Chapter 1

"And now, the next person to challenge the three-year straight champion of Gagner le Trône competition, Princess Calista Harmony of Oqazia Kingdom, is no other than the youngest magic swordman in the lineage of warlords and the current leader of the Royal Defense, Wyatt Benjamin,” the headmaster of the Tower of Magic announced in a subdued voice, raising the flag that represents the Wyatts.

Despite the lethargy, the cheering from the audience creates a blaring sound that overpowered the entire arena, louder than it could ever be.

Of course, it’s Wyatt Benjamin, the one who singlehandedly perished the hundreds of disguised members of Royal Defense sent by the kingdom of dark magicians months ago. Or at least, that's what they thought it is.

Crarene, the kingdom of the above-mentioned creatures, is the first and worst enemy of Oqazia. That is why anyone who contributes a lot in solving or stopping the chaos they are constantly causing earns glory from the people. 

Wyatt Benjamin became the leader of the Royal Defense despite being the youngest. His position is already enough to acquire people’s trust and respect, and it even strengthened after he himself found out that a huge number of defense members are from Crarene and are already on the verge of executing their plan—to kill the second princess.

This explains the attention and admiration assembling behind him.

He took his steps toward the center of the arena where the match will be held. The cheering from people continued as I impatiently tapped my stilettos on the floor. His arrival seemed to take an eternity, my dark side is now urging me to make him vanish before he could even look at me in the eye.

When he finally stood in front of me, he made a slight bow as his lips weighs a grin formed from ear to ear.

“Greetings to the Calista Empire,” said he, looking at me with those pair of auburn eyes I last saw a year ago. I waited for him to take his battle position but he remained in his feet.

“Too much of wasting my time already, Mr. Benjamin,” I calmly uttered, dressing my tone with a pip of respect even after knowing the reason why he doesn’t deserve a tiny of it.

“Benjamin sounds good in your lips, Princess. But what’s with the first name basis? You haven’t fallen in love with me during my absence, have you?”

I didn’t respond, though I'd like to say that I just want to render justice to his ancestors by not mentioning him as one of them—as Wyatt. As much as I do remember, Wyatt family has a good reputation and are deserving for a long lasting respect . . . unlike him.

Benjamin, the heavens, and I are the only ones who know that he doesn't deserve the good reputation his family had struggled to garner.

“I mean no disrespect, but if you have no plans in fighting me—”

“I haven’t seen you for a while. When was the last time? Hmm.” He rubbed his chin. “About a year ago. That’s quite quick, but I missed you.”

His perverted voice annoyed the hell out of me. My fists balled and the ground started to shake.

“Ow ow, what a short temper we have here. I just want to spend this time with you because I know, after this duel, you can finally experience living outside the palace. Get ready to hand over your crown to me, dearest Harmony.”

“Be now in position, leader of the Royal Defense. This is an order from the Princess of Oqazi—”

“A year ago, you rejected my marriage proposal. I’ve spent my proceeding days slaughtering countless bandits appearing near the borders of the two kingdom as I wished for my broken heart to be able to forget.” He is crazily spitting nonsense, casually standing in front of me with his hands on his waist. “Some Oqans say you were nowhere to be found after winning last year’s Gagner le Trône. Could it be that you were just lying safely in your chamber, neglecting your responsibility as the Crowned Princess? Now, you are about to use your title to order me. A shameless act, Harmony. Indeed shameless.”

He is really persistent in wasting his time with such unnecessary talks.

“You are not dreaming of taking over the crown, are you?” I nonchalantly asked.

“I am not dreaming, I’m aiming,” he replied with so much of esteem. “And I can see that you did not bother to wear battle clothes, instead, you are shining with your silver wardrobe and glass shoes. You really did underestimate your opponents, huh?”

Slowly, my lips curved upward upon hearing his statement. “I did. And true enough, they really are under me . . . and you will be, too.”

The quick appearance of anger in his eyes rejoiced me. “At least say that after you win from me.”

I was indeed annoyed a couple of minutes ago, but now, I'm entertained. “You act so high and mighty that you didn’t even attend the opening ceremony of the competition. You should have came early, for you are unaware of what have happened. It seems like the term ‘shameless’ suits you more.”

He then chuckled. “I had zero intention in joining the competition. First, I don’t want you to get defeated by me since I was planning to have you as my wife. And second, what’s the purpose of competing if my future wife will be taking over the throne after his father’s five-hundred-year term?” He shrugged, still wearing the same annoying smile and perverted look. “But you rejected me. Now, prepare to be thrown away from the walls of Oqazia castle.”

