Many names within this ledger belonged to figures holding significant positions among the nobility and warlords of Alfheimr. For instance, the fifth-ranked assassin, "The Scarlet Glove," was none other than Rovandir, one of the army's eight primary generals, whose personal banner bore the emblem of a red rooster. It was presumed that he was the one who had historically maintained the balance of power within the army for Enya.
The mere presence of this general's name was enough to signify how vastly superior the Moon faction was compared to the Star faction Fenris had previously led. Realizing he now had the authority to command General Rovandir, Fenris could hardly imagine what that truly meant. Whether Rovandir would actually submit to his orders remained a matter of heavy speculation in his mind.
As Fenris continued to ponder Rovandir, he slowly turned to the next page. Discovering the identity of the fourth-ranked assassin made him freeze in place.
The name was King Blár of the Skógareinn Kingdom in the Midgard region.
The Forest Elf King, a premier disciple of the God Magni who bore the epithet 'The Master Archer', should have been a paramount enemy of the High Elves. Yet in truth, he was an assassin operating under the alias “Shadow.”
Reading this, Fenris realized that even the most prominent forest elf in Midgard was one of Enya's assassins. The scale of Enya's influence was simply terrifying. He could not help but let out a heavy sigh before turning the page...
The 3rd Rank: "Dark Asanee" — The Spear Gungnir.
An assassin born of a summoning ritual via Gungnir, the sacred weapon of the former All-Father Odin. The ledger described this entity briefly, yet chillingly: "The one who successfully assassinated the God Magni."
Fenris recalled the time he had cooperated in the assassination of the God Magni and witnessed this assassin transform into a golden spear. The sheer terror of that moment lingered, unforgettable. A master killer devoid of all emotion was truly a fearsome sight. Yet after Enya's death, the assassin had vanished without a trace.
Then came the ledger's final page. The 2nd Rank: "Elafindi" — Vanessa, an assassin Fenris knew all too well. In truth, while the reputation of the "Night Sword" — Enya — might have echoed across the lands beyond Alfheimr, among the High Elves themselves, the name Elafindi was even greater and far more formidable.
It was said that the prominent High Elf families cultivated vast quantities of Astrallia flowers around their estates. They believed this would allow them to distinguish the distinct scent of Elafindi grass, thereby reducing the chances of the assassin bearing that moniker ever getting close to them.
The ledger defined Vanessa as an "Absolute Magical Knight," a warrior capable of fighting with the might of an entire army, and one who bore the bloodline of the Bladnir family.
"The Bladnir family..." Fenris murmured. He could not recall the significance of this lineage, but he made a mental note of it, intending to uncover more information in the future.
Unsurprisingly, the 1st Rank had no details inscribed within the ledger—for that person was Enya herself.
At this point, Fenris found himself surprised that Vanessa remained listed as the 2nd Rank, even after Enya had added Dark Asanee to the roster. To Fenris, Vanessa was undoubtedly a brilliant assassin, but could she truly be superior to Dark Asanee, a being who had instilled such deep terror in him? The title 'Magical Knight' designated to Elafindi naturally implied a mastery of both physical and magical combat. Yet, the magic she wielded was merely poison magic, an art that garnered little respect.
To Fenris, claiming that such abilities equaled an entire battalion felt like a gross exaggeration. It was highly probable that her standing was largely due to the intimate bond between Enya and Vanessa, which had earned her unwavering trust and secured her place at the 2nd Rank all along.
Knock, knock.
Suddenly, a sharp rapping sounded at his office door.
Fenris swiftly concealed the secret ledger on his person before calling out, "Come in. What is it?"
The door opened to reveal a subordinate, who bowed respectfully and reported, "Just a moment ago, Princess Dagnisia sent word. She wishes to see you, Lord Fenris."
"Princess Dagnisia!?" Fenris repeated, verifying what he had heard.
"Yes, my lord," the subordinate replied politely, bowing his head once more.
"Understood. You are dismissed," Fenris replied in an impassive tone.
Once alone, Fenris murmured to himself, "Dagnisia wants to see me?"
His relationship with Dagnisia was practically nonexistent. This princess was the eldest daughter of Queen Embla. In the past, the faction of high-ranking noblewomen who had so viciously despised and tormented his mother had been led by the previous Elf Queen. But the transition to the current queen had always yielded favorable outcomes for Fenris. While it did not grant him the luxurious life of a high-born prince, it had at least allowed him to escape his confinement in the dungeon and establish the Star assassin group.
