The sound of music gets louder and louder to the mervous party of 4. Mira is alerted by this and instantly starts to cast a spell. A dull blue light wraps itself around Mira and her 3 companions, completely nulling the effects from sleeping magic of the Demon of Song if they it is initiated.

Lionel speeds up his carriage as he fears for the residents of the village and what the Demon of Song is doing to them. As the carriage approaches the gate, the group is not met by a guard which sends worrying signals through Mira's body. Not wanting to wait for someone to show up, Mira gracefully jumps over the side of the carriage and runs through the gate and into the village. As she runs towards the sound of the music, Mira can see that all the houses around her are empty.

Anger boils up inside of Mira and she grinds her teeth back and forth as she runs towards the sound. Mira can barely hear her companions behind her but she knows they are close enough to help her out if she needs it. With the sounds of music completely taking over her hearing, Mira knows that the one she is looking for is just around the corner so Mira prepares her weapon.

The shrilling sound of a long sword being pulled from its scabbard can barely be heard over the sound of the alluring music and Mira prepares herself mentally.

'We can't kill him yet. We need him alive... for Idel.'

Mira takes a few deep breaths and her sword is covered in a blinding purple light. Mira shoots out from around the corner and slides into an attack stance, sword low and legs ready to pounce towards her prey. The music stops and screams fill the air. A crowd of people huddle in a condensed circle and men with armor surround the group, swords pointed towards Mira and the three men with her.

"Who dares interrupt our Christmas Festival!" says an old man who is pushing his way to the front of the crowd. Mira is confused as she has never heard of 'Christmas' or why there is such a mass amount of people here but that doesn't matter right now.

"We come here for the Demon of Song! He is here somewhere! Did you not hear the music?" Mira says in her elegant voice. A rock flies past Mira's head and lands on the ground next to her.

"We won't give him to you! He is the reason we are all still alive! He is one of us now and we will protect him till the bitter end!" a man in the crowd yells followed by the yelling of the rest of the group in agreeance. The yell is a mixture of women, children, men, and the elderly. They all are really passionate about protecting the assassinator of their former Queen.

Mira grips her sword tighter as she feels that the Demon of Song has brainwashed them and the people of this village are unsaveable. Lionel puts his hand on Mira's shoulder as he can sense tension rising up inside of her. Mira looks up at Lionel and he has a face full of determination and gives her a nod, telling her that he will handle this.

"What can we do to convince you to let him come with us? He is being requested to seek an audience with the King." Lionel says.

Whispers fill the crowd and they are all full of worry and suspicion towards the four people that are armed and asking for the savior of their village. A tall man makes his way through the crowd as people let him through. A guard goes to say something but the man who made his way through the crowd puts a hand on the guard's back. The guard turns around and his eyes open wide with utter surprise.

"What are you doing Nova?" someone in the crowd cries out.

"Don't worry my friends. It will be ok. Let me speak with them." Nova says to reassure the crowd. Nova's face is slick and thin and his glare is sharp. He looks skinny and tall, yet the aura coming from him is imposing and could cause anyone to shake in their boots if they recieved a signle glance from him.

"So, what does that weakling want with me exactly?" Nova asks the determined Lionel. Mira goes to say something rude to Nova but Lionel gives her a sharp glance that causes her to stop saying anything at all.

"He wants you to atone for what you have done. As simple as that." Lionel says with a grim and hateful tone towards Nova. Nova clicks his tongue and looks over at Mira, eyeing her up. Nova definitely looks a lot different than Mira remembers but she will never forget that voice of his. She gives him a menacing stare and he lets out a defeated sigh.

"Fine, but grant me one wish before I go with you. Let me finish my songs for my friends. It has been a tradition for the past 9 years and I would like to not break it since I started it." Nova says hoping to appeal in the kindness is Lionel's heart. Lionel takes a minute to mull over Nova's request and it seems he is conflicted on the inside.

A lot of people know of Nova's music and its intoxicating effects yet he also knows that the group of 4 is now imperviuse to it. Lionel finally gives in and sighs a defeat. He knows how important it will be to take Nova willing to the capital.

