Angel extended his hand to touch the statue before him, in a blink everything around him stopped moving. He swept his gaze around him one more time, the butterflies that fly near him is froze in the midair, Cley and Claire who sitting on a branch of tree while Mayor Bernard stood below them in exhaustion stiffened on their position, even the wind around him stop to flow.
"I have waiting for you, Angelus Raizel..."
He turned his gaze to the source of the voice. A man with the same aged as him stood before him, he has warm face, his dark blue hair neatly combed back and his eyes was sharp as him.
"Prince Lucian?" he said in confusion.
Lucian looked at him gently.
"This is the first time we meet face to face, are you not afraid of me?"
"I'm a dead person who back to life, why should I be afraid?"
Lucian gave him a warm smile.
"You still fearless as usual." then he turned his gaze to the statue behind him.
"It's seems my father also knows you will come... He even makes a statue for both of us."
"What is this all about?" he asked.
Lucian returned his gaze back to him.
"The crystal has tangled our fated together... the shadow tried to insert the crystal into my body, but the power of the crystal was too great. I couldn't control it, the crystal destroyed my body and mind from the inside... When the shadow took it back, my spirit fragments mixed in it and come to your body. That's why your hair color changes into mine."
He blinking in confusion as his brows creased atop his forehead.
"You inside of me all this time?"
"Yes, as the shadow bring the crystal to us... Our fate is changed... While my fate ended because of the crystal... Your fate is to carry on my fate as well to carry the burden for Andromeda Continent."
"But... Why me? Why the crystal choose me? What is this crystal? Who is that shadow? Why he attacked us? " he asked impatiently, the confusion overwhelms his mind, he really need the answer right away.
Lucian shook his head.
"I don't know either... What I know the crystal power is too great, I never felt a great power that overwhelming like that before. Even compared to my father... That crystal is far more powerful."
He sighed in disappointment.
"It's seems you as clueless as me."
"Forgive me, I can't give you more clue to avenge your father."
He appeared pensive for a moment before looking back at Lucian.
"Lucian, can anyone see you except me?"
"No... Even you can see me, but actually I'm not here. I talk to you in your heart. This form... Is only a reflection that my father made with his magic formation that hiding inside the statue."
He sighed again.
"Is that so? Well that's a pity... Because I think someone really misses you."
Lucian gave him another smile.
"You mean that foolish assistant of mine, Chay Fadington?"
"Yes, I think he feel really guilty about your death."
"He a stubborn person, If I didn't cast a 'binding spell' on him, he would be stupidly attacking that shadow even though he can't fight."
He chuckled as he remembered how messy Chay's face was when he met him.
"I can see it, he is reckless person, but he is a loyal subordinate. It's must be fun to have a good assistant like him."
"Indeed... That's why I can't let him die..." Lucian turned his gaze to Cley and Claire that not far from him. "They just turned two years old at that time... I don't want they grow up without a father."
He took a glance to Cley and Claire then returned his gaze to Lucian.
"I know... I would do the same if I'm on your position at that time."
Lucian returned his gaze to him and stared at him deeply.
"Angelus Raizel... Forgive me, I have to trouble you. I leave this kingdom with you. Please protect my people..."
He gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'll do my best, Lucian..."
Lucian walked toward him and vanished like a smoke when he walked pass his body, then in an instant everything around him moving back normally.
"Cley! Claire! Get down now!" Mayor Bernard shouted. But the kids seems ignored him and keep laughing while sitting on the branch.
Angel smiled at their act and walked toward them.
"I'll get them, we must return to the city before the sun is set."
Mayor Bernard's mouth became stiff in an instant. He turned his gaze to him as a frown started to develop on his forehead.
"Return to the city? Now?"
"Yes, Sir Chay will be worried if they don't come back early. It's their first adventure outside the city afterall." he replied.
A slightly panicked expression began to appear on Mayor Bernard's face. With great effort, he managed to display a relaxed expression again.
"But... I think you need to check this place a little more. I'm sure Chay doesn't mind if we stay here a little longer."
"No, I've explored this place enough for today . Beside this place is not far from the city, we can come back tomorrow."
"H-how about we stay a bit longer? This place... It's- It's a good place to relaxed around. " Mayor Bernard said accompanied by his awkward laugh.
Angel frowned at his strange behaviour then he suddenly remembered Chay's sad expression before he left the room.
He quickly grabbed Mayor Bernard's shoulder to face him and looked him with serious expression.
"Mayor, tell me what exactly happened? Why you holding us here?"
Mayor Bernard looked startled but he quickly fixed his expression back to normal. However, his palms started to break out sweats of tremendous anxiety.
"W-what? Of course not... What made you think like that?" he said awkwardly.
He narrowed his eyes as his suspicions grew stronger.
"There's no way the city hall closes for no reason, moreover Sir Chay, who is he hiding from?"
Mayor Bernard kept looking side to side, tried to avoid his eyes.
"W-what do mean? H-he didn't hiding from anyone. "
"Mayor, don't lie to me... He's a noble there's no way he didn't have any property. He is not stayed at the city hall but hiding there. He even plant some thorny plants around the fence to prevent people from entering." said Angel as he stared at him intensely.
Mayor Bernard turned away to covered his panic expression and remained silent, but he noticed it very clearly.
He couldn't helped but raised his voice under frustration.
"Why are you panicking? What exactly happened? Tell me!" he insisted.
Mayor Bernard took a deep breath as he knew he can't avoided his question anymore. His expression turned to sad as his eyes started to glistened with tears.
"The king... Wants to destroy the city... And build a fortress before he wage a war with another kingdom... But Chay... He defied the king's order... He gathered the support from other nobles and keep fought back in the court... The king issued his arrest warrant then he hiding in the city hall... Until this morning... We received a letter from the castle... I thought it was for me... But, I think it's for him... They already knew... He was hiding there... "
He released his hand from Mayor Bernard's shoulders and let out a sigh.
"Is he the one who told you to bring us here? So he can face it alone?"
Mayor Bernard nodded while keep his head down.
He quickly turned to the kids who still sitting on the branch.
"Lucian is right, his assistant is so foolish!" he said while extended his hand to Cley and Claire. In an instant, his dark aura lifted their body and flew them to his arms. He quickly turned around while carrying them.
"Let go! There's no time anymore!" he said as he run towards the garden exit.
Mayor Bernard immediately followed him from behind.