The black plague that descended from the sky was a blessing to him, and he relished the power it gave him over the aristocratic knight. He approached Henri, placing his hands on his shoulders and saying, “Will this amount of rudeness be repaid? You should get down on your knees, isn’t that right, Sir Jackal?”

Henri closed his eyes and bit down hard, feeling his molars strain under the pressure. Lennox pressed his shoulders, and the young vice-captain’s knees began to buckle under the weight. Lennox stepped back, staring intently at Henri as his knees touched the floor.

“Cooperation, please,” Henri said, and Lennox rejoiced, closing his eyes tightly in thrill. It was new and fun to look at, and Lennox couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled up in his stomach. The blood-red sky and the sound of laughter that resonated amidst the approaching disaster were truly bizarre, but Lennox didn’t care. As long as he was the one in control, the chaos around him didn’t matter.

*****

Mrs. Giggs couldn’t believe what she was doing. Rather than being the first to evacuate, she had even found a training suit that fit her and strapped a slender sword to her back. Even the elderly government official couldn’t comprehend the situation. Adele didn’t have the heart to explain, so she simply spoke her mind.

“There’s nothing to run from. If you’re scared of the red sky, cover yourself with a blanket and take a nap.”

“What on earth are you doing?” Mrs. Giggs exclaimed.

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t follow me. That’s an order.”

“Your Majesty, the Empress!” Mrs. Giggs cried desperately as Adele swiftly left the palace like a nimble black panther.

The imperial palace was in chaos, and Adele had to weave through the throngs of employees. In the confusion, no one suspected that the woman in the black training uniform was the empress, and she went unrecognized. The sky was already a blood-red hue, a terrifying sight. What lay beyond the sky? For centuries, it had been a source of fascination for people, inspiring bards to sing of the world of the gods and astronomers to study the stars. But everything changed when the tower appeared. Suddenly, the sky was transformed into a frightening, blood-red nightmare. The disaster evoked the most fundamental fear in humans, and people were screaming and running for their lives.

Adele remembered the day the tower appeared vividly. It was the day she awakened as a wizard, experiencing a thrilling feeling that awakened something dormant within her. But she had always suppressed that feeling, knowing that it was not appropriate to experience such joy in the face of tragedy. As she approached the tower, the wind grew stronger, shaking trees and sending objects flying. Surprisingly, there were no wizards in sight, only knights. Adele could tell at a glance who was in charge of the knights forming a circular formation around the tower.

***

As a massive tower plummeted towards the ground, a fierce updraft swept through the area, causing chaos and destruction. Vice-captain Henri Jackal had gone to fetch the wizards while the knights bravely battled against the powerful updraft. Late-summer roses were yanked from their roots and hurled high into the sky, while nearby windows shattered into a million pieces. Blood was already drawn from the knights due to the flying debris before the tower even hit the ground.

“Captain!!” the adjutant cried out. Lionel reacted quickly, dodging the flying shards of glass with a swift movement of his body. He warned his men of the danger of falling objects and shattered glass, as the platoon commanders desperately tried to instill trust in their ranks. Despite their best efforts, casualties continued to mount. Lionel used his sword to deflect the flying glass and shouted, “Is the keeper still there?!”

The rose garden where the knights had gathered was shrouded in darkness due to the shadow cast by the towering structure. The fear of the knights intensified as they heard the eerie cries mixed with the sound of the howling wind. The violent whirlpool, black terror, and grotesque screams seemed to transport them to hell itself. Lionel had lost hope that the wizards would arrive in time, and he braced himself for the inevitable sacrifices of his men. He gritted his teeth and strengthened his resolve, hoping that his sword would be able to protect at least one more of his comrades.

“Prepare your swords!” he bellowed. The platoon commanders drew their swords in unison, and the rest of the knights quickly followed suit. When the massive tower finally hit the ground, the real nightmare began. Lionel’s eyes widened in horror as he braced himself for the worst. The deafening noise of the wind seemed to dull his senses, but then a low, soothing voice cut through the chaos like a gentle autumn breeze.

“Why are you just standing there?” the calm voice asked.

Lionel was surprised by the unexpected voice, which seemed completely out of place in the chaotic scene. A gust of wind blew the woman’s hair around her face as she skillfully tied it back. Although she was petite, her intense golden gaze made a lasting impression on anyone who met her.

“Your Majesty the Empress?” Lionel gasped as Empress Adelaide suddenly appeared amidst the disaster.