Finally, after how many minutes of the worthless talking, he took his steps backward and readied his stance. During special occasions where there would be duels or sparring, it is a tradition to start the match from doing the battle position that corresponds to the family that we belong to. Each family has its own battle position as a part of its identity.

And now, for the first time, I got to see the Wyatt battle position in front of me. Not in a match of someone else, but me as the opponent.

“Why aren’t you taking your position?”

I let out a quick boisterous laugh. “If I do, it’s your dead end.”

“Arrogance,” he murmured. “Well, then . . . hear my call, Vlortis.” A pair of sword on fire appeared from his hands, beckoning heat and energy from the expanse until the sides and edges of the stage fired up. Now, we are hidden from the people’s sight.

The deafening scream of awe and admiration started to fill the arena as Benjamin’s flames began to tower the area like a fountain of fire. His arrogance didn’t last in such extent, draining up his magic and energy by creating rainbow-colored sparks whirling in a spiral, shattering and flashing like a dancefloor of lighting.

I tried to hide the astonishment inked in my expression as the sparks tumble to where I stand like a scarlet waterfall. Gods from the heavens, look at these lights glimmer like a glittering silver shower.

Expected from a show off to collect people’s praises, instead of defeating me in any way for as fast as possible, he chose to play around as if I don’t have the ability to pull out his throat for just a matter of millisecond.

I gradually took my steps to reach him. Itching badly to take his overconfident smirk away from him, I casted a spell in my mind that prevented him from moving.

When our distance is enough to enable us from hearing each other, I kind of shown him the tiny mercy I am willing to give by having a sympathetic look on my face. “This match won’t end until one of us shouts ‘I surrender!’. I know you are not the type to give up, but I’m sure your parents would be glad if you do so. I now bestow you the leeway to escape from my hands.”

The Royal Defense leader said nothing in response, but his blazing glare spoke volumes.

I noticed that the flames that surround us are losing their power. “You better strengthen these fires if you want to prevent the viewers from seeing how pathetic you are right now,” I teasingly suggested.

His eyes burned with anger. “You are too boastful for a witch! You cannot win against me with those underhanded attacks!”

I gave him a lopsided grin. “Said by the one who can’t move. And oh, how can these be underhanded?”

“Remove the spell, you wench!” Now, he lost his temper. “This is not fair at all. Don’t you have shame?!”

I thought he just told me that I can’t win with my attacks.

I tilted my head and examined his face, enough for him to get annoyed even more. “You said it, I’m a witch. I don’t do swords. How am I supposed to fight you then?”

“Calista Harmony!” he yelled my name with his eyes seem to pop out.

A shallow smile drawn on my face. “Do you know why you should have arrived here early? So you are aware of what have truly happened for the past two hours.” I turned my back at him. “You are already the last opponent, Wyatt Benjamin. For two hours, I was able to defeat the thirty-five challengers coming from different bloodlines in the entire kingdom of Oqazia. They say that we should save the best for last. However, both of us know that you aren’t the best, don’t we?”

I looked at him over my shoulder and saw the shock written all over his face. “Y-you— you couldn't be serious!”

I looked around the area, ignoring his doubt. “Remove your hilarious flames all over, accept your defeat, and I’ll spare your life. Because you see,” I made my hands outstretched, “Heaven knows I am capable of tormenting you until there wouldn’t even be ashes left to bury.”

He obliged in an instant. The fire stopped and vanished like it never appeared. I still have my back facing him when I released him under my spell.

“I never knew you are this obedient. You still treasure your life, I see.”

I waited for him to surrender, but my sharpened senses ordered me to tilt my head as Benjamin’s flaming sword swooshed powerfully on the side of my ear.

I can hear his movements from behind, clear enough for me to be able to dodge his strike even without looking.

Alright. He didn’t even take my mercy into consideration. I might as well show him my generosity now that he insisted.

Tapping the floor with my foot, the ground broke into ice, suspending his movement as his combat shoes froze in their place.

The more I tap the ground, the colder and chilling the atmosphere gets, and I did it as if it’s the most entertaining thing to do.

“W-what is this, Harmony?!” Benjamin gasped as his voice started to crack. “Your power is, a-ack!”

The moment I heard him choked, I turned aroud and blissfully watched him with blood dripping on the side of his lips, struggling to produce and gather heat in his hands in order for him not to turn into a statue of ice.

