18 the FIRE SENTINEL (1/2)

”Who gave you the right to be in my quarters!” shouted Prodea immediately casting a fireball on her right palm upon finding a man sitting at her study - the only place she knew that gives her solitude and privacy. The fireball grew intense as it lit up almost all the nooks and crannies of her room.

”Whoa, now,” calmed the Earl of Farindhal immediately standing up rattled, ”You asked to meet in private. This is the most private place I can think of!”

”Step away from my table!” she furiously commanded, ”NOW!”

Eryk jumped away almost instantly seeing her eyes filled with fury.

The fireball hissed disappearing in her palms as she moved quickly to his side. She pushed the displaced chair to its proper place and inspected her dark almond desk filled with parchments and tomes.

”Just remember to count your blessing Eryk,” she pointed while giving an angry smirk as she closes the books that were open on the table, ”I always put a hex on my door. You're just lucky I didn't activate that earlier or else you'll be really crispy now.”

Eryk nervously chuckled as he moves further away from the table and her.

”And I don't think that you know but I've put on a proximity spell on this room. That's what triggered me to come here. So, don't think about getting anywhere near my quarters in the future ever again.”

”Yes Princess. I will take that into thought.”

”Enough with that,” she calmly stated now having her neutral mood coming into place feeling satisfied that her privacy has not been muddled up, ”Have you got it with you?”

”Y-yeah, I got it.” He pulled an old rusty cylindrical metal scroll case slowly from inside his coat and extended it to Prodea. As she finally smiled to reach the scroll case, Eryk drew it back with his devious smirk, ”You do remember our agreement, right? I expect it'll still be on after I give you this?”

”Yes, yes! Don't be such a fool. Do you think of me as a liar and a cheat!?” She grabbed the scroll case angrily and opened it in a hurry. ”This'll be the last time you question me again. Next time I hear those disrespectful words coming from your mouth I will rip it apart and incinerate you.”

”I'm sorry. One must be careful in dealing with a friend. Friends tend to be the worst enemies - or that's what they usually say.”

Prodea wryly smiled looking at him. ”So, stop talking unless you want me to be one.”

Eryk Caden just walked a few paces away from her while she reads the old parchments inside the metal case. While waiting, he looked everywhere admiring the grandiose display of gold and silver on the edges of the wall as well as on the wall shelves and the edge of the stained-glass windows. Because of what he's been seeing all around the Palace and at the city residences, the thoughts linking Nagozul to the mythical City of Gold slowly emerged. Realizing this, a new idea came floating inside his scheming mind but was interrupted with Prodea's angry shriek.

”Are you trying to trick me!?”

”Wh-What? Princess, I did not come here just to trick you. This is a serious transaction,” he explained with his face lined up with a hint of fret thinking about losing his end of their secret bargain that he so desperately desires.

”These scrolls are missing some pages! Do you know that!?”

Eryk moved closer to examine the scrolls that he gave her. ”No, that's all there is. That's all there is at the ruins of Dim'ion's Temple at the north of our Kingdom. That is what you want? Isn't it? That is what you commissioned me to do.”

”No! I want the full scrolls of Dim'ion! The last pages are missing!”

”Well, it's not as if I can read that for me to check it? What I give you is what I found in that ruins,” he defended almost agitated. ”If it's missing that means some must've been destroyed by the years. It's roughly twelve thousand years old after all. It's a miracle that some of it is still intact.”

Three knocks on the door interrupted their heated argument. The only thing that she couldn't stand is a mystery, and that fixation doesn't exempt any person standing on the other side of her door. Prodea waited for about five seconds and then another rhythmic knock three-times continued.

”Come in, Zeba!” she hollered giving her permission to enter.

Zeba peeked checking where Prodea is at and then quickly entered almost striding to her.

”I'm sorry, Your Highness but I have very important news to relay.”

Zeba looked rather obvious with her eyes widening, shifting to Eryk's, giving her obvious clues as to the nature of her report. Prodea just smiled losing her raging temper to Eryk's incompetence - though the evidence is contrary to Prodea's judgment and that the fault was not his.

”We'll continue our discussion this afternoon,” she commanded the Earl while hiding the scrolls on the top shelf of her study. ”I will summon Karr to accompany you later.”

