Chapter 8

Nimfa suddenly wakes up from her sleep, panting as sweats race down on her face. A glimpse of sunlight from her window touches her cheeks as she catches her breath. She had a bad dream, but it was already a blur to her. She was suddenly pulled back to reality when she heard a knock from her door. She let out a big sigh before she speaks. "Come in."

As the door opened a male soldier bows to Nimfa with both of his hands lays flat on his chest. "We are approaching the Fire Kingdom Captain." Nimfa slightly nodded at him. "I'll be with you in a moment." Nimfa said dryly.

As Nimfa gets out of her room in full uniform she found the hallway empty except for an eight-foot-tall Guardian drinking his tea. "Good morning Captain." He joyfully greeted her as he feels her presence. Nimfa narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you doing sipping in your teacup while we are near to our first destination?" She snapped, she feared no Guardian.

Aros looked at her as his teacup levitated into thin air, he suddenly snaps and the cup was gone with it. He puts both of his hands behind her and slightly lowered his face to talk to the Captain. "Just enjoying the first day of the week, it's Monday after all." He said as he starts walking around her eyeing her from head-to-toe. "Better start the week well if you want our mission to be a success." He said as he turns into a dark smoke and vanished. Nimfa closed her eyes and sighed, of all the Guardians that could've been Daxthar's right hand why does it have to be him? she thought.

As their ship reached the shore of the Fire Kingdom some of its soldiers lined up and welcomed them. Nimfa brought a small group of warriors with her together with Aros to go to fetch their guest. During the journey, they came across a small village while riding on their horses. The children who are playing hide-n-seek immediately run towards their parents and hides behind them, some run into their homes while having fear in their eyes. "Ahh... nothing is more delightful than seeing them crawl back into their cages while shivering with fear, don't you think?" Eros said while levitating around Nimfa. Nimfa glared at him and didn't answer him.

Aros frowned and flies to the back to mess with the Fire Kingdom soldiers behind them to escort them to the castle. As they reached the castle a new set of guards escorted them inside. As they entered the throne room the king and queen of the Fire Kingdom are sitting on their thrones while wearing their fancy red robes. The queen stands up and speaks. "For what do we own the pleasure of having a visit from the land of Oraw?"

Nimfa narrowed her eyes at the queen. "I must say Queen Cyra... that's not the loveliest greeting that I've ever heard. Even the Guardian of Chaos has better greeting skills than you, what a shame." She scoffed.

"So what do you propose Captain? A welcome party?" Queen Cyra replied.

"Pissed already? I'm just saying, a 'welcome' would've been nice. But since you didn't inherit the proper manner of a royal family I'll make an exemption for you."

Queen Cyra was about to speak when the King stands from his seat and takes the Queen's place. "What can we do for you Captain Nimfa?" He said as he bows to her against his will.

Nimfa smirks at the King. "Not bad King Helios, well... you were raised by a royal family after all. They must've taught you proper manners." She glanced at the queen. "Unlike your wife here, lack of self-discipline just sits on her throne while having different hair-styles every day. What a life you have."

Queen Cyra turns her hand into a fist, calming herself so that she wouldn't throw fireballs at her. King Helios holds his wife's hand and stands brave. "I'll ask this one last time, what can we do for you Captain Nimfa?" He snapped.

Nimfa was about to speak when a voice interrupted her. "Well since the royalties of the Fire Kingdom are all party poopers we might as well get into business," Aros said while stepping in front of the throne room and sits at the empty throne beside the King. "We are here to take one of your most precious prisoner on a world tour. Her name is-- ah... err... what is it again captain?"

Nimfa sighed and speaks. "Her name is Klea, one of the members of the Dark League, we are on a mission, ordered from King Daxthar. And we need her to accomplish the mission."

The King was unconvinced. "May I ask you what is the objective of the mission?"

"No you may not, we are only ordered to do what we must do to fulfill our mission. Not to broadcast it around Earthnia." The Captain answered.

King Helios let out a big sigh. "I'm sorry but you can't take her without valid reasons, especially when King Daxthar himself asked us to keep her." Nimfa forms her hands into a fist, trying to control her temper.

"But you may stay here if needed, I'll ask my servants to prepare a room for you and your comrades." The King said as he signaled one of the men in red on the sides of the room, they immediately rushed out of the room.

As night struck Nimfa is standing in front of her window while she is lost in her thoughts. If the King won't surrender Klea to them then she'll have to take her from them. But the problem is she doesn't know where exactly she's hidden. It's not like the Fire Kingdom is going to blurt out where they're keeping their most precious prisoner. She thinks that they're stupid but not that stupid. She started wandering her eyes outside the window and saw a small group of soldiers walking up the volcano. Nimfa narrowed her eyes to see clearly when a voice that she never want to hear startled her.

"So what's your plan? Sneaking out? Murdering the King and Queen? I'll back you up, they're so boring." Aros said while throwing Nimfa's things all over the place.

Nimfa groans and faced him. "Why do you have to be this annoying? And how dare you enter my room without permission?"

Eros throws Nimfa's bag into the floor and sits pretty on her bed. "What do you expect?" He snapped. "I ain't the Guardian of Chaos for nothing." Nimfa rolled her eyes at him. "Get out." She demanded calmly, she doesn't care who he is.

"Fine! Geez, why is everyone so grumpy today?" Eros said as he throws one of Nimfa's things and levitated his way out of her room.

Nimfa returned on observing the mountain, it's not that far but you can see the soldiers roaming around because of their lamps, not so smart of them. Nimfa started dressing up in her camouflage suit and bring a sword and a bow and arrow with her. She alerted her comrades that she will take Klea tonight and for them to get ready. When the time comes and the place seems quiet Nimfa ran out of her room with light feet. But she wasn't heading to the mountain yet. She ran to the library to get something she needs, a map of the Fire Kingdom. It wasn't hard to find for it is placed on the countertop of the library.

As soon as she grabbed it she runs towards a window and climbed to the top of the castle. She used the moonlight to see the map and to know the easiest route to the mountain. She needs to pass by the houses and a small forest. She rolled the map and started running.

Nimfa was trained hard since she was a child, top of her class. She studied every fighting technique there is to know all around Earthnia. Not a single one of her late comrades can defeat her in sparring, except for one.

She runs on top of the roofs while making sure that she won't make any noises. As soon as she reached the last house she grabbed her bow and arrow and aims it at the closest tree. As the arrow flew a rope comes with it. Nimfa ties the other end of the rope on the roof's chimney and uses her bow to slide to the tree. As soon as she gets into that tree she started running and jumping from one branch to another, with her enhanced agility this is no problem for her. As she runs in one direction she noticed a shadow pass by beside her. She stops and observed her surrounding.

"Should've known that you want a tour around the Kingdom." A female voice said behind her. Nimfa turns around and saw a tall lady wearing all red and a half mask to cover her face. "I would've volunteered as a tour guide you know." They were covered in silence observing and anticipating each other's next move.

The lady in red breaks the silence as she speaks. "Stand down Captain, you were forbidden by the King to take her."

Nimfa smirked and holds her sword. "Just like you, I don't want any trouble. So just let me be." She demanded.

The lady in red chuckled that made Nimfa confused. "Who says that I don't want any trouble?" She said as she takes her dual sword and runs towards Nimfa to attack.