Richard was shocked by this sudden revelation.

  " No ... it's impossible, you have worked for Malik for months, I saw you and talked to you so often, your absence would have been noticed. "

  Eliza was looking at the ground, ashamed.

  " I can make people forget everything about me, there was just this one time where I just didn't put the disguise on and somehow you knew you had 'seen' me before. I'm sorry Richard, I didn't want to trick you.. "

  Richard's voice became cold.

  " So you are the one who disrupted my magic. "

  " Yes. "

  " How? "

  " Have you heard of runes? "

  " Dammit ... "

  " I just had to put the following condition : Only I can perform magic within this space. "

  " We trusted you. "

  " I'm sor - "

  " MALIK DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!! "

  Richard's eyes were full of rage and sorrow while Eliza's were full of shame and regrets. The duchess gently grabbed Eliza by the shoulder while staring at Richard.

  " Come my child, you did great, let's get out of here. We will see you tomorrow Richard. "

  Richard stared back at the duchess the whole time. Anger was the only thing saving him from despair. " How am I going to get out of this ? Bella please be safe. "

  Night time had fallen on the town of Ciscera, the waitresses and remaining patrons had gathered in the space behind the tavern where Konnor and Izi usually trained, some of them had brought flowers, some braught candles. After having cleaned the tavern as best as they could, all of them organized a quick ceremony to say their farewell to Malik. Each person would go in front of the grave they had dug up and would speak. Konnor's turn arrived and he stepped in front of the small gathering.

  " Hmm, Hi, Malik took me in at a strange time in my life, I had just lost my brother, I was living alone in the woods, thinking every day could be the last. He gave me shelter, he gave me purpose and for that I thank him, he was a great man and I will never forget him. "

  Izi came right after him.

  " Just like Konnor, Malik accepted me despite the mistakes I may have made, he didn't judge me because of what I look like or who I was associated with. He was a man that was judging the souls of people, we will miss you Malik. "

  Izi walked off and Isabella stepped up.

  " To be honest, I only knew Malik through the stories Richard told me about him and even though I haven't spoken to him this much, he was already considering me apart of his family and before I realised it, so did I. I'm now going to let someone who knew him the best from all of us speak. "

  Jessamine started walking up to the grave, the skin around her eyes was red and ragged due to constantly wiping her tears, she gave a slight hand gesture to Bella, asking her to stay next to her, Bella nodded and simply placed herself next to Jess.

  " Hi ... Me and .. We .. " The words were stuck in her throat, the grief was overwhelming her, Isabella placed her hands on Jess shoulders to help her calm down. Jessamine took a deep breath, exhaled and resumed her speech. " I met Malik a few months ago, I had just run away from home, I was living in the street, I almost thought I was going to have to sell my own body to survive but one night, as I was shivering in a ditch, a single arm reached out to me. In his eyes I could see no malicious intent, no ulterior motives, just the most kind look a human can give to another. He fed me, clothed me, gave me work even if it was tough sometimes and ultimately he gave me something I never had before : love. I realised the true meaning of love by being in contact with him. Love is not just hugging someone, it's not just saying it or giving gifts. Love is about giving selflessly every fiber of your being for the sake of the person next to you and for that I can say for sure that Malik loved me and I will always love him. Thank you everyone. "

  The audience clapped as Jess was ending her speech, the crowd dispersed into the dark streets while the closest friends stood there to mourn a little bit longer. Isabella was deep in her thoughts when she was taken back to reality by Talia gently pulling on her dress.

  " Hey, you okay? "

  Isabella took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.

  " I'm not sure Tal', it's a lot to take in, I still don't know how I'm going to rescue Richard. "

  " What?! Are you crazy? Didn't you notice the duchess has a literal army? "

  " So what do you want me to do?! Let him die there?!! The guards have been parading all afternoon announcing the upcoming execution tomorrow at noon! "

  " It is obviously a trap to get you to come out! "

  " You think I don't know that?! "

  " Don't be an idiot it's suicide! "

  " You never change Talia.. "

  " What's that supposed to mean!? "

  Isabella regretted the words she just said, she started walking past her friend but she held her arm and started squeezing it.

