A large dragon was seen gliding through the air. Its massive body cut through the grey clouds of the evening sky, its black scales glistening under the fading sunlight. Strong winds blew every time its great wings flapped.
This dragon was Vaelrith.
His sharp eyes gazed down toward an old castle hidden deep within a thick forest. From the sky, the building looked silent and abandoned; parts of its walls were already covered in moss and wild vegetation.
Vaelrith slowly descended, landing carefully in the castle courtyard so his immense size wouldn't crumble the ancient structure. He flapped his wings gently to ensure the powerful gusts didn't scatter bricks or dust. The sound of his footsteps shook the ground beneath him.
"Vaelrith," a voice called out from the top of the tower.
Vaelrith lifted his head. He saw Elowen standing on the tower balcony alongside Ashveil. Elowen's long hair blew in the evening wind as her eyes looked directly at the dragon.
"Your Highness, is it true you were driven here by your own sister?" Vaelrith asked in his deep, heavy voice.
Elowen was silent for a moment before shaking her head slowly. "No. Ashveil and I came here willingly for certain reasons."
Vaelrith narrowed his eyes slightly. "I know you care for her, yet her actions have been extreme."
Elowen leaned against the stone railing of the balcony. "Vaelrith... if I told you the truth about everything, would you immediately attack Wonderveil and my sister?" she asked softly.
Vaelrith fell silent. The evening wind swirled between them.
"I do not mind if she wishes to take the throne from me," Elowen continued calmly.
The dragon lowered his head slightly. "Does Your Highness know that Alice is currently living inside the palace with your sister?"
"I know. That news has spread far and wide. Everyone is talking about it."
Vaelrith looked confused. "How did news travel to you all the way out here when you have been so isolated?"
"That is not important, Vaelrith," Elowen replied smoothly. "I cannot tell you. It is not that I do not trust you, but I intend to handle this entirely on my own."
Vaelrith gazed at Elowen for a long moment. He had known the princess for a very long time. Elowen was not the type to easily reveal secrets or ask for help unless absolutely necessary.
"I understand," Vaelrith said finally.
Elowen offered a small smile. "Did you come all this way just to ask me that?"
"Partly. I was worried about your condition. If you were to command me to strike them down, I would have done it instantly."
Ashveil, standing beside Elowen, was slightly startled to hear the dragon speak with such loyalty and intensity. But Elowen merely shook her head gently.
"Vaelrith, I may be cruel in many people's eyes, but I refuse to involve innocent lives in this matter."
Vaelrith looked straight into Elowen's eyes. "Very well. Then what are your next moves? What plans are you forming?"
Elowen looked far out toward the endless forest stretching before the old castle. The wind brushed softly against her hair.
"I want to witness..." Elowen paused for a moment.
"Witness what?" pressed Vaelrith.
Elowen shifted her gaze upward toward the sky. "Something that has yet to be written."
Vaelrith furrowed his brows. He did not fully understand the deeper meaning behind her words. Elowen had always spoken in riddles or vague terms whenever she was carefully plotting something significant.
The dragon then turned his gaze toward Ashveil. "You are close to her. Surely you know what her true plans are?"
Ashveil offered a faint, bitter smile. "I am sorry, Vaelrith. I simply follow her orders and walk the path she chooses."
Vaelrith sighed deeply, causing a thin trail of smoke to drift from his nostrils. "It is your choice, Princess Elowen. I will only advise you to remain extremely cautious. Alice likely harbors wicked schemes. We do not truly know who or what she is."
"Thank you for the warning," Elowen replied softly. "I am fully aware of what I am doing. But if I truly face a crisis, I ask you again — please do not drag innocent people into this conflict."
"Of course. I would never harm those who know nothing. But if you are cornered or in danger, you have my permission to call upon me for aid."
Elowen gave a heavy, weary yet sincere smile. "Vaelrith... listen closely to what I am about to say."
"I am listening."
"Celestia and I are not fighting."
Vaelrith instantly fell silent. His eyes widened slightly in genuine shock. He truly could not comprehend the current state of the relationship between the two princesses. Every rumor circulating claimed Celestia had banished Elowen from the palace and that they were now bitter enemies. Yet, Elowen's tone of voice did not sound like that of someone who hated her sister at all.
