Chapter 268 - Prince Andrew P4 (2/2)

Lyn and fire.. How ironic, out of all the elements of magic that are compatible with her, it just had to be flames. ”Continue.”

”Though she only has a single blade - her sword itself comprises flames already, and that's why it's a yellow color even in its unreleased form. Her sword is called - weeping branches; the sword will extend into a branch shape. Then it would evolve, a stage two transformation. Five branches would grow, contrary to this appearance the flames from the blade are very deadly.”

”Does anybody else know?”

”Those two from the Sound Kingdom.”

Andrew sighed, 'Of course they know.' He wondered if it was such a good idea to let those two roam about free. But then again, if anything were to happen to them, Lyn would realize it was him. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a fight amongst siblings.

”Where did you learn of this?”

”A young man who lives not too far from here is associated with the man named Kazuya.”

….

Teashop

”I apologize that this place is not very tidy,” this young man who sat in front of him had green hair and wore glasses. He wore the simple attire of somebody working in a shop. A plain shirt and western trousers.

”Likewise, we apologize for just dropping by,” Edgar said.

”Not at all, I thought you would return for a follow-up question anyway,” Ikki said. He turned to him, ”Your highness.”

”I won't beat around the bush,” he took out Lyn's drawing from his sachet and slid it onto the table. ”Is this the girl you saw using the fire blade?”

”Yes, and this girl she's also the one Kazuya is after.”

”You know that young man well?”

”You could say we're friends, more like business partners. This place isn't a teahouse but a disguised weapons shop,” Ikki explained.

Disguised weapons shop? Andrew scanned his surroundings; they clearly hid it well. If he hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have noticed whatsoever. Still, there is something about this that seems off. ”Are you from the Sound Kingdom?”

Ikki laughed, ”Correct.” Andrew's senses have had always been sharp. So, he saw it happen before the others did. Andrew immediately got out of the way, and the shelf collapsed. ”It seems that I'm no match against you.”

”Were you trying to kill me?”

”Not at all, I just thought I'd help Kazuya.”

Andrew sighed; he raised his hand to stop his brother from trying anything.

”Time is a burden..at least that's what I've concluded. But even with that thought in mind, I'll treasure this present moment, though I know it will end one day. I will focus on now rather than thinking about the present. Kazuya was always like that; he was always looking ahead and always thinking about the future. Yet always treasuring the current situation. I was always envious for him for that. I always treated every day like it was the same, not really expecting anything to change and going along with the flow of the moment,” Ikki said.

He holds Kazuya in high regard, but even for friends, there's that jealousy. Humans are rather complex beings.

”Even with Rhys, it took me two whole years before I finally managed to have a proper talk with him. Though he only showed up then, in my memories, he was my best friend and someone I've always known. When I spoke to him, he told me the truth regarding Kazuya. That he could customize and alter peoples memories.”

So that's what he did, no wonder there was that familiar presence around him. ”Ahh, then do you hold a grudge against Rhys?”

Ikki chuckled at this, ”No. Not at all, in fact, I'm grateful that he did that. If it were just any regular person, then he would have disappeared entirely, and I'd be alone. It may not look like it, but I'm actually quite the lonesome guy. My parents are divorced. I studied and worked hard to remain the top in my class, hoping that one day they'd get back together. But all my efforts were in vain, whenever they stayed together, they would always argue. It made me realize then that no matter what I did, nothing would change.

I was lonely, and I didn't have anyone. That changed though when I met Kazuya, he was a strange one. Approaching a random kid crying in the park and yet he extended his hand out to me and said let's play, I thought it was just a one-time thing, and told myself not to get my hopes up.

But I truly enjoyed myself that day, and that's why I came back to that park to check. I was surprised, he was there, and he told me, 'I knew you'd be back. Let's be friends'. It was the first time someone extended their hand out to me like that. That's why I don't blame anybody if they didn't do that I would have been alone again. And loneliness is..”