spell off.
“Well, this is troublesome.” A voice came from above.
Melody looked up to see him. “Tul…sen…”
Lord Alexander Tulsen had arrived. “It is alright, Melody. No one will hurt you now.” He looked down at the knights, his eyes turning ice cold. “That is a promise.”
The knights trembled in terror at the master of magic’s threat.
Melody fell to her knees in relief as her blood rapidly cooled down, and her red aura receded.
“Melody!” Annabelle rushed forward, hugging her friend.
“Anna!” Violet rushed down to her friends. “What happened!? How are you here?!”
Annabelle looked up to Lord Tulsen. “I prayed to the gods, and they answered.”
“Melody’s Wolf Rat familiars did most of the work. I just opened the cell.” Lord Tulsen chuckled.
“We…” Melody felt exhausted of strength. “We have to get home… Everyone is in danger….”
She forced herself to her feet, and Lord Tulsen used his large magic hand to help steady her. “Melody. Use your connection to nature to revitalize yourself. If you ask them, they will help you.” He explained.
Following his advice, Melody connected to nature.
“Please… I need your strength….” She begged.
“Help!” “We will be happy to help!” “The one blessed by the goddess!” Various voices of nature rolled in along with their power.
Melody felt her strength rapidly return. She sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
She turned to the knights. “Duke Talane is a traitor to your emperor. He created metal golems that he forced me to fight against. Below that estate is a large arena where you will find their remains.”
“Um…” The knight commander turned to Lord Tulsen.
The black-clad man shrugged his shoulders. “She speaks the truth. You all should know how much of a stickler I am regarding lies.”
The knight commander saluted. “We will investigate and notify the emperor of this.”
Melody nodded, knelt, and placed a hand on the ground. Connecting to nature once more, she extended her senses, searching for the fairy ring at the Grove.
“Master?” She heard a concerned, feminine voice.
“Poe! Where are you?!” Melody replied.
“I am with Bell at the spice shop. We arrived just before they opened. Bell is enjoying a cup of tea. I got worried when I felt our connection break.”
“Go to the guild! Tell them that Duke Talane is attacking the Grove!” She ordered.
“Understood.”
“Mother!” Melody called out to Gaia and got no answer. “MOTHER!” She tried once more.
“Mel…o… dy…” Gaia’s voice was weak.
When Melody’s connection to the Grove was made, she created the fairy ring.
“Melody! Take us too!” Violet called as both she, Annabelle, and Lord Tulsen joined her.
“No. You two don’t have your equipment.” Melody stated.
With a wave of Lord Tulsen’s hand, their equipment appeared. “Found this along with Annabelle.”
The two quickly got ready, and Melody teleported them to the Grove.