I know what he was trying to say. From the past three years of competing in this game of throne, aiming to win every single time for me to remain standing under my crown as the successor, Oqans have seen me as nothing but a powerful witch who is capable of defeating my opponents using only spells of steal and control.

I am feeling a bit generous today that I’d let them witness some of my powers aside from just silently casting spells in my head.

“Have the courage to face me when you are already capable of even just pushing me an inch of distance from where my feet are, Leader of Defense. You truly did amaze me with your half-assed performance earlier, but is that all?”

I could see his lips trembling with the intense cold, his hands could barely manage to hold his sword that is now starting to get cracked.

“Y-you . . . you don’t actually want this, do you?” Though panting, his struggling voice reached my ears. “You are . . . ” he took a breath, “you are omnipotent and omniscient, let alone the fact that the lineage of Calista seemed to be made and fated as royalties, b-but . . . you’re caged and you’ve never felt satisfied. You pretend to be apathetic to cover up that hole in your heart, using your confidence to mask your insecurities. Showing your emotions is the thing you’re not good at a-and—”

“You talk to much,” I cut him off with my voice that doubled the frigid and numbing coldness my power holds. “Always remember that your life is akin to mine. Basically, we both want something we can never ever have. I search satisfaction, it will never be found. You want the throne, dear, in your dreams.”

I snapped my fingers to release him from the icy ground. I moved my pointer in circular motion and his body twirled easily as if he’s nothing but a puppet under my control. I raised my hand over my shoulder, and the moment it formed into a ball, Benjamin’s face slammed to the floor, creating cracks that looked like a spider web with his head as the epicenter.

I can hear yells from the people, but I can sense fear and madness etched in them. Their unsaid complaints are all against me, for they feel pity and frustrations toward the leader of the Royal Defense, covered with blood and unable to move for even just a centimeter.

They respect and bow their heads on me. I outdueled my competitors, making them kneel before my sight, even in my sleep. As the current Crowned Princess of Oqazia, first daughter of King Pheadal and Queen Ivaira, I could have my kingdom’s people assemble at my feet, but I am more than aware that they do it out of their own safety and of responsibility. If they were to choose, they hungrily want my position to be theirs.

Needless to say, being a powerful public figure gave others all sorts of reasons to want me lose.

However, for the past three years, none of the Oqans were able to defeat me. There may be ones that were surpassed the other clans in Oqazia, Calista remained at the top of history as the ancestry of strength and intellect. None of them won, not to my ancestors, not to me who was programmed to excel.

“Ugh,” Benjamin groaned. I almost forgot that I did not harm him enough to be left unconscious.

There are still things I want to do with him in exchange of his crime. The pain I presented did not allow him to move, but had let him speak.

I manipulated the air around us, lifting his body in his condition that is as good as dead, and made him face me for the last time.

“Wyatt Benjamin . . . ” I voiced out his name deadly. “Your greed would be the one to bury you in your grave.”

“Y-you know nothing about me,” he strived to counter.

“I could not find any pleasure in knowing you either,” I retorted in a hushed voice. “But if there’s one thing that I did not able to ignore,” I took a single step closer, “it’s the unforgivable crime you recently committed towards the loyal warriors of Oqazia.”

Even in his state, I noticed that he was taken aback from what I stated. The rage in my heart started to get triggered once again, it went deeper and deeper since the time I found out the truth.

“Those members of Royal Defense that you accused as disguised Cranes . . . ” I leaned forward that my lips nearly touches his ear, “they aren’t really from Cranene, are they? You purposely killed them. You killed hundreds of innocent Oqans you so could have your name honored by the people. Worse, you even mentioned the second princess as their target in order to gain the king’s trust and favor.”

I saw a tear escaped from his eye, but I only scoffed as I watched it get mixed with his blood.

“Open your eyes,” I ordered. His body quickly obliged as it is being controlled by my spell. If not only by force, he can’t even barely manage to breathe.

He looks like a statue in the middle of a bloodbath, and I’d love to make him realize the fruit of his massacre.

“A couple of minutes ago, you asked why I did not take my battle position. My apologies, but Calista clan only take into positions when their opponent deserves violent and ignominious death. And I . . . ” my feet drawn back with a single step, “didn’t consider you as my enemy . . . until now.”

I moved my left foot to the left direction until both of my lower legs are almost perpendicular to the ground. My toes are pointing in front, as my waist and body are facing forward. After distributing the weight or center of gravity to both of my legs, my hands are formed like a cat’s claw facing the vastness of the sky.

“I . . . surrender.”

It sounded like a plea, but my mercy was taken away the moment he didn’t take the chance to save his life, right when I am still being nice.

