'I need you to find me the exact location of the Thessalonica.'
Joel sighed as he walked past the maids and manservants in the huge hallway. He looked at the watch Toshirou had given him and checked the time.
6 : 42pm.
'I want to be back before seven. It gets dark around that time, and the guards become more alert. I have to act fast.'
Walking briskly out of the hallway, he came into the kitchen to look for Sung-nim.
He spotted her in the enormous kitchen giving out orders and helping the maids in making dinner for the night.
"Hello, Sung-nim-san!" Joel called out to her.
Hearing the voice that called out to her, she looked around and her gaze landed on Joel. Seeing the boy, her smile became wider as she walked up to him.
"Ahhh, Joel-kun, what are you doing here? I thought you were up with Aosaki-kun?"
"I was. I'm sorry for taking some of your time when you're so busy."
"No, it's fine. You're my precious guest after all." She smiled down at him.
"Thank you for having us for all this time. I know it's selfish of me but erm, I want to ask you for a favor."
"A favor? Sure, whatever could it be?" Sung-nim asked him.
Joel looked left and right, making sure no one is paying attention to them or hearing their conversation.
In a low whisper, he said, "Do you know where I can find the Thessalonica?"
The air around them was thick. The male and female servants continued with their duties, oblivious to the growing tension between the wife of the Feudal lord and the ruddy boy.
"Is that all you needed? That's no problem. I actually expected Aosaki-kun to request for it sooner."
Joel almost fell over at the casual reply of Sung-nim.
"O-Oh, I see." Joel said.
"If you're looking for the Thessalonica, head over to the throne room. On the pulpit where the elders sit, in the middle, under the round table, there's a passageway that leads to an underground room. You'll find the Thessalonica there."
He mentally took down everything she said, careful not to miss even one detail.
"Mrs Sung-nim, is it really okay to just tell me where it is just like that? I mean, isn't it secret information?"
"Hmm... I suppose you have a point. But I told Aosaki-kun earlier, I want to return Raynell back home. If acquiring the Thessalonica can accomplish that, then I would gladly give my support and my life. I am sure my husband would also do the same."
"I'm really sorry for putting this on you all of a sudden, but thank you, Sung-nim-san."
Joel checked the time on his watch.
"I have to go now. See you later!" He said as he ran out of the kitchen, giving a wave to Sung-nim.
A pretty maid walked up to Sung-nim with a grin on her face.
"What a respectable boy, and quite cute as well. I wouldn't mind him for a son, would you, Lady Sung-nim?"
"Please don't say such things. I don't think Joel-kun would be in the least delighted hearing such things." Sung-nim replied amusedly.
"But he does remind you of him, doesn't he?"
The smile on Sung-nim's face curved downwards in sadness.
"He does. He does so much."
...
'There's no one here. 'Joel thought as he snuck into the throne room. The room was already becoming dark with the retreating sun and the chandeliers on the ceiling were beginning to be brightened up.
He walked over to the pulpit, climbed the stairs and stood over the round table. Taking a hold of the table, he pushed it back, careful not to make much noise. As he pushed it away, he saw a brown circle on the floor, most likely the entrance to the underground passage.
'But how do I open it? There should be some kind of key or a button around here.'
Now this was certainly troublesome. He had found the entrance but how to open it was another task by itself. He racked his head, thinking of what could be the trigger to opening the entrance. His eyes landed on the table he had just shifted and a bright idea flashed in his mind.
He looked under the table, and his assumption was correct. Something that looked like a button was fixed to the under of the table. Being cautious, Joel checked his surroundings again, making sure no one was in sight, though he had a sneaking suspicion that he was being watched. He pressed the button and a rumbling sound came from below.
Joel watched in fascination as the ground open and revealed a dark stairway that led to the underground passage. The underground space had the stench of danger but he would not be deterred. He had been commissioned a task, and he will do everything to complete it.
He gripped himself and slowly descended the stairs of the passageway. The throne room gradually faded into the distance as he went further down into the dark room.
