A dark room. Echoes of voices. Touching the floor, this familiar wooden floor. Everything is hazy, nothing is clear. To her right, a baby cries. Two bright rubies dangling from her ears, one each.

“This… worm.”

How is it that she survived? After all this time, why is she starting to move again?

Lady Aquamarine tries to move, but she can’t. This familiar feeling of a time long past. She remembered well this feeling, as the cries of the baby by her side continue to pierce her heart.

That man… Why did he betray me, for you of all things? And how did he managed to save you from Lionheart’s curse?… you worm, parasite. You robbed everything from me.

The baby continues to cry, tears that roll down her little round face. Tears start rolling down too on Lady Aquamarine’s face. She extends one finger, one that the baby takes in her little right hand.

Suddenly, muffled sounds start taking over. The sensation of roughness that shouldn’t be possible in her position starts invading her body. Her body is stiff, her breathing is inconsistent. As if Lady Aquamarine were underwater, she starts to react, contorting upward. The sounds start to get louder. She can make voices too “Lady Aquamarine, wake up!” while she fights for breath. Out of nowhere, a huge breath enters her body from her mouth, clearing the way.

In a series of coughs, Lady Aquamarine opens her eyes, only to find herself surrounded by Olga, Daisy and Ray. Considerable dizziness assaults her, as she reaches her hand for Daisy, that is beside her.

“Thanks, Daisy.”

“It wasn’t any problem. Glad you’re here with us.”

Turning to a crying Olga, who is at her left, she asks “Don’t worry, I’m here. How long was I out? What is the situation? What in Styx’s name happened?”

Olga, nodding, wipes out her eyes and replies “You were out for almost a minute, I would say. Ray is already gathering the surviving Aquamarines and Beheaders. The enemy army is marching, already climbing the Acropolis. About what happened… better if you see it for yourself.”

Tending Lady Aquamarine a hand, Olga and Daisy help her back into standing. She was about to ask what she should see, but she got her answers instantly: The wall was completely gone.

Turning to Olga, she asks “How?” Olga points in the opposite direction, and turning, Lady Aquamarine sees a large object, embedded in the smooth precipice that wasn’t there before “We believe that somehow, they were able to make… that thing, crash against the wall, and… honestly, I don’t know. The enemy army is just climbing the remains of the wall right now.”

“I see” says Lady Aquamarine, and turning, she directs herself to Ray.

“My Lady, I’m glad to see you well.”

“I’m glad too. Ray, there’s no much time left. Round everyone up and direct them to the Starlight Forest.”

“Ah? My Lady, what are you thinking?”

“We are going to the grand castle Ray.” Says Lady Aquamarine, pointing towards the grand castle at the top of the acropolis “It is the last bastion for us. We need to cross the Starlight Forest to get to the grand castle.”

“My Lady… do you know how to cross the forest safely?”

“I do. But you must gather everyone, fast!”

“Yes, My Lady!”

As Ray leaves, shouting orders from the top of his lungs, Lady Aquamarine takes another look at the enemy army, now finishing crossing the last remains of the wall and start to climb up the steep terrain of the lower side of the acropolis.

We don’t have much time.

“Daisy.”

“Right here, My Lady.”

“Any idea where my daughter is?”

“I saw her fighting the goblins moments ago, and went giving chase to a group of them. Haven’t seen her since.”

Seeing Lady Aquamarine sink her head between her shoulders, Daisy reaches her to her shoulder, and adds “Don’t worry, your girl is a tough cookie.”

Lady Aquamarine gives a light snort. Then, she says “Olga, Daisy, come. There’s no much time left, we need to get to the forest first.”

Moments later, all the Aquamarines are at the entrance of the Starlight Forest. Lady Aquamarine is in front of it. The Aquamarines keep talking, murmurs abound. Raising a hand, Lady Aquamarine sends the murmurs to silence and speaks.

“We don’t have much time. The enemy army will reach us soon enough, and we will need to take action again. We could fight, but that would put all of you, civilians, in the crossfire, and we would end losing many of you. That is why I have decided we must move, quickly, to the last bastion where you can be safe, that is, the grand castle!”

Murmurs start arising again, but Lady Aquamarine raises her voice even more, over the echoes that reverberated in the place.

“There’s no other option! And this means we will cross the Starlight Forest! Many of you now know how dangerous it is, and rightfully so you are correct thinking like that, but I ask of you to give me your confidence once more. I will guide you through the Starlight Forest, and open the grand castle, for us to enter, and then close its gates. If you follow me and do just what I tell you to do, you will cross and arrive safely on the other side. And don’t worry, the Beheaders around us will cover our retreat, they will not leave until the last civilian enters the Starlight Forest.”

The Aquamarines went into silence. Seeing this, Lady Aquamarine says to Ray “Please.”

Ray steps forward and gives the instructions “Lady Aquamarine, me, Olga, Daisy from the cathedral, William and Oscar will enter first into the forest. We will be followed by every Aquamarine, in a single line. Take the steps we take, take the turns we take, don’t deviate in any way from where we are walking. If you do, best give yourself for death. The rest of the Beheaders will stay and defend this position. Come on now, follow us!”

Turning back to Lady Aquamarine, Ray nods. She nods back. Putting herself first, she looks to her back, her heart crushing because she can’t see her daughter. Once the Aquamarines have formed a line, Lady Aquamarine steps into the Starlight Forest, bringing out flowing water.