“Too late. I already casted a strong spell that prevents the people from hearing a word from you.” My blue irises shined intensely with so much wrath. “Spinam,” I called out, and sharp and stinging thorns started to grow from his body, ripping his skin, making him scream even if it is impossible for him to do so.

I can hear the people’s gasps, and my ears didn’t miss those silent cries.

“Prodigium,” I summoned, and the monsters I myself created appeared behind me. “Ignis,” I uttered next, and a canopy of black fire started to crawl over his body.

I saw the terrified look from the headmaster of the Tower of Magic, and some other magicians broke into chaos, fighting against each other whether they stop me or just let me do what I think is right.

However, they know themselves that they must not interfere, and I have all the right to torture and even kill my opponents as long as they didn’t surrender. Or at least to hear them say it.

I turned my gaze away. Motioning my monsters to Benjamin’s body, I ordered, “The boy is not yet dead, and never let him be.” I looked at them before taking my leave. “Torture him that the agony reaches my royal chamber.”

I teleported to the castle without waiting for the final announcement. For the fourth time, I won the Gagner le Trône, the competition for the crown.

My parents, the current ruler of the Kingdom of Oqazia, didn’t even bother to attend this yearly competition. It is like they were expecting me to win, for the clan of Calista have been reigning already for straight three thousand years.

A king or queen will be given a five-hundred-year term of ruling the kingdom. After the term, the Crowned Prince or Princess will take over the throne, and that is the sole purpose of Gagner le Trône.

Every year, people of Oqazia aging seventeen and above are fighting for the position I am in. It is continuous until the term of the current ruler come to an end.

See, the succession of the throne is not by bloodlines, but by strength and intellect. Oqazia Kingdom is always on the verge of danger, and the best way to protect it is by having the strongest and wisest Oqan as the ruler.

The bloodline of Calista have been keeping the throne for a very long time now, as no other person from different clan were able to take over.

But before Calista, a nearly dissolved clan called Alaric was the one who ruled the Oqazia longer than we could have imagined. Unfortunately, time has come that the last ruler of their generation only had a single child, which was the Crowned Prince, Alaric Delray.

When a member of a clan is already crowned, no other member is allowed to participate the Gagner le Trône. In a large clan that composes of five families and above, it is the most difficult task to choose who would be standing as their representative.

Alaric Delray was a name with flying colors. He was known for being a man of strength and intelligence, but was soon hated and forgotten after what he did.

With his abilities, he was able to remain as the Crowned Prince until the end of his father’s term, yet he vanished on the very day of his coronation as the next ruler of the Kingdom of Oqazia.

The Alaric clan were devastated, they slowly crumpled down. The power they held slowly weakened, and the people lost their trust on them, afraid that the history might repeat itself if they let another Alaric rule the kingdom.

A competition for the King was held, and they didn’t allow any member of Alaric to participate. That’s when the second strongest—was soon became the first—clan started to rule, Calista.

Now, there are still some Alaric roaming around the kingdom, but they look as if they never became a dynasty.

I learned these information from the history book I once read. Until now, I’m still wondering why and how Prince Delray vanished. In the history, Oqans believed that the Crowned Prince ran away. There was zero possibility for him to get assassinated, kindnapped, or what else.

If that was truly the case, why? Why did he run away? He fought for the crown and throne for a very long time. Is he still alive? If he wasn’t killed or has gotten sick to death, there’s still a possibility for him to be alive since we are capable of living for a maximum of five thousand years.

This world where I belong is called Audravaria. It is divided into two kingdoms—the Oqazia that composes of white magicians called Oqans, and Crarene, the kingdom of dark magicians called as Cranes. All of us, in general, are called Audravarians.

The other creatures in the three remaining worlds are considered as ‘lower beings’. Audravarians are the highest ones, for we have the longest lives and the strongest powers.

Now that I think of it, I might as well read about the other worlds after my daily training which I haven’t done today. They can be learned in class, but I am advance. After all, I have three personal learned Sirs.

The sound of my footsteps echoed in the shiny hallway of the imperial palace, giving life to its sullen silence. Taking my way through my room, an ominous atmosphere notched to get in my bones.

“Do we have a visitor today?” I asked the servants stationed on my chamber, standing from the sides of my door.

They looked at each other hesitantly. Seeing that they are unable to answer a simple question as this, there might really be something off.

I pushed my door open, and as soon as I got to enter, an intense energy enveloped me—a familiar power only a Calista can possess.

“You usually does not take this long.”

