The mask stood beside me, the tears that had glistened behind it now gone. He opened his eyes and turned to the center of the hall.
He looked at the audience. "I know there are more than one traitor," he said, "and I know they are watching me through these masks, waiting for the right moment. Let this traitor be a lesson to those who have been deceived by their eyes, so they may see something else as their just punishment."
He signaled to the soldiers to bring their golden staffs. "Let each of you draw your blade. Whoever does not stab the traitor is worthy of his position."
The minister placed his staff near her chest, and she was struck by a barrage of blows from all sides, followed by cries of despair and then silence.
The masked leader beside me stood stunned, motionless.
This drew the minister's gaze to his clean staff.
The leader noticed the minister's eyes, filled with sparks of hatred.
He did not move. I didn't want to stay in that place for more than a minute, so I tried to escape by any means. But as I took my first steps outside, someone grabbed my hand and shook his head, speaking from behind a mask, "It's better if you don't do that, so you don't attract attention."
I pushed his hand away. Everyone was startled by a movement of the ground beneath our feet.
Could it be an earthquake?
But everyone immediately realized it wasn't an earthquake. It was a giant. He appeared, screaming in the face of the corpse: "This is mine!"
The minister's voice boomed, "Let this be a lesson to anyone who would betray this hall."
We didn't move until we heard an external alarm, followed by a deafening explosion. Everyone rushed out of the hall in terror, unaware of what was happening outside.
The minister shouted, "Don't let anyone leave the castle!" He said this while looking at the wall where a group of women were fleeing. But no one could stop them after we heard another explosion that froze everyone in place. But seconds later, someone dropped something from the sky. It was a giant owl with a girl on its back.
The girl stood holding something, warning the soldiers not to approach. The soldiers ignored her and moved closer. Then something unexpected happened: she detonated herself, taking more than seven soldiers who had gathered around her with her. Their remains were scattered around the dead owl. Everything happened so fast, no one could react. I felt someone's hand and turned around. It was the mask next to me in the hall. It had kept me away from the events. Then he looked at me and said, "I apologize for you seeing all this. Please don't tell the prince." I didn't finish his sentence before I found myself losing consciousness.
He was holding something. I think it was a small needle.
The exciting part, or at least that's what I thought, didn't end until I heard a voice calling me. I opened my eyes and found myself in the room with the mermaid in front of me. She looked worried. Are you alright?
I don't know what happened, but I don't feel any pain. I think I'm fine.
The mermaid glanced towards the balcony.
I think we should leave.
She hadn't finished speaking when the prince entered, looking very worried, a concern he quickly concealed.
Are you awake?
Oh my God, are you alright?
She smiled at him. "Yes, I'm fine." There was a knock at the door, and the prince opened it to let in the castle doctor. "So you're awake?"
"Don't worry, there's nothing wrong."
Some servants entered afterward, carrying food and drink.
The doctor said, "Yes, here. Place it in front of her. I want you to eat well. Afterward, I want you to sit outside among the plants." She nodded. The prince asked, "Do you remember anything that happened? Do you remember who knocked you unconscious?"
He paused for a moment, thinking about those words from that masked figure.
Should I say something?
No, no, I don't think so. She looked at him and smiled. "No, no, I don't remember anything." "Of course, I'm sorry. I don't want to tire you out now. I'll leave you with the mermaid. Together now." The mermaid closed the door and made sure none of the soldiers were behind it. "I don't believe you, and I know you don't want to say anything.
Your face turns red when you lie."