"I am frankly disappointed with those of the same age as me who act immaturely in front of the Heavenly Monarch. However, I saw my sister with the traitor himself."
He focused his gaze towards the crowd below him and smiled, "If my words are that doubtful, why don't I say my statement in front of the deities of judgment?"
Murmurs and uneasy exchange of eye contact are visibly seen within the arranged crowd. Then suddenly they forced a person to represent their final thoughts, Thales.
He looked side by side as he didn't even anticipate this situation. Then when he felt the attention and sharp gazes, he calmed himself.
With no fear, he directly looked at Michael, "We believe your words, it is rude of us to question you o'God of Archangels."
Helios noticed his courage and calmness which strikingly is similar to Oliver's. He glanced at his secretary and saw his face plastered with a proud smile.
'He truly has the eye of a merchant but he is a politician not of commerce. What am I thinking right now?' Helios maintained his neutral face.
"I am out of words, please continue."
Michael then sat on his seat and resumed his simple tea time. Seeing how he easily dismissed his bold reply, they returned their focus on their useless debate.
As they continue the debate of attacking their opponent with a double-edged sentence and defending themselves from their opponent's sharp tongue. Of course, no one even had a thought in mind if Irene is feeling fine or if she was still in the room or not.
.
.
.
.
"Drake," she called the person who helped her escape the courtroom.
She felt his grip getting tighter which gave her discomfort. Then she tried to look at his face but he didn't even turn his head instead he is so focused on walking.
"Drake?"
On his side, he looked fine but his face is a bit dark. His eyes are tense, his movement is stiff and he doesn't control his strength. Someone could tell that something is occupying his mind to ignore this much.
"Drake!"
Irene became worried because no matter how loud she called him, he didn't respond. They continued to walk until they reached Callista's beloved garden. He opened his hand.
It took a moment for a part of a barrier to be visible then he murmurs something and the barrier moved farther away from his hand. Eventually, the barrier had a door-sized hole.
They both passed through it, resumed their pace, and only then did Drake release his grip. Irene was surprised when he hugged her.
"Are you alright?" Irene rested her hands on Drake's back. She also saw redness on her wrist, in the shape of a hand.
"Forgive me."
Irene widened her eyes then it became normal. She places her two hands on Drake's cheek, "Did you do something that I could get angry at?"
Her eyes were filled with concern but her face is also wearing a worried expression. She's too innocent for love and the cruel world that is awaiting her.
Drake tilted his head, accepting her gesture. His eyes were closed, "You may not know in the present, but in the future, you would. Forgiving me is your choice."
...
"Then you don't remember anything afterward?"
Irene nodded. She was sitting on her bed, leaning on the headboard as Michael gather some details for this incident.
He finds it suspicious, very suspicious. A God wouldn't use the oldest method in the book to take Irene from the palace to the Celestial Goddess' garden. To be honest the distance is not that huge but to get inside a protected area with no problems and trespassing a protected property.
The suspect must be very... dumb.
He not only reveals the vulnerable spot of the security, but he also reveals his strength. Speculations pointed out that he is an individual capable of seventh-circle magic; Primeval-grade.
Michael selected twelve knights to guard Irene together with her other knights. After getting reassured by the security of Irene's palace, he went home back to his residence.
He took off his garment and relaxes in his pond. He rests his arm on the edges of the pond as he explores his mind with his eyes closed.
— FLASHBACK
Still enjoying his tea while ignoring the commotion from the debate between the two factions, which lost its real reason. Thales distanced himself from his faction by leaning on a pillar that supports the floor Michael is at.
"You chatterbox! Oh right, you are a chatterbox because you're a chicken," he raised his voice at the end then crossed his arms and raised his chin a bit.
'The tea is so sweet~'
Someone laughed at the ignorant god's insult. The attention shifted to that laughing person who turns out to be Pyrros. He wiped his tear of joy with his finger as he says, "I apologize, his words were quite amusing."
Then he cleared his throat before placing a smirk on his face, "I have one question."
The youngster frowned then brightened his face, "Yes?"
"Is being stupid your profession or are you just gifted?" the God of Chaos lunges his sharp tongue towards the poor child.
'Another brutal kill,' everyone who got insulted by Pyrros in the past, had the exact thought at the same time. Including Michael who Pyrros ridiculed for being single even with his thousands of admirers.
If insulting people were to be a crime, he would be a notorious criminal, and if offending people were to be a subject, he easily passes it with an A++.
Unfortunately, no one could dare to offend him because of his position and brother, Naide. A caring older brother, when angered, will give his little brother a beating or drown him in an ocean.
The debate continues again with insults in the shape of swords and arrows piercing the target. Michael is distracted again by the scent of his sweetened tea.
When he finished his third serving, he asked Peter for a refill. He drummed his fingers on the armrest as he waited then his eyes went from the balustrade to where Irene is supposed to be.
His composed face had a frown appear. "She's not there," he mumbles.
After repeating that phrase, his hands clenched into fists. A minute passed but it felt like fifteen minutes for him. Michael became uneasy and when his patience passed the limit, he grabbed the two armrests and stood up.
His action took all the focus. He took a deep breath, "I apologize but I need to inform everyone that the Celestial Saint has disappeared."
The faction formed by the new generations immediately looked where Irene was at.
"O'Heavenly Ruler, the Celestial Saint has truly disappeared!" someone exclaimed.
"I am not deaf, apprentice of the God of Blacksmiths."
He glared at him. Then he does a sideways glance at Oliver who nods. He disappeared from his position and reappeared beside Irene's seat.
The once noisy hall became filled with murmurs and worried entities. Michael moved his hands behind his back then clenched his wrists.
Oliver merely looked at the marble floor and the area. He did his magic trick again and returned to his former position then whispers something to Helios.
After he whispers his findings to him, Helios ponders for a moment.
"Servants of order and justice, heed my command."
Michael lowers his head and placed his hand on his chest. His gesture is also done by those Helios called.
"Find the Celestial Saint."
"Understood!" They replied in unison.
Michael, Peter, and everyone else vanished from their positions. While those who remained quietly waited for another word from Helios.
"..."
Peter along with the knights under Michael separated into five to look for Irene. The other knights and forces acting under Helios' order were divided into thirteen squads.
Michael locates Irene alone. He searched for her in forbidden areas and his choice turned out correct.
He found Irene lying unconscious on the grass at Callista's lawn. Her veins were black which made her look like a victim of fatal poison. The black liquid from her mouth dissolved her garment and it's still dissolving the remaining cloth.
Michael materialized a long white cloth with essence and wrapped it around Irene. Afterward, he slid his arms below her neck and knee and carried her to their mother's residence.
His killing intent leaked as a vein appeared on his forehead. He is angered and is very furious.