Chapter Forty-One
_The Child Who Did Not Fear
* * *
The darkness was intense; even though I opened my eyes, I could not see my hands. I tried to rise, but my body felt heavy. The floor was somewhat cold, yet it was clean and polished—I could tell simply by touch. All I remember is two strange men approaching me, and then darkness fell...
"Have you awakened, Your Highness?!"
It was a non-human voice, but I felt no evil from it... Before I stood up, I felt something grasping my hand. I knew it was a gesture to help me up, so I took hold of the strange claw and stood...
Then, all the lights in the room—or more accurately, in a large prayer hall—were lit. It was clear that this entity had a connection to the Temple. When I finally turned toward him, I saw his face... He looked very gentle compared to his size, which was twice mine. I smiled foolishly, so he snorted with a frown and said...
"I can read your thoughts, so do not look at me that way..."
I pouted at him. I cannot deny that I am weak against cute things, even if they are many times my size. I said with a playful smile:
"Would you allow me to touch your cheeks?!"
The entity looked at me in shock and said, appearing slightly annoyed... I saw the redness of his ears from behind his red and golden-colored hair..
"You do not know my name, yet you try to toy with me..."
"I do not mean that; you are truly cute... but what is your name?!"
It was strange to see him as cute when he was a monster, but I felt nothing but that he was gentle and looked beautiful. I looked at him as if asking for an answer, so he turned away shyly and said:
"Logan Aria..."
'He has a beautiful name.'
"Your name is very beautiful... Now I know why you look so truly gentle.."
At this, Logan let out a long laugh. I knew he was mocking me, but I know that I am more honest than I should be...
"No one in this Empire knows my name except for a few, because I have never been looked upon as a gentle person. Is this because you are a reincarnated soul?!"
"Do you know about that?!"
"I know about every person who enters this Temple: their past, their present, and the timelines they have crossed... Ariana Silas... the owner of the four paths... or let us say, the three..."
At that moment, I felt the blood freeze in my veins... The paths... I have only lived two lives; what is he saying?!
* * *
"How did all of this happen?! Someone answer me now... How did she disappear?!"
The servants were kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly—not because the man before them would kill them, but because of the strangeness of their lady's disappearance..
"Your Majesty, we have searched every nook and corner and have not found Her Majesty.."
It was Marshal who spoke, lowering his head. Everyone was in a state of complete bewilderment. How did the future Empress disappear under the heavy guard surrounding the palace? There was no way to kidnap her or even for her to escape if she had wanted to... because their future Empress clearly had a beautiful relationship with their Emperor; it was clear they were a very understanding couple...
Raphael tightened his fist fiercely. He was worried about Ariana; she was not reckless enough to go out without permission, given the current situation...
Raphael sighed and pulled his hair back violently, looking at the gardener who had been around Ariana at the time of her disappearance. He was crying while sitting on the ground, so no word could be taken from him..
Casper, who was standing beside Raphael, saw his master, sighed, and said:
"Shall I do something, Your Majesty?!"
"You may... Casper.."
Casper took a deep breath, approached the old gardener, and said calmly:
"Mr. Dave, do you remember what happened at that time?!..."
The gardener shook his head through his tears, but Casper did not force him to speak. Instead, he placed his hand on his head and began to pull his memories out gently, then left the gardener...
"Your Majesty... do you permit me?!"
"You have it."
As soon as Casper took the Emperor's permission, he approached him and touched his forehead with his fingertips, murmuring with a sigh..
"I hate using this..."
It was one of Casper's magical skills, and he hated using it because he felt that memories were something precious that no one had the right to touch. However, their Empress was in danger, and delay was not in their favor...
Memories exploded in Raphael's head... the memories were flowing from the gardener's eyes...
[ Ariana was strolling near her private greenhouse accompanied by two maids..
"Your Majesty, it is beautiful to see you here... the soul of the late Empress would be happy that there is someone to succeed her in caring for this greenhouse..."
"I am the happy one to be allowed to care for the late Empress's legacy... I hope to be up to the task..."
Ariana smiled radiantly at the gardener. As soon as they reached the greenhouse, the maids stepped back and Ariana entered with the gardener. She was wandering here and there, giving some notes, and the old gardener was happy and excited to work with her. When Ariana moved a somewhat long distance away from the gardener, two cloaked men appeared out of nowhere, and in just a second, she disappeared with them... and then the gardener rushed to the soldiers outside...]
