After being given a stern talking to about my activities in Solben, I'm now making my way towards Lucile's room. At one point during the short walk, I saw Valentina and immediately hid out of instinct. I know that the moment she sees me, I'm going to either be dragged to the hot spring or out into the field for a sparring session. Neither of which, I'm currently in the mood for.
Eventually, I make it to Lucile's door. For some reason, my chest begins to tighten with what I believe is anticipation. Why I seem to be so excited, after only a short time separated, I understand completely. I'm beginning to have feelings for the lady of the castle. When it happened, I'm not sure. All I know now is that it can't continue. He's taken my freedom but I won't give that asshole, Entity the chance to take from me again.
Knocking on the door, I receive no answer. Has it become a family thing to not answer when I'm at the door? If she's not in there, then me waiting here for nothing would just be a waste of time.
[Kai] "
One person inside the room that seems to be lying down on the bed. Just how much has this family been overworking themselves? I open the door slowly and as quietly as possible before gently closing it behind me. Looking back to the figure I saw with my scan spell, I can feel my expression soften when I see a dishevelled Lucile lying with her covers at her feet and open books strewn about all around her. Well, I entered to check up on her but she seems fine, maybe I should get out of here for now and leave a note, saying I'm back or something.
As I was looking for something to write on, my gaze once again landed on the sleeping royal. A sigh escapes my mouth as I walk towards the girl. I might as well make sure she doesn't catch a cold. Wait, do Vampire's catch colds? I'll think about that later. Picking up the books and stacking them on a nearby table, I notice their titles and let out a short chuckle. 'Ancient Mysteries of Gehenna' and 'Laws of Magic II' among other titles grab my interest. Perhaps I should give them a read later on. The last book I pick up, lying closest to Lucile's sleeping figure, is a story titled 'Cursed Rose'. Flipping through the pages, it seems to be a romance story about a young, female vampire meeting a dryad that gifts the girl with a rose. It seems obvious that the rose given here is cursed but I suppose it could be interesting. The pages are old and worn while some of the words are faded. This book must be one of her favourites.
[Kai] "hm?"
Looking in the back of the book, there appears to be some extra writing. The author's message, I suppose.
[Kai] "To my beautiful daughter...Lucile? No thorns shall keep me from your side..."
Well, shit...looking away from the book and towards Lucile, I can actually feel a small amount of water welling in my eye. Quickly wiping it with my thumb, I close the book and softly place it on her bedside table. I think I finally understand why Lucile loved, or rather, still loves her mother so much. Walking over to the bed. I gently take the covers and place them over her body. She wriggles in her sleep for a moment before gripping the sheets tightly and pulling them over herself with a small smile on her face.
I guess I had better go see what Verren wanted. With that thought, I silently make my way to the door, though when I hear Lucile start to stir again, a cold dread shoots up my spine.
[Lucile] "Kai..."
I let out a sigh of relief and a warm smile crosses my face just thinking about the fact that she had been sleep talking, moreover, it would seem she was dreaming about me. Shaking my head, I turn back towards the door and leave, making sure to lock it on my way out. Walking through the halls, I soon discover that I was never actually told where Verren would be. After letting out a sigh, I decide to test out another of the detection skills I've thought up.
[Kai] "
As if a sonar went off in my head, I immediately have an approximate location for the Royal Lord. This ability would be amazing, if it worked more often. For example, I tried using it to find the one who was spying on me in Solben but to no avail. I think it's because I didn't know anything about the spy while I would consider myself at least acquainted with Verren.
Following the instinctual directions I received from my word, I seem to have found myself staring at a stone wall. If this is some kind of hidden entrance then I think I'm going to have to have a word with a certain Royal about this. I mean, honestly, who tells someone to meet them and then goes and hides behind a wall? I let out an exasperated sigh before I begin searching the wall for any indentations, switches or anything else out of the ordinary. A quiet clicking sound reaches my ears as one of the stones in the wall shift backwards under the pressure of my hand pushing on it. The clicking sound continues, as though something is moving in the wall and beneath me. Wait, beneath me?
[Kai] "Shit!"
