17 Chapter 15 – Return to the Royal Capital (1/2)

Jens : ”Minya!”

Jens fired crystalized mana towards his target, Beatrice.

Beatrice : ”Ah… You learn quickly, I suppose.”

Beatrice swung her hand and the attack disappeared. The two of them were at the garden training Jens' Magical capabilities, Od, Aura and Semblance. It has been a couple days after the attack of Raven Branwen and Masquerade.

Jens asked Beatrice to teach him using Yin Magic and she accepted. It's the fifth day of practice and Jens has improved a lot. Personality and Power wise.

Beatrice : ”Try to dodge this. Shamak!”

The little girl released a dark smoke of shadows. Jens was in the middle of that smoke but remained calm.

”Remember what Elis, Roswaal and Beatrice taught you. Wait for the right moment and right place… and…”

That moment, Jens grabbed his sword and removed the smoke. Immediately dashing towards Beatrice but right that moment–

??? : ”That's enough.”

Jens stops and so does Beatrice. They both turn towards the sound and see Elis standing in his formal clothes.

Elis : ”You guys… We're leaving in a couple of minutes. Please, make sure you're in time at the Gate of Mathers.”

Beatrice : ”Got it, I suppose.”

Jens : ”Alright. Thanks Elis.”

Elis : ”Oh it is my pleasure to inform it to you two. Please, let's leave now.”

Jens : ”What, now? Like now now?”

Elis : ”That's what I'm saying, yes. Being too late for the ceremony would be an horrible moment.”

Beatrice : ”Hmph!”

The girl, Beatrice swung with her hand and before Jens could reply to Elis, he was near the Gate of Mathers. Jens looked around and he saw Meili, Rem and Otto sitting in a carriage.

Jens : ”Why… isn't the whole camp going with us?”

Emilia : ”Good morning Jens.”

Jens turned around and saw Emilia. Her beautiful hair was longer than ever and he couldn't lose his eyes from her hair.

Emilia : ”Is…. something wrong with my hair? I decided to keep it long, I think I like it this way.”

Jens : ”You're beautiful. But.. where is Ram?”

Emilia : ”Ram, Beatrice and Roswaal will stay here. They have to take care of other business. Nathan, Meili, you, Pack, me, Elis and Otto are going with us.”

Jens : ”So eh… how will the carriage move? Are we going to use Magic or anything similar to that?”

Emilia : ”Well, the Mathers family uses Earth Dragons to drag the carriages. They're dragons but without wings.”

Jens : ”Wah! Can they actually breathe fire?”

Otto : ”Is that an actual ques…”

Emilia : ”Otto!”

After hearing Emilia scream Otto's name, he remembered that Jens doesn't know that much of the world as others.

Otto : ”Ah! Jens-san! I'm so sorry!”

Jens : ”Don't be. I'm the one that lost my memories. Now, can we leave please?”

??? : ”Wait!”

Roswaal : ”Apparently, I've to join you today. Ram and Beatrice are staying here to protect the mansion and take care of some business at the Sanctuary.”

Jens : ”What's… The Sanctuary? It sounds way too familiar.”

Elis looked at Roswaal while he was playing with his gloves.

Roswaal : ”The Sanctuary is just a poor village. Nothing else. Now, let's leave real quick. I'll teleport myself to our square where we should wait. I'll be there, waiting for you all to come.

In a blink of an eye, the clown was gone.

Elis : ”So… are we leaving?”

Emilia : ”Yes. This day is very important for me, so don't get lost or anything. Otto, prepare the dragon carriage.”

Otto : ”I'm on it.”

Otto entered the carriage again and everyone entered except Jens, Nathan and Elis. The three were looking at everyone's hard work while they were relaxing.

Elis : ”The Royal Election Ceremony. Today is going down in history for sure. This event didn't happen in thousands, if not more years. Phenomenal.”

Nathan : ”Today I'll be seeing Felt again. I'm more interested in that.”

Jens : ”Do you have any idea where Felt might be?”

Nathan : ”Reinhard took her with him, so she has to be with him. He'll be at the Ceremony, so I'll talk to him after its finished.”

Jens : ”So this Election, how does it work?”

Elis : ”There are four candidates from all over the world who will fight for the throne. People have to vote on which candidate they believe will be the best. The candidate with most votes wins.”

Jens : ”Do you know any fo this candidates?”

Elis : ”I know one being from Kararagi, one from Volakia, and Emilia. I've no clue who the other one might be or where he or she might be from.”

Nathan : ”To be honest, I feel quite honored to participate in the election. Jens, do you think Felt would be allowed to join her camp?”

Jens : ”Why ask me? You could ask it yourself.”

Nathan nodded.

Elis : ”Oh right the map! Let me grab something real quick!”

Elis opened a backpack which was lying on the ground and grabbed the center Lugnica map.

Jens : ”Woa, is this Lugnica?”