Raphael looked at Casper's face, who sighed helplessly and said with a sad expression:
"How did these two strangers enter?! More importantly, how were they able to use teleportation magic in the middle of the palace?!..."
Raphael sighed and then moved calmly toward the greenhouse, followed by Casper, Marshal, and the knights. At the door of the greenhouse, Raphael turned to everyone and said:
"Marshal, Casper, only you follow me..."
They bowed quickly and entered behind Raphael. Raphael began moving through the place until he reached the spot where Ariana had disappeared and looked at them...
"Do you feel the magical energy?!"
They both nodded yes. He looked at Marshal with a meaningful gaze. For a moment, Casper felt why the Emperor had allowed them to enter... Marshal spoke calmly and with a serious personality that did not resemble that friendly middle-aged man who followed the Emperor everywhere..
"It may need a few days?!"
"Do what you can to hurry..."
"Your Majesty's command.."
Marshal moved his hands and drew circles in the air, and chains began to appear. Casper was in a state of astonishment; he had not felt any magic coming from Marshal and was surprised that he was a mage—specifically a Runic mage, using runes. They are much more powerful when they master what they do, and they are the best at hiding the type of their magic... The chains began to form in the air, growing larger and larger....
* * *
News spread throughout the capital about the disappearance of the future Empress. Some rumored she had fled, some said it was the Temple, and some pointed accusations at others. They were all seeking safety behind this disaster. But what left them in a state of confusion was the silence of the Silas family and the Emperor himself. The knights did not go out to search throughout the Empire, and the young Marquis showed no action despite having regained consciousness a while ago. Many suggested it might be a conspiracy to catch traitors and opponents..
"Damn it..."
"That is the ninth curse in a minute... Brian."
He was venting at Brian, who was usually cold and calm but was now cursing while clutching his fist with all his might. Brian struck the ground in frustration and said with resentment..
"I feel helpless... how can Her Majesty disappear and we cannot save her..."
"You are no more worried than His Majesty the Emperor. His situation is catastrophic. If Mr. Jerome had not come today at dawn and pulled him from the greenhouse, he would have stayed until sunrise..."
"But is it not exhausting for Mr. Marshal? Three days have passed while he is using magic..."
"Runic mages are amazing; they have endless magic, but his endurance might be strained... if Count Renon had not made a stimulant medicine, he might have lost consciousness a long time ago..."
"...."
"The matter is difficult for His Majesty. Even though he is worried, he cannot neglect his responsibilities as an Emperor simply because he is in a state of anxiety. If I hadn't been by His Majesty's side all this time, I would have thought he was a man without a heart..."
Brian scoffed, for Casper had said the words stuck in his throat. He sighed and said thoughtfully:
"Did Mr. Marshal tell you about the type of magic?!"
"Although the information remains secret, His Majesty did not object to our knowing... it is a complex spatial teleportation magic, linked to a single location... even if there is an obstacle, it will transport the person concerned to the specified place..."
"To penetrate the Imperial Palace system is akin to a miracle... I have increased security, but I feel guilty..."
"His Majesty did not criticize you; there was nothing you could have done. It was a magical trace of great power. If it hadn't been used, they wouldn't have even been able to approach the outer garden of the Imperial Palace..."
"But that doesn't mean I should be complacent. I must close all the gaps in the Imperial Palace... this is my job as the Commander of the Knights.."
"His Majesty has requested that we be around the capital to secure it... I will return to my post..."
Casper patted Brian firmly on the back, then looked from atop the outer wall toward the inside with contemplative eyes. The Emperor had asked them to be ready to protect the capital under any circumstances. Despite the outward calm, the Emperor's knights, the Silvano knights, and even the Silas knights were deployed secretly throughout the capital. Only the elite of the Ghost Knights took over the protection of the Imperial Palace, while Ivan took over the task of protecting Marshal's side. There was a signal everyone was waiting for...
* * *
"Do you feel uncomfortable?!"
"Hah... even if I did, I cannot object..."
She tried to sit up straight on the hard chair and leaned her back while yawning. The monster helped her as usual to sit properly while offering her some berries. Ariana took them from him with a smile and began eating them, saying:
"How much time has passed outside?! I cannot keep track of time here."
"Several days have passed... we must wait longer..."
"Do you really think they will find our location?!... Lord Logan, you are obnoxious."
"The magical tool I gave to those two fools is complex, but it will determine the exact location..."
"You told me you were capable of leaving. Why did you complicate matters?!.."
Ariana spoke with a pout. Logan laughed and said mockingly:
"Are you worried about your fiancé?!"
