The Prisoner
The holy tower of the human kingdom ...
A man is seen squatting in front of a woman whose legs and arms are trapped. Her red hair fell to the floor, looking very messy, as if it had not been combed in years. The woman's eyes even looked gloomy, or rather lifeless.
"Your Excellency Crown Prince, I think it is time for you to return to the castle."
Said A man with bright brown hair who had been standing staring at the man he called the crown prince. His eyes were clearly showing a gleam of discomfort, or rather fear.
Dominick, the man who is called the crown prince, only stares at Zendrick, his childhood friend, with a lazy gaze. Even Dominick was amazed, how could someone like Zendrick become a vice-general at such a young age.
If only Dominick had not tried Zendrick's power directly, Dominick would have suspected that Zendrick was elected as vice general just because his father was the great general of the human kingdom, Muscho de Alfratez.
"Wait, I have to feed her."
Dominick said, rolling his eyes for a moment before turning back to the woman who was still stuck in front of him.
"Come on, Tere, you have to eat. You know, your mana is almost near zero now."
Dominick brought a mouthful of Arthyrist to the mouth of the woman he called by the name Tere.
But the woman didn't budge at all, kept her mouth shut, making Dominick sigh heavily.
"Come on Tere, you know how hard it is for me to get this plant. I even had to infiltrate the black market just to get a little packet of this plant."
Dominick grumbled.
He again tried to feed the Arthyrist into the woman's mouth. But the woman still kept her mouth shut tight.
He sighed heavily again, then put down the plate containing the Arthyrist and sat cross-legged with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Okay Tere, I'll wait here until you feel like eating."
He said, staring at the beautiful face of the woman who was still staring at the floor with a blank gaze.
Terena Tropika, a name that when you hear it will make everyone tremble with fear. No exception Muscho, Zendrick's father whose prowess is well known throughout the kingdom.
General Muscho was even nicknamed as the 'Holy Knight' because of his success in conquering the Tropicas of the magicians race queen and general.
Yes, the woman who was now limping weak and helpless was the queen of the magician race. Dominick did not see it firsthand because he was not born yet, but he had heard about the greatness of the Tropicas family from Mr. Illoid, his quirky history teacher.
Why, according to Dominick, Mr. Illoid is eccentric? The reason is, Mr. Illoid often tells something that is taboo to tell. A history that was very different from the history studied at the royal academy or neatly displayed in the city library.
If according to the books and teachers who were in the royal academy, the Tropica sisters were the leaders of a ruthless mage race who often used cunning methods to defeat their enemies. Like taking their enemy's loved ones or trapping them with cheap tricks.
They are also described as evil monsters who do not hesitate to eat humans. Destroying indiscriminately, even babies.
Their cunning and evil finally bowed at the feet of the god-blessed and holy Muscho's general. General Muscho was even willing to forgive Terena who begged not to be killed, and instead, Terena chose to kneel on top of the holy tower, as a form of remorse for having killed so many mankind.
In the beginning Dominick believes the story he heard at the royal academy, until an incident changes his view.
It all started when Dominick casually played with Zendrick, climbing the sacred tower that should be off limits to anyone.
This was the first time Dominick took a close look at Terena, who was shackled on top of the tower. Usually Dominick only saw Terena from below, from the courtyard of the sacred tower.
Terena, who is described as being very terrible, looks very sad. Her figure, which is described as having creepy, is actually very beautiful when seen up close.
And from that woman's mouth, came a name in a very weak voice,
"My Cleana, my dear Cleana."
Tears even dripped from her exquisite pink eyes.
Little Dominick finally met Mr Illoid, asking him to tell about the true of Tropica family. From Mr. Illoid, Dominick knows that the Tropica family is inversely proportional, 360 degrees different from what has been told so far.
Terena Tropika, the queen of the magician race whose ability to rule the kingdom is beyond doubt. Under her leadership, the magician race was able to conquer 3 other races and force them to sign a peace treaty.
After all is peaceful, Terena then withdrew, and fortify the magician kingdom by making clear boundaries between the magician kingdom and 3 other kingdoms.
Terena's success in conquering 3 other kingdoms was inseparable from the role of one person who by simply rolling her eyes, succeeded in making every race soldiers shudder in fear.
That person was the Cleana Tropica, the beloved sister and general of the magician kingdom whose strength was even more than Muscho's.
Mr. Illoid said he had never met Cleana in person. However, according to people who have met her, Cleana is the real demon in the form of a goddess.
Illoid even told a secret that was never known. The reason for the Tropica sisters defeat was not because of the strength of the Holy Knights, but because they were framed. And sadly, framed by humans.
Since that day, Dominick has been sneaking around with Zendrick to visit Terena. Ah, time sure fly so fast. It's been 10 years since his first meeting with Terena.
"You know, Nick, if my dad found out what we were doing all this time, i am sure I'd be killed on the spot."
Said Zendrick, finally choosing to surrender and sit next to Dominick.
No matter how hard Zendrick invites Dominick to get out of here, the crown prince will not listen. If Dominick has a resolution, then nothing can break it.
"Is something bothering you, Tere? Usually you don't want to eat like this if someone bothers you."
Zendrick asked, staring at Terena's still expressionless face.
No matter how many times Zendrick saw Terena, Zendrick never even felt bored, always amazed by Terena's beauty. Even in this disheveled state, she was still very beautiful.
Usually, she will still eat Arthyrist even with a face full of hatred. But today, she didn't even open her mouth.
"Do you think she was bullied?"
Dominick asked Zendrick.
He just shrugged his shoulders. The past few days he's been on expeditions through the eastern forest to check if any rebels or intruders have appeared, so he can't visit Terena like usual.
"You don't know? Didn't you never leave the palace?"
"Eerrgh, your words impress me like an unemployed crown prince who has nothing to do."
"But the reality is like that."
"Are you asking to be hit?"
Zendrick chuckled at Dominick's threat,
"Of course, please hit me, the crown prince who is very strong."
Dominick immediately lunged at Zendrick, and start hitting him mercilessly. But of course, he just laughed, considering that he and Dominick often joke like this.
"Back.."
Zendrick, who now turned around to hit Dominick's head, stopped moving his hands when a woman's weak voice was heard. He and Dominick suddenly looked at the source of the sound. Of course towards Terena, because only the three of them were here.
"Zen, you heard it right?."
Zendrick nodded his head. Their eyes were now glued to Terena who slowly started to raise her head.
"Back.."
"My dearest Cleana is back .."
She whispered softly, looking up at the sky, makes the two of them also look up. Their eyes suddenly widened when they saw the red moon sticking out of the black clouds ..