Before Beauty

Even if her father was seeking to give up his ancestors’ dark power in order to obtain peaceful relations, Ever never doubted for a moment that the princess had every intention of keeping and using those powers to boost Tumen’s strength, with or without her father’s blessing. The master had begun by giving him a few gentle, obvious attacks, when blue fire suddenly burst from Ever’s arm and down his sword. They moved sluggishly, however, and though the prince kept his sword raised, the bird regained its confidence and began to strike at them once more. Isa finally understood his desperation to break the curse.