"Are you sure it's okay for you to come here? I thought the church were always busy with daily work?"
Kaien asked the Head Priest who approached both of them. Staring at his face, especially his eyes that were seen closed shut even when he moves to a direction, and the stiff smile imprinted on his face that doesn't seem to change at all.
"It's fine, I will not stay long. I just want to see Prince Edle's progress on using his magic, and it seemed like you're doing well, Prince."
Terramai spoke before averting his gaze at Kaien to Edle.
"Yes. It truly is surprising for me to be able to gain control of the magic inside my body in such a short time."
Magic users cultivate their magic for years ever since they learned that they can use it. Mastering control takes time, concentration and patience. For Edle to pull it out in such a short amount of time is truly incredible.
"Yeah, It's like you are meant to use and master magic from the start."
"Well, there's no way I could do something like this if it wasn't for that girl."
Edle responded to Kaien as he saw the image of the girl who awakened his magic after mentioning her. After standing idly on the sidelines and listening to them, the Head Priest spoke.
"That's right, a mysterious girl awakened your magic for you right after she defeated a monster in Carmila Town, right?"
The memories of the events in Carmila Town started coming back to Edle right after the Head Priest spoke.
"Yeah, to think that a person who has the ability to awaken one's magic exists, this world really is mysterious."
"It truly is."
Terramai responded as both of them turned their eyes to the Pope again.
"In any case, I'm glad that a person who posess such an incredible power is not on the side of evil. If I get a chance, I'd like to meet her and share our wisdoms to each other."
Soon after he spat the words to Edle and Kaien, the Head Priest turned back as the sun radiates at the back of his white vestment full of gold trim and other holy symbols.
"Oh, you're leaving, Head Priest?"
"Yes, like I said, I don't intend to stay long in the castle."
The Head Priest turned his face back to Edle before leaving.
"Be well, Prince Edle. I hope to meet you again sometime soon."
Terramai then went away and disappeared from their sight. After that, Edle reminded Kaien to fix the damaged areas, then, he went inside the castle in the throne room. There, he finds his Mother, Elena Q. Reilaea, and the King who became his new Father after marrying his Mother, Castile Q. Reilaea. Watching the two rulers seemingly enjoying their time watching the outside through the window as the King caress the Queen's slender waist. Seeing the King clinging into his Mother sends an unpleasant feeling to Edle.
*Thud*
He stepped in a way that the two could hear him coming in. The two turned their attention to Edle before Castile took his hand off of Elena.
"Oh, you're back, Edle. Are you done with practicing your magic today?"
"Yes, Mother..."
Edle tried to look onto his Mother, but the calm expression and look Castile gave him makes him feel even more unpleasant and infuriated.
"No, Queen, I have finally gained control of using my magic today."
"Oh, that's a great news."
"Indeed it is."
The King's words made Edle's brows furrow as he lowered his head so that no one could see the look on his face filled with irritation at Castile. However the King still noticed it, but he did not react whatsoever and remained calm. Instead, the two rulers began to exchange words with each other.
"Speaking of great news, why don't we announce it to the public at the same time we announce him turning 17 in a few days today, Elena?"
The Queen nodded as she responded to her husband.
"Yes. I think that's a good idea."
"They're going out?"
Edle mumbled to his head. Then, the two approached him as they invited Edle to come with them to the town square.
"Do you want to come with us?"
"It would be nice if we announce it to the people with you."
The King spoke as the queen followed suit, inviting Edle to come. However, Edle rejected their invitation.
"I'm sorry, but using my magic continously made me feel exhausted, and so I would like to go back to my room."
"I see. That's too bad. Then, I'll announce it to the people with Castile. Let's go, Dear."
"Alright."
Edle lowered his head and himself on his knees as the Queen and the King walked passed by him. The King stared down on Edle as Castile followed Elena out of the castle.
"Tch!"
Edle uttered a sound as he grit his teeth. He stood back up and went to his room to get a rest. He laid himself on his bed as he watched the same ceiling he sees in his room everyday, doing so reminded him of his talk to his Mother and the King that he can't seem to accept as his new Father.
"That bastard... Peace between countries? He just wanted to take over our country and take my Mother!"
Edle clenched his fist as he tries to cover his eyes with his arm. But it was not enough to hold the tears overflowing of emotions from coming out.
"Dammit! Why did you have to go away, Father?"
A few moments later, Kaien began to knock on his door as he called Edle.
