The bunny sat awkwardly on the wooden table, its once-fearsome armor now comically reshaped to fit its new… fluffier form.
Kiel poked it.
> "Do you think he still understands us?"
"Of course," Ayra said, casually sipping tea. "I only changed his body. Not his mind. I wanted him to reflect."
> "On what?"
"His life choices. And also that ugly cape."
The bunny growled softly. Kiel jumped back.
> "He growled!"
"It's fine. I added a 'cuteness enchantment.' He can't do anything threatening without sneezing glitter."
Kiel blinked.
> "...You're terrifying."
Ayra smiled sweetly.
> "Thank you."
---
Meanwhile… Back at the Palace
Chaos.
Royal guards sprinted across the marbled halls. Mages chanted tracking spells. The King stood, pale and sweating, as his head commander knelt before him.
> "We lost contact with Commander Zayn."
> "Lost contact?"
"His tracker just… stopped. His aura signature was scrambled. And then we received… this."
The mage handed over a glowing scroll. The royal family leaned in.
It was a picture.
Of a bunny. Wearing Zayn's armor.
And someone had drawn a speech bubble that said:
> "Hoppy to serve you, your Majesty."
Silence.
Then:
> "WHO DARES DRAW BUNNY PUNS ON OFFICIAL REPORTS!?"
But the Queen wasn't laughing.
She stared at the scroll, eyes narrowing.
> "It's her. Ayra."
> "The illegitimate child?"
"No. The girl we thought had no power. We were wrong. Terribly wrong."
> "Then what is she?"
"...A mistake that could erase the entire kingdom."
---
Ayra, Bunny Postmaster
Back in the forest, Ayra strapped a tiny scroll to the bunny's back.
> "There. A personal note to Daddy Dearest."
"What does it say?" Kiel asked.
> "Just a little reminder that I'm alive. And that I turned his most loyal assassin into a fluffy postal service."
She whispered to the bunny.
> "When you see him, hop twice. It'll freak him out."
She tossed the bunny into a mini portal and waved goodbye.
> "Safe travels, Sir Fluffington."
Kiel tilted his head.
> "Why taunt them? Why not hide?"
"Because hiding is for people scared of being found," she said with a grin.
> "And you're not scared?"
"Oh, I want them to find me."
> "Why?"
Ayra looked up at the sky, eyes calm and endless.
> "Because when they finally understand what I am… it'll be too late."
---
A Sudden Visitor
As the sun dipped below the trees, a soft rustling echoed nearby.
Ayra and Kiel both froze.
> "More bandits?"
"No… something faster. Smarter."
Out of the trees stepped a girl—around Ayra's age, silver hair tied in a braid, eyes sharp like blades.
> "Princess Ayra?"
"That's my exile name. Who's asking?"
"I'm Lira, top graduate of the Royal Magic Academy."
> "And what brings you to my forest?"
"To challenge you."
Kiel: "Uhhh… don't?"
Ayra stood, curious.
> "You know I turned the last guy into a rabbit, right?"
"I'm not like him. I don't want to kill you. I want to test you."
> "Why?"
"Because if the kingdom was stupid enough to throw away a goddess, I want to know why the stars themselves whispered your name the night you were born."
Ayra blinked.
> "...Now that's a better opening line."
---