The floor slides open, taking the ground out from beneath my feet. In a moment of panic, I stretch my arms or to the sides as far as they will go, grabbing ahold of the sides of the floor to stop myself from falling into the deep, seemingly endless pit beneath me. The feelings that I'm experiencing right now, can only be described as unadulterated irritation. After a few moments, the floor closes and I manage not to get trapped. The next thing to happen is the wall opening up, revealing a long, dark tunnel that seems to go on forever.
[Kai] "This place sucks."
Dusting myself off, I begin my trek down the tunnel. Hearing the wall slam shut behind me, the last bit of light this tunnel was receiving is shut off and I'be become trapped in darkness.
[Kai] "
A spell I haven't used since I fought Lors and needed some dramatic atmosphere, now being used to light up the ground beneath me. The yellow glow illuminates the path that seems to go on forever. The stone lining the walls appears to be incredible old and unkempt, chipped and cracked in areas that threaten to fall apart with the smallest amount of weight. A single corridor and yet, after 30 minutes, I've yet to reach the end. Though with all of the twists and turns, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm barely a few metres from where I started.
[???] "Milord...If he hasn't arrived yet, it's obvious that he is not up to the task."
My eyes narrow as my attention darts to my left. Walking closer to the wall, I can make out a few more pieces of conversation.
[???] "Have a little faith, Seyird. Aren't you the one that came up with this idea?"
My eye twitches and my fist clenched in annoyance. I'm going to shove his head so far up his own arse.
[Seyird] "He has had a few days to gain experience dealing with the likes of the dark guild. He should be able to get through this without issue."
[???] "Hmm...well, maybe if he knew that this has something to do with the little lady's safety, he'd-"
Shattered stone and dust fills the dark room, prompting the group of vampire's within to stare at me, having just burst through the wall with a serious scowl on my face. The room is of average size, with rug on the floor, a collection of soft-looking chairs and five people, three that I recognise, hanging around inside. On the furthest seat, is Verren, with a wry, confident smile on his face as he rests his chin on his hand. Standing beside him is Seyird; the same ever-present, blank yet condescending look on his face. Sitting in the next seat rather lackadaisically, is Valentina with a large grin, leaning back with her legs spread and her hands hanging over the armrests. Honestly, with what I've already seen of her, I'm glad she's wearing proper pants.
The next two people catch my eye in more ways than one. Both are wearing large black cloaks that keep the majority of their features hidden, although their dagger-like, crimson eyes are clearly visible and watching me from beneath their hoods. One of them, with a shorter stature and thinner figure appears to be a woman and the other, while still relatively thin, has an air of masculinity around him and a low, almost bestial breathing that makes it hard to mistake him for anything other than a him.
[Verren] "It's good to see you made it, Kai. We have matters to discuss."
[Kai] "Hold up."
The action of raising my hand, motioning for them to stop talking and listen for a moment seems to catch them off guard.
[Kai] "First of all, what was with the path getting here?"
Valentina chuckles and I swear I can see a hint of amusement in Seyird's eyes.
[Vale] "It's magic."
When no one says anything, she takes it as a request to continue explaining.
[Vale] "The pitfall at the beginning and the entrance to the path were made using a dark magic spell called
[Kai] "So I was walking around in circles because you cast a spell on a hallway?"
[Verren] "Actually..."
Oh, it seems like it's Verren's turn to speak. Hm? His face seems to have taken on a sadder expression.
[Verren] "My wife, Astrid, placed those spells when she was still alive."
I can feel my expression soften a little at the mention of the former lady of Volmiir. The same appears to be true with the other four as they lower their heads, almost in unison.
[Verren] "When I heard that some human wished for the hand of my wife...I laughed. The moment I saw her, lying dead beside my daughter however...is a day that will haunt me for the rest of my very long life."
His gaze shifts from the floor to directly staring into my eyes, unsettling me with how piercing they had become.
[Kai] "Why are you telling me this?"
[Verren] "After I killed the ghoul that took Astrid's mortal life, I began a war. A war on humanity that resulted in me taking on the role of Demon King."
