"Woah, I didn't know Khloris was actually married. The stories always said that she had stayed in her paradise of flowers, not giving a care about anything else." Erion said.
"If you'd read enough ancient books, you would've found out that she was the one who transformed Hyakinthos' body into a larkspur flower." Lavi was now lying on my bed behind the two princes—his head leaning upon his hand while his back towards us.
Why is he getting too comfortable with a bed that is not his own?
The second prince twisted his upper body to face the lax wizard behind him. "When have you been the type of person to read such books? And who is this Hyakinthos?"
"Since always, I stumble upon ancient stories about gods whenever I had trainings." Lavi rose into a sitting position and crossed his legs. "Hyakinthos was a Ventus prince, Zephyros' lover."
Erion looked mind-blown. I raised my eyebrows, feeling equally shocked that such a dramatic story existed.
Prince Alistair was quiet with a hand on his chin, probably thinking about the things I had told them. Then he opened his lips to speak,
"They call you Sol… because apparently you are this 'bearer of Pure Light' person, correct?"
I nodded. The crown prince's deep ocean eyes were focused on mine, his expression serious yet serene.
"Do you have any idea how this began? Like how you obtained this said 'powerful element' inside you?"
"I don't. I'm clueless—empty as a desert." I sighed, thinking that he was saying it in a way that made everything seem so true. "Besides, we're not so sure if the high priest and that Ventus man were telling the truth."
"That man said that he can sense this Pure Light inside you. I think that in itself can support the high priest's theory." Lavi said casually. Although, he didn't look at me—he was playing with a tiny magical ball of blue light, making it dance around his fingers.
"Maybe he was just lying." I answered firmly.
"Arne had no reason to lie." Erion's eyes were full of surety.
I just shrugged. "Now that you mention it, where is he right now?"
"Back in The Stone Box, we might get more answers from him just before he dies from the lack of dark aether." The black-haired prince said in a calm manner.
They call that place The Stone Box?
"Are you just going to let him die there? I mean, if Asiana is taken over by Kairos right now, he wouldn't have somewhere to return."
"That is true. Last night, we've somehow witnessed Kairos' influence already spreading on the towns and villages near the boundary." Prince Alistair answered. His expression told me that he was thinking deeply. "Don't worry, every man always has a place to return to."
His sentence confirmed the one thing I have been thinking about. The three of them had stayed up all night snooping around the outskirts of another country then rushed here after the long night. These boys were certainly sleep-deprived and tired. They could've just waited another day to talk to me.
I shook my head at the thought. How reckless and adventurous—just the type of things that get me excited. I should have tagged along with their overnight venture instead of dealing with a certain troublesome girlfriend.
"Alright, I have an idea." Erion stood up, hands on his hips. "Let's confirm it. Right here, right now."
"Confirm what?" Lavi asked.
"That she's Sol."
"What?" I blurted out.
I turned to Prince Alistair with a confused look but he seemed to have barely given it a thought and said, "Not bad, I don't oppose the recommendation."
"You should give it a try." Lavi said. It was the first time that he looked me in the eyes ever since this conversation began.
I leaned back on the chair as I let out a deep sigh. Well, I guess I could try. Then what? How would I react to the thing I might find out and know about—assuming that there really is something?
But the real question was, "How?"
"Hmmm…" Erion was pressing his chin while pacing left and right in front of the wizard and the Crown Prince. Then he stopped as he faced me. "You could summon some light. Like the thing you did at the residential area in the city."
I crossed my arms. "All I did was summon perithia just like any other descendant."
"How hard-headed, it was not 'just like any other', Calla. That was out of the ordinary." He made his tone even more convincing. Along with it, his black eyes turned into a shade darker than his hair. It had depicted the sincerity in his efforts of convincing me. "Come on, just call the light to you or whatever."
I threw my hands in the air—a gesture of defeat. "Fine, but don't expect anything to happen." Because there really is nothing and I am not what you think I am.
I closed my eyes and held out a hand. I tried to remember the time when I stopped the fire that ate the poor houses in the Eastern City. The time when I had miraculously healed the injured. I waited… waited… and waited.
Nothing came. I felt nothing—just emptiness. I also felt pathetic.
I opened my eyes and dropped my hand as I let out a breath. It might have been a breath of relief or a breath of disappointment. I don't know. "See? There's nothing. It was probably just a one-time thing."
Erion's brows met in disdain. "You're not trying hard enough. Arne said-"
"Arne probably made a mistake." I stood up. "Okay sure, he felt something. But it wasn't me. It could have been Lavi, or you Erion, or Prince Alistair. That man could have sensed this Pure Light thing in a whole other person who we know nothing about. But.it.is.not.me. And this moment proves it."
I looked at the three of them for the last time. I barely had the time to register their expressions before turning to the door. "Forgive me but I have private lessons to attend. You can use my room as you see fit. Please excuse me, your royal highnesses and great wizard."
Only the sound of the large wooden door that closed reverberated across the halls. The voices that echoed in my head, the constant pounding inside my chest—they were loud, but silent.
In truth, I had actually lied. My schedule was free for the whole day.
I walked down the long shiny stairs and headed to the guest room where I had left Sein. I knew the existence of the possibility that he might have already left and gone home. Maybe I was just stupid enough to hold onto that hope.
'That's right, run to a boy whenever you feel bitter and mad.' A vile voice crept its way into my mind. I immediately pushed it away—into the darkness where it should be.
As I turned into a corner, I nearly bumped into Anette. She was holding a silver tray. The teacup that Althea had used was placed upon it.
"Young lady, you look like you are in much of a hurry. Is something the matter?" She noticed that I was staring at the tray. "Oh, I met young master Seinfrede while I was on my way to clean the guest room. Were you perhaps going there to meet him?"
"Yes, is he still around?"
"I'm afraid not, young lady. A messenger came by and told the young master that his presence was much needed at the Royal Academy."
"A-Alright, that's fine. I'm sorry for imposing on your work, Anette."
Right, Sein has much more pressing matters than providing needless attention to a weak little girl who was a stupid adult in the inside. What was I thinking?
"It is not a problem, young lady." My personal maid smiled in a gentle way that hushed down my anxious guts.
The fact that I failed to catch up to Sein made my heart sink. The single bit of patience that I have left for this day had all but drained. Still, the image of his gentle smile that flashed on my mind was all it took to calm the upcoming rage that has been gradually building up ever since an unexpected guest arrived.