CHAPTER 210: SEPHRINA [10]

Sephrina glared at her, but her eyes lingered on her father.

Akamir’s eyes widened. ’Wait, the wedding!’

He finally got a clue to break this world.

Even Sephrina, though visibly annoyed, gave in with a scowl and stood up, allowing the royal tailor to begin her work.

It was clear that she only agreed because the sword at her father’s neck left her no choice.

The tailor, a tall woman with silver-streaked hair tied tightly behind her head, circled Sephrina like a hawk, measuring her arms and waist.

She made notes on a small parchment pad as she worked.

"You’re lucky, my lady," she said with a sharp smile, her tone cheerful but rehearsed.

"Not everyone gets the honour of marrying King Lewin. He’s truly a great man. So noble and so generous."

Sephrina didn’t respond. Her gaze flicked from the tailor to her father, who stood still under guard.

The moment their eyes met, she clenched her fists but remained quiet.

"He’s done so much for the kingdom," the woman continued as she knelt to check Sephrina’s hem length.

"Many ladies would kill for this chance."

Akamir watched the interaction from the side.

He didn’t miss the subtle tremble in Sephrina’s shoulders every time the tailor praised Lewin.

Her lips were sealed, but her silence was telling.

Meanwhile, Akamir’s mind drifted elsewhere.

’If this world’s logic is tied to her dream, then maybe... the wedding could be the key to breaking it.’

He reached into his coat and pulled out the old key he had received earlier.

Turning it between his fingers, he examined the ornate symbol engraved at the base.

’It looks like the same symbol used by the church Lewin is connected to. If we find that church here, maybe we can find the Anchor that binds this dream realm.’

He glanced toward Sephrina, who now stood with her arms out as the tailor measured her shoulders.

None of the others could hear the real conversation, so he waited for a moment and then whispered to her.

"Sephrina."

She blinked, her attention shifting.

He stepped closer and spoke under his breath.

"I think I’ve figured out where we need to go. The church Lewin’s affiliated with. This key—it belongs to that place. If we find it here, we might find the Anchor."

She frowned slightly. "Anchor?"

"Something that links Kros to this false world," Akamir explained.

"We destroy that, and we can break this illusion."

"And how do you know that’s where it is?"

"I don’t. But I have a hunch."

Sephrina didn’t question it further. She just nodded faintly, her mind already working through the idea.

Behind them, the royal tailor turned to Velyrian.

"And now, the father of the bride," she said pleasantly.

Two guards grabbed Velyrian and dragged him forward.

He looked confused but didn’t resist as the woman began taking measurements, her hands swift and practiced.

Sephrina’s eyes narrowed at the sight, but she stayed quiet, perhaps knowing that reacting now would only escalate things.

Akamir kept his focus on the key, watching it as though it held the answers.

He could almost feel a pull coming from it.

Eventually, the royal tailor finished her work.

She bowed low to Sephrina again.

"You’ll look beautiful, my lady. Truly a bride worthy of our king."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels and strode out of the room, the soldiers following behind her.

The door shut with a solid thud.

Silence returned.

Akamir let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

He glanced at Sephrina, who stood unmoving beside the bed.

"We need to move," he said. "If we’re right about the church, it won’t stay unguarded for long."

Sephrina nodded, her jaw tight.

"And what about my father?" she asked.

"We take him with us," Akamir replied. "No way I’m leaving him behind now."

The girl’s expression softened just slightly.

And for the first time since waking up in this strange world, Sephrina looked determined.

Akamir rubbed his chin as he looked at the girl.

"So..." Sephrina asked, looking at him. "What do we need to do?"

"Well, we need to wait for night first," Akamir replied softly. "Our chances of escaping would be more then."

Sephrina nodded her head in response as she asked once again. "Can I look at it?"

Akamir glanced at the key she pointed at before he passed it to her.

Sephrina began to examine the key as she slowly sat down on the ground.

Akamir also sat down beside her as he asked. "Do you remember something?"

Sephrina hesitated, but she nodded nonetheless.

"There is a saying within the elves...." She mumbled, unsure if it’s related. "...Ieril of Dawn liked a game a lot."

Akamir frowned. "What game?"

"She used to hide the key of her room, and whoever found the key could ask for one wish."

Sephrina mumbled, rubbing the key in her hand.

"But the wish always had a catch to it."

Akamir turned silent as he looked at her. "Are you saying...."

"If Kros is trying to mimic the ways of the elves," she whispered softly, "then maybe she would also grant a wish."

Akamir couldn’t help but nod his head at her words.

Unrealistic as this may sound, but anything here isn’t real anyway.

Akamir leaned his head back against the bedpost, arms loosely folded.

Sephrina was still staring at the key.

"That story about Ieril," he said after a moment, "was it just a game, or do you think she was actually granting wishes?"

Sephrina shrugged. "She was an eccentric Empress. People said she played with fate like it was a pet bird. But no one ever came out of her games the same."

Akamir gave a low chuckle. "Sounds familiar."

Velyrian stirred from the side, slowly easing himself down onto a nearby chair.

His shoulders slumped as though the weight of the last few days had finally caught up.

"So we’re going to crash a wedding?" he asked dryly.

"Something like that," Akamir replied, looking at Sephrina. "Right?"

Sephrina didn’t speak as she placed the key in his hand.

"If the wish thing is true," she said in a soft voice, "let me ask it, please."

Akamir raised his brow in response. "And why would I do—."

"I will do anything you will ask," she cut him off, her eyes low. "I...this might be the only way to save the elves."

Akamir remained silent as he kept on staring at her without any words.

Once again his image of her being someone who loves her kingdom dearly was solidified.

"Alright," he nodded in response. "But I would ask something hefty in return."

"As long as you don’t ask my body," Sephrina said with a straight face. "I will oblige to your demands."

Akamir tilted his head. "Why would I ask for your body?" he questioned. "You are cursed, remember?"

Sephrina’s face immediately fell as she remembered her real-world condition.

"Right..." she whispered softly. "I am cursed."

Akamir felt a sudden awkwardness as he looked at her face that seemed to hold back from crying.

He let out a sigh as he patted her head. "Don’t worry," he said. "Everything will be fine."

Sephrina trembled at his touch, as she hadn’t felt something like this in a long time.

She quickly pulled herself away from him as she nodded.

Sephrina remained silent as she closed her eyes.

’Is she reviewing the memories?’

Akamir wondered, rubbing his chin as he stared at her.

For better or worse, the life she lived here was the one she had always dreamed about.

Akamir wouldn’t be able to blame her if she had decided to live in this world.

’But in the end this world is nothing but an illusion.’

Akamir was sure once Kros is done making a new body, she would not hesitate to kill everyone.

’Urgh, what a pain this is.’

He let out a sigh as he moved towards the window.

As he stared out in the city, a fairy zapped past him and sat on his shoulder.

Akamir glanced at Lili, who was looking out in the sky as well.

"Hey, Lili," Akamir mumbled softly. "Can you do something for me?"

Lili blinked her eyes as she replied. "What is it?"

"Can you go and look around the city," he instructed, "for anything that resembled a church."

Lili tilted her head before she nodded in response. "Okay!"

Her small body moved as she zapped in the open sky.

Akamir watched her go, then turned to glance back at Sephrina and Velyrian.

The quiet stillness of the room was a stark contrast to the storm that he knew was about to hit.

They had a lead, a key, and a plan, however it was vague.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

After waiting for half an hour, Lili returned with a bright smile.

She quickly rushed towards Akamir as she exclaimed.

"I found the Church!"