Once upon a Midnight | BOOK I

Four

The lady that Mikoto pointed at was just about to take her leave. She was wearing a black veil that covered her her body from head to toe, leaving only her eyes bare.

"Ayesha Rashad," Nicolas said as he moved closer. His perfect lips were shifting between smirk and smile and it almost felt as if his blue eyes brightened.

"Twenty six year old bounty huntress. One of the best in the realms. According to rumours, she faced the Shadow Queen head on," Mikoto said softly.

"But that would mean that she was ten when she faced the Shadow Queen." I turned a confused face at Mikoto.

Her smile broadened. "Like I said, rumours." She picked another berry and placed it in her mouth slowly.

"What exactly does a bounty huntress hunt?"

"You know, the usual." Nicolas moved his fingers through the golden locks on his head. "A rabid werewolf here. A rogue vampire there. A sorcerer who breaks any of the sorcery laws. A siren who causes an abnormal amount of drowning. A witch hunter. An alchemist carry–"

"Nicolas," I cut in. "I think that's enough."

"Don't mind that troll," Mikoto said as she stood up. "I have to take care of a few things, so, I'll leave the gossiping to that Scarecrow." Mikoto kissed the air the same time Nicolas rolled his eyes.

"You two seem tight," I said after Mikoto left the room.

"Our fathers are close. So, we're supposed to be friends by default but we've both made it our sworn duty to torment the other." Nicolas said and he lazily held the glass of water to his mouth.

"Well, she seems to be doing a better job at that." I laughed softly and filled the glass of wine Mikoto left on that table. "What are you waiting for? Continue the tour." I took a sip.

"Okay then. The little girl who won't stop eating chocolate is Patricia. Patricia Swan." He nodded towards a young girl who sat at the end of the table. Her flame red hair was made in a Dutch braid and she had these big beautiful brown eyes like that of fairies.

"Swan." I repeated. The name sounded familiar. "By the way, how in Zeus's name does she look that young?"

"She's twelve, Kim. Well, that's the general knowledge."

"A twelve year old in the Midnight Trials? Didn't anyone tell her that, 'in the Midnight Trials, it's either you win or die'?"

"Come on," Nicolas snorted. "She's the daughter of Rachael Swan."
I rolled my eyes. "That doesn't matter. But that name sounds familiar. Who's Rachael Swan?"

Nicolas drummed his fingers on the table. "You probably know her from that time when she stopped a volcanic eruption."

"No."

"Well, she's an alchemist. You could've read about her in a book or some–"

I snapped my fingers and turned to Nicolas sharply. "Rachael Swan. She's that alchemist who wrote the fire-wreathing spell. I read about it in a grimoire handbook."

"Well, that spell was brilliant but it's a very dangerous one. The number of sorcerers who have died or have been badly injured while performing that spell are numerous." He moved his hand to his jaw, playing with the low beard that was beginning to form.