”And our deal?”

Prodea was halted, annoyed, for a few seconds then she moved closer to him looking him directly with her serious wide eyes. ”I dare you to try and repeat that question again, Earl of Farindhal.”

Eryk arched his lips upward while stepping back slowly till he walked to the door to exit. His clear insulted face cannot be veiled by his usual charming attitude. Prodea noticed this but decided to let it go for another urgent matter is in front of her.

”So, now that we have our privacy,” she commanded her chair to flip around for her to sit awaiting Zeba's news eagerly with amusement. ”You may now speak your mind. After all, I expect that this report justifies your interruption, yes?”

Zeba was surprised seeing her jump from one frightening demon to a smiling calm angel. Without a doubt, one of Prodea's unpleasant attitudes. You'll never know what she's thinking inside her massive brain and that, for Zeba, is most disturbing.

”Oh yes, your highness. I just confirmed the retired Juni Merl as our mystery seer.”

Prodea stood up grabbing Zeba's hands tightly being ever so excited.

”Wonderful, wonderful work Zeba. I knew it in my heart that you missing out lunch to obtain this key information will be highly rewarding.”

”But Grand Princess,” she whispered almost afraid to spoil her great mood, ”I think we may have a problem.”

Prodea furrowed losing her smile, putting off her warm hold gently, awaiting her explanation.

”No, no, no,” she hurried, chuckling nervously, ”I mean it's a problem, but it can be taken care of. Nothing to worry about.”

”What is it?”

”It's just... it's just that he's not that right in there,” she pointed at her head to imply Juni's condition, still smiling trying to purge what she thought to be the growing disappointment of Prodea, ”not right in the head, if you know what I'm saying, Your Highness.”

”Of course, I know what you're suggesting. Don't be silly! So, he's still at the city?”

”I'm so sorry Your Highness, I know you ordered me to...” Prodea walked away slowly going near the windows in deep thoughts which she finds to be very surprising. She should've been up in her wits screaming at her inactions and wrong decisions, but she isn't doing anything. She's actually ignoring her words and that made her to drop her reasonable explanation and just wonder.

”Zeba,” she whispered which snapped her in her wondering, ”grab my articles. We'll go there and see for ourselves.”

Prodea hurriedly grabbed her long red cloak which she usually wears outside the Palace and wore it while racing to the door with Zeba behind her.

”But Your Highness, Juni is a Fire Master with an essence peeking to critical. He literally tried to burn our Royal Escorts down if not for your Water Caster maidens. It almost drained them out healing them! They were six and he's only on his own!”

Prodea stopped in her strides almost annoyed with her gift of gab but unusually smiling.

”I appreciate your concern, Zeba, but you shouldn't really put any effort on minding my welfare. It is Juni you should be really thinking about.”

-------ooO0Ooo-------

”Karus...” whispered a soft voice of a woman echoing all around.

Karus slowly opened his eyes and smiled containing his excitement. He found himself again in the dark embrace of the white glittering crystal wisp slowly emerging on top of him. He's been waiting for this instance for hours and at last the Herald of Bathala went through.

He knelt down, pressing his clenched fists on his chest, bowing to the descending illuminating crystal ball. ”Yes, Herald of Bathala,” he whispered firmly to the wisp upon leveling to the ground. ”What is Bathala's wish?”

”Hark, Son of Light! The White Demon has been spared from the dark clenches of death but he who is chosen need not be too complacent to Bathala's Blessings. He who is chosen, and is destined to be the White Demon, will suffer insurmountable damages to his soul and his physical vessel if he's not to acquire the All Seeing Eye as soon as possible.”

”But Great Herald, I do not know such thing? Can Bathala lead me to the location of such artifact?”

”He who has been chosen is always guided. He who has been chosen will never lose way. He who has been chosen is always blessed with...”

The silent rustle of the bushes at his right side snapped him into awakening. He stood up slowly thinking of the crystal's final words while looking cautious on his surroundings. He knows that she's about to say something there. Something that will help him find out what Bathala wants but he was again rudely interrupted by his senses. If only he had the time to ask her on how to contact her again then maybe he could've started on his training and stop meditating, forcing his body, willing it to sleep while struggling to maintain a focused and maintained consciousness.

