CHAPTER 16

“It is the unpredictability of life when I’m with you

That attracts me to you.”

I

Heart-rending melodies flowed out of the music room at the Torrez Residence, touching a soul which was listening to it from outside. He could feel the pianist’s longing and sorrow through the frequency of the music. The piece came to a ritardando and then a pause. He prepared to leave.

“Won’t you come in and at least thank the pianist for playing?” The voice halted him. He came to the door and pushed it open gently.

Kairalina smiled at him as she stood up from her black grand piano. “Good morning, Erik.”

No matter how he tried to persuade his heart, it always disobeyed him and thumped so heavily when he was with her to the point of making him breathless. “Good morning, Kairalina. Umm… you played really well just now.”

Her smile remained. “Thank you. Looking for Dad?”

He nodded and held up a yellowish envelope. “Gotta’ pass him this.”

“I’m guessing it’s about the Little Dai Town incident.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” he confirmed.

“Erik…” She approached him. “I heard a strange rumour saying that… Raviex was there when the Valkyr Empire attacked.” She began searching his eyes. “Is it true?”

It wasn’t a question he would like to answer. He did not want to give her too high a hope and hurt her even more later if things were not as how she expected nor did he want to extinguish her small hope. “I…”

“Colonel Wilgate, see me in my study room,” interjected Sir Damien.

Erik secretly thanked Sir Damien for saving him the trouble of answering her question. “Yes, Sir Damien.”

“Erik,” she called just as he turned away from her. He stopped to listen to what she had to say before he left her. “You will tell me straight away when you’ve found Raviex, right?”

He felt like a sword pierced through him. He disliked having to be dishonest towards Kairalina. Why did he have to lie to her because of Raviex?

“I… I will.”

Erik closed the door after he entered Sir Damien’s study room. He handed the report to the Royal Advisor and explained in full details regarding the time of the Valkyr Empire’s attack and the amount of damage inflicted on Little Dai Town while he viewed it.

“Little Dai Town is a small town. The Valkyr Empire could have easily destroyed it entirely, but surprisingly, the damage is on the small scale,” muttered Sir Damien.

“There were witnesses which mentioned about two males, three females and one Z-Gene who defended the town. Their identities, however, are unknown.”

“Find out who they are if it’s possible, Colonel Wilgate, they are heroes among us. They should be well rewarded for their act of bravery,” said Sir Damien, biting on his smoking pipe.

‘Reward the Prince… sounds awfully weird,’ mused Erik. Raviex had contacted him earlier, informing that he would be leaving Little Dai Town. He conveniently reminded him to keep his promise of hiding his whereabouts before ending their conversation. He sighed at it.

“Erik, the rumour that Kairalina talked about, don’t give her a specific answer. You know what I mean, I presume?” said Sir Damien. He did not see Erik as a subordinate when he touched on this subject.

“I understand, Sir Damien.”

Sir Damien’s mind dwelled on the recent events. He wished they took place in his younger days. He wasn’t as young or energetic anymore. Running the Kingdom while the Prince was absent was an arduous task. He puffed from his smoking pipe.

“Erik, I was the one who told you to buy us some time to search for Raviex. You have indeed succeeded in clearing the media for us for the meantime, though you strangely requested that your action shall not be questioned. I trust you know your ways… but the still waters will be disturbed once again by the coming storm.”

Erik’s head jerked in his direction. “What is the matter, Sir Damien?”

The second most powerful man in the Kingdom glanced at him before answering. “The warlords, reporters and the Valkyr Empire won’t be the last of our worries. Percival Katelion-Vasilis would be making some noise very soon, I’m sure.”

“A bearer of the name ‘Katelion’?! I thought the Prince is the only heir to the throne,” pondered Erik aloud, a sense of curiosity grasped him.

“He still is, Erik. Raviex is the direct descendant of the First King. He is the only child of King Levon, who is the only son of King Lionel the Second, who is the eldest son of King Lionel the First, who is the eldest son of King Leithen… and his family line links directly back to the King Leo himself. The Grand Duke Percival is King Levon’s cousin since he is the son of King Lionel the Second’s sister, Princess Lynette,” said Sir Damien conversationally.

Erik was listening attentively to avoid missing out on his historical-based statements. However, the more he listened to, the more puzzled he became. “So, the Prince is not the only heir to the Kingdom’s throne?”

Sir Damien chuckled at him. He understood his confusion. The monarchy wasn’t as simple as portrayed. The public normally knew only of the King’s Family but not the other Royal Family members.

