Levishia: The Prophesied Quest

Chapter 3: Farewell

LEVISHIA QUINTESSENCE

It's early in the morning and now I'm equipping my combat suit with the specialized daggers coated with mild poison and also an elegant quiver filled with an unlimited stock of golden arrows. I wore the quiver on my belt and picked up my favorite weapon, the bow. I had this customized with intricate patterns on the golden limbs, a much more comfortable grip, and a strong bowstring. I tightly held it and thought of where I could hide this.

Zoren doesn't use a bow—he's a melee. I gulped and just put it on my back, strapping its lower limb in my belt.

Let's just hope this shifts with my form.

I braided my long silver hair and just applied face powder. I glossed over my combat outfit; a black sleeveless shirt, combat pants where I hid all my daggers, and a pair of heeled combat boots.

I'm going to face the royal family of Giraen like this? Hmm, not bad.

One advantage of being hidden from the public was not a soul that comes out of the palace ever knew what I looked like.

I was hidden because of my uncontrollable and dangerous ability, and I would copy every human I saw. I could even morph into mythical animals I could only think of, as long as they were clear in my mind. It was dangerous to let me go amok, and the same applies to anyone who would be unlucky enough to catch me training.

Now, I'm commonly known as Princess Quintessence, so I'm probably going to have to go by Levishia, which was fine.

I grabbed my black bag filled with clothes, food, antidotes, and elixirs which I formulated along with the help of the palace's apothecaries.

I stood in front of the mirror and closed my eyes.

I imagined a Kitsune or a nine-tailed fox' form, and a few moments later, I felt my shape changing and nine tails coming out of my lower back. When finished, I opened my eyes and was instantly greeted by an arctic fox with nine tails sticking out at the back in the mirror.

I smiled to myself, satisfied, and quickly used the kitsune's ability, invisibility. Once I was sure that I can't be seen by anyone, I slowly opened my room's door and silently made my way to the guests' chambers.

Once I arrived in front of his door, I looked around first to check if there was any possible witness to a weird thing—a door creaking open and closing. The coast is clear. I slowly opened the oak door and peeked inside to see the victim.

I saw him on the floor, unconscious.

The drug I put in his meal last night is taking effect at the perfect time. It was a sleeping pill. He could be overdosed but he can take it. Certainly.

It'll be effective for half a day, which was enough time for the farewell parade.

I closed the door of his room and checked his black bag, I inspected its content and saw a few useful things. He doesn't need those anymore so I transferred a few of his things to my bag.

I looked at him on the floor, snoring. I'm sorry, Zoren. You're a good man, but you're merely a tool in my plan.

I made myself visible again and shifted. This time, the tails were gone. The feet returned but were more muscular than my own. The foxy eyes were replaced by Zoren's eyes. I imagined Zoren's outfit exactly like what he told me yesterday night. The boy was easy to fool because he was too distracted to think clearly about my questions.

I looked at his bathroom mirror and saw a masculine warrior. In his stoic face, he could really look like a General. A terrifying, superior soldier with muscles that symbolized his strength, and eyes that glared like daggers, as if they wouldn't flinch even if blood splashes on them.

I slapped myself and mimicked his behavior. I stepped over the sleeping man and opened the door. It's time.

People were greeting me as I passed by, and all I did was smile and nod. I walked with confidence like he does and kept my head high. We were quite the same when walking, just that he walks more like a man asking for a fight and I, like a laidback resting devil.

Once I reached the throne room, I was greeted by a great number of people. I recognized most of them as the high-ranking officials of the kingdom. I saw the different troupe leaders, the king's advisors, the counselors, and our butlers. I directly went in front of the king and queen's throne and bowed, in a knight's style.

"Your Majesties," I acknowledged.

I also saw the other nobilities of our kingdoms which I'm not really close to.

"General Zoren, you're quite right on time," my Father, the King, smiled.

I curtsied at him once more in thanks and regained my stance—like a guy asking for a fight.

The King looked over at my—Levishia's—ruby throne and shook his head. Then, he turned to my mother, whispering, "Is she not coming?"

He must be pertaining to me. Father, I'm right in front of you.

"You know she's still bitter about this whole thing," my mother whispered.

I almost sighed. My parents, seriously.

"Are we expecting someone else, your Majesties?" I interrupted. They both turned to look at me.

"No, not really," he shook his head. "Let's open the doors and face the townspeople, shall we?"

I nodded and I turned to the other side of the hall, where the massive double doors are at. It's basically the front doors of the castle. The knights stationed at the door slowly opened the large oak doors, and outside was a massive ton of townspeople.

They cheered and applauded once they saw the door opening. At the front of the castle is a chariot with four horses waiting for the representative of Ralenti.

I smirked and went towards the chariot, not wasting another second.

The cheering and applause only got louder once I got out of the palace doors. My heart was filled with pride almost instantly.

So this is how it felt to be recognized.

Princess Quintessence never experienced this. I'll make sure that'll happen again when I come home.

I climbed the chariot, almost as if I am in a rush, and the charioteer whipped the horses and we went forward. I deeply sighed and thanked the above for letting me execute this plan cleanly.

And at that moment, I knew I shouldn't celebrate too early.

When we were almost halfway through the castle's wide front lawn, where most of the townspeople are gathered, I heard a shout from the castle doors.

"Stop! That's an impostor!" Yelled a knight from behind.

Uh oh. Zoren must've woken up.

The charioteer heard him and looked behind him, scrutinizing me. I immediately wore a confused face.

"What is he saying? This is me!" I insisted.

"No, stop! The real General Zoren is here!" The knight yelled again. Ugh, how irritating.

I looked behind and saw the droopy Zoren from the chariot's open back. He keeps blinking, trying to pry away the sleepiness. He was topless with only breeches on and add a messy bird's nest hair. What a poor sight to behold.

I shifted my gaze to the confused charioteer and went near him. Since the chariot is open, everyone can clearly see what I'm doing.

"Keep going, or I'll kill you," I whispered in Zoren's deep, masculine voice. Though I'm just bluffing, it still worked because the color from his face drained and he whipped the horses again—urging them to go faster.

This time, I heard another shout. But it wasn't from the annoying knight. It's from my grumpy father.

"Levishia Quintessence! Get back here, you cunning woman!" His voice roared from the front doors of the palace.

Oops, he sounds mad.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I dropped my bag and faced them, standing up. I saw my father's face reddening from the anger, and my mother beside him trying to calm him down. I also saw Zoren leaning onto one of the troupe leaders since he couldn't stand straight properly. My eyes drifted to one of my close maid friends, who always took care of me. Sorry, guys.

I felt a few forced changes suddenly occurring in my intestines.

Uh oh. This is my limit.

I'm going to have to work on this. I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling the morph vanish as I run out of stamina.

Upon opening my eyes, my own eyes, I saw a few townspeople taking a few steps back. Whispers and murmurs also started reigning in the wide courtyard of the palace.

Despite that, I still smiled.

"Await my return, Father. I shall bring home the bacon!" I giggled.

I sat back again and faced the front.

We were nearing the tall gates of the palace.

But before finally crossing the gates, I heard my father's booming voice.

"You better, Levishia Quintessence!"

I smirked. Oh, I will, Father. I will.