Fenris pondered the situation. Princess Dagnisia's summons might merely be a personal matter. Yet, from another perspective, this presented a rare opportunity to seek an audience with Queen Embla and inquire about his true authority and duties now that he had inherited the Moon faction from Enya.
Seeking a direct audience with the Queen would likely be denied. But this time, he could use Princess Dagnisia's summons as the perfect pretext.
Fenris closed his eyes briefly, weighing his options before making his choice.
A. Fenris heads to seek an audience with Queen Embla / B. Fenris heads to meet Princess Dagnisia
Choose Path A: Head to seek an audience with Queen Embla
Fenris rose from his chair, taking a deep breath before stepping out of his office and heading deep into the royal palace.
Currently, the Elf King Alfsesfern had been secluded within The Illusion Castle for a long time. Consequently, absolute power to rule the elven realm had fallen solely into the hands of Queen Embla.
The inner sanctum of the palace was heavily fortified by royal guards. Four soldiers were stationed at every corner of the corridors. Each stood as rigid as a statue, their faces solemn, vividly displaying the strict discipline of the royal guard.
In the realm of Alfheimr, pure silver was revered above gold. Furniture, doors, windows, and various ornaments throughout the palace were heavily adorned with it—a stark contrast to the dwarves, who obsessed over gold as if it were sacred.
Finally, Fenris arrived before the inner pavilion, the residence of Queen Embla. Here, no fewer than twelve royal guards stood on duty.
Before approaching any further, he had to declare his intent.
"I, Prince Fenris, seek an audience with the Queen," he stated calmly. "Princess Dagnisia has sent word that she wishes to see me."
The guard in charge nodded slightly. After noting the details, he turned and walked off to relay the message to the Queen.
Fenris waited for several moments until, at last, the massive doors sealing the inner sector groaned open. The same guard returned, gesturing with his hand to invite the prince inside.
Fenris stepped calmly through the first set of doors.
Then came a second... and a third.
Beyond the third threshold, the grand hall of the Queen's pavilion opened up before him. Pillars of silver stone lined both sides of the walkway, and the floor reflected light like a sheet of glistening ice. The silence was so profound that the only sound was the echo of his own footsteps.
And there, at the far end of the hall,
Queen Embla sat upon her throne.
She was smiling, a small white fox kit resting in her lap. Her fingers gently scratched beneath its chin, and the little creature wore an expression of pure bliss at her touch.
Fenris halted before the throne and dropped to one knee, adhering to the traditional customs of respect.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Embla did not answer immediately.
She simply leaned back into her throne, slowly withdrawing her hand from the white fox, and cast her gaze down upon the kneeling prince. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured.
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"Fenris... I was told that Dagnisia wishes to see you. Why did you not go to her, but instead detour to seek an audience with me?"
Denied permission to rise, Fenris was forced to answer from his kneeling position.
"I have never been close to, nor have I ever spoken with, Princess Dagnisia. Fearing I might act inappropriately, I chose to bring this matter before Your Majesty first, to inform you and seek your permission."
"You are, for all intents and purposes, siblings. In truth, there is no need to seek my permission. You may go and meet Dagnisia as you see fit," Embla replied, her expression unreadable.
"Understood. Once I am dismissed, I shall proceed to the Princess's pavilion."
"It is true that you are now the most senior prince within the palace," Embla continued slowly. "Even so, I expect you to remember that Dagnisia is my daughter by blood."
The hall plunged into silence.
Fenris kept his head bowed, not daring to lift his eyes.
Embla stared down at him, her voice turning icy. "My bloodline naturally supersedes mere seniority. Therefore, whatever you may discuss with Dagnisia, remember well who is the superior, and who is the subordinate."
"Understood."
Fenris's reply was perfectly calm. Having endured such veiled insults and disdain countless times throughout his life, his expression remained entirely impassive.
Embla studied him for a moment before abruptly shifting the subject. "Oh, yes... Now that you have assumed the leadership of the Moon faction from Enya," she remarked, her tone feigning casual curiosity, "how do you plan to proceed?"
Fenris instantly recognized this as his sole opportunity to gauge the Queen's stance.
"I have finished reviewing the ledger containing the names of all seventeen assassins," he answered carefully. "Many of them currently hold significant positions within the administration and the military. I am, therefore, unsure of how I should go about commanding them."
Embla fell silent for a moment before a faint smile graced the corner of her lips. "That is quite simple. From now on, anyone who holds a position as a noble or a military general... you need not involve yourself with them."
She paused slightly before adding, "Those individuals... I will manage them myself."
