They stood before a towering crimson tent.

  Rose stepped forward slowly, Klen close behind.

  Inside, the circus was in full display—beast tamers showcasing creatures from the valley. One performer rode a grotesque, magically warped beast.

  Rose whispered, "That's not so strange... I rode one like it on my way to the kingdom."

  Klen gasped. "A bold confession, Lady Rose! Perhaps the circus suits you more than me! Shall we compete? The Red Knight's Circus versus the Circus of Linovard?"

  Rose muttered, "Quiet."

  She pointed. "Klen... look. It's Princess Kasra."

  Her expression shifted. "And her personal guard..."

  Klen nodded. "Yes. The same man who warned us."

  Varon stared at them from across the crowd—unblinking.

  Rose's voice dropped. "Great. We've been spotted."

  Klen shrugged. "No matter. What can he do?"

  Rose sighed. "You're right."

  She turned back to the performance. The crowd erupted in applause as the beast handler exited with his creatures.

  "Klen," she said, "we need to see that tent."

  "Wait, Lady Rose. The general said she'd handle it. We await her signal."

  Rose paused. "You're right."

  —

  Elsewhere, Semhar walked beside Sylvance.

  "I'm sorry," he said. "I've caused trouble... and now my mother's life is at risk."

  Sylvance strode forward, bow in hand. "Don't say that to us. Say it to her. We do what's right—for you and for everyone. Prince Asser ordered close surveillance. They target people like you."

  She pointed to a rope. "Aim there. If you hit it, we'll have a way in."

  Semhar raised his bow, but Sylvance stopped him.

  "You—have you ever fired a bow?"

  "N-not really..."

  She adjusted his stance, guiding his hand into proper form.

  Semhar blushed. "Thank you..."

  Sylvance nodded. "Go on."

  He fired. The arrow sliced through the rope, tearing a gap in the tent's fabric.

  "Well done," Sylvance said.

  "I did it!" Semhar beamed.

  They entered—and found cages filled with beasts.

  Sylvance's eyes narrowed. "They're caging valley creatures... like toys."

  Her expression darkened.

  Then Semhar's voice trembled. "General... you need to see this."

  She followed his gaze.

  Cages. Filled with people.

  Sylvance's voice dropped. "Savages... I knew something was wrong."

  She fired an arrow into the sky. It burst in green light.

  Gami, watching from Aurik's walls, saw the signal. "That's the mark!"

  —

  A soldier approached Varon.

  "Your Majesty... we must leave."

  Kasra frowned. "What? The show isn't over!"

  "Prince Asser is searching for you. He may discover you left without permission."

  Kasra sighed. "We must return quickly."

  As she turned to leave, a girl in a red cloak blocked her path.

  "You're leaving? Your Majesty? The show isn't finished..."

  Kasra smiled. "I'm sorry. I'll return when I can. Perhaps we'll invite you to the palace. Right, Varon?"

  Varon nodded. "Why not..."

  Kasra climbed into the carriage. Varon followed. They departed.

  The girl smiled faintly. Varon glanced back as they vanished into the distance.

  —

  Rose and Klen watched the princess leave.

  Suddenly, the candles extinguished.

  Gasps echoed. A monstrous creature emerged at the center of the ring. The show continued.

  Klen followed Rose slowly toward a side tent.

  He gestured. Rose looked inside.

  Her eyes widened. "This is horrible..."

  Klen whispered, "He might be among them. But we'll free them all."

  Rose nodded.

  A blade flew toward her.

  Klen blocked it with his shield.

  A slow clap echoed.

  "Well done," a voice said. "Not bad for beginners."

  Rose raised her staff.

  A man in a crimson cloak stepped forward. "Here to see the circus? The illusions? Why not witness the real show?"

  "You!" Rose snapped. "You count coins while caging innocents! I'll never support this filth!"

  The man chuckled. "Why not? You're special. On other worlds, we use your kind as livestock for entertainment. Sometimes we sell them—if the price is right. Interested?"

  Rose's aura flared green.

  He grinned. "Yes! Show me what you've got! Might raise your value. Might inspire new acts!"

  Klen charged, sword swinging. The man dodged with ease.

  "You," he said, "could pull a few wagons."

  Klen roared. "Today is the true circus of the Red Knight! I'll make you a laughingstock!"

  The man blinked. "What did you say?"

  Klen slammed his blade into the ground. Flames erupted.

  The man stepped back. "Interesting... You might be trouble."

  He drew a red sword. A pink aura shimmered around him.

  The Arrow and the Flame

  In the adjacent tent, cries for help echoed through the air.

