Flame of Shadows

EMPEROR Gabrien Faberion's

harmonious and peaceful breakfast in

the empire's garden was ruined by the

news reported to him by General Adri,

one of the empire's war overlords. The

news came from Baron Arnott, the

overseer of the moonrite prison.

"Sollel, one of other's queens, the

Mistress of Flame, has escaped her

moonrite prison."

When the emperor heard the news, his

hand that was holding the cup of tea

trembled in anger.

"Imbeciles!" He angrily threw the cup

of tea on the general's leather boots.

The cup broke and scattered, but no

one moved to pick it up, afraid of the

emperor's anger to fall on them.

The emperor, known for his vicious

temper, Screamed, "Search all the land

and drag that woman back to prison!

I will not let that harlot or any of you

sully my name! For two generations,

that woman is our prisoner, and I will

not let her escape. Not in my reign, do

you hear me?”

The general who was kneeling on

one knee and looking at the ground

nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

Calming himself so he could think of a

better plan to drag that woman back to

prison, Emperor Gabrien tooka deep

breath while his lips were twitching

in anger. "How did she escape? That

prison is made of moonrite their

weakness. And from the report I

received, that woman was weak and

immobile. How come she could escape

that prison?"

General Adri answered with a low

voice, hoping that his answer wouldn't

anger the emperor more. "We believe

that someone helped her."

"A traitor?!"

"We believe so, Your Highness," said

General Adri. "All the guards in the

moonrite chamber had been killed. No

one was left alive. And the door to the

prison was destroyed."

The emperor couldn't help his surprise

while anger still boiled inside him.

"The moonrite chamber has a hundred

guards! Who could kill them all?!

We have the strongest weapons, an

impenetrable stronghold!"

"We do not know, Your Highness."

General Adri was scared to say the

words I don't know in front of the

emperor, but there were really no

words to explain what happened.

"As of now, we are investigating and

looking for the traitor and the woman.

We believe that they are together."

"And?"

"Still no report, Your Highness."

In a fit of anger, the emperor's plate

made of porcelain was smashed in the

general's head, but the general did not

even flinch. "Useless fools! Without

the moonrite, that woman is powerful!

Make sure to find her while she's still

weak, or I will have your head together

with the baron's!"

The general's head remained low. "Yes,

Your Highness."

Letting out an angry breath, the

emperor ordered, "Alert the imperial

army on every station all throughout

the empire to be ready, just in case

that mad woman appears. Tell them to

ready a moonrite weapon to subdue

her. No one is allowed to kill her. Just

weaken her." Emperor Gabrien knew

how important that woman's blood

and presence to the empire were. He

couldn't afford to lose her. Not while he's the emperor.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Leave and don't come back without

that woman!"

General Adri lowered his head even

more before he got up to leave the

garden. On the other hand, the

emperor had already lost his appetite

and couldn't even take a single bite of

his breakfast.

"Sollel, the Mistress of Flame," Emperor

Gabrien whispered. His voice trembled

for a moment when he remembered

how his father warned him about her.

Fear consumed him for a second before

He discarded it. "What can that woman

do? She's nothing now but a slave to

the royal family, my slave."

The Infernal Empire and its citizens

were very proud of their indestructible

weapons: they had been the leading

kingdom when it came to farging

such tools.

The emperor did not

want to admit or believe it, but his

father and grandfather treasured

Sollel, the Mistress of Flame-the

reason she was captured instead of

executed, Her blood could make any

weapon stronger, more powerful,

and unbreakable. And not only that-

her presence alone could strengthen

the kingdom's defenses, making it

impenetrable.

Considering that, it was

understandable that the Infernal

Empire was the wealthiest of all the four human kingdoms reigning Azitera

Emperor Gabrien did not fully believe

the tales of Yther's queens. He believed

that their weapons were indestructible

because they were skilled in making

them, not because of some woman's

blood. Maybe because Emperor

Gabrien was a third-generation

emperor years since Sallel, the

Mistress of Flame, was capturedthat

he did nat believe such tales,

After all, he was just keeping her

because the nobility faction would

see him as incompetent if she died

or escaped during his reign; because

just like his father and grandfather,

they also believed that the Mistress of

Flame was the reason of the empire's

prosperity.

But Emperor Gabrien did not believe

that. The empire's prosperity and

Wealth was because of him, because of

his hard work, Because he was a good

emperor. A brilliant leader that even

deities would compliment. He would not accept that woman was the

reason.

It was because of him. Him and

him alone, And not someone else!

Overcome with resentment, Emperor

Gabrien threw al the food on the table

and even beat up the guard nearest

1o him to release his anger. And when

he finally calmed down, he left the

garden, leaving the half-dead guard on

the ground.

"WE HAVE TO KNOW who did this and

their location," said the baran after

hearing what General Adri reported to

the emperor, "If we couldn't find her,

the emperor will not hesitate to execute

Us."

General Adri nodded before looking

at the destroyed door to the prison.

"Whoever did this is strong and

capable."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

General Adri shook his head. "Only

a handful officials knew about the

existence of the Mistress of Flame,

and all of them could prove their

innocence."

"Maybe a member of their family?"