Ida observed the tragic state of the town, and furrowed her eyebrows. Their resources were depleting quickly, and not every single building could afford repairs, such as the building in front of her. It was a small shop that had one sole purpose, and that was to be a messenger. More than half of the shop was completely wrecked, and the remaining parts of it were barely surviving.

“Resources and spirit healers. I wonder if they’ll be able to procure them.” Ida murmured to herself.

“I’m surprised a shop like that is able to remain standing.” Auriana muttered to herself, a hint of pity evident on her face.

“Smells like birds.” Nikulas commented, wrinkling his nose.

“Lady Wolfe!”

Someone ran towards Ida’s direction, stopping in front of her and panting heavily. It was a young, bubbly woman in her twenties and she was the sister of the freckled-face guard. The two of them resembled each other closely.

“I…I heard you were in front of my shop, it’s…not even standing…so why…”

“I need you to send a message to my parents in the capital. Can you do it?”

“Of course!”

Ida hesitated, a frown etched onto her forehead. “...the capital is under lockdown right now, and no entry is allowed. The message is urgent, and I’m afraid that you’ll…”

“Don’t worry, Lady Wolfe. This isn’t my first time, and trust me when I say this,” the woman winked. “The guards in the capital don’t hold a candle to ours.”

“Take care.”

The woman bowed her head politely. “Yes, My Lady. I will ensure the liege receives the letter.”

“I’m talking about yourself too.”

“Yes, My Lady!”

All of a sudden, the woman’s body began to grow smaller and smaller, and finally she transformed into a tiny pigeon. She flew up to Ida’s shoulder, nuzzling her face against Ida’s cheek.

Ida smiled, taking out a letter that she hid in her shirt and tied it around the pigeon’s feet.

“...!”

“...?”

Auriana and Nikulas were seemingly shocked by the sight they just saw. The pigeon cooed once at Ida before it took off into the sky, and Ida gazed at the pigeon’s body which grew smaller and smaller.

“I-I didn’t know a human could do that with a contracted spirit.” Auriana said, blinking in shock.

“No one in our village did that.” Nikulas added.

“Embodiment, it is a state where you are able to fully adopt the characteristics of the contracted spirit animal,” Ida explained. “Some say it’s depending on your affinity with the contracted spirit, some say it’s pure talent or some say it is a gift bestowed by the Spirit God to selected people. Though, no one knows what the true condition is to achieve embodiment.”

“Embodiment…” Auriana muttered to herself, glancing down at her hands. “If I was able to do it too, I could have…”

A depressing air surrounded Auriana and Nikulas reached out, patting her on the shoulder.

“You won’t be able to do it now, but you will be able to, eventually.” Ida said, turning back to look at the glum Auriana.

“But we let them down, we shouldn’t have–”

“You are strong, Auriana Lionheart, so don’t doubt yourself.”

She would be a person who stood toe to toe with the strongest races in Vriafenia, and even earn their respect and admiration. Auriana Lionheart, the female lead of this world, was definitely not weak in any aspect. She would be the one leading the fight against the various evils scattered across the world.

Auriana widened her eyes at Ida’s encouraging words. “...Ida…”

“The two of you still have enemies to catch, don’t you?” Ida smirked, gesturing towards them. “I still haven’t fully repaid you the favour for saving my people, so I’ll tell you everything I know from this moment on.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Auriana and Nikulas glanced at one another.

“I don’t wish to make enemies out of the saviours of the villagers, so I will let you make the choice,” Ida added, a subtle glint in her eyes. “The choice of whether you wish to trust me or not.”

The two of them gazed at the beautiful silver-haired woman standing before them. Even surrounded by a dilapidated building, her composed and confident mien was a striking contrast.

“We trust you, Ida.” Auriana nodded.

“Even though you are partnered with a fae, you are not a bad person.” Nikulas agreed with Auriana, his voice full of approval.

“Very well, since you have given me your trust, I will tell you about the spirit mage we encountered first.”

“Did he contact you again?” Auriana asked cautiously.

