SPELLBOUND

The view that welcomed Evie and her people as soon as they reached the empire of the vampires was something worse than she could have ever imagined. Almost all of the cities they had passed by were either already in ruins or they were on their way to becoming ruins. It was as if a legion of monsters had rampaged through the land and massacred everyone and destroyed everything that were in their path. 

One glance and Evie could already tell that this was not the doing of Gav's army. Vampire armies would never do something so cruel like this! This was more likely to be the doings of mindless creatures who knew nothing else other than to kill. 

Everything that she saw since they reached Kirzan had made Evie's heart shiver with worry. Scared to death that she might already be too late, she picked up her pace. She needed to hurry and get to their destination the soonest that they can. 

'Hurry please, Silver.' She urged her dragon within her mind. 'Hurry. Gav… men… please hold on… I'm coming..' Evie prayed and hoped in her heart that she would still be on time.

The closer they get to the capital, the bloodier the scene became, making her worries and fear grow stronger and the unsettling premonition to almost overwhelm her. But she steeled herself and urged her dragon to go as fast as it could. Until at last, she finally saw the city up ahead and immediately rejoiced that their destination is almost here. However, upon looking closer, Evie's joy was short-lived, and her countenance fell. 

She could see smoke coming from the city. It was obvious the once so regal and proud place had now turned into a battlefield with no beauty nor allure to it any longer. 

Her heartbeats turned erratic as Silver spiralled downwards at her command. She could see the beasts all over the city now. The nasty orcs and those savage ones. She had already expected this since she saw the massacre in the previous cities. She had finally understood why the beasts had somehow disappeared from the Middle Lands. How? Who was behind all this? 

Evie did not know why but she had a feeling that something was very wrong. Thundrann was only a half-dark fae. How could he be so strong as to even be able command all these beasts? How did all of this happen? 

As the dragon spiralled down, Evie saw something that made her eyes widen. She could see a section of land where there were many beasts that gathered around and even though she had yet to be close enough to even recognize anyone from the sky, the mere sight of a circle of individuals in the midst of countless of beasts was enough for her heart to shudder. 

Her heart thundered in her ears, and she pointed toward that spot. 'There!' she yelled out in her mind, and Silver roared in response. The beasts looked upwards at hearing the thunderous roars of the silver dragon. 

'Burn them!' Evie commanded grimly and she saw the beasts started to scatter but it was too late for them. 

The men on the ground were all paralyzed as their eyes were all fixed on the dragon which was now burning the beasts before them. 

"P-princess…" they stammered, still unable to believe the scenario that was unfolding before their very eyes. 

"She… she's here!" Reed exclaimed in nearly an inaudible voice. He was truly at the end of his rope.

As the dragon continued breathing out flames, roasting the beasts into charcoal, Silver paid the most attention to the intelligent orcs that had spread out and hid themselves in the castles and houses. 

Seeing this, Evie lifted her hands and her voice echoed out like it was a voice from the heavens. "Kill them!" she said and the light faes descended like avenging angels that were dropping from the heavens itself. 

At the sight of her men all tired, wounded, and pushed beyond what they could bear, Evie ordered Silver to keep chasing and burning all the beasts before she flew from his back and landed on the ground. Her touchdown was graceful and majestic, inspiring awe in her men like none other ever had. They would even go to the extent of saying that even their own prince himself – Prince Gavriel – had never instilled such aura of majesty and worship in their hearts before. Their princess was so awesome! Her powers were dazzling, even more than the brightest star. 

The men's eyes were all fixed onto that pair of massive and beautiful wings that were extended behind her since the moment she had landed. When had the princess gotten those wings? Were they part of her powers or was a new skill she had learnt after they had left her back in Crescia? It was then that the men wondered if the princess had increased in powers yet again. She was already so powerful before that. If she had indeed improved and raised her power levels again, they could not imagine just how much more powerful she was right now. They were completely captivated by her, and their eyes almost bugged out of their sockets looking at the princess as she walked towards them. Her movements were so fluid and graceful it almost seemed as though she were floating to them rather than walking on the ground.

Hurriedly, Evie approached the men who were still frozen in awe and shock. Her gaze immediately looked at everyone and her brows creased in worry for them. 

"Where are the others?" she asked immediately, and the men finally snapped out of their reverie. Evie noticed that Leon, Levy and Elias were not with the rest of the men. 

Before the men could make a sound, Elias' voice echoed out as he stumbled weakly towards them. 

"Princess!!!" he shouted, his voice sounding so very desperate and carrying even a hint of fear. Evie and the men all picked up on that and they wasted no time in rushing towards him. 

Evie held him as Elias spoke. "Levy… Levy is…" the man was stammering and the look on his face alone made everyone feel their hearts were already breaking at the obvious news he was about to say. 

"Bring me to him." Evie demanded firmly, refusing to allow her heart to give in and waver, telling herself the man was going to be alright.