Chapter 1: Forbidden Magic
"Milady, you should come with us."
Ren's blue eyes instantly snapped open when she heard that solid formal voice of a man. She furrowed her brows at the sight of familiar royal guards towering over her. Their presence cast a growing shadow, blocking the pleasant sunlight she had enjoyed just moments ago.
Her body was stretched out on the green grass. Reluctantly, she steadied herself and sat upright, like the lady she was expected to be. She let out a deep, irritated sigh as she stood up. Her dark brown wavy hair bounced lightly and cascaded over her shoulders, concealing her bulged breasts.
"What's the matter? Why are you here? I could have returned to the castle with Viva."
Her voice was calm but tinged with unease as she gestured toward her sleek black horse, Viva, standing a short distance away. She pouted as she discovered the restlessness in Viva's tone heightened as its gaze lingered on the royal guards encircling it.
"Please forgive us, Milady!" The head guard stammered, his voice edged with embarrassment and discomfort when he rapidly pulled out a gleaming red bracelet from his pocket, his movements stiff yet unsure. He tried not to meet her eyes. She was distracted by her horse's odd apprehension, therefore, he didn't give her a chance to retort and snapped the jewel onto her left wrist.
Ren's eyes widened in shock, disbelief freezing her in place. Fear gripped her throat as she felt the core of her magic slip away, dissolving into nothingness as if it had never existed. The weight of the moment hung heavily, unbelievable and suffocating. The sky of her mind clouded with eerie thoughts.
They knew about her magic!
"How dare you use a magic blocker on me? You know I possess no power!" she yelled, her voice trembling with indignation. She struggled futilely to remove the bracelet, her frustration mounting as Viva sensed her distress.
The horse grew increasingly agitated, stomping its hooves, neighing loudly, and tearing into the grass with restless power. It thrashed against the guards restraining it, pulling fiercely at the tight bridle to break free. But the guards, wary of the horse's unmatched strength and speed, resorted to a desperate measure. One of them pulled out a small pouch and blew green dust into Viva's nostrils, the fine particles of the dust swirled in the air before settling on the panicked mare, making it fall unconscious.
"No, no... don't hurt..." her plea was cut short as another cloud of green dust burst into the air, enveloping her face. The serene green hills, the rolling plains below, and the vibrant flower fields she had taken such pleasure in all liquefied into an ominous blackness.