Shelly's eyes fell to her feet, she paused for a moment her words stuck inside her throat. After thirty full seconds, she finally responded. “The quest was a complete failure. Everyone…. was killed. “ just hearing those words come out of her own mouth made her heart ache. She willed herself, she wasn't going to cry.

“They died? Oh well…. That's too bad. At least you weren't hurt, that's the most important thing.” The Family Head responded, taking another sip from her glass.

Shelly raised her head slowly, her eyes matching the Family Head’s emotionless gaze. “That's it? Too bad? That's all you have to say?” She erupted, her voice disturbing the tranquility of the room. “Sam, Randy and the others. They all died for you! They died for this family! And all you're going to say is too bad?” Shelly heaved as she tried to comtrol her breathing. The tears she promised she wouldn't spill fell from her face, but they were not tears of sadness.

The Family Head looked at her blankly before saying, “watch your voice Shelly.”

Shelly flinched at her words. The anger she had was already looking to evaporate, as another emotion crept up on her.

“I really don't get why you're so emotional about this.” The Family Head uttered in her casual soft voive. “What is it Shelly? Do you expect me to cry or scream because a few of my children just happened to die?” Her voice grew slightly, “I have thousands of children, so what if I lose ten, one hundred or even a thousand. My children die every passing second and I don't feel anything. I lost those emotions a long time ago. “

“But… Randy and the others … they were just trying to help the family…” Shelly said, her voive more timid this time around.

“And they did help.” The Family Head replied. “I have more information on that forest thanks to your little quest. That bitch Tori has another thing coming if she thinks I'm letting her have that forest. She and her little beasts won't have a playground on my territory!” Realizing she was getting a little too worked up, she took another sip of her glass before her eyes fell to Shelly once more.

“It's a shame that Randy and Sam died. They had a lot of potential. But I guess they seved their purpose. Now you know what it's like to work under pressure, now you know what a real battle feels like.”

Shelly clenched her fists. “But I couldn't do anything, I couldn't save any of them. I was right there and they all still died!’

“That's fine.” She said. “You're still a child Shelly. You will continue to grow, this was only your first assignment. Sam, Randy and all of them were mealy chess pieces to help you in your progression. I need that Hidden Skill of yours to awaken once again.”

“Chess pieces?” Shelly asked, her heart beginning to feel heavy.

The Family Head rose from her bad. Her robe was long as it smothered her entire body down to her ankles. It's sleeves were baggy covering most of her arms. She took casual steps towards Shelly with a smile on her face. “You see my child to a healer all lives are nothing but chess pieces. All the lives of your party members are In your hands. Your job is to make sure every piece fulfils its role.”

She stood 4m away from Shelly, “a healer must be decisive. You do what's best for the survival of yourself and the group. But your own survival always comes first. If some or even all your party members die. Then so what?”

She flicked her wrists and the glass she was holding fell to the stainless floor and shattered. Staining it with broken shards of glass and crimson liquid.

The Family Head walked up to Shelly, she bent slightly cupping her cheeks. Her eyes locked with hers before she slipped into her ear. “if they happen to die, you can always throw them away.”

Shely felt a cold sweat wash over her after hearing her mother's word's. Unable to say anything, she just stood there with her lips sealed.

The Family Head took a step back and began walking back to her bed. “You know Shelly, I've only allowed you to be part of the Main Branch because of that Hidden Skill of yours.” She threw a cold glance at her, “just like every life in this world. If you fail to prove your usefulness, I can always throw you away.”

Shelly's tears flowed freely down her face. She held her chest tightly after hearing the Family Head’s words desperate to make the pain go away.

The Family Head clapped once, and a surge of servants entered the room instantly. They cleaned up the floor returning it to its flawless state. They waited for the Family Head to take a seat on her bed before they offered her a newly refilled glass. Which she accepted.

She took a sip before saying, “you're dismissed Shelly. I'll give you more chess pieces tomorrow. Make sure you use them properly this time around. Make sure you awaken that power of yours.”

Shelly didn't wait for another second before she exited the room.

She forgot to thank the Family Head for giving her the time and attention that she gave her. That was a crime ninety-nine percent of the time. Princesses are no exception.

Many people in the Hira Family live their entire lives without seeing the Family Head once, so getting her audience was the greatest honor of all. Shelly failing to acknowledge that would've been executed under normal circumstances. But because it was her, the Family Head was lenient.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

[Main Estate: 9th House]

Shelly had reached home and almost immediately threw herself In the arms of her grandfather, Martin. She had not been home for days, because when she was transported back to the Main Estate. She was ordered to spend an entire day inside the Main Castle in preparation of meeting the Family Head the next day.

As soon as her grandfather embraced her, Shelly released all her tears. All the stress she had been feeling was unloaded in the form of unhinged tears.

Her grandfather just caressed her head as he embraced her, “its going to be okay pumpkin.”

That's what Martin called Shelly by when she was sad, he did the same for Serra.

“Come on grandfather,” Serra said in annoyance. “Can't you see she's just being over the top for no reason. Most of us would actually kill for a chance to meet the Family Head. She's acting like a spoiled brat.”