  Sylvance's voice rang out. "Semhar—break the locks. Free them. Lead them out."

  A voice interrupted, sharp and theatrical.

  "Well, well, well... Isn't it rather rude for the general herself to come and steal our property? Is this a crime? Shall we report you?"

  Sylvance raised her bow, aiming at the girl. "Property? Don't make me vomit, you lunatic."

  Julia stepped forward. "Do you really think we'll let you do as you please?"

  "I'll leave the beasts," Sylvance said coldly. "But there are humans in those cages. That is unacceptable."

  Julia smirked. "To us, they're all the same. We believe in equality."

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  Sylvance's expression hardened. "Semhar—now!"

  Figures in crimson cloaks emerged from the shadows.

  "General!" Semhar cried.

  Sylvance raised her hand.

  Behind them, mages and guards clashed with the red-cloaked figures.

  "Semhar," she shouted, "focus on the locks! Free the hostages!"

  Julia lunged. "As if I'd let that happen!"

  Sylvance fired a volley of arrows—fast, pale yellow streaks.

  Julia deflected the first, shattered the second, dodged the third, and retreated.

  "Your aim's grown weak," she taunted. "Little tree-sprite... Shall I plant you another?"

  Sylvance snarled. "I don't take lectures from a circus brat who sneaks past city walls."

  Julia laughed and charged, pink aura swirling. "Spring Blossoms!"

  Sylvance drew a golden arrow. "Nature's Wrath!"

  She fired.

  A massive spectral wolf burst from the arrow, colliding with Julia and slowing her momentum. They clashed—blades and arrows flying in a blur.

  Julia leapt, striking from above. Sylvance countered with rapid shots. Wind howled around them.

  Semhar watched, frozen. "So this... is the general's true power..."

  Sylvance shouted mid-combat. "You! Focus!"

  Julia smirked. "You're the one who needs focus."

  "Meadow Bloom!" she cried.

  A pink storm erupted. Sylvance dodged, rolled back, and fired again. "Nightfruit Arrows!"

  Golden bolts pulsed toward Julia—fast, glowing.

  Julia blocked them—only for the arrows to rebound, circling back.

  She parried again. The arrows kept returning, relentless.

  Semhar aimed his bow, trembling. Every shot missed the locks.

  He glanced at Sylvance and Julia—locked in a furious duel.

  Outside, the clash of soldiers and mages roared.

  —

  Far away, inside a moving carriage—

  Varon raised an eyebrow, standing.

  Kasra looked up. "What is it, Varon?"

  "I'll step out briefly, Your Majesty. I'll return."

  "But we're moving fast..."

  "Don't worry."

  Kasra sighed. "You're insane..."

  Varon opened the door—and leapt.

  Landing silently, he faced a figure waiting in the frost.

  He drew his sword. A dark aura enveloped him.

  "If you're here for her," he said, "forget it."

  "Filthy beast tamers..."

  A girl laughed. "I'm Ruby... and I'll be taming you."

  She stepped forward. "Did you think we didn't know who you are? A pawn of the pathetic Black Order..."

  Varon narrowed his eyes.

  Petals and Shadows

  Ruby lunged, her body igniting with a swirling pink aura as she clashed with Varon.

  Varon countered with rapid strikes, deflecting her blows and launching his own.

  "You're not bad," Ruby said, her voice playful.

  "Not bad?" Varon growled. "Spare me. And who are you to judge?"

  Ruby spun midair, whispering, "Dawn Blossoms."

  A gust of pink wind gathered around her blade, petals swirling like a storm.

  "I'll tear you apart," she hissed. "Tell me—do you protect her because your commander ordered it?"

  She slashed, unleashing a magical strike—pink energy laced with flower petals surged toward Varon.

  "This one," she smirked, "might reach the princess's carriage too. Two birds, one blade."

  Varon planted his feet, gripping his sword tightly. "Final Requiem."

  A violent black aura erupted around him. He swung—unleashing a wave of shadow that collided with Ruby's attack.

  He braced himself. "Damn it... they were right. They were monitoring us... their fight style changed their magic resists ours now."

  He forced the clash back—only to find Ruby already in front of him.

  His eyes widened.

  She struck. He blocked. Their blades clashed in a flurry of motion—too fast to follow, only the sound of steel ringing through the frozen desert, beneath a sky heavy with clouds.

  —

  In the other tent—

  Klen and Rose stood before the red-cloaked man.

  He drew two blades between his fingers. "Shall we begin the show?"

  Klen raised his sword. "Show me what you've got, clown! I doubt you can outshine my performance!"

  —

  Elsewhere, Sylvance battled Julia with blistering speed.

