The Forgotten Queen

Night Blade

Isla hesitantly opened her eyes, and a gasp left her lips as she stared in awe. Her eyes sparkled, reflected the twinkling lights of the street, and floating vibrate electric lights danced in the night sky.

The crowd of people murmured amongst themselves, strolling within the streets. Isla missed seeing people dressed in comfortable but luxurious dark color robes and colorful, magical items on their robes. A few pieces of gold on their ears, wrists, necks, and hair.

Suddenly, Isla felt a cloth covering her and glanced over at Sara. She realized her cloak hoody was not put on. "We're undercover," she said and stepped down from the teleport pad.

"Come on!"

She cheered, waving Isla over, which Isla followed, jumping off the teleport pad and following Sara into the crowd. Isla heard the roaring shower of a waterfall. She glanced over her shoulder and the holy mountain.

The Holy Temple palace is the magic users' fantasy to visit the inside. Still, the view outside was the true image of how grand the temple palace was. A tall mountain with a base leading up to a thin center then growing a dense mass carrying the castle. A claim flowed south of the waterfall but never showered the ground as it faded to the night.

"Isla!"

Isla turned her gaze back at Sara, who looked concerned about having Isla walking behind her. Sara huffed and took hold of Isla's hand. "I can't lose you," she said, leading Isla through the crowd.

They passed through the street, hearing the buzz of people and yells of street vendors. Isla took a long deep breath of the mix of scents; herbs, flowers, and rich oil perfumes.

A giggle escaped Isla's lips as she watched different people interacting. The outside was what Isla needed, especially after returning from her nightmare.

Meanwhile, within the Temple Palace, everything seemed normal. A peaceful night in the Aurora Kingdom.

Edward was in the howling library, going through books and noting his findings. However, he stopped and leaned back against the chair. His eyebrows frowned as he could not shake the feeling of Isla's behavior.

"Are you not going to investigate the mistress' odd behavior?" A voice asked, beaming from the shadows of the library.

"Duke Jared," Edward said, glancing over his shoulder from the corner of his eyes. "Why are you still here?" he asked.

Duke Jared stepped out from the shadow, running his hand through his ash gray hair. He approached Edward from behind, gazing down at the notes over Edward's shoulder.

"Are you powerful enough to create passes for the shield?" Duke Jared asked.

Edward sighed and closed his book, and pulled a booking upfront. "Are you doubting my abilities?"

Duke Jared shrugged his shoulder, strolling away from Edward, and moved around to the other side of the table. He firmly placed his hands on the table and stared blankly down at Edward.

"I'm just concerned about our Guardian and needs hourly protection. Day and night."

"If you want to test my powers, I'll gladly show you," Edward said, waving his hand, and blue flames surrounded his hand.

Edward smirked, staring into Duke Jared's gray-green eyes as the room became silent. Duke Jared grinned, slowly leaning back and removing his hands from the table.

"I believe the gods gave Her Grace a vision about her safety. That would explain her odd behavior and interest in the shield... We don't want history to repeat." Duke Jared said as he walked away.

A frown fell on Edward's lips, and his hands turned into fists. He took a deep breath and sighed, turning his head in the direction Duke Jared walked in. "That will never happen."

"We'll see about that..."

Duke Jared's voice echoed in the library as he faded into the shadows. Edward sat in silence, almost like he listening out to Duke Jared.

Once he believed Duke Jared was gone, Edward jumped off his seat and dashed out of the library. He paced down the hallway, trying not to raise any attention.

Each guard he passed bowed, and he nodded back at them. Edward approached double doors and glanced at the two guards who stood guard. The Guards bowed at him, and Edward nodded at them before quietly entering the room.

Edward quietly walked into Isla's room, staring at Isla's bed and unable to see her sleeping form as there were curtains in his way. He narrowed his gaze, slowly approaching the bed, and realized something was off.

He hurried over to the bed, removed the curtains, and saw an empty bed.

Edward's eyes widened before he calmed down. He approached the doors but did not exit the room as he remembered Duke Jared's statement.

He groaned under his breath and turned on his heels. Edward walked out to the balcony and jumped off. His body fell beside the waterfall, and he spun until his white robe shifted into a snow-white bird.

His body spun until his broad wings beamed open and cracked in the air. Edward began to fly over the city, narrowing his gaze into the crowd searching for Isla.

As Edward searched for Isla. Sara led Isla to a narrow dark alleyway. "This may look tight, but we can make it through," Sara said as she entered.

Isla hesitated and peeked around before following behind Sara. Screams and hisses caused Isla to flinch and clench on the fabric of Sara's cloak as they walked through the alleyway.

Abruptly Sara stopped, and Isla bumped Sara from the back. They glanced at each other, then gazed ahead to an open blacksmith.

A man sat in front of the shop, sharpening the sword's blade in his hand over his potbelly. He was covered in coal smoke, and his blue-green eyes were visible in the dimly lit street.

Isla tagged on Sara's cloak, and Sara leaned back. "Is that him?" Isla asked, whispering/yelling at Sara in confusion.

"Maybe if he washes up, he is someone lookable..." Sara said, shrugging her shoulders.

"What are you looking for?"

The girls shifted their gaze from the man in front, a pair of crimson blood red-eyes piecing through the shadow behind. Isla's hand clenched as the lad strode out from the shadow.

Isla released her breath once she saw the owner of the crimson blood red-eyes step out. He looked fifteen years of age, with short raven black hair and his face and clothing covered in black ash.

Sara leaned back again and whispered while nodding her head, "I'll bet you he is lookable..."

Isla turned her gaze to Sara and furrowed her eyebrows. "Lookable is not a word..."

