SPELLBOUND

Unbeknownst to Evie, Zolan had been screaming within himself. He did not know what had happened, nor understood how it happened, but he knew that the princess' eyes were shining when she met his gaze right before she uttered her command. And what command was that? Was she speaking in another language? He did not recognise it.

Zolan had immediately protested. He could see that the dragon was about to shoot flames from its mouth, but the princess wants him to bring her before it?! Did she get too stressed out that she had completely lost her mind? Despite witnessing her powers that were displayed in the watchtower, Zolan was not going to just agree with her suicidal command! It was way too risky! If her powers were not able to be sparked again, that would basically be the end of the both of them! They would be scorched to death! It was not even sure that there would be any bodies left. Perhaps they might even be reduced to ashes.

But his body had somehow moved on its own despite his mind protesting against the princess' request. And then it was as though he did not own his body anymore, he leapt and brought the princess right before the dragon's fire. He could only mutter the words 'god help me' as he watched the dragon's hellfire come at them. But to his surprise, the princess did it again. She managed to somehow summon those golden lights from her body once more.

He could only watch on in awe. But in the next moment, he heard another order and his body immediately obeyed before his mind could even process what it was that he was obeying. What was happening to him? What was going on?! No! What the hell are you doing, Princess!?

Zolan could not even speak, nor move a single muscle as he watched the princess approach the dragon slowly and carefully. He tried everything that he could, but his body just would not listen to him at all. What did the princess do to him? Could it be that the princess was unknowingly controlling him?! Could she do that? Was she some sort of mage that had hidden powers within her? Many such thoughts were flying through his mind.

That was the only explanation Zolan could come up with, seeing that all the things which were happening to him. This princess, just what else she could do? What else was she capable of? She did not just single handedly stop a dragon's fire, but also somehow managed to control him? Could it be that she was planning to command the dragon next? Heavens!!!

The anticipation and anxiety surged within Zolan as he saw the dragon responded to her when she spoke. He could only pray that nothing bad would happen to her!

Everyone was holding their breaths when the dragon looked at the princess. What would it do? What was going to happen? Should they go grab the Princess and try running away now?! Was it still possible?

While the soldiers were still debating the idea within themselves, the dragon had already moved. The world seemed to halt in that very moment.

The next thing they knew, the dragon's head was right before the Princess and the princess was stretching out her hand to the dragon. Everyone held their breaths as her hand landed and touched its snout. No one moved. They could only look with their eyes wide open. All of them were shocked to their bones at the sight unfolding before their eyes.

"You poor thing…" Evie whispered as she caressed the dragon's dark scales. Her heart was so heavy as she looked at one of its bleeding eye. She still did not know what to do, all that she was certain of now was that the dragon could understand the language of the secret Ylvia song. But she could not think of any words to communicate with it anymore as there were no more appropriate word she could use.

Evie was expecting that she could utter another unknown word again to communicate with it, but nothing seemed to come to her mind. And now she was just standing and staring at the dragon helplessly. She was at a loss and just did not know what to do anymore.

Just as she wanted to take her hand off the dragon, it suddenly made a high-pitched sound and gently nudged its snout into her hand. It seemed to be wanting Evie to know that it was loving her touch. As Evie continued to caress it, the dragon slowly crouched down and settled onto the ground as though it had suddenly become her pet. Everyone who was looking on were completely floored. Who would have thought that a little human lady would be able to tame a mighty dragon? Were they witnessing a new era of something magical to come? Many of the soldiers looking on from both parties could feel goosebumps running up their arms.

But for Evie, what the dragon just did made her heart swell in compassion. And at that moment, she wished with all her heart that she could heal the poor dragon's wounds. It must be feeling so much pain right now.

Suddenly, Evie felt a familiar presence. She froze but she did not remove her hand off the dragon. This presence… this was that same presence she felt outside her room many times before! W-why was she feeling this now? She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand due to her nervousness.

Her heart thudded hard as she swallowed. Then she lifted her face and looked at the source of that presence which had always been stalking her.

Evie froze on her spot at what she saw. A w-woman?

She could see a figure shrouded with lights akin to the glow of that black gem on her necklace when it was reflected against the moonlight. The light surrounding the figure was too bright that it was making it hard for her to see its face. Was this the thing that was actually stalking her and not the dark fae? Could this be a light fae and that was why it never did take any action or do anything to her back then?

The more Evie thought it out, the more it made sense. Just like back then, she could not feel any danger emanating from whatever this thing was. It was almost just like how she felt when she approached the dragon. However, when she remembered looking at the dark fae earlier, all she could feel was a creepy and cold slithery sensation. And that was nothing like how the presence felt all those times she noticed the presence outside her doors.

"W-who are you?" Evie asked.