He heard a shriek of a young woman not far from his position. He immediately grabbed his gear and dashed quickly onwards to the location of the cry of the damsel without thought. His inner prince got the best of him, he thought in the middle of his stride, but he ignored his mind snickering for this impetuous response. He can only assume that this is brought by his training and his longing to go into action again, saving other people and some other things relatively equal to the idea. He has the knack for having that kind of mindset.

”Ow, ow, ow!” whispered a young girl kneeling on the ground giving intervals of sharp sighs after deep breaths.

Karus walked behind her, concerned in her state. He is certain he remembers her voice and that long bouncy brunette hair but was not sure, so he just gambled.

”Are you all right, Lady Lime?” he asked doubtful if she is who he thinks she is.

Lime jumped in fright running away a few steps from him dragging her long, rusty, and quite heavy claymore. She was quick and agile that Karus was taken to step back a little to give her comfort. Karus was surprised at this reaction from a woman, especially to a princess who he thought to have been living a grand life in their world being so graceful and demure. He just laughed seeing her serious face looking directly in his eyes.

”Dear Lord! Sir Karus! Don't you ever do that to me again!” she shouted angry and then slowly returning to fixing her bruised knee. ”It is not proper for a gentleman to creep to a lady unannounced like that.”

Karus smiled walking near her. His silent foot was a product of his training so he noted to give himself a reminder that every time he walks near people again, he should reduce his stealthy steps. He grabbed a glass tube in his pack and knelt in front of her.

”Here,” he showed the white silvery liquid asking permission to apply it to her wound which she did accept nodding.

Karus slid a drop of the mystery silver potion and applied it gently to the wound. The wound slowly closed up repairing itself leaving a sliver of white smoke emerging in the process.

”That is a handy thing, that potion. What is it?” she asked reaching for the curious vial to see it closely after Karus pushed the stopper in place. Karus handed it to her still smiling.

”Be careful with that,” he reminded, ”It's called the White Angel and it is really expensive.”

”How can a unique and useful thing exist in this world that we didn't know of?”

”Oh, don't worry princess. You can only see that here in our Holy Lands. In fact, you can only count a handful of people owning a vial or two of that. That's how rare and expensive that is.” He stopped for a few seconds figuring why he offered the very pricey potion he has to her. He needed that potion for emergencies and a flesh wound is clearly not categorized as an emergency, especially if it is just a scratch.

Karus opened his palm asking for the vial which Lime surrendered and then he fixed it inside a metal canister and back to his gear.

”What is it made of? I mean, what is it?” she asked with her curious almond eyes still fixed at his gear where he put the potion.

”Even I didn't know what this thing is made off,” he explained, ”The only thing I know is that the seers are the only ones that are capable of producing such tonics and it takes a long time to process it for safe usage. That's why it's so rare and expensive.”

Karus stood up together with Lady Lime, with her giving her curtsy in thanks. Karus noted this by giving a short nod in reply.

”Forgive my intrusion, but what are you doing out here all alone?” Karus continued trying to maintain their conversation.

”Well, if you should know, I actually came in here to train. I used to go to the clearing where you were at earlier, but I saw that you are meditating, and I wouldn't want to disturb you, soI went here instead.”

”Well this is no ground for training,” Karus smirked kicking the stones on the ground to prove his point. ”The floor is uneven and there are a lot of rocks and boulders lying around. How can you...”

”You see my dilemma here?” she grinned picking her rusty claymore on the ground.

”If you want, we can share the clearing. That way you can do your training in peace and I can do mine too. I mean it's big enough for me and...”

”Gladly!” she said excited and curiously smiling running towards the clearing, dragging her rusty claymore. Karus just smiled as he followed her in her pace.

It is a silent stride from the ruins to the training ground. Karus just looked down on the ground until she broke the wall of silence that appears to have robbed them both of words.

”Hey, are you staying near the area?”

”Yes, in fact I am. And you?”

”No sir, I stay at the Palace. I only go here so that I can be alone.”

”So, why here? There are a lot of hiding spots to train.”

”I think it's seems pretty obvious. It's because of the river east from here and the fruits all around. It's like this field is meant to be a training ground but I don't think no one has ever thought of that, I mean besides you and me. Right? And the map never shows this area, so its secrecy is pretty much inviting.”