Vaelrith began to realize... there might actually be something much larger, deeper, and far more complex unfolding behind the scenes of everything happening right now. But he chose not to ask further questions. He knew Elowen would speak the full truth only when the right time finally arrived.
................
Residents living in Princess Celestia's territory began to feel the heavy impact of Elowen's actions, after she had taken control of the regions richest in crops. That land was filled with wheat fields, vegetable farms, and fruit orchards — the main source of food that had sustained Wonderveil's people for generations. Now, everything was under Elowen's rule.
What terrified the people even more was the border itself: a glowing green barrier stretched endlessly across the ground. No one dared step across it. Those who tried to get close were pushed backward, as if blocked by an invisible wall. Consequently, food supplies in Celestia's lands began to slowly dwindle. While starvation hadn't set in yet, anxiety was spreading fast among the people.
Fortunately for them, Princess Celestia had been distributing essential goods to ease their burden. In a large town, residents lined up in long queues before food aid tents. Sacks of wheat, fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits were neatly arranged on long tables.
Alice herself sat at the front, handing out supplies. Her long blonde hair shone under the evening sun, and her smile was soft and comforting to everyone who saw it.
"Don't hold back," she said kindly. "If your family still lacks food, please tell me — I will personally report it to Princess Celestia."
The people were deeply moved.
"Is that true?" asked an elderly man. "I never imagined Princess Celestia would be so generous. Where is she now?"
"She is very busy at the moment," Alice replied gently. "But she sent me here specifically to make sure you are fed. Do not worry — the Princess always knows exactly what her people need."
Smiles of relief spread through the crowd.
"We are truly lucky to have such a kind future ruler."
"Yes, Princess Celestia is different from others."
Alice lowered her head slightly, her expression shifting to one of sorrow. "However... Princess Elowen is still alive."
The atmosphere instantly turned quiet. The happy faces hardened.
"Princess Elowen is alive and well," Alice continued, her tone heavy with disappointment. "And she keeps all the farmlands to herself. She won't let anyone cross into her territory. How cruel of her to drag this cold war so far."
A woman gripped her fists in anger. "You are right! She is truly heartless!"
"She only lives there with one companion! What does she need all that food for? It's useless hoarding it for just two people!" shouted a man nearby.
Alice pretended to be shocked by their anger.
"Please, calm down. I know you are furious, but you cannot take matters into your own hands — you are subjects, and she is still royal family."
"No!" argued a young man fiercely. "We can demand Princess Celestia declare full war against Elowen! If she doesn't have enough soldiers, we villagers will join and fight too!"
Voices rose in agreement.
"Yes! Exactly!"
A small, cunning smile appeared on Alice's lips.
"Do not worry... sooner or later, Princess Celestia will attack her sister. It is inevitable."
Her eyes gleamed faintly with dark satisfaction, though nobody noticed. None of these people realized the beautiful blonde woman standing before them was a witch — and not just any witch, but one possessing terrifying, immense power.
Once the distribution ended, Alice left the town alone. She walked slowly toward the edge of the nearby forest, the wind tangling her long hair. Then, in a split second, her body dissolved into thick black smoke and vanished completely.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared inside Elowen's old, isolated castle.
Elowen, who had been sitting reading in a chair, jumped in shock when Alice materialized directly in front of her. Her chair tipped over and crashed onto the stone floor.
"How dare you enter here uninvited!" Elowen demanded sharply, standing up quickly.
Alice smirked. "It's a rather long story..." She strolled casually around the room, examining the dusty interior.
"Why don't you officially declare war against your sister?" she asked suddenly.
Elowen frowned. "A cold war is already happening between us."
"I don't want a cold war," Alice said, stopping to look Elowen directly in the eyes. "I want a war where blood is spilled and lives are lost. You understand exactly what I mean, don't you?"
Elowen stared back, her gaze icy. "I am already making plans. But I have no knights or armies here. Surely you don't expect me to fight an entire kingdom alone?"
