《RECALCITRANCE》


 Chapter 1 ? The Princess Of Theia

    Overly pompous dresses and fancy accessories are never her thing.


    The elegant dress with its graceful frills is definitely inviting, but one would think twice before approaching the princess upon looking at her face.


    Despite the gleaming crown over her blonde hair smiling proudly, the expression on her face tells others otherwise. With furrowed brows, narrowed eyes and twisted lips, she stares at her reflection with a strong look of displeasure.


    "You look stunning, my dear Alaina."


    She can see the king''s reflection clearly in the mirror. Smiling, he wears an expression of a complete opposite of hers.


    A sudden shriek from the lady-in-waiting to Alaina''s right doesn''t even startle her. Instead, she turns to the source with full alert, instinctively lifting her long dress slightly to allow easier movements if necessary. Underneath and unseen by others, her fingers rest on the sheath of a pocket dagger tied to a belt that''s securely fastened around her right thigh.


    To her disappointment, it is only a mere insect creeping along the walls. Then again, she isn''t really disappointed after all -- nothing ever happens in the palace. The lonely, boring palace.


    Unfortunately, Alaina''s swift yet slightly rash actions are not gone unnoticed by the king. When she notices his gaze upon her, Alaina drops her head, not wanting to look him in the eye. Alastair Rowell has always been observant. One can not simply escape his sharp eyes.


    She knows exactly what''s coming.


    "What is that you have under your dress?" He lets out a deep, heavy sigh. "Alaina, dear -- how many times do I have to tell you?"


    Sighing once more when silence is all he receives as a reply, Alastair starts making his way towards Alaina. "You know very well I only wish for you to be safe."


    Unwillingly, Alaina surrenders her pocket dagger to the king''s outstretched hand. "Father, listen --"


    "Most importantly, you are my one and only daughter," Alastair says, cutting her off. He can see the strange look that''s plastered on her face. "I do not want to lose you." Then, softly, he adds, "I do not want to lose another one of you."


    She says nothing. Lifting her eyes from the ground, she finally finds the courage to look him in the eye. There''s a sharp pain in her chest at the mention of her late mother. It''s a depressing topic none of them like to be reminded of, because it''s too painful to relive the memory.


    "I can protect myself," she says finally, changing the topic in an attempt pull her thoughts away from the painful, unwanted memories. "And I certainly do not wish to become an ignorant princess unworthy of respect."


    "Youareworthy of respect. The people of Theia expect a lot from you."


    Gently, she pulls his hand in hers. Now eye to eye, Alaina locks his gaze. "Father, I know you love me, and you are only protecting me for my benefit," she says firmly, smiling for the first time today. "But I want to see the world. I want people to respect me for who I am, instead of who I ought to be."


    Alastair is silent. Indeed, he wants the best of her, but he definitely doesn''t want to overlook what''s bestfor herin her own individual, unique opinion.


    Before he has the chance to say anything else, however, there is a light knock on the grand doors, which is then closely followed by a call from outside. "Your majesty?"


    "Please, come in."


    A royal messenger of the palace swings the double doors open and enters. He bows to both the king and the princess in respect.


    The king flicks his hand dismissively. "At ease."


    "The King of Nyx has called for an emergency meeting. Your presence is required at once," the messenger says before standing straight, gesturing for the king to follow.


    Hesitant, Alastair turns to his daughter and kisses her forehead lightly. "We shall continue this conversation tonight."


    Nodding, Alaina smiles. "I await your return."


    Turning to the lady-in-waiting at the corner of the room, Alastair says, "please look after the princess. Make necessary preparations for her meeting with Duke Neil tomorrow morning."


    At the mention of this, Alaina rolls her eyes at the sudden reminder of one of her many troublesome princess duties, but tries her best to hide it from her father.


    "Where is Lancaster?" Alastair asks impatiently as Alaina perks up slightly.


    Upon sensing the impatience in the king''s tone, one of the palace guards standing just outside the room enters. "He is at the courtyard, your majesty," he answers quickly.


    "I will go look for him!" Alaina offers immediately, but to her dismay, Alastair only dismisses her.


    Facing the guard, he says, "please accompany the princess to her room. See to it that she remains safely in her room until I return." He casts one last smile in Alaina''s direction, before leaving with the messenger for the immediate meeting.


    The orders Alastair had just given to both the lady-in-waiting and the guard displeases her, yet Alaina''s lips twist into a sly smile.


    No one can bind her.


    She runs, ignoring the cries from the lady-in-waiting gradually disappearing in the distance. Random guards in the hallways try to stop her, but it is futile. She dashes through one hallway after another, not stoping to look back.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Her dress is rather bothersome. She would have reached her destination by now, if it isn''t for the long dress and its frills restraining her movements. The dress itself is a statement she is irritated by -- a princess, bound to the castle and her people. A fate she is born with.


    But that isn''t what she is. Alaina refuses to allow her responsibilities and what people would expect of her get in her way of achieving her desires.


    You can be whoever you want to be, her mother always said.


    Stopping around a corner, she listens closely for any footsteps nearby. When she knows she''s alone, she rips the bottom hem of her dress, pulling apart the laces and frills from the dress.


    So fragile, Alaina thinks, as she simply scatters the torn laces and frills of her dress around the hallway. Perhaps she feels too confined, so leaving her mark ought to show the people she can''t simply be controlled.


    When she''s satisfied, she skips along the now messy hallway and out of the palace halls to the sun kissed courtyard. Alaina steps out on the stone steps, letting the breezy air lift her hair and now short dress, allowing the sun to shine on her pale skin.


    Looking around, she finds several knights around the courtyard, all swinging their weapons at one another. She eyes them with envy; if she has the power to choose, she would be a boy. Funny wish, she knows this herself, yet she can''t help always wishing for something she doesn''t -- or can''t -- have.


    Alaina''s eyes fall upon a young knight -- probably the youngest of the group of knights. He swings his sword very skilfully, and she can''t help but wonder how he keeps his short, slicked back blonde hair so tidily despite moving around so swiftly around the courtyard.


    When he stops to take a break, she clears her throat, earning his attention. "Lancaster Alnwick," she announces loudly across the courtyard, "the king has summoned you."


    The other knights bow slightly at the sight of the princess, casting nervous glances over at Lancaster, who has his brows furrowed. She smiles when he keeps his sword back in its sheath on his waist as he approaches her.


    "Your highness," Lancaster says when he is face to face with Alaina. "Mind telling me what is going on?"


    "The king has summoned you," she answers, walking past him and across the courtyard. Without even looking back, Alaina knows he''s following close behind.


    "Has the king really, or is ityouwho summoned me?"


    Alaina doesn''t answer, but she pouts, although unseen by him. He knows her too well. She doesn''t stop until they reach the gardens. Immediately after she stops, she finally turns to look at him. She raises a finger in front of his face before any words can come out of his now open mouth, silencing him and stopping whatever it is that he wanted to ask or say.


    "Your highness, you are not thinking --"


    "You know me so well," she beams, "let''s go!"


    Sighing, he finds the princess too predictable. "Really, now? And just last night you went out all byyourself; now you are doing itagain? At least I am here with you this time. What happened to my duties of being your personal knight? Why did you go alone last night?"


    "Sorry, Lancaster. I just... it was late," Alaina replies, looking downwards at the grass they''re standing on, shuffling her feet. Slowly, she glances up to her knight with hopeful eyes.


    Rubbing his temples, Lancaster closes his eyes as he thinks slowly. She need not say it nor does he need to ask, to know what''s currently on her mind. He has known the princess since forever, and she''s one rebellious one if anything else; and once she''d gotten her mind on something, there''s just no stopping her.


    Another thing about her is that she has natural leadership -- or more like a gift ofpersuasion: you can never,ever, say no to her. She''s got everything up her sleeves: facts, support, plans and even backup.Everything. Because of this, she''d make a great leader for Theia, Lancaster believes, with steady mindset and great leadership. But as a personal friend, you''ll have to give in to someone like her. You''ll have to get used to it. Nevertheless, she''s a good friend.


    Heaving a long sigh, he finally says, "all right, since I am accompanying you this time --"


    "Yes!" Alaina jumps, startling Lancaster before he has a chance to finish. "You''re the best! My father was right to make you my personal knight, no one can replace you." She pokes his side a little. "Except maybe you need to stop being so serious all the time."


    "I am only doing my duty," he replies nonchalantly. He stops Alaina from poking him. "And quit that habit of yours, especially since we are still within palace grounds."


    Alaina sighs, shaking her head. "That''s exactly what I''m talking about."


    "What are you talking about?" he questions, but all he gets as a response is Alaina''s laughs.


    "Never mind, drop it," she says, trying to suppress her laughter. "Now, let''s leave before --"


    "Beforewhat?"


    She is interrupted by a voice nearby. Gasping, she runs behind Lancaster, peaking around from behind him.


    A pompous looking boy in his late teens appears before them, an open book in a hand of his. The way he walks and acts, the air around him tells others of his very mature demeanour, that he looks much more mature than his actual age. He shuts the open book in a swift movement without moving the other hand, then shifts his eyes towards both Alaina and Lancaster, staring at them through his frameless glasses.


    Adjusting his glasses with his free hand, he says casually, "best be careful. You do not want to stir up more trouble, your highness." His gaze then falls onto Lancaster. "And please stop giving in, aiding her highness do whatever she pleases," he sighs, "especiallysneaking out of the palace."


    At this, Alaina jumps out from behind Lancaster and nearly yells at the boy. "Who told you that?" she exclaims.


    He only raises an eyebrow in response. "You did," he says calmly, "just now."


    Alaina flushes. "I -- We, I mean, we are not doing anything," she says, as innocently as her lying voice would allow her to. She backs away and stands behind Lancaster once again. Nudging him lightly at his side, she gives out a forced smile towards the boy. "Right, Lancaster?"


    Secretly, she whispers ''say something'', hoping Lancaster would help get them out of this situation. However, deep down, she knows full well that it''s difficult dealing with this person. He is the palace''s advisor and strategist, and an extremely intelligent one, in fact.


    Lancaster keeps his face straight as he faces him. "You need not worry. It is, after all, my duty to keep her highness safe."


    "Last time I checked, keeping her highness safe is different from bending to her every favour."


    "Definitely, but I find that she will be safer if she did not try sneaking out alone."


    Glancing between the both of them, Alaina frowns. "Guys," she sighs, "notagain."


    Perhaps they have completely different views, or even personalities, that the both of them constantly pick small debates every now and then.


    "Do whatever you want," the boy in glasses turns around to leave.


    "Lloyd, he never changes," Lancaster comments, shaking his head.


    "You mean theboth of younever change -- never once agreeing with one another," Alaina rolls her eyes. "Let''s go now, before anyone else comes interrupting our party again."


    "Agreed, your highness. But it is wiser if we return before his majesty finishes the meeting. You certainly do not want him to have more things to stress about after a long meeting, do you?"


    "Well, all right," Alaina agrees for once, as they both leave the palace through the garden gates that are seldom supervised.


    It is when they reach the exterior castle walls that they hear guards nearby discussing about something that''s going on outside. While they''re sneaking past the guards, they hear mutters; about something that''s making the locals unhappy.


    Lancaster frowns at this. On the contrary, Alaina is only happier. She''s eager to know just what is going on, and she''s grateful that they''re lucky enough for something to be happening when they''re visiting the locals.


    But as they get further away from the castle walls, they hear noises. The noises are rather close by. Even Alaina frowns at this.


    It is when they are finally out of the palace''s boundaries that they hear the noises much louder than before. No, not louder; but closer, clearer.


    Shouts.

 Chapter 2 ? Consequence

    They can hear obvious noises, and it is exceptionally loud near the city centre.


    "What is that?" Alaina asks, rather annoyed, when they approach the outer ring of the castle.


    Beyond the palace and away from all the responsibilities that''s expected of her as a princess, lies her element, her other home, her freedom -- her life, away from the castle. But the peace she''s expecting is now ruined by the shouts and loud chatters in the distance -- all of those that can only mean bad news, as Theia is never chaotic with such disturbing noises.


    "No idea," Lancaster says, still frowning.


    "It is coming from the city centre -- but first, I know someone who can be of help."


    With that said, they head far away from the castle. As they head towards their destination, though, the normally lively streets they would walk through are now only desolate; they are close to empty, deserted. What''s left of them are only very few locals with looks of disappointment hanging obviously across their faces. Most of the locals are probably part of the crowd protesting at the city centre. The locals they pass simply ignores them, only minding their own businesses quietly.


    Also known as the Land of Sun, the Kingdom of Theia is the liveliest and most fun-loving of all seven kingdoms of Asteria -- or so it was, because the atmosphere seems so gloomy, that they no longer live up to the title. The people are the ones who make up the kingdom; but without happy people, a happy kingdom would cease to exist.


    Witnessing the situation, Alaina feels depressed as well, as if the feeling is contagious and with air itself carrying the virus. She feels worse when she feels incapable of doing anything, not that she even know what is going on to be able to do something to begin with.


    Stealing a glance over at Alaina, Lancaster knows very well the princess is upset. "Don''t worry, whatever it is, we''ll fix it. We always do." That is what Lancaster says, but his frown gives everything away. Sure, they had countless protests before, but this is like no other; it is like the entire kingdom and all of its people are against whatever that''s going on, just by looking at the empty streets.


    Alaina bites her lip. She doesn''t know what to say, so she just nods lightly. She can only hope that it is nothing but a mere misunderstanding of some sort, and nothing serious enough for any big changes to take place or for anything to leave a drastic consequence. She touches her mother''s necklace hanging around her neck gently, feeling the diamond gleaming brilliantly in the centre of the circle containing it. Deep down, she hopes Lancaster is right: that they''ll be able to fix it, whatever it is.


    *****


    Contrary to the lively heart of the kingdom, the outskirts of the city is peaceful and quiet.


    Alaina and Lancaster now stand in front of a small cottage, its chimney blowing off tiny clouds of steam. Not far away from the cottage there''s a wooden stand and an old worn-out wagon, around it several large sacks of fruits and vegetables. You can obviously tell they are fresh, as they are standing in the midst of an open field, with a plantation field visible on the other side of the cottage. A figure of a man currently stands in the middle of the plantation field, busy with his work.


    Although the Kingdom of Gaea is the one providing the other kingdoms with freshly grown and planted fruits and vegetables, the Kingdom of Theia knows where to find its own fast source within themselves: the Travis Merchants.


    Alaina and Lancaster can only make out a shadowy figure of the man, what with the blazing sun hanging over them with its rays shining outstandingly and the distance that separates them and the man. They watch as his figure rubs his forehead with the back of his hand. After a moment, the figure finally lifts his head and glances in the direction of Alaina and Lancaster.


    "Your highness!" he waves over.


    "Mr Travis!" Alaina calls back, smiling. "Is Rose in?"


    "Scarlet is currently helping her mother with --"


    "Alaina!"


    Both Alaina and Lancaster turn to the source of interruption, but when they do, Alaina is suddenly ambushed by a girl with brown pigtails in a hug. She is shorter than Alaina, and looks younger than her given her pinch-able chubby cheeks -- one would think she is a girl of only fourteen. She lifts her head up and meets Alaina''s blue eyes with her large, round hazel ones.


    "Young lady, I am not sure if you do realise that the person you are hugging so casually there is her highness, the Princess of Theia herself," Lancaster says, clearing his throat.


    The girl pulls away from the hug, but remains close to Alaina. She leans onto Alaina, both hands on Alaina''s arms for support as she turns to face Lancaster, pouting. "Who are you?"


    "Lancaster Alnwick, personal knight of her highness." He nods lightly at her as a simple gesture of respect.


    "A knight!" she says with gleam in her eyes. "But you know, drop the formalities when you''re around her, she doesn''t like it." She turns back to Alaina. "Right, Alaina?"


    "It''s definitely fine to drop the formalities." She smiles softly at her friend, Rose. "But Lancaster is too serious of a man to accept that. Anyway, what''s happening around Theia?"


    Rose pulls away from Alaina entirely this time, and turns around to head for the cottage. "Come, I''ll show you." She gestures for them to follow.


    Exchanging looks and shrugging briefly at each other, Alaina and Lancaster follow her.


    Inside stands a woman with short curly brown hair whose hands are full with a tray of freshly baked cookies, near the fire place. "Scarlet, help me with -- oh." She stops when she notices the guests. "My, pardon me, I did not notice. Your highness, and her royal knight, I suppose?" She settles her tray down and walks towards them.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "Pleased to meet you," Lancaster says, his right arm moves in tune with his body, finding its spot in front and just above his waist, as he bows slightly in respect.


    Alaina steps forward and holds both her hands. "Mrs Travis," she greets, smiling.


    "Please, enjoy your stay."


    Alaina nods in reply. "It is my pleasure." Turning to Rose, who is now back with a sheet of paper in hand, she asks, "so, what do we have there?" She nods to the paper flinging between Rose''s fingers.


    "See for yourselves." Rose hands over the paper.


    Alaina and Lancaster both examine the paper. It looks like a wanted poster of some sort, with a picture of a man in his thirties in the centre of the paper, only that it does not contain the heading "WANTED". The man is expressionless in the paper, his square jaw and stern face look so threatening that one wouldn''t simply defy him. His black hair is tousled in a very odd way, and his eyes look darker than the colour black. His eyes are swirling, infinite black holes, and Alaina shudders at the sight of it.


    The paper reads:


    Caecilius Black -- the Emperor of Asteria. Submit your respects to his imperial majesty, the one and only absolute Caecilius Black, who is far more worthy than any other kings of the seven kingdoms.


    "Emperor?" Alaina scoffs. Lancaster frowns.


    "The locals are concerned," Rose says, "you might already know, that they''re all protesting in the city centre, hoping to catch the attentions of the kings in the meeting, showing their dissatisfaction."


    Alaina turns to Lancaster. He understands immediately, and she need not say a word.


    Rose is the only one who manages to smile, even if it''s only slightly. "I''m coming with you."


    *****


    It is worse than they''d thought. Or perhaps they just did not imagine that it would''ve caused such an uproar.


    Alaina, Lancaster and Rose have made their way to the city centre, where the locals are currently gathered, shouts defining the atmosphere.


    A man is standing on the platform with a statue of a large, titan woman with one of her arms raised high and proudly in the air, with a miniature sun resting in her palm that faced the sky. It symbolises the Kingdom of Theia, the Land of Sun.


    The statue glimmers in the sunlight ever so brightly, it''s a pity the locals aren''t here to simply enjoy its brilliance.


    The man is yelling, with the locals gathered all around him below the platform.


    "What do we want?" the man yells, raising an arm.


    "Peace!"


    "And how do we achieve it?"


    "Harmony through separation!"


    "Harmony through separation?" Alaina repeats questioningly, raising an eyebrow. A woman standing in front of the three of them turns towards their direction and steals a glance. Alaina flinches, but builds up the courage to ask, "excuse me, kind lady, is this about the flyers all around the city?"


    The woman fixes her gaze on Alaina. "Yes, my dear, the kings --" It takes her a moment to register Alaina''s appearances, and finally something snaps in her. "Oh, your highness, have you came to protest as well?"


    "Please, drop the formalities," Alaina replies, "protest against what, exactly?"


    The woman seems hesitant for a minute or two, but finally says, "against the formation of the empire, of course."


    "The decision has not been made just yet, is it not?" she asks, frowning.


    "That is correct, your highness. The kings are currently still in the meeting now." She then gestures around her, before continuing, "but you see, we are all very unhappy about it. The kingdoms live peacefully, although separately. What if someone were to come along -- without even a bloodline of royalty, as a matter of fact -- claiming that he would be the absolute emperor of all seven kingdoms? That is just outrageous."


    "Therefore, the protest?"


    "Certainly. To demonstrate how unhappy we are. If the kings witness this scene during the meeting, they would definitely take into account the feelings of the locals, if they have not already."


    Alaina frowns. "I am sure my fath -- I mean, his majesty would think for the people of Theia, like he always does. I am sure of it," she quickly says, in defence of her father. Lancaster nudges her slightly in alarm.


    "Hopefully."


    At the woman''s nonchalant shrug, Alaina grits her teeth, ready to snap at her anytime. But Lancaster nudges her again, harder this time; even Rose is tapping frantically at her arm. So she shuts her mouth and purses her lips; but inside, she is grateful for them holding her back.


    "My dear, is something the matter?" The man who''d just been shouting on the platform strides near.


    "It is her highness," the woman says, in reply to the man.


    "Ah, your highness." The man steps forward, bowing respectfully. "Pleased to meet you."


    "A pleasure."


    "I do apologise for this mess, but please do understand that it is necessary, with all due respect, for his majesty to realise the gravity of the consequence if he were to accept the proposal."


    Clenching her fists, Alaina says, "the king would never accept such an absurd proposal."


    "Ah, but what would your highness know? It is his majesty who is currently in the meeting --"


    "No. The king would never," she says firmly. She locks her eyes into the man''s. "The seven kingdoms are living -- by all means -- peacefully right now. I do not see the need for a change."


    "As you wish, your highness. But again, it is his majesty who will be making the decision, along with the other kings. I just hope they are as rational as you are," he says slowly, as if he''s trying to channel the message directly to Alaina''s subconscious and imprint them into her mind like how poison spreads slowly, but deadly, permanently; his voice is venomous but seductive, like an innocent crocus. "Perhaps for someone born of royalty, your highness, with all due respect, you would not understand how we locals live. It would be worse to have only one absolute ruler; we may be neglected, and a marginalised world far worse than as it is now however small, would be formed -- an empire free from rights and equality."


    "I understand how you feel, but --"


    "Oh, your highness, but you do not. Your whole life you have been living above everyone else, and even if an empire were to be formed, you would be given privilege, unlike us. You may be stripped of your powers and pleasures, but you will not become something we would -- dust. That is right, we would perish into nothing!" His voice rises, attracting attention from other locals.


    "Enough," Lancaster snaps fiercely. Narrowing his eyes, he glares at the man.


    "Pardon me," the man apologises.


    "You know, sir, I could take your words as an assault towards the king. These two here are my witnesses," Alaina says threateningly, "I may have your head -- even your entire family''s -- if I just so wished it. Need I remind you of your position?"


    The man sets his face straight. He clenches and unclenches his fists, then through gritted teeth he manages to utter, "yes, your highness. I apologise for going too far with my words."


    Alaina turns away. She''d had enough from this man. Honestly, she would''ve agreed to every word this man had said, because she thinks the same way; but she refuses to give in because her father''s rationale is being questioned and doubted.


    She walks away, with Lancaster and Rose following behind.


    After putting as much distance as she could between the three of them and the city centre, Alaina and Lancaster bid Rose farewell, and begin making their way back to the castle.


    As Alaina makes her way back to the castle to await the results of the meeting, her mind does not stop lingering on the words from the man. She believes that it''s true, as well; she loves the way they are living now, and wouldn''t, in a thousand years, change anything for it.


    A marginalised world.


    An empire free from rights and equality.


    If the change is to be implied, what would that make the seven kings then?


    What would that make her?

 Chapter 3 ? Catalyst

    The throne room is large, with walls that meet high ceilings with beautiful chandeliers.


    Lancaster leans against one of the majestic walls of the throne room, eyes closed and deep in thought. His arms are crossed, his sword dangling lazily at his side. Beside him, the large open arch window allows tiny bits of twilight rays into the room. The room is bright and outstanding, but never enough to compete with the twilight rays that form incandescent brilliance more beautiful than that of the chandeliers.


    There are occasional sounds of tapping that make him frown. Once they stop, though, the quiet never returns -- for clattering sounds take their place.


    He rubs his temples. "Your highness," he sighs.


    "Hmm?" Alaina says, though her mind isn''t really present at all. She has been twiddling with decoratives or artifacts she could find in the throne room, tracing their ancient designs absently. She gets bored from time to time, thus occasionally walking towards the open arch window, tapping her fingers on the windowsill as she stares blankly into the sun setting over the horizon.


    At times like this, Lancaster stays by the princess''s side. She is back in the castle safely, but he knows better than to leave her alone.


    "I know what is on your mind, and what is bothering you," he starts. He glances over at Alaina, who is now beside him, her head resting on one of her arms that are spread across the windowsill.


    "I know you do," she says, sighing as she stops tapping the windowsill.


    "And I am sure you know very well that the outcome is final, whatever the kings'' decisions are."


    She sighs again. "I know."


    He steals a glance over at her again. "But rest assured. I am sure the kings would not agree to the proposal."


    Alaina lifts her head to look at Lancaster in the eye. "But what if they do?"


    Lancaster is silent. He honestly doesn''t know how to respond to her question, probably because he didn''t think that the negative outcome would be an option. To him, he thinks that it would be impossible for the kings to accept such a proposal. It is a mere preposterously packaged idea, with no support, only empty lies.


    Hearing no reply, Alaina finds herself staring yet again over the horizon, at the sky with a mixture of the colours red, orange, yellow, blue and even hue of purple. The sun is no longer visible, long gone; and in its place the moon shall take over not long later. "They wouldn''t, just like what I told the man back in the city centre."


    Not tearing her eyes away from the setting sky, she nods lightly as a gesture of assuring him, though part of her feels that she''s saying it to assure herself -- hoping that her seemingly serene words can calm her chaotic mind.


    As she fixes her gaze onto the beautiful sky, she can''t help but think that the most beautiful things never last forever; just like how she''d only briefly turned away to look at Lancaster for a moment, and in a blink of an eye, she''d missed the sunset. In a flash, the sun is now gone, as the night gradually crawls in.


    "Your highness," Lancaster says, pulling Alaina away from her thoughts. "If the unfortunate -- you and I and even everyone else in Theia apparently know which outcome is -- should happen, just remember that I shall always be by your side."


    "As a knight?" she questions, but it is rather posed as a challenge.


    "As a friend."


    She smiles. "Wouldn''t have it any other way."


    "And in which the turn of events are not to our favour, it is a problem for the future, if a bright one still exists, of course," he says, trying to make her feel better. "And so we should deal with matters at hand now, in the present."


    "What are you getting at?" Alaina tilts her head slightly, frowning.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "I am suggesting --"


    Before Lancaster could give a proper reply or explanation, the grand double doors of the throne room burst open, and a messenger appears before Alaina and Lancaster.


    "Pardon my intrusion, your highness," he bows, "but his majesty is now in his study."


    Alaina had requested earlier to be informed of upon the completion of the meeting between the kings, so she could quickly hear the answer, providing that it is a favourable one that would lift her heavy heart, of course.


    Every muscle in her body tenses as she readies herself for whatever is to come. "Thank you," she says genuinely to the messenger, and as soon as she does, she dashes out of the throne room and heads towards the study immediately, with Lancaster following closely behind.


    Once she arrives in front of the closed doors of the study, she takes a deep breath, before opening them immediately without a knock or a warning. "Father!" Alaina bursts in, readily greeting her beloved father. Though she knows that her actions are rash and rude, even non princess-like of her; she priorities knowing the truth, and nothing else matters to her in that fateful moment.


    But she does not receive a reply. Alastair sits on the chair behind the desk, and just like a soulless body, he stares blankly at his wooden desk. Two guards are stationed on either sides of him, and Lloyd Elliott is currently by his side. Lloyd has an unreadable expression on his face: he is frowning, but somewhat seems calm; he looks confused, but still has his usual composure.


    "Father --"


    Alastair flicks his hand, silencing her. This gesture shocks not only Alaina and Lancaster, but Lloyd who flinches ever so slightly, and even the two guards who turns to the king questioningly.


    He turns to one of the guards. "See to it that the princess returns to her room. Make sure she does not find a way out of the castle, not even her room." He emphasises the last few words with a cold tone, then turns to Lancaster. "You shall be working back with the knights. You need not accompany the princess no longer, as you two pull too many strings together."


    Lancaster is lost for words. He cannot believe this side of the king he is witnessing. He just stands there, frozen in his position with shock.


    Alaina gasps. "No, you can''t --" she says with fear and sadness in her voice.


    "Enough," Alastair says, glaring at her. "I have preparations to make for the upcoming installation for the new emperor, and for the ceremony for the official formation of Empire Asteria."


    Alaina tries to find her voice, but it doesn''t come. The king is strict on her, but he definitely loves her, and she knows that very well. But what in Asteria has gotten into him?


    Lancaster winces at the sharpness of the king''s voice and the coldness of his glare. In the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of Lloyd, who looks like he wants to say something, but resisted the urge to. He nudges Alaina lightly, in case she tries something that might make things worse -- if something worse even exists -- than it is now.


    "Please," Alastair says to the guard.


    The guard approaches Alaina, hesitantly, but he knows better than to disobey the king at his current state. He gestures for her to exit the study. "Your highness, may I accompany you to your room?"


    Fighting back the hot and stinging tears threatening to form in her eyes for the incredulous behaviour of her beloved father, she turns away to leave the room, but not before saying with as much threat as her voice would allow, "mother would be very disappointed."


    *****


    Alaina paces her bedroom in anger, frustration, and disappointment. Outside, the two guards that had been on either sides of Alastair back in the study stand, as a statement that the princess is not allowed out of the room. For how long, though, they are unclear, for they had just complied to the king''s orders, not daring to question any further.


    This is not a problem, she thinks, as she starts towards her window. She''s used to sneaking out, so even if there are guards stationed outside, it shall never stop her. The only possible problem that may arise is that if her father were to have given word to every single guard in the castle, she may be in trouble if caught. If so, the entire castle would be against her.


    She can only hope that only the people that were present back in the study were the ones who know of the situation at hand, so she would be able to innocently stride past any guard she were to stumble across anywhere, anytime.


    Tying her hair into a messy ponytail, she pulls the curtain from its original place, yanking it hard and breaking it free from the window. Using the curtain as an aid, she ties it to the windowsill, and once she is assured that it is tight and safe, she uses it to climb safely out of her bedroom through the window. Landing safely on the soft grass of the castle''s gardens, she scans her surroundings for any guards patrolling around. At the sight of an empty garden, she smiles to herself in relief. No one, just like she''d thought. She makes her way slowly into the main atrium of the castle.


    She spots four guards as she peeks into the atrium. Two patrolling the area, and two other guarding at their posts looking like they''re about the drift off standing as it is getting late into the night.


    Alaina creeps around the atrium, avoiding them if possible, in case she causes unnecessary uproar especially this late in the evening, not to mention immediately after the meeting between the kings.


    As soon as she manages to enter the atrium, she dashes down the side corridor of the atrium that is beautifully structured with old pillars and high arched openings that allow only little moonlight into the dark corridor. She runs as fast as her legs allow and as light and nimble as her body would take her, with only one goal in mind: to find Lancaster, the only one -- assuming the entire castle is against her -- who would definitely understand.

 Chapter 4 ? Allies

    Alaina comes to a sudden halt as she hears footsteps. They get louder as they gradually approach her; but even after scanning the area, she fails to find the source. It''s dark in the corridor, so she uses it as an advantage to hide herself in the shadows as she checks the four guards she''d spotted before entering the atrium. Four, still around the same area the last time she''d seen them. Are there more of them?


    The sounds of heavy chainmail indicates that it is indeed a guard, but it is neither of the four. Alaina tenses, trying to shroud herself with darkness. She can''t be caught, she thinks, not right here. There are too many guards around. If it''s a lone guard, she would be able to find a way through; but if there''s a few of them, it''s rather risky -- she might be forced back to her room under her father''s orders.


    She turns to the other direction to leave, but it''s too late; she''s caught. She feels her arm being held back by a strong force, and she struggles to break free. "Let me go --"


    But she is silenced immediately by a hand covering her mouth. She is dragged strugglingly away from the atrium and further away from the dark corridor, towards a corner.


    "What was that?" She hears a guard who''d just turned a corner say.


    "What was what?" says another guard.


    Alaina desperately tries to reach out for them, to call for help; but she hears a soft whisper -- a voice that reassures her.


    "Quiet."


    She stops struggling immediately, obeying the voice. To her, the voice is her saviour; a voice in a world of screaming silence.


    She''ll recognise the voice anywhere.


    "Your highness?" Lancaster says, letting her go once the guards are no longer in their sights.


    "Couldn''t you grab me any less hard?" she says while furiously rubbing her arm where he''d gripped her.


    "I apologise, but I didn''t want you to be caught; and I am certain you yourself would not want to be either."


    "I was looking for you," Alaina says immediately, changing the topic.


    "Are you not supposed to be in your room?" he questions in return, neglecting her statement. "You know, locked up by his majesty''s orders?"


    "Please, you would be last person to be asking something so absurd like that." Alaina rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. "You know they can''t keep me."


    "And what is your motive, now that you have escaped?"


    She narrows her eyes to try and make him out in the dark. "Are you asking me because you honestly have no clue, or because you''re simply trying to confirm what you''re predicting?"


    Lancaster sighs in defeat. "You are up to something."


    "And?"


    "You are going against the king. That would mean going against the entire kingdom, your home; you are betraying your own land," he states the probable consequences of her actions. When Alaina only nods in response as a sign of agreement to what he''d said, he continues, "and since this does not only involve your own kingdom but the remaining six as well, you are turning your back against the whole of Asteria, just by simply denying the proposal that the kings have just agreed to."


    Wincing, Alaina says, "it won''t be that bad, I''m not doing anything just yet."


    "I am merely stating the probable outcomes of your predictable actions, and I cannot guarantee the results would be to your liking. We do not know what the future holds."


    "But that would also mean we do not have a future, if we simply sit here idly," she makes her point, "I want answers. And if I can''t find it here, I''ll have to find it elsewhere."


    "On your own?"


    "Are you coming with me?" she asks like a child making an honest request, but in reality, it sounds like she''s saying ''aren''t you coming with me, like you always do?''


    Lancaster is aware that once she''d gotten her mind on something, there''s no stopping her. But honestly, Lancaster had already made up his mind long before, even before they met the king after his meeting. He had thought of both possibilities, and the outcomes of each answer the kings would come to; planning steps ahead. If somehow, the kings were to ultimately give in to the empire proposal -- a low possibility, though, he had thought -- he knew very well the princess wouldn''t just resign to the given fate. "I knew you would say that," he finally says, and he means it. "And I had already thought of our plan of action in advance."


    She looks up, gleam in her eyes. "Really? You''d come with me? My dad might have your head if he finds out you''re helping me."


    Nothing she say is going change anything, though; because Lancaster had already decided to be loyal to her to the very end, and it''ll be on his own will: not because he is tasked as her personal guard, but instead because he sincerely sees her as a friend. "I know. But of course, I am with you. Do you remember when we were back in the throne room earlier, that I was about to say something?"


    "Why are you bringing that up?" Alaina asks immediately, but after a few seconds, she manages to reassemble her thoughts. "Wait -- right before the messenger told us the meeting was over?"


    "Precisely."


    "You were suggesting?"


    "That we first check out the Kingdom of Caelus," Lancaster answers.


    Realisation dawns Alaina at his words, because all she knew was that she had to do something, but she honestly has no idea where to begin. She only realises in that moment that she is completely clueless, with zero plans and a blank mind with no expectations as to what is to come.


    There are certain things that she is sure of, though. One, she is not the only one who disagrees with the formation of an empire, her entire kingdom is; and two, her father is acting strange, he isn''t himself; finally three, that she must do something -- not only for herself, but also for the sake her father and her kingdom. But in turn, these facts only raise more questions. What ultimately made the kings decide to go with the idea? What made her father act that way, even coldly rejecting his very own daughter? What then, would happen to her kingdom, along with the entire land of Asteria?


    Most importantly, what would happen to her, if she just simply stays on the sidelines; and what would happen, if she did anything? Would she accomplish anything, without leaving too grave of a consequence either way?


    Even without thinking so far, there is one question that is holding Alaina in her current position. How is she even going to begin, if she doesn''t have a clue where should she?


    "To Caelus, you say, but why?" she questions, after a long thought. Lancaster already had something in mind, so she decides that she could start by seeking his advice.


    "We know the people of Theia are unhappy, from the events earlier today," Lancaster starts, "but we have no clue what is happening in the other kingdoms. What if Theia is the only one being cornered, having no clue that the other kingdoms have already agreed to the proposal?"


    "You''re saying that the other kingdoms agree to this? Except us?"


    "I am saying that it might be a possibility. Not unless we ourselves check it out."


    "So why Caelus?"


    Lancaster''s lips curl ever so slightly, twisting into a small smile. "It used to be my home, after all. If nothing else, I would know Caelus best."


    "Point taken," she smiles.


    "Are we agreed then, your highness, to start by simply visiting the Kingdom of Caelus?"


    She takes a deep breath. "Yes. I''m sure my father won''t mind if I took a few days to myself, while he is preparing for the installation in three weeks'' time," she says, trying to sound confident; although deep down, she is unsure where the future would take her. "A simple visit won''t hurt. We''ll be back before he even realises I''m gone."


    They are so preoccupied in their conversation that they do not notice yet another set of footsteps approaches them gradually but surely, confidently.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," a voice says, accompanying the footsteps.


    Alaina and Lancaster nearly jump in shock of the sudden interruption, immediately scanning the area in search of the source of the voice. What surprises them even more than the sudden intruding voice already did, though, is the fact that they find Lloyd emerging from a dark corner of the atrium, behind a pillar.


    "How long have you been there?" Lancaster asks, sighing, with a calm demeanour; as if he isn''t even surprised when he''d first heard his voice.


    "It''s not what you think!" Alaina says immediately. Her heart is racing, her mind swirling with random thoughts in search for an excuse.


    Lloyd''s glasses reflect the small beam of moonlight directly shining onto him that somehow managed to enter the atrium through one of the high arched openings. It isn''t for long, though, before darkness befalls them once again as a cloud shrouds the moon completely. "Please, I''m not here to --"


    "There is no going back now, then," Lancaster says immediately before Lloyd has a chance to say anything else, his face turning as dark as the corridor, or perhaps even darker; so dark that his green eyes look as if they''re glowing.


    With a swift movement he grabs the hilt of his sword at his side, pulling it out from its sheath. Within seconds, without hesitation nor regret, he flings it over to Lloyd and slams the blade only an inch away from his face to the wall next to him, trapping Lloyd who jumps at this sudden action of his. "How are you going to tell us off, if you are dead?" he threatens, glaring hard into Lloyd''s eyes.


    Lloyd pales, cold sweat trickling down the back of his neck. "I am not --"


    "Easy, Lancaster," Alaina says quickly, pulling his arm hard. She hasn''t seen the menacing side of him for a long time. "He''s trying to say something, would you let him, please?" she presses on the word ''please'', displaying emphasis, and nods softly to him.


    Lancaster backs off, keeping his sword back in its sheath, but keeps his gaze fixated on Lloyd who simply sighs in relief.


    "I am not telling you off," he starts off, adjusting his glasses and straightening his clothes. "I wish to join you."


    "You what?" Lancaster asks, clearly surprised. He crosses his arms, dissatisfied.


    "You saw the king. He''s not himself."


    "I agree." Alaina steps forward from behind Lancaster, approaching Lloyd. When Lancaster pulls his gaze away from Lloyd to turn to face her questioningly, she adds, "I mean, the king not being himself part. That, I agree, at least."


    When no one says anything further, Lloyd speaks again. "I wish to join you," he repeats, "I overheard --" Lancaster scoffs, and he adds quickly, "-- accidentally, of course, that your highness wish to visit Caelus; that you do not want to sit here blindly awaiting for something you''re clearly unhappy of. I wish to accompany you."


    Lancaster is about to say something to protest before Alaina stops him. She speaks first. "How can we trust you?"


    "I am the proud advisor and royal strategist of Theia, your highness."


    "I believe we have heard that many times, on various occasions," Lancaster says, frustrated. "What is your motive?"


    Lloyd sighs. "I have no motive, other than to seek the truth myself, just like you. You know, knowledge is self-serving. I do not wish to serve a mindless king."


    Alaina winces at the assault of her father, but deep down, she agrees. She looks at Lancaster, and after a moment of thought, she offers her hand to Lloyd. "Looking forward to working with you."


    Lloyd, who never did expected cooperation from them, much less allowing him into joining them in their little rendezvous; gratefully takes the hand, still standing with awe. "O-of course, your highness," he stammers ever so slightly.


    Although Alaina is smiling sweetly, Lancaster, who has just took a step forward to face him, says, "you better not try something."


    Smirking, Lloyd adjusts his glasses. "I would be useful in every sense of knowledge you might require," he says, boasting. "I am, after all, the most intelligent man in Theia, perhaps even all of Asteria."