“King Lionel the First had three children: King Lionel the Second, Princess Lynette and Princess Lisana. Princess Lisana died of an illness when she was young which leaves the other Princess. Princess Lynette was married to the Grand Duke Tristan Vasilis and gave birth to Percival ten years after King Levon was born. According to the Law, the children of the Princesses are denied the chance to be in line to the throne. Nevertheless, I cannot rule out the possibility that the Law might be amended to allow the Grand Duke Percival to be king if Prince Raviex doesn’t return,” continued the Royal Advisor.

“That can’t seriously happen, can it?” Erik grimaced. He more or less got the picture.

“If Raviex does not return in six months as pledged, whether he is still alive or dead, he will have to forfeit his throne. When that happens, Grand Duke Percival will be the one who is the closest to being king. The only barrier for him is the Law itself,” said Sir Damien. “Believe me; he will begin to make demands of becoming the next king.”

Erik frowned in repugnance. “I’m sorry but I reserve my service for just Prince Raviex. I will not serve any one else other than him.”

“Between you and me, Erik, I have to agree. King Levon was a very close friend and I was entrusted with Raviex. I will defend his throne to the end, even if it means at the cost of my own life.”

II

An orb of light descended from the heavens and found its way into the woods. It stopped its swift, searching movement abruptly when it came to a tree particularly taller than the rest around it and floated upwards.

A man with long cerulean-blue hair who was resting on a branch of the same tree had sensed the orb’s presence earlier on. He gazed into the morning sky; it was going to be a fine day. He did not exhibit any reaction towards the orb when it settled on a branch lower than where he was, not even when it took on the form of a figure.

“You shouldn’t have come, Kaisen.”

The being, which was born from the orb of light, chuckled boyishly. He owned a distinctive youthful face with somewhat a touch of prettiness on it. His peach-coloured full lips were attractive, even more when he was smiling. His long pale aqua hair was tied into a ponytail, leaving two side bangs to fall just beneath his chin.

“Oh, but I miss you, dear Calith, and so do Elinas, Airemi and Sephilia,” answered the god of Prosperity, Kaisen. He had a playful look in his eyes.

Calith smiled sadly at his words. “I know, I miss every one of you, too, but you do know that Xeloah’s not going to be pleased if he discovers you visiting me, don’t you?” he reminded him.

“Bah! He and his ‘no one should ever break the set laws, rules and regulations’ don’t really scare me… or I wouldn’t have voted for you to stay two years ago! I’m in the mortal’s world now. Cut me some slack! Working as a god is no easy job, you know,” complained Kaisen in a joking manner.

When Calith did not laugh, he sighed involuntarily. “Calith, I must say, we need you back in Amaea, man. You have no idea what’s it like now. Nothing’s been the same anymore after you left.”

“I did not leave. I was banished, Kaisen,” he said softly, still gazing into the bluish heaven.

Kaisen hung a leg over the branch and swung it unceremoniously. “Until now, I still believe you weren’t wrong. Xeloah’s just too stiff to see things a little more differently… By the way, your flute sonatas lately are terribly sad. Elinas wishes to hear something more cheerful some time soon.” Calith nodded and put on a grim smile.

“Still acting as her guardian angel, aren’t you?” coughed Kaisen. He wasn’t sure if he would talk about the ‘girl’ then.

“How would you know?” asked Calith, though he was only half-interested in the answer.

“How could anyone miss such a magnificent Ultimate Praetor like Nullef Dragaina? A Z-Gene is called an Ultimate Praetor because it is touched by the Light. No one back at home in Amaea admitted to blessing a Z-Gene recently. So it had to be you,” Kaisen quipped and laughed before he added, “Boy, you should have seen the irate face of Xeloah.”

He swirled the air with a finger. Water appeared out of nowhere in marbles. He peered into them with a deep frown. Clenching his hand, the liquid marbles burst into thousands of droplets.

“It’s unusual to see the most easy-going of the gods of Light to be moody as well,” muttered Calith, noting his gestures.

Kaisen smiled at him. “Mind you, it’s Sephilia who’s the most easy-going of us lot. Truth be told, I have this uncanny feeling in me ever since the Kaza War.”

For the first time since the god of Prosperity visited him for the day, he showed some signs of real attention. “Strange feeling?” Calith highlighted the two words, expecting further explanation.

“You and I know that the Kaza War took place in the same year as to when you left Amaea, but you were still around when the war happened. In other words, the Light and Darkness had the equal amount of strength over the event. However, we lost badly. Calith, I can feel it from the ends of my hair that something or maybe… someone’s presence influenced the result,” told Kaisen.

“Or maybe we just have to face it that we lost. Remember, those two troublesome meddlers have their own powers to interfere with the paths set out by the Ancient Spirit,” he said sharply.

