Her body felt weak but she knows she's alive. She gathered all her strength to barely open her eyes. She half opened her eyes and saw a glimpse of light. It took her awhile to open her eyes fully. She roamed her eyes around. She can tell she's lying down in a room. But clearly, it is not her room. Compared to that, this place is much more warm and it smells like an old wood. Nonetheless, she likes it. She heaved a deep sigh that made her lungs ache. She moaned in pain.
"I see you're awake. Good morning, little lady!" an old woman came to her view and greeted her cheerfully. She wanted to say something but she can't.
"Better to reserve your strength later, little girl. You're all beaten up good. If it weren't for my skills, then you'd be dead by now." The old woman said. She can imagine what she's saying. After what she had gone through, it seems a miracle that she's alive until now.
"You've been asleep for two days now. I'm glad you're awake. But for now, you need more rest to fully recover your strength. I'll be going now." The old woman said and touched her forehead affectionately. It gave her warmth. She wanted to ask where she is but she felt that she need not to know and let her eyes close from reality again.
MEANWHILE, the council of the country of Amane was in distress. The mystery of a sudden disappearance of their guards and the clothes as their sole remnants.
A meeting was held the day after the incident. It was attended by the twelve Divine Councilors and Prince Adlai himself.
"We should put our guards up even more! Tighten the security!" said Councilor Zaman as he slammed the table as he talked.
"Would you mind hiding that barbaric trait of yours? Just so you know, this is a sacred place." Said Councilor Shun.
"You're pretty much calm about this matter, Lord Shun. Seems suspicious to me." Said Councilor Jotham stiffly.
"Oh? You're suspecting me now, eh? I would prefer if you would present me an evidence first before accusing me falsely." Councilor Shun replied with a smirk, all while holding his fan in front of his face covering his nose down to his neck.
"Will you stop this nonsense?! Let's just hear it from those who had seen it." Demanded Councilor Amiana, the only girl in the Divine Circle.
The rest just nodded and Councilor Zaman retired to his seat. When everyone calmed down, Prince Adlai cleared his throat.
"His highness is still in his worst condition. So, in his behalf of him, I shall facilitate this meeting." He started. Everyone seem to despise him except Councilor Zaman who held his head high and grinned.
"So, what did really happened, Prince Adlai?" asked Councilor Jotham.
"Is it true that it's a monster?" asked Councilor Zaman with an excited look on his face.
Councilor Amiana remains her calm demeanor and Councilor Shun showed a face of disgust. The rest of the generals remains silent. It was always these four who got something to say.
"We did not really saw what happened." Prince Adlai started. The sound of disappointment echoed inside the sacred hall. "But what we saw when we arrived at the gate were just the clothes of our men. Am I right, Lord Zereko?" He said then glanced towards to his right where Lord Zereko was standing the whole time.
"Yes, Your Highness." He replied with his eyes closed.
"Just clothes?" Councilor Jotham were as surprised as everyone in the room. There were murmurs that filled the room.
"What does that mean?" confused Councilor Beau, from a noble family asked.
"We don't know either. All was left were clothes and everything they had worn on their body but there no trace of them. There were evidence that our men attacked but there were no traces of blood. But, the remnants were warmer than usual. We have not seen the culprit either. We believe that they have escaped just as we arrived at the gate." Said the Prince. Everyone was in deep confusion and were asking each other. Everyone, except for one.
Councilor Balthasar, the oldest member of the circle. He was and will always be loyal to the current bedridden king. He already had his guesses when he heard the rumor from his men but when he heard it from the prince itself, it confirmed his guess. He knew what it was and who might that be.
"I wonder…" said Councilor Shun that made everyone silent. "What would be the acting king would do?" he continued. Everyone looked at the prince.
"My men, we're already on track. It seems that we're dealing with an amateur. They did not even bother to erase their tracks. It will be a matter of time before they'll find them." The Prince said proudly.
"Or…." Everyone were surprised. Even Prince Adlai, to hear Councilor Balthasar speak. His appearance might be just a fat old man with both hair and beard turned white but when he speak, it shows much dignity and wisdom.
"Would it be your men, that could be called as an amateur?" he asked mocking the prince. All the councilors were speechless and the prince just raised an eyebrow.
"What if, it's just a trap that were set by the enemy to lure them and have them as hostages and interrogate them and use them against us?" Councilor Balthasar continued.
"What are you trying to say then? Asked the prince.
"I'm trying to say that withdraw your men." Councilor Balthasar said. Everyone gasped.
"But, Divine Councilor, they killed our men! It's as though we're gonna let them die in vain without taking a revenge!" snarled Lord Zereko. A murmur of agreement were heard from others.