    *****


    After the long discussion, the three are now out at the back of the castle, ready to leave. They are now prepared; with Alaina and her usual hood around her head when she sneaks out of the castle, Lancaster and his sword, Lloyd and a bag that contains certain books and scrolls that he''d refused to leave behind -- "I never go anywhere without my knowledge sack", he had said.


    As the three of them exit the castle in the late night, the wind is so hollow and cold that Alaina and Lloyd shivers, not only because of the drop in temperature compared to indoors but also because they do not know what to expect next. Lancaster walks in front of them, seemingly lost in thoughts. Alaina catches up to Lancaster, and they both indulge in a conversation.


    Lloyd takes a deep breath as he watches the backs of Alaina and Lancaster. They must be really used to this by now -- walking in the dark, unafraid of the deadly silent night. They''re brave, he thinks, walking fearlessly like that, without the slightest hint of regret that they''re turning against the king. Even the princess, whom he always believes to be a pampered child of the king''s, is courageously walking into a lion''s mouth, pride never wavering until the end.


    Instead, he is the one who''s uncertain. He has always been a strategist, not only as a formal one in the castle but also one of his own mind; thinking things faster than anyone else, solving problems five steps ahead. But this unexpected change had left him devastated, and for the first time in his life, he doesn''t know what to think.


    As he is deep in thought, he is slowing down, being left behind by Alaina and Lancaster. A sound of a rock rolling near startles him, and he jumps, almost yelling out loud. He rushes over to Alaina and Lancaster. "Wait up, you two!" he says frantically as he tries to catch his breath, from both freaking out and running.


    Lancaster turns to face him. He cocks a brow, and mockingly, he says, "you are not scared, are you?"


    "S-scared? Of what?"


    Alaina laughs, trying hard to do so as softly as she can, while Lancaster struggles to keep his composure. "Really, Lloyd, I thought you were much more." Lancaster purposefully picks on his archenemy''s weakness.


    "I have no idea what''s so funny." He walks ahead of them, stomping furiously with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "See? not afraid." He proceeds further, and they watch him go, then stops. After a split second of hesitation, he turns back to them. "What are you waiting for?" he says quickly when he realises he''s alone in the front.


    Alaina and Lancaster almost blow their cover as they laugh.


    "Silence! Do you want to get caught?" Lloyd exclaims.


    "You are the one speaking really loudly," Lancaster challenges.


    Then there''s another sound. Lloyd hears it, and he whips around to find the source, but all he sees is dark, empty alleyway. He turns back to them with the intention of letting them know there might be something there, but decides against it as it might only be his own subconscious. He also doesn''t want to risk hurting his pride, especially when Lancaster is around.


    He turns around, and continues to walk, with Alaina and Lancaster slowly following behind.


    But another sound -- a brush against the alleyway, or possibly even a shuffle -- brings his stare back at the alleyway. He squints his eyes, trying to make out something. Nothing, only darkness. He shudders as he starts to doubt his own mind. For someone who''d been living in the castle for so long, he''d never imagined the city would be so creepy at night.


    But although he can''t seem to spot the source of the sounds, it doesn''t stop bothering him that something''s there, and that it''s following them as they walk the empty streets of the quiet city late in the night.


    Seeing is believing, his mind says in an attempt soothe his frantic soul, as he tries to remain serene despite his hysterical state.


    He''d thought it is the cat that he''d just spotted its shadow, running across the street. But there is another rattling opposite the direction the cat had just ran off, and it seems to be getting closer. It is obviously following them.


    Lloyd decides it''s not about his pride now, as their safety is concerned.


    "Something''s there," he says, turning to face Alaina and Lancaster.


    "What are you talking about? It is as empty as a barren dessert, apart from us three."


    "No, I''m serious. Something''s --"


    Before he has a chance to finish, there is a light tap on his shoulder. Lloyd freezes. He is still looking in the direction of Alaina and Lancaster, so who is tapping him? Or, what is?


    Turning pale, he swallows as he builds up the courage to turn around, slowly. That moment, it is as if the world had stopped moving, and that time had stopped abruptly; as he discovers whether he would regret looking or not.


    Lloyd catches a glimpse of a small but fast brownish figure, and "boo!" is all he hears before he lets out a yell he has been trying to suppress since they started walking out in the city.


    He is hit in the head lightly, and he stops yelling immediately, shutting his mouth and looking around in alarm. Then he hears laughter. They''re soft, but mocking in his ears anyway.


    "Get a grip," Lancaster says, pulling his hand away. He is the one who had hit Lloyd earlier.


    "W-what? What was that?!"


    Giggles.


    Lloyd adjusts his glasses and rubs his eyes, composing himself from the panic attack. He sees Alaina laughing, Lancaster shaking his head, and... another girl.


    Where had this young lady come from?


    "That was so funny!" The brunette with short pigtails says between laughter. "You." She points at Lloyd, "are funny. I like you."


    Sudden, intense heat rises up all over him, out of fury also embarrassment, along with a tiny glimpse of a secret delight, even the slightest bit. "It''s not funny! What if someone were to find out? We would''ve been caught!"


    "Actually, true. Let''s pick up the pace." Alaina scans the surroundings, making sure. "Also, Rose; seriously, what are you doing here? I''ll admit it, it was funny -- but really. You have to go back," she says softly.


    Rose narrows her eyes in suspicion. "What are you all up to, in the middle of the night?"


    Alaina, Lancaster and Lloyd just exchange glances, trying to find the words. Finally, Alaina breaks the silence. "Well, stuff. You know, business," she lies.


    "In the middle of the night?" she repeats.


    "It''s complicated. But why are you here, that''s another mystery too."


    "I want to follow you," Rose says softly, pouting slightly. "I know very well what you''re up to. You aren''t happy with the results -- I''m not either, by the way -- and you''re trying to change it, some way or another. So if you don''t let me follow, I shall inform his majesty."


    Lancaster raises an eyebrow. "Is this a threat?"


    "Of course."


    He sighs. Another stubborn girl.


    "What about your parents?" Alaina questions.


    "They would be proud of me. I mean, they gave me the permission to do what I think is right," Rose replies, but with a slight wince no one notices.


    "How did you even think of finding us here in the first place?" Lloyd asks, curious.


    "I just thought what Alaina would do."


    Lancaster looks over to Alaina, who flushes. Her actions are not only predictable to Lancaster, but to Rose as well.


    Alaina gently puts a hand Rose''s shoulder. "We are sort of going against the kings. Are you sure you want that?"


    "If it''s with you guys, sure." She smiles brightly, even in the dark.


    Alaina nods to Lancaster and Lloyd. Lloyd is shaking his head in the distance, a palm in his face.


    "I guess we need all the help we can get, then." Lancaster sighs in defeat, already giving up being against the idea of having Lloyd in the first place.


    "Fine, let''s hurry," Lloyd says, glaring over at Rose in particular. "Before any more scares -- I mean, interruptions come along. Unpleasant ones," he quickly adds.


    Giggling, Rose strides near to Lloyd, who tries to walk faster and further away from the girl he''d just met on very embarrassing terms.


    With Lancaster being left behind with Alaina, he says, "shall we, your highness?"


    She smiles. "To the Kingdom of Caelus."

 Chapter 5.1 ? Beginning Of Fire

    The next morning doesn''t seem any more peaceful or non-eventful than the day before when the kings had their meeting and when the locals of Theia were protesting in the city centre.


    Words spread fast that they would soon have to bow down to an emperor.


    The locals of Theia aren''t too pleased. They''d expected more from their king, whom they always respect and look up to. Unfortunately, the respect had finally came to an immediate end once the decision is made. The locals know full well of their position, though; they are powerless. They can say nothing, do nothing, for they fear that their fate for betraying the king would be far worse than the fate they are currently being enforced unwillingly on.


    That is, for the most of them. A minority of the locals -- despite nearly the entirety of Theia being against the idea -- who are brave enough to step forward, are currently protesting directly in front of the castle gates. In their minds, a theory: that since the king hasn''t officially announced to the public regarding the matter yet, they still are not completely dead, even with the slightest possibility; in their hearts, a small fire of burning hope.


    Meanwhile, Alastair sits in his study, obvious dark circles under his emotionless eyes, like he hadn''t slept a wink. His posture is flaccid, his shoulders slouched and saggy; it is as if even the slightest wind would topple him. He remains in his seat like a statue, and no one really knows if he''d actually been there all night, not leaving the study at all.


    He looks deep in thought, but his mind is really only empty. Despite his lack of consciousness demeanour, though, he is alert and aware. The noises outside, after all, can never be easily ignored, for they drift swiftly across the castle gates into the castle and finally drum in Alastair''s ears.


    Frowning, he calls for a guard. The guard bows, ready for an instruction.


    "What is the uproar this early in the morning?" he questions, although he already has an idea in mind.


    "Protests, your majesty," the guard says timidly, not lifting his head. "The locals are unhappy and are demonstrating."


    Alastair heaves a long sigh, tiredly. It is rather unknown whether he is angry, frustrated, or just simply annoyed. The guard flinches ever so slightly. "And the situation?"


    "They are not leaving until they hear from you, your majesty. They are demanding for an explanation."


    Alastair rises from his seat suddenly, startling the guard. "Very well. I shall enlighten them," he says, making his way towards the doors of the study.


    As he is about the pull open the doors, though, the doors open at the same time, and a woman enters the room rudely, with a man closely behind her along with two to three guards near them.


    Alastair turns the to guard he was just speaking to. "What is the meaning of this?"


    "Your majesty -- I apologise," one of the guards outside answers instead. "They forcefully barged in, seeking you -- they mean no harm, they are not armed."


    "Your majesty!" the woman huffs, breathless and seemingly trying to contain a mixture of emotions: anger, worry, and fear. "Where is my daughter?" she asks like a demand, showing no shame of disrespect talking to the king directly. The man inches closer, comforting the woman who is now on the brink of tears.


    "Pardon me?" Alastair asks, clearly confused.


    "I asked -- where is my daughter? Rose, her highness''s friend," Mrs Travis repeats with detail, her voice rising.


    Alastair furrows his brows. "Are you mistaking something?"


    "I am most definitely not. Shall I rephrase it to your understanding, your majesty? May I ask, when was the last time you seen the princess, her highness?"


    "The princess has been in her room since last evening. I have ordered the guards to watch her closely."


    "Are you certain, your majesty?"


    Just then, a guard strides quickly into the open room. He stops in front of the king. "Pardon my intrusion, your majesty."


    "What is it?" Alastair demands, frustration obvious in his tone. There are just too many matters rising out of thin air on a simple morning, all on his tray to deal with.


    The guard looks hesitant to speak, uneasy. "Her highness, she --" he pauses, and he shuts his mouth then opens it again, finding the right words. Finally, he clears his throat and says, as calmly as he can, "the princess is nowhere to be found, she is not present in her room."


    Alastair immediately turns back to the woman, anger taking over every other emotion he had felt before. "What were you trying to deliver?" he asks the woman he had been talking to impatiently.


    Mrs Travis looks angrier than the king, if possible. She stares into his eyes fiercely. "Someone saw my daughter roaming the streets with her highness along with two other young men late in the night," she explains, "my daughter -- you are responsible for her safety! Return her to me! Where is she?" Her voice rises like a crescendo.


    Unfortunately, Alastair does not have the slightest idea where his daughter had gone, let alone her child who was with Alaina. Without an answer to deliver, he turns to the guard who had just delivered the news. "I had asked of you to watch her closely, to ensure she does not exit the room, let alone the palace. Did I not make myself clear?"If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Your majesty, her highness wished for us not to disturb and --"


    "And how could you have not noticed?" Alastair sighs, shaking his head. Flicking his hand and turning away, he says, "please see to it that they leave."


    He glances one last time at Rose''s parents; Mrs Travis shouting in protest as Mr Travis tries to calm her gently. "Please rest assured that I shall be looking into this matter, immediately after I address the locals formally," he reassures them, and turning to the guards nearby, he says, "please make preparations for my entrance to the city."


    ?????


    "We''ve been walking for ages!"


    "By my calculations, we should be in Caelus before nightfall. If, in any case, we were to be delayed by unfortunate events, we can simply stop nearby -- I''ve studied the maps, many times, and there are many taverns between Theia and Caelus. We can rest and gather information at the same time."


    "Stop complaining, you. Are you regretting ever joining us in the first place, now? Need I accompany you back to Theia?" Lancaster frowns at nearly the twentieth complaint since they exited the kingdom. Turning to Lloyd, who is fumbling in his bag for something and muttering to himself while using his other free hand to make some sort of calculation, he says with clear irritation in his voice, "and will you please stop being an insufferable know-it-all?" Lancaster runs his fingers through his hair very quickly, as if his words and tone are not enough to convey the message that he is extremely frustrated.


    "But I do know nearly everything," Lloyd replies, his head up high.


    "Nearly?" Rose questions.


    "Nearly," Lloyd repeats. "You can''t be too sure, and knowledge is as vast as an infinite sea."


    "What is the point of knowing everything," Lancaster butts in, "if you have zero practical skills?" he asks, though it sounds more like a challenge, and to Lloyd, no less.


    "Are you saying I don''t?"


    "Do you?"


    "What do you think?"


    "You know better yourself."


    "Will you two please knock it off?" Alaina comes between them, her voice loud and stern, pushing them away from each other as they were nearly nose to nose. She had long lost count on the many times they break into a fight seemingly out of nowhere, out of no particular logical explanation. She honestly doesn''t exactly know how much longer she would be able to stop them before they rip each other apart completely.


    "As per her highness'' wishes, I shall back down," Lancaster says, retreating. "Otherwise..." he glares at Lloyd.


    "Lancaster," Alaina stops him.


    He turns away, muttering under his breath, "why did we even allow him to tag along?"


    But Lloyd hears it crystal clearly, and is too full of pride to let it simply slip away. Adjusting his glasses, he says, "well then, other than travelling to the Kingdom of Caelus, what else do you have planned in mind, if you don''t even have the slightest bit of idea what you''re going up against? What information do you even have, to begin searching for answers?"


    "That is why we are going to Caelus in the first place," Lancaster says, trying not to raise his voice, because Alaina had already warned him -- twice, in fact -- to stop arguing with Lloyd. "We are going to start there."


    Lloyd seems pleased at his answer. He searches through his bag, and then pulls out a sheet of paper. "At least, I''m sensible enough to know I can simply start here," he brandishes the paper over at Lancaster. "Bet you''d forgotten that everything started with this pure, innocent piece of paper."


    Lancaster examines the paper still in Lloyd''s hand curiously. It is the paper that could be found all over Theia: the paper proclaiming the formation of a new empire, with a sinister looking man right in the centre of the paper. Lancaster maintains his calm expression, although he is lost for words inside, somewhat thanking Lloyd for this simple reminder. Caecilius Black, he remembers, the name of the man -- the trigger to everything happening now.


    Refusing to acknowledge him, Lancaster simply says, "thank you very much, for bringing that along; we might as well need it."


    "The time will come, when you need me," Lloyd replies.


    Alaina and Rose exchange glances, feeling the increasing tension between the both of them. After a moment of awkward silence, Alaina clears her throat. "Why don''t we - uh - move on? We won''t be able to reach Caelus anytime soon if we continue to just hang around here," she nudges Rose with her elbow, "right, Rose?"


    "What Alaina said," Rose adds quickly.


    "Right, your highness," Lancaster finally says, walking ahead.


    As they proceed, Lancaster and Lloyd keep an obvious distance between themselves, with Alaina and Rose following worriedly close behind. Alaina wishes that -- despite the very warm weather -- she can somehow put an end to this coldness she''s feeling. When will they set aside their differences and start acknowledging the other''s strengths?


    But her thoughts are being interrupted by loud voices she hears nearby. She isn''t the only one who noticed, because Lancaster, who was walking way in the front, stops in his tracks and turns back to them questioningly.


    "We must be getting close," Lloyd says between the silence only broken by the voices and chattering up ahead, "to a tavern."


    "A tavern?" Rose asks Lloyd, a hint of gleam in her eyes. "Can we go? Please? I haven''t been to one before!"


    "No," says Lancaster immediately. "We are to head to our destination as soon as possible, before nightfall. Besides, how sure are we, that a tavern is up ahead? It could just be a group of travellers -- like us."


    "I''m positive," says Lloyd. "I''ve studied the maps --"


    "Many times," Alaina interrupts, earning looks from all three of the others. "And I agree with Lancaster. We shouldn''t be bothered, to be distracted so simply --"


    "Travellers!"


    Two men appear from behind them, one with a unique dragon tattoo up along his left arm that Alaina and the rest do not fail to notice.


    "Looking for a place?" one of the men asks.


    "No - uh - well, we..." Alaina stops as she tries to find the right words, "no, we''re fine, thank you."


    The man who''d asked the question shrugs, looking over to the man with the dragon tattoo. At the sight of the man with the dragon tattoo''s stern eyes, Alaina immediately swears to herself that this man is not one to cross.


    "There''s a really crowded and very entertaining tavern up ahead, you know," the friendlier man says. "Stop by. May be able to aid you on your journey -- a casual resting spot with drinks, food supplies, and heck, some simple weaponry... oh, even the best and latest informations and gossips, current talks of the kingdoms and stuff. Lots of random informants hang around lately."


    At the mention of information, not only Lloyd perks, the others immediately pay their full attentions to the man. Unfortunately, though, the man is done talking.


    "See ya around, maybe," he bids farewell, walking out of sight with the tattooed man.


    "Information," Lloyd repeats, processing his thoughts. "Informants. We might benefit from them," he suggests, looking around at the others for their support.


    "So we do get to visit a tavern after all!" Rose perks happily.


    "It should be just right ahead, if I''m not mistaken," Lloyd presses on. "We can follow the voices to their source."


    "Well then, your highness?" Lancaster asks for approval from the princess herself.


    After a long thought, Alaina says, "doesn''t hurt to try, I guess."

 Chapter 5.2 ? Beginning Of Fire

    "The Lion''s Den? This one''s the most popular and well known tavern in this region -- probably one of the largest taverns," Lloyd says in awe as they stand in front of the large tavern crowded with people.


    It isn''t like any other taverns. Lloyd is right, this one is not only the largest and most attractive, but also the most unique tavern in perhaps all of Asteria.


    Inside, there are so many people that even Rose isn''t too excited about it. There are many tables, with people sitting about drinking and chatting. There''s a counter to the far end, where the tattooed man they''d followed now stands.


    "Where do we start?" Alaina briefly hears Rose whispering, but she has her gaze fixed on the man with the tattoo by the counter, talking secretively with the owner, she presumes.


    In the background, Lloyd is already desperately looking around for someone that may be of help, but the crowd of people constantly pushing and shoving him aside doesn''t help at all.


    "Your highness?" Lancaster is asking, but his voice is drowned by the sea of voices of people all chattering together.


    Even if it isn''t drowned out, though, Alaina wouldn''t be able to hear his voice either, as she still has her full attention at the counter, watching the two men as they whisper to each other. After a moment or two, she is glad that her attention didn''t waver and that her impatience didn''t win over; because the owner and the tattooed man make their way towards a suspicious corner of the tavern, occasionally glancing around as if they are not to be seen.


    Hurriedly, she pulls Lancaster by the arm and gestures for Lloyd and Rose -- who are rather far away to the other end of the corner, separated from them -- to follow. Pushing through the crowds, they manage to keep up with the two men until they stop in front of a hidden room, far secluded inside the tavern where no one notices. The owner then gestures for the tattooed man to enter the room, and Alaina peeks into the room sneakily just in time to see them descend the stairs leading to a hidden basement.


    As they exchange glances, thinking whether it''s wise to proceed downstairs, the fading noises and chatters around them seemingly vanish into nothing.


    Finally, Alaina decides to go for it, and she starts walking into the room, but she is grabbed by the arm by Lancaster. She turns around to face him. "What?"


    "Where do you think you are going?"


    "Down there, of course."


    "We do not know what is down there."


    "I agree," Lloyd interferes, "we are here to search for information --"


    "Who knows, the information we seek might just be down there," Alaina argues. "It''s pretty shady down there, a perfect spot for shady people with shady information!"


    "We really have no clue what is down there," Lancaster repeats.


    "Why not we just ask around up here first?" Rose suggests. "I mean, there are so many people here, I''m sure at least one or two would give us a positive answer we seek," she points to the dark stairway leading underneath the tavern, then adds, "besides, it''s kinda creepy down there."


    Lloyd nods in agreement. "The man we met on the way did say that there are a lot of informants gathering recently, so I bet someone around here can --"


    Lloyd trails off, and neither Lancaster nor Rose ask any further.


    "Yes?" Alaina questions at the silence, but all she finds are horrified and panicked looks from the faces of Lancaster, Lloyd, and Rose.


    "Ahem."


    She hears someone behind her clearing his throat, and she wheels around to find the owner of the tavern she saw at the counter earlier.


    "May I help you?" he asks in a hoarse voice, narrowing his eyes at them suspiciously.


    "Um... you have a very nice tavern," Alaina says, unable to find the right words. She smiles at the man, innocently, hoping to erase his suspicions on them.


    But this only make the owner increase his suspicions. "Thank you," he says genuinely. "Do you need something?" he questions yet again, not letting go.


    "We''re travellers," Lloyd blurts out. No harm to try and approach him, as he is but a simple tavern owner. "And we''re hoping to find someone that could help us with -- well, for someone that could be of help for our journey."


    The owner arches a brow. "What kind of a person are you looking for, exactly?"


    "Someone with information," Lancaster says immediately, tagging Lloyd''s game. "We are trying to seek answers, the truth -- part of our journey, you see, and the first thing we would require is basic information."


    "We''ve heard that informants hang around here often," Rose says, and when she notices the owner with an unreadable expression on his face, she quickly adds, "because who wouldn''t? Such a lovely tavern, like a magnet attracting everything around it."


    The moment they watch the owner flush ever so slightly, they immediately understand that they have managed to convince him into helping them.


    "Why, thank you, that''s really flattering and nice to hear," the owner says, rubbing the back of his head. "Thank you for thinking so highly of this place. You need information, yes?"


    Alaina nods. "Yes, please. Do you happen to know any regulars that are inter-kingdom informants? Or anyone, for that matter, who are aware of issues regarding the current affairs of the kingdoms?"


    "Well, there are definitely many informants," the owner pauses to think. Finally, he says, "there''s one I know, who''s been looking out for the most recent activities..." the owner looks around before inching closer to them, his voice dropping to a whisper, "even the crazy thing happening in Asteria -- you know, the thing about the emperor. His name is Trevor."


    Immediately, the four of them exchange looks of victory and satisfaction. Nodding to Lancaster who gives her a look of reassurance, Alaina turns back to the owner, "where can we find him?"


    Once again, the owner looks around, before saying, "follow me."


    They exchange glances once more before following the owner into the secret room and down the stairs. The stairs seem endless, leading them few floors below the tavern, and as they get lower, distant cheering and chatters are heard.


    The moment Alaina spots a faint light below, she can tell immediately that the room below is much more crowded and livelier -- and even noisier, if possible -- than the tavern above.


    As the owner steps on the landing below, he turns to the four and says, "please, do keep this a secret."


    At his words, they know instantaneously that his tavern is one of the many that holds Tavern Games -- illegally.


    "You have our word."


    And as the four of them finally step on the bottom landing, they see a sea of people gathered around what seems like a battle ring, cheering or hooting for the two people on the ring, battling. At the corner of the rather spacious room, there is a long table where people around it desperately push themselves through, struggling to place their respective bets.


    The tavern sure does seem like a very normal and peaceful one outside, but looks are most definitely deceiving; because what The Lion''s Den doesn''t look on the outside, it is what fits the name on the inside.


    Alaina has heard before that taverns used to have Tavern Games at a large scale, where the taverns organise different types of events as contests to attract regular visitors. The events range from simple drinking challenges and casual dart throwing to arm wrestling and small fist fights, finally to serious battle matches -- the greatest attraction.


    The taverns got so popular with such a practice that more taverns bloomed over the last decade and although it managed to encourage travels and visits between kingdoms, it soon got too far as battle matches were a burden of the kingdoms. Not only were there so many casualties, some people even risked their lives in the battle as some showed no mercy; and others who were merely spectators betted and wagered everything until they had nothing left.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Since then, such matches that involve human lives are no longer permitted. The kingdoms put a strict rule, and those who are caught either as an organiser or a participant or even merely so little as a witness shall be executed.


    However, despite the rules, some rules still are broken in a way or another. Some taverns -- Alaina has heard rumours -- still hold Tavern Games, and they''re pretty good at hiding it from authorities.


    The Lion''s Den, obviously, is one of them; the battle matches are currently ongoing in the battle ring at the centre of the room.


    "And now, the moment you have all been waiting for!" shouts a loud voice, and Alaina spots the source at the long table. "The finals!" the commentator yells, and cheers erupt the room.


    "Noisy, so noisy," mutters Lloyd, covering his ears. On the contrary, Rose is excited; she perks her head high, constantly keeping on tip-toes in hopes of catching a glimpse of the game.


    Lancaster is impatient and rather annoyed at the crowd and noise. Not wanting to waste any more time, he turns to the owner and asks, "where do we find the informant Trevor?"


    The owner, who was smiling at the success and popularity of his Tavern Game, brings his attention back at the group at Lancaster''s question. "Ah yes -- he should be somewhere around here..." he looks around, and after a moment, he says, "there! It''s hard to not notice him, even in a crowd."


    And he is right, for the owner brings the four of them to a hooded man, now standing in front of them, who looks very suspicious -- especially in a lively place like this.


    "Trevor," the owner says, gesturing to the four of them, "these are travellers. They are seeking information."


    The hooded man, Trevor, only bows his head. "Greetings."


    "Well, I''ll leave you guys to it," at that, the owner bids them farewell, walking towards the battle ring.


    Alaina watches the owner leave, and as she does, she catches a glimpse of the game. The man with the dragon tattoo is just being announced, and he walks up to the battle ring full with pride. "He who stands in very secured and definite first place, the annual champ!" the commentator announces, and the tattooed man raises his arms high, earning nearly the entire room''s cheers as he walks to the centre of the ring to face the other opponent who, in Alaina''s opinion, doesn''t stand a chance -- he is only a boy around her age, two times smaller than the man with the dragon tattoo, not to mention he has bandages wrapped up along his arm and legs. "Our favourite champion will be up against a new and very young participant -- Kai is his name; please go easy, champ!"


    It must be not only Alaina who thinks so; because Lancaster raises an eyebrow, incredulous at the sight of the other competitor while Lloyd and Rose wince.


    With a snap of fingers, the hooded man, Trevor draws all four of their attentions back to him. "Well? What is it that you wish to know?"


    "We are wondering," Lloyd starts for the group, improvising while he is at it. "If you could tell us anything you know about this," Lloyd pulls out the paper with Caecilius'' image on it he''d brought along with him, and hands it over to Trevor.


    At the sight of the paper, Trevor''s eyes widen, though the action remains unseen by them under his hood. Regaining his composure, he says, "and what of this?"


    Lancaster narrows his eyes in suspicion at Trevor''s uncertain voice. "Tell us everything you know."


    Trevor looks around cautiously before whispering in a voice only audible to the four of them, "sure thing, but what''s in it for me?"


    "What do you want in return?"


    He laughs. "Information requires a hefty price."


    Grinning, Alaina simply says, "you name it, you''ve got it."


    Seeing that Trevor is halfway to giving in, Rose quickly says, "and if that''s still not enough," she snatches Lloyd''s bag -- earning yells from Lloyd -- and shoves it in front of Trevor, "we can exchange information."


    Trevor laughs again. "That''s fine. I''ll just take some gold."


    "You have it."


    Satisfied, Trevor gestures for them to the quiet and isolated corner of the room. They pass the battle ring just as the commentator announces that the game is about to start. In the corner of her eye, Alaina watches the boy -- Kai -- as he shakes a gloved hand with the tattooed man, a cheeky smile plastered across his face; something about that smile tells Alaina that the bandages his arms and legs are covered with are only for display. And she is right, for the moment the commentator declares the start of the game, he moves agilely out of the way just as the tattooed man strikes.


    Stealing glances at the fading image of the battle taking place out of curiosity, they make their way slowly to the corner as background cheers dissipate from earshot.


    Now in the quiet zone, they can freely discuss without interruptions or noises.


    "So," Trevor starts, leaning against the wall. "You have to first tell me the rough premise of what you want to know -- then I''ll know the right thing to tell you."


    "What in Asteria made this ridiculous idea of an empire a thing might be a good place to start," says Lloyd.


    "Caecilius Black -- the man in that paper -- is the loyal advisor of the King of Nyx. I suppose he thinks it''s time for a change."


    "A change, by taking all seven kings'' powers away and replacing them with only one of him?" Lancaster questions.


    Trevor shrugs, nonchalant. "Perhaps he feels the kings are incompetent."


    "Even so, the more brains the better; a lone man is nothing. Three people, even if less wise compared to a single man, together they shall be triumphant."


    "But there is just no way the kings would agree so easily to his proposal," Rose adds. "So what made them?"


    Under the hood unbeknownst to them, Trevor frowns. "What''s done has been done, ultimately the kings have seemingly accepted to step down -- for reasons that are unknown, of course, hence I cannot answer your question. But I must ask this: are you unhappy?"


    Without an answer, the four of them are left disappointed, without any words to say. The silence tells Trevor that indeed, they are unhappy. "Tell you what," he speaks again when he doesn''t receive a reply, a smirk forming on his face. "You''re not the only ones who are unhappy -- there are rebellions forming all across Asteria. However, they''re all gathering in the Kingdom of Caelus."


    At the mention of the rebellion in Caelus, Alaina immediately looks over to Lancaster, who returns the gaze. "Caelus?" she repeats to make sure. She feels as if the stars are aligning for them: what a coincidence that there''s a rebellion in Caelus, the place they''re about to head to. They are not the only ones who feel troubled by the events, they are not alone.


    Trevor nods in response. "Indeed, or so I''ve heard."


    "How do we know if your information is accurate?" Lancaster asks with his eyes narrowed, threat in his voice.


    "It''s up to you whether or not you want to believe me, my job''s done -- I''ve delivered the information," he shrugs, and starts off in the direction of the game that somehow seems quieter than before. "Now if there''s nothing else, excuse me, I''ll like to place my bet on the game." and he strides off, leaving the four of them alone.


    "Well?" Lloyd asks after a moment of silence as they all process the information.


    Exchanging another glance with Lancaster, Alaina smiles, contentment in her eyes. "All the more reason to go to Caelus, then."


    *****


    "Lucky us," Alaina says as they exit the tavern, "that we met helpful people."


    "With useful information," Lloyd nods, jotting down notes on a parchment with a quill.


    "You''re amazing, Lancaster," Alaina says suddenly. "We never would have found out -- never would have travelled this way, even -- if you hadn''t suggested to go for Caelus in the first place."


    Lancaster opens his mouth to answer, but Lloyd manages to win over first. "Don''t I deserve some credit? I was the one who suggested we visit the tavern to search for information; I was also the one who suggested to start from the paper, remember?"


    "Thank you," Alaina says earnestly.


    Lloyd, not expecting it at all as he was just aiming to snatch the spotlight from Lancaster, is unable to speak from guilt and embarrassment. So instead, he sinks his head back to writing, saying softly, "a pleasure, your highness. But you''re right indeed -- it all began with Lancaster."


    Lancaster is certainly confused by Lloyd''s sudden submission, but he doesn''t poke further. He knows very well Lloyd is of a prideful man, and despite their differences always getting in the way, they do acknowledge and respect each other enough. "Also a mere coincidence, perhaps," he says finally, "that Caelus is where I was born. Who knows where would we have gone, otherwise?"


    "Give yourself some credit," Alaina pokes at his side. When she is at it while Lloyd finishes his scribbles with Rose hurrying him, she catches a glimpse of the boy who had been back in the tavern on the battle ring, the one who had managed to capture Alaina''s eyes when she and the others were speaking to Trevor the informant. She''d heard his name when he was announced by the commentator: Kai.


    She watches as he exits the tavern, too; fiddling with a sack of what''s probably gold, a satisfied smile on his face as he throws it up and down and catches it with ease.


    As he descends the steps of the tavern''s entrance, he turns in the direction of Alaina; and for a very ephemeral but rather lasting and definitely undeniable moment, they catch each other''s eyes. Instinctively, she quickly looks away, flushing. Not too long of a moment later, though, she looks back, but he''s already gone. Somewhere in that seemingly endless eternity, the moment their eyes had met is gone forever, ceasing to exist.


    "Are we ready?" Lancaster asks with impatience in his tone, the question rather directed to Lloyd.


    At the sudden question Lloyd drops some of his items in his hands, and Lancaster sighs in exasperation.


    "Just -- a moment --" Lloyd says, frantically scrambling for the dropped items on the ground, whispering urgently to Rose -- who is yawning and standing boringly beside him -- for help.


    Not lifting a finger to help, Rose begins to complain. "If it weren''t for you, we would''ve reached our destination ages ago --" but she is interrupted by a loud bang around the corner, and all of them jerk up at the sudden noise.


    Alaina scans their surroundings curiously as Lancaster places his hand at the hilt of his sword in case; even Lloyd stops gathering his items immediately, staying close to Rose.


    There is another bang, and Alaina is certain that the source comes from right behind the tavern. Curiosity getting the better of her, she takes off, running in the direction of the sound. Lancaster quickly follows in fear of any harm that may come to the princess, gesturing for Lloyd and Rose to follow as well.


    Turning the corner, Alaina stops in her tracks as she sees a group of men cornering a boy against the tavern''s back walls. The boy, Alaina recognises, is none other than Kai.


    Despite being cornered, though, he shows no sign of fear. Instead, he only smiles -- a cheeky, cocky grin; one similar to the one Alaina saw when he was shaking hands with the man with the dragon tattoo.


    "You''re going to surrender the gold, or we''ll have to make you," says the man in front of the group -- who is the man with the dragon tattoo, all of them realise then -- as he clenches his fists, the others behind him doing so as well.


    Before they even have the chance to do much as to attempt to stop them, the entire area is engulfed in flames in a split second, the fire narrowly missing the four of them.


    Alaina feels the temperature rising up drastically all around her, and all she feels is intense heat. Despite only being able to see the fire surrounding them, she hears a voice ringing in her ears that she is certain the others could hear, too.


    "Burn."

 Chapter 6 ? Cold Flames

    They watch with a mixture of awe and horror from behind a tree and some bushes at the now scorched area, the fire inches away from burning the entire wooden tavern down.


    Lancaster had gathered all the other three -- who were frozen in shock to even move a muscle -- to safety. None of them move away from their current spots, as they are still partly dumbstruck to do anything; but the main reason is because they are so intrigued by this turn of events that they are willing to stay to witness it.


    "Really, it didn''t have to come to this if you''d just listened," says a voice as a figure emerges from the ring of flames, perfectly in one piece. Kai is unscathed, with not a single burn. He doesn''t even look like he''s bothered by the scorching flames and the intense heat around him; fearlessly walking around the flames as if it isn''t his first time doing so.


    Though a huge radius is engulfed in flames, the men are unharmed. Scattered by the sudden attack they obviously did not expect, they shiver in fear, trying their best to back away from the boy who''d just produced the flames out of thin air. They cower away; some running off while they still can, some backing away and retreating to the trees deep inside the forest, while others just stand with fear and horror, their feet frozen to the ground.


    Leaving the gradually dissipating flames in the dust behind him as he takes a few steps forward, Kai crosses the distance between him and the man with the dragon tattoo -- who is frozen with fear, leaning against a tree for support.


    "W-what do you want?" he stammers, his hands reaching behind for the tree as if it is capable of helping him. Gripping whatever he can manage of the tree with shaking hands, he backs further away from the approaching boy. "Stay away!"


    Somehow, at the words, Kai seems to grow angrier than he already looks. "Relax, I''m not going to burn anyone -- at least, not alive," he says in a deadly voice, glaring at the man and seemingly enjoying the sight of his fear -- the sight of the pathetic man lifts his anger slightly. "I want a deal."


    "W-what is it?"


    "Forget what you saw, it never happened," Kai says as if he''s giving an order, and he slams a bare palm to the trunk of the tree the man is leaning on, just an inch away from his face for emphasis. The man turns to the hand fearfully, blood draining from his face; and he watches as smoke hisses from the place where Kai''s palm had just slammed in to. "It never happened," he repeats, "and I''ll bet you''d think twice before messing with me again."


    "All right, all right!" the man surrenders. "I will not tell a soul!"


    Happy with the answer, Kai sets the man free. The man composes himself and along with the remaining men they disappear deep into the forest to reunite with the others who have fled.


    "No one would believe what you saw even if you told anyone, anyway," Kai says in a low whisper, once the man had left.


    The fire has already vanished; as if it never was there in the first place, though the marks left are obvious -- the scorched grass are a pattern of where the fire had been.


    Alaina and the others watch in the shadows of the trees quietly, not daring to make a sound, as Kai slips a pair of white gloves over his hands and picks up his small bag and the heavy sack of gold Alaina had spotted him fiddling with earlier.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    However dangerous he may seem, he isn''t really much of a threat, Alaina thinks; after all, he didn''t hurt anyone, even with what he is capable of doing. The fire he had set to burn didn''t touch anyone, wasn''t even strong enough to cause a forest fire before it died down completely -- he only did so because he was being cornered. Such perfect control.


    Alaina is snapped back into reality when she hears a soft yelp that stops immediately once it''s let out. She turns around, and her face pales as she spots Rose lying on the ground, her body limp; Lloyd is at her side, frantically fanning her with one hand, gripping one of her weak hands tight with the other.


    Had the fire hurt her?


    Immediately at the sight of her friend, Alaina regrets all her previous thoughts -- however nice -- on the boy and his fire.


    As soon as she rushes over to Rose''s side, though, a surge of relief along with guilt washes over her; relief that Rose is safe and unburnt, guilt because she''d blamed Kai without any evidence.


    Rose is barely conscious. Having difficulty breathing, her chest rises and falls at an inconsistent state.


    "Does she have weak lungs?" Lancaster asks softly, still watching Kai from behind the bush just in case. He looks over his shoulder in concern.


    "How am I supposed to know?" Lloyd snaps, still fanning Rose.


    Lloyd gets his answer from Rose herself. She blinks weakly at Lloyd, and shakes her head slowly. But as soon as she does so, she lets out a small cough.


    "How are we able to help you?" Alaina asks worryingly. She begins looking around for some water, asking Lancaster and Lloyd for it, but Rose shakes her head yet again.


    She opens her dry mouth, stifling a cough. "Rose... no. F-flower..." Rose says with whatever strength she is able to gather, turning her head slowly to the right. The others follow her gaze to the bottom of an old oak tree to their right, where several beautiful red flowers bloom.


    "Poppies," says Rose, trying to reach for them.


    Confuse but glad that she is still able to find fun and joy in simple things like her usual self despite her current state, the three of them sigh in relief. But Rose doesn''t stop trying to reach for them.


    Not knowing what else to do, Alaina walks over to the poppies and picks one, then hands it to Rose. Receiving the flower, Rose beams brightly. She pulls it close, embracing its scent.


    "I''ll be fine now," Rose manages to say without difficulty this time. But before the other three can even give a thought about it, she rises to her feet in a quick movement, dropping the poppy -- which, to Lloyd''s surprise, had already wilted -- in the process, shocking all of them.


    Recovering from the second shock this day, Lancaster manages -- just barely -- to signal Rose to crouch again right before he sees Kai turning in their direction with narrowed eyes.


    "Hurry, we must leave," Lancaster whispers to the others, still keeping an eye on Kai. When Kai starts making his way towards their direction, Lancaster quickly adds, "try to make your way slowly to that clearing ahead," he nods over to their left, only slightly behind them, at the clearing that is rather visible though shady deeper in the forest.


    Lancaster need not say it, but the rest understand that they should move quickly but quietly. They definitely do not want to attract the attention of the boy who can ignite the entire forest and burn it to the ground if he wants to.


    But as they begin to make their way to the clearing, Kai makes his own way -- unfortunately -- towards their direction, too. Though Lancaster is certain that he has no knowledge of their presence, he knows that they must avoid him to prevent any unnecessary conflict... or perhaps even casualties.


    Quickly, he gestures for the others to follow him around a tree, but as they move, Alaina accidentally steps on a fallen tree branch that cracks in two immediately at the impact. And instantly, she feels a cold chill running down her spine as she braces herself for what''s to come.