Fenris knew instantly that this was a glaring declaration of her mistrust. In her eyes, he was nothing but an outsider. If he allowed this to stand, his title as leader of the Moon faction would become a hollow shell, meaningless to both his subordinates and the royal court.
After a moment of quiet deliberation, he decided to take a risk.
"If I am to exclude those who hold noble or military titles, I fear... the only one left for me to command would be Elafindi—Vanessa."
His words brought a sudden, heavy silence to the throne room.
Embla glanced down, answering without haste. "Vanessa is currently undertaking a crucial mission for me. You are not to disturb her."
Driven by her answer, Fenris pressed on. "In that case... what meaning does my position as the leader of the Moon faction actually hold?"
Embla stared down from the throne, her eyes freezing over. "It holds no meaning whatsoever."
With that blatant dismissal, it was clear Embla was actively declaring her hostility.
"Your Majesty... you..." Fenris stammered, a flash of genuine panic crossing his face.
Embla paid his reaction no mind. "Fenris, you should never have come to see me." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Not long ago, I lost my dearly beloved older sister. My heart is consumed by the fires of vengeance and a rage I can barely control."
Strangely, as Embla spoke, the little white fox in her lap suddenly turned aggressive. It hissed, embodying her rage, and aimed its fury directly at Fenris.
Danger spiked in the air. A swordsman's instinct drove Fenris's hand to his waist, reaching for a hilt out of pure habit—but today, he had come unarmed.
"You possess the beautiful silver hair inherited from the King. That alone has caused every Queen before me to lose her patience with you," Embla stated coldly, her eyes devoid of warmth. "Myself included."
"Your Majesty, I—" Fenris opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him.
Any excuse he could offer was entirely meaningless now.
Embla looked upon him with utter indifference before delivering her final judgment. "With your lowly birth, bearing that silver hair... was a death sentence from the moment you drew breath."
The instant those words left her lips, the side doors of the throne room swung open. A squad of royal guards marched in, their bows already drawn and aimed.
Fenris looked back up at the throne, staring at the breathtakingly beautiful, supremely powerful woman seated above him.
Queen Embla merely raised her hand, and then sharply flicked it down.
Dozens of arrows launched from their strings in unison. The sharp whistle of tearing air echoed through the hall before the shafts tore into Fenris’s body, one after another. The prince collapsed lifelessly, his dark red blood pooling rapidly across the pristine stone floor.
As his vision faded to black and his final breath slipped away, the royal palace was forever rid of the silver-haired prince.
The truth behind Prince Fenris's death was swiftly buried, becoming just another dark secret within the High Elf palace. The world moved on. Only a single black-haired elf girl, known as Muninn, continued to search for the prince with the beautiful silver hair, clinging to the hope that they would one day meet again.
***** This path represents Fenris's fate had he chosen to seek an audience with Queen Embla prior to meeting Dagnisia. To follow the story's true progression, please proceed to Path B — Head to meet Princess Dagnisia. *****
Choose Path B: Head to meet Princess Dagnisia
Fenris stood up, stretching his body to shake off his fatigue before stepping out of his office. He turned to the royal guards stationed at his door and asked,
"Can someone escort me to Princess Dagnisia?"
In truth, Fenris had absolutely no idea where the princess resided within the sprawling palace grounds. Before long, an exceptionally tall and slender royal guard volunteered to guide him.
The two ventured deep into the corridors of the inner palace, weaving through long, winding passages flanked by silver pillars and softly glowing magic lamps. After walking a considerable distance, Fenris noticed a distinct shift: from this point onward, every royal guard stationed along the perimeter was a female elf.
Upon reaching a designated threshold, his tall guide came to a halt and bowed slightly. "From here on, it is the precinct of the Princess's residence, my lord."
The guard then retreated the way they had come, leaving a dark-blue-haired female royal guard to take over the escort. Among the elves, hair color was a direct indicator of noble lineage, ranked from highest to lowest: silver or platinum, gold, green, blue, and finally, brown or black, which marked the lowest caste.
However, because the female royal guard required warriors with physical strength rivaling that of male elves, it was not entirely uncommon to see women with green or blue hair fulfilling these demanding duties.
Fenris followed his new escort through another grand hall, eventually stopping before the Princess's residential pavilion. Standing watch at this entrance were four female royal guards, all of whom possessed radiant golden hair.
The blue-haired guard stepped forward to whisper a message to one of the sentries, before bowing to Fenris and departing. Simultaneously, one of the golden-haired guards turned inward to announce his arrival. Not long after, the heavy pavilion doors swung open.
