“Hadn’t you mitigated the worst effects?”

  “I’m sorry, but I beg to differ. Compared to the others, this is nothing more than a trifle,” Baryon replied, massaging his aching ears.

  The Zone of Silence had been completely swept away by the impact with the Wail. It had tried to limit its effects, but the shockwave had still managed to seep through.

  A terrible sound, truly. It was impossible to even imagine a tenth of what we had heard.

  “How are the other spectators?” Emperor Areyon asked, concerned.

  “They should be fine,” Zoltan answered, leaning over the balcony. “From here, they all seem to have just fainted, but I’m fairly sure they’re still breathing.”

  “Yes, yes, they’re all fine,” Baryon confirmed, still somewhat unsteady. “Having taken the full brunt of the spell’s auditory effect, it’s rather normal for them to have lost consciousness.”

  “That’s good to know, I guess,” Emperor Areyon sighed in relief. “We’d better find a way to get them all to safety.”

  Imperial Guard Kers spoke up from across the room, “With all due respect, Your Majesty, but right now, the priority is to get you and your family to safety.

  “Once outside the building, we’ll have the Imperial Armed Forces evacuate the rest of the spectators.”

  “Dear, please listen to him,” the Empress also tried to persuade him. Princess Deleys had understandably begun to cry, and her mother was vainly trying to soothe her.

  The Emperor nodded. “I’m fine with that, but aren’t we forgetting that there are still attackers on the loose?”

  The three Imperial Guards exchanged a glance of agreement. It seemed they were all of the same mind.

  “If we were to be attacked during the evacuation, we would act immediately to neutralize the threat,” Zoltan replied confidently.

  “And if by any chance things should take a turn for the worse, we would still be able to get all of you out to safety,” Boelong added.

  “I have no doubt about your abilities, but there remains the issue of what to do about the terrorists,” the Emperor insisted.

  “Your Excellency, if I may,” Father cut in. “I believe you and the Imperial Family should evacuate from here as quickly as possible.

  “If I were the attacker, I would personally come to confirm that my intended target had been eliminated, regardless of the spell’s outcome.”

  He has a point, I mentally agreed.

  “Damyon, are you perhaps thinking of setting an ambush while we flee?”

  “Exactly,” Father confirmed the Emperor’s assumption with an almost devilish grin.

  “However, I would ask that you take my wife and the girls with you—I won’t want to take any unnecessary risks. Even keeping Arda here with me is quite the gamble, but I need him.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  His words had warmth spread across my chest from pride. Looks like the time to prove myself has finally come.

  “Lord Damyon, I appreciate your concern for me, but it is unnecessary,” Bianca interjected. “Allow the Edelweiss family to repay its debt to you and the crown once again.

  “I have the means to defend myself if needed, and I will never be alone after all.”

  My father looked at her worriedly, undoubtedly weighing the right course of action. Worry lines surfaced on his face.

  It was certainly a complicated situation. If something were to happen to Bianca, I had no idea how he could ever face her family again.

  Seeing her determined expression, he eventually relented.

  “Fine, you can stay. But the moment things start to go south, you will leave immediately, along with Arda, no arguments. Understood?” He warned her.

  “Yessir! Thank you, Lord Damyon,” she replied, grateful.

  “Then Lady Ary and Lady Lelya will come with us. This way, please,” Emperor Areyon motioned them toward the exit.

  Before leaving, Mother gave my father a quick kiss. “Be careful, alright?”

  He nodded slightly. “Of course. Find a way to let us know if anything goes wrong.”

  Mother and Lelya followed the Empress out of the room after wishing me the best of luck.

  The only one still wavering in the room was Prince Raeran, who tried to get his father’s attention.

  “I know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is no,” the Emperor cut him off before he could even pose the question.

  “But Father!” Raeran exclaimed, astonished.

  “Absolutely not. We will not risk you falling into the hands of terrorists, or worse… No, absolutely not. I know you have good intentions, Raeran, but there is a time and place for everything. This is not the right moment,” the Emperor said, ending the discussion.

  Raeran looked at me pleadingly as his father hauled him away. Sorry, I’ve defied just enough the Emperor for today.

  “Go on, I’ll tell you everything later,” I mouthed. Though still dissatisfied, he relented and left with his father.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you wanted to leave too, Baryon, but I’m afraid I need you,” my father said.

  Baryon shrugged with a smile. “It’s fine, I wouldn’t have gone anyway. I’m happy to be of assistance.”

  “What do we do?” I asked excitedly. If someone had told me this morning that we’d be hunting terrorists, I would never have believed it.

  This is better than a tournament. Way better. I thought, suppressing a smile.

  “You? You, Arda, will stay put and protect Bianca if necessary,” my father replied while absently examining the weapon Baryon had created for him.

  “Won’t I be fighting?” A hint of disappointment crept into my voice.

  “Oh no, I meant nothing of the sort,” he clarified. “If we find ourselves outnumbered, I will ask you two to do your part. But until then, you will stay put and observe.”

  A killjoy as usual. I knew it was all for our own good, but I had dared to hope that my moment to shine had finally arrived.

  “Think of it as your first field mission, young Arda,” my master tried to reassure me with a pat on the shoulder. “You can learn a lot even watching from the sidelines.”

  “Besides, you two will have a special mission,” Father added. “You must ensure that no one sneaks up on us.”

  Who in the world would sneak up on you? A bird?

  It didn’t seem very realistic that someone could glide into the imperial box from the outside, but then again, I had just survived a spell that could have killed everyone in the theater.

  It seems these terrorists don’t like half-baked plans.

  “Understood,” I nodded.

  “Good. Is everything ready then?” Baryon asked, standing up from the armchair he had been sitting on.

  “Yes,” Father replied. “It’s time to go hunting.”