"We can make it," Sara said, shrugging her shoulders.

"What's the matter with ya?"

The girls turned their attention to the boy before them, who lifted one of his thick brows up.

Sara cleared her throat, lifted her head, and stepped forward. Isla, who stood behind Sara, watched her handmaiden be tough. "Night blade?" Sara asked, raising an eyebrow like him.

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, seeing these two little girls before him. He shook his head and sighed. "Who's that?"

"Uh... That's you," Sara said, pointing at him.

"Who said I was?" He asked, chuckling and folding his arms across his chest.

His biceps bugled when he did this, and both girls stared in awe. They forgot about his question, and he was confused about them again. He frowned his brows and followed their gaze down to his chest.

Suddenly, he glanced up at them, noticing how they dressed and lowered his arms. "Creeps!"

His outburst snapped the girls from their trace, glancing back up at the young man in front of them.

"I don't know what you want, but whatever it is... I shall never lower myself into doing such deeds," he said, lifting his right hand and placing it on his left shoulder. Covering his stone chest.

Sara gaped in shock and scoffed loudly, glancing back and forth at Isla and then him. "You! You think you are that handsome!" she said, pointing her finger at him.

"Ya not!" she scoffed.

"Okay, you're wasting my time. I'll be heading back," the fellow said, turning on his heels.

"Please wait!" Isla exclaimed, stepping forward, and he turned. "Night blade, I need your help learning to use a sword," she said.

Her hoodie slid slightly down, revealing her face. The smith's eyes widened as he stared straight into her electric blue eyes. He shook his head and stepped back. "I make swords," he said.

"I'll compensate you for your time."

Isla glanced over at Sara. She hurriedly pulled out a satchel and handed it over to Isla. "Are you sure about this?" Sara asked under a whisper.

"Trust me," Isla whispered back. "Night Blade, I have heard of your skills and would like to hire you," she said, waving her satchel.

The coins in her satchel chime and clack as she shook the satchel. The smith stared at the small bag, moving it to Isla's innocent beautiful look. His eyes narrowed, realized something familiar about Isla. But Isla shook the bag.

"hundred gold... per week."

"What!" Sara exclaimed. "Who do you think you are!? That is so much money for just learning to swig a sword."

"If that's easy, you don't need me," he said, rolling his eyes at Sara.

"That can be arranged," Isla said.

"What!?"

"Then we have an agreement."

Both Sara and the smith spoke at the same time. Sara grabbed Isla's arm as the smith extended his hand to her. Isla extends her hand.

Suddenly, a flash of flames passed between them. Isla flinched away, and Sara squealed, and the smith stepped back. The trio snapped their gaze in the direction the fire came from, and both Isla and Sara's eyes widened when they saw a familiar man.

The smith glanced at the girls, seeing their fear, and he snapped his gaze at the white-haired man. He signed in annoyance, extending his arm, and a shadow blade grew.

He swung his sword, sweeping the flames away, and his emotionless gaze snapped at Edward, who glared back at him.

"I think we're in trouble..." Sara whispered into Isla's ear as they watched Edward and Night Blade glaring at each other.

Within a blink of their eyes, Edward and Night Blade came face to face, and Edward had a force shield up as Night Blade's blade pressed against the protection. The pressure of their force pushed them back, and no one was injured.

They were about to attack again, but Isla jumped in front of them. Both Edward and Night Blade slowed down.

"STOP!"

"Isla, step aside. You'll get hurt," Edward said.

"Edward, it's okay. Nothing was happening here. I was trying to get lessons from..." Isla said, glancing at Night Blade.

"Aiden," the Night Blade or Aiden said, clenching his sword handle.

"Yes, Aiden! I want him to teach me how to defend myself with a sword," she said.

Edward waved his hand, and the blue fires in his hands disappeared as he stood straight and stared down at Isla. "It's not safe to leave the palace, especially without notifying me. And what can this boy teach you?" Edward asked.

"Boy? This boy can show you a thing or two about manners."

Aiden narrowed his gaze at Edward, then smirked. "In fact, Isla? I'll be your teacher," he said.

"No!"

Edward grabbed Isla's wrist, pulling her towards him. Aiden's sword disappeared, and he leaned forward, grabbed Isla's wrist, and pulled her towards him.

"We already have an agreement."

Edward pulled Isla back. "She cannot make an agreement without my consent."

"I think she can do as she pleases," Aiden said, pulling Isla back towards him.

Aiden and Edward narrowed their glare into each other's eyes, then Edward pulled Isla back toward him. Aiden followed after, pulling Isla back. They began to pull Isla back and forth, glaring daggers at each other.

Sara hummed, watching a grown man and teenager pull the Kingdom's Guardian.

Isla groaned in annoyance and pulled her wrists away from Edward and Aiden. "STOP!" she said, glancing at Edward and Aiden. "I can make decisions independently, and thank you for accepting me as your student."

"Isla, you are a Guardian and cannot trust alley boys."

Aiden's eyes widened and narrowed a glare at Edward, ready to attack Edward again. Isla turned to face Edward and sighed. "How about... You and sir Aiden fight. If you win, I would not repeat this incident, but if sir Aiden wins, he trains me."

"With an increased pay!" Aiden said.

Edward remained silent, glaring at Aiden before turning his gaze at Isla. Isla gave Edward puppy eyes, and he sighed, then glanced at Aiden. "The agreed price with living quarter, if you win."

Isla smiled and glanced at Aiden over her shoulder. Aiden shrugged his shoulders. "I'll be enjoying whipping that smug off your face," Aiden said.

"So... Are we no longer in trouble?" Sara asked.