"But you have a dragon, don't you?" Alice said smoothly.
Elowen narrowed her eyes dangerously. "How do you know about my dragon, Alice?"
Alice gave a thin, wicked smile. "Just a lucky guess." She walked slowly closer until she stood right before Elowen.
"And I am absolutely certain I can defeat your dragon and help your sister destroy you."
Alice lifted one finger and pressed its tip against Elowen's chest.
"You are the villain in this story, Elowen. You have always been cruel, and you will never change."
Her eyes flashed with malice.
"And your fate... is to die."
Elowen stood perfectly still, completely fearless. She looked calmly at Alice and asked quietly, "If that is truly what you want... why not kill me right now?"
Alice pulled her hand away and chuckled softly.
"That would be boring, Elowen." She turned around slowly. "I want something much more entertaining than just a simple death."
Elowen pressed further, confused and wary. "What is your true motive behind all this?"
Alice placed a finger playfully against her lips.
"Secret..."
Black smoke swirled around her body, rising fast.
"I must be going now."
Her form faded into darkness until she disappeared entirely, leaving the room silent and empty once again.
Elowen remained standing rigidly, staring at the spot where Alice had vanished moments ago. She let out a long, slow breath and whispered to herself,
"Is she... really a witch?"
Deep within the dark and silent forest, the night wind rustled through the towering trees. The sound of leaves brushing against one another sounded eerie in the pitch darkness.
Suddenly, thick black smoke swirled and materialized. Alice appeared, laughing softly. Her long blonde hair drifted in the wind, and her black gown fluttered gracefully as she stepped out of the shadows. She glanced briefly at the crescent moon hanging in the night sky before her body dissolved and vanished once more.
Moments later, she reappeared before an abandoned mansion hidden deep within the woods. The building looked ancient and terrifying—windows shattered, walls covered in moss, and wild vines creeping all the way up to the roof. Yet, this place was Alice's favorite sanctuary.
The heavy wooden doors swung open on their own as she approached. A small creature scurried quickly toward her.
"Alice..." the creature greeted softly.
Alice turned, a thin, cunning smile playing on her lips.
"Will you truly help me with this?" the creature asked nervously.
"Of course," Alice replied calmly. "We must separate Charles from Celestia, and slowly destroy Princess Celestia's reputation and trust among the people."
The creature nodded slowly.
"Excellent... this was truly your intention all along, wasn't it?"
Alice's smile widened. "We must use others as our own traps. Humans are so very easy to manipulate. Give them just a little bit of hope or fear... and they will happily destroy each other for you."
The creature looked at Alice with a mixture of awe and fear. "Your powers are truly terrifying, Alice."
Alice chuckled softly. "Haha... naturally. No one can stand against me, because I am a Witch..." Her eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. "A Witch who desires everything."
"I know there are many other witches out there," the creature murmured cautiously.
"Yes..." Alice walked toward a large, dust-covered window, running her fingers lightly across the dirty glass. "But I am different from all of them."
The creature began to feel a deep sense of unease. "What do you mean?"
Alice turned slowly. Her expression was calm, yet her smile was chillingly sinister. "If I told you exactly who I really am..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "...even you would be terrified beyond belief."
The creature swallowed hard. "Who... who are you?"
Alice crouched down slowly until she was face-to-face with the small being. The atmosphere inside the mansion suddenly turned freezing cold. Old candles ignited one by one by themselves, casting dancing shadows. Dark silhouettes began moving slowly across the walls, as if alive.
The creature trembled in pure fear.
Alice leaned even closer and whispered directly into the creature's ear.
The creature's eyes instantly widened to their fullest. Its entire body began shaking uncontrollably.
"Impossible..." the creature stammered, voice trembling violently. "So... so all this time, you are actually..."
Alice placed a finger gently against the creature's lips. "Shhh... This secret must never be known by anyone else."
Suddenly, the entire mansion shook violently. A massive, looming shadow rose behind Alice, as if some colossal entity stood hidden in the darkness, watching them intently.
The creature collapsed onto the floor, paralyzed by terror.
For the very first time... it truly understood that Alice was no ordinary witch. She was something far, far more dangerous.