In one of the four gates of the walls that leads to the city of Reilaea, the prince, along with a knight that is always beside him stood right in the middle of the road while the other knights stood from the two sides of the plain earth path, they all stood in a straight line, completely unmoved like a stone and dignified like a true knight.
One of the knights who are in the far front spoke in a loud voice as he watch the royal carriage of the queen approaching the capital from the horizon.
"The Queen of Reilaea Kingdom is coming!" his words relayed to everyone and into Kaien that which he told Edle the announcement himself.
"The Queen is here." Kaien spoke in a dignified manner as Edle nodded in response. "Yes."
After announcing the arrival and the entry of the Queen to the city, the knights started marching in front and on the sides, escorting the carriage carrying the Queen inside, with Edle, Kaien and his unit of knights following short after.
The parade continued to move steadily forward in a normal pace, giving the people the chance to watch the parade of the Queen riding her ever so Elegant and Magnificent Royal Carriage, painted by the vibrant colors of Red that symbolizes War and Strength, that the Kingdom of Reilaea once was during a war in the past. And white that symbolizes the changing of the once fearsome country into a Kingdom of Peace and Tranquillity.
The parade went on for some time, but soon after, it reached its end as the Royal Carriage of the Queen arrived at the palace, and her arrival ended without any trouble. Together with the Prince and Kaien, the two along with Kaien went together inside the palace, where they headed to the throne of Edle's Mother, the queen
"I'm sure you know what I came here for, Mother..." Edle spoke in a serious tone to his Mother who was just about to take a seat on the throne after a tiresome travel from afar. "What was the other countries' thoughts about those unknown creatures? Did some of them already encountered one?"
Without hesitation, Edle asked if the other countries have already seen the crystal purple creatures that had caused quite a number of lives lost, not just to the capital city, but to a town as well.
"The creatures, huh...?" The Queen, Elena finally sat on the empty throne seat. She gently brushed off her hair lying on her shoulder before she continue to speak. "I mentioned this matter to the recent meeting of Kings and Queens, and it looks like we are not the only one who encountered those unknown purple creatures."
Curious to what countries have also seen the creatures, he asked the Queen of their names.
The Queen responded by revealing their names. "There are three Kingdoms who have answered my question and told that they have seen the crystal-like creatures. Cartha, Meleia and Loisiln are those three." Elena continues. "I asked what kind of creatures and when did they encounter them, just like what you saw with the Adventurers back then, the creatures they've seen have also taken form of other creatures we know."
Edle continued to ask whether any of the three countries knows how to deal with the creatures. His Mother responded and told him that Meleia and Loisiln have indeed encountered and managed to kill it. But the country of Cartha didn't, instead they have successfully captured it alive.
His curiosity fueled up after hearing one of the three kingdoms managed to capture the creature. Considering the fact that the purple creature can grow stronger, for a kingdom to capture a monster alive that could rival the high ranked soldiers and adventurers, and can regenerate on top of that. The kingdom of Cartha must have a powerful people in their country.
"So, have they tried studying the monster? Did they share what they have found to you?" Yes. That's the first thing that comes to Edle's mind the moment he heard a creature was captured alive. Ever since they got the crystal, they've been trying to identify what kind of crystal it was, but so far, the alchemist who's been tasked to do so doesn't have the answer.
"I did tried to ask the king of Cartha but, just as I expected, he brushed off my request." The Queen regretfully replied. "It can't be helped, a lot has happened between us and that country since way back in the past. It's only natural that they won't give us information that might be really important."
"So there are things in this world that doesn't change even after all this years..." After what Edle said as if he's trying to say something else than what he spoke, the throne room became silent.
The queen is sitting with a down expression on her face, Edle furrowed his brows as he averts his eyes from the queen, while Kaien is quietly standing from behind the prince.
After a few seconds of the awkward silence that poured into the throne room, the queen finally said a word. "Let's save that matter for later and think about how we are going to celebrate your birthday..."
The Queen continues as she apologizes to her son. "I'm sorry, we had to postpone the celebration due to the people who had to tend on fixing the damaged establishments and houses. And..."
The prince began frowning, showing his irriation that is gradually rising. While Kaien is quietly gazing at him, and even though he couldn't see it from behind, he can feel Edle's exasperation growing around him.
Even the queen saw it, but even so, she continues to speak. "...I didn't know the meeting would happen that early, I'm sorry."
