A knocking sound, accompanied by sound of door opening, interrupting their conversation. They turned their attention to the door as a middle-aged man with black gray hair entered the room, he paused a moment when realized his arrival was not in the right time.
"Ah... Am I disturbing your conversation?" he said awkwardly.
"Of course not, come in. We have waiting for you." Chay said as he gestured him to join them, then he turned his gaze to Angel.
"Sir Zel, this is Mayor Bernard Farcrest, a good friend of mine."
Mayor Bernard approached and bowed to greeted them.
"Good Afternoon, Sir Zel. Welcome to Pearl Gate City."
He rose from his seat and bowed to replied his greeting.
"Thank you for welcoming me, mayor."
"Bernard, Sir Zel wants to know about what happened to Prince Lucian ten years ago. Can you take him for a walk to the Lucian Garden? Maybe he can get some clue from there." Chay requested.
"Lucian Garden?" he asked.
"Yes, after Prince Lucian died, the late king built a garden for him on the place where he died and named it, the Lucian Garden. It's located not far from the city." Chay replied.
He bowed slightly to show his gratitude to Chay.
"Thank you, I really appreciate it."
"Oh, how about you take Cley and Claire to go with you? They look bored lately, but I can't take them out." Chay added.
"You aren't coming with us?" he asked again.
"No, I can't. Forgive me about that." Chay said as a slight sad smile appeared on his lips.
Mayor Bernard startled as he saw Chay's sad smile. He swept his gaze around the room and finally fixed his gaze to a letter on a desk that not far from there. That letter has the king's crown crest of Euphorion stamp on it, which means it's a letter from the castle, and then he looked at Chay worriedly.
"Chay... Come with us."
Chay shook his head.
"Bernard, please accompany Sir Zel, well."
Mayor Bernard stared at Chay for a while before he nodded reluctantly.
Chay turned his gaze to him and gave him a faint smile.
"Sir Zel... Please take care of my kids. I entrust them to you."
He puzzled for a while as he felt they covered something but he finally nodded to Chay's request.
"I will take care of them."
"You must leave now before the sun is set." Chay continued.
"We'll take our leave." said Mayor Bernard, his eyes still stared at Chay worriedly.
Angel and Mayor Bernard gave a slight bow to excuse themselves and walked toward the exit. When he closed the door he glanced at Chay who was still standing looking at him and caught a sad expression that clearly visible on his face.
Chay looked to the door as Angel left the room. His mind began to drifted away as he remembered the late king last words after he used his last magic power to foresee the future of his kingdom.
***
"Your Majesty, are you sure about that? Are you sure you will change the rules for taking the throne and imprisoning the four elemental spirits?" Chay said worriedly.
The king smiled faintly to him, his breath looked weak.
"Yes, there's no other way. My time is drawing near..."
"But... What if the new king is not suitable to ruled Euphorion?"
"Chay... Listen... This is my last prophecy... Euphorion will be covered in darkness for eight years but the destined king will come. He is a prince who is banished from his own kingdom, dark forces will envelop him, people will consider him as a bad person, his reputation will be tarnished but his heart is pure. He would carry a heavy burden that had never been carried by any king before. He would save Euphorion from destruction and being the protector of Andromeda Continent."
"Where I can find him?"
"He will appear on the place where Lucian died and come to you to asking about him. Because he shared the same fate as him."
"How do I know it was him?"
"He has the same sharp eyes as my son, also inherited his will to protect this kingdom, his people. You will recognize him at the first glance."
****
Chay smiled sadly.
"It's has been eight years... Euphorion have been waiting for you for eight years... And you come just like the late king's prophecy... But it's a pity... I can't accompany you or see how Euphorion is under your reign. Because my time... Is come." he whispered.
Another knocking sound accompanied by the sound of the door opening came. Chay looked startled when he saw Avira entered the room.
"Avira, why you still here?"
Avira walked to him as she looked at him gently.
"They will come, right? That's why you send them to the Lucian Garden. "
Chay let out a sigh.
"You already knew..."
"We already married for fifteen years; you can't hide anything from me. Is the letter that just arrived this morning is your last warning for surrender from the castle? "
Chay clenched his hands as his eyes filled with determination.
"Yes... They want to destroy this city and build a fortress before he wage a war to another kingdoms as well destroy the garden. This city was built by Prince Lucian himself... I won't let him...I would never let him to destroy this city..." then he turned his gaze to Avira and took her hand gently.
"Avira, you should go with them and take care our children. "
She shook her head.
"How could I ever leave you at the time like this? We are husband and wife, moreover they also know about me. I doubt they will let me go."
Chay looked down with sad expression.
"I never intended to involve you in the first place. "
Avira held Chay's face with both of her hands and raised it.
"It's fine... As long Cley and Claire is safe...it's fine by me."
Chay looked at the woman he had been married for fifteen years and rubbed her face gently.
"Forgive me; I've been troubling you all this time."
Avira hugged him slowly; her tears started flowing down on her cheeks.
"Chay... I will accompany you... no matter what happens... I will stay by your side. "