Nikulas frowned, his hand lingering on his sword.

“No, he will be too busy with other things now, but it’s about the person behind him.”

“...?”

“The mastermind behind him is the one responsible for destroying your entire clan.”

***

It has been a week since Ida sent the urgent letter to her parents who were temporarily imprisoned within the capital. It was currently nighttime and Ida held a book in her hands as the light from the lanterns illuminated her elegant features in the dark. It was the diary of the previous lieges of the Wolfe family. There were several other diaries scattered across the wooden table in the centre of the room.

“I was right.” Ida closed her book, her face twisting in annoyance. “The Wofle family had grown too powerful for the previous Emperor’s liking, and yet, they were blindly loyal to the Grenyth Empire that framed them and cast them aside.”

She closed her eyes, smiling coldly to herself.

“It’s a pty that the previous Emperor is now buried in the cold ground.”

Tuk. Tuk tuk.

There was something knocking on her window and Ida stood up from her bed, taking the shawl hanging on the coat hanger, placing it over her shoulders. She reached for the windows, pushing it open as she was greeted by a gentle breeze. A pigeon flew into the room, landing right on her shoulders and Ida reached out, untying the letter attached to its leg. After which, the pigeon flew down to the ground and transformed back into the same freckled-faced woman, her bubbly personality immediately shining through with her victorious grin.

“Hehe, I did it! I told you I could do it!”

“Good job, go take a good rest now.”

“Of course, My Lady! Please take care!”

She transformed back into a pigeon and flew out the window, heading towards her house for a well-needed respite. Ida stepped closer to the lantern and unfurled the letter, reading it with a solemn expression.

“To our dearest daughter,

We came here to request assistance from the imperial family for the weakened barrier, but to think that such a thing would happen in our absence. How tough it must have been for you. We are glad to hear that you and the villagers are fine.

The Emperor has abruptly passed away and the capital is currently under lockdown. Leaving or entering the capital means treason. The princes are fighting to ascend the throne, and the nobles and commoners are equally divided. Whereas, the temporary regent is that useless empress who–nevermind. Fortunately, His Highness, the Crown Prince has listened to our request and is willing to send the best spirit healer down, along with the required resources to repair our village. We will be back soon, so please, just hold on a little longer.”

Stay safe and healthy, our dearest daughter.”

Ida lowered the letter in her hands, gazing out at the window as the moonlight that spilled into her room.

“If it’s following the original timeline, the spirit mage will appear next in the capital when Auriana and Nikulas arrive there.”

“Oh!” June gasped out. “My little one! I see it!”

“...?”

June revealed herself, snatching the letter from Ida’s hands as her eyes sparkled in excitement.

“Hey, June–”

“There’s fae dust on here! Fae language written with fae dust!”

Ida froze in her spot, and a strange foreboding hit her.

“Do you want to read it?”

“No, I am not–”

June didn’t give Ida a chance to refute and simply slapped fae dust all over her eyes before shoving the letter in Ida’s face. There were indecipherable letters on the centre of the paper as it glittered in various colours. Just then, the letters began to twist and turn, forming out two words.

“Help me, my queen.”

June wore a wide smile on her face, pointing at the letter. “How fun! Oh, how fun it is!”

“...”

“...”

Ida pinched the nose bridge, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I said no.”

“It's an adventure game! Play with me, Ida! Play with me!”

“I said…” Ida groaned before pausing, trailing off.

She clearly made a promise with June that she would play with her an entire day. Ida imagined the scenario where she said no to June.

How…how does a fae’s wrath look like?

The colour drained from Ida's face. The entire Grenyth Empire will not be spared from June's wrath, and she might even create an ever-lasting grudge between humans and faes.

Every single human will be turned into stone.

“My little one!”

Ida gasped, staring at the devil incarnate before her. She was grinning from ear to ear, her pixie wings fluttering rapidly as her aqua-coloured eyes shone with anticipation.

“Play with me?”

Ida smiled weakly.

It looks like I'll have to accompany Auriana and Nikulas to the capital.