Chapter 8: CRUEL FATE

Arriving at the sparring ground, Ophelia tried to wipe the blood that was oozing from her cheek injuries with a small white cloth, but it did nothing but become saturated with her blood. When she thought about everything that had happened in the council room earlier, her forehead wrinkled with rage, her heart raced, and she tightened her grip on the cloth, which had turned half red from being soaked. She grit her teeth at the thought of Esteban, and the desire to do more than hurl him across the room like she did grew inside of her like a fire. "Calm down and heal yourself." Behind her, she heard a familiar raspy voice say calmly. "I do not want to calm down!" With her eyes blazing with rage, she snapped and turned to face him. "I feel like a toy! I do not have control over my own life and by the looks of it, I will never have control over my life." Her chest rose and fell heavily as those words escaped her throat. Her words startled Sheldon. "I want you to listen to me, my dear, calm down." Ophelia's eyes turned into their golden reptile like form sharpening fiercely. She let out a deep sigh placing the cloth in her pocket and the injury on her cheeks sparkled with a gold glow and vanished immediately. Her gaze shifted away from Sheldon, who was looking at her with concern. It was something unusual and unexpected, and it made her feel like weakling. Yes. He was looking at her in that way because she was weak at the moment. "I just have to kill him, right?" That question came out as a disbelieving scoff, and she returned her gaze to Sheldon, cringing at his worried expression. "Don't look at me like that," "Why not?" Sheldon inquired, forcing a smile and shaking his head. "Because it means you think of me as a pitiful person, which I am, but I don't want you to know that." Ophelia responded, her golden eyes flashing with determination. "You are not pitiful, Ophelia," Sheldon sighed and approached her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You've had enough training, and you're pushing yourself too far." "Only because I don't want him to harm my mother or siblings!" Ophelia interrupted him with a loud voice. Her golden eyes widened as she realized she had nearly screamed, and she let out a sharp sigh. "He is capable of doing anything just to have power, to have whatever he desires, and I have seen some of the lengths he will go." Her lips curved in a pained smile as she finished those words, which were more like a fading whisper. Sheldon curved his lips and patted her shoulder. "You are truly pitiful." Ophelia winced and yanked his hand away from her shoulder, but he simply placed it back there-like iron glue to a magnet-and softened his expression. I adore you so much, Ophelia, for your zeal to defend those you love at all costs." Ophelia gasped at his whisper as she continued to cringe at the old man's sudden softness toward her. Where had his irritation also vanished to? But his words. had a feather-light effect on her. "You are more than a golden dragon; you are a rare gem who will make a significant difference in so many people's lives." Sheldon went on, and Ophelia froze, seeing doubt in those old eyes. What was going on? His words were like a hidden message for her but she couldn't put them together... Sheldon's face fell back into his grumpy expression as she couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. "Oh Gods! I am going to die from cringe." She laughed hard and Sheldon cursed under breath patting her shoulder then took a step away from her." Ophelia smiled brightly to end her laughter, but despite how attractive it was, blood stained her cheeks all the way down to her chin, and the smile was insufficient to illuminate her sparkling golden eyes, which reverted back to their glittering hazel gray form. "I'm glad you're nice to me, because this is the last time I'll see you before I leave for Celestia." Sheldon's eyes trembled. Ophelia noticed this, and her eyes narrowed as she looked at him puzzledly. The old man was behaving strangely. "Is there something wrong?" "You have a cruel fate. Sheldon swallowed hard, as if saying those words required all of his energy. "What?" Ophelia's brows furrowed, but the old geezer did nothing but turn away and leave the fighting area out of sight. She rubbed the blood off her cheeks with her hands as she blinked in confusion. "Cruel fate?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as she wondered what Sheldon meant by that She shook off her thoughts and started to think the masquerade ball she was going to the following day. "I need a dress and a mask for that masquerade ball." She muttered as she left the sparring area, leaving her to think about her strategy. She murmured under her breath as she entered the empty hallway. "I really need to rest," she muttered as she stretched her arms out with closed eyes. She felt a slight ache in her shoulders. Those crimson eyes reappeared in the darkness of her closed eyes, blazing like lightning in a menacing storm. She sensed someone approaching her at the same time, but it wasn't an attack; rather, it felt like the person was fleeing and was about to collide with her. The person in front of her instantly froze as her eyes snapped open. "Sorry," The voice came out as a squeak. Ophelia's eyes narrowed as she stared rigidly at the black-haired girl who suddenly lifted her head, her coffee-brown was she doing in the castle? Ophelia recognized her as a water mage at first glance. "Why do you resemble him so much?" The mage inquired out of the blue, her eyes widening in total surprise. "River brought a mage?!" Ophelia gasped. Of course it was River. They were twins after all. River arrived at the scene at that precise moment, panting heavily. He grabbed the mage by the arm, but she jerked away and glared at him, causing Ophelia to smile amusingly. "My dear brother, could you kindly explain what is going on?" She had to inquire. It was rare to see River hold a girl in such a way, let alone bring a girl home. She was overjoyed and desperately wanted to tease him. "Cyrus recently got married and sent his bride's friend to me because he needs her out of the way." River responded bluntly, grabbing the mage's arm once more. Ophelia's eyes widened with surprise. "Cyrus?! Married?! "The ice dragon got married?" She felt like passing out, but that would be too dramatic. Despite being known as a ruthless cold tyrant and an enemy of Fireria, the ice dragon was River's best friend, and Ophelia despised him. She sighed, still trying to process what River had told her. "So, what are your plans for her?" She inquired about the water mage. "My pet." River laughed heartily. Ophelia sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "To be honest, I don't care, but could you please give her to me? I need to go dress shopping." Ophelia hoped the mage had good fashion sense because she didn't want to ask Vera, who would obviously panic if she found out she was leaving for Celestia the next day. "Why? You have an abundance of dresses that you do not wear." River inquired, his gaze suspiciously fixed on her. Ophelia, not wanting to waste any more time, yanked the mage away from him and the two of them hurried away. "He'll figure it out for himself. She muttered and sighed deeply, wondering how River would react to the news of her impending departure. She groomed herself, changed into a cozy thick dress, and put on a black cloak before leaving the castle, which was a snow- covered wonderland. She also provided the water mage with a dress and a hooded coat appropriate for the winter. They made their way to the carriage, which was patiently waiting for them. As they approached the door, the guard immediately opened it. "Wait!" The mage exclaimed and clutched her wrist. Ophelia looked at the mage, who appeared nervous, as if recalling all the bad things she had done in her life. "What's the matter?" She inquired, intrigued. "You're being courteous to me." Ophelia laughed as the mage unexpectedly said. "Shh. Just enter the carriage." Those words astounded Ophelia. Courteous? Was it because of the dress and the coat? Ophelia realized she hadn't even asked the mage for her name as she was about to enter the carriage. "Can you tell me your name?" "Katherine." Ophelia nodded slowly and looked away as the mage replied with a faint smile. "Nice name." was what she uttered as she started to experience an odd feeling of being watched. Her gaze was drawn to the far side of the castle's building, which led to the garden. "Please wait here." She spoke to Katherine and the guard before hurriedly running in that direction. She arrived at the beautiful ice covered garden. The flowers were in full bloom and were mostly white with some sapphire hues. It was unnervingly quiet in the garden; not even the whistle of the wind could be heard. She stopped walking when she sensed the recognizable aura of rage, eerie darkness, and intense bloodlust. "Greetings, my crackling fire storm,”