CHAPTER 109
THE ARTIFACT
Roman still looked angry. Though he didn't say anything.
Sir Apollo let out a breath before speaking.
"I was raised my your father. He saw the best in me when others didn't. I was the very first member of the Tiger Clan"
Roman looked at him.
"And now the last. Although my spirit beast is not a Tiger, but my role was still important. I helped your mother escaped the battle since she was still weak of child birth.
You were a strange little baby."
Apollo let out a smile.
"You didn't utter a single cry even with the heavy downpour and all the battle explosion.
I wanted to escape with your mother but she had me stay. She told me to remain in Avalon because she was so sure that you would returned one day and you would need answers.
I was later captured by the kings guard. I don't know why I wasn't killed though.
The Tiger Clan manor was destroyed before my eyes and the captured members were executed.
It was declared that the Tiger Clan committed treason with the plan to overthrow the King.
Not many people believe, but what was done was done.
I was imprisoned for some years but later reinstalled as a teacher for some reasons."
"You have me to thank for that boy"
Penny took a another sip
"What happened to not interfering?'
"I have my reasons"
Penny shrugged
"That sword you always carry"
Apollo pointed at the dagger strapped to Roman's laps.
"I helped your father make it. We finished it the day you were born. It was your father's greatest work"
Roman's hand reached for the dagger.
"He told me to tell you that it's both a weapon....and a key"
Apollo added.
Roman's eyes widened.
"A key?"
He quickly pulled out the dagger.
It glowed and transformed into a katana.
The red steel blade gleamed under the dim library. The black obsidian handle seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Roman turned the sword down so he could look at the bottom of the handle.
There he could see a strange marking. Not only that, the circular shape of the handle seemed to fit the small circular indentation in the book.
Like a lock.
Roman grabbed the big book from the table and traced the indentation in the book with his finger.
The others moved closer to him.
Roman raised his sword and placed the bottom of the sword in the indent of the book.
It fitted perfectly.
Then...
CLICK
The book clicked and a red glow spread across the tiger sigil. Multiple runes appeared on the book and after a short while.
CLICK
The book clicked opened.
"Goodness gracious....that is one heck of lock."
Roman removed the sword and slowly opened the book.
The book was made in a strange way. All the pages were glued together and in the center, a square shaped hole was imbedded.
There was a necklace in the hole. It had a red chain and the locket was shaped like a tiger's head with ruby eyes.
He reached for it .
"I guess that's the artifact"
Lunar said .
"You'll have enough time to figure out what it does. Even I don't know what it does"
Penny shrugged.
Roman stared at the necklace for a while. It was beautiful to gaze at.
"I guess crafting weapons wasn't my dad only skill"
Roman said.
The necklace was a beautiful piece of jewelry.
"Nope. Rayland was many things"
Penny chuckled.
There was another item in the book. It was a folded paper.
Roman passed the necklace to Sylver who was closer to him and reached for the paper.
He dropped the book and unfolded the paper.
His eyes widened.
It was a photo. A still life painting of a man and a woman, they looked happy.
The woman had pure white skin and long white hair. She was clad in a long white gown that danced in the wind.
She was beautiful.
Of course Roman could recognize the woman anywhere.
He had not seen her for the last five years. His mother was as beautiful as he could remember.
The man next to her had a long wild and spikey red hair. At first glance it gave the feeling of an unkept hair, but when close one could see the unique patterns of it. He had dark skin and a muscular body.
He was called in a loose white shirt, black leather pants and boots. He was a handsome man to look at.
He had similar features to Roman.
"Goodness gracious...I remember painting the picture."
Penny smiled
" It was their wedding day. Your father was quite stubborn. He was dead set on wearing a leather armor instead. Your mother had to give him a good scolding before he settled on that outfit"
Roman stared at the picture with lost thought.
He had always wondered what his father looked like. He remembered when his mom would always tell him to look in a mirror and he will see.
Now he understood the meaning behind the words.
Roman remained fixed in the same position, unmoving.
Then, red lightning surge around his body and he disappeared from their sight.
"Roman..."
Sylver called out but Anya stopped her .
"I'll talk to him"
She nodded, too the necklace and walked away.
Lunar placed his hand on sylver shoulder
"He'll come through, let's wait "
___
Roman sat on a roof top of a tall building.
His eyes remained on the photo. Tears threatened to fall but he held.
Anya appeared behind him with the necklace in her hand.
"I wanna be alone please"
Roman said.
Anya didn't reply. She walked towards him and sat down beside him.
She looked at the photo and grabbed it.
She let her eyes wander around it for a while.
"Your parents must be lovely"
She said.
Roman remained quiet.
"Your mother is beautiful. I never knew my mom"
She added.
Roman looked at her.
"She died giving birth to me"
Anya added.
"I'm so sorry"
Roman said
"My dad hated me since then. I awakened at the age of five and became a Halfling.
My dad's hatred for me grew. I grew up being a disappointment in his eyes"
Anya sighed.
"He has no right to call you that "
Roman frown
"Many years ago, the kingdom was in war with a tribe of Halfling. The Haflings killed some important people of the Kingdom. Turned out that my dad was part of that fight."
Anya shrugged.
"It is what it is. I've hated myself since then. Being a Halfling is a burden"
Anya passed the photo back to him along with the necklace.
"You wanna know what I think?"
Roman said.
"I think you were awesome from the first day I saw you.....and cute"
Anya glared at him, but her cheeks were red.
She was blushing.
"Wait..are you blushing?"
Roman was shocked.
Anya stood and turned away.
"Come on don't hide"
Roman stood.
"I'm I making you feel better or the other way around "
She rolled her eyes.
"Hmmm...both"
Roman smiled.
"Listen, you don't have to prove anything to your father. You'll only make a fool of yourself.
I finally understand Prince Lyon and I'm gonna knock some sense into him"
Roman eyes became serious.
"And now I'm gonna make sure you don't follow that path"
Anya turned to face him. Her eyes dark and unmoving.
She could see how serious he was.
"You asked me to come with you when you're ready to leave Avalon"
Her gaze softened.
"Don't make me regret it... please"
Her voice was calm.
Roman smiled.
"We snuck into the King's Castle. Wasn't that fun?"
Anya chuckled.
"It was "
"I won't let you down"
Before Anya could respond, She felt a firm arm wrapped around her waist. Her eyes widened as her head was already against Roman's chest while his chin rest at the side of her head.
Roman held her firmly in an embrace.
There it was a again, that feeling.
The warm feeling in her chest. It spread across her body making her face turn red.
And her heart..
Her heart beat rapidly, pounding against her chest.
It happens during the thrill of a fight.
But this wasn't a fight.
It was.... different.
She didn't realize when her arms found their way around his neck, and her head sank into his chest.
She could hear his steady heartbeat.
The rhythm was... nice.
She had never felt this way before.
It was... passionate.
Completely foreign... but....sweet.
She let her eyes close letting a tear stream down her cheek.
Anya released a soft sigh from a breath she didn't even knew she was holding.
All her battle instincts and guard where dropped as she let herself melt into the embrace.
The cool breeze of the night blew softly while the clouds moved letting the crescent moon glow.
"Don't get used to this"
Anya whispered.
"I'll try"
He smiled.
TBC.