Chapter 12

"Why did you bring me here? As you've said before, you and my dad are from the same tribe. The Glaciers. So why did you brought me here?" I asked during a short break during my training.

"It was your parents' order to bring you here. Maybe it's because your Flamia persona is stronger. And you never showed any signs of being a glacia, right?" He said and removed his arm that was covering his eyes to look at me.

"But I wonder what would happen if I was brought there," I whispered.

"Why? Do you want to go there?" he asked as he pulls up himself from lying down on the grass to stare at me who remained lying.

I shrugged my shoulders while still staring at the clear sky.

"I'm just wondering how it would be if you brought me there instead. How were they like?" I glanced at him as I ask the question.

"You mean, your father's family?" he clarified.

I smiled and nodded.

"To be honest? They're much better than your grandmother here," I can't help but chuckle as to how he sounded so nonchalant as he says it.

This is what I noticed about him as I get to know him. He really didn't give a damn about royalty stuffs. He rarely even call me Princess.

And I like it that way.

It makes me feel like I'm still the old me even though I knew I wasn't anymore. Everything had changed and there is no way I'll be able to go back to the life I was used to.

"Really?" I asked back.

"Yeah. Actually it was your paternal grandmother who helped your parents escape before." My eyes bulged when I heard what he said.

I sat up right away and faced him with anticipation.

"Is that true? I thought Flamis and Glaciers are enemies? How can she allow my mother to be with her son?"

"Glaciers don't care that much about royal bloods. And correction, only the Flamias are treating us as their rivals. We only fight back when there is no other choice. We value peace you know."

Maybe that's why he looks so unthreatened with the royalties here. He grew up not fearing those people but instead living with them.

Now, I'm getting more and more interested in the Glaciers.

"You're highness." I tried taking another route when I saw Hailec approaching me in the halls.

I was just searching for Cool when I suddenly bumped into this weirdo.

I just gave him a small smile and was about to walk past him but he stops me.

"Princess, aren't you used to seeing me yet?" He said with a meaningful smile on his face.

"I think I'll never be," I responded.

"Well, I'm sorry to inform you that you should learn to get used to it though." My forehead furrowed when I failed to understand what he was trying to imply.

He just smiled at me slyly before he pulled the sleeve of his cloak, just enough to show his wrist.

And my mind was blown once again when I saw the familiar blue moving dragon surrounded with fire.

He had the same mark with the count.

I suddenly remembered Cool's reminder not to tell a soul that he have a different mark with the count. And now here comes another person with the same different mark.

"Surprise?" He asked with amusement playing in his eyes.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked while gulping continuously.

"Oh, you don't know or you're acting like you don't?"

Cool! Where are you?!

I keep on looking around and praying for Cool to show up now.

'Fhyra?'

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed in astonishment when I suddenly heard his voice on my head.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Hailec asked which I didn't mind since my attention was all on Cool's voice on my mind.

Maybe it's just my hallucinations?

I gulped three times before calling him in my mind once again and I almost fell on the ground when he answered again in a shocked voice as well.

Good thing that Hailec was able to catch me before I even fell on the ground completely.

'Who's with you?'

'Hailec.'

'Shit! Don't tell him anything.'

'Of course, I won't!'

'Where are you?'

'I think I'm in the hall just near the library.'

'Alright, I'm coming. Wait for me.'

"Princess? Princess Fhyra?" I just realized that I was spacing out while talking to Cool when I felt Hailec nudged me abruptly.

I immediately supported myself so I can stand properly and faced him.

"What's wrong?" He asked while his forehead creasing.

"It's nothing, I just felt dizzy all of the sudden," I answered and pretended to feel dizzy to make it more realistic.

He silently stared at me for a while.

"Are you sure? You know I'm a healer right?" He asked with one of his brows raised.

'Shit! Cool! Can't you be any faster?!'

'Almost there!'

"Guess I've surprised you too much today. Didn't expect me to be a guardian of yours?"

"Right. I never did." I nervously answered while constantly looking around to search for any signs of Cool.

"I supposed to have another surprise for you. But guess you've had enough today. Maybe next time." He said, still staring at me.

"Yeah. Please do save it for next time. And please, inform me for some shocking revelations alright?" I felt goosebumps all over my body when I heard him chuckled on my response.

"Then I should warn you now. This surprise of mine might be one of the biggest surprises in your life after all." He said meaningfully.

I was busy trying to figure out his words when I saw him shifted his gaze behind me.

I turned around to see Cool walking towards us while intently staring at me.

He stared at me for a while before he turned his attention to Hailec who was standing in front of me.

"Baylan."

"Commandant Santiago, nice to see you again," Hailec said with a creepy smile once again.

"I'm sorry I can't say I feel the same though." Cool retorted back and earned another eerie smile from the Punong Baylan.

Hailec then glanced at me bowed curtly and excused himself before he finally took off.

Cool made sure that the coast is clear before he faced me to talk.

"He got the same mark as the count! He claims as a guardian of mine as well." I informed.

"Really?" He asked absentmindedly.

"What do you mean really?" I asked him irritated.

"I know that's another problem, but this had been bugging me so much. How did you do that?" My brows furrowed and my irritation grew even more with his unclear question.

"What do you mean? What did I do?"

"How did you mentally talked to me?" He asked after a while of looking around.

My jaw dropped with his question.

"You mean, that wasn't normal?" I asked with my eyes widening.

"What? Of course not!" He answered immediately as if he can't believe I thought that was normal.

"Oh my God! What's happening?!" I asked panicking.

He just silently stood there with me for a while, thinking of what we should do.

A moment later, he took a hold of my wrist and pulled me somewhere.