  " What did you mean, come on, explain it. "

  " Let me go Talia. "

  " No, explain what you meant right now! "

  Bella took Talia's hand away and slightly pushed her away from her.

  " I didn't say anything, forget it, I want to be alone. "

  " You're a coward Ruby! "

  Isabella turned around. Anger was now fueling her thoughts and words. " Now is not the time to piss me off. "

  " Oh I'm the coward hmm? So tell me who wants to run away while her best friend's fiance is about to be executed!? You want me to explain!? This is just like that time in Rotghar!! "

  " It was different! "

  " No it wasn't! You felt it was dangerous for you so you left me! "

  " It's not what happened ... "

  Bella walked up to her and started pushing her multiple times.

  " Then what?! Hmm then what?! "

  Talia remained silent.

  " That's what I thought, it's always the same, you never stay in one place, you don't care about other people, you know what Talia, I'm glad we never became anything serious because it was destined to fail. "

  " Don't say th- "

  " I don't care, just go away like you always wanted to. "

  Defeated, Talia passed Bella without looking at her. Before exiting the back yard she looked at her best friend with intense regret. Their eyes met but Bella's eyes were cold.

  " Bella I'm- "

  " Leaving."

  Talia looked down and walked away. Still full of anger, Bella walked back inside the inn and sat down at one of the tables that was still standing. " Should I go there now? Should I help before the execution? And what if I get caught? No! I can't get caught, I won't, I won't , I won't!! ". Her mind was spiraling down a somber path, little by little her ideas were becoming clouded by rage mixed with her fear of being alone again. " What if I can't rescue him? What if he dies? If he dies, it would be time for the duchess to pay, why does she do it to people like us? Why do regular humans always hurt those gifted .. humans are terrible. Not all of them are that awfull, Malik was a kind man and yet he died for our sake. Humans .. trully are terrible.. "

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Richard woke up as the first lights peeked into his cell, he raised his head and instantly wished he had not.

  " Oh not you ... "

  Felix leaned against the cell bars and smiled at Richard.

  " Not happy to see a friend? "

  " A friend? Since when? "

  " Oh come on Richard, we lived through so many things together. You had this coming your way. "

  " You and your crazy mistress will get what's coming for you, you will burn in the pits of darkness and your soul will rot. "

  Felix opened the cell and walked up to Richard, slowly he took off his gloves and cracked his knuckles.

  " Oh my dear friend, it already is. "

  He then began what would be the longest beating Richard ever received. Punches after punches, Richard held out, enduring the constant assault, even when the blood was getting into his eyes he kept glaring at Felix, challenging him to keep going. Out of breath Felix took a few seconds and backed off.

  " I gotta hand it off to you, you are a tough bastard Richard. "

  Richard spat out blood and chuckled.

  " You hit like you fight: like a bitch. "

  Felix chuckled and left the room, only to come back a few seconds later with a small rolling cart full of different tools, he started touching each of them. Growing impatient, Richard decided to press him.

  " Just choose already, I know you are going to use all of them anyway. "

  " Shush, I'm just wondering in what order I want to make you suffer, wondering if I should cut an ear, the nose, the balls, or maybe this annoying tongue. "

  " Just get it over with already scum. "

  Felix took out a big pair of metal pliers and looked at him with a devilish smile.

  " I guess that before the tongue, I'm gonna have to remove a few teeth. "

  " Izi, we should speak to her. "

  " And say what? Have you seen the look in her eyes? I felt like she was going to tear my head off. "

  " We only have a few hours before the execution, we need to help Richard. "

  " Like her friend Talia said, it's suicide! And we need to respect Malik's last wish. "

  The two young men were seated inside their bedroom next to each other. Since the attack they barely had time to talk, nor did they have the will to do so. Konnor pondered on the idea of dissuading Isabella for a moment but he couldn't bring himself to abandon Richard either.

  " Izi, I can't do that to him. And I won't hold it against you if you decide to stay back. "

  Izi placed his hand on Konnor's.

  " I can't let you do this alone, If you go, I go. "

  " Thanks Izi. "

  " Don't think that it's because I like you or anything, I'm just sure you can't do it properly alone. "

  " Shut up. "

  Konnor leaned in for a kiss but got interrupted by Maureen bursting inside the room.