    Kai turns immediately to the source, alert; and the moment he does, his glowing amber eyes meets Alaina''s blue eyes. For an instant, all Alaina does is stare at his beautiful eyes, losing herself to the depths of the glowing amber. All the emotions she''d felt earlier -- shock, fear, horror, and worry -- vanish the moment her eyes lay on his.


    Their eyes linger as if the world had stopped spinning.


    Kai stands there, as still as a statue, as if he''s the one who''s frozen in fear. Alaina stumbles back; but instead of burning them, Kai does the unexpected: he runs away.

 Chapter 7 ? Land Of Sky

    "What was that?" Lloyd breaks the silence. "Technically speaking, it''s impossible for someone to do that!" he exclaims, fumbling around in his bag for scrolls or books. "No human can even stand such heat, and let''s not even get started about a human conjuring up fire!" He begins to mumble something about his logic being challenged.


    "Shut it, we are lucky enough to be walking out of this alive," Lancaster says after a moment. "It is a miracle he decided not to burn us." Grateful for this fact, Lancaster silently hopes that they do not cross paths again.


    Alaina helps Rose steady herself while Lancaster and Lloyd are bickering. "Are you fine?"


    "As good as new."


    "What happened back there?"


    "I don''t know, but it happens sometimes," Rose admits.


    "Have you not seen a doctor about this?" Lancaster questions, as both him and Lloyd rejoin them.


    "It doesn''t really happen often. Besides, whenever I get in touch with nature, I feel better."


    "Like how you felt better when you had the poppy?" Lancaster raises his brow in disbelief.


    "Definitely." Rose smiles. "That''s why we live in the outskirts. I haven''t experienced something like that since a long time -- until now, that is."


    Alaina begins to recall that Rose once told her she used to live near the city centre. "Does that mean you suffer from this problem frequently, back when you lived around the city centre?"


    Rose nods. "I''m sorry I didn''t tell any of you about this, I didn''t expect it would happen -- or be a problem, after so many years."


    "The important thing is that you''re safe and well." Alaina smiles, and Lancaster nods in agreement.


    Lloyd rubs the back of his head furiously, messing his hair in the process, as frustration takes over his body. He still can''t manage to make out the logics and reasons behind first, the boy who can produce flames; and second, how Rose would have been in a very critical condition, but is able to appear as if it never happened after her little pleasure on the flower.


    "Shall we?" Lancaster asks.


    "Just a moment," Lloyd says quickly, checking through his bag. He turns around and starts walking back to where they''d come from. "I think I left something -- be right back."


    Ignoring the annoyed sigh from Lancaster, he returns to the place where the poppies grow. He hears complaints from Rose in the distance, but he has much more things in his spinning mind to bother. He picks a poppy carefully, and then keeps it in his bag. Just in case, he thinks.


    "I''m ready," he says, returning to the others.


    Lloyd glances back one last time at the place where Rose laid not too long ago as she struggled to gasp for air. He spots the wilted poppy immediately, lying dead in Rose''s place; an ominous feeling inevitably, viscerally rising within.


    *****


    After what seems like an eternity, the four finally stand in front of the grand walls that shield the Kingdom of Caelus -- their intended destination from the very beginning. Taking in the majestic sight, they brace themselves for what is to come -- after a series of interesting events, they aren''t too sure if they would be surprised for anything else in store for them.


    Alaina can''t stop feeling that their adventure has just begun.


    "Come," Lancaster says, breaking her train of thoughts. "I am certain the guards would recognise me, and trust me enough to let us through."


    As they make their way closer to the gates of Caelus that rise so high that they look as if they kiss the sky -- as how it would befit the kingdom''s name; instead of glancing up enviously how high the gates rise, Alaina turns her head curiously around the walls, wondering how far the borders stretch. As she does so, she definitely had not expected to see someone ever so familiar, finding his way through a small barred passageway around the wall. She gasps.


    "Alaina!" Rose calls out to her, and she turns to the source to find the other three already right in front of the gates, Lancaster talking to the two guards posted in front of the gates. Deciding to convince herself she''s just hallucinating as what she''d seen would be too much of a coincidence, she regroups with the others.


    "-- new orders." is what she hears one of the guards saying when she is finally in their circle.


    Lancaster frowns. "Since when?"


    The guard opens his mouth to answer, but he notices Alaina when she strides close to them, and immediately he is silent. His eyes fall to his toes nervously. Then he flickers his eyes first at Alaina, then at Lancaster, and then finally slightly but more quickly at Lloyd and Rose. Something has clicked within him.


    "Since when?" Lancaster repeats impatiently, eyeing the guard with suspicion at his tiny actions. The other guard flinches, stealing a glance at his partner; their minds are linked, they know what the other is thinking.


    Neither of the guards dare utter a word, fearing the outcome.


    "Fine, don''t answer." Lloyd shrugs. "Just let us through. Even if there are ''new orders'', you would trust that Lancaster has no bad intentions, won''t you? The king would, at least; after all, he was once part of Caelus'' royal knights."


    The guard who was talking to Lancaster shuffles his feet. Finally, when the other guard refuses to open his mouth, he says, "it''s not that, Lancaster, I -- well, we trust you." His eyes move briefly to Alaina again, but quickly retreats them to the ground when she stares back questioningly. He lifts his gaze back to Lancaster. He takes a deep breath, as if embracing himself for the worst. He finally finds the courage to say, "you are all from the Kingdom of Theia."


    Lancaster narrows his eyes. "I believe you would be already aware that I, at least, am from Theia; since I moved there back when I left."


    "And I assume that you are travelling with the Princess of Theia herself."


    Alaina flinches, and Lancaster looks taken aback by his words. Lloyd manages to clear his mind the quickest. "What are you getting at?" he asks.


    The guard clears his throat before saying, "by order of the King of Theia himself, the princess and her associates are to be taken into custody."


    "What?" Alaina demands.


    The guard backs away slightly at her words. "It is an official order, your highness, the entire land is informed -- all the other kingdoms are told to watch out for the princess --" at Alaina''s fierce gaze, he quickly continues, "-- and keep her highness somewhere so that she is under proper control."


    Feeling uneasy, Alaina doubts his words. "I do not believe that my father would give such an order. The king would, at least, ask for my safe return."


    "The orders are absolute, your highness. The other kings are informed. The kingdoms are taking careful measures. I am offering you a chance: I suggest that you and your friends return quickly to Theia at once, before we are forced to --"


    "Don''t touch me!" a voice interrupts his words.


    Alaina''s eyes widen at the source.


    Kai is walking furiously few steps ahead of a guard who seems to be forcing him forward.


    "Sir Callahan."


    "What''s with that lot?" the guard that''s approaching, Callahan, questions at the sight of the group. He is of a higher rank than the other two -- a shimmering gold emblem symbolising the Kingdom of Caelus is worn proudly on the left side of his chest. He turns to Kai just as they close in on the gates and says, "and you, don''t think you''re getting away."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    But Kai doesn''t hear this, as he spots Alaina and the others, now in proximity. Immediately recognising Alaina, he focuses his eyes on the ground.


    "Sir, they are travellers. Just asking for directions." The two guards stand straight as they talk to Callahan. "They are about to leave." The guard tries to help them, but Callahan is smart.


    "Hmm?" Callahan approaches the group. "They look familiar." His eyes stay on Alaina. After a moment, he smirks. "Your highness, what brings you here, all the way from the Kingdom of Theia?"


    "We just want to visit your kingdom, is that too much?" Lloyd snaps, unable to stand the game of words no longer despite being a great player himself.


    "Without the King of Theia''s knowledge? That is most definitely suspicious." He shoves Kai, who stumbles and nearly trips, in front of them. "And him? An ally of yours, I suppose? I found him trying to get through the walls without being seen. So you''re the distraction -- pretending to be innocent travellers -- while he tries to find a way through, am I correct?"


    "I said -- don''t touch me." Kai pushes Callahan''s arm away, glaring at the man angrily with glowing amber eyes.


    Alarmed, Alaina quickly says, "it''s not what you think it is. We really just want to visit Caelus."


    "In peace," Rose adds.


    "And we don''t even know who the boy is to begin with, so let''s not talk about how we''re allies -- that''s ridiculously impossible," Lloyd says, shaking his head. "Preposterous."


    The two guards at the gates flinch slightly, and one of them is desperately trying to let them know through tiny body languages that this isn''t a good idea.


    Callahan has an odd expression on his face the moment his eyes lay on Lancaster. "So, Lancaster, I see you have not gotten far since you left." His eyes seem to show mock and delight. "I have enough evidences and even witnesses --" he nods to the two guards who were staring at the ground, "to suspect you."


    "Wait --"


    "By order of the King of Theia himself, the other kingdoms are given the permission to take you into custody until you are no longer a bother. You are in the Kingdom of Caelus -- my kingdom; hence, under direct kingdom rules, you are to come with me."


    ?????


    After so long, their only wish is to arrive at their destination without any more hassles. They now have, only, not in the way they''d imagined.


    "Wrong place, wrong time," Kai says angrily as he rests his arm against the cool metal bars of the cell that confines all five of them, his forehead on his arm. "This is all your fault; if you hadn''t come to Caelus in the first place, none of this would''ve happen." He tries to say as calmly as he can, trying to control his anger that''s about to burst out like a volcano.


    "Then it''s fair to say that this is partly your fault, too; if you weren''t in Caelus -- doing whatever you were doing -- when we were there, you wouldn''t be here. Most importantly, I wouldn''t be here, if you hadn''t done what you''ve did that made us so suspicious," says Lloyd, who is sitting in the far corner of the room, leaning against the cold stone wall. He shakes his head and buries his face into his palms. "This is so wrong."


    "Oh, how the almighty has fallen," Rose comments. "We''re all stuck."


    "Which reminds me," Lloyd says suddenly, standing up and startling most of them in the room. "You..." He approaches Kai. "Are the one we saw back then!"


    Kai takes a step back. "The what you saw back when?" he asks, trying to mask his panic. He certainly did not expect to meet them again, and he''s currently lost for what to say. Right now, he isn''t sure if they are the enemies.


    "You produced flames out of thin air!" Lloyd exclaims, with a hint of fascination in his tone. Alaina, who was pacing around minutes ago, stops and pays attention to the ongoing conversation curiously.


    "The Lion''s Den, you were there."


    "Wait -- that was him?" Rose asks in disbelief, clearly with no clue because she wasn''t really conscious.


    "Wrong person," Kai says, quickly looking away when he finds Alaina watching him. She knows, he thinks, more than anyone else; because they''d caught each other''s eyes, twice.


    Although she remains silent, it''s obvious she''s watching, but he doesn''t know what''s on her mind.


    Alaina takes in his features; he has messy brown hair, and it gets messier as he constantly runs his hands through it out of habit or frustration, she isn''t too sure. He''s around her age, but is only taller than her by an inch or two. The most stunning feature of his, though, are his eyes. They are amber, and as rare as amber eyes were, his are not entirely amber -- a mixture of red and orange is fused within them, just like the colour of sun setting skies or perhaps even the sun itself.


    Most significantly, they glow. And in the rather dark confinement room they are trapped in, they glow even more obviously than the first time Alaina had noticed from the first time their eyes met.


    Captivated, she soon finds herself staring in the depths of his eyes from the corner of his face.


    "You have weird eyes," Alaina states bluntly, when no one else speaks.


    Kai turns to glare at her, his gaze fixing onto hers. Alaina is slightly taken aback by his stern glare, but holds his gaze anyway; somehow, she doesn''t want to look away. Finally, he says, "I know." And he does. He pulls his eyes away from hers. "I get that a lot. You''re not the first." When he finishes, he feels frustration rising, his body fuming.


    He loathes it when people point out his eyes being odd as they are.


    "Like the sun," she whispers. "Beautiful."


    "What?"


    "It''s beautiful."


    He pauses then looks at her once again. "... that makes you the first."


    "That''s not the point here -- although I must say, those eyes really do glow," Lloyd says, stepping in between them; Kai takes a step back at how close he is about to get. "How did you do it?"


    "Do what?"


    "The fire."


    "I just can," Kai finally admits. He pulls out his right glove, and with a slight wave, a tiny flame dances on his palm, illuminating the dark room.


    "Magnificent!" Lloyd exclaims, clearly very impressed. "How? When did you discover you could do such a thing? Does it hurt you?" Questions that spiral throughout his mind begin setting themselves free.


    "Is that magic?" Rose gasps, her eyes gleaming with fascination. Her excitement drops faintly when Kai encloses the tiny flame with his hand closing into a fist, the fire diminishing until it vanishes completely. "I''ll forgive you for burning the grass in the forest, then, since I like you."


    "I thought you like me," Lloyd says almost immediately after Rose''s last word.


    Alaina laughs at his words. "She likes everyone." She nudges Lloyd lightly. Lloyd, embarrassed by his own dubious act, doesn''t say any more in his own defence like he usually would. Instead, he steals a glance at Rose, who stumbles slightly then leans against the stone wall for support.


    Drawing her attention back to Kai, she offers her hand. "Nice to meet you, I''m Alaina. We''re from the Kingdom of Theia."


    "And what brings you here, all the way from Theia?" he asks curiously, slipping his hand back into the glove he''d removed before shaking her hand hesitantly. It is only then he notices the shining diamond necklace around Alaina''s neck, and he can''t help but feel he has seen it somewhere before, but he decides against asking about it for he may be wrong. "Kai." he gives her his name -- willingly -- after realising that she and her friends bring no harm.


    A thud stops Alaina from answering his question, and she finds Rose on the ground behind her.


    "Again?" Alaina''s face pales.


    "Hold on, I''ve got this," Lloyd says calmly, reaching for his bag. "Please watch over her, your highness." He searches his bag and finally pulls out the poppy he''d carried with him. "Rose," he says softly, guiding her hand to the poppy, and when her hand finds it, Rose clutches the poppy near her.


    At first, Kai watches in confusion at the sight; but as he witnesses the poppy wilting in Rose''s hand, he just stares with wide eyes, immediately concluding that even if the world''s logic is bent, he shall be right on one thing: he isn''t the only one who''s special.


    Alaina sighs in relief when Rose starts returning to them, thanking Lloyd for the poppy. Silently, she hopes that Lancaster is doing as well or even better than they are, wherever they''ve taken him to.


    *****


    "Callahan." Lancaster sighs, following the man in front through halls, two armed guards watching him closely from behind in case he tries anything funny. "What do you want? Where are the others?"


    A sly smirk forms on Callahan''s face. "What a pitiful state you''re in, Lancaster, hence I am offering you an opportunity to redeem your current laughable self."


    Lancaster furrows his brows, not liking where this is going. Knowing Callahan, Lancaster is almost hundred percent certain that Callahan is trying desperately to use his current position against him. But he knows better. "Do you really need these guards behind me? Are you captain of the knights now, or not?"


    "Exactly my point," Callahan snaps impatiently, his pace slowing down slightly. "They are to keep you from escaping."


    "I was wrong, then, my bad; I had thought they are to restrain me just in case if I were to give you a hard time."


    Callahan stops in his tracks completely, his fists clenching by his sides. He turns to face Lancaster. "You are nothing now. I was made captain of the knights since you left, and I have long surpassed you!" he says angrily. "Even if you were to return, I will still remain captain. And today, I shall finally prove it."


    From his words, Lancaster knows immediately the answer to his first question. Callahan is going to try and force him back into Caelus'' royal knights in order to overpower him in mere social standings with his current title.


    But that leaves his second question unanswered, for Callahan only seeks to defeat Lancaster, nothing more.


    "What have you done to the others?" he presses as Callahan resumes walking.


    "In the dungeons where they belong. At least, until the installation''s over."


    "While they are held captive, it is completely fine for me to walk freely in the castle? Your judgements are absurd."


    "You are not really walking freely, armed guards are watching you," Callahan spats. "Best be careful, Lancaster, you don''t want to end up begging for a place by my side."


    Lancaster remains silent as they continue making their way down the hallway. He is aware that, at least, he would be able to use his skills and previous profession here in Caelus to help the others. It is a risk, but definitely one that''s worth to take.


    As they are nearing the end of the hall, the King of Caelus appears suddenly from the left corridor, and he now stands before them.


    "Ah, your majesty." Callahan bows. "I was just looking for you."


    Lancaster is almost too sure that Callahan is bringing him to the King of Caelus, but he certainly had not expected the king to look as if no one''s home. The moment Lancaster''s eyes lay on the king''s, he realises instantaneously he''d seen something similar before.


    The king has the same blank and emotionless eyes, the same soulless body as the King of Theia.

 Chapter 8 ? Spark

    Lancaster follows Clyde, a royal knight as well as his friend when he was still in Caelus, down a narrow staircase spiralling endlessly downwards as he recalls the events back in the castle, where he''d seen the king.


    "Lancaster," the king said through weary eyes, "just what have you been up to?"


    "Nothing too heavy of a crime to have myself beheaded, your majesty," Lancaster replied with a small smile. "It has been a while."


    The king chuckled. "Sure it has, and I do hope you are doing just fine in Theia," he let out a sigh, "which brings me to my question: just what are you and your friends -- even the Princess of Theia herself -- doing here? The King of Theia has given the permission -- an order, really -- to take those along with her highness into custody. You haven''t done anything so as to betray your kingdom, have you?"


    "Never in my life," Lancaster swore.


    "And I do trust you," the king patted Lancaster''s shoulder. "But an order is still an order... I am in no power to do anything against the King of Theia''s personal request, as it was made upon all seven kingdoms," he sighed before continuing, "I am able to, though, offer you a place by my side. That allows you to escape your current position, since you are a capable knight."


    At the king''s words, Callahan frowned in the background, his fists clenched. He wore an expression of deep jealousy. Lancaster contemplated the offer, but it wasn''t for his own sake, but for the others.


    "What about the others?"


    "Unfortunately, they have nothing to offer, unlike you. We have no choice but to keep them away from trouble until the installation''s over."


    "And may I ask, what are your views in regards to the formation of a new empire?"


    "It is for the best of Asteria," the king replied without a second thought.


    Of course, Lancaster knew from the beginning the answer wasn''t going to be to his liking. "I apologise, your majesty, but I will have to decline the offer. Because right now, I have something far more important than myself."


    As much as how the king is still the same person who recognises Lancaster''s strengths and capabilities, in a way though, Lancaster knows for sure, the king is obviously not himself.


    He has worked alongside the King of Caelus for a long time, and Lancaster recognises him as someone who loves his people and his kingdom more than himself. If there is a rebellion forming in Caelus, then the people are most certainly unhappy -- and shouldn''t the king have noticed? Instead, he appears to be in full support of the man named Caecilius Black, not glancing back at all at what he''s about to leave behind.


    "Not regretting this, Lancaster?" Clyde asks when they reach the bottom of the stairs, a wooden door before them. He turns to face his former teammate. "An uncaged bird is one that flies the highest, towards the sky and beyond."


    Lancaster raises a brow at the mention of the knights'' motto. "Still that? I thought Callahan must have changed it, since he loathes every part of me."


    Clyde shakes his head. "He''s changed it, all right; but he shall never change our hearts," he places a fist at his chest, where his heart is. "Caelus has never been the same without you. Just remember this: Caelus, ruler of the skies and deep within; amidst the skies there''s a heart of fire, and the spark lies within."


    Lancaster has no clue as to why Clyde is bringing up the Kingdom of Caelus'' Anthem -- with minor differences from what he remembers -- at a strange time like this, but is grateful for his words that seem warm. "Thank you," he says, and Clyde has an unreadable expression on his face. Clyde turns to open the door and leads him in.


    Initially, Lancaster had the intention to ask him about the rebellion in Caelus from what they''d heard from Trevor the informant on their way here, but ultimately decides against it, just in case. He can''t afford to take any further risks, considering their current situation.


    He spots the cell holding Alaina and the others right away, and at the sight of him, they drop whatever topic they were discussing.


    As Clyde leads Lancaster inside, he is surprised that none of them inside so much as to attempt to break out. Perhaps they are very cautious not to take the risk, afraid of what may come after if they were to try, only to fail. Before Clyde locks the bars again, he turns to glance at Lancaster one last time. "Just remember my words. The Anthem."


    Lancaster frowns in confusion. "The Anthem? What of it?"


    Clyde shrugs nonchalantly as if he never said anything in the first place, before leaving through the wooden door, what''s left being a confused Lancaster.


    "Lancaster!" he hasn''t a second to think when he is called by his name. He turns to the others: Alaina with a curious expression right before him, Lloyd helping Rose to her feet, Kai standing in the corner with his arms crossed and deep in thought.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    He is focused on Lloyd and Rose, wondering what has happened -- but as he finds Rose back to her feet and jumping around like her usual hyper self, he assumes all of them are doing just fine.


    "What happened?" Alaina asks, and Lancaster brings his eyes along with his thoughts back to her. She''s not the only one who wants to know the answer, as all eyes -- even Kai''s -- then fall upon him, waiting for his answer.


    "First," his eyes drift to Lloyd and Rose again, "what happened, is my question."


    "She''s not normal," Kai says immediately, stepping away from the wall he was leaning on. "She''s got --"


    "I''m perfectly fine!" Rose interrupts and starts jumping at her ground to prove it. "Thanks to Lloyd''s poppy."


    "That''s exactly why you aren''t normal. You --"


    "Seriously, I''m all good," Rose insists, interrupting him again.


    Lancaster, however, is curious. "What makes you say so? That she is abnormal, I mean," he narrows his eyes at Kai. "Also, how can we trust you?"


    "Ah, don''t you remember now, Lancaster," Lloyd says with glee, "he''s the one who got caught ''being involved'' in our predicament at the gates -- but that''s not it. He''s the one who conjured up fire back at the tavern, remember?" he strides near Lancaster, then adds in a voice only audible to him, "he''s really not that bad, just don''t provoke him."


    But Kai is already taken aback by Lancaster''s straight face and stern glare, and compared to the other three, he finds it difficult to let his guard down around Lancaster.


    "His name''s Kai," Alaina says quickly, trying to clear any doubts as she senses a spark of a fire.


    At the mention of his name, Lancaster freezes. He blinks after a moment, convincing himself he''d misheard what Alaina had said. "What?"


    "Kai. His name," she repeats, clearly confused. Lancaster is not one who asks about something more than once.


    He locks his gaze on Kai, his face a look of disbelief. "Kai?"


    "What?" Kai snaps, frustrated. Lancaster concludes instantaneously that he is one that''s quick to anger.


    "Nothing," Lancaster waves his hand, shaking off his previous thoughts. Kai reacts to this stiffly in the background. "There is something of greater importance as of now -- your highness," he turns to Alaina, "the King of Caelus is acting similarly to the King of Theia."


    "As in how they caved so easily in support of the proposal?"


    "Exactly."


    Alaina leans against the wall, shaking her head. "What''s up with these kings? Don''t they realise they are risking their positions?" she sighs, not only because they are powerless as of now, but also because she still can''t seem to find the reason behind her own father''s irrational actions and decisions.


    "They''re not being themselves," Lloyd comments, like how he''d concluded for the way the King of Theia has been acting. "But as for how the other kings apart from Theia''s and Caelus'' are doing, we have no clue."


    "And how, exactly, can one not be themselves?" Kai asks, unconvinced.


    "I know the King of Theia. Very well, in fact, as the palace advisor," Lloyd answers, giving full thought about what he''s saying, considering the king''s usual personality and behaviour carefully. "His majesty usually takes many factors into consideration, and doesn''t act irrationally -- he would ask for my advice. I''m stating a fact, that he''s not his usual self. He did not even seek for my advice regarding this issue."


    And Lancaster knows the King of Caelus well enough to confidently say that he isn''t acting the way Lancaster would''ve thought he would, either. As for the remaining five kingdoms and their kings, it''s still a mystery: whether the kings all agreed to it as well -- or did one or two of them opposed but still stood in minority, and how the people there have reacted and felt towards this change.


    Seeing as a rebellion is forming, there must be people like them, too, who are unhappy and therefore unwilling to settle to their fate.


    "He''s definitely not the same father I used to know, that''s all I can say," Alaina comments in a dark tone, with sadness in her voice. "Doesn''t he love me? Just the morning before he had the meeting, we were having a heartwarming discussion regarding my safety. About how he didn''t want to lose me, just like how we''ve lost my mother," she fights tears forcing to pour from her eyes at the mention of her late mother, her fingers gently touching her mother''s necklace unconsciously. "Now, he has just given the order to the other kingdoms that as long as I am in custody before the installation, I won''t be a bother to the ceremony. My safety is no longer his concern."


    Lancaster walks to Alaina''s side and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Words aren''t always his strong point, but he''ll be there for her when she needs him.


    They are pulled away from the depressing thoughts when they hear tapping sounds on the wall. Rose is at the far back, the opposite wall from the bars, tapping at random points of the wall. "I want out of here," her tapping increases in strength and in pace, "it''s so hard to breathe in here, there''s hardly any air! Just like in the tavern''s basement!" she stops, catching her breath as if she''d just run a marathon, then continues tapping furiously.


    Lloyd covers his ears with both his hands. "Would you stop that?!" he winces at the tapping noises he can''t stand.


    But Rose doesn''t seem to hear him, and she taps desperately and repetitively as if she can somehow make a hole through the wall. The moon shines on her through the small barred gap near the top of the wall she''s tapping on.


    "She''s not normal!" Kai says once again to the others, approaching Rose. "You are special," he tells her, trying to calm her down, holding her arm to stop her from tapping further and possibly hurting her hands.


    But at his grip, Rose only reacts more violently. She shoves him away, then continues tapping as if her life depends on it. She stops suddenly; turning to Kai, she grabs him by his shirt, her eyes pleading for help. "Please, can''t you burn down the walls? I need to get out of here!" she says desperately, between breaths.


    "I can''t," Kai tries to get her hands off him. "I would''ve done so in the first place if I could -- I can''t. It''s a thick stone wall. And I can''t burn the metal bars, they''re steel," he looks up to the narrow barred gap above them, wondering what''s outside. "And don''t touch me," he snaps.


    Alaina, Lancaster and Lloyd hurry to Rose''s side and try calm her down to no avail. She drops to the stone floor on her knees, breathing heavily.


    At her uneven breathing, a tiny glow lights up the cold, dark room. A light not strong enough as compared to Kai''s flames, but a dim light capable of guiding them through the dark anyway, like the small glowing bodies of fireflies.


    They gasp as they witness Rose''s body begins glowing green.

 Chapter 9 ? Preeminence

    Although Rose is the one glowing, she doesn''t seem to notice this herself; she is still kneeling on the floor and facing the back wall of the room with her eyes closed, her breathing rapid.


    They have all taken a step back the moment she started glowing, but now that they realise this odd phenomenon is against her will and unbeknownst to even herself, Lancaster slowly approaches her. Alaina and Lloyd exchange worry glances, but do not take their eyes off Rose no longer.


    Lancaster is soon stopped in his tracks by a bandaged arm that belongs to Kai. "What are you doing?" Lancaster snaps, bringing his eyes away from Rose to glare at Kai.


    "Don''t interfere," Kai replies, not looking at him. "She''s abnormal."


    Lancaster turns on his heels, stomps towards Kai and grabs him by the arm when he attempts to back away at the sight of Lancaster approaching. "Explain. Now," Lancaster threatens, "what do you mean by ''abnormal''? Why do you keep saying that?"


    "Don''t touch me! How many times do I have to say it -- do not touch me," Kai returns his glare, though he knows it''s not as strong as Lancaster''s. He struggles to break free from Lancaster''s strong grip, but that only makes things worse as the bandages along the arm he is grabbed by loosen, but his arm seems to be uninjured despite the bandages he wears. Kai watches in horror as Lancaster''s fingers make contact with his bare arm, and he struggles even further.


    Despite noticing his strange look, Lancaster holds on to his arm firmly, not letting go. "What --" he begins, intending to first demand an answer to the unanswered question regarding Rose''s abnormality and second ask why is he so afraid of human contact, emphasising over and over again for people not to touch him. But Lancaster is unable to finish what he is about to say, as he feels a sharp, piercing pain where his hand had touched Kai''s arm. Gradually, the pain increases and he feels his hand burning, so he jerks it away immediately, shaking the pain away furiously.


    However, the pain fades from his hand after a short moment, and there''s nothing else. Alaina tears her eyes away from Rose and inspects Lancaster''s hand in concern, only to find nothing. No marks, no scars.


    "Sorry, it wasn''t on purpose," Kai says when he feels Alaina''s eyes on him. "Just don''t touch me again, and it''ll never happen."


    "You --" Lancaster starts again, but is stopped by Alaina this time. "This is not the time, both of you," she says sternly, her eyes drifting from Lancaster to Kai. "We have bigger problems --"


    "Just watch," Kai interrupts.


    "Watch what?"


    "Do you want out of here?"


    "No! Wait, yes," Lloyd says, still staring at Rose in awe and disbelief. "But we''re talking about Rose here!"


    Kai stares at her intently as if staring at his own reflection, and then says in a soft voice, "she may just be our ticket out of here."


    Alaina and Lancaster turns to him, preparing to bombard him with questions, but they haven''t a second to even open their mouths when they hear something approaching outside, through the barred gap above them.


    Alaina takes a few steps back and lifts her head up in an attempt to see through the bars. In the silence of the room, she hears the wind blowing tempestuously outside, as if there''s a storm coming. But she feels no wind. It''s only after a whole minute that she realises it isn''t the wind, but the sound of something moving at high speed through the trees and branches of the forest, rustling leaves and scraping through trees barks.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Before any of them can so much as to draw their eyes to the incoming source of the violent sounds, they jump at the sudden bang they hear at the bars of the gap above, no time to comprehend what has happened. Their mouths fall open as giant vines surge through the bars, knotting themselves tightly around them and in an instant, pull out the bars that confined them inside the room. Few vines stretch into the now open and bar free gap and fall along the stone wall, creeping close to them.


    They jump backwards on instinct, Lancaster pulling his sword out immediately. He is about to slice the vines to prevent them from getting any closer, but the vines stop moving just as their tips barely touch the stone floor, hanging from the gap.


    Their eyes can finally look through the unbarred sights ahead of them, towards the moonlight and beyond; but most importantly, they are free.


    Yet no one utters a word, for they are too surprised to do so. They had thought they wouldn''t be too shocked for anything else in store for them no longer before -- not too long ago, even -- but as they witness what''s happening before their eyes, they now take back their words.


    Rose stops glowing. The moment she does so, she slumps down on the floor without warning. Alaina, Lancaster and Lloyd all hurry to her side and help her up. She''s still conscious, but she seems to have little to no strength left in her.


    She blinks weakly, looking at her concerned friends then at the giant vines along the stone wall. Her eyes trace the vines from near her feet to the now unbarred gap above and out in the dark night. At the sight of their road to escape, she jumps to her feet, her energy restored at once. "We''re free!" she beams proudly, skipping towards the vine-covered wall.


    Alaina and Lancaster glance at one another with confusion plastered across their faces. Lloyd only becomes more curious. He is the first to open his mouth, and the first things that come out of it are questions that might satisfy his curiosity: "what happened? Rose, what did you just do?"


    "We''re free," Rose repeats, tugging at one of the vines, "I freed us."


    "But how?" Lloyd insists, circling around Rose who is now touching one of the vines gently.


    All he gets as a reply, though, are the glares of Alaina and Lancaster telling him it isn''t the time; they know it''s difficult to stop Rose at this point when she is finally feeling unbounded to this place.


    Rose pulls her eyes away from the vines to stare at Lloyd. Blankly, she replies, "nature calls to me."


    When Alaina, Lancaster and Lloyd are all still lost in confusion and recovering from shock, Kai, who had remained silent as if for them to take in something he''d predicted would happen, approaches Rose. He stretches a gloved hand to her. "Fire calls to me," he grins.


    She returns a smile, taking his hand and shaking it. "How?"


    "Still trying solve this mystery myself," he shrugs.


    "Is this magic?"


    "In a way, perhaps," ignoring the curious looks of Alaina, Lancaster and Lloyd from behind Rose, Kai turns to the vines and lifts his head up in an attempt to look beyond the gap. He turns back to the others to glance at them briefly before grabbing onto a vine and starts climbing towards the gap. Within seconds, he is already sitting on the gap above from an effortless climb. "Weren''t you eager to be out of here just minutes ago?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.


    "Nature calls to me," Rose repeats, gasping. She glows again, startling the others.


    The vines move again; Kai would''ve fall from his position if he hadn''t grabbed the side of the wall, and Lancaster grabs Alaina and Lloyd and pulls them backwards, away from the wall of moving vines. The vines twist and turn then curl onto Rose''s arms and legs and steadily bring her upwards. When she is at the gap, the vines release her gently next to Kai.


    Lloyd is dumbstruck below, but starts climbing slowly towards the gap as well, closely followed by Alaina and Lancaster. None of them say a word, their minds still swirling with questions. Nevertheless, they are grateful for this chance of escape.


    Kai takes a look below them on the other side of the wall and finds the wall similar to the one inside: it is covered with giant vines. His eyes follow the vines and he realises they all come from the forest ahead of them, stretching far into the dark. Squinting his eyes, he searches for the source of the vines, but all he finds is darkness.


    "Where did all the vines come from?" he asks Rose, giving up his fruitless search.


    Rose seems to ponder on this, too, as she stares into the dark forest, wondering. "I don''t know," she admits, "but I''m about to find out!" the moment she finishes, she jumps from the gap where she''d sat without a second of hesitation.


    Kai is startled to see her jump so dangerously, but when he sees vines lighting her fall below, he feels relief -- though not for long, as Rose takes off for the forest, disappearing into the dark before he can say another word.

 Chapter 10.1 ? Mystic Forest

    Kai runs his fingers through his already messy brown hair, feeling anxious. His mind swirls in endless cycles in search for something that doesn''t exist, trying his very best to connect the dots when there aren''t any to begin with. Left with no words, he wonders what to say to the others when they find their friend missing -- all alone in the dark forest south of Caelus that to Kai''s knowledge consists of unidentified, mystical species and mythical creatures.


    Lancaster''s stern face crosses his mind, and he shudders at the consequences if the scary looking knight finds out that he did not at least stop Rose. But Kai hasn''t another second to search for the right words or to find a pitiful excuse, or to even think about running away from this mess as the others are already at the gap.


    When Alaina and Lancaster reach the gap, they help Lloyd up. Despite having freedom closing in on them, their eyes cannot view the beauty of the star filled sky nor the shadowy figures of dark trees ahead. They do not have even a fraction of a millisecond to savour their moment of serenity -- even if it''s probably something of such a blue moon for perhaps in a while, considering their positions -- as the picture before them is missing a piece: Rose.


    Lancaster seizes Kai, who is trying to climb down the opposite side of the wall through similar vines at the sight of them. Kai is surprisingly light, Lancaster thinks, as he looks down and around for Rose, but doesn''t find her. "Where is she?" to Kai''s surprise, Lancaster seems to be asking out of mere curiosity as she isn''t in their field of vision, with not a sign of worry as if it''s expected that she plays hide and seek often.


    Kai struggles, and when Lancaster finally sets him down, he climbs so fast down the vines Lancaster can hardly blink.


    When his feet touch the soft grass below, he looks up nervously. "Your friend, she..." he trails off, trying to connect the words, "she ran off to the woods," he gestures to the dark trees behind him, "follow the vines and you''ll find her -- but I really don''t recommend venturing into the forest, no one''s explored it fully yet," he finishes quickly, then adds softly, "or lived to tell the tale."


    "What?" Alaina nearly shouts from above, and she climbs down the vines along with Lancaster and Lloyd. "Why didn''t you stop her?" she asks, her eyes flickering from Kai to the forest.


    "She just ran without warning; I didn''t have a chance to stop her," Kai explains, stealing a glance at Lancaster and hoping he isn''t going to kill him.


    "Why did she run off?" Lloyd asks.


    "Something about the vines. Follow the giant vines and you should find your friend, but --"


    "No choice, then," Lancaster cuts him off, looking to Alaina, who nods in return. He sighs, "we''ll have to go after her."


    Kai pauses in his steps at the words, when he is just about to turn and leave. "What? You can''t! I told you, it''s best not to --"


    "She''s our friend," Alaina stops him. They share gazes for a moment, but Alaina drops her eyes to the ground and starts turning towards the forest. "She came because of me."


    Watching her back, Kai feels slightly guilty, but angry at the same time. "But she might already be --" he bites his lip, hesitant, when Alaina turns back to glare at him, Lancaster shaking his head in the corner of his eyes. "The forest is gigantic. She could be anywhere," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. These people have poor comprehension levels, he thinks, are they out of their minds?


    "I''ve already said it: she''s our friend," Alaina repeats.


    Kai feels anger coursing through his veins. They just don''t listen, no matter how many times he warns them; they don''t even bother acknowledging his warnings, don''t even care what he has to say.


    Boiling, he believes his emotions are about to burst like an erupted volcano. He sighs, closing his eyes and feeling the night wind beating against his skin. "It''s not your typical forest," he turns to leave. What should be said has been said. "Go ahead; I''m going home. Good luck, and good riddance."


    But Lancaster seizes him yet again, by the back of his shirt. "What do you mean ''good luck''?"


    Kai turns around and aims a kick at Lancaster, but never lands it. "Don''t touch me -- and hey, I''m only wishing you luck in finding your friend," taking a few steps away from Lancaster, he begins walking away again. "Do you mind? I have a curfew."


    Lancaster raises an eyebrow, incredulous. "Curfew?"


    "What, can''t one have a strict family?" Kai waves dismissively, his back still facing them, not turning around to face them as he gradually walks further and further away.


    "Wait," Lloyd says suddenly, his voice incredibly loud in the silence of the night, amongst trees whispering through light wind. Alaina and Lancaster turn to find him facing the forest, still as a statue. "It''s really dark," he begins searching through his bag, "and I don''t have anything to light the way."


    Lancaster scoffs. "What, are you scared?"


    Lloyd turns to give him a look. "Maybe you are scared," he challenges through slightly shaky lips.


    Frowning at the expected bickering from the two, Alaina allows the voices to gradually drift away as she takes a look at the forest. Dark indeed, and just looking at it sends chills running down her spine. But she knows for sure that Lloyd is right: they need a light. How do they even begin searching for someone, when they don''t have the means to see into the dark and find their own way?


    A thought strikes her, and she dashes away from the forest suddenly, leaving Lancaster and Lloyd stunned, immediately silencing the two.


    "Your highness!" Lancaster calls after her, glaring at Lloyd.


    "For the record, I blame you."


    Alaina doesn''t stop or look back. "Be right back!" she shouts through the wind whipping through her.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    She comes to a halt when she turns a corner and finds exactly what she is looking for.


    Or, who she is looking for.


    "Wait, Kai," Alaina stops when she spots his back. She bends down slightly and rests her hands on her thighs, catching her breath. "Come with us."


    Kai stops walking upon hearing her voice, but doesn''t turn to look at her. "No way," he says seriously, then continues walking away.


    "Please?" Alaina goes after him, grabbing him by his arm. "We need you --"


    "Don''t touch me!" Kai yanks his arm away angrily, glaring at her through glowing amber eyes now that she is right beside him. "You don''t even know me. And what do you even need me for, anyway?"


    "Sorry," Alaina pulls her hand away, "To light the way for us."


    "What, am I your walking disposable torch now?"


    "Not a torch, but a light. Be our light. Please?"


    "No."


    "It''s dark. We can''t see in the dark."


    Kai scoffs. "It''s dark, and you want me to light the way for you?" rolling his eyes, he mutters softly, "and of course you can''t see in the dark, since you haven''t been in the dark before."


    "Please, aren''t we friends?"


    "I despise it when people are using me as a tool."


    When Alaina opens her mouth again, she is silenced by Kai''s hand. "And please, we just met, and barely talked for more than several minutes."


    Alaina blinks innocently and incredulously at his hand that divides their faces, blocking his face. She frowns, aggravated by his cold words. So negative, she thinks. Her motives are far simpler than what he assumes -- in fact, she doesn''t have any at all; she only expects a simple favour from him.


    Gently, she sets his hand down to look at him. "I''m not using you as a tool," she states, locking her eyes in his. "I''m only hoping you''ll help us by using your gift to light the way, guiding us through the forest."


    Kai tries to avoid her eyes, but fails. There''s something about her, and her deep blue eyes are as captivating as stars dotted in the night sky and as deep or even deeper than the bluest of seas. "Gift?" he asks, thinking he must''ve misheard her.


    "Your fire."


    He rubs the back of his neck, turning red. "You''re the first to ever call it as a gift."