Elis : ”It is. We are here, within the Mathers Domain. We'll have to go through few villages like the Irlam Village, then Mill Gray and then we're finally in the Capital City of Lugnica.”

Jens : ”Ah. How interesting. How long does the ride take though?”

Nathan : ”I've traveled a lot. I would say around two hours–”

Otto : ”Everyone! We're leaving now!”

Suddenly, the three guys heard Otto calling for them. It was time to leave the Mathers Territorium and time to return to the place where it all started, the Lugnician Royal Capital Nastra.

Nathan, Elis and Jens all ran to the carriage and stepped in. Even though it was very early, nobody was tired.

Emilia, Jens, Nathan, Otto, Elis, Rem and Meili were in the carriage heading towards the capital. While Emilia was talking to Rem, Meili was playing with a doll next to Otto. Jens however was just starring at the forest together with Nathan.

Elis was smoking a cigarette while looking at the sky.

Nathan : ”So eh… Jens.”

Jens looked at Nathan as he turned his head towards him. He saw a worried Nathan with complicated thoughts in his mind.

Nathan : ”So… I want to talk about a few things. Masquerade, your amnesia, and more.”

Jens : ”Hm?”

Elis finished smoking and sat next Nathan. He threw his cigarette away while the ash flew away from the carriage.

Elis : ”What are you talking 'bout buts?”

Nathan and Jens' eyes both turned towards Elis as he pushed Nathan a little bit to the right.

After few days being with the Emilia Camp, Elis Rose Evergarden became very good friends with Jens and Nathan Harmonia. The three are good friends and the whole Emilia Camp gets along well. Except for Beatrice, Meili and Roswaal, who are trying to refuse contact for some reason.

Nathan : ”We were about to start discussing stuff about Masquerade and other stuff.”

Elis : ”Ah Masquerade. Can I join?”

Nathan : ”Sure all knowledge is welcome, am I right?”

Jens : ”Anyway, what did you want to say Nathan?”

Nathan : ”His powers. Everything. He is able to use the most complex Yang Magic existing. He has some unknown ability which allows him to modify his target's brain. He's also able to create illusions.–”

Elis : ”Ah! Ah! I know someone in the capital who might help us find Masquerade or at least help us learn what his weakness is.”

Jens : ”Who are you talking about?”

Elis : ”Joshua Euculius. He's the next in line of becoming the head of the Euculius House. If I remember correctly, he's also at the ceremony today.”

Nathan : ”How would he be able to help us? Masquerade seems to be unknown.”

Elis : ”Trust me. Joshua can help us if everything works out. Hehe.”

Nathan : ”Hmm. Okay then. Anyway, I also need to find Melissa Lestrange somewhere. Masquerade took her away from me a while ago. I need to help her. Even if it means my own life.”

Jens : ”What happened… that day ?”

Nathan : ”Me and Melissa were walking in the Athena Forest. However… we met a person who claimed his name being Lucius von Rosewald. We encountered two girls who started fighting us. We were in a very bad position. I even lost consciousness. However, my Divine Protection of Motion allowed my mind to see what was going on even with my eyes closed. Lucius wasn't the one he said he was. Eggghh..”

Nathan started to feel angry while thinking of that day and looking at the trees.

Nathan : ”Lucius killed one girl while the other one was in shock. He did something with his hand and Melissa collapsed, and that's when he took her with him. Before leaving, he pointed his hand towards me and erased his appearance from my memories. Everything I remember of him, is gone. I don't remember his voice, his appearance, NOTHING!”

Nathan slammed his first against the side of the carriage.

Elis : ”Hey! Calm down Nathan. We'll find her, eventually. Here, take this apple.”

Nathan : ”An… apple? Why would I need to eat this apple now ?”

Elis : ”Incorrect. You're asking the wrong question. Why wouldn't you eat this apple? The apple is the fruit of knowledge. After all, it's the only fruit that grew in the Garden of Eden. By eating apple's, you'll gain knowledge. At least, that's what the legends say. I'm just trying to cheer you up.”

Nathan : ”Ehh… What's wrong Elis? You're acting really strange.”

Elis : ”I'm not. You still don't get it, do you?”

Nathan : ”What am I supposed to understand?”

Elis : ”By listening to others, you might achieve more. Following your own heart is important. But it is not most important.”

Jens : ”That quote… I've heard it before.”

Elis : ”You did?”

Jens : ”It… sounds too familiar…”

Jens looked at the curious Elis while Nathan was looking at the apple.

Jens : ”Elis… do you know me…? Do you know who I was before I lost my memories ?”

Elis : ”Wow! Jens. No, If I would recognize your face, I would've said it from the beginning. But I don't recognize your face. I also never mentioned the Garden of Eden. My father told me various stories about it.”

Jens : ”Ah… I mea—”

Otto : ”Everyone! Come out of the carriage, we've to walk.”

While everyone shook, they came out of the carriage and looked at Otto who was trying to talk to the blue Earth Dragon.

Otto : ”What's wrong Verhoe? Are you feeling something?”