  " Guys! Have you seen Bella? I can't find her anywhere!

  The two boys looked at each other and both let out two words.

  " Oh no. "

  Senob was standing in the middle of his workshop, wondering where he could have put some of his items. He heard someone enter his shop, turned around and greeted Konnor.

  " Ah, perfect toyming! Where da fak is Rich'?! "

  " He was taken by the guards yesterday! But that's not why I'm here, have you seen Isabella? "

  " WOT?! The fook did he do this idiot?! And who is Isabella? "

  " He was accused wrongly! She is .. Richard's .. friend!"

  " Hmm, never met her. Someone stole something from mey boy, I'm busy! "

  " I don't have time to help you Sen' I'm sorry! "

  " It was Richard's piece of armor that was taken! "

  " What?"

  " Ye, of all the things in here, they took only pieces of it. The fookers! "

  Konnor thought about it for a little bit. " Would she really go to the extent of stealing from Sen because she thought he might say no? "

  " Sorry Sen, I have to find her, I'll help you later! "

  " Yeah right, fok outta mo shop! "

  Konnor met up with Izi a little before noon.

  " Did you find her anywhere? "

  " No, I guess you didn't either? "

  " No, but I think she went to take gear from Senob, she is going to attack during the execution. "

  " Oh by the creator ... she is going to get herself killed! We have to go now before it's too late. "

  " Right behind you! "

  The boys arrived at the plaza where the execution was due to happen, hundreds of citizens were already there to spectate it. It would be impossible to look for Isabella in this dense crowd without raising the guard's suspicions. Their best bet was to wait for her to begin her attack and then take her away. More and more guards were encircling the plaza and closing any escape routes. Finally, multiple cabs entered the plaza and for the first time in months, the citizens of Ciscera laid eyes on their duchess. Closely followed by Eliza and Felix, she walked up the wooden stand. Markok was already on the stand, sharpening his battle axe. The duchess held her arms in the air, ordering everyone to be quiet, silence fell on the plaza and the duchess started speaking.

  " My dear citizens, on this day I have many news for you. You might be wondering why I wanted to be present for this execution. Well it's because it's the execution of a criminal that wounded me deeply. Bring him in! "

  The soldiers brought Richard out of the cab, he had a bag on his head, ragged pants and chains tying his arms behind his back and his ankles were restrained too. The guard walking in front of him stopped once on the stand and punched him in the stomach to make him take a knee. The man looked at the duchess and she nodded at him. He then took off the bag on his head, the sudden light made Richard blink multiple times, his face was heavily bruised and swollen to the point he could barely see from his left eye.

  " This man sitting right here is named Richard Rageaj and he is guilty of one of the most vile crimes, I employed his services to get rid of creatures by the town of Ryzeon and when he came back he gained my trust and kept on coming to me asking for favors. And one day I ended up refusing and this monster forced himself on me. "

  An audible gasp was heard from the citizens, quickly followed by booing. The duchess raised her hands once again to render them quiet.

  " I know how you all must feel and as you can all see I am with child from this monster over there BUT I will NOT cast out this child. Because as a devoted follower of the Creator's will and words I believe all lives are sacred and so is this one. I did not consent to the act I was subjected to and this child did not consent to being conceived but I will give birth to it and love it. "

  The people cheered as they ate the duchess's lies. Konnor and Izi were still trying to make their way towards the stands but a line of guards was standing in front of it.

  " My guards apprehended this coward yesterday and today he shall face our wrath!! BUT he is not the only one who was playing me, he had help. He deceived me and my servants by making himself look like my husband before he passed! How? I hear you ask? Thanks to his partner, the redhead herborist, or should I say the redhead WITCH that lives in the mountains!! "

  Once again the crown gasped in surprise. All around, people who knew who the duchess was talking about were starting to question themselves.

  " Using her mixtures and her magic she changed his face and deceived me, during the act he even admitted to murdering my husband! Their plan was to overthrow me and gain control but have no fear! We discovered their machinations and vanquiched evil! "

  The people cheered as the duchess was still telling her speech.

