"You are protective and don't want to see your prince dead."
As those words left Erica's mouth, Zani's eyes immediately mirrored a faint blue glow, and she took several steps back.
Erica watched with a satisfied look as Zani clenched her head, the compulsion taking full control of her.
Unlike Martins, whose star of control was linked to directly altering laws after his command, Erica's power focused on manipulating the mental state of others.
While she couldn't order you to sit, stand, or serve, she could still compel you into whatever state she desired.
And for Zani, she wanted her protection.
With that done, she turned to look at her brother.
"Do you still think you can handle it?"
Sylus grunted angrily.
'Damn you, Erica. What are you trying to prove?'
While Sylus knew Erica couldn't maintain the compulsion for long, he didn't want to wait around to find out what she could do in the meantime.
He turned his attention to Zani, trying to see if he could lift his finger to use his Queen's Touch.
So close—or so he thought.
As soon as his hand rose from the ground, Erica stomped on it.
She twisted her foot as hard as she could to inflict maximum pain.
Sylus didn't scream, but the pain was visible on his face.
Since he was still somewhat a child, his skin was soft, making it easier to bruise on the ground.
"Go on, aren't you going to call for her to help you? You said you'd handle it, right? Go on then, handle it, brother!"
Erica stomped on his hand again, this time causing Sylus to grunt. His blood stained the ground.
"Tell her to come defend you! Because I don't plan on st—"
"Princess Erica!"
Gilgath's voice rang through the air before he grabbed Erica by the arm and pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground.
Erica's butt hit the floor, anger immediately marring her face as she shot her gaze forward.
"Why did you—"
Then she realized.
During her moment of bliss while torturing her brother, Zani had made a move, launching herself forward to strike a fatal blow.
Thankfully, Gilgath stepped in, but judging by his current state, he wouldn't last much longer.
The single punch he had tried to block from Zani had ruptured his arm, his bones protruding from his skin as blood dripped to the ground.
He didn't even have time to scream before fainting from shock and blood loss.
Meanwhile, Zani stood firm, mana circling her body intensely, her eyes reflecting a mix of Erica's compulsion and a newfound power.
'YES!'
For a brief moment, Sylus felt nothing but pure happiness—or perhaps pride. Either way, his eyes sparked with light.
That was until he realized Erica's compulsion was still active.
With little expression on her face, Zani turned her gaze to Erica, taking slow, steady steps toward her.
"Stay away from me!" Erica yelled, not hiding the terror in her voice.
Anyone would be terrified witnessing a small girl like Zani knock down a boy twice her size.
To make matters worse, Erica could no longer use her compulsion on Zani.
She could only cast one compulsion on a person at a time, and any additional command required canceling the first. But that only worked when she had enough energy, which, at that moment, she lacked.
Zani looked her dead in the eye, advancing one step at a time as if taunting the terrified princess.
"MOM! DAD! Ahhhh!" A loud scream echoed from Erica.
Sylus suddenly shouted, "Zani, wait! Snap out of it!"
Zani halted.
[The master's command has overridden the compulsion.]
A smile spread across Sylus's face.
He hadn't expected it to work, but it did. Thankfully, he knew what would happen if Zani laid a hand on Erica.
Soon after, Sylus realized he could move his body and quickly stood to run to Zani's side.
He pulled her behind him. Though she was confused about what had happened, she didn't resist.
She simply stared at her hand, watching as blood dripped from it.
"You might want to get him checked out, or he'll die in this hallway," Sylus said to his sister.
Tears clung to Erica's eyes as she remained on the floor.
"I can't believe you'd let her disgrace me like that."
Sylus narrowed his gaze.
"What are you talking about? You compelled her to do that. Don't act like it's her fault."
"No, I didn't. She did it all on her own."
"What?"
A voice came from the end of the hallway.
"Erica, darling? What happened? I heard you scream!"
Running toward them were their parents, worry etched on their faces.
On the other side were Alfred and some maids.
Erica's scream had summoned nearly everyone in the castle.
Just when Sylus thought things couldn't get worse.
"Father! Mother! Sylus's Mystero attacked me out of nowhere and injured Gilgath!"
Erica stood up from the ground, sprinting toward her father while crying her eyes out.
Everyone gasped in shock after seeing Gilgath lying in his own blood, unconscious.
"Quick! Take him to the room!" Alfred ordered.
The maids carried the injured boy away to get him treated.
Sylus knew what was coming next.
And he wasn't sure he wanted to witness it.
"Sylus."
His father called out to him, as if he were a god sitting atop a throne.
Sylus didn't turn his full body, only his head.
Somehow, Erica had reached Elizabeth and was now crying in her arms.
"Yes, Father."
...
[A/N: You've gotten this far already, please add to your collection if you like this books, leave a comment and show your support with a power stone. thank you for reading.]