Bette stared in horror at the man in front of her. The King’s eyes were widened and filled with pain, his mouth open in a silent scream. She felt a warm liquid rush onto her hand and fingers. She didn’t need to look down to know what it was, the King’s blood.

Suddenly, Bette felt a series of sharp pains in her back followed by another scream from Tina.

"NOOO! STOPPPP!"

Another sharp pain pierced Bette’s back and she felt it shoot through her entire body like she was being shocked. Just then Bette knew what it was, an arrow blessed with Oracle magic.

Being half Oracle, regular arrows could hurt Bette but one blessed with magic would have a poison effect on her. It would kill her yes but much more slowly and a lot more painfully.

She stumbled back, pulling the sword out of the King’s stomach and earned a grunt of pain from the lord.

The King fell on his knees as Bette fell to her side. In the distance, she saw a small figure jumping from a high tower to a lower one, then another and another. Blonde hair bounced up and down with each jump.

Tina. Her sweet, beautiful Tina.

"What have you done?! You were NOT to hurt her!!"

In Bette’s weakened state, she was surprised she recognized Jodi’s voice but she did. The Empress launched a series of blue fireballs at the archers on th balconies, the sounds of the explosions seemed so far away.

The clanging sound of armor grew louder and louder as the soldiers of the castle ran toward Bette and the King. Bette’s vision became blurred as she laid the side of her tired head on the ground. An image of Tina came more into focus as she came closer and closer, running with tears streaming down her face.

"Get away from her!"

Jodi yelled as she launched another fireball at Tina, Bette could do nothing but watch.

Shane was right behind Tina, wrapping an arm around the blonde’s waist and spun her around to take the fireball head on. She deflected the attack with her magic sword as the rest of the soldiers flinched at the heat.