  " He will now pay with his life, his head will roll in the dirt and then we will find his partner, probably here among us, waiting, plotting to end my life! But we will LOOK for her .. "

  The crowd screamed as if they were going to war.

  " YEAHH! "

  " .. we will FIND her! "

  " YEAHH !! "

  " .. and we will KILL HER!!! "

  " YEAHHHHHHHHH "

  The crowd exploded in applause, cheers and whistles. Olivia gave a hand gesture to the guards next to Richard and they brought him in front of the place where his head would be cut. Markok approached Richard and kneeled next to him.

  " I'm sorry it had to end this way. "

  As an answer Richard simply gave him a warm smile, he knew the man was good but simply following orders which was making it even more difficult for him. Markok picked up his axe and waited for the signal. Olivia lifted her hand and a heavy silence fell on the plaza. Konnor and Izi were stuck in the crowd and could not advance further. The duchess lowered her hand, giving Markok the signal. With regret, he lifted the axe, and when he tried lowering it, it stood in place above his head. The duchess became impatient.

  " What are you doing idiot?! Finish him! "

  " I - I'm trying milady but the axe is .. stuck .. "

  " What do you mean stuck?! In the air?! "

  Suddenly the axe flew out of Markok's hands and towards Olivia, Felix jumped just in time to make her evade it while the soldier next to her got instantly decapitated. The axe kept flying and planted itself in one of the wooden pillars of the structure. Konnor and Izi both looked at each other and understood what or rather who was doing this. Walking towards the stand, a hooded figure emerged out of the crowd, the person lifted her hood and revealed a young red haired woman with stripes of silverish hairs. The white had progressed even further since the day before. Richard smiled as he looked at Bella, but she was not smiling, her expression was closed, he realised she was wearing pieces of his dark leather armor over a light blue dress, she looked like a character you would depict in the ancient tales, a battle queen. Her eyes were focused on Olivia who at the sight of her entered into a frenzy.

  " GET HER! GUARDS! GUARDS! "

  Instantly all guards rushed towards her, Isabella stood still, whispering to herself.

  " Oh mother of earth, give me the strength to shake mountains and give my wrath a movement : ELMBERT !! "

  The whole Plaza started shaking uncontrollably, and the ground around Isabella caved in. A movement of wave was given to the stones paving the ground and made all the soldiers coming at her fall. With the panicked citizens running away, Izi and Konnor were being taken even further from the stand. She took the occasion to run to the stand and get on it. The second she reached the top of the stand a guard came at her to knock her down. She ducked under the incoming hit and elbowed him in the back of the neck, causing him to fall down a few steps. Her eyes were still focused on Olivia. Eliza and Felix remained calm as she kept advancing towards them, Markok was keeping Richard down. She held out her hand in front of her and said a spell destined to push them aside. Realising what was about to happen, Richard tried warning her.

  " No Bella don't use mag - "

  " Evom ! "

  Eliza had a slight smirk and Isabella felt a sickening sensation flowing through her body, the shock was strong enough to make her put her hands on the ground. " What .. what is going on!?". Eliza walked up to Bella and made her lift her head.

  " I'm sorry but you fell for the trap, anti magic runes. "

  " You bi- "

  Eliza applied pressure to Bella's back with her knee, causing her to gasp for air, Bella then saw the duchess whisper something to Felix who started smiling wider than ever. He took out his sword and placed himself next to Richard. Bella held her hand out towards him and tried calling out his name but she was slowly running out of air and losing consciousness. Richard looked at her and gave her his usual charming smile.

  " It's gonna be ok, look at me. "

  Unable to speak, all she could do was grunt and scratch the wood as she saw Felix sword rise above his head.

  " I love you Isabella. "

  The sword fell down in what seemed like an eternity, she catched herself drowning in his eyes again, these grey eyes sometimes cold like steel but associated with a smile that could melt glaciers. Before she lost consciousness, she managed to utter a few words.

  " I .. love you .. "

  The sword reached the end of its course, the cold steel was now tainted by warm blood. Isabella was incapable of closing her eyes, she wanted to keep looking at him in the eyes, despite the fact his gaze was no longer fixed on her. She ended up closing her eyes, with a tear rolling down her cheek, realising that from now on, his, would be forever shut.