The stairs seemed to be endless, he kept going deeper and deeper and he kept counting the number of steps. If there was one thing he had learnt from the time he spent on the streets, it's that every single information is valuable, no matter how little.
One hundred and fifty steps. He finally reached the bottom. The room was just as dark as it had been. He let his eyes adjust to the dimness and took cautious strides forward. He walked until he came to a turning point, he moved right, walked a few steps, and came before a big wooden door.
'This must be it. I wonder what the Thessalonica looks like? Maybe it's some kind of crystal-like object. I bet it would sell for tons of gold coins!' He shook his head to dispell his thoughts, having accidentally slipped into the mindset of a thief. 'No! I'm no longer a thief. Toshirou-nii rescued me. But this door... I have to make sure there's no one in.'
He placed his ear on the wooden door, to listen for the unfamiliar voices on the other side of the door.
'There's no one.'
He placed his hands on the door and steadily pushed it open. A dim azure light shone from within the inner room. The source of the light, lay on a pedestal cushioned with a dark looking material. It looked like a globe, but without the stand. To Joel, it seemed more to be like an orb. The size of the orb was much smaller than Joel had in mind. It was as big as his head, maybe a bit bigger, and inside it, different shades of purple, white, deep cobalt blue and black, swam together into varying mixtures. It seemed as if the object itself was alive as it glowed and swirled in the darkness.
'So that is... the Thessalonica!'
Joel stepped into the room. Taking slow, steady strides, he moved towards the pedestal where the Thessalonica lay. It was magnificent, much more mysterious than anything he had ever seen before. He was naturally drawn to it, but somehow, he got the feeling that it belonged to someone, that it was specifically made for someone, and that did not sit well with him.
'I just can't seem to shake this feeling off my chest. Just what in the world is going on?'
He placed his hand on the Thessalonica, revelling in the feel of the cold, smooth surface of the orb, when suddenly a bright white light flashed itself painfully across Joel's mind.
'Ah, Ugh! Nngh!' He held his head in pain as the light continued to flash repeatedly in his head. It was blinding, and the force with which it came was like having a seizure.
"No, ngh! Not now!"
Two minutes passed before the pain gradually began to subside. For as long as he could remember, he had always had seizures like this. Whether he was outside or inside, once in a while it would occur, and when it did, it felt like his mind was tearing into two. Sometimes, he would even forget whom he was and would be in a temporary state of amnesia before regaining his senses. But since Toshirou had taken him in, he had had it only a few times, once in The Fugitive at night, and once here in Min-ji, also at night. He did not know what was wrong with him, but this time, he had a feeling in his gut that the Thessalonica triggered it. If this was this case, then he would have to leave immediately with it.
"Oi! Hazel! Is it you back there!?"
The unexpected voice jolted Joel out of his skin. There were people in this place! Where did they come from? No! Most importantly, who were they?
He restrained himself from letting out a noise or a sound, fully aware of his fate if he was somehow caught by this person.
Another voice, calm and smooth, suddenly spoke.
"Please do not shout, lest you deafen our ears with your cursed tongue."
The rough voice from earlier replied to the calm one. "You're the one with a cursed tongue, Azahel."
"Refrain from calling my name, Seungho. It doesn't deserve to be uttered by the likes of you."
"My, my, are you two fighting again?"
Joel's heartbeat spiked up hearing a third voice. This voice had a playful tone to it and sounded quite young but even Joel could easily tell that it held mischief and piercing bloodlust. They had not entered the room yet, so he quickly hid behind the pedestal as it was large enough to cover his small frame.
"What do you want, Junhyung?"
"Oh come on, does my presence really irritate you so much?" He replied to the one called Seungho.
"Everything irritates him. Your presence is highly welcomed, Junhyung." Said the male referred to as Azahel.
Four unfamiliar bodies entered the room one after the other. They did not go close to the Thessalonica, much to Joel's relief, but they stayed a few ways away from it.
"Curse those damn elders for making us do such a task." Seungho said angrily.
