Vesemir stormed into the War Room, with Kiran and Simon trailing behind him. Vesemir pushed the heavy double doors open with little effort, a hard look on his face.

His war generals were all seated at the huge table, waiting for him. They all glanced up at their King when Vesemir entered.

The King paused to observe everyone's faces. Lionel's face had gashes, and a still bleeding scar running down his neck. West was breathing heavily, his torso heavily bandaged and he looked slightly embarrassed by his attire in front of the King. Hunter, leading the bowmen, had his arm in a sling. Everyone looked like shit.

Vesemir moved to his seat, but stood to address his generals, "how many have we lost?" he asked, voice soft.

There was silence before Kiran decided to speak up, "over three thousand, my King."

Vesemir had to hold himself back from smashing the table to bits. Three thousand was a huge number and Vesemir was crumbling on the inside.

"Barsburg have 60% of our land at the moment, and will continue to have more at the rate they are going," Nicholas spoke, his head low.

"The war literally just started 2 years ago what the hell do they have in their forces that we don't?"

"Nothing, my King. They just seem so much more skilled than us," Simon mumbled.

Tightening his fists, Vesemir straightened and with a booming voice, "I'm going on the frontlines."

All hell broke loose. The generals started to oppose his decision with Simon and Kiran yelling at the same time.

"What about the Queen?"

"-the Prince and the Princess..."

"It's too dangerous-"

"-life is at stake-"

Vesemir breathed in before yelling for everyone to be silent. Everyone in the room quietened down immediately.

"No one will stop me. You clearly have forgotten I won the competition for Aoroia's best fighter back many years ago."

"King, with all due respect, this is war, "Lionel mentioned, hoping to change his mind.

"Of course it is. So I will be on the frontlines. If Aoroia goes down, at least I have done something to prevent it," Vesemir concluded, everyone knew better than to challenge his decision.

"I object!"

Cirilla pushed past the guards in the War Room, meeting Simon and Kiran halfway who tried to block her. She glared daggers at the both of them, "move out of your Queen's way," she hissed menacingly.

Vesemir braced himself to face the wrath of his wife. Turning around, he was about to speak when Cirilla gave him the slap of his life.

There was a slight audible gasp. The war generals including Simon and Kiran had to force every bone in their bone not to move to help the King. They knew not to mess with the Queen especially when she was furious.

Vesemir wasn't even mad, he had expected some sort of objection from her but not to this extent. He watched Cirilla, her eyes wide and chest heaving. The amount of anger directed to him was crazy.

As if there was some command, everyone began to stand to their feet and make their way out of the War Room, sensing the King and Queen needed some privacy.

When the doors closed Cirilla was still hurling imaginary daggers at Vesemir, who was slightly afraid for his life.

"You didn't even consult me!" Cirilla yelled, getting to the point.

Vesemir stayed silent.

"I'm your wife! We've been married for 15 years! We even have children and you go off volunteering for a suicide mission!" Cirilla continued to yell.

"Cirilla..." Vesemir reached for her but she pulled away, taking a step back, shaking her head as tears began to fall.

"Arragon is merely 12 and Selaena only 7, the children need you as their father. You can't go."

"I'm Aoroia's King, I have to-"

"No! No, you don't!"

Vesemir frowned, "what do you mean?"

"I mean, we run," Cirilla said simply, looking straight at Vesemir.

She noticed the stubble that grew on his chin, the eye bags, the dark circles, the tired eyes. She saw his stress, his guilt, his worries.

"We are fighting a losing war, Vesemir. We lost 60% of our land. We are gone," Cirilla pleaded, pushing the facts to him.

She watched as anger built up slowly in her husband, his eyes were on her, "you are the Queen of Hiyde and yet you already lose faith in our land."

"We are side-tracking here. You will not go on the frontlines, the children need you."

"Yes, they do and I will therefore return with victory. We can have a peaceful life again," Vesemir softened his tone, trying to convince her, cradling her face with his hands and wiping her tears.

"No, no. I won't let you," Cirilla said, standing firm by her decision.

Cirilla had a dreadful feeling he wouldn't return if he went on the frontlines, alive that is. She couldn't let Arragon and Selaena go without a father.

