Teo was unsure of how to face Miley properly. After all, she saw him in that state. Earlier he focused on saving her from the Queen's punishment. But in the end, the one who needed saving the most was him. Rumors started from the moment he left the throne room earlier. So it was only natural that Miley already heard. Teo watched as the girl examined him up and down before she carefully walked over. Each footstep seemed like an eternity to him, until finally, Miley was in front of him.
"Ah! Your spots have disappeared!" Miley exclaimed.
Spots? "Huh?" Teo replied dumbly.
Miley nodded and wore a confident look on her face as she said, "So even you get sick Master. You ought to be more wary of your health."
Teo stares at his disciple completely speechless. Is she serious? He examined her expression and saw it didn't waver once. How foolish, she is too clueless for her good. He nodded and went along with the girl's lie, "I shall be more careful."
For now, he will not tell her. He doesn't have to tell her at all. The older he gets, the more apparent it will become. Soon he will lose himself to his dragon half; when that happens, he will not retain any memories of his human life. This is fate; he watched his parents go through the same thing and even the woman who is missing — the woman who married him.
Teo noticed Miley looking down, and he reached over to pat her hair, "I shall return quickly. Do not fret." The Queen didn't tell him exactly when he would return. But surely she wouldn't let him go for long? Teo was unsure, this time he could not reassure Miley like he usually would.
Miley noticed his hesitation and lightly hit his arm, "You have to return safely and save me from the torture of living in the silver palace. If you prove yourself, I'm sure the Queen will forgive you and then you can help me properly."
In other words, Miley really thinks the Queen got mad at him for failing. Initially, he felt the same but; he recalled her words from earlier the day and sighed. This was a first for him; Teo doesn't know what to do. The Queen is angry; she's no longer the little girl he once knew. It's the same for Miley; she too is growing up. The words Miley said just now if it were the same as the past, she would have complained and thrown a tantrum. But it's different now, with the way she is now. Perhaps he doesn't have to worry about her going to the silver palace.
As Teo recalled Lan's expression earlier, he shook his head. No, he definitely can't stop worrying about her; the danger in the silver palace is not solely that man. But, "Miley, do you understand what type the silver palace is?"
Miley looked at him confused, "Isn't it just the place where stupid Lan lives?"
Teo shook his head, "Listen to me carefully; it's a place where women get sent to prepare for their marriage. They are candidates to the owner of the residence."
"Wh-what?" Miley appeared to have a hard time processing his words. She looked distraught and betrayed.
"I don't think the Queen sent you there for that purpose," Teo assured her.
"But, the stupid Lan proposed to me."
Teo paused; he didn't answer right away. For him, the words propose, that man and Miley made him cringe. If he weren't in this condition where his dragon mode could active the moment he let his guard down. Then Teo knew he would have beat up that guy a long time ago.
Maybe he ought to go full on dragon mode and attack Lan. He could easily brush it off as an accident.
"Master?" Miley called out to him. The young girl still wore a very confused look on her face.
"Wait a moment," Teo instructed her and returned to the horse where his belongings were. He took something out of one bag and stared at the amulet for a few minutes. It's okay, the Queen said it herself. That woman didn't go missing because of this. It's a coincidence that the amulet appeared in the place she went missing.
Teo rushed back and placed the amulet in the girl's hands, "I know you dislike these things. However, this is for your own safety."
Miley looked perplexed at the amulet but nodded, "Master, have a safe trip. I will join you in the front lines, eventually."
He stared at the girl speeches, has she not learned her lesson yet?
_______________________________________________
Snow Kingdom - Hallway, Fifth floor-
For the last few minutes, the head knight of the snow kingdom tried to escape from someone. However, it was a futile attempt.
"Hey Uncle, Uncle! Wait, a minute."
Luke sighed deeply, finally halting in his tracks. He turned to face the girl who
"Uncle, you met with Father?" Cyann asked impatiently.
This girl is Cyann; she's the daughter to the Mist Kingdoms General Teo. The reason she's here in the snow Kingdom despite their present fight with the Mist Kingdom— is simply because Cyann was the one who leads the first army to the Mist Kingdom borders. That more than dispelled any doubts people had towards her. Even the Mist Kingdom people who saw her on the battlefield still addressed her as 'my lady.'
"Did you not hear the reports?"
The girl pouted, and he sighed, "It's natural that I fought with him. We are currently enemies." Luke answered. "Do not tell me your resolve wavered once you heard he got injured? If so, then I have to lecture you ag-" Luke answer fell short when Cyann's weapon appeared inches away from his neck. Despite this sudden move, it does not surprise Luke. He helped oversee the girl's training back when she was in the Mist Kingdom.
"What you just said, can I take it as an insult? The one who suggested this war was me." Cyann reminded him.
Indeed, even before that beast took over their Queen. The discussion about fighting against the mist Kingdom occurred a long time ago. Which side is the right one?
Luke's thoughts broke off when a messenger whispered something in his ear; he turned to the girl, "Do you wish to meet him?"
"I can go?" Cyann asked, Luke, nodded and informed her the news he just heard, "Tut tut, tut, he's leaving the Mist Kingdom now? How foolish. My dear dad, it seems like you were right. He's slowly not becoming human. Before that happens," Cyann raised her blade.
Luke nodded, "I shall leave this matter to you."