Joel was confused. What did the elders have to do with anything?
"While it is indeed unbecoming, the fact remains that the city cannot be ruled by our lord. He is far too naive in his ways. The heathen girl should have been dead by this time, but no, we kept her prisoner." Azahel replied him.
"I wish you would stop saying that already. If not that I was guaranteed my freedom, I would not have been here. In my eyes, the lord is doing everything in his power to provide for his people. Requesting for anymore is selfish and greedy." Seungho said, leaning on the walls.
Joel's eyes became open in shock. 'They are planning to take over the lord? The heathen girl... Raynell-san!?'
Junhyung laughed. "You're far more soft than your appearance suggests, Seungho."
"I could also say the same for you, Junhyung."
Junhyung simply chuckled but did not protest.
"It's too bad though. The eighth elder is ill and cannot perform, otherwise this situation wouldn't be needed."
'Who are they talking about? The eighth elder? But there were only seven!'
"Like you aren't the one who caused his illness, Junhyung? But then again, that Adventurer that came for the quest, I presume he is already dead if Hazel is already here."
'Adventurer? Dead?' Joel gasped. 'Toshirou-nii!!'
"I'm actually pretty sad to be honest. I wanted to talk with him a bit. I had a feeling we would have gotten along so well. We're the same age after all." Junhyung said in mock sadness.
"It's too late for that, the work is already done." Seungho replied.
'Toshirou-nii is dead!? No! That's impossible! I have to go back now, quickly!'
*Beep-beep... Beep-beep... Beep-beep... Beep-*
"What the hell is that? Hazel! I get that you're shy and all, but the least you can do is show your face!" Seungho exclaimed, startled by the beeping sound.
'Oh no, I forgot about the timer! What do I do, what do I do?!'
"This is not the time for jokes, Hazel. You're supposed to report to us once you eliminated the rogue adventurer, so show yourself at once!" Azahel said, equally just as startled and suspicous of what was going on.
Surprisingly, Junhyung began to cackle.
"What is so amusing?" Azahel asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"Hahahaha! Are you just realizing? Hazel was never here."
Both Seungho and Azahel suddenly became on high alert.
"What do you mean Hazel was never here?" Seungho asked, already taking a hold of the spear at his back.
Junhyung scratched his jet black hair and moved some of the bangs from across his eyes. His bright yellow eyes shone in both delight and bloodlust, so much so that Joel felt it from behind the pedestal.
"Exactly as I said. From when we came into this place, I had known that Hazel wasn't here. After all, Rajah did tell me, and it was quite obvious."
'Rajah? Who's Rajah?'
A hissing sound made itself known beside Joel. Making his face perform a ninety degree turn, he came eye to eye with the scaly head of a black snake.
"Aaahhh!!" He exclaimed loudly and jumped out from his hiding spot.
"My oh my, and who might this be?"
'Oh no...' Joel gulped and slowly turned around to see the figures of the three males staring down on him.
"You! You're the little kid that came with the adventurer... Joel, was it?" Seungho said in surprise.
"Ah... um..." Joel couldn't find his tongue. He wasn't going to lie to himself, he was scared to the point of almost pissing himself. This was different from being caught stealing, which had never happened to him before. This feeling, was like that of a cornered rat in the midst of predatory lions.
"Speak up, boy! What were you doing in this place and how did you find it?"
Refusing to reply to Azahel, Joel couldn't help but notice that the temperature in the room had suddenly gone down.
Azahel came forward. The dim light of the Thessalonica brought his features to view. His appearance was that of a respectable nobleman, with an expensive-looking long-sleeved button-up coat that reached his thighs with pockets by both sides, deep blue soldier pants covered up to his knees by black knee-length boots. The hem and edges of the coat was white in color and the coat itself, was a shade of skyblue. Pale blue hair tied in a thin ponytail that reached the middle of his back, his bangs came down across his forehead neatly and fell over the thinly framed glasses he wore. Blank greyish-black eyes stared at Joel with such coldness in them.
