It took us a while to walk back, our paced was slow and we spoke about everything other than the crystal flowers. Lark noticed that I didn't want to talk about before thankfully. But getting back proved to be more tiring than I had anticipated…
The moment we walked past the doors we were greeted with the servants rushing about like headless chickens. And different voices shouting, I was about to ask if everything was alright when one of the younger butler's clearly ran over me before he stopped, gasped and shouted, "Your Highness Sirius!!"
That was all it took to freeze everyone in their spots and whip their heads in our direction, I'm honestly surprised there were no broken necks.
"Yes?"
"Oh dear God, His Highness has returned! Quick! Inform everyone!!" the head maid rushed over barking orders all the while. "His Highness look pale, quickly take him to his room. Filly! Call the doctors!!"
"Now, now, there's no-" but before I could finish Lark pulled me towards my room saying, "If you don't come along quietly, I'll carry you again."
I immediately shook my head and obediently went along.
There was a huge fuss for a while: the entire way to my room and when they came it just became worse. Only when I told them I wanted to sleep for a bit did they leave me alone. Ares made me promise that I wouldn't go on another "walk" anytime soon.
Once they left, I picked up one of the crystal flowers and stared at it. No other memory seemed to come even if I stared at for a while. This was the first time something like this has ever happened. I couldn't help the frustrated sigh that escaped my mouth, things are getting stranger… If only the game's protagonist was me or I took Ares's place. This would be so much easier! Too many mysteries or things I don't know about, should I handle things the way I would … usually.
I couldn't do anything about it anyway so I slipped the crystal flower back on the table and slid down under the covers, I couldn't do anything other than fall asleep anyway. And I very nearly fell asleep when I heard someone call my name, sleepily I answered, "Yes Lark?"
All I heard was a chuckle ring over as they said, "Unfortunately I am not Lark, I wished I could come later but my time is limited." It was half way through his words when I forced myself to sit up and look for the intruder, the voice was familiar but unknown until I saw the face- Sage. I was shocked to say the least but Sage was deterred as he finished what he wanted to say. "Hello Prince. I'm glad to see you getting better." He stepped closer after each word, it was then that I noticed that he stood in front of the window, from which I assume he came in from. He stepped closer until he reached the table and placed a small glass bottle with some lavender liquid in it. As much as that should have rang the warning bells in me, I just instinctively knew I could trust the man and t was unnerving, I glanced at the bottle he placed while trying to keep him in my sights, seeing that he raised both his arms in a show of being harmless and stepped back a little. The first thought that passed my mind is that it could be poison but was the very next second that I dismissed the thought unconsciously.
"I'm glad you liked the flowers Sirus, even though I saw you look at roses and lilies more this time, tell me, are those your current favorites?"
I nodded my head mutely unable to stop myself, "I'll get some of those then." He smiled. "No" before I could stop myself once again, I said.
He hummed in question, and I turned away not wanting to elaborate further. He simply chuckled for a bit before saying, "Take that medicine, it'll help you heal a lot faster than whatever you are taking now. It's not poison, don't worry. I couldn't kill you even if I wanted too." I glanced at the bottle again and commented, "Looks like lavender tea."
"That's right, I noticed you like it a lot so I got it in the same color. Now it'll be easier for you to drink."
"….thank… you" I slowly reached for the bottle and uncapped it and gulped it down, it tasted sweet- unexpectedly.
"Was the taste, alright?"
I nodded, and couldn't help but ask, "How much better is it?"
He hummed again and thought, "Turn around first." I did and he came forward and lifted my shirt, "What are you doing!?"
"I'm just checking your wounds so I can tell you how long… looking at them they should heal by late evening." He stood straight again and fixed my shirt before letting me turn around again.
"Late Evening!!?" I questioned and he nodded. I didn't know what to respond to him. It shouldn't heal that fast, it should take a minimum of a week and a half more! "Where did you get this!?" I questioned sternly. Something so… miraculous shouldn't be easy to make or get and if it is easy why doesn't everyone have access?
"I got it where I am from, right now I can't say where that is. Thought slightly expensive everybody has access to it there." He replied easily. I stared at him in disbelief before an idea slowly formed…
"…hey…uh Sage… can you- no can we negotiate? This medicine for a price between your country and mine. An exclusive deal for a few years if you would be willing."
"You know Sirius, this is the first time you've actually said my name." he had a huge grin on his face as he said, "and if you can't tell already, I am extremely happy! I hope you don't stop or you're using it only for this trade?"
"NO!!!" I shouted immediately, "I've used your named before..." I mumbled quickly after.
"That makes me even happier!" he laughed.
"So..." I urged him further, but he shook his head and said, "I apologize. Currently we cannot, nobody can know of this either Sirius. My country cannot be known to others, no matter the reason. If possible, in the future, then I promise exclusive trading right with Alius."
I looked at him suspiciously, "Can you really promise that?" he nodded again, more firmly this time. I had to settle on the matter this time, only hoping this future wasn't too far off.
But another thought ranged my mind, I knew I wouldn't be able to settle peacefully until I said it out loud at the very least. "Sage, I have another question for you."
Sage immediately responded, "Go ahead, ask. I'll answer it as best as I can."
"How in the world are you able to sneak into the Castle walls every time!? How has no one caught even a shadow of you here!"
He snickered before saying, "That's quite mean of you Prince. I always walk in openly. I never sneaked around except when you come around."
"Liar" I replied back, "the guards wouldn't just let you just waltz in whenever."
"Well they did plus, there's magic also…"
I glared at him as I said, "If you weren't going to tell me then why are you bothering with flimsy excuses and lies, leading me by the nose!"
He simply shrugged back and said, "It is your choice to believe me or not." And he turned around and walked to the window, once he was seated on the sill, he looked at me once again and promised, "I'll see you again soon." And he pushed himself off. I didn't bother checking on him just muttered to myself that I hoped not though secretly it was the opposite.