254 The First Meeting With the "Uncle" (1/2)

But the carriage that they were using was different from the ones that he was used to. In fact, that carriage didn't have seats so he was lying down of the floor while hugging his mother's urn.

It was uncomfortable, but it wasn't the reason why he couldn't sleep.

”Mommy, I'm sorry,” Winter whispered in a cracked voice. ”I'm sorry I failed to protect you. And now, I can't even go and save Dad.”

It was too much to take in all of the information that he got after ”waking up.”

But to be honest, he was a bit glad that he wasn't in his right mind when his mother was publicly executed. He wouldn't have handled it if he was himself when that happened. The same goes for his father.

”Mommy, I will avenge you,” Winter promised himself while wiping the tears off of his face. ”And then, I will save Dad.”

***

”REMEMBER this, Winter Prescott,” Miss Luna said seriously. ”You only have two hours. That's how long my protection spell will work. If you don't come out thirty minutes before it expires, I will send Mikhail Denver to retrieve you.”

Winter nodded firmly. ”I understand, Miss Luna.”

Right now, they were in the rooftop of the abandoned mansion next to the temple.

Miss Luna covered his whole body in a spell that would teleport him in to where he needed to be. Since the teleportation spell wasn't an easy one to create, he was the only one the witch could send.

”If you're caught by the High Priest, kill him,” the witch said. ”I don't like that guy.”

”Miss Luna, don't say that,” Lord Denver scolded the witch. ”Killing the High Priest isn't a part of our goal tonight.”

The witch just clicked her tongue.

”Young Master,” Lord Denver said, completely ignoring the witch's complaint. Then, he held his shoulders and met his eye level. ”Please don't get caught. We don't want His Majesty and his people to know that you have returned alive. Right now, I'm pretty sure that they are looking for you. And if they get a hold of you again, they will surely brainwash you again.”

”I won't let that happen,” he said determinedly. ”I will find the Red Phoenix and ask him to help me avenge my mother.”

”Then, we should work now,” Miss Luna said, then she put a hand on top of his head. ”Please close your eyes, Young Master.”

Winter nodded, then he closed his eyes.

Red Phoenix, I hope I find you as soon as possible.

***

WHEN Winter opened his eyes, he was already inside the temple.

In short, he had no idea where to go.

”Winter, remember to trust your instinct if you find yourself in a tight spot.”

He flinched when he heard his father's voice in his head. Ah, right. That was the advice that his dad gave him a long time ago.

Thank you, Dad.

He calmed down and poured his concentration to his surroundings. His senses sharpened and he was able to feel different kinds of aura coming from each room. Then, he put the hood in his head to conceal his face before he walked quietly.

Of course, he held the bag hanging by his shoulder carefully. That was where his mother's urn was kept.

”As I thought, there's really an intruder here.”

He froze on his spot when he heard the familiar voice behind him.

It's High Priest Howard!

He clicked his tongue and began to run fast. As expected, the High Priest followed him and even alerted the Holy Knights to capture the ”intruder.”

Well, I guess I'm still lucky that he didn't recognize me.

He was about to turn into a corner when all of a sudden, the ground shook really hard. And before he could even comprehend what was happening, his whole body was suddenly engulfed in flame.

The trauma he had made him close his eyes tight.

I hate flame…

”How could the only son of the Supreme Fire Mage hate flame?”

He gasped when he heard an unfamiliar voice. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a strange man with red hair and dark purple eyes. His aura was different and he felt a pure kind of Mana coming from him. ”The Red Phoenix…?”

That was what his instinct told him.

”Yes, I'm the Red Phoenix,” the strange man said with a scowl. ”And you're definitely that despicable man's son. My condolences for having the same gold eyes as that bastard.”