Edle performed a short and low sigh, as if he quietly lets out his annoyed feeling. After that, he responded. "Being sympathetic doesn't suit you, you were way better back then. Back when you and Father were still together in the battlefield."
His Mother's eyes bugged out with his response, and the throne room becomes silent once again. Shortly after, the queen tried to speak to her son once more in order to get to his good side. "Hey, do you want to celebrate your birthday the day after tomorrow?"
"Do whatever you want. You can decide that yourself, right? You never needed me when you married that man, after all." But the prince easily brushed her off. "I got what I came here for, I'm leaving. Let's go, Kaien."
Kaien lowered his head to Edle in response as he went passed Kaien, but before he followed the prince, he turned his direction towards the queen who is looking at Edle as he goes out of the throne room. Their eyes meet and began to stare down with each other as if they are talking inside their minds.
The queen nods her head on Kaien while showing an anxious and awkward smile. Kaien understood it as the queen is sending him off and follow Edle, and so, he faced the queen, lowered his head and speaks. "Then..."
The knight then went outside and followed the prince. After that, the throne room became bereft of sound, and the queen was left behind alone in a spacious room with an empty seat beside her. She looked at it with a gloomy look on her face, there, she spoke to herself as she continues to look at the empty throne seat.
"It's too quiet..."
.
.
In a path towards the village of Eisvel, Christa, riding on Titania's back, the two are steadily moving forward to the village. Thanks to her ability, Titania was able to travel through the day light without the people passing by seeing her, although the wind she generates from her speed surprises them.
"Amazing! They can't see us passing by!" Christa spoke while also being affected by Titania's useful invisible ability, making her invisible from the naked eye along with the giant snake.
The two continues to push forward down the road, and eventually after riding with Titania for some time, the girl and the giant snake finally reached their destination - Eisvel village.
Christa's smile were as bright as the sun as they get to see the full view of the village from a high ground. "There it is..." Titania spoke as Christa followed suit. "Eisvel Village."
After a few moments of sight seeing, the two decided to part ways there. Christa says her good bye to Titania as the giant snake did the same with their brief farewell.
"I'll take it from here, Titania. Thank you for taking me here."
"I'll wait for you at the forest and give you ride back at the Reilaea capital, Christa."
"Eh? Are you serious? You're going to let me ride with you again?"
"Yeah."
Christa's eyes widens in excitement.
"Ooh! I will look forward to it! Then, see you later!"
"Take care, Christa."
With that, the giant snake went back to the forest as Christa takes her time to walk towards the village before her. She enjoys the beautiful scenery of nature and the refreshing sound the animals make as she approaches the village. Soon after, she could see the entrance of the village not far from a distance, where villagers are standing on guard. The villagers noticed her coming towards the village.
"Ah, a person."
"Again? Should we tell the chief about this?"
"No, wait. That person doesn't look like a member of those wood cutters."
The three villagers talked to each other as the person gets closer and closer. Little by little, they realized the person was a girl, clad in a red tunic and black leggings, with a bag of swords hanging on her back. As she gets even closer where they could see her eyes gleaming with crimson red color, the villagers finally realized who she was.
"Hey, isn't that the student of the caster Angelika?"
"Those eyes... Yeah it is her."
Christa finally stopped, close enough for her to talk to the villagers. The villagers and the girl began exchanging their cordial greetings.
"Good morning!" Christa spoke first.
"Good day to you, young lady."
"Say, aren't you the kid that Angelika was mentoring and took you in her care before?" two of the three villagers responded.
"Yes, it's me, Christa. Angelika's student."
Having said that, the villager instantly knew it was her, the kid who Angelika brought with her when she came to their village.
"See? I knew it was her! The little girl Angelika brought with her when she came to help the village 8 years ago!" The villager turned his direction towards Christa after he excitedly talks about her and Angelika from the other villagers. "It's only been 8 years, but you've grown into a fine young lady, little Christa."
The man wandered his eyes through Christa's body, that which made christa feel cautious and flustered. She then laughed in an awkward way as a response to the villager.
'Who are you...?' The girl in red whispered to herself.
Finally, one of the villagers cuts in, pointing her finger on the bag of swords behind Christa. "Say, is that bag of swords for the village?"
After hearing her question, Christa shows the bag on the villager and responded. "Yes, this is the swords from Mr. Owen, the sword maker in the capital. I'm here to deliver this here."