The World Is Mine For The Taking

Angelica’s POV

"The Eclipse will blanket this world in darkness once more, and Lord Xyroskhaal will finally bless us with his return!"

That word echoed in my mind, and with it, every memory of what they’d done to me to bring me to this point. I never would’ve imagined I’d fall into something like this. But here I was. I never even thought something so massive existed in this world—until they brainwashed me into joining them.

The right side of my head was throbbing in pain. One of my eyes had exploded, and I could barely think straight.

The right side of my head throbbed with a relentless, burning pain. My eye had exploded, and the world was a blurry mess. I couldn’t think straight, my thoughts scattered like glass shards.

Somehow, when my head blew apart, it shattered the brainwashing too. The control they had over me faded, and I barely managed to stop myself from dying through sheer force of will. Maybe my mind fought back, resisting just enough to save me from that final, fatal moment. Or maybe it was dumb luck. Either way, I broke free, no longer a mindless slave to their fucked-up devotion. I didn’t want to live like that—blind faith in something I didn’t understand, something evil.

But none of that mattered now. I had to get to the castle. Commander Lilia had to know what was happening. Yeah, she tried to kill me before, but the safety of the entire kingdom, maybe the whole world, was at stake. No time for grudges. No time for fear.

Oddly enough, being brainwashed worked to my advantage. The people who were brainwashed as well at the Capital weren’t watching me like a threat, not after what I’d been through. I slipped past them, unnoticed, making my way toward the main plaza. If I didn’t stop the leader of the Eclipse, it would all be over. I couldn’t let that happen.

The pain was unbearable, every step felt like fire ripping through my body, but I pressed on. I had to. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I reached the castle.

"State your business! What are you doing here? If you remain silent, we’ll arrest you!"

A crowd had already gathered. I wasn’t the only one they had brainwashed. The people standing in front of the royal knights were like me—once innocent citizens, now twisted into hollow puppets, mindlessly loyal to the Eclipse. The knights stood in formation at the entrance, spears ready, but the crowd didn’t move. They just stared, vacant, unblinking.

"I said state your business!" the knight captain shouted, stomping forward. His voice cut through the tension like a blade, his patience clearly running thin.

I knew what I had to do. I stepped out of the crowd, my body screaming in agony, each movement a brutal reminder of what I’d endured. Limping forward, I made my way toward the captain.

"I’m going to tell you... exactly what their business is. But I need to whisper it, so don’t attack."

"We can’t let someone suspicious get any closer! Don’t even try it!" the captain growled, his hand gripping his weapon.

"I

am

," I said, voice steady but strained. The crowd behind me seemed oblivious, but if they caught wind of what I was doing, they’d tear me apart. I reached inside my cloak, feeling the cool metal of my insignia, the only proof I had of who I was.

I pulled it out, showing him the symbol that marked me as a magic knight. At first, the captain stiffened, ready to strike, but then his eyes widened as he realized who I was. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"You’re...?"

"I am," I confirmed, my voice low. "I’ll explain everything, but you need to keep quiet. These people are innocent. Don’t kill them."

"S-Still, it’s possible—"

"I haven’t stolen it," I shot back, my voice low and sharp. "Do you seriously believe some random person could just steal an insignia from a magic knight? Do you really think a magic knight would be that dumb?"

"N-No, I don’t, but..."

"I graduated a year ago, served as a knight for that time, and was promoted to captain. If you’re that desperate for proof, check the records yourself."

The captain blinked, his composure faltering under the weight of my words. "T-Then... what is their intention?" he asked.

"They’re trying to keep the royal knights and magic knights busy so they won’t realize what’s going on in the Capital," I explained. "Something big is about to happen. Something

awful

."

"A-Awful?"

"Yes. I almost became one of their pawns. These people behind me? They’ve been mind-controlled to distract us, to keep the knights from realizing the danger. This is a setup, and we’re running out of time," I said.

"W-What…?"

"The Capital is in a dangerous state right now. That’s why I need you to let me in to speak with the Commander," I continued.

"C-Commander?" His eyes widened.

"Commander Lilia. She’s the only one who might be able to undo this mind control. She could order them to stop," I said. Commander Lilia’s ability was powerful, almost like brainwashing itself. If anyone could break the hold over these people, it would be her.

"But… Commander Lilia and the Vice Commander are both on a mission," the captain said.

"What?!"

Of all times for her to be away, why

now

? My heart dropped into my stomach. This was the absolute worst-case scenario.

"Is there anyone else inside? We need to act immediately! The Capital is already compromised, and if we don’t stop the leader of the Eclipse, his goal will be realized!" My voice was barely a whisper, but the intensity of my words hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. My mind raced, the horrific image of corpses lining the streets by dawn flashing before my eyes—if we even survived until then.

"I-I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about, but—"

My frustration boiled over. I reached for his neck, but my hand collided with the cold steel of his armor. Fuck. I grabbed his shoulder instead, pulling him closer, my grip tight with desperation.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

The other knights stepped forward, spears raised, their eyes narrowed as they pointed their weapons at me.

"If we don’t act now, there will be even more victims! The leader of the Eclipse spoke of some kind of Ordeal, and it’s going to happen

soon

. We’re out of time! Get your ass inside, warn the others, and get them ready before it’s too late!"