"Lord Zereko is right, Lord Balthasar. It is also a direct insult to our country." Prince said.
"AS you have said earlier, it was our men who attacked the enemy, right? What if, they were just mistaken as an enemy and attacked by our men and were forced to defend themselves? Wouldn't it leave a bad image into our country, would it?" The Councilor said. The hall turned silent.
"Intimidating visitors is different from an enemy attack, Prince Adlai. I assume it is our men's fault that they died." He continued and Lord Zereko was gritting his teeth and clenching his fist.
"But my men just tried to protect the country." He said.
"What if the enemy were just forced to defend themselves?" defended Councilor Balthasar. "And as the prince mentioned earlier, they were amateur in hiding their tracks. That could mean two things. They might be in a hurry because of the fear your men inflicted on them, or, they could be a trap." He continued.
"Why are you so sure that it was our men who attacked first Lord Bal?" asked Councilor Shun.
"The Prince never mentioned that they were signs that the enemy attacked. He just said that it was our men who attacked them. Let me guess… the weapons that you have seen were just ours right?" Lord Balthasar asked, addressing the question to the prince.
"Yes, Lord Balthasar. However, it could also be possible that they have retrieved their weapons and arrows.��� Said the Prince.
"But you mentioned earlier that you believed that by the time you arrived at the gate, they just escaped at the same time? Did you really think, that they would bother to take all their weapons with them?" Lord Balthasar confronted.
"And besides, if it is a direct attack or a challenge of war, why would take their weapons with them?" added Councilor Jotham. "I apologize but as things as it is now, I believe, it is easier to follow Lord Bal's words for now." He added.
"I'm on the same boat." Councilor Shun said which made everyone agree as well as it is the first time that Councilor Shun and Councilor Jotham agreed on the same thing.
However, Councilor Zaman suddenly slammed his hands on the table.
"Just because of these odds things and unknown strategies from the enemy you'll back down! I did not joined this circle just to stay silent on this kind of matter! I demand treason for what they did!" he yelled.
"Then why don't you and your men go ahead and pursue the culprit if you want?!" snarled Councilor Amiana.
"What?!" Councilor Zaman yelled again.
"I agree.. It would not hurt the country if we would lose goons like you who only bring shame to this country." Said Councilor Shun. Councilor Zaman growled.
"I guess we need to maintain the peace and avoid wars. Resorting to violence would only mean to tarnish the long years of legacy of our ancestors." Said Councilor Rupert who has the greatest influence in religion.
"Now that it is a majority, I guess this meeting is commended." Said Councilor Jotham.
"Prince Adlai, do you have any objections?" asked Councilor Beau. Prince Adlai sighed.
"All right. If that's what the majority's decision, then I have no objections." He said and stormed out of the room.
""He doesn't like it, eh?" asked Councilor Shun.
"Yeah, I suppose so." Said Councilor Jotham and walked out of the room calmly. Everyone else in the room followed except for Councilor Zaman who was still sulking. Lord Zereko came to his senses and stormed out from the room running and was searching for the prince.
"Prince Adlai! You're highness! Wait a minute!" yelled Lord Zereko as he was running to catch up with the prince.
"Lord Zereko, let's talk about this in my study." Said the Prince.
"All right You're highness." Lord Zereko replied and followed the Prince.
Little did they know, there were people who overheard their conversation.
"What do you think will happen to this country?" one asked as the prince and Lord Zereko left.
"I think the current king won't be staying long in this world. I guess it comes down to his two sons. But the question is…:" one person replied.
"Who among the two is worthy to be a king?" other asked.
"Well, who will we rooting to?"
"I don't really like Prince Adlai."
"That's too blunt of you. Well, I won't pretend that I like the prince but isn't it our responsibility to guide him when time the that he will be crowned as the new king?"
"Yes it is. But do you really think it's an easy job? That look on his face when he left the meeting hall is really bad."
"He got pretty unpleasant attitude there. But if he will be crowned as the king, that would be a lot of job for us to do. Well, that might break the ice of somehow eternal silence of this country."
"After all, the other prince is nowhere to be seen. Therefore, the probability of Prince Adlai to be the next king is higher."
"Do you agree as well, Divine General"
"Who knows?" the latter answer and left followed by the others.
MEANWHILE, somewhere in the mountains that surrounded the country of Amane, a group of people had been living there for not so long. They lived right after the current king was bedridden. Just few days ago, a girl had been brought in by them and took care of her even though the identity of her is unknown.