A petite young woman stepped out, a radiant smile gracing her features. She was none other than Princess Dagnisia.
"Eldest Brother, you have finally arrived," she greeted him warmly.
Fenris hesitated. Never in his entire life had any member of the royal family addressed him as "Eldest Brother." An unfamiliar warmth swelled in his chest, coaxing a faint, unconscious smile onto his face.
The two entered a brightly lit inner hall. Dozens of crystal lanterns cast sparkling reflections across the walls, filling the room with a warm and invitingly peaceful ambiance. Dagnisia gestured for Fenris to take a seat in a large armchair before summoning her ladies-in-waiting to prepare food and refreshments for her guest.
"You arrived much faster than I anticipated... Brother Fenris." Her voice was sweet, clear, and utterly devoid of malice; every word was delivered with a smile.
Fenris straightened his posture and answered with composed formality, "Princess, you summoned me. Is there a matter of importance?"
Dagnisia laughed softly. "Why must we be so formal with one another?" She met his gaze with friendly eyes. "Since I call you 'Eldest Brother,' simply calling me 'Little Sister' is more than enough."
"Understood," Fenris replied politely, though he knew perfectly well that as Queen Embla's daughter, Dagnisia held a status far above his own.
Dagnisia suddenly reached toward an ornate platter overflowing with various fruits. "Brother, you must try that yellowish-white fruit. At this time of year, its sweetness and fragrance are unparalleled."
Fenris followed her gesture to the fruit plate, but hesitated, uncertain exactly which yellowish-white piece she meant. He sat frozen, as if unwilling to risk making the wrong choice.
Noticing his apprehension, Dagnisia let out a soft laugh. She reached over, picked up a piece of the fruit, and brought it directly to Fenris's lips, clearly intending to feed him herself. Fenris raised a hand to take it from her, but she gently shook her head. She opened her own mouth in a brief, playful gesture, silently instructing him to do the same.
Fenris hesitated, then yielded, parting his lips. The piece of fruit was slipped into his mouth. Instantly, an exquisitely sweet and fragrant flavor bloomed across his palate—a taste unlike anything he had ever known. A delicate scent, reminiscent of wild blossoms, filled his senses. The flesh was so impossibly soft that it melted away with barely a chew.
Thoroughly impressed, Fenris couldn't help but ask, "What kind of fruit is this?"
Dagnisia smiled in deep satisfaction, clearly delighted by his reaction. "It is called Elaris," she answered, reaching for a different fruit. "It tastes as sweet as wild honey."
With practiced ease, she brought the second piece to his lips, treating the intimate act as though it were the most natural thing in the world. This time, Fenris offered no resistance. He opened his mouth and dutifully accepted the offering.
"And this one is called Lilin-thea," she explained cheerfully. "It may not be as sweet as the Elaris, but it is much crisper, making it far more enjoyable to chew."
Fenris chewed slowly, nodding his agreement. "It is exactly as you say, Princess."
Dagnisia watched him with a soft laugh. "I am glad. For a moment, I feared you would be too paranoid to even taste it."
At her words, Fenris's expression shifted drastically. He froze instantly, instinctively raising his right hand to cover his mouth.
"Paranoia breathes in every corner of this palace. But you, Eldest Brother... you are not that kind of person." Dagnisia's words were cloaked in ambiguity, yet her broad smile remained unwavering.
Realizing his defensive posture, Fenris quickly recovered, sitting up straight. Regaining his composure, he asked, "Princess, you summoned me. Was there an important matter?"
Dagnisia's eyes sparkled with amusement. Her smile softened as she replied, "You likely didn't know this... but Aunt Enya and I used to be very close."
Fenris nodded slowly, his demeanor turning serious.
"I heard that you have recently inherited her mantle, rising to become the leader of the Moon faction," Dagnisia continued, her voice dripping with honey. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "And I was thinking... regarding some of the faction's affairs, there might be ways I could be of assistance to my Eldest Brother."
Her proposition caught Fenris entirely off guard. He had never expected the conversation to take such a turn. If Dagnisia, the daughter of Queen Embla herself, was genuinely willing to back him in managing the Moon faction, absolutely no one on that ledger would dare defy his orders again. The heavy anxiety that had chained his heart since he first accepted the position vanished in an instant.
As the two finalized their alliance and continued to share the meal, the name Dagnisia slowly began to carve out a place in the silver-haired prince's heart... a place that, until this moment, had belonged only to Muninn.
***** Choice B will serve as the main path for the continuation of the story. *****
Bad Ending. I hope you’re not getting tired of these yet.
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