The boundaries a fight for freedom.

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ed she was seated at her study table, writing a letter. I also saw that she had a

I asked, already knowing

ollen eyes. I could tell

n't let her succeed in her plans. Eve, she wants to m

om her cheeks. I noticed her body temperature was ho

jured. Lay down.

Erica said, holdin

Erica!" I replied, my

her gaze fixed on mine. "

the Gemlock is sealed around your neck, and I have no idea where the

n being a slave to someone else. There's n

re asking, but I need t

said, her

, I sealed the entrance to the room with my powers. No one

didn't take long for all her scars and cuts to disappear, leaving her skin smooth,

spered. "I promise, I'll nev

xit the hallway when a maid approa

ld give this to you, in the ho

way. My horse was waiting outside. Without hesitation, I mou

"Something's wrong. By now, I should be out of this p

ound, entangling my legs and hands. I struggled, pulling out my sword and cutt

ng closer. Then I heard the sound of my horse, but I

ng talons gleaming. I commanded them to cut me free. With a slash, several vines were severe

s began lowering me into it. I struggled, but it wa

and the vines were gone, and in the distance, I could see the edge of the forest, with t

f the things you collect

y her snow-white hair visible. In her right hand, she held a strange golden staff with a

blue flames as she dro

She didn't answer. Instead, she tossed the le

ot supposed to be here, but something terri

my spine. She took my hand a

need to get her out of here. Hur

could unlock any kind of bondage. There was only one in existence, and it wa

you give this to me?

keep the balance for everything to fall into place at the

veryone was enslaved by a mighty master-Erica. She looked different, no longer the innocent girl I knew

voice said. "An untamable monster. She, alongside the greatest ev

I woke up, lying on the ground, holding

hing for sure-I had to get Erica o

e and rode off, p

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. But despite the bustling activity, something felt wrong. I hadn't seen or heard from Eve, and a sense of dread settled in my che

led in a bun and decorated with golden hairpins. My makeup was heavier than before, and the jewelry I wo

apped around my neck. It was painful to watch myself go through this. I wanted to believe

turned to see my window open, and a black raven sat on the sill, watching me. I wal

nd read: "Don't tell

knock echoe

y, it i

n out and quickly

with five maids to accompany me downst

oot of the staircase stood Jarel, with his left hand behind him and his

offered my hand. He kissed it softly,

e but to play along. "So do you, my prince

d, leading me to the alta

e council. His reassuring smile gave me some comfort. Then a man

the center, and

ke, the other five magistrate members stood up, their hands raised. Their powers swirled around Jarel,

ht turn

ipped away, running down the hallway, tears streaming down my face. Sudden

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