  Semhar trembled, tears streaming down his face as he stared at the imprisoned people—eyes pleading, desperate. He couldn't break the locks.

  Then—a familiar voice stopped him cold.

  —

  On the walls of Aurik—

  Gami watched the distant clash. "They're engaged..."

  Behind him, a woman stood silently, shaking her head.

  The Crimson Spectacle

  In the stillness of night, snow drifted gently from the heavens, blanketing the desert sands in a surreal, glistening white.

  Rose and Klen stood at the center of the tent as the cages burst open—beasts of all shapes and sizes emerging, encircling them.

  The red-cloaked man laughed thunderously. "Let the show begin!"

  Klen stepped forward calmly. A beast lunged—he blocked it with his shield, eyes locked on the man who cackled with delight.

  "Rose!" Klen called. "We need a plan!"

  "I can put them to sleep!" she shouted.

  Klen nodded and charged. "I'm counting on you, Lady Rose!"

  From the shadows, a voice rang out: "New acts! Fresh performances! Who wants to see something new?"

  Rose turned—crowds were pouring in, drawn by the chaos, mistaking it for part of the entertainment.

  "Damn it," she hissed. "Klen! He's insane! He's using us as part of his act!"

  Klen grinned. "Then let's give them a noble, magnificent, and honorable performance! One so bright, they forget he ever existed!"

  The beasts lunged again—but Rose's magic caught their attention, halting them mid-charge. The crowd roared with applause, mistaking it for choreography.

  "Look at their clothes," Rose whispered. "Some of them... they're not from Silva."

  The man shouted gleefully, "Our premium guests! We take them on safaris to untamed planets—unspoiled, uncivilized! A vacation they'll never forget!"

  He laughed and hurled a flurry of small blades toward Klen.

  The crowd cheered. "Yes, Latif! Show that knight!"

  Klen deflected the blades with his shield, then stepped forward—his armored boots thundering across the ground.

  He slammed his sword into the earth. Flames erupted, illuminating the tent. His blade ignited, fire dancing along its edge.

  The beasts charged.

  Rose struck her staff against the ground. A green aura burst forth.

  "Venomous Slumber!"

  A wave of emerald wind swept from her staff. One by one, the beasts collapsed into unconsciousness. The wind spilled into the crowd—half the spectators dropped where they stood, dazed.

  A voice cried out, "Latif! Teach that girl a lesson! She's attacking us! That's unprofessional!"

  Rose shouted, "I'm protecting you! This isn't a performance—it's real! You're in danger! Run!"

  But the crowd, confused and panicked, began hurling food at her.

  Klen, sword ablaze, lunged at Latif.

  Latif flipped backward, landing lightly, and hurled a barrage of spinning daggers. Klen raised his shield, deflecting them with a clang.

  "Lady Rose!" he called. "You're doing terribly in this circus!"

  "What?!" she snapped. "They're idiots!"

  Suddenly, the beasts began to stir again.

  In the hush of night, snow fell gently over the desert, cloaking the sand in a surreal shimmer.

  Rose raised her staff, eyes wide. "What? How is this possible? At best, they shouldn't wake for four hours!"

  Latif laughed as he clashed with Klen, striking the Red Knight and forcing him back amid roaring applause. "Foolish girl! Don't you know? The beasts of Kobkum (a type of beasts that live the valley of wonders) are immune to magic! And so are you—livestock! Even after your pathetic tree was destroyed!"

  Rose's expression shifted. She looked at the beasts with sorrow. "My father never taught me lethal spells... but I learned how to fuse them. I can craft enchantments for moments like this."

  Her eyes glowed green.

  She raised her staff as the beasts charged.

  "Lady Rose?" Klen called.

  "Don't worry! Focus on your fight! Defeat that wretch!"

  Klen nodded, turning to face Latif.

  He glanced at his hand—blood dripped between the plates of his armor.

  Latif laughed. "Lose focus, and worse will follow!"

  Klen stepped forward, flames intensifying along his blade. The jewels in his armor and sword pulsed with light.

  "Tonight," he declared, "will be a night worthy of the Red Knight!"

  Latif sneered. "You're a fool. Surrender, and I'll feed you daily."

  Klen pointed his sword. "You understand nothing, simpleton. This is a noble mission! The general entrusted us with it! You've kidnapped innocents and called it a circus!"

  "The Red Knight's circus would never be like this. It would make children laugh and bring joy to the eyes of the old!"

  Rose dodged the beasts, casting green winds laced with venom. "Klen! Enough speeches—finish him!"

  She screamed as fangs tore into her arms and legs. Blood spilled.

