On their way to the prince's mansion, they already saw someone standing at the door. Prince Zaeius knew that it was Keir. He thought maybe Keir wasn't able to go back to sleep thinking what he's up to in the middle of the night.
When Keir saw them, he looked at them, perplexed. But he moved out of the way to let them in.
"Zae... what happened?" Keir started asking.
But Prince Zaeius didn't answer him and led the men who were carrying Bek, Méah, and Faz to one of the guest rooms. Keir just followed like a robot, afraid to trigger his injuries.
"Your highness, they're already settled," one of the soldier said.
Prince Zaeius nodded. "Listen everyone. What happened here today will stay here. Anyone
The next morning, Keir and Prince set out according to what they had planned last night. They found out that even if they have the Book of Ancient Medicines, it's still useless because there were two pages missing. They have no choice but to look for that person who made the poison to ask for an antidote. "Do you remember where the smoke came from?" Prince Zaeius started interrogating Faz. This was a part of their plan. They would've done this last night but it would be inappropriate for Faz to talk with his remaining strength. Faz coughed a little and when he opened his mouth, dark blood came out first instead of his voice. "Faz, don't force yourself to speak if you can't. We'll just wait when you feel better." Keir caressed Faz's back to make him fee
The whole room went silent. Only Méah's rapid breathing could be heard as Keir and Prince Zaeius stared at her. Keir's giving her a 'like I care' look while Prince Zaeius still maintained the sympathetic look on his face. Méah couldn't take what she just heard. She'd been away from home for a long time. 'Home...' When Méah thought about this, even more terrifying images exploded in her mind. People were dying before her eyes. Innocent children cried their eyes out in horror and sorrow. Blood flooded everywhere. And houses burnt into ashes. Méah flashed a faint smile bitterly as she slid herself unto the cold floor when her knees started to weaken. Tears st
Keir and Prince Zaeius were perplexed. Again, sharing meaningful looks. Keir shook his head and whispered to the prince. "She's really hopeless. We didn't get to ask her what's the name of her hometown nor where on earth it lies." Méah walked back to Bek again with curious eyes. This time, she's maintaining a distance. "Look. Let's just wait and see," Prince Zaeius whispered back. "Okay." "No...it can't be..." Méah shook her head, refusing to believe what she had confirmed. Maybe she just missed her father so much that she could see him in other people. But she can't blame herself for this old man really looks like her father from
A day had passed and Faz and Bek were already gaining there normal skin color after drinking a drop of blood from Méah. However, they're still asleep. Probably because Méah's blood was still cleansing their body. Keir didn't expect that Méah's blood would be the antidote. In fact, it was just his guess. But somehow he felt sure about it. At first, he was thinking that maybe she's immune to that poison that's why it didn't have an effect on her. So he came to an idea that maybe the blood of an immune person could cure the poisoned one. Luckily, he didn't fail. As for Méah, her wounds still have no improvement. But Keir had already applied medicines on them to stop the infection from spreading wider. Though this time, Keir used different medicines and increased their usage to counterpart how severe the i
"Greetings, your majesty." Prince Zaeius bowed in front of King Astius as soon as he entered the king's room. "I heard you're looking for me." Then the maidservants bowed to him and left the room. "Yes. You're right. Have a seat." King Astius gestured the empty seat on the opposite side of the table."Son, there's something troubling me ever since that day Mon died. I know you're close with him. And I'm sorry for your loss. He was a good and a loyal adviser." King Astius poured tea unto the prince's cup. Prince Zaeius took a deep breath, remembering his dead friend. He didn't want to talk about it anymore as it only reminds him how Mon suffered helplessly. But somehow he felt like he should face his sorrow and let it out. And moreover, he also have to consult the king about something and now's the chance. The king is always busy so he couldn't just barge into the royal hall and talk about something unrelated to the kingdom's affairs. "It wasn't yo
"Did you find them?" the woman, sitting on the sparkling black throne asked. Her voice was of strong character and authority. "No, master." The servant bowed in front of her presence and pulled up the black mask he's wearing to his forehead. "Useless!" the woman's delicate fingers curled into tight fists above armrests of the seat. She then raised her hand and a lady with a whip who was standing beside her, walked to the servant. "It was my fault, master." The servant bowed on his knees, his forehead touching the black, shiny floor, terrified. "Please allow me to do it once. And if I fail again, my life will be at your hands." "Shut up! Do you know what happened to the person who used to say those words in front me?" She turned to the left side of the hall where those who failed her were jailed. Not only did they wer
It was a typical summer morning. The sun is shining brightly above the foggy, green mountains, as it floated on the cloudless, blue sky. Birds were happily chirping, from branches to branches, singing melodies of freedom. The aroma of the nearby fragrant flowers blended well with the sweet smell of morning dew. Sipping a cup of tea on his mansion's balcony, Prince Zaeius never had the time to appreciate the mansion's exquisitely beautiful scenery. It has been a long time since he got to breathe fresh air. He somehow missed it–the peacefulness and the relieving ambience of this place. He had been thinking a lot of things in his mind lately and he thought he needed time to relax and refresh for a bit. He never knew when he shall be able to do this again so he must savor the moment while he's still here. This afternoon, he will set off according to what they have planned. He had no assurance if he'll comeback
Keir woke up when he heard clattering noises of utensils. But he haven't fully opened his eyes yet when the blinding, golden rays of the sun shone through the heavy lids of his sleepy eyes. He had no choice but shut them back off. 'Maybe it doesn't want me to wake up early so that I could sleep more. Sleep is really essential for my recovery.' However, the noise was still there and its getting through every nerve endings of his eardrums. It wasn't that loud but it irritates him. "What kind of idiot would make such ruckus early in the morning? People are still snoring in their sleep at this point. What a disturbance," he hummed with a husky voice as he pulled up the thick, soft quilt, right at the level of his chest. Suddenly, the noise became louder and louder. And it became clearer for him to hear. It sounds like someone was stirring or mixing something on a ceramic bowl or mug. He tried covering his ears but it was of no effect. At last, he lost the li