Serra was always foul mouthed when it came to her big sister. Even though they were related by blood and both part of the Main Branch, Serra had never seen the Family Head. Unlike Martin and Shelly she was not invited into the Main Branch.

Originally, Matin was the only one invited into the Main Branch. This was due to his decades of service to the Family Head and his own skills as a fierce warrior. Shelly was later inducted due to the potential the Family Head saw in her. Shelly had to beg and threaten to not join the Main Branch before the Family Head allowed Serra to join.

So all three of them were now living together in the Main Estate. Compared to the castle, the houses of the Main Estate were relatively small. But if you were a part of the Main Branch you never had to worry about money or anything else. All the luxuries of the Hira Family were obtainable. But for those not in the Main Branch it was a different story all together.

“You must watch your tongue when speaking about your sister Serra!” Martin warned with a stern expression.

Serra shrugged as she walked to the door. “Whatever, I'm going to see mother and father I'll be back before dinner.” She slammed the door shut as she left the room.

Days would turn to months and months to years. Shelly was sent on quest after quest.

The Family Head did choose llower grade dungeons since her first quest nearly led to her death. But things weren't too different even in lesser dungeons. Shelly watched her friends day every single day. There were days where she would manage to save some of them and they would return safely. But more often than not people died and when they did they went out in numbers. And even after two years Shelly had only managed to activate her hidden skill once and it was brief and she almost died.

The Family Head had hope that if she could do it once. She could probably do it again. So she just kept bombarding Shelly with more pary members until they even reached 20. It was a minor investment considering how large the Family was, but considering many didn't comes back alive. Shelly couldn't help but blame herself.

After surviving another quest, Shelly was back crying in Martin's embrace.”I can't do it grandfather…” She sobbed. “I can't throw away the lives of my party members like mother wants me too.. I've tried to help…. To save them but they all ended up dead! I can't keep doing this grandfather I just can't…”

“Oh, my Pumpkin. What the Family Head is asking of you is not right. You are far too young to be going on so many quests. I get she wants you to awaken the mark, but the must be other ways to go about it.” Martin said, lifting Shelly off his chest. “A healer isn't a person whose willing to throw away lives so that they can benefit. No, a healer is a person who is willing to give everything to protect the lives of others. It's a good thing that you're trying to help them, because that's who you are Shelly. I know that you will be a great healer some day.”

Shelly's eyes widened as her Grandfather's words wrapped around her heart. It's then an idea came to her. “I don't want to stay here anymore Grandfather. I don't want anymore people to keep dying because of me. I want to leave. I want to exit the Hira Family.” Shelly said with resolved eyes.

“That will be difficult pumpkin, exiting the Main Estate Is one of the hardest things a person can do. It's heavily guarded. Without the Family Head’s approval it will be almost impossible to escape.”

“But you can do it right grandfather? You can help us escape. Please grandfather I don't want to keep doing this anymore.” Shelly pleaded.

Martin exhaled, “Ok, pumpkin we will do it. We will leave the family tomorrow at midnight. You won't have to keep going on those endless quests anymore..” Martin hugged her once again.

The next day had arrived and everything was set for the escape. But something was wrong, even though Shelly told Liv about the escape the day before. It was almost midnight and she was still not back from checking on their parents.

Shelly paced up and down. “What's taking her so long. She should be here by now.”

“She's probably running a little late, your parents can tend to be clingy at times. “ Martin said.

Shelly had not seen her parents in 5 years, she doubted she'd even recognize them if she saw them again. The last time she saw them was back on that day…

Bang!

A hard slam on the door snapped Shelly out of her thoughts.

“We are here on the orders of the Family Head. We are to apprehend both of you and prevent you from leaving the premises of the Main Estate. You can choose to do this peacefully or we will be forced to break the house down!”

“How did she know about the escape,” Shelly couldn't understand.

“You have 15 seconds to come out Shells.”

That nickname, that voive… it was Damian. Shelly's knees trembled… it was all over.

Martin grabbed his trusted blade before she stood in front of Shelly. “You should go Shelly. Use the underground door and and run straight ahead. At the end or the passage, you'll meet a dear friend. She'll help you get away.”

Shelly's eyes were watery, “But… what about you grandfather…” She asked, her voice breaking.

“I'll be fine. We both know I can handle myself in a fight. I'll get Liv and we'll meet up with you later ok…”

Shelly knew he was lying.

The door vibrated again.

“8 seconds!” Damian reminded them.

“Go!” Martin yelled at Shelly for the first time in her life.

She ran towards a door on the floor at the back of the room. It was camouflaged, if you didn't know it was there you would never have guessed. Shelly opened it and just as she took one last look at her grandfather…

Martin spoke,”Remember Shelly, you don't have to throw away any lives Shelly. You can be the kind of healer who protects them instead. I love you, my Pumpkin.”

Shelly entered the door and closed it. She could hear the door crack open as she ran along a narrow passage underground. She tried her best not make a sound, and she did just that. Her tears fell but no sound was heard. She kept pressing forward. And the last thing she heard as she exited the passage was her grandfather's scream as he died.

Shelly vowed to herself. She would keep his Grandfather's words close to her heart. And she would honor them.