"I-I... I fell in by accident." He managed to squeak out.
"It's not good to tell lies you know. Rajah can tell." Junhyung chuckled with a large grin. The black snake, a black mamba by breed, coiled around his neck and hissed aggressively at Joel. It's eyes were a golden yellow, similar to that of Junhyung.
Azahel suddenly held the boy by the hair and bent down to meet his gaze.
"I am going to question you one last time. What were you doing here?"
In as much as Joel's was frightened, a certain anger boiled in his blood. These people were trying to take over the village, they poisoned the eighth elder and they were trying to kill both Raynell and Toshirou, most likely him too. He would not allow himself to go down without a fight, not after being saved from a dark life with a bleak future. He wanted to go on more adventures with Toshirou, and he determined in his heart that he would not fall. He just couldn't.
"If you are not prepared to answer, then I have no choice but to- What the!?"
In that instant, Joel brought out a short dagger from behind - which was hidden inside of his clothes, and thrust it at the hand on his head, making it loosen its hold as Azahel pulled back his hand in surprise. The blade went through, splashing blood on his face.
"Tch!" Azahel merely flinched as Joel stabbed him with the weapon.
"What a bother." Junhyung stretched out his right hand and the black snake, Rajah, curled around his arm and leapt out to attack Joel with such ferocity and hatred gleaming in its golden eyes.
With no time to waste, Joel held the sword again and swung it at the head of the snake. The blade missed but managed to scrape the left eye of the creature, making the snake scream out in pain.
"You're actually pretty good." Junhyung smiled in amusement, not fazed one bit at his beloved pet being hurt.
Joel quickly put his hand in his pocket and brought out an egg-looking object. He raised up his arm and smashed it on the ground.
Seungho was highly uncomfortable with hurting a child, but he was far too dangerous to be left unchecked.
"Tch! Little boy!" He took a hold of his spear and charged forward, aiming for Joel but without the intention to kill.
Before he could make it however, something like smoke emanated at a fast rate from the egg-like object.
'What the? A smokescreen!'
The smoke rapidly filled the room. In no time, the entire space was clouded in foggy mist.
"Damn that disgraceful child." Azahel closed his eyes with the back of his palm to prevent the smoke from entering it.
In the cloudy mist, an azure silhouette moved around at a quick pace before disappearing completely. Only Junhyung noticed this.
Thinking about laying pursuit on the boy, he heaved a sigh and broke into a relaxed smile.
'Let's leave him be. We wouldn't want to blow this place up, would we? The main contestant hasn't shown up yet, so let's wait for the main show, Rajah.'
He raised his arm and swiped it in the air, dispelling the smokescreen.
The smoke cleared and the room became visible and smoke free as earlier. Everything remained the same, except for the pieces of eggshells on the floor... and a missing Thessalonica.
"That little brat! Hey, Azahel! Shouldn't we go after the runt?!" Seungho asked, agitated at being played by a little kid. Azahel felt amused and quite impressed by the boy's quick thinking, the injury on his hand had already stopped bleeding.
"Let's leave him" Junhyung replied. "While it is certainly unfortunate, it'll also be wise not to act. We should wait for further instructions from the old farts before we do anything."
"That is true. Calm your head, Seungho, we will only perform according to command." Azahel said.
Seungho stared at them intently then sighed. "Whatever you say. But then again, we still have no idea about Hazel's whereabouts."
"That won't be necessary. If she fell to the hands of the new adventurer then so be it. It is all but a small sacrifice to pay, but no mistake, she was my comrade and I will avenge her." Azahel replied.
Seungho nodded and returned his spear to his back.
'Hazel, dead? If that's the case, then the adventurer, Toshirou, must be really something. I really do want to meet him, and I still don't believe she's dead. Her heartbeat is firmly reaching my ears.' Junhyung pat the scaly head of his black mamba. The eye that was cut had been healed but a scar remained as a reminder of its attacker. 'It'll be quite an interesting meet. I'm looking forward to it, aren't you as well... Rajah?'