    Smiling, Alaina says, "it is what you make of it, firefly."


    Firefly? Kai repeats in his mind, disproving yet feeling his insides bubble with a secret delight he''d never, in a million years, confess to. "Don''t call me that," he feels the need to deny.


    Alaina only shrugs; and blushing embarrassingly, he says, "don''t blame me if we ever get lost -- or killed, for that matter."


    ?????


    "Really, your highness? Him?" Lancaster says with a hint of disagreement, stealing glances at Kai from time to time, until Alaina nudges him.


    "I''m right here, you know," Kai says from behind him, fuming. Trying to contain his temper, he pushes Lancaster to the side and steps forward. Facing the forest, odd noises creep up into his ears, but he shakes it off, thinking he''d imagined it.


    Kai creates a small flame on his right palm to light the way before them. When he stretches it out to the path before them, they find the giant vines under their feet extending deeper in the dark forest. Looking back at the others for a final sign of approval for him to enter, he then proceeds with the fire guiding his path.


    The moment he enters, Kai shivers as he hears soft whispers in the air around them. When he turns to the others, he knows at once that he is neither imagining the whispers nor the only one hearing them, as the others are scanning about quietly in search for the source.


    "What --" Lloyd manages to ask through pale lips and dry throat, poking his head around nervously. Breathing hard, he listens closely, only to hear the creepy whispers louder and so close in his ear that he immediately whips his head to the right instinctively -- only to slap away air.


    For a moment, Lloyd smiles awkwardly to himself, thinking he is only hearing things due to hunger; after all, to him, seeing is believing. But that moment is so brief that it is as if it was never there in the first place, as Alaina and Lancaster cover their ears at the sudden crescendo of the whisperings.


    Lloyd does so himself, all of them wincing at the whisperings that has just turned into shrieks.


    In the midst of all the noises and pressure, they barely make out Kai, who slowly turns around to face them, a hand clamping over one ear and his tiny flame still dancing on the other. They manage to take a last look at Kai, whose eyes are wide with alert and urgency, before his fire disappears along with him into darkness.


    Immediately as darkness befalls them, the shrieks hover directly above them, accompanied by what sounds like fluttering wings.


    As if hearing something uncomfortable up close isn''t enough, now they can''t even see the source even if it''s directly above them, no matter how hard they squint their eyes.


    Alaina can only feel Lancaster close by as the light in the dark. Heart pounding so hard that it''s drumming in her ears, she starts moving slowly and quietly to where Lancaster stands, not daring to trigger whatever''s above them. She swears she hears Lloyd just nearby, and the shuffling here and there makes her believe that he is stumbling out of panic. Worried, she tries reaching out for him in the dark, following his small awkward steps.


    Her worry diminishes as Lancaster somehow finds her and grabs her by the arm, putting her heart at ease. When she thinks she finally found Lloyd, another hand grabs her, a grip that''s definitely firmer and stronger than Lloyd.


    Her eyes find Kai''s glowing ones, and she tries looking past him for Lloyd, but he pulls her down. "Get down," he whispers, and only then she realises Lloyd is just beside him.


    Finally feeling relief because everyone around her is safe, she and the others stay low, waiting patiently for the shrieks to dwindle and for the fluttering wings to pass. Gradually, they vanish into nothing, and Kai lights a fire once again when all they hear are the occasional night wind and the rustling of leaves.


    Getting up and dusting themselves, they aren''t too sure what has just passed, but are glad they didn''t need to see or collide with whatever that was.


    "Faeries," gasps Kai suddenly. "At least they don''t kill."


    Lloyd''s mouth falls open. "Those are myths!"


    "Not anymore, from where we are," Kai states plainly, crossing his arms. Alaina raises a brow at his cheeky smile.


    But Kai drops his smile at the sight of Lancaster pushing his way through to him, knocking Lloyd out of the way. On instinct, Kai backs away and throws his hands up as Lancaster closes in, glaring angrily at him. "What are you talking about?"


    "I told you -- this isn''t your typical --" they hear howls in the distance, "forest," he finishes nervously, wincing slightly at the howls brought by the winds. "Those are probably werewolves, by the way."


    The howls aren''t the only ones forcing them on their toes though, as the occasional glows of trees or bushes make them jump from time to time. Tiny dots blink colourfully near Lloyd ethereally, and he nearly yells. "Just what is with this place?"


    Lancaster sighs frustratedly, realising on the inside it''s true that they''d ignored Kai''s warnings earlier. Ignoring the nagging feeling inside of him, he turns in the direction of the vines that are beckoning them deeper into the dangerous and foreign forest.


    Knowing the rest would soon follow, Lancaster begins making his way back towards the extending vines. Not more than several seconds he''s back on their trail, he steps on something sticky yet somewhat slippery. Stepping aside, he tries to make out the ground and whatever he''d just stepped on as Kai approaches with their source of light, only to find greenish gooey slime.


    "That''s nasty," Lloyd comments as he draws near them.


    Approaching cautiously from a safe distance, Alaina observes the remnants of the disgusting liquid and spots more of it scattered in several places ahead. Taking a deep breath, she silently makes a note to herself to be extra careful in order to avoid the same fate as Lancaster when they proceed later on.


    "Hopefully Rose is doing better than us," she says expectantly, wincing at the sight of Lancaster''s boots.


    "She''ll be fine," Kai states confidently, without a single sign of doubt. "Nature protects her; this is her domain."


    The others can only hope he''s right as they return to their mission, at the same time hoping nature doesn''t have anymore surprises in store for them.


    Now more vigilant than ever, they proceed with maximum caution, acknowledging the fact that they had just stepped into a whole new world of unknown.

 Chapter 10.2 ? Mystic Forest

    The forest doesn''t take a break from trying to ward off the unwelcome intruders.


    And when the forest doesn''t stop attacking, they are left with no choice but to never stop evading its unfriendly way of welcoming them.


    Lloyd, who had been walking slowest behind the group before, now walks faster than he''s ever did in his life after tripping over a root that grabbed him by the leg in return, almost swinging him to the ends of the forest if Lancaster hadn''t sliced it in two.


    "Just how far do these vines grow?" Alaina pants, bending over to take short breaths after a long run, one that they narrowly escaped being pecked to death and turned to stone by a cockatrice.


    Flames burst suddenly forward, stretching several miles before them and lighting up the path ahead with Lancaster narrowly avoiding them. "Still not close enough," Kai says as the flames vanish.


    Behind Kai, Lloyd doesn''t seem to be surprised at all by the sudden outburst of flames. Instead, he beams for the first time upon stepping into the forest. "What can''t you do with those flames of yours?"


    Although Lloyd''s words are obviously a compliment, Kai seems to be taken aback by them. He turns to Lloyd and eyes him curiously for a short moment before saying in an impatient tone, "I can burn you."


    "The flames are unable to help you control your temper, that is certain," Lancaster says immediately, shaking his head at his reaction. Alaina stifles a laugh beside him, and Kai turns red.


    Swallowing words of denial threatening to escape his mouth as it''ll only prove Lancaster right, Kai turns away furiously to hide his scarlet face of embarrassment. He continues forward, refusing to look back, trying his best to contain his flaring temper in an attempt to prove Lancaster wrong.


    "Your highness," Lancaster says softly as they slowly follow behind. "How did you even manage to convince him to help, anyway?" Lancaster whispers as softly as he can manage and at the same time loud enough so that Alaina can hear.


    Smiling satisfactorily to herself, she whispers back, "you just have to know the right words."


    "I have to say, your highness, you improvise well," Lloyd says, clearly impressed. "Now we have a human torch --"


    "Hey, I hear you crystal clear," Kai snaps from the front. All previous efforts of his to contain his anger disappear the moment he turns to glare at them through angry eyes. "For the millionth time," Kai nearly yells of frustration, taking a step towards them, "will you quit talking like I''m invisi --" a string of thuds takes over his voice and he never finishes, for he trips and falls, returning darkness to its rightful throne in the process as his fire extinguishes and disappears once again, this time not by his own will.


    Alaina, who is -- was -- standing nearest him, jerks her head around to where he was standing last she remembers, only to find empty darkness. Eyes wide with alert, she calls out to him, "Kai?"


    Soft moans near her feet pull her gaze downwards, and she squints her eyes and barely makes out Kai. His figure shifts in the dark, and Alaina bends down slightly to find him hanging on to the ground they stand on. As for what''s underneath or rather how far deep the hole goes, she hasn''t a clue, but the way Kai holds on to the edge of the ground -- clinging for the grass or the roots and logs of nearby trees -- suggests to her that the hole isn''t one to be fallen into.


    Pulling his weight together, he uses his arm he''d managed back on the ground to support and to lift his body up, his legs still dangling dangerously over the seemingly infinite hole.


    Already beginning to adjust her eyes to the dark in the absence of Kai''s fire, Alaina takes a few small, careful steps towards him, stretching her hand out for him. But as she gets close, his face only displays additional panic.


    "Don''t -- wait, stop --" he tries to warn, but it''s too late.


    However careful Alaina had been a few seconds ago, the effort vanishes into thin air as she too slips, the culprit being the disgusting greenish gooey slime she''d sworn to avoid not too long ago.


    She falls, directly knocking into Kai and the impact forces them down the hole, even when she tries clinging to whatever she sees in an attempt to prevent the inevitable.


    In the blink of an eye, they are falling. The hole is definitely larger than what Alaina imagines from just its looks -- it is able to swallow them both. As they fall, distant yells from Lancaster and Lloyd gradually fade as they bump into each other constantly, scraping down the dirt around them and occasionally trying to stop the fall by hanging on to the sides to no avail.


    Kai finds Alaina in the midst of their fall and pulls her close to shield her, carefully not allowing his skin to touch hers; it is, after all, half his fault -- the other half being her own -- that she''s in this mess. No matter how hard they try to make their fall easier, however, as they fall down the hole and then roll down a tiny slope, they both still gain scars and scrapes in the process.


    Hearing a thud echoing from below, Lancaster''s heart skips a beat. He draws near the hole, the blurry image of Alaina reaching her hand out to Kai appearing before him. He had been near them, but not near enough to stop their fall. Yet he blames himself, thinking he wasn''t fast enough.


    Taking several steps closer to the hole, he shuts his eyes, allowing guilt to swallow him. He means to call out to them to check if they are fine, but his rationale is clouded by fear -- something he hasn''t felt in many years.


    A hand on Lancaster''s shoulder stops his advancing footsteps. "Don''t get too close; do you want to fall, too?"This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Pushing Lloyd''s hand away, Lancaster returns to his senses. "I am not going to fall."


    "Just making sure," Lloyd shrugs, "that nothing else like that happens to either of us. We shouldn''t be separated. They''ll be fine, at least they''re both together. Rose, on the other hand --"


    "Will you be afraid, if you were to be left alone?" Lancaster raises a brow.


    "No! Why would I be?" Lloyd stammers, almost tripping over air at Lancaster''s sudden question regarding his fear. "Anyway, we should check on them," he says quickly, changing the subject.


    He takes a few careful steps towards the hole, and when he is close enough, he peers into it. "Your highness?" His voice echoes through the hole, and he crosses his fingers, hoping his voice is able to reach them with the help of the echo.


    Lloyd patiently await their reply, but the dead silence only challenges his patience and increases his fear. Turning to Lancaster, he asks, "do you think they are... still in one piece?"


    "Do not talk as if they are already dead," Lancaster glares, although he, too, is worried. Frowning, he turns to the hole. "Your highness?" he calls, allowing the echo of his voice to travel down the deep hole.


    Lancaster''s mind flashes to their main motive, Rose, and he stares straight down the dark hole where Alaina and Kai had just fell into, conflicted.


    Right now, they can only hope and wait.


    ?????


    The fall had drained them good.


    "Your highness?"


    Familiar voices travel to Alaina''s ear, and she gradually returns to her senses. Still light-headed from the fall, she forces her eyes open, feeling she''d just landed on something else rather than ground.


    The instant her eyes flutter open, her heart beats so fast it drums in her ears, drowning out every other sound around her.


    Ruffled brown hair and a familiar face greet her eyes. The face, so foreign yet so familiar and warm, almost welcoming; so close yet so far.


    Kai''s eyes are still closed when she''s directly face to face with him, and her heart is in too much of a state of shock to even bring herself to check if he''s all right.


    Fortunately for her, the moment lasts no longer than a blink of an eye as Kai slowly stirs. She shifts; but as he opens his eyes to find himself in a similarly awkward position as Alaina''s, their eyes meet and they stare blankly, staying that way as if time has stopped.


    None of them utter a word, until the distant calls of either Lancaster or Lloyd reach them once again, breaking their little infinity of a moment.


    Heat isn''t something Kai feels, but this time, it''s debatable. On instinct, he jerks upwards to his feet in a swift movement, dropping Alaina on the ground before he realises what he''s doing.


    Ignoring the warm feeling he can''t comprehend stirring in his cheeks, he dusts himself, not turning to look at her. Other than Alaina behind him, there''s nothing but darkness surrounding them, perhaps even darker than the forest, now that the moon isn''t directly above them.


    Yet Kai has other things occupying his mind, preventing him from rationally lighting a flame for their sake. He rubs the back of his neck with his hand furiously as his mind searches for the right words to say. With all the complex emotions bouncing up and down, he hardly understands himself when he says, as less awkward as he can make out, "I guess we survived that fall..."


    Kai allows himself to trail off when they are interrupted again by the voices echoing from above, silently sighing in relief and thanking them for the timing.


    As he finally builds up the courage to turn around, he finds Alaina dusting herself, an unreadable yet slightly unpleased expression plastered across her face. His smile vanishes as guilt takes over, when he realises how dumb he was to just drop a young lady -- the Princess of Theia, in fact -- without warning and ignore her for several minutes, pretending like nothing''s happened.


    Swallowing his pride, he strides over quickly and offers his gloved hand to her. "Sorry. You all right?" he asks, embarrassed by his own actions.


    Alaina raises a brow at first, but smiles almost immediately after. Grateful, she takes his hand as she regains proper footing. "Better than ever."


    "Your highness!"


    Upon hearing Lancaster''s voice, Alaina rushes to the source, glancing up at the opening above. "We''re all right!"


    "They''re fine!"


    She hears clumsy, scrambling movements shifting near the hole. "Be careful!" she warns quickly, easing at the pause in movements after a few quick seconds. She doesn''t want them to share the same fate as hers and Kai''s.


    "What do we do now?" Lancaster sighs from above, seemingly frustrated. He isn''t one to do things draggingly. "First Rose, now you two."


    Biting her lip, Alaina feels guilty. Their priority was Rose, but because of her clumsiness, now Lancaster and Lloyd has one more thing to worry about.


    She opens her mouth to say something that might make Lancaster feel better, but Lloyd beats her to it. "I''ve got a plan," he says confidently. Alaina smiles, her heart lightening as she knows she can always rely on Lloyd for strategies.


    "Rose can get you two out of there without any more, well, accidents or the risk of any of us falling -- she can use her vines."


    "Leave them here?" Lancaster asks, "will you be fine, your highness?"


    Thinking for a moment, Alaina scans around to be sure. Darkness. The dark isn''t really a problem, and can be easily solved when Kai is by her side.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll be fine --" the wind carries a strange dirt scratching, growling sound to her ears, and she turns around, vigilantly inspecting through the dark. Standing just near her is Kai, poised with boredom as he yawns, stretching his arms. Shaking it off but shivering at the hallucinations, she adds in a low voice, "I think."


    "Wait," Kai says, stepping in front of Alaina as he lifts his head up to face the opening of the hole above. He removes one of his gloves and produces a flame, one that''s larger than his usual one, and flings it upwards.


    As it reaches the top where Lancaster and Lloyd stand, the flame expands and shoots upwards suddenly. Like fireworks, it rises as high as the tall dark trees, forming a fire wall. Other than the heat Lancaster and Lloyd feel, the fire remains in its position, illuminating their surroundings harmlessly.


    Although it''s arguably the most illustrious and eminent of any other components of the entire forest however ethereal they may be, it can''t be seen overhead as the dark trees still tower above it, blocking its obvious radiance. Kai controlled the fire just right; it''s bright enough within a great radius, but not too brilliant to the point that it might attract too much unnecessary company.


    Kai laughs lightly upon hearing a soft, short yelp of surprise from above. "You can use that as your source of light," he says, smiling at the vague sight of the fire from his limited view below. "If nothing goes wrong, it should stay that way... I hope."


    "That''s brilliant," Alaina compliments, when Lancaster and Lloyd are still frozen in awe from witnessing a tiny flame turning into a giant wall of fire instantaneously up close.


    Flushing at her words, Kai turns to Alaina as he pulls his glove back on absently. Her face is lit dimly by the fire above, and he notices her genuine smile towards the fire he''d created -- a smile of fascination. She''s not envious; with not even the slightest hint of insecurity in her eyes, she stares passionately at the flickering flames as if she''s the one who created them, like she''s the one who owns them.


    It is what you make of it, firefly, she''d said. Your gift.


    "Find Rose," Alaina says suddenly, snapping Kai out of his thoughts, and he turns away quickly after realising he''s been staring at her. "And please, try to get along."


    Upon hearing the last sentence, Lancaster frowns at Lloyd, and Lloyd returns a grimace. Though unwilling, they know better. Alaina had specifically said to try and get along.


    "Be safe, your highness."

 Chapter 11 ? Puzzle Pieces

    Through what Kai believes to be unwilling and draggy footsteps, Lancaster and Lloyd slowly disappear, Lloyd grumbling about something he can''t make out. He is only able to faintly make out some dark trees overhead through the opening, but by listening closely, he knows the two has set off.


    "Those two don''t get along or something?" he raises a brow, turning his face slightly in the direction of Alaina but never taking his eyes off the opening of the hole, their only escape, as if he''s afraid something might cover it and burry them alive.


    Kai finally draws his eyes away from the opening when he realises Alaina is no longer beside him. He doesn''t get a reply from his previous question, instead, she suddenly knocks into him lightly, her back against his.


    "Hey, don''t touch --" he says, taking a quick step forward, away from her.


    "Kai."


    "What?"


    Her eyes still sticking to the darkness ahead, she backs further away from it, only to be back to back with Kai again. Hearing the same dirt scratching, growling noise for at least the third time now, Alaina no longer believes it''s a mere hallucination or imagination of her mind.


    Something shifts in the dirt, and Alaina holds her breath upon hearing louder growls. She finds and grabs Kai''s gloved hand from behind her without even realising it, and holds it tightly with her sweating palm.


    However Kai feels about her sudden, unpredictable actions only flashes by briefly and doesn''t linger. He doesn''t even have the time to blurt out ''don''t touch me'' like he usually does -- in fact, it doesn''t even cross his mind.


    He, too, notices the strange sounds ahead, where Alaina''s gaze is fixed.


    "We have a problem."


    Heart beating fast, he grips Alaina''s hand tighter as he finally turns around to face the darkness. Taking a step forward, he stands in front of Alaina as he ignites a flame on his free palm.


    However, the moment he lights it, he extinguishes it almost immediately as he stumbles backwards, pulling Alaina with him. Unfortunately, they hit soft dirt behind them as they back against the dirt wall of the hole.


    With no where to run, Kai is still reluctant in believing his very own eyes. What he''d seen is too absurd.


    Faces of men.


    "Did you see anything?"


    "Stop fooling around," Alaina says sharply, yanking Kai''s arm for emphasis. "Those are manticores."


    There is another faint growl. Holding his hand tightly, she pulls him and breaks into a run along the dirt wall of the hole, just as something smashes into the dirt behind him. "Fire, Kai!"


    Snapping out of it, Kai pulls Alaina back and makes sure she''s safely behind him before flinging off his gloves and brandishing a wave of flames, covering a large radius before them. Now that the flames are flickering on the ground dividing them and the manticores, the creepy faces are clearly illuminated by the fire.


    Yet the faces aren''t attached to normal human bodies; they are attached to bodies of lions, with venomous looking scorpion tails.


    Watching the manticores from behind the fire, Kai says, "well, this oughta be fun."


    *****


    Heavy footsteps echo through the quiet forest, shaking the ground. Lancaster and Lloyd run as fast as they can, sprinting for their lives, away from the threat closing in behind them.


    "How," Lloyd pants, trying his best to keep up with Lancaster speeding ahead, "does one so gigantic run so fast?"


    "You think its size matters? The minotaur crushes anything in its sight -- you shall be next if you do not pick up the pace with those clumsy legs."


    Immediately after Lancaster''s comment, Lloyd jumps and skips a few steps forward just as the minotaur behind him slams its horns into the tree beside him, barely missing him. Lucky for him, because of the minotaur''s careless actions, it is stuck in the tree, allowing them to run ahead.


    He hates to admit it, but Lancaster is right -- though he could have used better words.


    Lloyd knows very well this isn''t the right time to start another fight, but he can''t control himself. He feels the need to defend himself. "What do you expect? I''m not a bird that can fly so freely and effortlessly away, I''m human; yet I''m not like you, gifted! Talented in swinging that sword of yours without even trying hard... Born with a spark or even better, a fire that''s already burning within! Unlike others, you --"


    "What?" Lancaster says suddenly, stopping abruptly ahead of Lloyd, making Lloyd bump straight into him.


    It is only then Lloyd realises he''s been ranting breathlessly, because he inhales deeply, both from running and from talking nonstop without a pause. When he finally replenishes the air lost from his lungs previously, he straightens himself, ready for another rant.


    Unknowingly, Lloyd has unleashed his envy towards Lancaster. He''s always felt overshadowed. Lancaster is always one step ahead of others, more skilful and more talented than anyone. He''s a natural born genius.


    Lloyd opens his mouth to say something or perhaps to even complain about the forest and their dire situation in hopes of trying to cover what he''d just said, but he realises Lancaster isn''t even paying attention. He''s trapped in a daze, deep in thought.


    "Lancaster?"


    The voice lingers in the air. Lancaster has other words occupying his mind to notice anything else. Clyde''s words swirl endlessly in his mind as reality begins to betray his senses.


    An uncaged bird is one that flies the highest, towards the sky and beyond.


    He shuts his eyes.


    Caelus, ruler of the skies and deep within; amidst the skies there''s a heart of fire, and the spark lies within.


    Why are the words so familiar? Other than the words belonging to the Anthem, Lancaster swears those words do actually ring a bell, now that the memory is brought to him suddenly.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Heart of fire -- amidst the skies -- spark --


    He doesn''t have more than a short moment to think, though, as Lloyd jerks him by his collar, bringing him back to reality.


    Lancaster tries to push him away, but Lloyd insists on pulling him, hard. With a huge amount of effort, Lloyd yanks Lancaster from his position and the both of them stumble to the side.


    "What is your deal?"


    "Do you have a death wish? I just saved you, you''re welcome!"


    Lloyd''s eyes are wide, sharp. Lancaster turns to follow his gaze, only to find the same minotaur staring at them as it gets ready for another charge.


    Both of them exchange glances, and they need not say another word to each other to know they would have to run.


    And they do. They take off just as the minotaur charges, speeding through the forest but not drifting from their trail.


    The minotaur is huge, and they both know it''s only a matter of distance before they lose it. But as they put up speed, Lloyd is suddenly interrupted by a small figure, a blur of brown -- speeding towards them and finally knocking directly into him.


    He falls and rolls in the dirt, but he hasn''t the time to look around for the minotaur, for what comes to sight first surprises him enough to lift his previous fear and panic.


    "Rose?"


    Lloyd''s heart races at Rose''s blank stare. He stands and composes himself, helping her to her feet.


    They only have a few seconds of stability, though, as without warning, Lancaster pushes them both aside, away from the charging minotaur.


    The minotaur seems to have learnt its lesson, for it doesn''t simply charge into tree ahead like before. It makes a turn towards them, before it charges again.


    But Lancaster is more than ready. With a swift, yet heavy swing of his sword, he slashes the minotaur right before them. Howling in pain, the minotaur retreats and disappears.


    "Consider that a repayment," Lancaster says to Lloyd, "now we are equal. I no longer owe you."


    "You could''ve done that earlier and save us the trouble!" he exclaims wearily. Lloyd takes a few short breaths before opening his mouth to complain again, but then his eyes drift to Rose''s hair, where a streak of green hair lies amongst the fringe of her normal brown hair.


    With only the dim moonlight clouded by most of the towering dark trees, it might''ve been impossible to make out even her brown hair. But with the fire in the distance, the green streak is rather obvious in her brown hair.


    Squinting his eyes for a better vision, Lloyd asks, "what happened to your hair?"


    Rose only looks at him curiously. "What happened to my hair?"


    She dusts herself as Lancaster, too, notices the green streak on her hair. He opens his mouth to question as well, but when his eyes lay on something else scattered all around the ground, his mind instantly pauses, conflicted on what he should be asking as Rose begins to pick up the strange objects.


    The glowing, glittering tiny objects are of uneven shapes and sizes, scattered from around where Lloyd and Rose had collided to Lancaster''s feet. They must''ve fallen from Rose''s possession when she''d knocked into Lloyd earlier. Only at the sight of one or two of them coincidentally laying under the light of Kai''s wall of fire in the distance, Lancaster and Lloyd realise they''re flowers.


    Beautiful, ethereal flowers -- a kind they''ve never seen before. Almost transparent other than the glow and glitter of various shinning colours, they seem fragile and might just disappear at the simplest touch.


    Lloyd bends over and helps Rose pick them up, his mind bursting with curiosity. "What are these?"


    "Beautiful, aren''t they?" Rose smiles, seemingly impressed with her findings. "Found them deeper in the woods. They''re Opuxes."


    "Another species I''ve only encountered through books before; this forest is certainly enchanting!"


    Gently picking up the Opuxes one by one, Lloyd observes them passionately. Lancaster picks the ones around his feet. "Are you actually intending on bringing them home?"


    "Careful with them. Opuxes, I''ve heard, can cure the deadliest diseases, but they can also bring the deadliest toxin." Carefully, Rose peels a petal from an Opux. The petal disappears immediately once it''s detached, and on the inside from where the petal used to be, shiny bluish-purple spots bounce about as if they''re alive. "See? This one''s toxic. Poisonous."


    She hands it over to Lloyd for him to have a better look. "Pretty things sure are the deadliest," Lloyd comments, before handing it to Lancaster, who seems to be deep in thought, thinking of something else.


    "By the way, where are the other two? I followed the fire, thinking it must''ve been a signal or something from you."


    "About that, we need your help. They''re that way --" Lloyd trails off as a sudden darkness blankets them all.


    Even Lancaster, who''s been distant from their conversation, snaps back into reality.


    They''re close, but not close enough.


    The magnificent wall of fire in the distance disappears, leaving darkness as their only friend yet again.


    "This can''t be good."


    *****


    "That should keep them away, I hope," Alaina says, watching the manticores from behind the fire. "Just watch out for the tails, they''re --"


    "Careful!" Kai pulls Alaina out of the way just as one lunges at them suddenly, extending its bat like wings. Its front lion paws barely miss them as they dodge out of the way, Kai pushing Alaina to a corner.


    There''s a hot, sharp sting in his arm, but when Kai briefly examines the source of the pain, he finds nothing. He shakes it off.


    He turns quickly to the manticore that''d just flew over the fire, and sends a heavy blow of flames towards it, knocking it several feet backwards. In the distance, he briefly hears Alaina''s voice, and he turns around only to face a manticore about to dive straight into him.


    On instinct, Kai uses his arms to shield himself, shutting his eyes and preparing for the blow. However, the strike he was expecting doesn''t come. A few inches before the manticore hits him, it drops to the ground, growling in pain.


    "Care to take your own advice and be careful?" Alaina asks from the corner.


    Kai''s eyes advert from the fallen manticore to Alaina, who''s removing her boots. She reaches for the two daggers in her boots she''d insisted on keeping despite the king''s repeated warnings to stay away from any weaponry. Observing the manticores from her corner, she realises only some of them have wings. They''d have to watch out for those.


    As Alaina pulls out the daggers, Kai stares at her in bewilderment.


    "What?" she asks when she notices his stare, and pulls him back to the corner where she''s standing. "When you''re done dreaming, you can help me out by raising the wall of flames, to keep even those that fly away from us."


    "Aren''t you a princess from one of the kingdoms?" he states bluntly, letting Alaina pull him by his bandaged arms without any complains as he remains baffled.


    Sighing, she shoves a frozen Kai to the corner before aiming a dagger at one approaching them. The dagger pierces through its front paw, and it falls limply to the ground.


    "Nice throw," Kai compliments. Wiping sweat off his forehead, he continues to stare curiously at Alaina, watching her.


    He has no clue how a princess who''s supposed to be a gentle, delicate figure manage to aim and throw a dagger with perfect accuracy and full confidence; just as how he has no clue why he''s sweating intensely out of nothing. The minutes tick by as he sweats more.


    Turning to Kai who''s still staring at her, she says, "are you helping me or not?"


    Blushing and snapping out of his stupor, he increases the flames quickly, sending most manticores backwards and away from them in a safe range.


    When he knows it''s safe, he turns back to Alaina, who''s still vigilantly scanning the area for remaining manticores. Blinking away cold sweat around his eyes that are beginning to make his vision blurry, Kai drags his feet to the corner where she stands, now more curious than ever about her.


    Of course, he''d realised when they met that she''s a princess. Although she didn''t introduce herself formally, her companions did address her properly as a princess, and Kai didn''t fail to notice so.


    Alaina watches the manticores retreat behind the line of fire, unable to proceed to attack their prey. A surge of relief washes over her, and she settles down in the corner. She sits, hugging her knees close to her. Despite the fire burning few feet away from her, the cold night wind makes one shiver.


    She can see through Kai; he approaches her with questions ready in mind. Instead of letting him go with it, she stretches a palm in front of him to stop him from questioning.


    "Lancaster taught me some basics. I urged him to sneak some daggers from the armoury back in the castle for my safety -- and after I learnt archery in secret, he knew I had a good aim, and is rather convinced."


    "Impressive," Kai says earnestly. He makes his way to her, but she''s only a blur. Blinking more frequently than usual, he wonders why she''s seemingly so far, even though he''s been dragging his feet to her all this while, struggling to lift his somewhat heavy body over.


    Sweat trickles down his forehead, down his neck, and everywhere else on his body. "Do you feel the intense heat?" he asks, but his voice is soft and weak.


    Dark spots begin to cloud his vision. The sight of Alaina before him starts to blur.


    A voice begs to be heard in his ear, but Kai''s senses fail him. He shuts his eyes.


    The fire dissipates suddenly.


    Before Alaina has a chance to realise the disappearing flames, Kai collapses before her.

 Chapter 12 ? Reunion

    Alaina feels the need to scream, but her throat is tangled in invisible knots.


    The only thing she hears other than her accelerating and crescendoing heartbeats are her thundering footsteps, as she rushes to his side. Nothing else is in her sight, nothing else reaches her ears, nothing else bothers her senses.


    Nothing else distracts her. Then again, nothing else matters.


    Lucky for the both of them, despite the fire separating them from the manticores being gone, the manticores do not return. They are probably long gone, retreated for good after they''d given up. Yet Alaina hasn''t the mind to think or wonder exactly how large is the hole.


    The wall of fire overhead had disappeared along with the fire they used as a weapon against the manticores, but Alaina doesn''t seem to notice or even bother, in her case. Kai is her priority.


    She kneels next to him, pulling him close. Gently, she rests his head on her laps as she reaches for his hand, grasping it so tight as if it''s her life.


    It''s the first time she''s ever actually touch him. Sure, they''ve brushed each other briefly during their fall, shook hands and held hands -- though unknowingly -- before, but they''re all through a simple pair of gloves; something, Alaina has noticed, he''s never taken off.


    But she''s holding his hand. Without a glove in between.


    It burns. Her skin, where it touches Kai''s, burns; a sharp, piercing pain. Reluctant, Alaina doesn''t let go of his hand. But the pain only increases, and she feels her hand burning up. Finally, she lets go and shakes it off, yet there''s nothing there when she inspects her hand. Nothing, just like the pain -- gone, as if it was never there.


    With his eyes still closed, Alaina acknowledges the fact that he''s still unconscious. She wonders at first if he''s the one causing the burning sensation on her hand, but a sudden thought strikes her.


    It has happened before.


    Back in the cell, Lancaster felt it.


    Sorry, it wasn''t on purpose. Just don''t touch me again.


    She touches his forehead lightly, then pulls her hand away. Despite the cold sweat, his temperature is something else. Not even fever high; it''s a burning furnace -- if you leave your hand there, it might scorch up.


    Alaina regrets to think that he''d done it purposefully, because she finally understands why Kai never fails to emphasise, over and over again, for people not to touch him.


    Before, she''d thought he was just afraid of human contact. But in reality, amidst his series of ''don''t touch me''s, he can''t actually touch anyone. He can''t simply touch someone without them burning up.


    Focus, Alaina reminds herself. Only when she tries her hardest to see in the dark that she finally finds his arm with a scratch. A tiny, innocent looking scratch. Yet the state he''s in now tells Alaina that it''s more than a simple scratch -- it does more than a simple scratch.


    The manticores; their tails inflict poison. She is aware of this, but when she had the intention of warning him earlier, they were shortly interrupted. Just watch out for the tails, she''d said, yet they still end up in their current devastated state.


    Some things, Alaina realises then, are just inevitable, no matter how hard you try to avoid them.


    She will have to stop the poison before it spreads through his entire body. Thinking fast, she rips the lower hem of her shirt and ties it around his arm tightly, right under the scratch, to prevent the poison from spreading.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Wincing, yet with fierce determination in her eyes, Alaina carefully unfolds the bandages wrapped along his arm. Now that the scratch wound is open for her to view it properly, she takes a deep breath before letting her fingers brush the sides of the scratch.


    "I''m sorry," she whispers, biting her lip, "this might hurt slightly." Ignoring the heat increasing drastically on her hands now in contact with Kai''s arm, she squeezes the wound, allowing blood to ooze from it in hopes of releasing some -- if not all -- of the poison.


    Occasionally, she retreats her hands, shaking off the burning sensation. But she doesn''t allow such a trivial matter stop her from trying to save him, however small her efforts may be on each interval. She shall take her chances.


    Kai starts to stir, but is unable to keep his consciousness. Struggling to open his eyes, he can only make out the blurry image of Alaina. Feeling her gentle hands on his arm, he immediately attempts to push her away, but his push is too weak, and she only dismisses him.


    "You''re all right," Alaina reassures him, but she isn''t too sure if she''s saying it to Kai or to soothe her hysterical mind.


    Blinking away the fuzziness, Kai lifts a shaky hand. Alaina expects a weak push from him, yet it never arrives; instead, he stretches his hand up and reaches for her face. He touches her cheek gently, briefly.


    "You know, I''ve been thinking," he says with a voice barely above a whisper and with all the strength he is able to gather, "have we actually met, long before all of this?"


    It is obvious Kai is struggling to keep his consciousness. His hand falters then falls, but Alaina doesn''t have the chance to ponder on this, as there''s a sudden movement nearby, interrupting them. She jerks her head up and examines around them, but without any light in the hole, she isn''t too sure if it''s what she fears the most at a desperate time like this -- the return of the manticores.


    A familiar voice calls out for her, making Alaina jump. A voice so familiar, yet one she hasn''t heard in a while. Sagging in relief, she closes her eyes and waits for Rose to show up, any moment now.


    Sure enough, she hears footsteps. When she opens her eyes, she finds Rose running towards her, Lancaster and Lloyd close behind.


    "What happened?" Rose kneels beside Alaina, watching Kai.


    Alaina pulls Rose into a hug. "I''m really glad you''re safe," she says, looking over her shoulder to take a quick glimpse at Lancaster and Lloyd. "All of you."


    "Same to you, your highness," Lancaster replies, approaching them. However, at the sight of Kai''s limp form, he frowns. "And what of him?"


    "We need to get out of here," Alaina says quickly, "poison -- I''ve stopped it from spreading, but I don''t think it''s completely gone from his system."


    Although it''s rather difficult to read their expressions under little to no light, she can still tell their reactions by their tiniest movements. And to her surprise, they don''t seem the slightest bit alarm. In fact, the look of horror doesn''t even cross their faces; instead, they only exchange glances -- looks Alaina is unable to decipher when she lifts her head, squinting her eyes in an attempt to read them.


    Rose takes a look at Kai. When he opens his eyes slightly, she asks, "are you feeling brave?"


    When he doesn''t really answer, Rose takes an Opux and peels one of its petals, and immediately the torn petal disappears. Inside, instead of shiny bluish-purple spots like the one she''d shown Lancaster and Lloyd earlier, this one glows white, with rainbow sprinkling about the centre, just like an opal -- but glowing much more iridescently.


    "Are you sure about this?" Lloyd asks suddenly, hesitant.


    "What choice do we have?" Rose says, examining the Opux carefully. "If it''s what I''ve read, then it should work... I hope. You''ve read about this, too, haven''t you?"


    Lloyd bites his lip and casts his gaze to the ground. Lancaster, who has remained silent the entire time, says, "if that is the only option, I think it would be worth a try."


    Gently, Rose places the petal-less side of the flower to the scratch on Kai''s arm. Within an instant, the entire flower glows a pale shade of blue, brighter than its usual translucent appearance. The glow spreads from the flower to the scratch, and the glow is so luminous that it casts light in the midst of the darkness they''re in, lighting up their faces.


    Tiny sparks accompany the glow, floating freely as they escape from within the flower. They defy all laws of physics as they float around in the air, soaring high.


    Just like magic.


    Beautiful things are always only so brief, unfortunately; lasting only momentarily.


    When the glow stops, the sparks gradually disappears altogether.


    Nobody speaks for a while. But when Kai shifts slightly, their hearts lighten almost immediately.


    Adjusting his vision, Kai opens his eyes slowly, yet surely. He finds Alaina before him, the others hovering close by.


    "I can''t believe a flower saved my life."


    Alaina smiles. "Welcome back from the dead."

 Chapter 13.1 ? Before Daybreak

    When they walk out of the forest, the sun is already beginning to rise over the horizon, painting the sky with a hue of pink and orange.


    Lloyd still isn''t too convinced on how magical the Opux is, even after witnessing it with his very own eyes. He''s read about it many times before, but nobody has ever actually found one, and it was only ever named as a legend.


    Yet it exceeds his expectations -- he has never thought it would turn out to be so magical; but then again there''s Kai, who can produce flames out of thin air and Rose, who has control over nature.


    To everyone else, Opuxes are only a mere legend, and perhaps that''s what they''ll always be; but to them, they''ve seen a whole new world, and it all started with a simple flower.


    The air around Rose is lively and she''s cheerier than ever, smiling brighter than the rising sun as she skips along the grassy ground, leaving her happy mark all over the place. It is rather obvious that she''s extremely delighted by their little adventure that made her discover her gift of nature and made her realise nature has much more to offer than she believes.


    And since nature has always been her element, she feels more than protective over every little thing it has to offer.


    Perhaps that''s why the Opuxes are now resting in Rose''s arms, or why she''d even gathered them in the first place.


    Glancing sideways, Lloyd is almost sure Lancaster has the same thing on his mind. After all, knowing him, he''s always the most superficial one in the group -- he is sure to have questioned his eyes at one point or another after all the events.


    But he doesn''t say a word. Lancaster remains silent at the side, working out something important in his mind.


    "Are you sure you''re fine?" Alaina asks Kai, who looks very lethargic.


    "It''s about time I catch up on sleep," he yawns, then mutters, "my sister''s going to yell at me --"


    He stops suddenly when he walks right into Lancaster, who appeared suddenly in front of him.


    "What is Caelus'' Anthem?"


    "What? Why?"


    "Answer me. Please."


    At this, Alaina raises a brow questioningly. Lancaster hardly -- never -- uses the word ''please''; he''s never one to require anyone''s help, anyway.


    When Kai runs his hand through his hair as he thinks, remaining hesitant, Lancaster asks impatiently, "did they change the Anthem recently?"


    "No. Wait -- yes," Kai replies, "only minor words, though. Why?"


    Once again, Clyde''s voice echoes in his mind. Just remember my words. The Anthem.


    "Lancaster?" Alaina asks, when she notices him spacing out.


    It isn''t like him to just stand there and space out. Alaina nudges him lightly, looking curious and worried. Having discussed and talked enough about the magical Opuxes, Lloyd and Rose are finally able to catch up to them after they''d suddenly stopped walking.


    "Ruler of the skies and all of lands; amidst the skies there''s a heart of gold, the spark lies beyond," Lancaster says slowly, thinking back. "Is that it?"


