When the King is Killed.

Audrey spun her staff. 

An draft exploded for beneath her as she Held onto Ralline. 

"AGHH?!" Ralline screamed as she clung onto Audrey for dear life.

The draft slowly vanished as they landed on the ground. 

Looking up she saw the knights staring at her as though she were insane. 

"We need to leave." She said pulling Ralline out of her stupor. 

"A-Alright." Ralline said. 

______

Ramone walked towards the citizens that had entered the castle. 

Stopping at the edge of the balcony he felt the stares of hundreds. 

"Everyone!" He called out. "If I may have your attention!"

Everyone stopped speaking and listened to their king. 

"As much as I wish I could say it is... Today is not a joyous one! 

Everyone stared at him confused. 

"I beg you all... Spare yourself the view of what is about to happen and leave!"

He drew his sword and faced the 'Knight' that was already swinging their sword towards him.

______

Audrey and Ralline ran through the forest for as long as their feet would carry them. 

"BOOM~"

An explosion of green and purple colored magic rocked the sky. 

"What just happened?" Ralline asked panicked. 

"That was a Spell." Audrey said. "One set on a massive scale." 

"What do you mean?" Ralline asked frightened. "What spell?" 

"I'm not sure." Audrey admitted. "It's good we ran when we did. We're barely a hundred yards from where it ended."

She felt the residual mana wafting towards them. 

"We need to hide in the city." Audrey said. "We can steal a horse and get out of the country in a few weeks." 

"Out of the country?" Ralline asked. "What about Father?"

Audrey bit her lip. 

Turning she set a hand onto Ralline's shoulder. 

"Did your father tell you anything About this trip?" 

"...He said you were a strange woman." Ralline said. "But that I could trust you. And that you'll make me strong."

"And I can." Audrey said. "But I can't let you go back... Your father asked me to take care of you from now on." 

Ralline's eyes widened. 

"No..." She whispered. 

"I'm so sorry Ralline." Audrey said.

"That's not true!" She shouted.

"It is." Audrey said. "And it's not fair. And it sucks and it's frustrating. I know. But right now, we need to get to the city and hide."

"..." Ralline started crying.

Audrey frowned and looked around them. 

Scooping the girl into her arms she started running again. 

"No!" Ralline cried. "I-I want my dad!" 

Setting her fingers on the back of Ralline's neck she pulsed a small spell through her body. 

The twelve year old child fell asleep. 

Audrey sighed as she readjusted the child onto her back. 

"Really wish I could fly right about now." Audrey sighed as she ran towards town.

___

Everything felt... wrong.

Reind looked at the body of the king.

But it was... wrong. 

'Ramone shouldn't be able to die...' 

"I saw." 

Everyone turned towards a lone living Royal whose eyes were wide with disbelief. 

"Saw?" Kaine asked. "Reginald what did you see?!" 

"I saw her." Reginald said. "The sacred Mage... She killed Ramone. She killed my brother..." 

Reginalds eyes widened. "Ralline!? Where is my niece!?"

"Search the Castle!" Kaine said. "B-"

"Captain!" 

Four knights ran into the room disheveled, looks of disbelief on their faces. 

"What happened?" Reind asked. 

"We-" The first knight said before his eyes landed on Ramone. "No!"

"The king." The second Knight said. 

"A matter for...." Reind bit his lip and took a breath. "A matter for latter. What happened." 

"T-The sacred Mage..." The first Knight said. "I saw her... she Kidnapped Princess Ralline."

"She jumped off the damn balcony!" The third Knight said. 

"Is the Princess alive!?" Reginald asked worriedly. 

"Thankfully yes." The fourth Knight said. "At least the last we saw of her."

"I sent a few Knights after them but with their head start and being in the forest."

"..." Reind felt something was wrong. 

"She'll head towards the city." Kaine said. "Send your men there Reind."

"I... right... yes the city... she'll need to grab her grimoires..." 

"We need to go stop her." Kaine said. "Are you... are you good with that?"

Reind looked at the king. 

"Yes." Reind said. "Yes I can... I can."

"Let's get going brother." Kaine said. "You!" He pointed towards a Knight. "I need your sword."

"Of course!" The Knight said, handing Kaine the bladed weapon. 

"Kaine." 

Serene walked up to him. "You can't believe that Audrey would do this... Right?"

"We need to bring her in." Kaine said. He turned and kissed her gently on the lips. "I'll be back my love." 

"Please... be safe." 

"Of course." Kaine said. 

Reind looked towards the King one last time before steeling his resolve and following Kaine out of the door. 

______

Audrey silently pulled Ralline into the back of a hay carriage. 

Covering her adequately Audrey left towards the well at the center of the city.

As she reached it she looked at the whispering and gawking citizens that would soon come to despise her existence. 

She spun her staff and tapped the thin end on the well. 

The well disassembled itself. The bricks regaining their lost color, and shifting from stone back to her collection of magical Grimoires. 

"Whoa!"

"That's the sacred Mage for you!"

"Is the city in trouble?"

"I felt that explosion from earlier." 

"AUDREY!"

Audrey turned and looked towards the two men racing down on horses. 

"Kaine... Reind." Audrey said as they slid to a stop and got off of the horse. 

"What did you do?" Kaine asked, angrily drawing his sword. 

"Nothing." Audrey said. "I-"

"Don't Fucking lie." Kaine yelled. "Ramone trusted you!"

"Exactly." Audrey said, "So you both should as well. Or did his trust mean so little to you."

"Don't you dare-"

"Audrey." Reind said, setting a hand on Kaine's shoulder. "What happened?"

"...I didn't do it." Audrey said. "But I need to honor his last..."

"Last?"

"Enough!" Kaine yelled racing forward. 

He swung his sword. 

Audrey twirled her staff. 

Sparks exploded off of the sacred weapons as they interlocked against their weilders. 

"You never trusted me Kaine." Audrey scowled. "No matter how much I tried making it up to you all." 

"Of course I didn't!" Kaine growled. 

They both jumped back. 

"I knew you were going to be a problem for everyone! I knew Reind was wrong to keep letting you live!"

"So that's it huh?" Audrey asked. "Eight years of trying just meant nothing... I don't even know why I bothered with-" Her eyes widened as she turned and slammed her staff into the side of the threats hand.

Kaine's after image faded as she held the real him back. 

"Using magic?" Audrey asked. "Against me?"

"Got your attention didn't it?" Kaine smirked. 

Audrey felt the crossbow bolt enter her shoulder and grit her teeth. 

'Stupid!' Audrey admonished herself. 'Of course they wouldn't come alone!'

"I got what I needed." Audrey said. "I'm leaving." She spun her staff and formed a barrier around her, throwing Kaine back fiercely.

Turning she looked at Reind who's hand was no where near his sword. 

"I didn't do it Reind... And once I train Ralline I'll prove it." 

"Audrey wait!" Reind asked. 

Only everything went bright. 

And after twenty seconds of blinking and rubbing at his eyes his vision magically returned. 

"I'll... be waiting..." Reind said.