CHAPTER 51 - PLEASE SEND ME TO MY FATHER.

"That's very kind of you, but my men and yours didn't have a proper meal during the search either. You should have prepared a larger feast for all..." Andrew said though he did not really care.

"Yes, yes... Th...that's true... That's true. That was negligent on my path. Let me order the maids to prepare more food..." The mayor stammered and reacted hastily, about to give his orders out. Aside from Andrew and his Knight, he had not included anyone else in the feast. Why would he? The only person he needed to carry favor from, was the prince, not his guards.

"Don't bother... My men are already at the entrance. You can let your men have the feast, they are equally tired. I came to ask you about a few things. Do you know of the deep spookily forest in this town that looks like it has never been invaded?" Andrew asked while he stared straight at the mayor.

The mayor looked at Andrew and felt depressed, knowing his efforts had gone waste again. Why was it so hard to please this young man?

"A deep spookily forest? I doubt. The woods take half this town, and though they can sometimes have strange beasts in it, they are not so deep, as the hunters in this town have invaded every part of it. I doubt there's a virgin forest around..." He answered seriously but was partly unhappy about being turned down the second time.

"Are you sure of this?" Andrew asked squinting his eyes.

"I am most certainly sure. Also, this is the last town in this kingdom before the large sea. It is impossible to have entered a different town..." He spoke certain.

"Alright, that was all I wanted to hear. We'll take our leave... But should you see a woman with a look as the portrait I showed you, be sure to report it to me and only me..." He ordered and left with John. He had to think of how to explain to the king that Anna had still not been found. Well... He might hear it before they reached the palace to give their report... After all, he had them tailed.

Nate stood at the porch of Lucian's cottage and before he could knock, the door was opened, and out came Lucian with a smile on his face.

"Wow! You missed me this much. I should be visiting after every three days." Nate said and smirked.

"The food in the kitchen would rejoice to that..."

"Ooh, then I refuse to give this honor. Their sufferings make me happy..." Nate said with a chuckle and entered the cottage.

Lucian chuckled too

"So how come you're here? I thought your father was in and knowing him, he'll never allow you to come here" Lucian asked and sat down opposite him.

"Well, I sneak out under his nose to come here all the time. It's not a problem. But I think he might be going back to work in the palace. Our disagreement will tear down the house if he doesn't." Nate explained.

"Hahaha... Wait, did you argue with him over me again?

"No, he argued alone, I just kept my cool. Am trying to be the man there...." Nate answered with a smirk and Lucian shook his head.

"You guys don't have to stay indoors any..."

"Nate you're here, how are you doing? We missed you..." Anna's voice cut his words, as she came out from Liz's room.

"And I missed the food in this house..." Nate said back causing Anna to laugh.

"So how's your father? Is he home?" Anna asked.

" Yes he is and I think the search is over. He came home looking frustrated..." Nate said

"Must be the illusion spell. It probably made a mess in their heads..." Lucian chipped in.

"Well, we are glad it's over... "

"So has Arthur been around?" Nate asked

"No, he must have stayed away because of the search. Now that it's over, am sure he'll be coming around..." Anna answered Nate

"Aha! Aunt Ann, I saw your portrait, you looked like an enchantress..." Nate suddenly said, smiling sheepishly as his eyes glowed with light.

"Nate, are you hitting on my mother?" Lucian asked internationally making a frown.

"Little god, better start getting used to it. Am making arrangements to become your father..." Nate spoke as he raised his chest, trying to act like a grown man which caused Anna to burst into laughter.

"....."

Lucian turned speechless.

They ate and chatted for a while before Nate left for his house.

In a dark room, two women stood beside a small well. One was thoroughly dressed in black and the other with just a white fabric covering from the breast to her knees. She looked as white as a sheet with her eyes looking dull and empty. Inside the well they stood beside, contained a liquid with a color similar to that of wine. The liquid was boiling with hot steam rising from it, that felt like it could peel off any skin.

Nora stared at the boiling liquid and felt nothing but fear. She didn't know why they were standing beside this well, but something told her she was about to face the worst.

"This is the blood of change..." The woman's voice resonated in the room.

"Bl...o...od??" Nora asked widening her eyes from fear.

"Yes, it is made from the blood of a dragon and when mixed with power, it could change anything according to its master's wishes, hence the name ' blood of change '... You're going to sit inside of it." The woman spoke, not sugarcoating her words at all.

Nora's already widened eyes, increased its size as she moved a few steps back from the woman.

"N...no no y...you can't put me in the...that. I'll burn, I'll burn to death. Plea...please send me back to my father..." Nora pleaded fear-stricken. If she wasn't regretting at first, now she was.

"Well, it's too late for that little princess..." She said creepily and grabbed Nora tightly by the neck, causing the fabric to fall off making her hang naked. She then slowly lowered her into the boiling liquid, not at all affected by Nora's pleas.

It was amazing how she lifted her as if she weighed a paperweight.

When Nora's feet entered the liquid, they burned so much that she couldn't help screaming. She watched and freaked out as her body was torturously lowered into the liquid. The moment she was forcefully made to sit in it, it felt as if her butt was stuck to the bottom of the well. She couldn't get out no matter how hard she tried and the only profitable thing she could do was cry and scream. She kept screaming until she lost her voice.

Looking at herself, she realized her skin still looked fine. If it hadn't been for the torturous burning, she was feeling. She would have thought nothing was happening. Also, her body felt like it was being forcibly occupied by some power. All of her vitals felt like they were being reinvigorated. Though she understand the meaning of this, the burning she was feeling was too much for her to get excited over anything. She didn't know how long she was going to be in this state and the liquid seemed to get hotter at each minute.