The Fatebound Monarch

Anna walked towards the bustling Moonveil city, which was as beautiful as always. The crystals glowed faintly under the moonlight, and the flora covering them provided a vibrant flavour that the crystals lacked by themselves. It was a city replicating the night sky.

Her hurried steps calmed down a little as she made her way towards the city's centre, where the tower of night was located. Even from this far end, the mystical tower was visible. Bathed in the faint glow of runic carvings and moonlight, it appeared to be a tower made by a god itself.

She stopped in her tracks and looked at the scene of the bustling city and the mystical tower before her with her deep black eyes before heaving a silent sigh and continuing on her way.

A faint golden glow covered her body as she dismissed her disguise and walked through the city without attracting any attention from the civilians. Her past deeds had earned her quite the name, much bigger than she ever wanted, thus now she had to act like a thief while entering the city.

She shook her head as a thought crossed her mind.

'I did all that to make things easier and they became difficult instead…'

She heaved another sigh and fastened her pace.

While walking towards the tower of night, she saw a man silently trying to pick the pocket of another man who was buying something at a shop.

'Pickpocket in Aquadra?' Anna questioned herself, baffled by the sight before her.

She shook her head and continued on her way. A mischievous smile had appeared on her face.

Baron was buying the fresh fruits just imported from Xeonthar for his family, and then he suddenly felt a slight pull at his pants. He frowned a little and turned around to see who was pulling at him.

His eyes then fell on a man trying to take something out of his pocket. He frowned after seeing the pickpocket, who was frightened of getting caught. He opened his lips to say something, but stopped midway as he suddenly turned silent.

"Here are your fruits, Sir," the old shopkeeper said as he gave a bag full of fresh fruits to Baron.

Baron smiled at the old shopkeeper and threw him a gold coin. The old shopkeeper looked at the gold coin with wide eyes as he suddenly bowed towards Baron and spoke loudly.

"T-thanks a lot, My Lord."

Baron turned and left the shop.

The old shopkeeper wiped the gold coin with a cloth before putting it inside his bag of coins. His eyes soon fell on a man who stood there with a frightened look on his face.

He called out to him.

"Hey!"

As the man did not answer, he walked towards the frightened man with furrowed brows and placed a hand on his shoulder as he spoke in a worried tone.

"Is there anything wrong? AHHH!"

He stopped in his words and fell onto his butt, his face was pale as he looked before him… the pickpocket's body fell apart… it was severed from head to bottom with expert finesse. Soon, the road was dyed red by the flowing blood.

Shopkeepers and passersby stopped and looked at the harrowing scene with pale, frightened faces. The old shopkeeper slowly turned his head towards where Baron had gone and mumbled frightfully.

"W-who…?!"

Anna had a slight smile on her face as she had just helped that man catch that pickpocket; she didn't know what would happen to that pickpocket, and it didn't matter to her. She had to reach the tower of night.

As she neared the gates of the Tower of Night, a faint golden glow covered her body, her light blue hair turned silver, and her dark green eyes turned black as she continued in her steps with her disguise.

She soon stood before the gates of the Tower of Night. The gatekeeper looked at her with a wide smile and called out.

"Miss Golden Angel."

Anna also gave him a slight smile.

"Sir Jorden."

Jordan opened the gates and gestured for Anna to enter. Anna nodded at him and entered the gates.

Continuing her steps, she soon entered the tower. As she moved within the tower, everyone either smiled or nodded at her.

'At least it helps me here,' she thought as she replied to everyone with a bright smile.

Suddenly, she heard a voice call out to her.

"Miss Aeliana."

Anna halted in her tracks and turned around to look at the person who had called out to her. As she turned, her eyes fell on Michael, who was walking towards her with a smile.

Her lips arched up as a smile appeared on them.

"Sir Michael."

Michael stopped before her, and surprisingly, he bowed and continued with his words.

"I am both sorry and thankful for taking you to the beast wave."

"It is fine. Sir Michael."

Michael lifted his head and questioned.

"Have you come to meet the saintess?"

Anna nodded at his question.

"I see…"

"I would have accompanied you, but… I do not think that is what you want, so let us meet later." Michael said while shaking his head, he gave her a final smile before leaving.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks and added.

"I forgot to say it, but… I am highly grateful to you for saving me and Anzu, Miss Aeliana," he said before continuing on his steps.

Anna stared at his departing figure before turning back towards her way, which was the training chamber allocated to her by the saintess. She soon reached the chamber, which was a wide, empty room made of radk wall, and the glowing stones engraved into its walls, ceiling, and floor illuminated it brightly.

Stepping into the chamber, her eyes fell on a beautiful woman who had dual-toned golden and black hair; her golden eyes stared at Anna with a playful smile adorning her lips.

Anna stepped further, looking around them, and at that moment, Yabin, the night seer, spoke in a playful tone.

"Did you sleep well, Anna?"