    "No, no, that''s not it," Kai says, shaking his head. Thinking for a moment, he then says, "ruler of the skies and deep within; amidst the skies there''s a heart of fire..." Glancing up towards the sky that''s gradually lighting up, he continues, "and the spark lies within."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Kai seems to be proud of himself for remembering, because he throws his hands back around his head and continues to walk forward. "What you said earlier was the old version. The new one''s not so different -- only a few words'' difference."


    Still not moving from his ground, Lancaster takes in the words, processing everything in his mind. He is right, about how when Clyde had mentioned it to him, he noticed minor differences in the Anthem from what he remembers. Only a few words'' difference, just like what Kai said.


    Somehow, he just can''t seem put the pieces together. Lancaster knows it''s all somewhat important, like Clyde''s trying to deliver a message, yet he is unable to figure it out.


    Just remember my words. The Anthem.


    So he does, repeating in his mind the correct version of the Anthem Kai had just told him:


    Caelus, ruler of the skies and deep within; amidst the skies there''s a heart of fire, and the spark lies within.


    And although he hasn''t a clue as to why it''s necessary for him to remember according to Clyde, somewhere deep inside him, he knows it''s important.


    Pushing his thoughts aside, Lancaster focuses on the matter on hand. They now stand on a tiny grassy hill, the strong wind whipping through them, as they overlook the Kingdom of Caelus in the distance from their positions.


    "And how exactly are we going to make our way in now?" Lloyd asks, squinting his eyes to have a better look at the walls. "I highly doubt they would let us in through the front gates."


    At this, Kai nearly trips over the air, realisation dawning. "You''re still trying to get in?"


    "Why not?" Rose asks innocently.


    "Aren''t you people from Theia?" Slowly, Kai begins to recall the events back in their holding cell. He remembers asking ''and what brings you here, all the way from Theia?'', but even until now, he still hasn''t gotten an answer. Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, he questions again, "just who are you people, and what business you have in Caelus?"


    "That''s it!" Alaina exclaims suddenly, making the others jump. "Kai, you can get us in!"


    "But your highness," Lloyd says quickly, "he''s in the same position as us," he finishes nervously, stealing a glance at Kai.


    "And that''s all thanks to you people, thank you for the reminder," Kai snaps, glaring at him. "I''ve had enough with you; just who are you people?"


    Alaina gives him a look. "Will you help us, if I tell you that our business in Caelus might possibly change the fate of Asteria?"


    With a look of disbelief, Kai scoffs. "You''ve given me enough trouble. And the fate of Asteria, really? What are you, Gods?" He crosses his arms, turning around. "Besides, it''s not like I can help you -- like you said yourself, I am doomed, just like all of you."


    Who are these people? Kai wonders over and over again, his patience slimming by the second. Fate of Asteria. Are they, by any chance, talking about the soon to be emperor?


    Before he has a chance to question, Alaina''s voice interrupts him. "You have a secret passageway."


    Grinning from behind Kai, Alaina knows exactly what she''s saying, and she''s confident, despite the funny looks she''s receiving from the others. After all, she''d seen with her own two eyes that Kai was finding his way through a small barred passageway somewhere along the walls of Caelus when they''d first arrived.


    "Who told you that?" Kai turns around immediately to face her, his face bright red.


    "You did," she grins widely, using words Lloyd once used on her, "just now."


    His face turns crimson red. Fighting back the urge to burn everything in his sight, he demands, "tell me what I want to know first."


    "What do you want to know?"


    "What exactly is your motive in Caelus?" Kai asks, knowing they wouldn''t be able to achieve anything without his assistance, hence changing the tides.


    Sighing, Alaina ponders about this. It''s rather a long story, and she wonders about his intentions -- whether he''s a friend or foe, whether it''s really safe to trust someone like him, who changes his mood and intentions like the weather.


    But after all they''ve been through, Alaina doubts it; she knows better.


    "Long story short, we''re rebels against the formation of Empire Asteria, and we''re joining the rebellion forming in Caelus. Are you happy with that answer?"


    "There''s a rebellion in Caelus?"


    "According to an informant, yes."


    A rebellion in his homeland. Kai has never heard of it, but then again, he never pays much attention to the current events -- except for the formation of the empire. That is too big of an issue to ignore. After all, it has his entire kingdom shaken.


    He remains silent as his heart fights the conscience of his mind. His mind is telling him to ignore them, to just go home. Your family is waiting for you. But the memory of his family only brings forth another thing to worry about: his family isn''t happy with the idea of an empire. Fight for your family.


    Stop fighting against it, and start fighting for it.


    Under a clear mind, Kai purposefully and intentionally allows his heart to sway. Then again, when does he not?


    "I''ll help you -- but on one condition."


    Nervously, Alaina says, "what is it?"


    But Kai only smiles, and her heart lightens immediately, flushing.


    "Count me in on the rebellion."

 Chapter 13.2 ? Before Daybreak

    When Kai leads them to his own secret path he''d found long ago -- a small barred passageway along the walls of Caelus, one will think it''s rather impossible for anyone to get through. However, up close, it is actually possible when you remove the bars; it is really a large tunnel space that is, perhaps, able to fit an entire carriage.


    The opening is definitely small, but that''s not the case on the inside. After all, looks can be deceiving.


    It''s a waterway canal. The stone ceiling is high above them, and the flow of water down the canal along with the occasional drops of water around the stone walls can be heard very clearly through the quiet tunnel.


    They stand on the platform at the side, above the waterway; right below, the water rushes through the canal like a raging river. Not even getting a single drop of water on them, Lloyd is still rather displeased. He complains when not even Alaina does so, and Rose resists the urge to push him into the water.


    As they walk along the stone pavement, their footsteps echo through the tunnel. The slightly curved stone walls around them are carved with certain marks, Lancaster notices, as they continue down the path. It doesn''t take him long to realise this isn''t a regular waterway canal.


    "This is not a mere waterway, is it?" he asks, but it sounds like a fact he''s confident of, and the only thing left that he requires is a confirmation to his statement. Squinting his eyes at the walls, Lancaster tries to make out the carvings. Not only are there odd marks along the walls, but there are certain words in random spots.


    The marks may be random to everyone else, but they are marks he is rather familiar with. It was a necessary knowledge when Lancaster was still in Caelus.


    "Those are war marks!" Lloyd exclaims suddenly, his voice echoing through the passageway. "I''ve read about them, too, of course, that these marks are used by soldiers back during the Great War," he says proudly.


    "Do you know how to decipher it, though?" Lancaster challenges, unable to stand his ego, especially since this is something only the people of Caelus should know.


    "I''m working on it. Slowly, but surely."


    Eyeing them all suspiciously due to the unusual knowledge outsiders like them have on Caelus, Kai wonders just who these people are.


    A princess who can defend herself and has no issues throwing deadly weapons; a scary looking, skilful young knight who might actually kill you with that sword of his; a bespectacled insufferable know-it-all who really does seem like he knows it all; and a hyper, lively girl who loves nature enough to be a part of it herself fearlessly. An interesting bunch indeed.


    Lancaster is about to say something, but everything he wanted to say vanishes as his eyes lay upon the words on the wall right opposite of the platform they''re walking on.


    The words are too familiar.


    Deep fire within.


    And only in that very moment does Lancaster realise something very important: that those are the few words that make the difference between the old and new Caelus Anthem.


    How did he not notice this very tiny, yet very important detail sooner?


    Ruler of the skies and all of lands; amidst the skies there''s a heart of gold, and the spark lies beyond.


    That''s what he has always remembered, but as he recalls Kai''s words, he now knows for sure that only those three words make the difference between the two Anthems.


    Ruler of the skies and deep within; amidst the skies there''s a heart of fire, and the spark lies within.


    But that finding isn''t the only reason why Lancaster is just standing there, smiling ever so slightly; because when the three words are thrown together, they mean something else. Something of significance.


    Deep fire within.


    However, Lancaster''s silent, satisfied moment of triumph is interrupted once again by Lloyd, who always doesn''t seem to watch where he''s going, as he walks right into Lancaster.


    "How many times do you wish to stop in the middle of our track?" Lloyd says frustratedly, adjusting his glasses and straightening his clothes. "What if I fell over, right into the water?"


    "It would be worth it, since I now know where we should be headed," Lancaster replies, earning questioning glances from the others. Lloyd opens his mouth to say something, but Rose slaps his arm for Lancaster to continue. Turning to Kai, he asks, "where does this canal lead to?"


    "Only slightly beyond the walls; it doesn''t take us further from the outskirts of Caelus."


    "Where are we going? What do you mean you now know where we should be headed?" Alaina asks Lancaster for everyone, as they all have similar questions in mind.


    "The church."


    "St. Aether?" Kai offers.


    "Not that one."


    "Are you talking about the Holy Church of Iros?" Kai questions, rather confused. "Because that one''s abandoned."


    "Exactly," Lancaster says, "that is where the rebellion is."


    Still confused like everyone else, Alaina asks, "how do you know that?"


    Lancaster simply answers by pointing to the words on the wall opposite of them, across the flowing water.


    "And what does that have to do with the rebellion or the church, for that matter?" Lloyd crosses his arms, not convinced.


    "I will explain later," Lancaster replies, sending a glare towards Lloyd. "The only mystery left unsolved on my part is: who carved the words?"


    Rose perks around the very edge of the platform. She would''ve fallen over already, if it isn''t for Lloyd, who''s grabbing her by the arm as she takes a look at the carved words. "They do look pretty new."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Lucky for you, The Holy Church of Iros is right around the corner," Kai says as he gestures to a rusted iron ladder leading up to an iron trapdoor. He climbs up really quickly, and this isn''t the first time Alaina notices his swift agility.


    Finally breathing in fresh air, they find themselves in a deserted back alley.


    "Welcome to the dark side of Caelus."


    "What do you mean ''the dark side of Caelus''?" Rose repeats mockingly, searching around, unafraid at all. "It''s just some abandoned area." She crosses her arms, unimpressed; obviously she''s expecting more than what''s before them when Kai had made the statement.


    "It''s just deserted," Lloyd adds.


    "What is wrong with you people? It was only meant to be a joke," Kai says innocently, earning a glare from Lancaster. "Really? After everything that happened in the forest, you expect more crazed up adventures?"


    "We''re just being careful," Alaina replies. Rolling her eyes, she adds, "thank you for the sarcasm."


    But her comment is unheard by Kai, because he stares off in the distance, squinting his eyes at something ahead. When they follow his line of sight, they find a very torn and old looking piece of paper, dangling loosely from where it is pasted on the stone wall ahead. When the wind blows, it looks like it''s about to fall off.


    Curious, Kai takes a few quick steps forward to read its contents. His face turns sour upon reading the paper, and the others can tell that whatever it is, it isn''t good news.


    "Congratulations, we''re now officially named as criminals." Kai peels off the paper glued to the wall and shoves it in their faces. "For the record, it is still all your fault, by the way."


    "This better not be another one of your lame jokes." Lancaster shoots him another glare before reading the paper.


    With the paper in hand, Alaina reads the inscription on it, done in a neat and tidy, yet threatening way:


    Important:


    Be on the look out for a small group of young men and women, who claim themselves to be travellers here in the peaceful Kingdom of Caelus.


    Together with the Princess of Theia herself, they are a threat to the upcoming empire, and may be a threat to the people of Caelus.


    As of yesterday, they have been taken into custody as ordered by the King of Theia himself in the dungeons of Caelus. Yet, due to unexplainable situations, they have managed to escape rather impossibly. Their whereabouts are still currently unknown, but it is believed that they may still be in Caelus.


    Royal Knights will be on guard at all times around Caelus for safety reasons. If you care about your loved ones, please report of any odd activities you may stumble across, such as the young group of runaways and the rumoured rebellion.


    It is for the better of Caelus, and for the better of Asteria.


    An official message of the probably threats has been sent to the other kingdoms.


    This is a final warning: any movements against the empire are considered a threat to all of Asteria and a heavy crime. Punishments are far worse than death.


    "At least they did not mention our names?" Rose says encouragingly when she finishes, slightly hesitant and wincing slightly.


    "They make it sound so serious," Alaina says, clenching her fists.


    Scanning around, Lancaster makes sure there is no one else around before saying, "Holy Church of Iros. Now. Before anyone sees us."


    "It''s not far from here; plus there won''t be anyone around this area, anyway."


    *****


    Half destroyed and demolished, the Holy Church of Iros stands with only what remains in an empty field, desolated and isolated.


    The dark stone bricks that hold the church together seem to be falling apart themselves. The empty, eerie air around the church sends chills running down one''s spine, giving off an atmosphere similar to a graveyard.


    As they step onto the gravel that used to be the front steps of the dying church, Alaina asks, "are you sure about this, Lancaster?" She doesn''t doubt him, and never does -- yet the empty, desolate atmosphere of the place they believe to be their destination doesn''t seem capable of holding a rebellion. In fact, it shall be the last place someone will think of to search for a group of rebellions, much less start a rebellion.


    Yet his confident demeanour tells her otherwise.


    "I have my reasons, your highness," Lancaster assures her, stepping on broken window glass as he enters through the broken wooden doors.


    Dusty, broken long benches are scattered all over what''s supposed to be the nave. Only one or two pews are still upright; although obviously covered in dust, Kai sinks into one anyway, impatient awaiting the proof of Lancaster''s proclaimed clue.


    Lloyd is strayed from the current mission when he notices the inscriptions along the crooked stone walls.


    The words are difficult to read; with untidy bits and pieces here and there, dust covered and fallen or broken letters.


    Yet it doesn''t stop him from reading:


    The name "Iros" is derived from Iris and Eos, the Goddess of Rainbows and the Goddess of the Dawn respectively.


    The Kingdom of Caelus, also known as the Land of Sky, strongly worships the Gods responsible for the beauties of the sky.


    If Lloyd isn''t distracted, he will be searching for any hints however little they may be, along with Alaina and Lancaster -- the only ones searching the place very thoroughly. Kai isn''t lifting a finger to help, believing it''s only a mistake that they''re here; Rose is skipping along the aisles covered in dust, gravel, and pieces of broken glass up to the altar.


    After a short while, Alaina begins growing impatient and frustrated -- though not at the zero findings from their search, rather at the others who aren''t doing anything.


    Sweaty and annoyed, she turns first to Kai and says loudly, "since you have so much time to just sit there, why don''t you help us search over the other side?" Then, turning to Lloyd just beside her, she almost yells, "stop reading those and start helping!" She tries to find Rose, but she is no where in sight.


    Jumping at the voice, Lloyd turns to face her guiltily. "I apologise, your highness, I could not help myself; after all, when knowledge comes knocking, never hesitate to open the door."


    But all he receives as a reply is a very angry glare from Alaina, and he adverts his eyes quickly, adjusting his glasses. "I''ll search over there." At that, he strides off quickly, knowing it''s not wise to stay.


    Kai, however, continues to stare at her. "And I thought I''ll never see a bossy side of you," he mocks.


    This statement makes Alaina blush. She crosses her arms and tries to maintain her glare, but ultimate fails. "I am not bossy."


    "Only you yourself know the truth."


    His words circle in her mind. And indeed she does know, more than anyone else, that she has a very strong stubborn, bossy, and demanding personality. She is, after all, a princess who always gets what she wants -- and these are traits very much expected from someone like her. Yet Alaina is very self-aware, knowing they are negative personalities, and she''s always struggling to change herself for the better. She has always tried to change, even taking the first step in changing the way how she is required to speak so it''s not all too formal.


    But the bossy side of her to slips so easily when things aren''t going as she desires, even when they''re away from the palace.


    Realising she has been staring at the ground, she pushes her thoughts aside. "I''m sor --"


    "Never apologise for being yourself," Kai interrupts. Only when Alaina hears his voice so close to her that she looks up to find him standing just before her. "And someday, you can turn it into a virtue."


    Tongue twisted into a knot, Alaina is unable to find the words to reply. When all she does is stare in his piercing yet alluring glowing amber eyes, Kai immediately regrets whatever he''s just said. With only so little of a distance between them, their resonating heartbeats are potentially a large drum sending out loud sound waves.


    He doesn''t even remember his own words now, feeling embarrassed, he quickly says, "did I say something funny? Forget it; I''ll look over --"


    "Found something!" Rose''s voice interferes, and they break away from their eye contact at once, pretending it never happened in the first place.


    Lancaster and Lloyd are already ahead of them, and Alaina and Kai follow them to Rose.


    The reason Rose wasn''t in Alaina''s sight earlier is because she was up in the church''s old and crumbling steeple. As she leads them up a series of fragile steps to the tower, they take light, careful steps as the stairs look as though they can crumble upon any random incautious step they take.


    When they reach the top, the wind blows against their skin through the large openings on all sides of the steeple. It is empty, but something catches their eyes immediately.


    Three familiar words:


    Deep fire within.

 Chapter 14 ? Starting Line

    From the tower, they now have a much clearer view over the land below them. Ugly marks of abandoned construction work are obvious, but the land below is far more than what meets the eye. The uneven land tells them there are underground tunnels below, hidden amidst the supposed barren land.


    "Down there," Alaina whispers, hardly believing her own eyes.


    "We can only find out if we go down there ourselves," Lloyd states the obvious. His fingers brush the old letters of ''Deep Fire Within'' on the wall gently. "So, this is your clue?"


    "I believe so," Lancaster says, unsure himself. That is the only thing Clyde left him with, but he isn''t even sure if it''s a clue or some sort. It does seem like one, though; with all their discoveries so far, this is bound to lead them somewhere. "We should head down."


    The sun is hanging proudly over them, sending its brilliance over the entire place, casting bright rays on their skin.


    As Lancaster hurries over to the nearest uneven grounding he spots to examine it, searching for a passageway, with Alaina and Lloyd following along very briskly.


    With a hand shading him from the blazing sunlight overhead, Kai squints his eyes for a clearer view of the land ahead. Sweat trickles down the back of his neck, soaking his shirt, and he isn''t very happy that they''re about to indulge in another self imagined search.


    As he wipes sweat off his forehead, he finds Rose right beside him, not searching like the others. Instead, she just stands there, looking deep in thought.


    "I guess that makes us the only normal ones," Kai states happily, but Rose turns to cast him a look.


    "I found the tower that led us as we are now, you know; and I''m searching -- just effortlessly."


    "By overlooking the area from a different perspective to get a better view of things?"


    She smiles, and something about her smile tells Kai she is up to something. "Exactly."


    And immediately after she has uttered the word, she glows green without warning. The moment she does so, the ground below them shakes, and the shaking stretches as far and as wide as the entire area goes; Alaina reaches for something to support her for the sudden quake as Lancaster struggles to balance himself, and Lloyd trips over.


    The non-natural quake lasts only several seconds, as it stops when Kai shakes Rose frantically. "What are you doing?"


    "We''re searching for underground stuff, aren''t we? There are plenty of mosses growing underneath -- all over rocks and shattered bricks... from the feeling of it, it really does feel like something''s under our feet." She closes her eyes, trying to regain the focus lost.


    But before she can glow green and attempt to activate her powers again, Kai grabs her arm. "And you''re going to do what now?"


    "I''m going to make the mosses grow rapidly, and from there we can find whatever we are looking for."


    "You mean you''re going to make the mosses grow out the entire whatever''s underground for you."


    Rose rests her hand on her hips, turning to look at Kai. "What''s wrong with that? It saves time and effort."


    The way she states it so innocently and nonchalantly makes Kai boil; if his powers were very entwined with his emotions, he''d be a human torch. "Are you serious?"


    The others seem to sense the tension forming between the two, or are just curious where had the sudden, momentary unnatural quake originated from, wondering if it''ll occur again -- because the three of them rush towards where Rose and Kai stand.


    "What are you doing?" Lancaster storms over, not pleased with their ineffectiveness, not to mention interruption.


    "Nothing, just trying to help," Rose replies.


    "Your way of helping is wrong," Kai says before Lancaster can say anything.


    "And how is it wrong, when it saves time and energy?" Rose isn''t angry -- she never really gets angry, but she is rather frustrated.


    "If you pull everything to the surface it''ll defeat the purpose of it being underground in the first place!"


    "Then what do you suggest, Mr. Flame Hands?"


    This makes Kai burst; his face turns scarlet red and he nearly produces flames. "You --"


    But he stops immediately as his frown gradually turns into a look of pure confusion, staring past Rose at something ahead. When the others look at what he''s staring at, they share the same confused look Kai has because there''s a young boy in such a deserted place.


    The boy stops dead in his tracks and freezes at the sight of them, seemingly very surprised to see people here. He stumbles backwards, taking a few steps away from them. And before anyone can say anything, he breaks into a clumsy run.


    Lancaster is the first to make a move. Very quickly, he runs after the boy, briefly saying over his shoulder, "follow him, he might lead us somewhere."


    Dropping the argument before like it has never happened, Rose and Kai simply exchange glances before following Alaina and Lloyd who are picking up after Lancaster.


    Surprisingly, the boy is rather fast and he disappears from sight after a short run. Catching his breath, Lancaster tries to search for him, but he only finds the same abandoned, lonely atmosphere as before. He squints his eyes ahead, but finds nothing. The wind blows, as if mockingly, in his ear.


    When the others catch up, Lancaster turns to them with a frown on his face. But before he can speak, Lloyd cuts in first, despite gasping for air desperately.


    "Please don''t tell me you''ve lost him."


    "Can you not tell the obvious?" Lancaster says frustratedly.


    Lloyd dusts himself as he regains composure. He begins walking closer to Lancaster. "I just can''t believe the great Lancaster failed to catch a kid," he mocks, taking a few steps further from the group. "Are you getting ol--"Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    A loud thump clouds his voice. Lloyd has just tripped over thin air.


    "And I see you are getting clumsier by the second," Lancaster shoots back.


    Alaina is shaking her head in disapproval of their actions while Kai is trying his best to not even giggle after sensing the dangerous demeanour beside him. Contrary to him though, Rose bursts out laughing.


    Despite having all eyes on her, she either doesn''t notice the stares or simply doesn''t care. Still giggling, Rose walks over to Lloyd who still has his face buried in the ground due to extreme embarrassment.


    "Just how many times do you plan on tripping?" she asks between laughter, offering her hand out to him. "And how long are you going to stay dead?"


    Finally lifting his head slightly, Lloyd fumbles for Rose''s hand. "The land isn''t very smooth here," he simply comments. But as he is getting to his feet, he slips and nearly falls again, making even Rose lose her balance.


    "Do you not eat enough?" Rose complains.


    "Wait, over there," Lloyd says immediately, ignoring Rose''s comment, getting to his feet at last.


    Prompting the others to follow, he finds a very tiny tunnel opening behind an uneven ground not far from where he fell. When Lancaster heaves open the rusty circular metal door, they find the tunnel leading somewhere underground.


    "How many tunnels are we going to go through today?" Alaina mutters, but her voice echoes in the tunnel. She looks down the tunnel, but it is seemingly endless, and only darkness lies ahead.


    Lancaster, too, isn''t sure about this; it definitely leads to somewhere underground, but he is hesitant as it''s only leading to somewhere unknown, and they still aren''t sure if there''s a way out.


    Picking up a pebble he finds nearby, Lloyd throws it down the tunnel and waits patiently to hear its landing. However, it must be really far down, as they hear nothing even after waiting for a rather long time.


    Growing impatient, Kai says, "ladies first?" He gestures for Alaina to enter.


    "Wait," Lancaster says immediately, putting a hand between Kai and Alaina and sending a glare to Kai. "We need people up here in case anything happens; and with Rose, we can use her vines --"


    "I have a better idea," Alaina interrupts, a sly smile forming across her face.


    Kai barely turns to her when he is pushed by a strong force and shoved into a cramped space. The next thing he realises, he''s already falling into the tunnel.


    In a split second of panic, flames burst out from his arms and hands, burning through his gloves and lighting up the tunnel. He doesn''t even realise he is able to do that until the emotions are felt in that exact moment. But the flames only stay for as long as he feels panicked; in a short amount of time where the flames had lit up the tunnel, he finds himself sliding steadily down the tunnel instead of falling into nothingness.


    Yet that doesn''t help at all, because he still doesn''t know what is down there -- or how far below does the tunnel stretch, for that matter.


    Kai uses his arms to shield himself, but from what, he doesn''t know. Behind his arms, he closes his eyes and turns his head to the side, bracing himself as he slides down with maximum velocity.


    Suddenly, he slips as he is flung out of the tunnel, falling with a splash. He lands on shallow water; half of his body is above the water level even when he sits. It''s quite dark, but he spots a dim light hanging on the wall in a narrow passageway ahead. Steps before him leads to the platform above, and behind him the tunnel that led him here.


    Standing up, he pulls out his tattered gloves and throws them aside. Kai thinks of doing the natural thing everyone in his position would do: to shout that it''s safe for the others to jump, but he has something better in mind.


    Picturing the look on Alaina the last he remembers however vaguely, a similar sly smirk stretches across his face in the darkness. With all his energy, he thrusts his arms and shoots a strong, heavy wave of flames up the tunnel as a signal.


    Since he doesn''t know how far and long the tunnel really goes, he can only hope the full force of flames are successfully sent upwards. The flames travel fast back up the tunnel without burning the rusty metal sides, but increase the temperature inside drastically.


    Flames burst out from the tunnel opening suddenly, startling the other four still above. Alaina stumbles backwards at the sudden dangerous wave of heat, the flames nearly missing her hair.


    When the flames dissipate, she angrily shouts back at the tunnel, "watch where you shoot those!" Then, turning on her heels to face the others, she says, "I guess that means it''s safe to go."


    When Lancaster and Rose move forward without a hint of doubt or hesitation, Lloyd is rather dumbfounded. "Wait -- you''re not seriously going down there, right?" he asks nervously.


    "No, of course not," Rose replies, turning to face him. "We are."


    "Exactly. And since you ask so nicely, you may go first," Lancaster adds, gesturing to the tunnel.


    Taking a small step back, Lloyd says, "I''m good, you can go ahead --"


    But Lancaster doesn''t listen any further. He reaches for Lloyd''s bag, snatches it away from him and threatens to throw it down the tunnel. When Lloyd frantically hurries after his bag, Lancaster takes the opportunity to shove him down the tunnel forcefully, throwing the bag after him.


    Finally able to force the most reluctant person among them down the tunnel, Alaina, Lancaster and Rose follow after him.


    Similarly, they find themselves drenched in the dark underground after landing. Alaina picks herself up, drying her hair and clothes, but water splashes on her from the side. Due to this, she doesn''t get any dryer but wetter instead, and she falls as a result of the distraction.


    Sitting miserably in the water where she started, annoyance and frustration takes over her and she feels the need to scream at someone. Her head snaps to the source, only to find Kai laughing.


    "That''s payback."


    She flushes angrily, ready to yell at him. But his following unpredictable actions makes her shut her mouth and swallow whatever insults she''s about to throw at him, because when Kai stops laughing, he walks over to her and offer her his hand.


    Yet immediately as he does so, he retreats his hand after realising he has no gloves on. His smile fades and he turns away darkly; Alaina notices his sadness.


    There is hesitation. She wants to reach out for his hand, to grab it and comfort him. But at the same time, she is afraid.


    And she doesn''t do anything. That moment of decision that might, even a little, change something is gone forever.


    Lancaster calls out to them as he ascends the steps leading to the dark passageway, and Kai leaves without another word. Left slightly stunned, Alaina is conflicted and doesn''t even understand her own regrets.


    Shaking it off and pushing the thoughts and emotions for later, she focuses on the things on hand. She follows them up the steps and into the dark passageway lit solely by the dying candlelight hung on the bracket against the wall.


    They turn a corner, and are surprised to find an old wooden door. But when Lancaster tries to open it, it is locked. The sliding panel on the centre of the door is also out of their reach, since it can only be opened from the inside.


    To Lloyd''s horror, Lancaster is about to try and break it down with his sword. He looks ready to kill, like the door is an obstacle threatening his life that should not be there to begin with. But Lloyd feels worse when he realises the others are not seeing this as a problem -- in fact, Alaina looks like she has been expecting this and is in full support of his actions while Kai and Rose are ready to knock down the door anytime.


    "Want me to burn it down?" Kai offers.


    "I can do it too," Rose says eagerly.


    Alaina stops them, "Lancaster can do it without causing too much... havoc."


    Before Lancaster''s sword hit any part of the door, the panel slides open suddenly. A pair of tired eyes meet theirs.


    "Password?"


    "Password?" Lloyd repeats.


    This seems to piss Kai off, because he crosses his arms and says impatiently, "die?"


    "No one enters without the password," the person behind the door states simply.


    "What is this, some sort of game?" Kai raises his voice, stepping close to the door to threaten the person, but Alaina holds him back.


    "Iros?" Lloyd suggests. In fact, he is rather confident, since it is the church itself that led them here.


    But to his dismay, the person doesn''t open the door for them. Instead, he says, "last chance."


    They exchange clueless glances. Rose is just about to blame Kai for simply wasting their attempts just because he grew impatient, but stops as she notices the confident look on Lancaster. The others notice it, too, and they wait patiently for him to say something.


    Finally, after a moment of thinking, Lancaster says, "an uncaged bird is one that flies the highest, towards the sky and beyond."


    And the door opens.

 Chapter 15 ? When Night Falls

    "Never seen you people around before," comments the man who was behind the door when he asked for the password, eyeing them all in slight suspicion. Despite the already open door, he stands in the opening, as if refusing to let them in.


    The suit of armour he wears makes him look bigger than his actual size; his figure towers them all. It is rather obvious he is in a conflict of whether or not to let them in. They do know the accurate password, yet they are indeed faces he''s never seen before.


    It hasn''t even been more than a minute, but Kai can''t stand it anymore, his patience running thinner than it already is. He shifts to the front of the group. Waiting has never been his thing.


    "All right, enough of these puzzle games," he says irritably, "let us in; we got the password right." He tries to push past the man, poking his head inside, but the man forces him out.


    The man hardly uses any force, but Kai stumbles out of balance ¨C either because he really weighs little as compared to the man or that he is taken suddenly by surprise. Either way, he seems even angrier than before: he shuffles few feet away from the man, almost yelling, "don''t touch me!" before turning away furiously.


    Not wanting the situation to be more tense than it already is, Lancaster quickly steps forward, taking Kai''s previous place. "Sorry ¨C kid with a temper," he explains, stretching out a hand. The man looks reluctant, but eventually shakes it anyway, thinking Lancaster appears to be a much more mature man.


    At Lancaster''s words, Kai glues his eyes to his feet in embarrassment. He''d turned to snap at Lancaster, but was stopped by Alaina; he now fights the urge to yell at Alaina and Rose who, behind him, let out occasional snickers. Although he feels his blood boiling at a drastic rate, with heat rising up from his body all the way to his ears and his cheeks, he tries his best to contain it. But it''s not only because he knows they are in a desperate situation of gaining the man''s trust in order to enter whatever lies beyond the door, but also because he doesn''t want them to label him as a hot-head more frequently than they already have.


    "What are you doing here?" The man remains stern, "how did you come to know about this place?"


    "Caelus'' Rebellion," Lloyd replies when he finds Lancaster hesitant, casting a glance over at him; Lancaster isn''t too sure if he should mention Clyde. Clyde is the one who has been hinting him about this place and the password all along even without Lancaster questioning him about the rebellion, yet Lancaster is still unsure of the reason behind it ¨C why did Clyde think of letting them know in the first place, and how did he even figure their very intentions in Caelus, for that matter?


    And whether Clyde himself is involved in this rebellion, is yet another mystery. If he isn''t, Lancaster fears giving his name away, for his position in the royal palace might be threatened if word gets out.


    The man doesn''t seem very satisfied with their answer, and is hoping for more. He raises an eyebrow, crossing his arm.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "We are from the Kingdom of Theia. Heard about the rising rebellion in Caelus, and here we are," Lancaster finally says.


    "That sounds even less plausible now. How did you people all the way from Theia find out about our secret base?"


    "I''m from Caelus," Kai says, emerging from his corner. "Does that mean I can go in now?"


    "Will you start being a little more serious?" Alaina shoots him a glare.


    "I am serious," he replies, his stern glare not directed towards Alaina but the man standing by the door. "We got the password right; the password is not easily cracked ¨C please, it''s an entire sentence. So, what''s keeping us from getting in?" He points to the man, his eyes narrowing into a death glare. "You''re in the way."


    "I can''t allow people who are a possible threat to my dear people through this door," the man says as he pulls out a sword. "Leave, or I will be forced to remove you."


    "Remove me?" Kai nearly laughs, but his expression returns to his serious one in just a second. "Just try." He mocks the man by crossing his arms too.


    Alaina senses danger, and so do the others. In the instant the man hesitates, Rose manages to grow several vines between the man and Kai, stopping their contact. Yet the surprising thing Alaina finds is how slow time passes during that instant where all the events suddenly happen at the same time; she even has time to pull Kai back by his shirt just as Rose''s vines grow and watch Lloyd shouting Lancaster''s name for him to do something.


    But the moment is over as quickly as the blink of an eye; the next thing Alaina realises, the man is blocked from view by the giant green vines and Kai is right beside her, Lancaster gripping the hilt of his sword and standing together with Lloyd in front of them.


    "Look at what you''ve done ¨C you''ve angered our chance of getting in!" Lloyd exclaims.


    Kai clenches his fists. "That guy needs some beating to get some sense into him. Lancaster, use your sword."


    Lancaster turns around to glare at Kai. "I shall use this sword on you if you do not stop talking."


    "Lancaster?" says a voice. The man slices the vines apart and emerges back before them. "You''re Lancaster?"


    "Do I know you?" Lancaster asks, frowning.


    "Clyde told me about you." The stern expression the man was wearing shifts slowly into a grin as he tucks his sword away. "I truly apologise for this misunderstanding; we''ve been expecting you."


    Finally, he steps aside for them to enter. Kai and Rose are the first to enter immediately, Alaina and Lloyd follow, not wanting to stir up any more trouble. But Lancaster stays back, confused. "Is Clyde a part of this?"


    "Yes, he certainly is. He''s told me about you ¨C we meet at last." The man shakes Lancaster''s hand again, this time with full confidence and pure warmth. "I am Trajan. Used to be a General for the kingdom."


    "I have heard stories about you, too," Lancaster replies as he enters, finding the underground room larger and much more spacious than he''s imagined it to be.


    The room is a centralised one, with narrow, crooked corridors or deserted hallways leading further within, all over the place. Several people are present, walking in and out of the largest room they have just stepped into. The entire place is huge and rather fascinating, yet old and looking collapsible ¨C it used to be a military base after all. But since the Great War long ago was put to an end, it was buried underground and never used again, for it may spark unnecessary conflict.


    "This is our secret base."


    "Impressive."


    Trajan shrugs, his armour clanking. "It''ll do for now."


    "So, you say Clyde is a part of this? I have so many questions. How many people are involved, and what kind of people are they? Who started this; who is leading it? Why, or how ¨C"


    Trajan stops Lancaster with a steady palm. "You''ll have your answers tomorrow. Right now..." His eyes drift to Alaina and the others, who all look weary and worn out. "You and the others should get some rest."

 Chapter 16 ? Unforeseen Danger

    Kai is wide awake in the middle of the night.


    He steps out of his temporary assigned sleeping quarters, his bare feet meeting the cold marble stone floor. The narrow hallway is dark and empty, and there isn¡¯t a single person in sight when he perks his head around to check ¨C it is, after all, past midnight.


    Closing the door behind him quietly, he begins making his way to the centre room. His room is perhaps the last in the long corridor, so he has to walk quite a bit before reaching his destination.


    Apart from darkness and seclusion, there¡¯s also no sound except for his light footsteps that are heard in such serenity.


    The Kingdom of Caelus¡¯ great walls never held Kai, so he believes that this ¡°secret base¡± of theirs would not make any difference. He¡¯s sneaked out a couple times before, and this is nothing compared to the entire kingdom.


    There is a reason. He doesn¡¯t want to do this if he hasn¡¯t a choice ¨C he desperately wants to keep a low profile, after everything they¡¯ve been through. A lot of time has already been wasted when he¡¯s stuck with the inner debate. But here he is, ultimately choosing what he will, without fail, do under any circumstances, what is necessary, even if it¡¯s less wise. He needs to see his family.


    They are probably worried sick by now ¨C maybe even thinking he¡¯s dead. Kai never leaves the home for more than an entire day, and he¡¯s certainly never not tell them about it, no matter how briefly he tells them about where he¡¯s headed to.


    Yet it is a rather half-baked plan. It¡¯s not about himself; rather, Kai is worried his family might be endangered if he pays them a visit. The warning they¡¯d saw earlier this morning already marks him as a criminal. The worst thing is, he isn¡¯t even sure if his face is already sensitive and being hunted, and he is less sure whether his family is already aware that he is involved in this mess.


    Nevertheless, the best thing he can think of now is to simply leave them a note and check if they are well just from afar. As long as they are fine, his uneasy heart will be lightened. There will be no risks if they do not make contact.


    When he finally makes it to the centre room though, he stops dead in his tracks.


    Kai thinks he¡¯s heard wrong, but now that his footsteps aren¡¯t pounding on the ground anymore, he is certain he hears sounds.


    Even if he continues walking, his footsteps aren¡¯t making the only sound. Because he¡¯s not alone.


    Heart racing, Kai scans his surroundings. The centre room is empty. But when he closes his eyes and even holds his breath to try and make out where the sounds come from or even what the sounds are, his heart only begins pounding faster and louder in his ears.


    Because he has already made up an excuse if he¡¯s ever caught ¨C although really unlikely, in his opinion, he isn¡¯t afraid, only curious. Just what are the sounds, so soft and distant, yet so close?


    Nobody should be awake.


    Taking a few random steps around and about the centre room as quietly as possible, Kai stops again when he finally hears the sounds clearer. They come from one of the many corridors sprouting from the centre room.


    Cautiously, he closes in on the source. Although he can¡¯t seem to see anyone, he hears it clearly now ¨C those are voices, as soft as murmurs. But who is it, and where are they?


    His curiosity grows when there is clearly no one in the deserted corridor; he is obviously standing alone in the dark. To make things more suspicious, Kai only realises then that the hallway he¡¯s standing in is the furthest from the centre room and the most isolated one of all corridors ¨C it has no rooms, no nothing. He¡¯s noticed, when they¡¯d arrived earlier today along with Rose that this corridor isn¡¯t populated and isn¡¯t filled with people like how the others are. And since it¡¯s located far away from the other corridors and hallways, he is sure the voices aren¡¯t from anywhere else but here.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    So where are the voices coming from?


    When he walks deeper and further into the dark hall, the voices become clearer and audible.


    ¡°¡­ Are we sure?¡±


    It is a familiar voice Kai remembers: General Trajan¡¯s. He remembers it all too well, the memory of his challenge at the door is burned at the back of his mind. If he has to name some people that he should not get involved with, Trajan will probably be almost the top of his list; he is too strict and stubborn for the greater good.


    As he presses his ear lightly against the uneven wall where he believes the voices are coming from, he hears another voice, but this time an unfamiliar one.


    ¡°¡­ Risky. We have to get them all¡­ potential threats.¡±


    Kai frowns. He leans closer, but the voices are still rather unclear and muffled; although he does make out bits and pieces, he still has no clue what they¡¯re talking about. After a while of not knowing what they¡¯re talking about and even where the voices are coming from, he nearly gives up ¨C that is, until he hears something that catches his attention.


    ¡°Do not leave any single one of them alive.¡±


    What are they talking about?


    Taken over by curiosity and anxiety, Kai leans closer to the wall again, this time pressing his hands to the wall. But he certainly did not expect the wall to budge, even if it¡¯s only ever so slightly.


    And his heart skips a beat, racing quickly when he hears the unfamiliar voice say, ¡°what was that?¡±


    Clearly, they are having a secret discussion in a secret room. There¡¯s a hint of light lining the opening, where Kai has just managed to open. He freezes, not breathing until he hears Trajan, after a quiet pause, say, ¡°it¡¯s just the place being old.¡±


    Although he is aware it¡¯s not nice to eavesdrop, he is very suspicious of their topic.


    But in a split second, he jerks up, suddenly alert and realising something nearby. Adrenaline rushing through his veins as he regains his senses only then after the sudden scare, he readies himself to burn whatever it is, yet it¡¯s too late ¨C something hit him in the head immediately as he turns around, hard, and he falls into nothingness.