“Who? Chronos and Kairos? No, I do not think it is them. There’s a new growing force amongst us. We just don’t know who or what it is.” His firm tone convinced Calith to agree with his statement.

Could it be the same one who has been trailing me lately? The Light is undeniably weaker now compared to the Darkness. Zephod is inevitably weaker after the Kaza War. Of course, I am only a half-god now, but I believe even if the Light and Darkness were to battle again; Xeloah wouldn’t let me join them as part of the Light…

“Calith!”

“Kaisen, I may have lost half of my powers but it doesn’t mean I lost half of my hearing senses,” chided Calith disapprovingly. “It’s no wonder you pick Kyoden Kaneshiro as your Yamist’s Messenger. He’s practically the human version of you!”

“Oh, you think so too?! I’m so happy you said so. I’ve always been sorry that he wasn’t born as my Yamist, not that I’m complaining about Akina or anything… she is an awesome Yamist after all, beautiful and smart,” he chirped happily.

Calith laid out his palm. A soft blue light glowed and a flute was produced, answering the call to its master. “Return to Amaea, Kaisen, before Xeloah comes hunting you down. I don’t want you to get banished too because of me.”

The aquamarine-haired one chuckled. He knew the presence of the flute meant that their conversation was over. His comrade preferred to be left alone when he played his flute. No one was ever allowed to be near him when he brought life to the flute sonatas… no one except Lorenne Fierell.

“Take care of yourself, Calith. One piece of advice from me before I come to see you the next time: If you happen to encounter that ‘thing’ or ‘person’ we talked about, escape no matter what. We have completely no idea what it’s capable of. Don’t pick a fight with it if you could help it; until we know what we’re up against,” warned Kaisen. It was obvious he wasn’t kidding this time.

“You were never the one who nags on me,” said Calith coolly. “Very well, I’ll heed your advice.” He lifted his flute to his lips and began on a piece. The crystal flute glimmered as it met the sun’s ray.

Kaisen shook his head helplessly. “I better leave before I get affected by the gloominess of his melodies… why can’t he play something jolly for a change?”

Taking the form of an orb of light again, he returned to Amaea, the home of the Light and other holy beings.

III

The five left Mrs. Luwa’s cottage early after thanking her for her hospitality to proceed with their journey for Sage Village. They had left Interi with her as they thought they had no need of the horse anymore. They hoped to conserve time by travelling their lightest. Three days had elapsed since the day Erik announced the six months limit of which Raviex had to meet in order to retain his throne. It was already past noon, which meant half of the day was gone too.

“Achoo!” Raviex brought his hand to his mouth just in time to cover his sneeze.

“Uh-oh, our beloved Prince has definitely caught a cold,” said Kyoden from behind him.

“It’s most likely due to the fact that it’s your first time out on a full expedition,” Sonia chipped in, crossing her arms. Because of the short length of the chain, Kyoden accidentally bumped onto her sideways. “Hey!”

“Gosh, I’m so sorry I pushed you because you took up the whole length of the chain!” growled Kyoden, purposely making his apology in a sardonic tone. Raviex, Christine and Lorenne heaved a sigh. The trio concluded that they had not grasped the lesson behind the chain.

“There isn’t a day when they are at peace with one another,” commented Raviex.

Christine glanced his way from the corner of her eye. “Did you catch the cold last night?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m not sure. Who knows?” he answered lightly.

“I’m sorry if you did.”

“I’m not even if I did, that’s for sure. I like the time we spent together including last night.” He turned to look at her but caught her looking at him. The two looked away immediately with blushes creeping on their cheeks.

Lorenne giggled at the scene. It didn’t take much to know something was blossoming between the Prince and his lost childhood friend. She toggled with her Visual-C and commanded for the world map.

From the satellite signals, they were able to see their position on the map. Their destination was Sage Village. For that, they were travelling north-west. She tapped on the map and zoomed in to discover they were nearing a place called Hime Territory.

“Hime Territory…” she read from the holographic image.

“Hime Territory? I didn’t know such a territory exists,” muttered Raviex, baffled. He was confident that this name was not one of those he had memorised in his Geography class.

“Hime brings the meaning of ‘princess’ in Haikenese.” Kyoden, who had overheard Lorenne, jumped in. “I heard that that territory is comprised of only the female race. No men live there.”

“But how on Senadon do they… reproduce? Will they not go into extinction?” Raviex asked the obvious question about Hime Territory like any other person would when they learn of it the first time.

“You cheeky little devil, and I thought you were the Prince, a well mannered and prized individual.” Kyoden nudged Raviex playfully whilst throwing him a dirty look.

