"Not at all. It's common sense to help someone in need, isn't it?" Adel replied. "In exchange, if something happens to my family or I…"
"Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to help should the need arise."
"Thank you." She had no understanding of Core Levels or the Arcellius Family, so it was not like she was acting for the sake of getting in his good graces. Instead, she was genuinely a kind person which Protector Avin could sense. Taking one final look at the setting sky outside, she frowned in displeasure. "Where are those two boys?"
"Do you want me to look for them?" he casually asked. Now that he had regained his full strength, he could use his True Perception more freely. Of course, he was not generous enough to use it for anyone. It was specifically because he appreciated how much Adel did that he was willing to put in the extra effort.
"If you could, please. Those rascals are probably goofing around. I told them time and time again that we're not on Lour Island anymore!"
He raised a hand. "It's not a problem." He was about to close his eyes and concentrate when he glanced over to the gates. Charles and Robert returned right on time!
"Mother, something bad happened!" Charles ran over and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"What did I tell you about shouting outside?" Adel scowled. "And where have you two been? I asked you to buy some things, but you're not even carrying anything! Robert, I told you to look after your brother, didn't I?"
Charles scratched his cheek awkwardly at the scolding. He was the older brother here, but their mother always thought that his younger brother was the more reliable one. "No, this isn't the time for this, mother!" He shook his head and looked deadly serious. "It's about sister! Something bad happened in the empire!"
"What?" Adel was startled. Immediately though, she yanked him by the ear and shouted, "How dare you try to trick me by using your sister? Looks like I really need to discipline you this time!" to which Charles whimpered in fear.
"Lady Adel, calm down," Protector Avin intervened. "I heard about it too. Let's discuss this inside with the others."
"Oh, okay…" Her stomach twisted and she felt sick. She had a very bad feeling about this.
In the dining room, a lavish feast was spread out across the table featuring countless savory and wonderful dishes. Although it lacked the sort of sophisticated touch that a seasoned chef would add, one could easily feel the love and care behind every dish. It was clear that Adel poured her heart into making every single one spectacular! One had to wonder how long she spent cooking to make this meal alone. Nassandra and Yuna waited patiently for them to come in and had yet to seat themselves or touch the food. Protector Avin sat down at one end of the table, while Adel shakily sat on the other end. She was already deathly pale. The remaining four sat on either side of them. The atmosphere was unusually tense, which made Nassandra and Yuna quiet down. Nobody seemed to be in the mood to celebrate.
Protector Avin locked his fingers together pensively and addressed everyone in the room. "Listen to what I'm about to say calmly. According to the rumors, the heir apparent of the Alzar Kingdom, Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel, has fallen in the Battle of Liguang. As for what happened, apparently Her Highness was negotiating with the Li Family when the town was attacked. Over ten thousand people were killed, and the entire town was also destroyed in the aftermath. It is still unclear whether these rumors are true, but…"
Without warning, he immediately materialized a Magic Circle. No one noticed until it was already completed because it was that fast. It was nigh-instantaneous! Nassandra and Yuna widened their eyes in astonishment since it always impressed them to see how fast he could cast spells. It was in a league far above them! Everyone began to wonder though about why he casted a spell now, which left Protector Avin exasperated.
"Your mother fainted, and I stopped her from hurting herself. Shouldn't you be looking after her instead of me?"
"What?" Charles jumped out of his chair. As it turned out, Adel had stressed herself out so much that she fell unconscious in the middle of his explanation.
Robert, the younger brother and physician-in-training, rushed over and examined her condition. He then exhaled in relief. "She only fainted."
"Thank goodness." Charles wiped away his cold sweat. Ever since their mother emerged from her coma, her condition was not too stable, especially when it came to Shirley. They were worried that the slightest agitation might push her over the edge again. If that happened, she might not wake up anymore!
Seeing that the situation resolved itself, Nassandra glanced back at her uncle with a pitiful gaze. "Is my brother… okay?"
"…I'll be honest. I don't know. News from the battlefront takes a long time to travel here, so it may be weeks, if not months, before we receive any definite answer on the casualties involved."
"Is it possible that you… heard wrongly then?" Yuna interjected.
"I won't deny that possibility."
Protector Avin shrugged. He did hear correctly, but whether or not those rumors were true was another question entirely. He could not confirm their accuracy until the kingdom made their official announcement; however, where there was smoke, there was bound to be fire. To involve the heir apparent to this extent, something big must have happened! It was important to be prepared for any eventuality. Unfortunately, now that he told them about the Battle of Liguang, the whole idea of celebrating went up in flames. The beautiful food sat in front of them, but no one was in the mood to eat. Nassandra started crying, Yuna grew teary-eyed, Robert wailed loudly, and Charles was depressed too. The thought of their family dying haunted their minds. Protector Avin did feel responsible, and wondered if he should have delayed it until after they finished eating… No, at this point, it did not matter.
"Why are you so calm, uncle?" Nassandra pouted. It was insulting that he was the only one who did not get emotional. What was wrong with him?
He was speechless, but he thought it was strange too. It was neither a result of shock, denial, or anything like that. He did not hate Freon either because he genuinely wished that Freon was alive and well, both from a personal desire and for the Arcellius Family's sake. If so, then where was this calm coming from? Protector Avin closed his eyes and concentrated on this mysterious feeling. When he broke into Blue Depth Core, he felt that his senses took a massive qualitative leap forward, but this change was hard to describe. It was unlike a Perception Realm that dealt with the five physical senses. Was it… instinct? Or maybe a gut feeling? No, it felt more ethereal as though there was an invisible connection linking him to Freon, one that stretched across distance and time! That was why he could instinctively feel that Freon was still alive! Perhaps… this was karma?
"Lady Nassandra, a message from the Celestial Court. A mandatory summons has been issued to all Ten Dawns and Ten Auroras to assemble before the Three Sages and the Conquestian immediately!" a butler said.
"I'm not going!"
The butler felt sweat roll off his forehead and he continued, "They stressed that it was an emergency of the highest order, and that any absence or delay would not be tolerated hence…"
"I said no!"
Her aura erupted like a volcano and paralyzed everyone! They were terrified! Nassandra might be young, but she was still a Ten Dawn, one of the strongest Arcanists in the Zino Kingdom! She could not be angered! Directing her fury towards the butler, she drove the poor man to his knees. He was about to pass out when Protector Avin stepped in. He sent a single glance in Nassandra's direction which effortlessly shattered her aura. Things soon returned to normal. Regardless of how strong she might be, her uncle was an entire Core Level above her. Once again, everyone remembered who this man was: a legendary Blue Depth Core Arcanist and the strongest Arcanist in the world, Protector Avin Arcellius!
"Calm down, Nassandra," he said. "Don't do anything stupid."
"But!"
He gave her a stern look and unleashed a hint of his aura a second time. Boom! Nassandra felt the tremendous power behind his Blue Depth Core, and although she resisted, she ultimately succumbed. Her outburst was snuffed out like that! However, this made her even angrier inside. First was telling her that her brother was… Second was acting against her. He was supposed to be her uncle, so why was he on everyone else's side! She was on the verge of erupting again until he said something shocking.
"I'll head there with you… to the Celestial Court!"