    *****


    When Kai comes to, he finds people hovering above him through his blurry and hazy vision, sending him a strong feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Apart from the light-headedness, his senses are normal. A cold sensation is draped over his head, it¡¯s wet and icy.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive!¡± He hears Rose¡¯s loud, energetic voice, and finds it funny how it is able to easily lift his heavy mood.


    When he shuts his eyes to get rid of the vagueness, a familiar soft hand touches Kai¡¯s forehead gently. He opens his eyes again at the touch, flinching slightly. His eyes meet a pair of sea blue eyes. ¡°Kai?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not dead,¡± he says wearily, pushing Alaina¡¯s hand away. ¡°No touching.¡±


    ¡°What hit you?¡± Lancaster asks, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.


    Wincing, Kai sits up clumsily on the bed he¡¯s been lying down on for however long he doesn¡¯t know, with the help of Alaina. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s our question,¡± Lloyd says. ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    A haze seemingly clouds his memory, because he doesn¡¯t remember why is he currently struggling to stay conscious with a heavy head and a searing pain on his right forehead. When he lifts his hand to the source of the pain, his fingers brush a gauze pad on his forehead.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Kai asks, frowning, but the others in the room only look at him in concern.


    He remembers staying up late in the night, and waiting for everyone to sleep. He remembers walking down the dark corridor from his room, then pacing the centre room, and thinking about his family. Yet, he can¡¯t seem to remember what he should remember ¨C the question still remains. How did he end up here?


    It¡¯s as if that certain part of his memory is gone.


    ¡°Did I fall?¡±


    ¡°Only you know,¡± Lloyd says, shrugging and raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Were you attacked?¡± Lancaster suggests.


    Kai mirrors Lancaster¡¯s frown. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. I can burn anyone and everyone.¡± He runs his fingers through his bed hair, careful not to touch the gauze to prevent triggering the pain. ¡°But the memory is hazy¡­¡±


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t remember.¡± Lloyd¡¯s eyes narrow as he allows his mind to search for plausible theories. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you hit your head; perhaps the memory will come to you soon.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re still alive,¡± Rose states.


    ¡°The world shall burn before I die.¡±


    Alaina raises a brow at the statement, crossing her arms. ¡°At least you haven¡¯t lost your mind yet. What, do you have a habit of fainting?¡± she asks teasingly, a grin spreading across her face.


    ¡°No; but I did faint ¨C twice, even ¨C after meeting you. Do you have a habit of making people faint, then?¡± he asks back, not really sure what he¡¯s saying.


    Flustered, Alaina turns away, flicking her hand. ¡°I take back my words, he¡¯s lost it.¡± Her face brightens, turning pink. ¡°Whatever. Just rest up, Pyro.¡±

 Chapter 17: Strategy

    It doesn¡¯t take very long before Kai is up to his feet again. Except for the gauze still plastered on his right forehead, he is all healthy. Yet the question still lingers for him and the others ¨C why and how was he injured? Because that part of his memory is still missing, and Kai has no clue where to start if he wants the answers.


    It is just gone; that missing piece is nowhere to be found, like it never existed.


    Kai joins Alaina and the others, who are already comfortably chatting away in the centre room before he arrived. They were informed of to meet Trajan and two other people who are leading the rebellion.


    ¡°All good?¡± Lancaster asks when he spots Kai.


    ¡°Yeah. Only sleepy,¡± he replies, rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already slept for more than twelve hours,¡± Alaina says.


    But he doesn¡¯t say anything against her statement, or make a snappy remark about it like he usually does. Instead, he only frowns.


    Lloyd catches his detached mind. ¡°Still trying to remember?¡±


    Shrugging, Kai opens his mouth to answer, but a voice nearby snatches their attention.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing just fine.¡± Trajan stands in front of them, with another two men following him from behind. ¡°You gave us quite a scare, fainting so suddenly in the middle of the night,¡± he adds, eyeing Kai with stern eyes ¨C something Kai makes out to be more than just a firm, holding gaze, unlike Lancaster¡¯s usual glare. He tenses.


    Meanwhile, Lancaster steps forward, looking very eager and glad ¨C something Alaina is pleased to see after a long time. He approaches one of the men behind Trajan, shaking his hand as they both exchange smiles, and immediately Alaina recognises the fact that they know each other.


    ¡°Your highness, this is Clyde,¡± Lancaster introduces, ¡°Clyde, the Princess of Theia.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Clyde says, shaking Alaina¡¯s hand. ¡°It is a pleasure, your highness.¡±


    But they are very surprised when they recognise the other man ¨C Trevor the informant, back from the Lion¡¯s Den.


    ¡°Trevor?¡± Lloyd questions.


    Still wearing the hood, he simply nods, grinning. ¡°Glad y¡¯all made it all the way here.¡±


    ¡°You are a big part of this?¡± Rose wonders, circling him.


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    Kai, who doesn¡¯t know Trevor like the others, raises an eyebrow in the corner, finding him shady. A very short moment later, his eyes draw back really quickly to the towering figure approaching him.


    ¡°You all right, kid? Get a little bit more iron in your diet, you might have anaemia,¡± Trajan says, putting a hand on his shoulder.


    However reassuring and gentle Trajan might think that gesture is, Kai finds it threatening. He flings the tight grip off his shoulder, taking a few steps back with furrowed brows and a death glare. ¡°I¡¯m fine; don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Trajan¡¯s expression doesn¡¯t change, and there is a moment of silence as they both just glare at each other ¨C until Lloyd breaks it.


    ¡°Wait. General Trajan, you¡¯re the one who found him and brought him into the medical wing?¡± he asks, noticing Trajan¡¯s statement immediately.


    ¡°Indeed. Just what were you doing out of your room so late in the night?¡±


    ¡°I ¨C¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®so late in the night¡¯? You wouldn¡¯t know if he actually fainted before dinner or something,¡± Lloyd interjects Kai, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at Trajan. Something about his statement is fishy, but Lloyd isn¡¯t sure if he is simply too cautious and suspicious. Then again, Kai¡¯s mystery still isn¡¯t solved, so he can¡¯t ¨C and shouldn¡¯t ¨C take anything for granted.


    Shifting ever so slightly only noticed by Kai and Lloyd who are currently closest to him, Trajan clarifies, ¡°I was merely making an assumption, because the moment I found him was nearly dawn.¡±


    But Kai knows more than that. It is true he was awake late in the night ¨C he remembers it all too clearly: from staying up late to walking out of his room and towards the centre room. Yet it all stops somewhere there, when he circles the centre room for something. The next thing he knows, he¡¯s already in bed with a head injury and a missing piece from his memory.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Kai finally says, when the rest of the group seem to catch the tension between them, therefore joining them. He fakes a yawn, pretending to still be sleepy and hazy from the ¡®faint¡¯, then turns to Lloyd to avoid looking Trajan in the eye. ¡°I was taking a walk before bed and¡­ tripped. Fell, and passed out. Knocked my head in the process.¡±


    When Kai is desperately trying to make eye contact with Lloyd in hopes of mentally telling him it¡¯s suspicious but time to drop the subject anyway, Lloyd is busy eyeing Trajan¡¯s unsuspecting, confident expression.


    Maybe he¡¯s only being too sensitive, but he catches the corner of Trajan¡¯s lip curl; something about his little gestures, though unseen by the others, only increase Lloyd¡¯s suspicion.


    Despite being unsure of what is going on, he is confidently certain on one thing: Trajan is hiding something. Something about what happened with Kai.


    Lloyd shakes it off, saving the questions for later, when he feels a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Having trouble keeping your mind to the ground today?¡± Lancaster says from behind him.


    ¡°My mind is where it¡¯s supposed to be.¡±


    All of them are silenced instantly by a clap of hands.


    ¡°Your attention?¡± Trajan clears his throat. ¡°We would like to discuss the plan we have so far.¡±


    Clyde steps forward. ¡°I haven¡¯t introduced myself. I am Clyde, and I am very pleased to meet such an interesting bunch ¨C you are all assets of the rebellion.¡±


    ¡°You know about us?¡± Rose asks, tip-toeing slightly as she¡¯s worried of being unseen due to her height. She is sure they have not met the man before.


    ¡°Lancaster has told me all about you. We couldn¡¯t have asked for a better alliance. First, with the Princess of Theia herself, she is a great enough icon to be a distracting figure for the public ¨C your words alone can inspire, with or without your position as a princess; with your intelligence and brilliant strategies in battle, Lloyd, you can lead us to victory; Lancaster, I need not say more about your skills. Finally, Kai and Rose ¨C you two are special, and your abilities will certainly prove useful in our fight for freedom.


    ¡°We do not know what the future holds, and I cannot guarantee your safety. But if you join us, you are as valuable as the men who fought back during the Great War, and as precious as all of the respective symbols of the seven kingdoms.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like war,¡± Rose says when Clyde finishes.


    ¡°Hopefully, it doesn¡¯t come down to war,¡± Clyde says. ¡°As of now, we are only planning for a great enough rebellion during the coming installation and ceremony. That way, with so many people and spoken thoughts through demonstration, it might change something for the better of the whole of Asteria.¡±


    Those words remind Alaina of her father, his voice still burned at the back of her mind ¨C fresh, as if he¡¯d just said it yesterday. The memory makes her imagine the ghost of him standing right in front of her.


    I have preparations to make for the upcoming installation for the new emperor, and for the ceremony for the official formation of Empire Asteria.


    ¡°What is the plan?¡± Alaina asks, trying to shake away the thoughts.


    ¡°Initially, it was meant to be merely a simple protest that I thought would be most efficient on the day of the installation and the ceremony itself,¡± Trajan begins. ¡°Apparently, there are many more people who share the same view as us, hence the start of the gathering. Gradually, we came to this.¡± Trajan nods around the room proudly. ¡°Now that we have stronger allies such as people like you, we are ambitious to make the rebellion something more. Something that will definitely change events for the better, something that will go down in history. Something that will save us all from the probable cruelty that is to come.¡±


    ¡°If we fail though, we may be wanted criminals,¡± Trevor adds. ¡°On the run, away from the empire forever.¡±


    They already expected this, though. Their journey here certainly wasn¡¯t easy, and they have already far exceeded all warning signs.


    ¡°Well, what else is new? We¡¯re already sort of ¡®criminals¡¯,¡± Lloyd chuckles.


    ¡°If we fall, we fall together.¡± Alaina slaps Lloyd¡¯s hand, Rose fighting her way to do the same. Though reluctant, Lancaster joins them after repeated persuasion from Alaina. ¡°And that includes you, too, Kai. You¡¯re basically part of the group now.¡±


    ¡°I never said I want to part of your group.¡± He turns away, crossing his arms. ¡°And certainly no touching!¡± he exclaims when Alaina approaches him, using his arms to block her away.


    Alaina keeps a straight face as she stretches out her hands and reaches for his. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine if it¡¯s through gloves, right?¡± she says, cupping one of his hands in both of hers fearlessly.


    Even with the gloves, Kai feels he¡¯s burning her. But it only takes a while before he realises he¡¯s not burning her, but burning himself ¨C in fact, he would blow up if this contact remains, but it isn¡¯t about his power being out of control anymore. It is how the fire is resonating with his emotions.


    ¡°Still, the less touch the better,¡± he says, flushing and trying very hard not to look her in the eyes. He signals for his hand to move away from her warm grasp, but it doesn¡¯t obey his mind no longer.


    ¡°That is certainly an improvement from ¡®no touching¡¯, firefly.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Kai stammers, turning redder than before. ¡°It¡¯s still no touching. That¡¯s only for when I have gloves.¡± He pulls his hand away finally, but Alaina never feels warmer.


    ¡°What are our roles?¡± Alaina asks again, changing the topic before Kai flushes even more than he does now already.


    Trajan lifts his hand up to his chin as he thinks. ¡°Of course, what Trevor said would be the worst possible outcome. But with your help, I highly doubt it will come down to war or us being criminals,¡± he says, nodding slowly. ¡°Now, with capable people like you¡­ we start with a bang.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    *****


    Unfortunately, they are dismissed before anything else is announced or disclosed, with Trajan saying there are more to be discussed during dinner, along with the other rebels.


    When everyone else leaves and go their separate ways, Kai and Lloyd stays behind, lingering around the centre room.


    ¡°I was here,¡± Kai says softly only audible to Lloyd, although he is sure no one else is around. He paces the room, a hand dragging along the old arching, circular wall along the room. ¡°Late last night.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Lloyd follows him, crossing his arms and giving a serious thought about it.


    Kai¡¯s hand falls limply to his side as he stops walking. ¡°Nothing. I can¡¯t remember.¡± Wincing at the sudden pain on his forehead, he grips the wall for support. There is a grey vision, and he nearly falls to the ground before Lloyd grabs him by the arm.


    ¡°Remember anything?¡±


    ¡°It happened somewhere here ¨C I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t get that sort of wound by simply fainting,¡± Lloyd says. ¡°That¡¯s the suspicious part.¡± After helping Kai regain his balance, he adds, ¡°General Trajan found you, correct? Did he specify where?¡±


    Frowning, Kai replies, ¡°no.¡± He brings his hand up to the wound covered by the gauze on his forehead, his fingers brushing it gently. ¡°You¡¯re right, though. This isn¡¯t a mere bruise ¨C in fact, it was bleeding.¡±


    A sudden high pitched thrilling, piercing shriek travels from down a random corridor to their ears, sending chills running down their spine.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Kai asks, wincing as he covers his ears even after the sound is gone.


    Lloyd sighs, not surprised at all after that one second of shock he felt. ¡°Rose.¡±


    Blinking, Kai stares at Lloyd, who has his line of sight glued down at the corridor opposite of them, where the sound had come from. ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You recognise it¡¯s her, just from that less than a second vague, ear deafening shriek from miles away.¡±


    Only then does Lloyd takes his eyes away from the source of the shriek to meet Kai¡¯s grinning face. ¡°I recognise her voice ¨C her screams. I¡¯d know it¡¯s her anywhere¡­¡± he trails off, embarrassed by Kai¡¯s unblinking stare. ¡°She tends to yell and scream a lot, I mean,¡± Lloyd clarifies, adjusting his glasses in an attempt to remain cool.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Kai supresses his laughter, but fails to and ends up giggling anyway. ¡°Whatever. Go check if she¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you at dinner,¡± Lloyd says briefly, before disappearing down the corridor.


    When he is gone though, Kai isn¡¯t alone. He is greeted by Trajan.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Why do you keep asking?¡± Kai says, annoyance obvious in his tone. He scowls lightly at the sight of the man and backs away from him. Ignoring him, Kai quickens his steps, walking towards his room. But he barely makes it to the other end of the centre room before Trajan speaks again.


    ¡°I am merely concerned for your wellbeing.¡± Trajan approaches Kai who has stopped walking, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°If you have any issues, I¡¯ll always be willing to help. We are all part of a team. Speaking of which, if you somehow remember what happened to you, do let me know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks.¡± Kai shakes Trajan¡¯s hand off. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything so far, and perhaps I never will. See you.¡±


    With that, he jogs away quickly before Trajan can say anything else.


    *****


    Lloyd had heard it all.


    Back when he was about to go to check on Rose, he stumbled in the wrong corridor and happened to hear the entirety of Kai and Trajan¡¯s conversation when he¡¯d returned.


    Normally, he would feel guilty for eavesdropping. But this time, it¡¯s different. Something he heard can¡¯t seem to get out of his head.


    Speaking of which, if you somehow remember what happened to you, do let me know.


    When Kai first woke, the only people around him was Alaina, Lancaster, Rose, and Lloyd himself. Sure, General Trajan was the one who brought him into the medical wing when he¡¯d found him injured, but Lloyd is certain he doesn¡¯t know anything further ¨C or does he?


    The only thing Trajan knows, if Lloyd isn¡¯t wrong, is that Kai fainted somewhere in the middle of the night. He¡¯d presumed it was anaemia; but he doesn¡¯t know the reason ¨C or if he actually fainted, for that matter ¨C why he was injured.


    And Lloyd is sure Kai dislikes Trajan enough to stay away from him, much less tell him about anything.


    The real question remains: why, and how does General Trajan know Kai doesn¡¯t remember anything about it?


    When Lloyd still has his mind busy running through thoughts, he barely notices someone walking directly in his way. But the other person doesn¡¯t seem to notice him either, because they both walk directly into each other.


    ¡°Sorry ¨C your highness?¡±


    ¡°Ah, Lloyd. You know, I ¨C¡± Alaina bites her lip, hesitating. ¡°I was just looking for you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something bothering me, and I believe only you can help me. Well¡­¡± trailing off, she swallows whatever she was about to say.


    Lloyd takes note of this. ¡°Your highness, whatever concerns you have, I¡¯ll always be your listener.¡±


    Leaning against the wall of the narrow corridor, Alaina smiles. ¡°Thanks, Lloyd.¡± She pulls him into the corner, too. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ a rebellion sounds like the start of a war. And what happens after a war? Systems change.¡±


    Nodding, Lloyd urges her to go on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what will happen, even if we do succeed in refusing the emperor. I mean, the kings did agree on the proposal ¨C and that includes my father. People would probably push the kings away, start another rebellion or something. What will happen to us then? I don¡¯t think anyone¡¯d want mindless kings as their ruler; even if the empire fails to form, something¡¯s going to change. New kings, then? What will happen to me?¡±


    What she¡¯s said are all true, and honestly, Lloyd hasn¡¯t given them a thought. But she¡¯s right: there¡¯s a risk, especially to royalty, and even to people like him who works in the palace. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. For now, all we need to know and all we do know is that the people decline the empire, still hoping to live separately. They¡¯ll do all it takes to reject the formation of empire just to live their usual separate lives, so you need not worry. Because what¡¯s a kingdom without a ruler? And there¡¯s just no helping it; the seven kings must remain ¨C who else, anyway ¨C if they want to live separately as seven kingdoms forever. Besides, the kings are not evil rulers ¨C people are rejecting the empire, not the kings. As long as we manage to refuse the empire completely, there¡¯s really no helping it, is there? We people got the power.¡±


    He gives her a reassuring smile, even if he¡¯s slightly unsure on the inside. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he says, ¡°please do not worry, your highness.¡±


    Sighing, Alaina stands straight up again, away from the wall she was leaning on. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Know-It-All royal advisor,¡± she states, mocking a bow dramatically as if they¡¯re in a royal court.


    She turns to leave, her mood lighter; her mind is no longer disturbed. Before taking another step out of the corridor though, she stops. ¡°Oh, and Lloyd?¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d still need you as a good friend with good advice, anywhere and anytime ¨C royal or not.¡±


    *****


    When Alaina arrives at the dinner room full of long, old wooden tables packed with people, she finds Lloyd awkwardly trying his best ¨C and obviously failing ¨C to comfort Rose, who is sobbing by the table, ignoring the plate of food in front of her.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asks, taking a seat beside Rose.


    Lloyd looks at Alaina pleadingly as Rose rubs her eyes and hugs Alaina to her side.


    ¡°It¡¯s all gone! Gone!¡± she wails, earning looks from other people as Alaina tries to calm her down.


    Just then, Kai arrives. He¡¯s obviously heard Rose and came over to check. ¡°What¡¯s gone?¡±


    When Rose lifts her face from Alaina, a look of perplexity takes over when she stares at Kai. ¡°Did you take them? You took them!¡± She points at a confused Kai.


    ¡°Took what?¡± He resists the urge to pour the cup of water in his hands all over her.


    ¡°The Opuxes! They¡¯re gone!¡± Rose nearly shouts, wiping the last of her tears from her eyes and cheeks. ¡°You stole them, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Kai slams the cup on the table, and silence dawns over as chattering people turn to look at them. Lloyd stands and tries to come between the fighting two, but Rose shoves him back forcefully into his seat. Alaina buries her face into her palms as she braces herself for what¡¯s to come.


    ¡°Prove it.¡± Kai crosses his arms. ¡°Oh, wait ¨C you can¡¯t. Because I didn¡¯t steal them, flower girl. Why the heck would I want a bunch of glowing, translucent flowers?¡±


    ¡°But I had them yesterday! You were the last one who saw them with me back then, when you refused to thank the Opuxes for saving your life! After that night¡­¡±


    Kai watches Rose as she finally begins to think rationally. She stares blankly back at him as she slowly retraces her words. Still not forgiving her for simply putting the blame on him, Kai opens his mouth, ready for insults to throw back at her, but Alaina yanks him down by his bandaged arm and makes him sit beside her so that she is in between the both of them.


    When Kai turns to Rose, ignoring Alaina, she elbows him hard to ask him to drop the topic. ¡°Shut up, she¡¯s really upset,¡± she whispers.


    ¡°I¡¯m the victim here!¡± he says, earning another painful jab at his side.


    ¡°She¡¯ll come to her senses and apologise.¡± She holds up a palm to Kai when he is about to oppose, shutting him up. ¡°Trust me.¡±


    As the group falls silent, the tension in the crowd seems to do the opposite. The people around them start chattering normally again, no longer having their attentions on them. That¡¯s a relief for both Alaina and Lloyd, as they wait for Rose to speak again.


    Finally, she turns to Kai with her head hung low. With pink cheeks she says slowly, ¡°sorry.¡±


    ¡°See, you ¨C¡± Alaina eyes him angrily, and he stops immediately. ¡°Have you checked your place properly? Maybe you¡¯ve just misplaced them.¡±


    Rose silently shakes her head. ¡°I¡¯ve checked everywhere; I count them every day, I¡¯m careful not to lose a single one. Suddenly, they¡¯re gone,¡± she says sadly, on the brink of tears once again. ¡°And after all I went through to collect them all the way from the forest!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± says Lloyd quickly, ¡°we can get them again.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Rose looks at him, beginning to beam. ¡°You¡¯d go with me?¡±


    ¡°Me? Back in that creepy forest? No way!¡±


    ¡°Are you scared, Lloyd?¡± Alaina asks quickly, urging him when she finds Rose¡¯s mood dropping again.


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared!¡± Lloyd bites his lip, glancing from Alaina to Rose, who is furious and refuses to look at him now. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ just the last place I would want to visit again.¡± He casts a look to Kai who is trying to supress his laughter.


    ¡°Then who will go with me, if you don¡¯t?¡± Rose pouts.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Lloyd. Who will?¡± Alaina presses.


    His face turning scarlet red due to all the pressure, he finally blurts, ¡°all right, all right! Rose, we¡¯ll go back for the Opuxes, happy?¡±


    ¡°And explore further into the mystical forest?¡± says Rose hopefully.


    ¡°Explore ¨C but it¡¯s¡­¡± he begins to object, but decides against it once Rose glares at him disappointedly. ¡°Sure, explore. I¡¯ll love some knowledge not only from books,¡± he adds uncertainly.


    ¡°Great! Promise?¡± Finally turning to him, Rose holds out her pinky finger. ¡°To go back there with me for more adventures?¡±


    Hesitantly, Lloyd hooks his pinky with hers. ¡°Promise,¡± he mumbles softly, and Rose beams brighter than usual. He isn¡¯t an outgoing one, but with all of them pressing in on him, he can¡¯t seem to escape. ¡°After everything¡¯s over.¡±


    ¡°As long as you keep your promise,¡± Rose says, smiling widely. She nods, adding, ¡°after everything¡¯s over. That¡¯s a promise.¡±


    As the both of them continue to chatter away, talking about the future ¡®fun¡¯ adventures according to a very eager Rose, Lloyd gradually gains back his appetite to eat again after seeing Rose¡¯s excitement and determination. He pushes the scary experience of the forest and the dark thought of going back there again aside for now, enjoying their chatter.


    Lancaster and Clyde soon join them half way through, bringing news. They take a seat opposite of them.


    ¡°The installation and the ceremony for the new empire will take place in the Kingdom of Theia itself,¡± Clyde says. ¡°But I trust your journey here is not in vain.¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Lloyd says in disbelief, with an obvious mocking tone. ¡°We nearly got burned alive near the tavern we so difficultly collected information about the rebellion ¨C¡± he steals a glance at Kai, who is either not listening or just pretending Lloyd hasn¡¯t said that, ¡°taken into the dungeons of Caelus immediately upon arrival; entered the mystical forest late in the night, that dangerous place full of beasts and monstrous plants that nearly killed us all.¡± Upon finishing, he sighs, sitting back down. ¡°That was a crazy journey.¡±


    ¡°I hope the one back is not similarly difficult,¡± Lancaster admits silently.


    Clyde laughs. ¡°It won¡¯t be. The entire group shall be moving together.¡±


    ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Alaina asks, counting the days.


    ¡°Most likely tomorrow or the day after; the installation is drawing near, we¡¯ll be camping out in the forest within a safe radius from Theia¡¯s capital and enter before dawn on that day.¡±


    Slightly nervous to be part of a rebellion in her very own kingdom and even more unprepared to see her father when she¡¯ll be against him, Alaina only nods in reply.


    ¡°We will be splitting into groups,¡± Clyde begins to explain, ¡°some for distraction. Some blending in with the crowd. Some directly intruding the ceremony, infiltrating as Caecilius Black¡¯s men if possible. With that said, you five will most likely be splitting up, because you have different virtues to offer. General Trajan and I will be leading separate groups. General Trajan will discuss the plan with you after dinner, and brief you about what¡¯s to be expected on that day.¡±


    ¡°Wait. You seem to have a lot of information regarding the installation and the ceremony ¨C I mean, ¡®what¡¯s to be expected¡¯, like the day¡¯s agenda? How do you know that?¡± Lloyd asks, clearly surprised. None of them are royalty ¨C except for Alaina, who left even before she¡¯s involved. The same goes for Lancaster and himself, who works with royalty, but unfortunately isn¡¯t involved. Lloyd is almost certain only the future emperor and the seven kings know the fullest of details, along with some trusted figures. If he hadn¡¯t left, he would¡¯ve probably be involved with it ¨C but he¡¯s part of the opposing team now.


    ¡°I still work with the King of Caelus,¡± Clyde replies. ¡°But I only get so much answers. The real person who gathers all the information we require is Trevor.¡±


    Standing up, Clyde leaves at the sight of General Trajan signalling for him. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about it later. Have a good night¡¯s rest, we may be leaving tomorrow.¡±


    After he leaves, the table is now surprisingly quiet, all of them tired, but really occupied with thoughts of what¡¯s to come and what¡¯s going to happen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope we don¡¯t start a war,¡± Rose says suddenly at the thought of such a great invasion.


    The others say nothing, because deep down, they believe it does sound like war. If the empire doesn¡¯t do anything to oppose the people¡¯s thoughts and freedom or fight back, they might stand a chance ¨C but that¡¯s the best outcome they can imagine. Peace from a simple voice from the unhappy people.


    But it isn¡¯t so simple, because the rebellion is great enough to be an army itself, and they are going against all the kings and possibly a very powerful emperor.


    If, by any chance, the rebellion does spark a war, it might be the second Great War of Asteria.

 Chapter 18: Dark Secrets

    The underground base is no longer very crowded during the next two days. As Clyde had said, people are already starting to move out, travelling to Theia in groups. It¡¯ll be too obvious and difficult to travel in such a huge group, so they move separately in smaller groups, pretending to be people from all over the other kingdoms, only attending the installation as a spectator.


    Alaina, Lancaster, Lloyd, Rose and Kai all stay back with Trajan, Clyde, and Trevor. Kai is really against the idea, but Trajan has insisted rather patiently ¨C considering Kai¡¯s intolerable attitude and temper ¨C that they stay back with them to tie up ¡®loose ends¡¯ ¨C if they even have any. Alaina isn¡¯t even sure what Trajan meant by that, but they can only find out if they stay with him long enough.


    ¡°If you ever want to control that power of yours, I suggest you take a deep breath. Step one to control is controlling your own temper. And as far as I know, your temper¡­ ah, you are far too hot-headed. Try being more patient for a start.¡± That is the first thing Trajan tells Kai when he protests aggressively, immediately as Trajan asks of them to stay back with him.


    ¡°I¡¯m in perfect control, thanks for your concern,¡± Kai retorts. Lancaster begins nudging him, asking him to back off and stop starting an unnecessary fight; Alaina sighs, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯d burn you anytime if I wanted to.¡±


    ¡°From what I know, you are not in control. Have you ever questioned yourself why can¡¯t you make contact with people without them burning up?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡±


    The moment he¡¯s said that, Alaina knows for sure he nearly ignited the entire room. She tugs Kai slightly, pulling him back.


    To Alaina¡¯s surprise, even if Trajan¡¯s words are a little straightforward, he doesn¡¯t mean any harm. In fact, he is so patient that he¡¯s actually trying to convey something.


    Sighing, he says, ¡°you still have a long way to go.¡±


    ¡°You sound like you know a lot about his powers,¡± Lloyd states.


    Trajan raises a questioning brow. ¡°Not only his powers. Both of theirs ¨C Kai¡¯s and Rose¡¯s; and, of course I do know about them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act like you know all about these accursed ¨C¡±


    ¡°They are a gift. A blessing from the Gods.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kai denies, refusing to listen. ¡°Stop with your nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Centuries ago, it is said that the Gods carry down heavenly powers and blessed selected people with a shower of light. The blessed were soon discovered to have great powers beyond the norm, and they were known as ¡°The Gifted¡±. Despite the name, some feared them, thinking they will bring destruction upon their land. But when Asteria fell into chaos, it was them, the Gifted, who saved humanity. Without them, we would not even be standing here today. Seven most powerful ones divided us into the seven kingdoms we now live in. Since then, they are no longer known as simply as ¡°The Gifted¡±, and instead are recognised as ¡°Saints¡±, as they were believed to be angels from above. The seven that shaped history ¨C they are known as the Seven Great Saints.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Stop. What are you talking about? There¡¯s no such story.¡± Kai doesn¡¯t want to admit it, but he is slightly intrigued by the fact that he and Rose are not the only special ones. There were people like them, too, long ago in the past.


    But that still doesn¡¯t convince him. How does Trajan know this? He has never before in his life heard of such a story, and by the bewildered looks he finds on the others, he is sure they have not either.


    Lloyd shifts in his position, uncomfortable. ¡°A myth? A legend? I ¨C¡± he stammers, ¡°¨C I¡¯ve never heard of such a story. It isn¡¯t told in the history books.¡± This is the first time hearing and being told about something he has zero knowledge for; even Lancaster finds it hard to believe that Lloyd doesn¡¯t know about this.


    Heaving a sigh, Trajan looks down at his feet, his head hanging low like he isn¡¯t too happy speaking about it. ¡°I¡¯ve said too much.¡±


    Kai scoffs. ¡°Save those fantasies for your children, maybe. We¡¯re overaged and have no time for your bedtime stories.¡±


    A look of hurt flashes across Trajan¡¯s face, and Kai almost feels guilty for what he¡¯s said. He wants to apologise, but that would also mean crushing his own pride.


    But before Kai has a chance to even attempt to patch things up, Lancaster says suddenly, ¡°What is your intention of telling us this? Why are you holding us back ¨C just to tell us this story?¡± He narrows his eyes. ¡°We are not even sure what to make of it; we have never heard of such a story. There is no such thing in our history.¡±


    There is a moment of silence as Trajan only hangs his head. His mind isn¡¯t even registering Lancaster¡¯s words. After a short pause, he finally says, ¡°My children¡­ No. My only daughter was killed the moment she was born because she gave off light.¡±


    It sounds so impossible in every possible way that no one speaks. Rose opens her mouth, but shuts it when Trajan¡¯s eyes fall on her, and she swears she is staring at glassy eyes of a proud and powerful general. Wearily, he says, ¡°She would be your age¡­¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, General,¡± Alaina offers shakily. She exchanges nervous looks with Lancaster.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Trajan looks away. ¡°This is the reason I¡¯m keeping a careful eye on you, Kai. Rose, too. Because I do not wish of you to share the same cruel fate as my beloved daughter.¡±


    ¡°Fate?¡± Rose winces.


    Trajan approaches Rose and puts a firm hand on her shoulder. ¡°During the rebellion¡­ I need both of you to stay in the woods. Not in the main frontal group invading the city, but in the shadows. You support us from the back, and ¨C¡±


    ¡°But ¨C¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Trajan stretches a palm before the protesting Rose. ¡°You both stand out ¨C your powers might arouse unnecessary attention, curiosity, suspicion. And it¡¯s all risky. For the better, stay on the side-lines, it¡¯s for your own safety.¡±


    An unreadable expression forms on Trajan¡¯s face, and as he turns away from the others, his expression turns grim. ¡°Please rest assured, though, because you still have a crucial role in our rebellion despite not being physically part of the main group.¡±


    Without another word, he leaves them alone.


    ¡°He made us stay behind, but separated us anyway.¡± Alaina sighs. ¡°But that¡¯s fine. At least I¡¯ll know Rose will be safe.¡±


    Lancaster nods, ignoring both Kai Rose who¡¯s obviously unhappy with the arrangements. ¡°Perhaps the General has his reasons.¡±


    But Lloyd doesn¡¯t seem to buy it. The stories, the sudden unheard history, Trajan¡¯s worries and his reasons¡­ Sure, it sounds ¨C somewhat ¨C logical, but where do all these come from? Everything sounds so¡­ incomplete.


    Something is missing, but he isn¡¯t confident what is.


    ¡°Whatever, he¡¯s in charge anyway. But I¡¯m pretty certain there is something he isn¡¯t telling us.¡±

 Chapter 19: Nightmares

    The day before the new emperor is crowned, they travel east, back towards the Kingdom of Theia. When Theia is in view, they settle in the forest atop a small hill nearby that overlooks the kingdom from afar.


    The sun is setting by the time they are done with the preparations, and the kingdom blends beautifully with the orange sky over the horizon, just like a painting.


    When night seeps in, Alaina becomes nervous. Perhaps she should have already felt so the moment she left Theia and made her choice to go against everything she¡¯s every lived for, but she hasn¡¯t. Yet now, standing on top of the hill and overlooking her home, she is struck by nostalgia and is suddenly unsure of herself.


    ¡°We have already come this far,¡± Lancaster had said to her earlier. ¡°Do not think too much about it. Whatever happens¡­ happens.¡±


    Then, bitterly, she remembers her father¡¯s words.


    ¡°You fight for what you believe in.¡±


    Her father, who had done something she never in her life thought that he would. Her father, who had loved her with all his heart, no longer sees her as his very own.


    She shuts her eyes, allows the cool wind to beat against her skin. As the sky darkens, she forces the thoughts away and flushes them down an unknown dark tunnel inside her, hoping they never return. She turns, her back against her very own kingdom, and leaves. Alaina doesn¡¯t look back.


    *****


    Her sleep is uneasy. Alaina tosses and turns, finding herself waking almost every minute in cold sweat. Her palms are sweaty, her vision blurry as she stares into the dark. She can¡¯t see anything, but she hears her heartbeats loudly and clearly, drumming against her ears.


    Through rapid breaths, the images of her dreams creep slyly back into her memories.


    Fire. A clash of weapons and armour. Soldiers. A battlefield.


    A red flag falling to the ground, burning into ashes and nothingness. On the flag, a symbol of a flying horse. A Pegasus?


    She isn¡¯t sure.


    There was a cry in the distance in her dreams, and she wakes as if the scream is her waking call.


    Dreams? No, more like nightmares. Because what kind of dreams make you feel so uneasy and unable to fall asleep again, with an ominous feeling that something great is coming your way?


    Refusing to take any more of this torture, Alaina clambers out of her thin bedroll and out of the tent quietly, into the dark forest. Her bare feet kiss the grass beneath her, her skin cool in the night wind as it whistles in her ears and rustles the dark trees. She shivers. The temperature is low in the night.


    Thinking about the next day ¨C which, technically, isn¡¯t really the next day as it¡¯s dawning upon them in a few hours ¨C hurts, but Alaina¡¯s mind insists on returning to that thought. Tomorrow.


    A day that will change history.


    It is funny how a day is different for everyone. Like how maybe one still has a string of tomorrows, but beyond anyone¡¯s knowledge, perhaps for another person tomorrow¡¯s their last day. Tomorrow, at dawn, the future emperor ¨C not like Alaina is about to let that happen ¨C believes he¡¯s to be crowned the one and only ruler of Asteria. Tomorrow, Alaina is to win back what she¡¯s believed in. Yet for others, it¡¯s only an ordinary day, if they do not see any meaning into the installation ceremony.


    Back on top of the small hill over Theia, Alaina lifts her head to look up at the still dark sky. No stars, only floating clouds.


    She hasn¡¯t a clue what time into the night it is, but she¡¯s far from the dream world now. It is difficult to go back to sleep when nightmares are waiting at your doorstep.


    Alaina finds a tall lone tree and settles herself beneath its dark shade, although from what, she isn¡¯t really sure. It¡¯s not sunny, but she feels somewhat secure beneath the rustling overhead leaves watching over her. Still, even with her imaginary protection, it doesn¡¯t stop her from shivering. She brings her knees close to her chest and cuddles herself, embracing the cold weather in the night.


    Closing her eyes, she tries to relax, but the vision she sees is yet again the red flag with the Pegasus burning to the ground. She has never seen anything of this sort in her life, and she begins questioning herself why is such a thing insisting on staying with her.


    A shift in the woods ultimately catches her attention. A movement. Alaina sits still, slightly thankful that it has brought her thoughts back, away from the meaningless nightmare scene.


    A situation like this, where she¡¯s all alone late in the night, with a funny sound around her within the dark woods, she is supposed to be afraid and alert. She knows she is supposed to feel so, yet she doesn¡¯t. In fact, she feels a surge of relief for it for bringing her mind back to where it¡¯s supposed to be.


    But that isn¡¯t the scariest part ¨C because she knows, somehow, what is coming.


    Or actually, who.


    ¡°What are you doing, Kai?¡± Alaina turns around and squints her eyes in the dark where she¡¯s expecting him. But no, instinctively, she looks above her.


    There is a clumsy shift in the tree, and few leaves fall over her head and are stuck in her hair. When the rustling in the tree increases that one shall know it¡¯s obviously not made by the wind alone no longer, Alaina shuts her eyes and shields herself protectively as if something will fall on her.


    Something ¨C someone, does appear. But he doesn¡¯t fall on her.


    ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± He looks her in the eye, upside down when he¡¯s still hanging on the tree. He appeared so suddenly that Alaina perhaps would have screamed if she wasn¡¯t already expecting him or already somehow knew he was coming.


    Their faces are only an inch apart.


    Alaina stares blankly at him, at his upside-down face who appears to be staring right back at her. Dishevelled, messy brown hair, as usual. Several leaves stick out from his hair.


    A funny feeling conquers her conscience. She continues to stare at him, as if she will be able to find the answers just by looking at his puzzled, confused face.


    Familiarity.


    Yes. But it¡¯s not of Kai¡¯s face, rather, of the scene that¡¯s unfolding before her.


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu? That¡¯ll be the most logical explanation. It happens sometimes. Yet she swears this is all too familiar. Too oddly familiar as if it isn¡¯t a simple d¨¦j¨¤ vu. But what would it be, then?If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    When she finds Kai¡¯s cheeks turning red, she realises she¡¯s been staring too long with such little distance between them.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± She repeats her question, taking a few steps back, flushing slightly herself.


    ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± He repeats his very own question, too.


    Alaina rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. ¡°Fireflies don¡¯t make clumsy sounds.¡±


    As if he¡¯s reacting to her deliberately, Kai falls from the tree in a few clumsy movements, unlike his usual swift self at all. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m no firefly.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Kai moves to sit beside her. ¡°What are you doing, princess?¡± He adds a tone to his voice, and says the word ¡®princess¡¯ just as how she would say the world ¡®firefly¡¯.


    ¡°That¡¯s my question, and you haven¡¯t answered it.¡±


    He shrugs. ¡°Sleep is for the weak.¡± He turns to look at her. ¡°Now, what are you doing this late at night?¡±


    There¡¯s always the casual way Kai talks to her like she isn¡¯t the princess. Perhaps he¡¯s never known her for what she was, but she¡¯s rather grateful they talk like normal friends despite statuses. She¡¯s always convinced Lancaster and Lloyd not to, but it¡¯s difficult for them, considering they work in the royal palace.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Alaina admits. ¡°Nightmares.¡± She shudders at the thought of it, and shakes her head to get rid of the memory. Even so, she still shudders from the low temperature of their surroundings. She rubs her hands on both her arms. ¡°And please, ¡®sleep is for the weak¡¯? That¡¯s not an answer. When will you stop fooling around and be honest with me?¡±


    ¡°We are made of layers of lies.¡±


    Alaina sighs. ¡°You¡¯re full of indecipherable layers.¡±


    Kai glances sideways to take a look at her. She has her eyes fixed over the horizon. ¡°You¡¯re the same.¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡±


    The way she asks is as if she is merely throwing the question immediately, desperate yet casual and mindless, but she does contemplate the matter. She gives a thought about it, and her actions give her away: the way she twirls her finger around her hair, staring at it blankly ¨C her mind isn¡¯t there at all but instead it is busy searching for an answer to her own question.