The ‘well mannered and prized individual’ blinked, clueless. He thought he was asking a rather scientific and logical question. “What’s my question got to do with being cheeky?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” said Kyoden as he winked at him. “I was told the girls there are similar to the black widows, those nasty female spiders which mate with the male spiders and finish them off after they got pregnant.”

Raviex frowned, grossed out. Sure, as the Prince, he’d most likely knew almost every name of cities and territories on the map of Senadon but it did not mean that he’d know every minute details about the different places, especially not a place which he completely did not know was even in Kingdom Katelion. He was pretty certain that his Geography professor had missed out on this piece of information since he couldn’t recall anything on Hime Territory.

“But why would they kill the men which would be the fathers of their children?” argued Raviex. He found it absurd, not to mention the action simply defied all laws of nature.

“Maybe they’re carnivorous, I don’t know either. The handful of men who survived after entering Hime Territory said that they were practically the most seductive creatures to walk on Senadon. The residents there owned celestial features, their beauty unmatched and mesmerising. And when they sing, their voices were said to rival the goddess of Inspiration, Elinas, herself. Any men who hear their songs will go into a kind of trance, only to obey them,” said Kyoden poetically.

“Are you sure you’re not exaggerating?” asked Lorenne.

“You sound like you’ve been there,” Sonia said sceptically.

“If they really do kill the men they ‘mate’ with, then, why are there still survivors?” asked Christine.

Kyoden thought hard to recall what Nagi, the innkeeper, had related to him during one of his visits to the inn for a drink or two. “Nagi said it was because those men have either already come across their true love or possessed a clear mind. Oh, he did mention that a gay could easily survive that place too.” He instantly laughed at the last part.

He added, “You know, Raviex, the ladies there might become our doom, but they supposedly give you the pleasure of your lifetime before you go. Like they say, it’s worth your life!”

Christine threw a disapproving look at him. He was twenty-one but acted like an immature teenager. “Cut it out, Kyoden,” she chided him.

“I was only teasing Raviex, Rynnie,” Kyoden said offhandedly.

The red-haired abruptly stopped and snapped her head at his way. “What did you just say?”

Uh-oh,’ Raviex heard himself gulp.

“Oh come on, Rynnie, you can’t be that protective over Raviex,” rambled Kyoden without giving his words a second thought. He waved at Raviex, who was attempting to hush him up, off. He continued, “I know he’s yours sooner or later but—”

“Ryn, no!” Though Raviex yelled at her, she couldn’t stop her hands from reaching for her hunting daggers and throwing them at Kyoden’s direction. Lorenne sighed, knowing her true intention.

“Aaah!!” he yelped as he shielded his face with his hands. It was between beauty and pain; he chose beauty without a moment of hesitation. His right ear caught the whizzing of one of the daggers which narrowly missed his shoulder.

CLUNGGG!

The other dagger hit a metal-made material. Sonia gaped as she saw Christine’s dagger pierced through the chain which imprisoned them and broke it. She didn’t understand how it happened but she couldn’t care less. The main point was the chain was broken!

Kyoden was dumbfounded by his sudden release from his imprisonment with Sonia. A second later, he shouted in gleefulness, “Thank you, Kaisen! Thank you for stretching your holy and mighty hands to save your lovely Messenger! Praise the Light forever!”

“Only he is able to praise the Light and praise himself in the same sentence,” mumbled Christine, half-rolling her eyes. Her daggers reappeared in her dagger’s sheath. It was an ability using her Sacred Energy she acquired when she was schooling at the King Leo Katelion Royal School.

‘Ah! Christine is much soft-hearted than I thought,’ mused Raviex.

“What?” said Christine flatly when she noticed the Prince smiling at her.

“Nothing, Ryn.”

Raviex knew better than to mention about her soft nature aloud. She was a proud creature and he respected her for it.

“Kyoden Kaneshiro, keep in mind that no one is allowed to call me anything else besides ‘Christine’,” warned Christine sharply. Raviex cleared his throat purposefully. “Except Raviex,” she sniffed. He grinned at her addition to her speech.

“That’s not fair! Raviex has enough privileges to go around with. I want some too!” whined Kyoden.

“Less you have some ‘big, royal secret’ to trade with me, you are not going to call me by a nick,” said Christine, straight-faced. Raviex chuckled. Despite herself, she was amused as well.

All of the sudden, all five of them became rigid. Christine shot a look at Raviex. He nodded in comprehension. Lorenne instinctively summoned an almost invisible-looking wind element sphere in both her hands. The playful glint in Kyoden’s eyes waved and was replaced by determination.