Rhine stepped forward, shielding His Majesty the King and the Queen. His arms traced graceful arcs through the air.
Clear spring water surged from the palace floor out of nowhere. The moment it touched the flames, it turned into billowing white mist, blocking the raging fire.
The luxurious carpet also sprang to life at once, protecting Rhine, His Majesty the King, and the Queen from the scalding steam.
The Old King opened his eyes. Only when he saw the back of the young man in magnificent robes did he come back to his senses.
Thank goodness Rhine was here, such a highly skilled mage! Amazing!
The Black Dragon was somewhat surprised by Rhine's display.
The silver-haired boy before her looked far too young, no more than eleven or twelve.
When she had attended the banquet, the Black Witch had heard that the boy seated beside the king was a mage. Yet because of his appearance, she had not taken him seriously at all.
"I truly did not expect this, old man. You had such a trick hidden away. Your court advisor is actually such a formidable mage," the Black Dragon sneered.
Seizing the Black Dragon's moment of surprise, Rhine lightly clapped his hands.
Clap! Clap!
Tables, chairs, plates, knives and forks, stone statues... it seemed that every object in the great hall had come alive. Some ran, some flew, and all of them rushed at the Black Dragon.
Grant Life! This was the magic Rhine had mastered after helping His Majesty the King and the Queen fulfill their wish to have a child.
While the soldiers, the 12 Witches, and the Black Dragon transformed from Maleficent had been fighting, Rhine had secretly been casting spells, granting life to the lifeless objects in the hall and creating a vast army of Animated Objects, waiting for this very moment!
It consumed more than half of Rhine's magic power, but it was entirely worth it!
A huge mass of Animated Objects leaped and scurried about, besieging the Black Dragon at the center.
The enormous stone statues drew their Greatswords and slashed at the Black Dragon, while silver knives and forks struggled to stab into the gaps between her scales.
As the Animated Objects fought, Rhine raised his hand again. Pure white light poured from his palm, enveloping the entire hall and flowing into the severely wounded soldiers and Witches, healing their injuries.
Healing Art! The soldiers who had been fleeing in all directions, along with the ash-covered nobles who had hidden beneath tables—only for the tables to run away—regained the color in their faces.
"Wonderful! It is the magic of Rhine, the Kingdom Sage!"
"Rhine has held back that vicious Black Witch!"
"Wasn't my leg burned off? It has recovered! Thank you, Rhine!"
"Let's attack together while we have the chance!"
After gaining a brief chance to catch their breath, the twelve Good Witches also gave their all. They unleashed every last spell they had and joined the soldiers in fighting the terrifying Black Dragon.
"How irritating."
The Black Dragon beat her wings.
The attacks of the Animated Objects, the kingdom's soldiers, and the Witches had not yet caused her any substantial harm, but dealing with them from all sides was still exceedingly annoying.
She had just unleashed a powerful curse capable of affecting the entire kingdom. Even with its fifteen-year delay, it had consumed most of her magic power, leaving her with little strength.
In her current state, crushing these ants was indeed no easy task.
Besides, who could say whether that young mage she did not know had truly used his full strength?
If the Kingdom Sage was still holding something back, then if she kept fighting, she might be injured or even forced to use her trump card...
Forget it. The curse had already been set. Why waste energy fighting...
The Black Dragon roared and fiercely beat her wings, sending all the surrounding Animated Objects flying.
Rumble!
The dragon smashed through the palace ceiling and flew into the starry sky amid the swirling dust.
The Black Witch's laughter echoed through the vast, boundless night:
"The curse has been cast. It cannot be avoided!
"Tomorrow, I shall leave this dying kingdom.
"Farewell, Your Majesty. Die together with your precious Princess!"
The Old King fell to his knees. Looking at the enormous hole smashed through the palace ceiling, the billowing dust, and the Black Dragon vanishing into the depths of the night sky, helplessness and despair rose within him.
Looking around, he saw foreign guests from every nation fleeing in panic.
Many intended to return to their own countries and warn their homelands never to approach this cursed land again.
The joy of the celebration, the crimson lights, the festive songs, the fragrance of the feast and wine—all of it seemed like a dream, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.
"Why? Why did this happen?"
The Old King knelt on the ground and cried out to the heavens.
The aged monarch's face was drained white with despair.
In her cradle, the Little Princess had been awakened by the tremendous noise. Her expression was blank, and she did not yet know what had happened.
The newborn Princess did not yet know what kind of curse she bore.
She felt no fear, nor did she cry.
Then, His Majesty the King, the Queen, and the mage Rhine all witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives—
The ignorant little Aurora waved her tiny hand toward the brilliant river of stars beyond the hole in the palace ceiling.
The Sleeping Beauty in her swaddling clothes giggled at the stars filling the sky.
Before you continue