"Raf is strong; he will find me... but..."
Ariana pouted with cute rabbit eyes, so Logan laughed playfully and nipped her cheek teasingly:
"Do you miss your fiancé? .... Haha"
She smiled shyly, then sighed with exhaustion and distress:
"I want your plan to succeed... but... making Raf worry.. it still bothers me.."
"Deceive your ally to deceive your enemy... You are more cunning than I am when it comes to these matters... but it seems you have soft reservations toward the Emperor... is this what they call love?!"
"Perhaps..."
Ariana smiled with blushing cheeks, but a cloud of worry still hung over her heart. Her kidnapping by the Temple was a perfect opportunity to attack it, but she also knew that the Temple had its dirty methods of retaliation...
'I hope things go well...'
She sighed, then looked at Logan and remembered something she had almost forgotten. She said thoughtfully..
"You told me you wished to see Raphael... why do you want that so badly?!"
"He saved my life twice..."
"In the old path of this world.."
"You could say that..."
There was a soft look painted on Logan's face, which ignited excitement in Ariana's eyes, so she said..
"Logan, tell me. We have nothing to do and I have started to feel bored..."
"Did you not say that just knowing the paths of your life was exhausting? Are you seeking to know the life paths of others?!"
"I didn't ask you about just anyone.. it's him..."
There was a cute pout on Ariana's face. Logan, who had planned from the beginning to tell her, loved to provoke her, so he said with feigned defeat:
"Fine, I will tell you..."
"Really!?..."
He nodded yes and looked at her excitement, then gave her some other fruits he had been hiding. He had told Rukshan that he wanted him to bring him this woman, but Rukshan had thought otherwise—that his desire was to eat her...
"This happened in the past, thirteen years ago... perhaps the story goes back further than that.. but I knew the boy in that year...
* * *
Thirteen years ago, Cassian Empire, the Imperial Capital... It was the second anniversary of the death of Empress Lucia de Cassian. The memorial rites were held in the Great Temple, and the nobles attended to offer some words for the late Empress with heavy hearts. The twelve-year-old child, Raphael, was in a state of depression. As soon as the Emperor took his eyes off him, he disappeared...
The lone child began walking here and there with extreme boredom. He realized he was lost, but for him, it wasn't a problem; his father would find him..
After walking for more than three hours, he finally stopped from exhaustion. When he caught his breath...
"Are you lost?"
He was surprised by a sharp voice. Raphael looked toward the source of the voice and found a very small boy. If he hadn't been wearing boys' clothes and had short hair, he would have thought him a girl because of his small and cute appearance with chestnut hair and bright green eyes...
"Yes... and you, do you know the place?!"
"I am lost too.. but I always find a way back..."
"Do you live here?!..."
"No..."
"Then why did you come here?!"
"I heard that if I prayed to God here, my wish would come true..."
"And what is your wish?!..."
The child looked with his green eyes at Raphael hesitantly, then said:
"I do not want to tell you... is that okay?!..."
"No problem, it is your right to keep your secret as you wish.. why the question?!"
He looked at Raphael with confused eyes and said:
"Are you not the Prince?!... Nobles are nosy... and my answer will not please them.."
"..."
Raphael laughed at the boy's honesty and, with a spontaneous movement, patted his head, for the child was younger and smaller than him... the child's ears turned red..
"What is your name?!..."
"Ivan.. and you, sir..."
"You know I am a Prince but you do not know my name... I am Raphael.."
"Pleased to meet you, Your Highness..."
"It's fine if you call me by my name..."
Raphael looked at Ivan with confusion. He hadn't introduced himself as usual so the child would feel relaxed and call him comfortably, but this child was still insistent on speaking formally with him. Raphael looked at Ivan and said..
"Let's look for an exit now.."
Ivan nodded and the two moved. Instead of walking upward, they moved into the depths without realizing...
After walking for some time, they reached the door of a large room. They looked at each other as if asking, 'shall we open it?', then nodded at the same time and Raphael opened it...
It was a large prayer room, but instead of an altar, there was a very large golden throne. A very large monster was sitting there. When they entered the room with their minds blank, Ivan regained his consciousness and pushed Raphael, who took notice. But at that moment, Ivan's body rose upward and almost crashed to the ground, but Raphael used some magic and saved Ivan. Fortunately, he was not harmed; he had only fainted...
The blood-red eyes full of boredom met the silver eyes shaking with anxiety...
... To be continued ...