Moonlight Ball

Iris was bewildered and tilted her head to one side. In the next pillar, the reflection’s head was tilted to one side too.

It’s me, but why do I have that face? Iris tried to get her throbbing brain to function. How on earth did this happen?

Then it dawned on her that many wizards had numerous tattoos on their bodies, as did she, and for the spell to be invoked immediately, she carved out the spells in a place where she could not see herself. One of them was the ‘Movement of the Soul’ spell.

When a person died, it meant that the body and soul died at the same time. In other words, even if the body was dying, if the soul was taken out, it could delay the death of the body. Of course, when the body was dead, the soul connected to the body would not be safe, but it certainly worked better than dying. Bleeding in one place would be better than bleeding in two places. In the event of a threat to the body, Iris’s body was automatically supposed to invoke the movement spell of the soul. The spell was created purely for one reason, and Iris had completely forgotten that she had it.

She thought for a moment about the spell, So, I’m in another person’s body? The woman of magnificent beauty! 

According to Elaine’s ‘Impression Classification’, she was the owner of a ‘perfect face to ruin someone’s life.’ The gravity of this hit her hard and her legs buckled beneath her.

“Don’t bother me, Rosemary!” The man held her with irritation.

Rosemary, is that her name? she wondered. The man dragging her must be the husband of this woman, Rosemary. They called him ‘Your Highness’, so I’m sure he’s a royal. Iris tried to clear her mind, but it was difficult for her to recall what to do because she was not interested in royalty. The king, queen, prince, princess, and whoever else?

Who’s Rosemary? Whose name was this? Before they knew it, they were at a huge, striking door as Iris still struggled to squeeze out a faint memory.

“His Majesty and the Queen will pass!” shouted the servants.

The huge door opened silently and a hall appeared in front of them. In the center, stood members of the tower, wearing red hoods, and the person in front was the one Iris knew immediately.

“The Wizard Elaine wishes to see the King, and…” Elaine’s voice was hoarse. He continued in a tone as if he were pulling a sword, “the Queen.”

Elaine’s disciples, the followers, knelt in unison as he served the manners of the Magic Tower. Iris had never seen him like this since she’d met Elaine and he was looking at her expressionless. Then, she saw pure hatred well up in his gray sad eyes, and astonished by the intense, eerie gaze, Iris unknowingly backed away.

“I’m here to inform you,” Elaine struggled to hold his composure and looked Iris directly in the eyes and continued, “that Iris Elaine, my disciple, friend, adopted daughter, and adviser, was found dead this morning in the Harance River, Your Grace.”

The fiery fire of hatred was about to seep out of the teacher’s eyes and grab Iris’s neck. The air was so heavy that it was hard to breathe; Iris took another step back.

No, teacher! I’m here. I’m not dead!

But she dare not say that. Knowing that the man next to her was the King and the owner of her body was the Queen, she had to watch her words. The Magic Tower and the royal family had always been politically unfriendly. She didn’t how the royal family would react if they learned that Elaine’s soul was in the Queen’s body. She couldn’t tell Elaine right now.

Iris looked carefully at the side of the man clutching her wrist. He had a statue-like appearance, and he didn’t seem to feel that much human emotion. Flaming red hair, lips that showed firm will, royal red eyes, and a high nose. The King and Queen were a treasured couple and were proud of their looks. And his massive hands were scary. Having been slapped by both of them, Iris sarcastically thought that they made a perfect couple; they were both equally cruel and arrogant. They didn’t even seem to view other people as human. If she gets caught, it’ll be hard to see the good.

“Iris did not deserve to die like this! She had natural magic and great talent, and she was cautious and gentle when it came to other people. She had no reason to die like this!” Elaine bellowed angrily.

“What are you saying against the King now? Be polite, Elaine!”

The guards pointed their swords; the sound of their movement was threatening. Iris jumped forward without realizing it because the men in black armor were about to kill their teacher.

“What are you doing?” King Sidrain asked loudly.

Iris stood in front of Elaine.

Everyone looked at Iris with dumbfounded eyes. Everyone was worried that the queen really had a mental problem, and the king already thought his wife was crazy. She stood in front of him and blocked his way. The person that felt that this situation was ridiculous was Elaine. He knew this Queen quite well. Iris didn’t know, but Elaine and the Queen were cousins. Elaine had known her since she was a child and had called her ‘mad Rosemary’.