Chapter 75 – Tangled Deception

The trio was utterly captivated by the story they had just heard, so much so that they failed to notice their surroundings shifting around them. They moved as if in a trance, their minds lost within the echoes of Princess Thyra’s tale. It wasn’t until the final words faded into silence that they realised they had stopped walking.

Standing before them was the foot of a stone step slope, carved from smooth, pale white granite that seemed to shimmer faintly under the light filtering through the thick canopy above. At the top of the slope, the source of the voice finally revealed itself.

The commanding tone, firm yet regal, echoed from above. “That is the end of the story. Now, tell me—what message does my brother, Prince Zhao, send me?”

The trio froze, their gazes drawn upward. The voice came from a figure standing at the peak of the slope, her presence both imposing and mesmerising.

The gardeners who had accompanied them silently moved aside, vanishing into the lush greenery on either side of the slope as though retreating into the folds of the garden itself. The way forward was clear, and all eyes now rested on the figure at the top. It was Princess Thyra.

She stood with an air of undeniable authority, a living embodiment of grace and power. Her long, dark green hair cascaded like flowing vines, the strands intertwining with blooms of soft pink and vivid blue roses that seemed to grow naturally from her locks. Her skin was smooth and pale, glowing faintly, like the soft luminescence of moonlight on a winter’s night.

Her dress was unlike anything they had ever seen—an intricate masterpiece woven from nature itself. It shimmered with shades of deep green; the fabric was made of leaves and petals. Roses of various hues adorned her attire, some nestled delicately at her shoulders, others trailing along the hem in cascading vines. Each bloom seemed impossibly vibrant that matching the commanding presence of the woman who wore them. Though she stood silent now with her hands at her back and a transparent dark green shawl circled her hands from one end to the other, her gaze alone seemed to demand answers, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unyielding authority.

The trio felt the weight of her presence, their earlier resolve faltering momentarily.  Princess Thyra exuded an aura that was raw yet refined, a reminder of the tale they had just heard—a reminder that they were now standing before a legend made flesh.

Shawn felt a strange resonance from the sword fragment inside him the moment his eyes fell upon Princess Thyra. It was a hum, but a faint hum that stirred towards the uphil where Princess Thyra stood. Unlike the strong resonance he’d experienced when standing before her brothers, this was something different, almost hesitant, as though the fragment itself was unsure. His expression betrayed nothing, but inwardly, he wrestled with the unspoken tension.

Selena, however, was the first to break the silence. Her sharp eyes locked onto Thyra, and she stepped forward with a measured confidence. “So it was your voice that we heard?” she asked.

Princess Thyra tilted her head ever so slightly, her long green hair shifting like rippling vines in the wind. Her face remained an enigma, regal and unreadable. The faint fragrance of roses grew stronger, carried down the slope by a soft, lingering breeze. “Yes,” she replied, her voice as cool and deliberate as the first drops of rain after a scorching summer. “It was my voice that you heard. Now, tell me: What words does my brother send through you? And do not waste my time with pleasantries—I have little patience for flattery.”

The trio exchanged a glance, unspoken thoughts passing between them. Makara and Selena looked to Shawn for confirmation, and with a subtle nod, he signalled what they all suspected—the final fragment was with her, even though Shawn was not confident.

Makara, who took a step forward and stood slightly off balance due to his usual indulgence in drink, responded by clearing his throat with a clenched fist. “Princess,” he said, his voice carrying both respect and his signature bluntness. “Your brother, Prince Zhao, tasked us with retrieving the fragments of your father’s sword. He’s entrusted us to collect them all and ensure they’re stored safely.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of life in the sanctuary.

“The fragment of my father’s sword, why?” Princess Thyra’s voice carried a note of surprise, though her face betrayed no such emotion.

Shawn stepped forward, his voice calm yet resolute. “As you know, Princess, your father—the great and mighty King Azure—has waged a war to unify the Eastern region under his rule. Until that war ends, Prince Zhao has ordered us to collect the one thing that could turn the tide and keep it safe.”