Once again after few days, she woke up in the same room when she first woke up. The sun that touches her face made her feel alive. She moved slowly and remove the blanket from her body. She doesn't feel any pain but she felt weak. Maybe it is due to the fact that she had been sleeping and not eating anything at all.
She slowly walked out from her bed and made her way to the window and open it. She slowly opened the window and for the first time after her escape to the castle, she felt the sun freely. Without any worry that she might kill someone. For once, she felt something she didn't before. But that delight was interrupted too soon. She didn't noticed that there were kids outside playing.
"Hey! She's awake!" a little boy with a squinted eyes yelled.
"Oh yes she is!" another boy said.
"Hey! Would you mind playing with us?" one asked.
"Come on! We're just playing tag!" they gathered near her. She panicked and suddenly closed the door. She can't feel her mask anymore and she doesn't want to cause trouble either.
She panted inside and went back to her bed and covered herself in the blanket again.
Outside, she can hear the angry voices of the kids forcing her to come out and banging the window.
"Hey kids! If you won't stop that, a monster will come out and eat you!" she heard a man talk.
"A monster? But she's just a girl!" exclaimed the kids.
"Well now, she's still sick so let her rest for now." The man said and the children just said yes and went to another place to play.
She stayed still in her blanket. She was thinking about what that man said earlier.
"If you won't stop that, a monster will come out and eat you!"
"A monster, huh? I've totally forgotten about that." She whispered to herself under the blanket.
"I only meant it as a joke though." Suddenly someone just spoke beside her. She leapt in surprise that made her fall from the bed.
"Sorry, I did not meant to startle you." the man said and went over her to help her but she stopped him.
"Stop! Don't look at me! You'll get killed!" she snarled and tried to cover her eyes with her hands however, the man was faster and was able to grab her hand. She closed her eyes intently to avoid gaze with the man.
"Let go of me!" she yelled still closing her eyes.
"No. Look at me." He said calmly. She kept struggling from his grip but the man held her firmly.
"I said let go!" she yelled again but with more aggressive tone.
"All right, all right." The man said and let go of her. He sighed and looked at her.She panted and turned her back against him.
"Tch! Is that how you treat the person who saved you? How disappointing." He said and sat at her bed. "Not to mention I lent you this room." He added.
She was surprised and unintentionally looked at him. Her eyes widened at this but he just smiled and looked at her with kindness. They stared at each other for a while.
"Y-You're not—." She stuttered. The man then chuckled.
"That's right. I am not turning into ashes." He said with a smile.
"H-H-How is that happening?" she asked with a surprised expression.
"Well, hmm… Let's just put it this way. We're the same." He said and winked.
"We're the same?" she said then paused and let out a sigh and ha a sad expression on her eyes. The man saw this and decided to change the topic.
"Now, tell me. Your name, age, and where're you from." He demanded and indian sit in front of her.
"Name?" she asked in confusion.
"Yes, name." he said with a smile.
"W-What's a name?" she asked. The man's jaw dropped.
"You didn't know what name is?!" he asked ans she nodded. He heaved a deep sigh and scratched his head. "Well, it is given to you by your parents or guardian. Once give to you, no one's gonna take it from you. It is something you'll be called for the rest of your life." He explained and was struck by the way she looked at him. She looks so innocent, or so what he thought. She just looked down and said.
"I don't know. My parents had never given me one." She looked sad.
"If they never gave you one, then what they call you?" he asked.
"I never really talked to my parents ever since I was born." She replied. He knows how hard it is for her that way but he needs to asked her about her identity at least.
"How did you lived then?" he continue to ask.
"After I was born, I was put into a small room with white walls and just a small window. I've always been there since then." She replied.
Well, if she doesn't know her name, maybe she doesn't know about her age also, he thought.
"That must be tough. I can understand if you wanted to go outside." He said with a hint of sympathy. She nodded.
"My friend bird brought me a small piece of torn material. It was strange. I saw a lots of people on it. How can people be on that small thing? And they're not moving." She said and he laughed. She looked at him with confused reaction.
"Sorry, I laughed too hard. That thing must be a picture." He said while wiping his tears due to laughing so hard.
"A picture?" she asked again.
"It is a product after a certain material captures it. It has the same eyes as humans and it captures anything that we wanted to preserve as remembrance. Although, only rich people can afford that thing." He said shrugging his shoulders.
There was an awkward silence between them. Though she didn't mind it, he found it so uncomfortable.
He cleared her throat and said, "Uhm.. Do you know where you came from though?" he asked to get rid of dead air even though he wasn't expecting a positive response from her.
"I was told that I will be a tool for Helvede. So I am assuming that I am from that place." She replied. He was surprised by this.