    But she doesn¡¯t get a reply. Yet only after snapping out of her thoughts does she finally realise his silence. When she turns to him, she finds that he¡¯s staring at her.


    Alaina¡¯s sudden instinct is to jerk backwards, but she only does so with her head, an inch or less. Only then does she realise how close he¡¯s sitting next to her ¨C his fingers on the ground are so close to hers that one would think they¡¯re already in contact, except she herself doesn¡¯t feel his touch on her.


    And she would know of his touch. His, of all people ¨C not because they¡¯ve actually touched each other before and so often that they know it just by the slight brush of each other¡¯s presence, but because of his uniqueness. As simple as that.


    ¡°What?¡± she demands, staring back at him incredulously, feeling heat in her cheeks.


    Kai doesn¡¯t advert his eyes. He furrows his brows when he looks at her, as if scrutinizing her. ¡°Have we met before?¡±


    Alaina frowns. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I mean before the tavern, before the forest. Long before. Have we ever crossed paths before?¡± His hand twitches; there¡¯s a point where he lifts his hand and brings it near her cheek, and her heart beats so fast it¡¯s impossible. The heat in her cheeks she feels in this intensity between them is potentially even warmer than Kai¡¯s touch. She¡¯s no longer shivering from the cold atmosphere.


    His fingers ¨C only the tips ¨C brush through the little lock of hair falling over the side of her face, but only barely, very briefly. Soon enough, he retracts his hand like he¡¯s afraid of touch, and Alaina is staring at the Kai she just met in the forest, and in the dungeons where he constantly avoids contact.


    Her heart sinks, because she believes they are already beyond that conflict. But it¡¯s not mere sadness, but guilt she feels ¨C the way she sees him act that way yet doesn¡¯t know what to do, for she fears any little misunderstanding may end their very friendship.


    And so she does nothing.


    ¡°No?¡± Her answer comes out with a questionable uncertainty, because she herself knows it¡¯s impossible. The meeting in the forest was the very first time they¡¯d crossed paths. Yet her own body answers with a slight doubt, even though her mind is fixed on a sure answer. ¡°No,¡± she says again, firmer this time. ¡°No.¡±


    Finally, Kai looks away to gaze over the horizon, where she¡¯d been staring at moments ago. There¡¯s an unreadable expression on his face ¨C seemingly emotionless, nonchalant. But there¡¯s something else¡­ disappointment? Alaina can¡¯t be too sure. She is most likely mistaken, but that is what she concludes from the little sag in his eyebrows.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve asked me so.¡±


    No reply.


    Trying to force a laugh to lighten the eerie atmosphere created by Kai¡¯s sudden coldness and silence, she holds her breath, then says, ¡°back then¡­ was that all you can say, when you¡¯re on the brink of death?¡±


    ¡°But I was serious,¡± he replies, turning to eye her again. ¡°So am I now.¡±


    Still holding her breath, Alaina holds his gaze. She can¡¯t seem to find the right words, and soon enough, she finds herself staring in his mesmerizing amber eyes.


    Kai breaks their contact. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He waves a lazy hand and stares back into the horizon. ¡°And I¡­ can¡¯t sleep either.¡±


    It takes her a moment to realise where is the randomness of his statement coming from. ¡°Finally.¡±


    ¡°Finally what?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being honest with me. At least, for once.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°How am I not? And we¡¯re talking about you here.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me about your nightmares.¡±


    Shuddering from the mere memory of it, Alaina says softly, ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡±


    ¡°Please?¡± Kai insists.


    She sighs. ¡°Not much that I remember. Only¡­ there¡¯s this red flag with a Pegasus on it. And it¡¯s on fire, burning to the ground.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hardly scary.¡± He begins laughing.


    Flushing, she quickly adds, ¡°It keeps haunting me! It¡¯s not leaving my memory.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re trying to keep your mind off the nightmares.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not being honest again.¡±


    Alaina glares in his direction. There¡¯s a funny feeling bubbling inside of her ¨C a mixture of emotions. Anger and frustration for being so transparent and easily read by Kai, whom she only met not too long ago; but also a sense of security and comfort when he does understands her.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about tomorrow. I mean, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worth fighting for anymore.¡±


    ¡°You do,¡± he says softly, and he leans in close to her. Alaina flinches slightly at first for reasons she isn¡¯t aware of, but Kai doesn¡¯t come close enough to touch her. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have your own reasons, and those are the reasons you are here today. But that¡¯s what makes you who you are ¨C right or wrong, there¡¯s no such answer. So just fight for what you believe in.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I like this person I am now.¡±


    ¡°I know I do. I like who you are now.¡±


    Although Alaina has find herself flushing or feeling flustered several times around Kai because of some things he¡¯s said or did that are just rather random and doesn¡¯t seem to fit into his personality at times ¨C even though she is someone who isn¡¯t easily flustered except when her own pride is concerned, she feels herself warm and comforted by those very words. ¡°Thank you, firefly.¡±


    Kai looks away quickly, perplexed. ¡°What I said makes sense?¡± He begins running his hand through his hair, a gesture she notices as something to keep others ¨C and himself ¨C distracted when he feels embarrassed or shy or simply confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re weird.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re overbearing.¡±


    ¡°I found this place first, you know,¡± she says, agitated.


    ¡°You don¡¯t own this place,¡± he shoots back.


    ¡°I was here first.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to keep you warm.¡±


    Alaina laughs. ¡°Keep me warm?¡±


    Grinning confidently, Kai crosses his arms. ¡°See, with my presence alone, you won¡¯t even feel cold.¡±


    Once he¡¯s said so, she recalls shivering in the cool night wind and the low, humid temperature at the beginning, when she¡¯s all alone. She had thought she was feeling less cold because she was talking to someone or constantly feeling a rush of emotions rising and falling within her, making her heart beats irregular.


    She turns to him and raises a brow. ¡°You¡¯re emitting your heat? But I don¡¯t feel completely warm, like if there¡¯s a fire before us right now. So, your fire isn¡¯t really working, I see. Right, I forgot you¡¯re only a tiny firefly!¡± She laughs.


    Kai glares at her. ¡°Yeah, a firefly who has his own fire,¡± he says proudly, and Alaina finds herself smiling, feeling satisfied that she¡¯s now talking to the Kai she¡¯s gotten to know. The one who has gradually but steadily opened up to her. The Kai now.


    The next thing he does is unexpected of him. He takes of his gloves, and, without lifting his eyes to look at her, he stretches his hands in front of her. ¡°Here,¡± he offers, still hesitant, as if afraid she might deny his kindness. ¡°Maybe you can¡­ touch me to warm up. You know, without burning up this time. Since you¡¯re cold.¡±


    Another rush of emotions. Alaina smiles warmly. ¡°You do have a heart.¡± Without hesitation nor does she need a better reason than being ¡®cold¡¯ even if she isn¡¯t shivering as much as she had before, she entrusts her hands in his and entwines her fingers with his, without fear or regret. ¡°A firefly with his very own fire,¡± she agrees.


    Too shy to say another word or to even take a quick glance at her, Kai fixes his gaze ahead, watching the sky glow brighter each passing minute. The minutes seem to last longer than usual, but at this point, they do not bother no longer.


    Whatever that¡¯s in store for them in the next few hours, they aren¡¯t really putting their minds on it. For once, they set their thoughts about the future aside, because for now they wish only to embrace this moment, for however long it lasts.


    And together, they sit in silence as they watch the sun rise lazily ahead.

 Chapter 20: Detachment

    As early as dawn can get, the rebellion is already at the ready. But since a large group of people in light armour ¨C as so they¡¯re not easily distinguished from the royal guards of the Kingdom of Theia ¨C standing so menacingly right outside the city walls right before an important installation is about to take place is only going to be like confessing and surrendering themselves to the forming empire, they wait patiently for morning, when civilians arrive for the real event near noon.


    Lancaster is too recognisable in Theia, so he has to follow Trajan and Clyde to hide in the shadows ¨C at least, until everything is in place. The same goes for Alaina. Although they do play significant roles, it¡¯s only until the main event ¨C when the emperor is being announced and crowned ¨C do they need to really show up. So for now, it¡¯s safer if they stay on the side-lines, or people might start noticing how odd it is to see the princess and her personal knight attending the installation when they have basically turned their backs against their very own kingdom.


    The self-proclaimed strategist and analyst Lloyd ¨C although everyone does admit he¡¯s the brain of the group at one point ¨C on the other hand, is going to work with the other information specialist, Trevor, at an old bell tower close enough to the centre of Theia that it overlooks the entire podium along with the statue of the titan woman and her miniature sun. They are the key signals.


    Lancaster had knocked out the lazy knight who guards the bell tower beforehand in order for them to use it. And although Lloyd does not seem too pleased about this idea that he has no say in as Lancaster executed it in a single swift move, he is certain that no one so much as to glance at the old, crumbling bell tower, so they¡¯re in safe hands.


    Then there¡¯s Rose and Kai, who aren¡¯t so lucky, because they do not get to watch the rebellion up close. They station at the forest hill, just as Trajan suggested, because they will draw too much attention with their powers if they were forced to use them in any way. Kai has been complaining for as long as Rose can remember, and he only shuts up when Lloyd hands them a viewing glass that allows them to observe the insides of Theia from where they are positioned.


    And finally, there are the rebels, who simply blend into either the knights or the locals or civilians as the audience. They do not need to do much of a huge role, but they are a big part of the rebellion, nevertheless, since most of it is made up of them. The rebellion is nothing without them; they are the very source of their growing flame. The group consists of even young children and the elderly ¨C perfect for blending in.


    Alaina can¡¯t seem to stop twiddling her fingers nervously, even with Lancaster by her side constantly assuring her that it¡¯s going to be fine. But she isn¡¯t only nervous about the rebellion.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.For some reason, she can¡¯t seem to look at Kai now, after sitting together for the entire night in silence. It¡¯s as if the awkwardness is an after effect, and only now does she feel so, because she was completely comfortable before.


    Seeing that she seems tongue-tied, Lancaster sighs, deciding to step forward first. ¡°See you later,¡± he says to Lloyd, Rose and Kai.


    ¡°When is later?¡± Rose asks, slightly unsettled.


    ¡°When it all ends.¡± Lancaster turns to Lloyd. ¡°Survive, for our kingdom.¡± Then he turns to Rose and Kai and adds, ¡°Same goes to both of you. Be safe.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the first time I hear a good note from you,¡± Lloyd comments. ¡°But thank you. You, too. Survive. Don¡¯t get caught.¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Lancaster says, smiling slightly. ¡°But I do not think it shall come down to that.¡±


    ¡°Of course we¡¯ll all be fine!¡± Rose quickly adds. She walks over to Lloyd and looks up to him. ¡°You promised, anyway.¡±


    He stumbles backwards, but Lancaster behind him doesn¡¯t budge to give him any space. Lloyd internally yells at Lancaster as he shoots him a sideways glare, but Lancaster doesn¡¯t seem to be fazed. Turning back to Rose who¡¯s looking at him expectantly, he stutters, ¡°P-Promised what?¡±


    Flaring, Rose deliberately steps on his boots. ¡°The Opuxes, Lloyd! You promised to go back to the forest with me! You¡¯re so useless.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, I promised.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯d better keep it.¡±


    ¡°You do not want to make her angry,¡± Lancaster chimes.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s only fair you be careful too, Rose,¡± Lloyd says finally. ¡°Kai, watch over her.¡±


    Kai laughs. ¡°Nobody can touch her, really. If you need our help, you know, just in case¡­ Give us a signal,¡± he says to Lloyd. ¡°You¡¯re the eyes for all of us.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Lloyd says confidently. ¡°I¡¯ll be watching over Lancaster.¡±


    ¡°Watch over yourself first,¡± Lancaster retorts.


    Alaina finally steps forward. ¡°I¡¯ll see you all when this ends.¡±


    Rose gives her a hug. ¡°Take care.¡±


    ¡°You too.¡± She smiles, returning the hug. ¡°Kai, make sure to watch over her.¡±


    ¡°Why is everyone asking me to watch over her? Who¡¯s going to watch over me?¡± Kai crosses his arms. ¡°She hardly needs protecting, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t need protecting,¡± Rose agrees.


    ¡°But aren¡¯t you the one who says the world shall burn before you die?¡± Alaina teases, remembering his words. Happy she¡¯s finally able to look him in the eye now like usual, she adds, ¡°That arrogance will work well for you when danger arrives.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m not planning to burn anyone today.¡±


    ¡°Just make sure to watch each other¡¯s backs,¡± Lancaster says. ¡°Lloyd, no one is with you except Trevor, so just watch out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to watch over you from above the tower, too, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lloyd replies, smirking.


    ¡°So you do not have to stress out too much and do something like not letting your guard down for a single split second.¡±


    ¡°Is this some agreement I¡¯m sensing?¡± Alaina laughs at Lancaster and Lloyd¡¯s friendly exchange of concern. ¡°Finally.¡±


    Immediately as she says so, Lancaster adds, ¡°I am always on my guard.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Lloyd narrows his eyes at Lancaster. ¡°But really, be on your guards like Lancaster at all times.¡±


    ¡°Be safe, everyone,¡± Alaina says softly. Then, smiling, she adds, ¡°I do not want to see a single scratch on your pretty faces.¡±

 Chapter 21.1: Rising Sun

    ALAINA


    She feels the heavy clank of metal weighing down on her. Safe, yes, but comfortable? Definitely not. Still unable to believe it herself, Alaina is starting to prefer dresses for once in her life. However, if there''s something that doesn''t change, she can confidently name two things that makes her feel safer than ever: one, the dagger strapped around her thigh ¨C the one she shall always have with her, dresses or not, whatever the occasion may be; and two, Lancaster simply being by her side.


    Lancaster''s presence is certainly comfortable for her, but to her left, she finds Lancaster feeling ¨C and somehow acting ¨C the exact opposite of how he normally is, being oddly uneasy. He shifts nervously ¨C a weird term to use, Alaina hesitates, for someone as proud and confident as him.


    "What is wrong with you?" Alaina means to ask in concern, but her anxiety is throwing her tone and emotions off, and the question comes out really demandingly. "Sorry," she rephrases, "are you fine?"


    He doesn''t turn to look at her, which makes Alaina feel worse ¨C although his words come out kindly. "Do not worry, your highness. Worry about yourself."


    "That still means you are, in fact, uncertain of something ¨C is it not?" she demands, speaking formally, suiting Lancaster.


    Sighing, he finally turns to face her. He forces a smile. "I have to admit, I am fearful."


    "You? Fearful?" Alaina begins to laugh ¨C unintentionally, but freely. She allows the bubble of unease to rise gradually with the lightness she is starting to adapt to, ultimately letting it pop. She smiles, for the first time since last night. "That is impossible. Preposterous."


    "Admitting our fears is the first step to conquering them."


    "What is it that you''re afraid of?"


    Lancaster''s gaze drops to the ground ¨C something Alaina finds uncomfortable, knowing him. He never looks down; he is someone who would only try to look forward and beyond. "Of losing," he finally admits. "And honestly, I am unsure what it means to win in this rebellion."


    Alaina ponders on this. Surely, to win is to... deny the empire? But what happens then? Will the kings ¨C her father, of all people ¨C agree to this? They''ve already agreed to the formation of the empire, after all. Do the rebels actually have a say in this? Can a large group of people really overpower the monarchy?


    The real question is: do they even have the slightest chance of winning?


    The bubble of unease forms once again in Alaina''s stomach. She is beginning to think this is hopeless ¨C and is rather justified in believing so.


    Just then a conch horn blows. And whatever she thinks is now useless, because the installation ceremony is about to begin, but most importantly, she is unable to deny the fact that she is standing here as a part of the rebellion.


    Whatever it is, there''s no turning back.


    But when Alaina glances at the window, though, she spots the little hill where they''d arrived and camped out yesterday ¨C the one overlooking the Kingdom of Theia from afar. The one where Kai and Rose are currently at, fighting alongside them despite not being near her. Then her eyes find the old bell tower not far from the back room of the central podium where she and Lancaster are currently in, standing proudly despite its old and crumbling exterior, the west of the city centre. And that''s where Lloyd is. Finally, she steals a glance at Lancaster beside her.


    There''s a slight confident smile that forms around her lips. Despite not being able to turn back now, there are people with her. Friends.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    At least she knows she isn''t alone in this.


    *****


    LLOYD


    The signal for the event has sounded. Lloyd''s heartbeats race against time.


    He doesn''t understand why his partner, Trevor, on the other hand, doesn''t seem too fazed by the starting call ¨C in fact, he is nearly dozing off in an old wooden chair that seems just about to crumble at his weight.


    Frustration builds up within him. Lloyd walks over and gives Trevor a deadpanned glare ¨C at least, as near as he can manage. "It''s about to start."


    Shifting his weight lazily, Trevor mumbles, "What''s about to start?"


    "The installation!" Lloyd says, exasperated.


    "Right."


    "And? You''re just going to sit there?"


    Whatever Trevor is just about to say ¨C if he''d wanted to say anything at all ¨C is then interrupted by a loud applause. Lloyd turns to see the city centre below. It''s crowded with people, and the at the podium where the lady titan statue stands, large torches are lit on either end of it, creating a strong atmosphere.


    People gather around the podium, squeezing in and crowding in on each other as if their life depends on it as they anxiously await the new proclaimed emperor, Caecilus Black, to be crowned by the seven kings.


    By the looks of them, Lloyd is sure they aren''t too ready to face their new ruler, what with anxious faces and soft mutters, even though some try their best to cover it up through smiles, assuring their little children and beloved ones that everything is fine.


    Yes, a smile to cover up the struggles within. Lloyd wonders who else does that. Maybe even the people closest to him do so, too. Everyone is fighting their own battle internally.


    Lloyd squints his eyes to have a better view of the crowd. The rebellion is amidst the crowd, blending in perfectly, just as Trajan has said. For someone so proud as himself, Lloyd hates to admit it ¨C even to himself ¨C but Trajan is an excellent strategist. As one would expect from the great General Trajan, who have led many wars in the past. Even Lancaster acknowledges him; and Lloyd begins to question himself.


    Why does someone like Trajan make him feel so small?


    He only wants to be useful, with all the knowledge he has, his wisdom. He tries so hard to be important, to be prominent.


    But is he? Alaina has assured him a thousand times that she needs him in Theia. No, she never assured him, she insists that it is a fact that Theia would crumble without him as an advisor. Lancaster ¨C though Lloyd knows, more than anyone else, is hard to get by ¨C genuinely believes so too, and this is something he has found out only recently. He is beyond grateful for these two, because all he''s felt around them is inferiority, thinking he is not good enough. But it turns out that they perceive him as someone much more than what he sees in himself.


    Maybe Lloyd is pressuring himself too much. After all, he has a significant role today. He''d be as important as Alaina and Lancaster, just like how they always are in the palace. Today is like no other.


    He can do this. This is going to work well.


    A tap on Lloyd''s shoulder almost makes him scream and possibly fall off the bell tower through the large window arch he''s been leaning on. He turns and finds himself face to face with Trevor.


    "Well? Didn''t you not say that it is about to begin?" he asks, fully awake and alert now.


    "Indeed." Lloyd glances at the crowd again, and this time, the podium is now slowly lined with knights marching out from either end of the platform. The faint, distant chatter of the crowd diminishes. "It is. Let''s hope things go smoothly and peacefully."


    "Nothing''s smooth nor peaceful in this world we live in, young lad," Trevor says, his eyes fixed over the opposite side of the crowd, something Lloyd finds strange. A threat? Instinctively, he wonders curiously what he''s staring at ¨C or perhaps even expecting to see ¨C but when Lloyd follows his line of vision, there''s nothing that they should be concerned about.


    Another conch horn blows, this time even louder than before, silencing the already quiet crowd completely. The knights are all lined in their respective positions now, with spears held across their chests ¨C the knights on the left pointing the spears to the right while the knights on the right pointing the spears to the left, lined in a V shape and ultimately forming a sort of pattern pointing to the middle of the podium, where a large, red banner rolls out dramatically, revealing a flying Pegasus.


    "And it begins now," Lloyd whispers, as if he is part of the crowd, afraid to speak in the overbearing silence.


    But Trevor gives him an odd look Lloyd is unable to read or define. But this isn''t the first time, anyway; Lloyd and the others have always find Trevor as someone weird. And just by speaking to him for a few times in the bell tower alone, his choice of words is deep, intriguing, undecipherable ¨C you''d think it''s wise, even. Yet it never fails to give you the creeps, just like what he says next:


    "The beginning is only the end."

 Chapter 21.2: Rising Sun

    KAI


    He is growing impatient. The fire inside of him threatens to burst out and burn his surroundings, consuming even himself. The demon struggles to find its way out, to be free; but Kai refuses to let it take over. Not just yet.


    His fingers grip around the viewing glass a little too hard ¨C more pressure and it might just break from his emotions alone. As he squints his eyes in the distance, forcing one eye into the viewing glass to try and make out the situation in Theia, his anxiety only grows when he briefly hears the conch horn. The signal makes him shift in his ground, bite his lip and mess his hair up, because although the viewing glass is in his hands, all he can do is watch ¨C and he can''t even actually do so, considering he can''t make out anything clearly.


    "Are you done?!" Rose makes a childish sound so suddenly it makes Kai jump because he''s forgotten he isn''t alone out here. She paces around and is just about ready to pull her pigtails out due to frustration. "You''ve been using it for hours! It''s my turn now!"


    She makes a grab for the viewing glass, but Kai, taller than her and unfortunately much faster and swifter than her, dodges her as if on instinct, and she falls face down to the ground because she made the mistake of jumping at him despite having already guessed what the outcome is since she''s been unsuccessful for countless times before.


    Kai holds up the viewing glass tauntingly as he looks at her. "It hasn''t even been an hour since we''re here! You''re really impatient, you know. Just wait for your turn."


    Spitting out grass and wiping dirt off her face, Rose retorts, "When is it my turn? And you''re one to talk, you''re impatient yourself."


    "You''re the impatient one; what makes you think I''m impatient? It hasn''t even been ten minutes since we''ve got here and you''re complaining already?"


    "Am not."


    "Yes, you are."


    Unable to stand it longer, Rose makes a grab for the viewing glass again, but this time she knocks into Kai directly, not expecting him to just stand there. He is almost knocked off balance, too, but he holds her carefully, then pulls away as quickly as she regains her balance.


    "Here." He drops the viewing glass into her hands lazily, without care or a second of hesitation; it would''ve smashed to the ground into a million pieces if Rose had not caught it ¨C flimsily and just barely ¨C with her tiny palms.


    "Hey! Be careful! It''s Lloyd''s!" She goes on inspecting it and handling it like a baby, making Kai laugh.


    "Yeah, whatever. Treasure it," he teases, and she flushes angrily, turning away from him. When he glances at her, she is wiping imaginary specks of dirt off the completely stainless, sparkling gold viewing glass that shines even more brilliantly just as the clouds pass and the sun reveals itself with the hem of her shirt.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The shiny surface makes Kai flinch, and he adverts his eyes. He is unable to stand to see such bright things; there is no such beauty in the world. Even if there is, he is unable to bring himself to look at them ¨C they are just too beyond him. Maybe Rose is one of them, shining so brightly while he merely stands in the shadows.


    Just like how he supresses the demon within, he pushes aside the surging emotions.


    It''s odd, how he''s feeling today. He usually does not feel much. But today, it''s as if something is about to happen, and the ominous feeling bubbling him is irritating, making him more impatient than ever. Something feels off, but he doesn''t believe in the sixth sense, so he tries his best to flush it down the drain.


    Kai lifts his head, but as soon as he does, he tilts his face to the side, his hand flying to his face at once as he winces at the brilliant ray of sunlight from the sun hovering directly above them ¨C the sun that has just escaped the haze of clouds before. It''s noon.


    Still, he can''t make out anything, except for the Kingdom of Theia in the distance. Nothing seems to be going on; the kingdom is as peaceful as it was just last night. Of course they will not have the knowledge of what goes on inside ¨C they are so close yet so far away.


    His attention is snapped back to Rose once she stomps the ground in frustration. "I can''t see anything!"


    Kai rolls his eyes in response. "Obviously we can''t, we''re so far away." He hasn''t found where the event is taking place himself, and since he has never been to Theia, it will be like trying to seek for treasure without a map or any hints or directions. Even if they do know it''s somewhere inside Theia, the viewing glass doesn''t seem to do them much good. But he doesn''t blame the tool or Lloyd ¨C everything has a limit.


    That''s part of the reason he handed over the viewing glass in the first place ¨C it doesn''t let them in on anything further than the gates of Theia.


    But Rose insists on seeing something. "It''s so hazy it''s unclear; I can''t make anything out!" she exclaims, and Kai immediately understands that she, too, is frustrated for not being able to be part of the front lines.


    "Maybe it''s time you get some glasses like Lloyd, then," he teases, trying to make her feel better.


    "I can''t see anything!"


    "I''ve told you ¨C"


    That''s when he notices the cloud of blur beyond them, over the horizon. A haze engulfing the whole of the Kingdom of Theia.


    It could not have possibly be there in an instant. Kai must have not noticed before because he was simply not paying any attention to the kingdom after realising the fact that they can''t even see or do anything from where they are. He hasn''t a care for what''s going on in Theia no longer for the past few minutes, after giving up on finding out what''s going on inside.


    For a scary moment, he feels like he has just fallen into a trap set by some unknown force he doesn''t even realise exists, and the colour drains from Kai''s face.


    "Give me that." Snatching the viewing glass from Rose who is too speechless and frozen in shock herself to protest or even to say no, he forces his eye onto the glass and views the situation as best he can.


    The fog seems so dense it nearly covers the entire kingdom and is still engulfing it, rising and growing each second that it is beginning to look like a formless monster swallowing the Kingdom of Theia whole.


    Kai snaps his head away from the viewing glass and turns his attention towards the sky. Crystal clear with the sun still shining above them, the haze is obviously not a natural occurrence.


    Can this be part of the installation? But what can it mean, if it isn''t? Are the others in danger; should he step in?


    He clicks his tongue, not knowing what to do as he begins pacing the ground.


    But as a sudden chill passes over him, making him ¨C of all people, who possesses the power of fire ¨C shiver physically even in such a hot weather as he undeniably remains standing under the blazing hot sun, Kai swallows hard as he realises the haze over Theia is no longer his only problem, nor it should be his priority as of now.


    Right now, he has bigger problems.

 Chapter 21.3: Rising Sun

    KAI


    Time seems to freeze. Ironic, considering the surroundings are actually chilly now with the sudden drastic drop of temperature, so odd that it''s the second non-natural thing occurring after the haze suspended over the Kingdom of Theia.


    Kai finds himself standing on a snowy mountain''s peak... no, atop a snowy hill? Staring at his shoes that''s buried in pure white snow, it''s a fact that the blazing hot weather a moment ago has just disappeared within a blink of an eye and is suddenly replaced by some sort of blizzardy frost; yet at the same time the fact that he''s still standing on the very same small hill overlooking Theia that he was yesterday and moments ago, where only the greenest and lushest of grasses and plants grow under the scorching sun overhead remains.


    So why is it as if the place has just undergone an impossible transformation?


    The Kingdom of Theia ¨C still engulfed with the haze that seems to be growing thicker and darker which is not at all a good sign ¨C still stands beyond the hill; and when Kai lifts his head, he is glared back by piercing sun rays.


    It is undeniable that his senses aren''t wrong or becoming haywire ¨C but that only means the sense of cold is real and not merely an illusion or a figment of his imaginations.


    A cold breeze brushes over his skin and caresses his hair, and his blood chills and nearly turns to ice. Kai shivers.


    And, reluctantly, he finally builds up the courage to turn and face the source of the coldness ¨C the source of his problem. As he turns, he releases his breath he doesn''t even realise he''s been holding in all this time, and finds that it''s visible like how it should be in winter.


    He never feels cold. But he does now, and the thought itself scares him.


    He isn''t alone.


    When he turns on his heels, Kai comes face to face with a boy with pure white hair. His hair is so white ¨C just like the snow in winter, the snow beneath Kai''s shoes ¨C and it''s as if his hair is snow itself that Kai resists the urge to advance on him and touch it to see if it''s real, to feel if it''s as light and soft and unreal upon touch as snow.


    "Good day, Sparks." He flashes a grin. "How''s the weather?"


    The boy stands so proudly, with his arms crossed and smiling so cockily that Kai wants to punch him. And he would have, only it''s a dangerous move ¨C because behind the boy, there are several other people ¨C six to seven of them ¨C of ages fifteen to around twenty, some of which are younger or obviously older than Kai. They stand scattered, some hanging in the branches of the trees playfully as if they''re no threat, some leaning against the trees casually or just standing near the snowy-haired boy also with their arms crossed and their legs firmly stuck to the ground.


    They all have distinct, odd looks which reminds Kai of himself ¨C of his glowing amber eyes ¨C and Rose who has gotten a weird green streak on her brown hair since she''s disappeared into the mystic forest: apart from the boy with pure white hair, there''s a girl with hair so long and seemingly alive that it''ll strangle you and swallow you whole; a boy with a skin so pale you''d think he''s dead or a walking corpse; a girl with a weird aura around her in the form of a dark mist so dense that just by looking at her sends you the creeps as if you''re standing in the middle of a graveyard; and another girl that looks as if she''s a pure shadow ¨C you can''t even make out her face properly.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Despite all their differences between one another ¨C without taking into account of the fact they''re very unique compared to other people ¨C they all have one thing in common, and that''s the fact that they''re glaring at Kai with a deadly, piercing stare.


    Kai feels as if his blood is frozen, like his surroundings. He is about to glance to Rose when a girl shrieks with a voice so shrill he almost has to shut his ears, "Only one! Neesha''s only got one of them!"


    Before Kai has a chance to comprehend what she meant, a dark, low voice like a growl grumbles, "Shut up, Klara! I can''t get him; I think he burns." Despite the voice sounding so deep and like an animal, it''s undeniably a female''s.


    The girl who seems to be made of shadows steps out of the shade of a towering tree, and even in the ray of sunshine she looks dark and shadowy. She stands beside the snowy-haired boy. "Watch out," she warns, before shadowy hands shoot out of no where straight at Kai.


    It happens so fast Kai barely has the chance to react, but before the shadowy hands wrap and bind round him, it melts off him. The girl makes a frustrated noise and stomps her feet in annoyance.


    "Stand still!" she barks.


    Kai realises it''s his heat that''s keeping him from the bind. Heat, and possibly light ¨C long story short, the fire within him is his lifesaver. That''s when he finally snaps. But his blood chills again as he sees Rose ¨C frozen next to him.


    "Rose," he says softly.


    "I can''t move," she chokes. There''s an unknown shadow other than Rose''s on the ground, seemingly pulling her in like a blackhole.


    Thinking fast, he summons a great wall of flames before him, blinding the teenagers. As he hears surprised yelps from behind the flames, he quickly sets a ring of fire around Rose in hopes of making the shadow dissipate. It works.


    Taking the chance as the unknown kids are still perplexed and blocked by the flames, Kai grabs Rose by the hem of her shirt and yells, "Run!"


    *****


    LLOYD


    Just as silence has fallen upon the Kingdom of Theia, the eerie mist engulfs them, blinding Lloyd''s view of the podium.


    Although he stands high up in the bell tower, the mist seems to gradually increase in altitude; anytime soon he''ll be swallowed by the mysterious gas, too.


    But that isn''t his primary concern ¨C at least, not yet. He is worried about Alaina and Lancaster below, the event, the rebellion, and the people. The sun is still up, unblocked by clouds ¨C in fact, there isn''t a single cloud however tiny and thin in the sky ¨C and shining as brightly as ever. The mist isn''t a natural occurrence.


    It''s bad enough that the mist or haze or whatever Lloyd is unable to make out is obscuring his view. The worst thing is, he isn''t sure if it''s dangerous.


    But there''s a weird odour ¨C the pungent smell of sulphur, maybe, but with a mix of a pleasant smell, too. There is a weird scent of flowers or fresh plant, but Lloyd can''t be too sure, and he doesn''t want to be convinced by using his own senses as it might be toxic. It''s like walking into a cloud of unknown, with an oddly intriguing charm that''s drawing and luring you in yet at the same time probably killing you after. The deadliest of traps are decorated the most beautifully, after all.


    So instead of scouting further, he covers his nose and mouth with the overly long sleeve of his robes.


    And after failing to deduce anything at all, Lloyd seems to realise for the first time that he isn''t the only one facing this problem.


    "Trevor ¨C"


    But as he turns, he is hit by an impact to his head, and he falls to the old creaking floor of the bell tower, struggling to keep his vision steady while trying his best not to breathe too fast to avoid swallowing the weird haze or mist gradually creeping into the bell tower.

 Chapter 22.1: Unravel

    LANCASTER


    His very first instinct is to check if the princess is fine. He turns, expecting to see her, but what chills his blood and sends him into a shock is the fact that she isn''t there.


    "Your highness!" Lancaster calls, nearly choking on his own words and the thick haze. Using one arm to cover over his nose and mouth as he desperately attempts to ward off the haze with the other to no avail, he begins advancing slowly, but to where, he is still clueless.


    As the haze settles all around his surroundings, he notices it isn''t really haze. It is definitely thick and heavy just like haze, weighing down upon him, but it is rather clear ¨C translucent. When he stretches his hand out into it, his hand is barely visible, but still undeniably there, shimmering in the mist.


    What is this somewhat beautiful cloud of blur? It is even capable to act as a medium for a rainbow to form.


    Hallucinations? That ought to explain the fact that he''s all alone, despite Alaina being right by his side only moments ago.


    But to prove that he is, he needn''t go as far as to pinching himself. Lancaster can trust his senses, namely his sense of smell alone, that this is real ¨C the haze is choking him.


    Supressing his coughs and trying his best not to inhale the haze, he begins to call again, "Your highness! Alaina!"


    Either his skills and experiences he''s obtained and accumulated all these years or his sixth sense saves him next, because he jumps to the right just as a sword flings his way. As Lancaster regains footing, he draws his own sword, too.


    A blurred battlefield is disadvantageous.


    Despite so, Lancaster makes out a shadowy figure several feet before him, and pair of boots from the little space under the haze, where the haze is floating only inches above the floor. The shadowy figure takes a few cautious steps, as if he''s aware of Lancaster, too, and is equally alert and on guard ¨C Lancaster watches curiously as the figure hesitates.


    Few deciding seconds later, the figure emerges from the slight blur, and Lancaster breathes a sigh of slight relief.


    "Clyde. What is happening?" Lancaster speaks cautiously, not wanting to take any chances on the haze.


    "Thank the Saints, you''re all good, Lancaster," Clyde says as he walks over to Lancaster with his nose and mouth covered with his free arm.


    "I am fine." Lancaster frowns. "But the princess ¨C"


    "General Trajan is missing as well." Clyde mirrors his frown.


    "Wait, what?" Lancaster stops short as they were just moving around to try and see what is going on at the podium from where they are, behind the stands. "Is he not by your side just before this happened?"


    "Yes, he ¨C"


    He is cut off by a loud bang, and shouts; Lancaster and Clyde freeze on their spots as their heart beats resonate within their ears and thump loudly in their heads, blood rushing in their veins.


    They shoot each other a quick glance, and without even speaking, they know what''s on the other''s mind. They sprint straight out into the now hazy podium in the centre square of the Kingdom of Theia, armed with their swords as they watch each other''s backs, just like the old times. They both only draw small breaths, being extremely careful.


    Where the haze floats only inches above the ground, bodies lay motionless on the ground ¨C no different from an eerie graveyard covered in mist. As Lancaster squints his eye to look into the slightly translucent haze, people are struggling as they cough and desperately reach out for their loved ones. More bodies pile with each passing second, and he is unable to tell if they are alive once they drop to the ground.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


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    LLOYD


    He has no clue what hit him. Perhaps not a clue even as to who hit him. But as he lies weakly on the wooden floor of the bell tower, struggling to keep his consciousness, he briefly sees Trevor fiddling with something in his hand. He tosses it up and down, a spark of gold in Lloyd''s blurry vision, with a crooked grin forming on his face.


    "Tsk," Trevor hisses in a low voice. "Should''ve hit you harder."


    Blinking hard, Lloyd tries to clear his mind of his own haze forming within. The one who''d hit him... Trevor?


    "What are you doing?" Lloyd asks, acting innocent, though his thoughts are racing faster than any shooting stars in his mind, searching for a plan. Trying hard to focus his blurred field of vision, his blood seems to rush faster to his mind, his heart thumping faster than ever as if trying desperately to be align with his rushing adrenaline.


    Still grinning, Trevor bends down and aligns his eyes with Lloyd''s. "Can''t have you ruining my plan today."


    "What plan?"


    "You''re clueless, aren''t you?" Trevor mocks. "With your intelligence, I''d have thought you were already suspicious of me since the beginning." His face is dangerously close as his voice drops to a whisper, "Guess you''re not all that smart."


    Lloyd hasn''t got a good chance to know Trevor enough to suspect him... but of what? Sure, he''s a shady person, but it''s not like he is to be suspected of anything ¨C that is, until now, seeing what''s happening. But what does that mean? That he''s behind it all ¨C all of this that''s unfolding before them?


    A dreadful thought crosses his mind, and Lloyd swallows hard, fighting away the lump in his throat as he struggles to remain fearless yet innocent to Trevor. Is this a trap set by Trevor, to pull every single rebel that''s potentially a strong threat in unity against the empire together, and end them all at once? Is this a plan devised by him and the empire ¨C is he with the soon-to-be empire and the self-proclaimed future ruler of the Land of Asteria, Caecilius Black, all along?


    Traitor. Or, perhaps, a spy. If the craze is as great as the thick haze settling in over the Kingdom of Theia, then it''s a plan long set in stone.


    How long have they been playing in their hands like little puppets?


    Lloyd recalls how they''ve learnt about the rebellion in the first place, and he turns paler than he already is. It was Trevor, who had given them the intellect.


    It was a trap, and they''ve walked blindly into it.


    "Tell me, then," Lloyd manages. "What is this plan of yours?"


    Trevor lets out a laugh that sends chills running down the back of Lloyd''s spine. "Little Einstein, isn''t it obvious? The seven kingdoms system is hopeless! Rubbish; pure disgrace! We have to burn it down to the ground, incinerate it to ashes, and start anew ¨C by building an empire under a single ruler. Only then, under one great empire, can we put aside our differences and live together as one. Differences only create conflict! We shall not let that pull us apart."


    "You''re only going to create greater conflict if you put people with various backgrounds and ethnicity together ¨C they''re not going to live together peacefully," Lloyd retorts, as coolly as he can manage, whilst scanning around. His hand creeps to his robe pocket slowly, unnoticed by Trevor, who is busy indulging in his great speech. "That is why we have the seven kingdoms in the first place, to divide us into our own specialty, our own culture. And we''ve been living in peace for centuries!"


    "Peace," Trevor repeats, "is never there. What about people born between two kingdoms? Where do they belong, then? What about people who have skills that don''t belong to their own kingdom, but another''s?" He spreads his arms dramatically, lifting his head high ¨C a gesture that Lloyd never expected to experience from him, as Trevor is a very secluded guy. "We''re all different. It''s time a new world is born, a world where everything is one. A world with our differences aside. It''s time to burn everything down, and rebuild a whole new world from the ashes of the past!"


    Lloyd lets out the breath he''s been holding, before saying, "You''re crazy." And, without warning or further delay, he rises to his feet suddenly, knocking an off-guard and overconfident Trevor off balance with as much force his trembling knees would support.


    Once Trevor hits the ground, Lloyd releases the special flare he''s gotten out of his pocket while Trevor isn''t aware, flinging it out of the huge arch of the bell tower, in hopes of gaining the attention of not just Alaina and Lancaster ¨C who he hopes are doing fine ¨C below amidst the thick haze, but also their allies, Kai and Rose, right beyond the kingdom.


    He silently prays, hoping for the best ¨C that the one who has given him the special flare himself would notice his own flames and come to their aid soon enough.

