"When I shout, you run, okay?"
"No! What about you?!"
"I'm gonna follow you after you run! Just don't look back okay?"
"No..."
"Come on, I'm going to count one..."
--------
"Master!" Hanabis anxiously shout. He stared at the red haired youth full of sweats and trembling, unstoppable.
He, himself indeed, was affected by the emotional breakdown of his master. But he cannot interfere with the dream that his master encountered. Looking at the youth, it was not certainly a dream, but a nightmare!
"Master, please wake up!"he sobbed.
Hanabis floated on the surface of his sleeping master. He tried to send his voice through the consciousness they shared, but some unknown force was blocking him. He grew apprehensive and uneasy. The seal on his master's heart was starting to break. He put more pressure on his inner force and finally, a pair of red eyes opened.
"Master!"he cried while leaning his black gas body to the daze youth.
Sylvester felt a sudden outburst in his core. His heart feels hot and empty, like a huge part has been stolen. His red lips tremble under the grace of every sweats that clings on his face.
Who are you? Why are you making me uncomfortable?
Question flowed inside his brain yet, no one can answer that unidentified question. But he knew, to himself, that fragment of his memories played the biggest part in his life.
He sighed and patted the crying Hanabis. The ball of shadow cannot bear anymore and went back to his body. Sylvester chuckled lightly. His pale face returned to normal as he glanced on the surface of the window.
The sounds of gentle wind went together to the crack of dawn, indicating that it was almost morning. He stood up from the bed and slowly approached the open window. He breathed in relief as his red hair swayed jointly to the humble breeze, relaxing and serene. A smile calmly grew on his face as he pressed the bell on his left side.
The next moment, the already prepared Elvis entered his chamber. His green hair was cleanly combed appear to be soft and fluffy and usual emerald eyes peek at the daze youth on the window.
"Young master, you need to get ready for the arrival of the knights."he reminded casually as his feet headed to the closet.
"I do not need to attend the welcoming of the soldiers." Sylvester remembers the warning of his mother.
Elvis stopped. His sight moves to the youth as if confirming is he just said was not an illusion. But when he detected that the youth was not kidding, he grew dubious.
"But master! This is the order of the duke—"
"Just tell him I'm sick. Father know my condition very well, he won't be suspicious on me."
Elvis bit his lips. This young master was indeed stubborn and no one can change his mind. But he serves this youth for almost seven years, and he knew that he had a reason for not attending the event. But what is the reason?
Sylvester turned his eyes to his attendant. He chuckled softly: "Elvis, do you think the gods was good?"his voice was low and subdued, but it was enough for his servant to hear.
"What do you mean, master?"
"Even the wind blows toward the ostensible mountain range, the evil crow has long been disappeared, the cunning fox has been detected but the other significant..."his tone rise as his red eyes slightly narrowed. "Can't be caught. What do you think is the reason?"
"M-Master I don't know..."
"Others cannot be caught, simply because, they will never be caught." Sylvester chuckled without humor. "A disaster will occurred, people will worship them. But why do you think catastrophe happened in the first place? Who was the one responsible? Who is the mastermind?"
Elvis gulped. In fact, the world was not peaceful even though they had gods protecting them. Calamity and tragedy still takes place. He nervously stared in daze at the gentle youth.
"You're confuse right? Eventually, the answer is in your mind." Sylvester shifted his gaze towards the wooden door. "Why are you visiting early in the morning, sixth sister?"
Elvis directly turned his gaze. A girl with a mocking smile entered the room. Her shoulder-length blue dress was sparkly and shining, fitted with her angelic face.
"I was just happened to drop by at your room to see if your ready, but it seems..."her eyes peer at Sylvester, who was still on his white night gown. "You still have not been dress."
"I will not attend."
"You!" Glacia hurriedly relaxed her expression, if his fifth brother won't attend that means she can get the spotlight right? Her lips formed an arc. "Whatever you say."he stormed out of his room.
"Wait." Sylvester went to the cabinet and grabbed a piece of paper. "Open it in the midnight, maybe it will help you."
Glacia glance at the blank piece of paper, her expression turns ugly, "Are you fucking kidding me?!"she walks out angrily, never intended to accept that paper. Did he really think that he can piss her?
Sylvester sighed and put back the paper on the cabinet. He tried his best. It all decided to her now.
Elvis was naturally confused on what is going on, but he just remains silent.
------------
The soldiers arrived at the house of Obelima. They're greeted by numerous knights and maids. But the formality in the surrounding cannot hide the tenebrous atmosphere. They felt that they don't want to enter this lion's den.
Dozen of maids and knights was aligned in the entrance, giving way to the brave soldiers. In the center, the Obelima, together with the duke, was dress formally and elegantly.
"Welcome to the duchy." Duke Damien voice still hold a hint of indifferent, "Good day your highness the crown prince and second prince."he added.
The crown prince nodded, observing the family members. Exactly what the rumors stated, all children needs to have red eyes to be the duke's heirs.
He returned his eyes to the duke, "May I trouble you for staying in several days."
"It's our pleasure, your highness."he bowed, "May I humbly introduce my three wives and children."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, our brave soldiers and his highnesses. The name is Gracia Obelima, the first wife." It was a lady with a chestnut hair and blue eyes.
"I am Claudia Obelima, the fourth wife, your highnesses." The next one to introduced was a lady with a blonde hair and violet eyes.
"My name is Savannah Obelima, the fifth wife gentlemen, your highnesses."the last was the lady with the red hair and green eyes.
Through introduction, the crown prince nodded, but the soldiers keep an amusement in their heart. The duke was really handsome, keeping three beautiful ladies at once.
Iavis frowned, but the gentleness in his eyes did not retreat. The old canard said that the duke has five wives, but the two has been cast away together with their children. But now, seeing only three wives, the rumor undoubtedly is indeed true.
Glacia glance at the gentle golden hair man, her eyes formed an attraction. Compared to the one in front of her, the second prince is more attractive. Her red eyes blink creating a misty fragile aura causing some soldiers can't take away their eyes.
"Pleased to meet you your highnesses, I'm Glacia Obelima."her voice was pure like a celestial, making one's heart beat in awe.
The crown prince glance at her with interest. The duke of Obelima certainly taught his child to use all of the advantages. Including this one, her beauty. He chuckled dangerously. But his eyes was full of doubt. The duke has six children, but why is five only present? Wariness grew on his heart.
He smiled at the duke: "I heard that the duke has six seedlings, may I know the reason why is it only five?"
The duke stiffened. Urging his self to be calm and gently smiled at the prince, "My Sylvester has been ill for several days, I hope you don't mind him not attending here."
"Ill? Maybe we can check his health. We have a healer in our troupes. Please call him to know his situation."
The duke force himself to call on a maid. The maid nodded and directly ran to the mansion. Daniel worriedly glance at his mother when he noticed the nervousness. Did something happen to Sylvester?
"Please, let's enter the mansion while waiting for my son to arrive. We prepared foods for the soldiers." Gracia instructs.
They all went inside the mansion. The house was full of emptiness but sophisticated, signified the wealth of the duke. All the maids and knights was formal and casual, not a little of liveliness making them straightened their backs.
Iavis knew the idea of his brother. He was suspicious if the other child of the duke was connected to their ambushed. He, himself, is filled with wary but not to the point of being paranoid. They all seated on the specific chairs. The food presented to them was mouth watering and appetizing.
The soldiers gulped. They went on the battle for almost two months, they only eat nutritional foods and this dishes is tempting.
Suddenly, a low footstep entered the quiet hall. They all glance in one direction and immediately their heart burst in admiration.