Karus nodded delighted, surprised with her cartography knowledge. She must've studied a map in the library and surveyed it herself. The area is practically hidden in maps. If you can analyze the flow of the river as well as the mountain range formation you can see a discrepancy from the map. Only a natural cartographer would understand that inconsistency and that made him smile a bit. Finding the hidden locations that Dal'Gur specifically concealed in his maps clearly shows a critical eye. He was most impressed by this feat, particularly on the fact that she did that on her own and without a twin brother, like him, to assist her.

”So, I just figured I must've interrupted your meditation there for shouting so loud like that. I'm so sorry by the way,” she beamed with smiling eyes walking fast. ”And thank you,” she hurriedly added.

”Oh, that's nothing. I'm always happy to serve. I'm a sword master after all. It's kind of our thing, protecting someone.” He immediately noticed her burden that he literally forgot. It's not very prince-like for him not to offer his services to a burdened damsel. He knows that it isn't in his nature to forget something like this; it's in his code and, in spite of it all, he forgot so he immediately offered, ”um, Lady Lime, may I impose on carrying your burden?”

”Absolutely not,” she smiled which confused Karus. He was going to pursue the topic but she cut-in explaining, ”What I meant is that I'm not your typical princess waiting for my knight or Lord. I know I need to improve and in order for me to do that I need to be able to stand on my own. To pick up my own things relying on my own strength, without resorting to the help of any servant, or in this case to a great knight such as yourself. I am born a princess, a woman, but that doesn't mean that I'm ready to place myself among those who they consider as weak and helpless. I want to empower myself and in order for them to understand that and believe it, I need to demonstrate a change. A change that starts with me.”

Karus was lightened by what he heard. It's not just because of the fact that she can still deliver her message faster than anyone alive he knew, but because she has created her own principle, her own philosophy. Based on what he's been seeing around, kids at his age doesn't really dwell on the possibility of finding their own unique set of codes to live through with them in their life. You can only witness a few of these enlightened mortals once or twice in your lifetime or none at all. They are a dying breed, free thinkers of the new age, filled with wisdom that was passed by their elders and all around. They have the capacity to perceive the knowledge that is scattered everywhere when everybody is measuring reality with trivialities.

”Why are you so silent like that?” she asked with furrowed eyebrows after a moment of silence between them, ”Are you not convinced in my convictions?”

”No, no,” Karus laughed upon shoving the bushes enough to give her space to enter the clearing, ”it's the contrary.”

”Hey... are you making fun of me?” Karus felt chills as her eyes pierced his. ”Men are always like that! Smiling at our ideas, thinking how small our views are!”

”No, no! Of course, not!” he immediately explained trying to ease the growing tension that's been filling her. ”I will never do that! No. that's not very prin- I mean, Daomagar-like, sizing down people, especially to a young woman of your stature. We treat women here equally.”

”Then teach me!”

Silence filled the whole clearing yet again as Karus tried to analyze what just happened for a few seconds. He was not sure he heard right so he asked.

”P-pardon?”

”You are a sword master, right? Teach me the skills of a true warrior!” she demanded crossing her arms after pushing her claymore to stand on the ground, firmly stating her case convincingly. ”If what you say is true and that you don't discriminate, you'll teach me, just like you teach a normal disciple! Just like you teach a man! Or are you one of those men who would rather waste their time than be associated with us women in combat training?”

Karus just chuckled. He was bested by a woman, a foreign woman at that. She must've realized how he was so polite towards her. She must've used this to her advantage to try and lure him in. It's a trap! He was lured in and trapped! He was right in his assessment about her intellectual superiority, but he didn't account for the guile and capriciousness of women. Truly a skill no man can simulate. He is determined to teach her because he detected a slight similarity with her attitude and determination. To think something like that impromptu in the middle of their walk really impressed him - plus the idea of having a spy inside the Palace is practically enticing. It's a win-win situation. He'll just need to convince Kayzar but that, he thought, is going to be easy.

Lime's lips arched upwards as she dropped her gear at the ground.

”So, Master! What shall we learn today?!”

”Alright, alright. But know this. By wanting to be my student you will abide to my every whim, understood?”