Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!An excellent question, Abril thought, as she surveyed the scene before her. The landscape was eerily still; plants and animals lay lifeless, and a heavy fog blanketed everything. She had witnessed a similar scenario in Laios, but the horror of what she saw now was overwhelming. The monsters had ravaged the area, leaving devastation in their wake, and even the ground beneath her feet felt dead. "This fog is wrong," she murmured, a chill creeping down her spine. Just then, several monsters emerged from the mist, their grotesque forms shifting in the shadows.Alessandro positioned himself protectively in front of Abril, shielding her with his body. "Don't separate yourself from me," he urged, his voice firm. Abril had not come to hide; she had come to fight. With a swift motion, she transformed her hands into daggers, ready for battle. "I didn't come here just to watch," she declared, determination igniting her spirit. Alessandro watched in awe as she wielded her daggers with grace, silver flames flickering around her. It was a sight he had never seen before, and it took his breath away.As a monster lunged at him, Alessandro deftly countered with his sword, reducing the creature to a quivering mass. Barto joined the fray, his speed and skill with the sword leaving everyone astonished. After they had dispatched the last of the monsters, Abril summoned her light magic, cleansing the darkness that had seeped into the village. Alessandro turned to Sirius, who had been assessing the barrier. "There's no breach," Sirius reported, his brow furrowed. "No monsters have emerged from the woods." "But how?" Abril interjected, her voice laced with disbelief."After the war, we exterminated them all. There shouldn't be any left." "The barrier is intact," Sirius replied. "We need to discover how they got here." Once all the bodies had been buried, the Horsemen began setting up camp, preparing to move to the old town the next day, which had also been attacked. Abril lay among the tombs, guilt gnawing at her for not being able to save them. Just then, Alessandro approached her. "How are you?" he asked gently. "I'm fine," she replied, though her eyes betrayed her turmoil. "You're not fine.You're blaming yourself for their deaths, but it's not your fault, Abril," he said, his voice steady. "I know, but it's hard not to blame myself. I keep asking who was here," she confessed, her heart heavy. "You can't change what happened, Abril. We can't save everyone," he reminded her softly. "I understand that, but no matter how many times I tell myself it's not my fault, the memories haunt me," she admitted, tears brimming in her eyes. Alessandro wrapped his arms around her, trying to ease the burden she carried. "Don't dwell on the past. Focus on what lies ahead and what you can do now.Don't take the blame upon yourself." Abril leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his warmth. She remained silent, allowing herself to feel the comfort of his presence. Alessandro held her until she calmed, and together they entered the tent. Inside, Abril marveled at the beautiful red tapestries that adorned the ground, and in the center lay several white pieces that formed a makeshift bed. She felt a wave of softness wash over her, a stark contrast to the pain she had just experienced. "When did you learn to wield your daggers?" Alessandro asked, breaking the silence."I found them in the land of the fairies, by chance," she replied, her eyes lighting up. "They're surprisingly easy to use once you learn to control them." "It's incredible; I've never seen a weapon like that before," he said, admiration evident in his voice. "I believe these daggers are rare, even among the fairies," she explained, her excitement bubbling over. "It surprises me that the queen entrusted you with such a powerful weapon," Alessandro remarked, a hint of pride in his tone."You should feel safer knowing you can defend yourself against monsters." Abril nodded, though a lingering worry remained. "I always felt uneasy fighting without a weapon." Alessandro removed his armor, carefully cleaning his face with a cloth. "Today has been exhausting. How are you holding up?" "I'm tired," Abril admitted, her body aching from the battle. "I'm not used to fighting like this." "I'll make sure you rest. You need to regain your strength; we don't know what we'll face tomorrow," he said, concern etched on his face. "True, and there are other villages that have been attacked.noveldramaI wonder how badly they suffered," she pondered aloud. "From the reports we received, not all were destroyed. Some were merely attacked," he clarified. "I still don't understand where these monsters came from or what that fog was," she mused. "It's likely the work of someone plotting against us," Alessandro replied, his expression darkening. "Do you think it's her?" Abril asked, a shiver running down her spine. "It must be her, but it's unclear why she's targeting the villages," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Let's not dwell on that now," he added, trying to lighten the mood.As Alessandro stepped out of the tent, he found Sirius waiting for him. "May I have a moment with your majesty?" Sirius asked, his tone serious. "Of course. What's going on?" Alessandro replied, sensing urgency in his voice. "We should discuss this somewhere else, away from the camp," Sirius suggested. Alessandro followed Sirius, curiosity piqued. "What's the matter, Sirius?" he asked once they were alone.