.2.

Leon stood silently in front of the fallen maiden. He was in shock at what had happened. He stared at the maiden before him and then quickly averted his eyes at the sight of her bare skin. The mysterious woman was wearing a scantily dress that stopped at her mid-thighs. Out of respect, Leon quickly spun around and hurried away, feeling that it was best to fetch his maids than take heed to the almost naked woman himself.

He stopped in his tracks when he heard the woman groan. He turned his head around, just enough to see the woman from the corner of his eye. He saw the woman pull herself up and grip her arm in pain. An arrow had penetrated her arm deeply. The woman hissed in pain when she attempted to pull it out.

Before the woman could spot him, Leon quickly hid in the bushes. He didn't know why he was hiding. While he knew of the heinous, cannibalistic creatures that lurked outside his kingdom, he had a very limited knowledge on magical beings; mostly because he didn't believe in them. But after seeing a swan transform into a woman, he didn't know what to think.

Leon sat in the bushes contemplating quickly on if he should approach the woman. She clearly needed help considering she kept failing to pull out the arrow. She was doing more damage than the arrow was at that point. Her painful cry made up his mind.

Leon made himself known by approaching her, surprising the woman who immediately stood up and backed away. She stared at him with widened eyes and a pale face. Leon noticed she was breathing heavily and her arm was still bleeding profusely.

"Please, don't be alarmed, my lady." Leon spoke gently. He took a step forward and the woman took multiple steps back. She held her arm agonizingly and shot him a glare.

"Don't..." she panted, "you'll regret it."

Before Leon could say another word, large black wings sprouted from the woman's back and encased her. Within seconds, a black swan took off into the skies.

Leon watched the swan stagger as it flew and disappeared from his sights.

"Are princesses not good enough for you?" A voice spoke behind him.

Leon knew that voice anywhere. It belonged to his long time best friend, Ada, who was also his kingdom's best hunter.

She stepped out of the shadows, with her rifle in hand. She wore her typical hunter's clothing that consisted of a well fitted black attire with red ornaments on them. Her usual cape was missing.

Leon's eyes caught a black feather in her hand. "...Were you hunting her?" he asked.

Ada smiled. "I'm not responsible for her injuries, if that's what you're asking."

She dropped the feather to the ground which burnt up into ashes.

"Whatever she is, she's an unholy being, Leon. It is in your best interest that you leave her alone," Ada spoke. "She was shot by the Church Men while I was tracking her."

The Church Men were the notorious religious sect that was growing day by day in his kingdom. They believed in the Holy God, Antonius, and refused their King. Leon had enough troubles with them to feel bitterness whenever their sect name came up in conversations.

"Why did they attack her?" Leon asked.

"The same reasons why they kill every other black colored animal," Ada said. "Because their so-called Holy God condemns any black animals."

Leon sighed. "I need to do something about those people."

"Let me lead the army," Ada said, grabbing her rifle. "I'll make sure none of them returns to this kingdom."

Leon gave her a stern look. "I don't want another war."

"Won't be one. They have fifty or so men. You have a thousand."

"Enough, Ada."

"Just a thought, Leon. You can't win people over with kindness and naivety."

"I'll just keep an eye on them more."

"Why don't you send me to do it?"

Leon paused for a bit. He gave Ada a look which she immediately interpreted.

"No," she said.

"I just want to know if she is okay," Leon said.

"That is none of your business, Leon." Ada said, shaking her head. "You have better things to do than follow some strange woman."

"Please, Ada." Leon said. "I stood there when she needed my help. I want to help her if she needs it."

Ada leaned against the tree besides her. They stood in the garden silently, staring at each other.

"I'll do it if you tell me the truth," Ada said. "What are you going to do when I find her?"

"Help her."

"And who gave you that responsibility?"

"Ada, please. She was hurt by one of my people. I have to take responsibility."

Ada stood quietly for a moment, studying Leon's face, before lifting herself from the tree.

"All right, I'll go. It shouldn't take that long to find her since she's a swan." Ada glanced at Leon with narrowed eyes. "What do you want me to do when I find her?"

"Just come back and let me know. If she's still hurting, bring her back. I'll have Marylene treat her wounds."

Ada nodded and walked away from Leon. Leon trusted in Ada's abilities. She was an accomplished hunter and kept the kingdom safe from harm multiple times. Since they were at a time of peace, he didn't feel guilty in sending an exalted hunter to track down a woman. He would rather deal with the Church Men than have Ada deal with them in her own sadistic ways, anyways.

Leon turned to the skies and stared at the stars. He couldn't stop thinking about the swan woman.

While he was honest about treating the woman's wounds, he also wanted to see her again out of his own interests. A beautiful woman that could turn into a swan intrigued him. He wanted to know more about her. Leon was a man of science, and magic was baffling to him. Now that he had seen the proof of magic, his curiosity for it grew at a rapid pace. He calmed his beating heart at the possibility of using magic to find his parents. He knew jumping into conclusions and setting himself up for failure would be a waste of time.

He thought of talking to Marylene about the woman but, stopped himself. He knew Marylene wouldn't approve of him being interested in a magical creature. Had Marylene been with him when the woman appeared, he would have fought to pry Marylene's grasp from the woman. Marylene was always protective of Leon and hated the princesses that came to court him; mostly because she didn't think they were good enough for him.

Leon started walking back to his room. He hoped Ada would find the woman soon. It pained him that his people were the ones that injured her. Tomorrow, Leon would send his trusted soldiers in disguise to make sure the Church Men would never injure another living being ever again. He was tired of the renegades constantly breaking the laws. He knew confrontation was inevitable. He needed to prepare for a delicate compromise so that no blood is shed between the violent sect and his people.

With a sigh, Leon returned to his room and dreamt of the black swan.

Across the black night, the black swan fluttered her wings as much as she could. She was tired and getting weaker by the second with her injury. Each forceful push of her flight was draining her consciousness.

She let out a gasp of relief when the emerald waters of her home appeared midst the dark forest. With one final push, she approached the open enclosure and collapsed into the waters.

The swan breathed heavily as she floated in the still waters. Her blood colored the water around her an orangish hue. Her vision faded and her breathing grew slower.

As she faded into unconsciousness, the last thing she saw were a group of white swans approaching her with a black figure.

The black figure stood before the fainted swan. His black robe and body floated above the waters. In his left hand was a long staff made of aged wood and bones. The man pointed his staff at the black swan. The bones in the staff crackled as the unconscious body was lifted from the waters by an invisible force. The arrow on the black swan decayed as if years had passed suddenly. It fell out of the black swan and her wound was instantly closed with no scarring left behind.

The figure grimaced at the sight of the black swan regaining her consciousness.

"Good job, my princess."

AN: Updates will continue to be random, unfortunately. I really appreciate all the reviews you guys left for me. Thank you, always, for taking the time to leave one.

I apologize if my writing seems off. I am trying to get back into it.