Princess Thyra asked softly, “Have all my brothers relinquished their fragments?” Her tone was calm, but there was a knowing look in her eyes that seemed to understand the consequence that came with it.

Makara stepped in, nodding. “Yes, Princess. Each of your brothers has already entrusted their fragment to us. If you’re willing to do the same, we’ll take yours to a safe place and guard it until the war is over.”

Princess Thyra’s gaze lingered on the trio for a moment, her green eyes studying them with an intensity. Finally, she replied, her tone softer but still commanding. “If my brothers have chosen to relinquish their fragments, then I will too. But…”

The pause that followed was like the tightening of a bowstring. The trio stiffened ever so slightly, instincts taking over as their hands subtly shifted toward their weapons. Though they kept their movements controlled, readying themselves for a potential conflict, their minds raced with the same thought that they faced with her brothers.

Princess Thyra’s voice cut through the tension. “Before I hand over the fragment, I need to know something. How did you find me?”

Selena and Makara exchanged a confused glance, unsure of how to respond. The question caught them off guard. The sanctuary was hidden deep in the northern mountains that no one could find.

It was Shawn who stepped forward this time, his expression calm but resolute. “The other fragments led us to you, Princess,” he explained. “They resonated with one another, pointing the way. The closer we got, the stronger the pull became. It wasn’t long before they guided us to this place.”

Princess Thyra’s gaze shifted to Shawn, her eyes narrowing slightly as though searching for any hint of deception. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet but carried an undercurrent of curiosity. “The fragments… guided you?”

“Yes,” Shawn confirmed, “Each fragment resonates and connects with each other. It was that connection that brought us here.”

Princess Thyra looked away for a moment, her gaze sweeping across her sanctuary as if weighing the truth of Shawn’s words against the protective magic that surrounded her domain. The vines around her seemed to ripple in response to her emotions, subtle but unmistakable. After a moment of silence, she turned back to the trio.

“Very well,” Princess Thyra said, her voice unwavering. “Since my brothers have entrusted the sword fragments to you, I shall do the same. You may have the fragment inside me.”

She brought her closed fist close to her chest, holding it there for a moment as if feeling the steady rhythm of her own heart. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, she extended her hand forward and gently opened her palm. From the empty air above it, a rose began to bloom—its petals unfurling in graceful succession, radiating a light that felt almost alive. The flower’s hue was impossibly vivid, and as its petals spread wide, the trio could only watch in breathless awe. From the heart of the rose, the final fragment revealed itself—the very tip of King Azure’s sword—glimmering like a shard of starlight. It resonated faintly, sending a low hum through the air that Shawn could feel deep in his chest. Then, as a gentle breeze passed, the rose petals lifted from her hand, swirling softly through the air before drifting away, leaving only the fragment resting in her palm.

The trio stood shocked to see that Princess Thyra had surrendered the fragment without a drop of bloodshed. They thought it might have tied with her life force like her brothers and expected a struggle—perhaps even a fierce battle.

Without a word, Thyra tossed the fragment into the air. It spun lazily, catching the light with each turn before landing halfway up the marble steps of the slope with a faint metallic chime. Her gaze lingered on the fragment for only a fleeting moment before she turned her back to the trio.

“Take it…,” she commanded, her voice distant. “…leave my sanctuary.”

Without waiting for a response, Princess Thyra turned back and walked away, disappearing from the trio’s view.

The trio watched her retreating figure, caught between relief and unease. Makara, breaking the silence, gestured toward Selena. “Go get it,” he said in a low voice.

Selena hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward, her footsteps light against the marble as she made her way up the slope. Her eyes stayed fixed on the fragment.

Meanwhile, Makara turned his attention to Shawn, whose eyes remained locked on Princess Thyra’s retreating form. Makara, without turning his head and whispered in a low tone. “Can you move?”

“Nope,” Shawn replied, his voice clipped and tense.