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"Fine, whatever. Finish it quickly, as long as you swear on your humanity that you will come with us afterwards." Lionel says with a low growl.

Nova smiles and his sharp teeth lets out a bright glint. He turns around and opens his arms to the crowd.

"I swear on my humanity that I will accompany you to the capital and accept audience with the king." Nova says with a bow and a deadly smile.

"Now, let's welcome our guests and finish this Christmas with a bang!" Nova says but the crowd seems conflicted about what to say.

"Don't worry. I said I'd be here for every Christmas and I will keep that promise. I will be back!" Nova says and the crowd's mood seems to become lighter as they put all of their trust into Nova for what he has done for them over the years. The guards surrounding the crowd sheathe their swords and dissipate into the crowd.

There is obviously still some tensions in the air so Nova waves over Mira, Lionel, and the two guards Mira brought with her. Lionel catiously approaches while the other 3 seem to be against coming close to the Demon of Song. Nova smiles at all four of them and his face shows an emotion of happiness and gratitude, but if someone looked close enough they could see a devilish glint with evil intent in his eye.

"Come on, enjoy yourselves. Dance to the music and if you want a drink then you can get one right over there." Nova says but then he notices something. Mira is still shivering from the cold snow hitting her body and armor. Her sides are exposed by diamond shaped openings in her tight fitting suit. Her arm, legs, and chest is covered in armor but it doesn't seem to have insulation. Her white skirt doesn't seem to be helping Mira any on top of that, so Nova takes off his fur coat and throws it at Mira.

Mira is caught off guard but manages to catch it with ease. The warmth of the coat in her hands already makes her feel better but the lingering feeling of hatred causes Mira to hesitate about putting it on. Whether she puts it on or not doesn't matter to Nova, she can stand there and freeze for all hye cares but he might as well make good gestures to his captors right? Music starts to fill the air and the crowd erupts in a shout of happiness as if they recognized this song.

Lionel walks over to Mira and grabs the fur coat from her hands and lays it on her back. Mira looks betrayed as it could have poison in it for all she knows and Mira quickly throws the still warm coat to the ground.

"Why did you do that! It could be a trap!" Mira says with a face full of anger. Lionel shakes his head back and forth in disappointment.

"You need to learn something Princess. If someone has surrendered, there is no reason to be excessively cold to them. Besides, he would've killed us all already if he truly didn't want to be captured. Now, put on the coat while it is still warm and before you get a cold. Don't forget that he swore on his humanity that he'd accompany us so he won't try anything evil... yet." Lionel says. He might hate Nova for all he has done but he is atleast glad that Nova will work with them and come into their care acceptingly, even if his execution comes at the end of it.

Nova's voice fills the air as Mira bends down to pick up the fur coat. Mira slowly slips her arms through the sleeves and she can feel the blissful feeling of warmth seep into her bones, causing her to completely stop shivering. Lionel and the two other Royal Guards go over to where Nova said they could find drinks and they all order an alcoholic beverage.

The two guards that Mira brought with her don't drink alcohol to much and it is weird to Mira that they could drink in such a high risk mission but she dismisses their actions as them trying to relieve stress.

Mira continues to stand there, in the middle of the road, with Nova's fur coat on. She brings her hands to her face and smells the sleeves. She convinced herself that this was to check for poison but something else inside of Mira told her to do it. A sweet smell causes Mira to have a flashback to her childhood. All Mira can remember is someone carrying her through a hallway but she can't see into his hood.

The person carrying her has the same sweet smell that is coming from Nova's coat. Mira snaps out of this memory and is torn on when this happened since this is the first time Mira has ever remembered that moment. The crowd of villagers begin to join Nova in singing as they know this song word for word.

Mira watches from afar and can see the happy faces on all of the villagers as the adults danced like there is no tomorrow; the kids ran around energetically; and the elderly slow danced the night away. Mira can feel her soul begin to twist and turn as this is how her sister's wedding was supposed to be like but Nova took that away. Mira grabs the hilt of her sword that she had sheathed not to long ago and slightly pulls it out, ready to strike down everyone in the crowd.