 Chapter 22.2: Unravel

    ALAINA


    Despite being all choked up in smoke, anyone is able to see that beautiful ¨C but of a deadly warning ¨C flare, shooting high up in the sky from the bell tower not too far away, right where Lloyd should be.


    She''s worried about Lloyd, and also Lancaster who''s disappeared ¨C or is she the one who has gotten lost? ¨C but she has other things on her plate right now. Because there''s only so little room to squeeze in worries concerning them, as she''s stuck in a blur, where the tip of a sword from an unknown and unseen figure beyond the haze is pointed directly to her neck.


    Forced in this sudden, unexpected predicament, Alaina can''t seem to even think properly, as if the haze has crept into her mind and blocked her rationale and obscured her clear thinking.


    For as much as she knows with the blur scene that''s unfolding before her, there''s a wall behind her, keeping her from running in the opposite direction. She''d move, but the haze is making her uncertain ¨C who else is possibly with the man with the sword, backing him up? What good would that do her anyway, even if she somehow manages to duck away from the blade, as she''s only got so much as a dagger? And what of the haze that''s gradually creeping into her lungs, swallowing her whole?


    It''s much too risky to try and force her way out of the situation purely by brute force. She''ll have to devise a plan, critically, in this state that she at least still has a ground to stand on, one that she''s ''safe'' ¨C for now.


    A blurred, blinded battlefield is a dangerous one, Lancaster''s distant voice tells Alaina, as if he''s right there by her side, aiding her. You''d lose the fight before it even begun if your vision is stolen without you realising it. Sight is crucial.


    "Reveal yourself," Alaina says through the haze between them. "Or do you wish to be hidden among the haze like a coward?"


    The figure shifts a little; she sees it hesitate ever so slightly, uncertain of himself or taken aback by her sudden, firm comment. At this, she sees an opportunity, an opening. She lowers herself to be out of the blade''s threatening pierce, and in a swift motion, she sweeps a kick at roughly where the armed man should be standing, tackling him as her hand reaches for the dagger strapped to her thigh.


    With the clank of the sword blade and the thump of metal hitting the ground, she knows, confidently, she''s successful. Thinking fast, she grabs the sword from where it had fallen with her free hand and points it to the figure, who she now sees clearly...


    "General Trajan?"


    Alaina almost stumble backwards in surprise at the sight of him. Worse, too taken aback by the thought ¨C fact ¨C of him pointing the sword right at her neck seconds ago, her blood rushes, adrenaline rising in her veins. Her heart thumps fast, beating against her mind and ears as a surge of different emotions conquers over her sanity at once ¨C anger, hatred, fear, panic, resentment, confusion.


    Reluctant to allow the feelings to overtake her consciousness, she grips the sword tighter with it still firmly pointing towards the pitiful general. She opens her mouth, unsure even of what to say or what might come out of it, but before she is able to do so, Trajan speaks.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Oh, Alaina!" he says, shifting under her. From his actions alone, she can tell he''s finding a way to stand up and be out of the sword''s way. He breathes a sigh of relief. "I''m glad it''s you ¨C I had thought it is someone else, an enemy! Thank the Saints it''s you and the fact that you''re in better shape than ever... My, where and how did you learn or pick up such swift forms as a princess? This poison ¨C" he coughs at the word ¨C "here, hand me my sword. We have to make sure the others are fine and not overtaken by the enemy."


    Alaina stands firm, narrowing her eyes in pure hatred and suspicion. "Enemy?"


    "Yes. I believe this smoke ¨C or haze, call it whatever ¨C is created by the enemy. And they''re dangerous, from what it seems, I believe only someone like Kai has the capability ¨C or ability ¨C to do so."


    "The enemy? What do you mean by that?" She grips the sword even harder that her knuckles are turning paler and whiter with each passing second. She isn''t sure what to feel about the situation she''s in no longer. "And you''re saying this is Kai''s doing."


    Trajan shifts again, but that doesn''t make Alaina any less conscious or less guarded by her surroundings. Instead, she inches closer to him with the blade still pointing right at him, threatening him not to move with a glare.


    "Alaina ¨C your highness." Trajan backs away slightly, careful of the weapon before him. "Please, I''m not the enemy. We need to find the others and ¨C"


    "Who is this enemy you speak of?" Alaina says sharply, narrowing her eyes. "How did you know if there is one, in the first place?"


    She advances on him, the cold tip of the blade pressing on the skin of his neck. She gains confidence with each step she takes as the distance between them closes, as if she senses the fear of the great general transmitting from the tip of the blade to her own body, fuelling her blood in the form of an energy source or some sort.


    "And why did you call this haze a poison? Unless you know it yourself that it is ¨C because you are the one who set it up. You are the cause of this haze... no, poison. You are the source of this poison.


    "You don''t understand ¨C"


    "Yes, I do," Alaina snaps, cutting him short. "I am of a clear mind, despite this stupid haze, or poison. It does not ¨C and will not ¨C obscure my vision or my thinking."


    The general backs to the wall. Unable to find the words or even the courage as to speak further after seeing a side of the princess he''s never thought she has, Trajan stays silent and conflicted as he watches the sword close in on him. But despite his hopeless state, Trajan tries his best to maintain a stern and confident composure.


    However, despite having the upper hand ¨C though to what, she isn''t even sure, as she is uncertain what is to gain by pinning down the general ¨C Alaina is desperately trying to find serenity in her chaotic mind. Though she may seem calm and confident on the outside, she is deeply conflicted.


    Is Trajan really the enemy? She is no longer sure of herself. Trajan seems innocent now that he''s pinned to the wall, pressured under her ¨C she hasn''t even allowed him to speak, possibly to clarify. But that doesn''t change the fact that he is suspicious, with his actions since the beginning of the obscuring haze and his way of words. She can only hope she''s right, nailing him in place. But what if ¨C just what if ¨C she isn''t?


    The most important thing is the fact that she has never actually handled a sword before. Is she even capable of executing it, with her trembling little fingers?


    Alaina wills herself not to go by her emotions. Feelings only get in the way; she''ll have to trust her rationale, her critical analysis and her reasonable judgement.


    "And one more thing." She raises the sword. "Kai''s fire is nothing of this sort; unlike this pitiful haze, his fire is much more beautiful."

 Chapter 22.3: Unravel

    ALAINA


    But even before Alaina herself has the opportunity to reconsider her decision or rethink about the probable consequences of her actions, her own heart allows herself to falter in her confidence and her firmness.


    At the very final second, the tip of the blade just a fraction of a millimetre away from Trajan''s chest, it freezes.


    Alaina can''t bring herself to do so; she isn''t even in any position to. She hasn''t got the experience or, frankly, the skills.


    The general seems to notice this, too. He seizes the opportunity, but not to attack like what Alaina had thought he would ¨C on instinct, she clumsily swings the blade and it cuts the general''s arm ¨C and instead Trajan only shifts slightly in an attempt to get out of harm''s way, waiting patiently for her to let her guard down.


    "Alaina, please calm yourself. I am not the enemy," Trajan says yet again.


    But she isn''t listening. She refuses to listen. Yet she knows very well that if she starts a fight, she will lose, if somehow Trajan is the enemy ¨C but his actions show otherwise, at least for now. He is not hostile.


    She''ll have to do this slowly. She must set the rules of a game that''s not won by strength, but by other qualities that she overpowers the general with. And that is of no problem to her, since she holds the power to set the board, to set the pieces. After all, Alaina is the one with the key to victory, the winning piece ¨C she''s the one holding the weapon; on the other hand, the enemy is weapon-less ¨C he is as good as dead whenever she deems it, in one single conclusive move.


    She takes a careful step back, but still holds on to the sword defensively, her other hand faintly checking if her dagger is still safely strapped to her thigh. Her actions, through unsaid words, are willing the general to take a stance ¨C she is testing him, his loyalty.


    The general sees the freedom before him, and stands, slowly but steadily. Trajan carefully maintains a distance between them, knowing the weapon is still in her hands, that she has the upper hand despite not being a fighter.


    "Alaina." Trajan dusts his armour. "Shall we? We should get going, to inspect the situation outside. Although the haze managed the creep into this room, it does nothing except to irritate our sense of smell and spark coughs. However, I am worried about the people outside ¨C the rebellion. The installation ceremony seems to be interrupted by this sudden occurrence as well since there seems to be no sound, and because of that, I am worried. I do not quite comprehend what is going on, and I would like to see for myself."


    Alaina analyses the general. If he''s lying, he''s good, because there simply isn''t any possible way to tell if he is. Or, he might just be telling the truth. But there''s a part of her that doesn''t want to believe him no longer. And she maintains her resolve, because she is once told to never let her decisions falter. But with her stubbornness, even if she isn''t advised so, she never ever lets her resolve dissolve into nothingness.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    There is a reason a decision is made in the first place, never doubt it.


    "That would be wise," she muses pretentiously. "Move along, then. What are you waiting for? Please, I am sure the great general is not all talk but of no actions?"


    She is much unsure, but she can almost swear she sees Trajan flinch.


    "My sword, your highness." Trajan composes himself back into the great man he''s known to be, brushing off the cut from his very own sword like it''s nothing. "I''ll be needing a weapon."


    "And I do not?" Alaina insists.


    "Your dagger ¨C"


    "Besides," she cuts him off, "you have not proven yourself worthy of my trust after what you just did to me moments ago."


    Alaina stares into the general''s conflicted, confused eyes, searching for a hint of darkness. Her eyes trace him, moving to his fists, that clench and unclench from time to time. Yet whatever she''s searching for, is not found. She finds nothing.


    "I shall hold on to this."


    "Very well." Sighing, Trajan turns to where the haze is most accumulated ¨C the centre of the podium. "We need to check on the rebellion."


    "You go ahead." Alaina turns to the opposite direction, facing the bell tower that''s hardly visible not too far away. "I''m worried about Lloyd."


    And without a care of the general''s protests, she sprints in the direction of the bell tower, her mind racing at the same time, wondering why the haze isn''t at all harmful despite Trajan labelling it a ''poison''.


    *****


    LANCASTER


    The bodies falling to the ground isn''t the only thing that''s bothersome, because immediately as Lancaster and Clyde both step out of the small back room and into the open podium area, their lungs feel as if they''re collapsing and shrinking in on itself, like a blackhole swallowing them internally.


    Lancaster can hardly think as he coughs hysterically, but he understands just enough to yank Clyde hardly by his arm so that the both of them are back into the room they were once in, the room where, although they indeed had difficulty in breathing and seeing clearly, is obviously safer than the open air exposed to the mass haze outside.


    After minutes of struggling for air on the ground, Lancaster manages to say, "I have no idea why, but the air seems to be deadly outside."


    "That''s why... The people are falling to the ground..." pants Clyde, still breathing heavily, trying to breathe in the air around them, however hazy yet at least safer than what''s waiting for them outside. A horrid thought strikes the both of them. "You don''t think they''re... dead?"


    Lancaster tightens his fist around the hilt of his sword. "I have to seek out her highness."


    "Where could she be? In fact, Trajan..."


    "This room is not too small. It is only this filthy haze that is obscuring our vision. Please search for Trajan."


    "What ¨C" Clyde pauses, but understands very soon. He trusts that Lancaster has a plan of his own. "And what about you?"


    Lancaster tilts his head to the direction of the bell tower, where Lloyd has just set out the flare one cannot simply miss, even Kai and Rose beyond the kingdom ¨C after all, it is made by Kai''s own flames.


    Despite his boastful arrogance and irritable behaviour from time to time, Lloyd isn''t someone who might do something without thinking of the outcomes. He must have set out the flare for a reason, calling out for help.


    If that is the case, Lancaster is certain of two things: one, that he is in some kind of trouble, and he is signalling for help; and two, that Lloyd isn''t the only person he''ll be seeing there ¨C for Alaina, even Kai and Rose, would definitely head there immediately, after acknowledging the signal flare.


    "I know exactly where she will be."

 Chapter 23.1: Cataclysm

    ROSE


    He halts abruptly upon seeing the flare, recognising it immediately.


    Rose knocks into him, because he''s been pulling her along as they run, with her barely keeping up and struggling to keep her footing as she''s simply being dragged as he sprints away from the creepy bunch.


    "Ouch!" she yells, frustrated, rubbing her head frantically where she bumped into Kai, who is standing as still as a statue before her, not moving a single muscle. "You gripped me so hard I can''t even ¨C"


    She gasps when she, too, notices the flare as she is just about to attempt to glare at Kai and yell at him for his actions.


    "Lloyd."


    Just as the word barely escapes the tip of her mouth, Rose feels a familiar drop in temperature, and the moment she does so, she''s glad she makes the right decision upon instinct to yank Kai with her downwards towards the ground, ducking several icicles shooting from behind them.


    "They''re back." Rose nudges Kai hardly. "Snap out of it!"


    "We have to get back."


    "Obviously! But we wouldn''t even survive this phase if you don''t help me out with yourself!"


    Finally tearing his eyes away from the Kingdom of Theia, Kai looks at Rose in the eye. "What do you do to get rid of these people?" He remains on the ground, as if that is keeping them safe, as if it shelters them without a roof or barrier. Yet they both know they are near, approaching, and dangerous. The two of them, however special, are no match for a bunch of them ¨C they''re clearly outnumbered.


    "You don''t," she replies, still on the ground, feeling the thundering footsteps of the weird bunch vibrating in the ground, as if she''s a part of it, as if she''s part of the entire earth surface. Rose takes a deep breath, and places both her palms flatly on the grassy ground and closes her eyes as she begins to glow green.


    "What ¨C"


    The ground rumbles violently, and a huge quake appears before them, right before the odd teens. The crack is seemingly infinitely deep and wide, and it grows wider as if it''s alive, creating a crater in the open space probably even visible high above in the air. It grows and expands like a monster''s mouth, swallowing the threatening bunch, who are all taken by surprise. Even if some of them narrowly escaped, they are trapped on the other end of the crater, unable to proceed any further. They''re safe.


    At least, for now, considering they have no other tricks up their sleeves.


    When Rose is satisfied, she stands up confidently, dusting her hands of fresh ground dirt. Kai stares at her unbelievingly, and she crosses her arms. "Anytime you care to join me, Flamey?" She offers her hand to the stunned Kai, who is clearly still very dazed and on the ground.


    He takes it with his only gloved hand left, eventually finding his footing and standing up. Shrugging, he says, "Well, you sure hit the best of it already."


    "I''m not the best at everything, and perhaps not even at all, in fact, anything. There''s always someone who''s better, more prominent. But I''ll take my best shot at everything I''m able to get my hands on."


    Kai allows those words to sink in. Slowly, he smiles gently. "However things go and whatever you think, you''ll still be the best among the both of us, no doubt about it," he reassures her.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Rose returns the smile. "Shall we? I feel like our friends need us."


    But before Kai can answer, he spots something else that lures him into a daze once again. Following his gaze, Rose''s eyes come to something horrible her hand flies to her mouth. She doesn''t realise up until she turns around that after running a certain distance desperately trying to lose the other teens, they''re now already only a few feet away from the grand gates of Theia. But that isn''t the worst thing.


    The Kingdom of Theia is no longer merely clouded with a thick, dense black haze ¨C in fact, now that they''re closer, Rose realises the haze may not actually be black; it seems more translucent up close, which she finds strange. Great flames erupt from the very centre of the kingdom, the smoke adding to the haze, as what seems like cataclysm befalls the kingdom as its fate.


    But amidst the chaos, one thing is visible ¨C a giant red banner with a vague image of a Pegasus falling out of nowhere, eventually meeting its doom, too, along with the kingdom gradually as all of them burn to the ground into ashes.


    <figure>


    </figure>


    ALAINA


    She shouldn''t have noticed it, but the haze falling upon her and affecting her physically now that she''s outdoors is slowing her down.


    When she is tearing through the podium, that''s when she sees it: the great red banner with the Pegasus; and that''s when it hits her: that it''s oddly familiar, and it''s from her dreams.


    The flames from the large torches on either end of the podium where the giant titan statue still stands amidst the blur are still alive, dancing in their holds. Alaina can see the flames well ¨C the only things that are burning brightly and clearly in the haze.


    But those aren''t the only things she sees, for other than the falling bodies she passes as the haze also gradually dethrones her lungs, there is a lone black figure by one of the lit torches. It stands tall, proudly, and calmly, as if watching or observing the horrid scene before him like it doesn''t faze him at all, like he''s expecting it to happen. Staying on the side-lines so casually as catastrophe befalls like a mere bystander, it is as if he''s only waiting for it all to end, eagerly awaiting the end product of this chaos.


    Alaina finds it preposterous, and she clenches her fists. She ignores her collapsing lungs and tries to hold her breath as best she can in her best bet of surviving the haze, as she begins marching up to the figure. But just before she is about to confront the man and probably slap him hard, her rationale is restored, and she halts.


    It''s dangerous. She daren''t make a move.


    But before she can turn her heels and start sprinting for the bell tower ¨C half to find Lloyd and half to escape this deadening haze now ¨C a cold voice bellows, "Asteria shall be reborn! The kingdoms shall all burn, starting from Theia!"


    When she snaps her head to the source, she finds the figure finally moving. The next thing she knows, the giant titan statue, the pride of the Kingdom of Theia, is crumbling into pieces. It no longer stands as proudly, as it joins the fate of the people on the ground ¨C what was once so great and almighty is no longer anything but bits and pieces of disposable waste. The worst thing is, Alaina hasn''t a clue how it suddenly crumbles out of nothing, just as how the haze rose to its place over the entire kingdom now, all of them sudden but deadly ¨C all it takes is one simple strike.


    She knows she''ll share similar fates as the people slowly dying off and the statue crumbling to ashes soon, because even if the haze doesn''t swallow her, the figure may very well destroy her and squash her to bits just like what he did to the statue, if he was the one behind it all.


    Yet right at that moment, her eyes are not fixed on the figure or the bell tower where she should be. Instead, they are fixed on the giant red banner with the Pegasus right above the pieces of the crumbled statue, near the figure.


    Something takes over her, like she''s possessed ¨C she moves towards it without even thinking twice and without even remembering willing herself to. All she knows is that she has to do it, like it''s meant to be.


    Weirdly enough, the figure doesn''t seem to notice her, but then again Alaina knows it''s because of the haze, clouding even the mastermind himself. But what she''s about to do, even the haze can''t shroud her no longer.


    Without hesitation even in her execution of movements, she rips off the red banner, and with all her strength, she sets it free in the air for a moment or two, before cruelly setting it on fire with one of the giant torches'' flames, burning it whole.

 Chapter 23.2: Cataclysm

    LLOYD


    He watches in horror as the statue goes crumbling down, as the great red banner comes falling to the fire and burning into pieces.


    As catastrophe spreads, all these scenarios make him question what is truly going on. The red banner should have been part of the installation ceremony; could it be that someone of their side is taking it down? If so, are they in trouble, considering they are so near to the podium where the guards should be?


    Hesitation is at its peak within Lloyd this day, this very moment, something he has never once experience, much less bother to consider about the problems it might bring.


    Yet there he is, standing in the bell tower, watching helplessly as chaos takes its place upon the place he calls home.


    Lloyd glances nervously to Trevor, who he has shoved in the corner and threatened with his own smarts: claiming he has a bomb that will destroy them both once he pulls it out of his pocket. He can only rely on Trevor''s naivety and gullibility to delay time.


    Seeming to catch his eyes, Trevor chuckles. "I told you: the beginning is only the end."


    Eyes narrowing, Lloyd is careful to keep his hand in his pocket as a pretence to his lie. "What are you supposed to be, a spy?"


    "Whatever and however you wish to think it. I was supposed to guard you ¨C you''re really sharp. Didn''t you suspect Trajan, anyway? Well, I suspect you."


    "Did you not say earlier that my intelligence wasn''t in any way great to what you fathom of? And suspect, you say? What in Asteria are you trying to get at?"


    There''s an insignificant, yet undeniable little movement from Trevor. Lloyd makes sure he is still at least five feet away from him just in case he decides to somehow attempt anything funny, and double checks with a quick reassurance of his own senses that his hand is still at it, faking a scene.


    "You''re damn right to suspect Trajan," Trevor admits, grinning. "He''s the mastermind of all of this." Upon seeing Lloyd''s horror-struck expression, he adds, "What, didn''t expect a loyal general could''ve ¨C with his very own hands that he''s sworn to use to solely protect the seven kingdoms ¨C be the cold-blooded murderer himself, to be the traitor of his own kingdom, his own people? People are so na?ve to trust an oath made by knights, where it''s merely based on plain o'' words. You are all predisposed into thinking that you''ll be living a life of peace and protection under the seven kingdoms system, but that is nothing but an illusion, a lie."


    Lloyd is unable to think of what made Trevor think that way, and worst of all, is unable to imagine the general being a threat, an enemy. Sure, he''s had his suspicions, but only to the extent of him hiding something ¨C especially after the incident with Kai ¨C and never as something so far as to lead an entire group of desperate, innocent rebels into a trap set by him all along only to destroy any potential threats or to ensure the absolute rule of an empire.


    But the puzzle pieces all fit: the fact that he was behind Kai''s attack, and the way he insisted Kai to tell him anything he remembers afterwards, for he must''ve overheard or oversaw something Trajan was hiding and plotting. And what of his insistence to send Rose and Kai outside? To protect them is nothing but a cover up; he wants them out of the way.


    "Trajan sent Rose and Kai away to make sure they don''t interfere because of their gifts, is that right?" Lloyd asks through gritted teeth.


    Trevor looks amused at his reaction, as if enjoying this despite his ''dangerous'' position. "Those two have a surprise coming their way."Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "You ¨C"


    "Lloyd!"


    Unable to question further due to the sudden mention of his name from below, Lloyd turns around instinctively to the source of pleasant interruption, recognising the voice immediately.


    But the moment he does so, he regrets his irrational actions in this situation however desperate: in the event he turns to look out of the giant arch opening of the bell tower in search for his saviour, he has released his hand from his pocket hence unfolding his charade; what more is the fact that he is putting himself in a unimaginably dangerous position where his back is to the enemy.


    And before he can even begin to place himself in deep regret for the already obvious consequences of his foolish actions, he is hit by a force so strong it sends him tumbling off the arch opening and falling from the high bell tower.


    <figure>


    </figure>


    LANCASTER


    Lancaster is desperately waiting for Lloyd to answer when his head pops out from where he rightfully should be, only, not in the way he''s expected ¨C his entire body follows, and he falls from the arch opening of the tall and old bell tower, right towards Lancaster.


    He hasn''t got the time to feel surprised, because all he knows is that Lloyd will plummet to the ground if he doesn''t do anything soon. But there really is nothing he can do except... attempt to catch him to break his fall.


    And he does.


    He seizes Lloyd seconds before he hits the ground, and they both tumble on the ground, dust and dirt covering them, the harsh surface of the ground scraping their skins as they finally come to a halt, panting. Their little victory is almost immediately interrupted by the haze once again as it invades Lloyd, and Lancaster hands him a piece of cloth he''s taken from scattered, tattered flags on his way here hurriedly.


    "Hurry. Cover up."


    "Where did you get this?" Lloyd looks at the ugly, distorted piece of cloth in disgust, but takes it anyway as his lungs begin to feel threatened; Lancaster himself has one on his own, anyway. "By the way, nice catch," he praises with a confident look he always wears, as if complimenting himself.


    Lancaster returns a disgusted look. "That is the first, and the last. I am never catching you or picking up after you ever again; pull yourself together. Where is her highness?"


    "Her highness? But... she''s not here."


    "What?" Lancaster scans around, a haze of his own clouding his thinking. "Then where could she be?"


    "And Rose. Kai. They''re... I think they''re in trouble. Trevor, he ¨C"


    "What''s up with this haze?" Kai''s familiar voice calls, coughing. Lancaster turns to find both Kai and Rose running their way, all in one piece. He breathes a sigh of relief.


    "It''s dangerous. Put these over your nose and mouth." He hands them similar pieces of cloth like the one he has given Lloyd. "I do not know what or who did this, and not even what this is, but..."


    Rose''s eyes widen, as if she is suddenly struck with an idea of a whole new invention that could possibly save poverty and end all violence, and she puts the cloth on without complaining, unlike Lloyd. But that isn''t the reason why Lancaster has trailed off. It''s because he sees it in her eyes: that she is struck by realization.


    "The Opuxes," she whispers. "It''s the poison from them, in mass amount!"


    "Told you I didn''t steal it," Kai comments immediately, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. He sends an accusing, piercing glare to Rose. "Who''s the idiot who lost her own items?"


    "Not now, Kai," Lancaster snaps. He turns to Rose. "Are you certain?"


    She nods, confident. "Look, it''s quite translucent up close, if you see through it properly!"


    True, indeed. Lancaster has noticed the translucence of this odd substance in the air. And if Rose''s predictions are right...


    "Someone is a rat," Kai voices out Lancaster''s thoughts.


    "Trevor. And..." All eyes move to Lloyd. He sighs. "Trajan. Trevor told me everything. He''s an idiot. But I still cannot seem to wrap my mind around the idea of Trajan, the Great General, to be the mastermind of all this."


    Kai seems pleased with the idea of Trajan being a traitor ¨C he never liked the general to begin with. "I knew Trajan''s no good." He slams one of his fists into his other palm, and fire sparks from his skin, burning through his gloves slightly. "Where is he? No, wait..." he trails off, his eyes scanning around, confused.


    Realising the problem for the first time, he eventually asks, "Where is Alaina?"

 Chapter 24.1: Brink of Tomorrow

    KAI


    "We have to leave immediately," Lloyd says. "It''s so much more than a simple rebellion ¨C it wasn''t one to begin with. General Trajan, Trevor... I am not even sure of how many more. But one thing''s certain, and that it''s a trap." He seeks out the grand gates among the haze of blur not too far away from where they are, and points it out. "There. That''s our escape. Perhaps we can get out of here safe and sound without anyone realising we''re not among the crowd. We can still make it. Once we''re out, it''s nothing but the wild beyond. Even if they do send reinforcements ¨C I have a feeling Trevor is about to reunite with Trajan soon enough ¨C they will be unable to catch up."


    "But what about Alaina?" Rose asks, worried about her friend.


    "I''ll go look for her, then," Lloyd says. "You can go on ahead first ¨C"


    "No!" she protests. "If you''re going to do it, we all are."


    Her eyes start to water, and Kai can see that Lloyd is struggling internally to find some way to comfort her. But he sees that Lloyd himself, too, is conflicted and much too uncertain now to reach out to someone else. How can one who is unable to bear the weight of the world himself shoulder someone else''s? Kai understands this, he understands Lloyd completely. He''s shaking, he''s confused; he only wants to be at his best, to quickly devise a plan for them all to be safe despite his world breaking down. Lloyd is struggling to stay strong. They all are.


    Rose starts to sob. Kai pulls Lloyd''s hand and puts it on her shoulder as an act of reassuring them both.


    "What Alaina said, remember?" Rose''s voice cracks. The words that come out of her mouth are muffled with her own sobs. "What she said before..."


    "If we fall, we fall together," Kai offers. "That''s what she said."


    "Yes," Lancaster agrees, speaking for the first time. "You cannot, and should not do this alone, Lloyd."


    Kai notices Lancaster''s eyes are distant, seeming to search for something. He gets his answer before he can even voice out his question.


    "I need to look for Clyde, too, other than her highness. If what Trevor said is true, then Trajan is an enemy. And Clyde went looking for him. He might be in danger."


    "What shall we do?" Lloyd asks, which surprises Kai, because he is usually the one with the most ideas and strategies. "If you know where he is, Lancaster, you should go. I think I should stand by here, to keep our escape route safe and clear for us to leave. If you find Clyde, I think you might find her highness as well. She should be nearby, she can''t have gotten far."


    "No," Kai intercepts. His eyes fixes on the centre of the kingdom, where the podium is. Where the red banner with the flying Pegasus should be, before it disintegrated into ashes after falling and burning down. He points over. "Is that where the giant red banner once was?"


    "Yes," Lancaster says. "But why ¨C"


    "That''s where she is. Alaina."


    "Are you certain?" Lloyd asks, still comforting Rose, but he seems to be much more confident now.


    "She told me about something like that in her dreams," Kai replies, certain. "I am sure. I''ll go."


    "And I shall go with you to look for Clyde," Lancaster adds without complains, questions or a hint of doubt.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Kai realises he seems to trust him more and more recently, although gradually, especially when it''s concerning Alaina. But it''s the same for him, too, he realises. When he''s around this strange but fun group of friends he''s made and come to trust eventually after going through thick and thin, he''s much more relaxed. He''s more of himself lately, able to let his guard down. Kai has never felt so in years.


    "We should hurry."


    <figure>


    </figure>


    ALAINA


    Alaina grips her head hard, crouching over the ground. All she wishes is for the endless ringing to stop in her ears, the insane, unbearable resonation to cease within her mind. It''s an infinite wave of chaos washing upon her, and she is in no power to stop the splitting headache that started out of nowhere after she''s set the banner on flames.


    Her vision blurs. A scene that isn''t what her eyes are meeting comes into mind ¨C and she is the only one who''s witnessing it. What she sees is no longer what''s left of the Kingdom of Theia, and instead ruins ¨C something similar, with all the destruction, but it is undeniably elsewhere.


    A destruction that''s far worse than where she''s standing right now.


    She sees a figure, a dark shadow. Something that''s oddly familiar, like the one she saw looming over the podium seconds before her body moves on her own without her consent, motoring her to tear down the banner and burn it to ashes.


    The entire figure is pitch black, no different from a shadow, and all he has for eyes is two black circles darker and much more mysterious than even his very dark shadowy form.


    His eyes stare straight at her, and Alaina feels like she''s tearing apart just through that glare and those eyes alone. Those demanding, malicious eyes that you are unable to simply look into and just ignore ¨C she knows she''s seen it somewhere before... or at least, if not, she''s sure she''s seen someone who gives out a similar aura before. Perhaps it is the figure amidst the haze, around the podium.


    The figure reveals his mouth ¨C white, empty, and see-through as he spreads it into an evil grin. The sight of it is too much for Alaina to handle, and so with a shiver, she forces her eyes shut in hopes of blinking away the scene.


    It changes, but only to bring her to an entirely different one. She''s still not back to reality.


    This time, she watches as the strong inner pillars of a lit throne room shake violently, eventually crumbling and giving out under the grand ceilings, and the world comes crashing down along with the sparkling chandeliers and all the beautiful designs painted on the infinite ceilings above.


    In her vision, she is on her knees, desperately trying to shield herself from the catastrophe. Beyond her, there''s that looming dark figure again, laughing hysterically, with seven other unknown figures bowing down at his feet and fatedly being crushed right before Alaina, cowering in fear of the malice of the deep voice alone as they embrace the crumbling ceilings and walls.


    Behind all the unknown, she sees one thing clearly: one of the figure turns towards her, exposing a familiar face.


    Alastair Rowell, the King of Theia. Her father. He smiles at her at the very last second, before disappearing forever in the chaos.


    She hears herself scream, feels her own tears. She is unable to distinguish reality from a dream or an incoherent vision or some sort no longer.


    She wants to wake up from this misery. Even the catastrophic scene of her beloved Kingdom of Theia can free her from such a torture. The least bad of two horrible options seems like heaven as of now.


    Something shakes her. First, a gentle touch on her shoulder. Then a warm touch on her face, cupping her cheeks. And finally, a voice.


    "Alaina!"


    A warm, burning touch.


    With a shivering gasp, she snaps out of it. Blinking hard, she is back to reality. Alaina finds herself in an indecipherable pitiful state: collapsed in on herself with tears soaking her face and her hair all messed up, on the ground with tattered and soot-covered clothes. But she isn''t exactly on the ground.


    Someone is holding her gently on his arms and his knees.


    She lifts her head up slowly and finds glowing amber eyes.


    That familiar warm, burning touch that managed to pull her back out ¨C Kai.


    "Alaina," he begins, "it''s dangerous here. We have to go. Can you walk?"


    Slowly but shakily, Alaina stands up with the help of Kai. He allows her to lean on him carefully, without directly touching any part of his exposed skin. She lets him lead her very slowly to what she believes is the direction of the bell tower and eventually the main gates of Theia.


    She isn''t exactly sure what is going on, but she understands the situation enough to know that they have to get out of here.

 Chapter 24.2: Brink of Tomorrow

    LANCASTER


    He finds Clyde breathing hard at the feet of the general. Despite being told the truth about him, he still can''t seem to bring himself to the idea of the general being a traitor.


    When Trajan is about to strike a final blow to his friend using Clyde''s sword (which Lancaster wonders why), Lancaster intercepts the blade in the general''s hand with his own. It is a loud, ringing clatter of a clash of swords.


    The general flinches at the unexpected counterattack, almost giving way. If he is only a regular enemy, Lancaster would''ve been long successful in knocking his sword aside. But he maintains his firm stance, much more shocked to find Lancaster''s intense glare compared to his sudden appearance.


    "General," Lancaster says mockingly, "I see that you are fine."


    "So are you," Trajan shoots back, unpleased with the mockery. He presses on, but they are both of equal strength, and neither is overpowering the other nor showing a sign of backing down. "Give it up, Lancaster. You cannot win this battle. Not with all these people dead, anyway ¨C not like they''re of any use to you to begin with, they''re merely civilians. Hopeless, useless civilians who serve only as extras."


    Lancaster nearly gives way at the general''s cruelty. He''s never believed someone like him would wear a mask so thick. He understands, at that very moment, that there is never a real way of revealing what''s under the invisible mask everyone is wearing. Truth is subjective; people are mysterious figures.


    "Join me." Once he''s said so, Trajan slides his blade softly off Lancaster''s and retreats. "I mean no harm to you, or to anyone who is a potential key to the rising empire. We need all the elites we can gather."


    Lancaster keeps his distance, but sees the opportunity when the general retreated: Clyde is no longer in harm''s way. He takes a step forward, ensuring Clyde is safely behind him. He doesn''t take the risk of adverting his eyes to check his injuries ¨C he doesn''t need to, anyway, to know it''s not too fatal. Clyde is still breathing, although heavily, against his boots.


    "And what of the people you have just killed mercilessly simply to realise your ideals? Selfish ones, I may add." Lancaster points the tip of his sword to Trajan, who doesn''t flinch. "I do not know of your intentions or your motives. I do not understand what you strive to achieve with the empire, with these much people dead merely because they wanted to fight for their own freedom, their own beliefs. But I do know one thing: that I cannot, and will not, work alongside someone who betrays his own kind."


    Trajan laughs. Lancaster finds it utterly despicable for one to not only already having executed murder towards innocent people and yet to have completely no shame about it, but still stands laughing without a care. What more, Trajan is a general. He is supposed to protect people, not in any way allow a single harm to arrive at their doorsteps, much less kill them himself.


    Shaking his head, Trajan says, "Lancaster. Think about it. You can bring so much to the empire."


    "Right you are," Lancaster agrees, bringing the general''s attention back from laughing. "At least, I can bring peace and order; what can you? Destruction? War? Do not be too full of yourself. Be it a kingdom or an empire, whoever the ruler, if it is someone like you, it is a failed policy."


    Before the general can react, Lancaster tosses a small dagger out of nowhere, scratching past Trajan''s cheek. And in a swift movement, he heaves Clyde up and puts one of his arms around him in order to balance his movements, taking off at once before Trajan can come to his senses.


    "Can you walk?"


    "Yes," Clyde mutters.


    They move as fast as they can. Lancaster wonders why Trajan hasn''t caught up yet, and the fact that he did not really put up much of a fight despite knowing full well he''s got the upper hand. Instead, it''s as if he lets them go on purpose.


    But since it''s the best for their situation, all he has in mind now is to get out of here as quickly as possible. He wraps a cloth around Clyde''s nose and mouth to prevent the poison from seeping in.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Not too far, he sees the backs of two familiar figures: Alaina and Kai. He breathes a sigh of relief, knowing they are fine and are just heading towards the main gates of Theia just like himself.


    But Lancaster''s moment of relief and joy ¨C if any ¨C perishes into nothing within a second, like how the rivers dry so fast in drought. As he is trudging to catch up with the other two, he hears loud thumping ¨C no, loud marching. Thundering footsteps and clanks of armours. The little clinks of metal ¨C weapons.


    He speeds up. Whatever that''s catching up, it''s obviously bad news. He can tell by experience it''s a huge crowd of armoured soldiers. And form his guess, it is probably Trajan''s army or reinforcements.


    "Your highness! Kai!" he yells as he nears them. "We have to hurry!"


    When his eyes meet Kai''s, he knows the other is aware and alert, too.


    Kai grits his teeth as he shakes Alaina slightly but urgently. "That doesn''t sound good."


    <figure>


    </figure>


    ALAINA


    She is conscious enough to be able to tell between the sky and the ground now.


    When she draws her next deep breath below a cloth Kai gave her, her vision steadies.


    After being shaken by Kai, it''s as if the urgency in his message transferred to her own body, and adrenaline rushes through her veins as her heart skips a few beats.


    Alaina can hear the thundering footsteps and the clank of armouries and weapons drawing near. Kai pulls her forward and they break into a run with Lancaster and Clyde slowly catching up not far behind.


    When they reach the main gates of the Kingdom of Theia, she spots Lloyd and Rose, who both beam at the sight of them.


    "Alaina!" Rose calls.


    "Hurry now, we can ¨C"


    Arrows intercept the distance between them, cutting Lloyd short as the attack takes him by surprise, narrowly missing him if it wasn''t for Rose who yanked him back. Before the two of them can react any faster, more arrows showered around them, this time barricading most of the gates'' entrance.


    Alaina is relieved when the two of them steps out unharmed, all thanks to Rose''s nature barrier. But it isn''t time for any of them to celebrate.


    Now they''re trapped; even if they try to dig their way out, it is only an act of inviting the archers for a clear shot.


    At least, that''s what she thinks. The next thing she knows, flames erupt before her, burning most of the arrows and clearing a path of shattered remains of the arrows.


    "Go, hurry!" Kai yells.


    Lloyd and Rose quickly help Clyde over while Lancaster stands in defence of the approaching forces ¨C they can see them now: soldiers, many of them, just like the ones lining up on the podium earlier, all in armour and helmets that seem to act like protective masks to shield them from the haze. All of them armed.


    Alaina glances back to see Lloyd and Rose slowly bringing Clyde towards the main gates. An arrow whistles past her when she does so, striking through some of her hair. The forces charge, and Kai summons a wall of flames before them.


    Just when Alaina thinks they''re safe to turn and run, more arrows shoot towards them, all in different directions as if being fired blindly. And the next thing she knows, weapons come flying at them.


    So aggressive, so desperate.


    On instinct, she grabs both Kai and Lancaster by their arms and turn to run. But Lancaster is stuck fighting off a soldier that somehow found his way through Kai''s flames, and as he fends the soldier off, more soldiers round up the corner.


    "There are too many," Kai says, trying to block off some to his left. He glances over to Lancaster, who nods.


    Before any of them can say anything, Alaina interjects, "No. I''m not leaving without any of you, if that''s what you''re thinking."


    "But ¨C"


    "No!"


    Kai''s gloveless hand brushes her cheek briefly through her hair, as if reassuring her, before he pushes her forward harshly. "Just go!"


    Her body feels warm and so does her cheeks, but she knows it''s not because of Kai''s heat or his flames. She''s burning up inside. Alaina fights to hold back her tears.


    "If we want to win this war, we will have to fight another day," Lancaster says, backing up to Kai as more soldiers start to surround them. Where Alaina stands, she is safe, but not for long if she doesn''t comply. "Some of us may have to lose this battle. Survive, your highness."


    For a decisive moment, the world stops. Alaina''s body shivers unnaturally as she watches in horror the scene that''s unfolding before her: Kai and Lancaster, back to back, as they are about to be surrounded by approaching forces.


    They move slowly in her eyes as she makes up her mind.


    And for once, she lets go of her stubbornness.


    "I''ll be back," she promises, before turning around and sprinting for the main gates, trying to catch up with Lloyd, Rose and Clyde.


    Alaina isn''t sure how she made it so fast to the main gates, but it is just what she needs anyway. And since she has her mind too clouded with a mixture of emotions to understand the full event of what''s going on, she feels as though she is leaving a part of her behind in the dust she creates as she runs.


    As soon as she steps safely out of her own kingdom, she catches more speed, running as fast as she can, away from this catastrophe she is silently wishing only to be a nightmare she''ll wake up from anytime soon.


    She doesn''t look back, for she fears she hasn''t a heart to see what she is leaving behind.