I turned to the man standing near my boudoir, adjacent to my bedchamber. He has a book on his hand that is opened into half.

His hair seemed to reflect the color of a sunlight, deadly eyes like of those hungry wolves, and a skin akin to a porcelain.

His height has no justice, towering even the King. Wearing a simple gray tunic, he still carries his stance with might and power.

My silence brought him to look at me. I didn’t expect I’d be seeing him after two months.

Daffodil shade of hair, emerald eyes—the main characteristics of the second strongest clan in Oqazia, Thèodred. And this person standing in front of me, is no other than the youngest man of their generation, Théodred Nikolai.

The headmaster’s disciple, Oqazia’s strongest elemental mage, and my husband.

“Greetings to the Calista Empire,” he just murmured, placing the book above the head of my serpent statue. “I know you are a person of few words, so let me get it straight.” He slowly headed towards me. “Since you are not actually happy about this marriage, I did not bother you for two months. But the King has summoned me here against my will, telling me that it’s time for us to fulfill our marriage duties.”

“Marriage duties,” I repeated to myself.

“Children,” he declared. “We need children.”

Upon hearing what Nikolai have said, my slightly parted lips broke into laughter, loud enough to assault his ears.

“That’s quite the funniest thing I’ve heard since I woke up,” I marveled. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that he wasn’t really joking. My face turned serious. “With all due respect, I refuse to do it.”

I rushed through my door but the energy I’ve felt earlier thrown me back to Nikolai who has now a suspicious grin on his face.

“That’s your father’s power. You can never get away.”

I irritatedly sniffed. “Really.”

Running back to the exit, I casted a spell that would be strong enough to break the barrier, but the effect is the same.

I am being pushed back to Nikolai’s feet.

“You can’t also use any of your power for the time being,” he stated, victory is evident on the way he speaks. “You have no choice.”

No, I will never let this happen.

When I was chosen as the representative of Calista clan, I did nothing but to oblige. When the King set me up to a marriage I least expected, I obliged.

But now is the extent of my obedience. I am done taking orders. I am done!

“I have no choice, you say?” I smiled at him and I’m sure they looked as nostalgic as they can ever be. “You forgot that I am a Calista. I am knowledgeable about our own power, and there’s a single way left in order for me to escape.”

His confused expression shown me that he himself has no idea how, and so I grabbed the chance to run towards my bed. I took out the dagger I always keep under my pillow and didn’t have the tiniest of second thoughts on stabbing my chest as the sharpness aimed for my heart.

“Najia Garden,” I managed to whisper while catching my breath.

Nikolai’s widened eyes and face of horror is the last image I remember before the searing pain consumed my insides, taking me to the place I just mentioned.

Yes, it is one of the strongest spell we can use to imprison people, and if someone wishes to escape, it takes a great sacrifice to succeed—life.

I still have my dagger buried in my chest when I fell on the ground, gasping for air. Now that I’m out from my father’s spell, I felt my powers running back to my body.

But then, though I know that I am capable of healing myself, I did not intend to do so. Instead, I gazed upon the expanse of the skies, watching the stars I’d love to see whenever I am here.

Benjamin was right, I never felt satisfied. The crown, the throne . . . they can’t even motivate me now to save myself from dying.

If I am to live, would I be able to be happy? Tomorrow, or perhaps even later, the King will search the entire Oqazia to find me so I can accomplish his order today, and his orders for the next tomorrows.

If I am to save myself for that, then my reason to die is even better than my reason to live.

My hands fell on the ground and my eyes started to get blurry. But even though they are half-closed, I still managed to see my pegasus in its silver fur and golden wings, looking down at me with those ever dreamy and hopeful eyes.

Haira, that’s the name I gave her, is a mystical creature from the planet of Rimalaya. If she can only speak, I would have asked her on how she was able to get here.

I looked again at the countless stars that give life to the quiet of the night.

“Alaric Delray . . . ” Out of all words I could possibly utter, it also surprised me why his name automatically came out from my lips.

Is this the answer of my question? You ran away because you lost reasons to be here? Did you vanish because there are far better places in the universe you can live in?

A faint smile made its way to my lips. “What about you, Haira?” I diverted my gaze to my pet as I started to feel pain on my throat. “Did you also run away?” It’s taking so long for me to die. The power within my body strives to keep me alive, but my mind and heart want me dead.

I reached for my dagger and took it out from my chest, feeling the tormenting pain of bathing with my own blood.

“I-if only I was born like you . . . , " I said, gasping. “Living like you . . . is even better than living like me.”