"Prince Edle, it's me."
Edle went up of his bed, wiped his tears before telling Kaien to come in.
"Come in."
Kaien opened the door and went in, and when he did, he immediately noticed Edle's eyes that looked like that of someone who just cried not too long ago, and the part of the bed that was soaked obviously from Edle's tears.
"Are you crying?"
"No!"
The vexed tone in his words tells Kaien otherwise. Kaien then reported to Edle about fixing and replacing the areas of the castle grounds was done.
"Fixing the damaged properties of the castle grounds is done. There should be no trace of debris and burned marks that would leave a bad impression to the castle."
"I see. Well done. Now then, let's go straight to the point."
"Yes, Prince."
"But first, can you not call me "Prince" anymore? I told you that you can get rid of that name when there are only two of us."
"Forgive me, but I can't possibly call the Prince in such a disrespectful manner."
"I don't care! We were born the same day and was raised at the same time with the same people. If you don't want to disrespect me, then obey my orders. Start by calling me by my name as if we are brothers, Kaien."
"But..."
"How stubborn... Just do it."
"A-alright Pri... Edle..."
Edle spat out a sigh, watching Kaien struggling from calling him by his name instead of his position in the kingdom. Edle let it slide for now as he moved on and went back to what Kaien's true intent of coming.
"Try to get used to it later, for now, tell me what you know."
"Yes. Then, I'll start with the studies of the crystal we got from the purple creature."
A reoccurring scene of the alchemist carefully studying the crystal can be seen as Kaien told Edle the result.
"It's unfortunate to say, but the alchemist cannot determine what kind of crystal it was, nor where it came from and how it was formed. But she was sure that wherever it came from, it came from a place us humans have not stepped into yet."
"No good result, huh? Then, tell the alchemist to continue her study on it, it might be useful later once we encounter another one of those creatures."
"Alright. Then, about the person who attempted to execute you. The person you have suspected, the King... We haven't found anything suspicious going on with the King so far."
"I see. Continue watching his actions without being caught, and tell me if you ever find something suspicious."
Edle spoke in a serious tone as he puts himself on his bed again. While Kaien who's standing beside the door continues to look at Edle as he replied.
"Understood."
A brief silence occured as Edle looked at the ceiling like he did earlier. Then, Kaien asked him.
"Shouldn't you talk to your Mother, the Queen about it?"
Edle averted his eyes on the concrete ceiling as he turned his direction towards Kaien.
"No, that Castile is always clinging on her, If we tell her about the people trying to execute me, they might use Mother against me. Besides... She's too busy keeping the peace of the country to care about her son being chased to death."
"Are you... Do you hate the Queen?"
Edle raised his voice on Kaien as he replied.
"I'm...!"
Edle turned around, facing the window.
"I'm tired. I want to sleep, leave me alone for now."
...
"Alright. Call me anytime you need me."
Kaien left Edle's room, closing the door gently. After he did, Edle spoke to himself.
"So he forgets calling me in a formal way whenever he's giving his opinion, huh?"
A few hours passed as the afternoon hit the Kingdom, occupying one of the rectangular tables inside the Adventurers' Guild with a meal served by the Guild in front of her, The once Silver plated dog tag Christa put on around her neck was replaced with Gold that shines from the light of one of the lightlamps in the hall.
"Gold..."
A reoccurring events of the time she arrived at the Adventurers' Guild can be seen as she stares at the Gold dog tag.
A few moments after leaving Karna Village, Christa arrived at Reilaea Kingdom. When she did, she went straight to the Adventurers' Guild, completely unaware that the receptionist was waiting for her return.
"Congratulations on getting to Gold rank, Adventurer Christa Scarletblood."
"Gold?"
Confused to the sudden news, the receptionist explained to her what happened.
"Your party leader, Adventurer Itsuo Itagami and the other party member, Selene Trost arrived a few moments ago reporting that you three have completed the quest at Karna Village. And as we were about to give them the reward money and the credits that the party shares, Mister Itsuo requested that we give you most of the credits and a share of the reward money as you have killed most of the goblins and destroyed the nest from inside-out all by yourself."
The receptionist proceeded to give the Gold dog tag and the rest of the reward money to Christa.
Back to the present where she continues to consciously stare at the dog tag, Christa spoke to herself before she performed a content smile.
"I hope he get to buy the medicine her Mother needs. And I hope I get to see them soon."