"Please, my dear. Aoroia needs me, I'm one of the best there is," Vesemir continued to plead.

Perhaps she could find Mikhail for help? Would he be willing to? She didn't need to go back to the forest to find him did she?

"You...you promise me that you will most definitely come back. Alive," Cirilla relented.

Vesemir beamed, "yes of course. I promise."

"No, say it. Say everything."

He frowned, but made no word of his wife's weird request, "I promise I will return to you and our children alive. I promise."

Still unconvinced, Cirilla let the matter go. Time to find Mikhail now.

...

"Will Dad come back?" Arragon asked. Cirilla smiled, patting her son's head.

"Of course, he made a promise to all of us to return."

Arragon stayed silent and continued to read his book. Cirilla turned her head and spotted Selaena walking in between the tall bookshelves, looking for something to read as well.

The three of them were in the library, with a multitude of guards outside protecting them. Vesemir had given the most ridiculous rules before he had left for the frontlines 2 months ago.

Selaena was bouncing around, like the war wasn't even happening right now.

When Selaena was born, Cirilla managed to catch the red eyes, signaling Mikhail and Raphael's presence in her. Her daughter had been chosen.

"Arragon, can you go fetch me something from the shelves at the back? The book title is something about ink, it's at shelf 54," Cirilla tried to lure her son away.

"Why can't you go get it yourself?" he asked, the rebellious side of him showing.

"Because your mother is not feeling well. Please?" Cirilla smiled, it was true indeed. After Selaena's birth, she had been weaker. The Royal Doctor was right, her body could not handle anymore births.

Arragon put his book aside before hoisting himself off the huge chair.

Once he disappeared behind the shelves far away, Cirilla called out for Mikhail. She had no idea if it would even work.

"Mikhail?" she directed her voice to Selaena, who was pretty clueless.

"Come on, Mikhail. I need to speak with you."

Selaena froze before she creepily turned around, her eyes now blood red.

"What is it that you want, Queen of Aoroia?" she snickered.

What an attitude.

"Drop that tone. I want you to ask you something."

Selaena/Mikhail rolled her eyes before settling herself down on the chair beside Cirilla, "I bet you want to ask about that husband of yours?"

"Yes. Will he be ali-"

"I don't know."

Cirilla frowned, "but..."

"I don't have powers to see the future. I don't know anything at all."

"No hint?"

"I have heard some from the higher-ups," Selaena/Mikhail grinned.

"Please do tell."

"It'll only cause you more worry."

Cirilla threw her hands up in the air in frustration, "please, Mikhail."

"Alright...he might die by the sword of the general leading the Barsburg army."

Cirilla's breath hitched and she nearly flipped. She was so tempted to have Simon call back Vesemir right now from the frontlines. Fear struck her heart like never before. She couldn't lose Vesemir. The thought of him leaving her made her eyes water. Vesemir was practically half of her soul. There had to be a way to prevent him from dying.

Selaena/Mikhail, sensing her distress, said, "you cannot change fate."

She turned to glare fiercely at him, "don't say that sort of thing to me. I will protect my family."

Her daughter/Mikhail shrugged, "as you wish, Cirilla. I have to go, my time is up." And with that, Selaena returned to her 7 year old self.

Arragon, just nicely, returned with empty hands. Cirilla didn't mind. She stood up hastily, yelling for Simon.

He rushed in, worry on his face which turned to relief, "My Queen?"

"I want you to bring the King back from the frontlines immediately. This is urgent," Cirilla ordered.

"What happened? Maybe I can-"

"You can't. Bring him home right now. If he is being a stubborn pig, tell him someone is going to die if he doesn't come right away," Cirilla hissed.

Simon, fearful, quickly bowed before speeding off.

Cirilla sighed in relief and watched as her two children walked up to her.

"What's happening? Is Dad coming back?" Arragon asked.

Cirilla smiled, "Yea he's coming back. And I'm keeping all of you safe."

A/N: Editing the very first book at the same time. Notice I changed the title name as well and the cover.

How to tell of it's an edited chapter: it will have a chapter name besides just having a chapter number.