I almost can't believe my ears. This man, who I've come to realise is a kind father and loyal ruler, actually had this kind of past. Losing Astrid must have hurt him a lot. Likely even more than the feeling I had when my friends dealt with me.
[Verren] "So many innocent lives were lost in that war. By the time I realised what I had done, by the time I finally looked in the mirror, In my place, I could only see the man who took my wife. Only I had taken so much more."
A silent tension fills the room in the next moment, as if everyone in the room were about to lose a loved one.
[Verren] "Due to my actions, multiple seals have been placed on me. The only one with the power to release me, is the current queen, Kaliyo Fulsett."
Wait a minute. His power has been sealed and yet he can still completely destroy me without effort? Just how powerful was he at his prime? It sends a shiver down my spine just thinking about it.
[Verren] "Every time I use my power, the Queen is alerted and I am forced to explain why I did so. Kai. The information you've brought us pertaining to Lord Dreyus, only further confirms our thoughts on the matter."
[Kai] "Hm? What is that, exactly?"
[Verren] "He wishes to wed my daughter, Lucile, in an attempt to inherit Volmiir and the secrets that lie within."
I couldn't hold back my surprise, shock, hatred and total disgust of the man in question.
[Kai] "So let me get this straight. This guy sends two members of the dark guild to destroy the garden, defame me and harm Lucile physically and mentally. Then has the gall to demand a marriage between himself and the one he hurt?"
My fists and jaw clenches tightly, shaking in fury as my eyes shine with a bright, furious gold that startled the two hooded figures.
[Kai] "I'll kill him."
A smile graces the lord's face for a moment before it returns to its' solemn gaze.
[Verren] "Unfortunately, killing him wouldn't be an easy feat for a variety of reasons. His Royal status and connections with her highness' advisor being only two of them."
[Kai] "Are you saying there's nothing we can do?"
[Verren] "of course not. The five of us have been working on a strategy to deal with this matter. A strategy involving you at the forefront."
[Kai] "I'm in. Whatever the plan is, I'm in."
After discussing what the strategy would entail, the six of us leave the hidden room, going our seperate ways for the time being. I must not have been paying attention to where I've been going because the next thing I know, I'm face to face with a rather furious looking Royal girl.
[Kai] "Lucile?"
[Lucile] "Kai."
[Kai] "Yes?"
[Lucile] "You came into my room, didn't you?"
[Kai] "Yes?"
Her forwardness manages to catch me off guard, prompting me to screw up and admit my fault. Hm? It appears that while I was lamenting my stupidity, Lucile's expression has changed from furious to withheld and she may have muttered something that I failed to catch.
[Kai] "Excuse me?"
[Lucile] "I said, what did you see!?"
The level of volume coming from the girl causes me to take a step back.
[Kai] "Nothing. I came in to check on you, put away your books and covered you with your sheets."
[Lucile] "Really?"
She doesn't seem to believe me but I'll admit, her pouting face is incredibly cute and difficult to resist teasing.
[Kai] "Well...I didn't see anything. But I might have heard something."
Even her panicked face is adorable.
[Lucile] "W-w-what could you p-p-possibly have heard?"
Trying to play it off like that isn't going to work you know?
[Kai] "I may have overheard you dreaming about me."
By this point, the golden eyed girl's cheeks have been flushed pink with embarrassment. I suppose I should stop since I doubt she's had much experience with this sort of thing. In fact, she seems to be so panicked that she's shut down completely. Chuckling, I instinctively bring the girl into a friendly hug, seemingly snapping the girl out of her trance as she begins hugging me back.
[Lucile] "I was worried you wouldn't come back..."
[Kai] "what?"
Releasing the hug enough to look into the girl's eyes, I could see tears forming. I let out a sigh, bringing her back into the tight hug.
[Kai] "As long as you're here, I'll always come back."
[Lucile] "...Promise?"
[Kai] "Promise."
Lucile gives one last squeeze before letting go.
[Lucile] "Ah! Y-You need to see what I've been researching!"
[Kai] "What?"
The girl happily takes ahold of my hand and begins dragging me towards the library. I can't help but smile at how much more outgoing she's become in the short time I've been here, even if it's just with a few people.
...I promise. I'll protect you.