  She injected herself with toxins, forcing her body to stand. Her staff flared with green light. The beasts collapsed into sleep—only for others to rise.

  "Damn it!" she gasped.

  Latif laughed. "Finish him? Are you mad? That fool is no Red Knight! You'll see!"

  Klen stared at Latif.

  Latif stepped back, blades in hand. "What's wrong? Did I anger you? Don't worry—I'll tame you."

  Klen surged forward, unleashing a fiery strike.

  Latif leapt—but Klen grabbed his leg.

  "Damn you!" Latif shouted.

  Klen spun him in circles.

  The crowd clapped and laughed.

  "Curse you!" Latif roared.

  He hurled knives wildly—some struck Klen, drawing blood. But Klen didn't stop.

  "Let's make this a show worthy of the Red Knight!"

  Latif's knives flew—some veered toward the crowd.

  Panic erupted. Spectators fled.

  Klen hurled Latif into the air and slammed him with his shield.

  Latif crashed to the ground, coughing. "You raging livestock!"

  Rose was bitten again.

  She gripped her staff, trembling. Then she saw children watching her—eyes wide, innocent.

  "Damn it," she whispered. "I can't kill these beasts... They're immune to toxins..."

  Klen bled, dodging strikes. Latif appeared before him.

  "You—"

  Klen punched him hard in the face.

  Latif flew out of the tent.

  The crowd scattered.

  Klen turned. "Lady Rose?"

  She stood, swaying, blood dripping.

  Klen rushed to her. "Lady Rose! I'm sorry—I should've..."

  She shook her head, voice faint. "It's alright... Has the Red Knight's show ended?"

  Klen placed his hands on his hips. "Yes!"

  Rose collapsed.

  Klen caught her instantly.

  He looked down—her leg was bleeding.

  His eyes widened.

  He ran. "Lady Rose... you've been struck by one of his blades!"

  Her eyes closed.

  Klen held her tightly and sprinted through the snow.

  The Falling Stars and the Silent Ride

  Klen ran, breath ragged, heart pounding.

  He reached Rose—unconscious, pale, blood staining the snow beneath her.

  Without hesitation, he lifted her gently into his arms and sprinted toward a nearby wagon. He laid her down with care, then tore off his red sash and wrapped it tightly around her leg after removing the embedded blade.

  He spotted a horse nearby, bearing the crest of the Kingdom of Aurik stitched into its saddlecloth.

  Klen climbed into the wagon, struck the reins, and sent the beast galloping toward the city walls. As the wagon sped off, he leapt down, landing hard in the snow.

  He stood still, watching the wagon disappear into the white horizon.

  Then he turned—his mission wasn't over.

  He walked back toward the circus.

  —

  Far away, Varon blocked Ruby's strike. She moved with a strange, playful rhythm—darting, spinning, as if dancing with him.

  She vanished—then reappeared in front of him, delivering a brutal blow.

  Varon staggered back, barely deflecting it.

  Behind him, a carriage rolled to a halt. The door opened.

  Princess Kasra stepped out, eyes wide. "Varon!"

  He turned, startled. "Damn it..."

  He raised his sword. "Falling Star Aria!"

  A violent black aura erupted from him. He slashed forward—unleashing a devastating wave of shadow that exploded toward Ruby.

  She widened her eyes, retreating swiftly.

  Varon sheathed his blade. Kasra approached from behind.

  Ruby smiled faintly—and vanished into the dark.

  Kasra frowned. "What happened to your clothes? They're torn."

  Varon exhaled. "A beast from the valley."

  She studied him. "That explains the fight. My father used to walk these lands—and the creatures would flee at his presence. You should become like him."

  Varon lowered his gaze.

  Kasra smiled, eyes soft. "Varon..."

  He looked at her, surprised.

  She extended her hand. "Shall we?"

  He walked beside her. She took his hand, drawing him closer.

  "Your Majesty—"

  "I saw you fighting that strange girl," she said. "But you lied to me."

  Varon stopped. "I..."

  "You didn't want to frighten me. I know. I know what's happening on this world as much as you do... But sometimes... I want to scream. We've never had peace. Never had joy. It's so rare... maybe that's why it's unforgettable."

  She looked at him.

  He opened the carriage door. She stepped inside. He closed it gently.

  Kasra gazed out at the falling snow, the towers of Aurik glowing in the night.

  She leaned her head against Varon's shoulder and closed her eyes.

  Varon looked down at her—then forward.

  The carriage rolled on.

  Another wagon passed them, bearing the insignia of the Mage Guild.

  Varon narrowed his eyes.

  "It's a good thing we left," he whispered. "Looks like they're about to strike..."