Night walker curses Charles and herself for falling into his trap mentally before agreeing.
"I don't trust you," Charles says before reopening his newspaper.
Feeling offended, night walker takes his newspaper, rolls it and smacks his head, "you trusted me enough to leave me alone. I'm sure you'll find it easier to trust that I will share what happened" she smacks his head with every word she says.
The prince laughs wholeheartedly at her actions while Charles maintains a neutral face. "Are you done?" he asks boringly, and takes the newspaper back. "Good, now to pick up where we left off"
"The last thing you said was that two search parties were sent after the SOS signal,"
"Ah yes. Upon arriving to the destination, they were shocked to find that no trace of your mother, her servants, the horses or anything for a matter fact. They tirelessly searched the lands of the forgotten on days end. More search parties were sent, even my father participated in the search but to no avail. The possibility of an attack was presented but it was quickly rejected because there were no signs of it. After a year and a half, the search was stopped as an order from his majesty because war broke out at the northern borders. Lady Ashley Teral, Miss Yuri Teral- lady-in-waiting, Miss Jane Teral- S-class Teral's healer, Sir Albert Teral- leader of Teral's elite force, Sir Julio Teral- sir Albert's confident and Sir Dominic Teral- head of security of the estate, all have been labeled as The Vanished. The paradox that the search parties have faced is to why they themselves didn't vanish as well. Many before your mother have vanished".
"But she and everyone who was with her were the last to vanish in the lands of the forgotten" Night walker says as the gears in her brain work nonstop. "Have you tried sending some of the high class to see if they vanish as well? Maybe only nobles are being targeted?" she proposes.
"Unfortunately, it is not the case. Your mother was the only noble to vanish"
Night walker sighs, "I see. I guess it's my turn then".
"Let's order breakfast first," the prince suggests giving Night walker some time to get prepared. She mentally thanks him. After they placed their orders, two pairs of curious eyes turn to her.
"Could you look any more intense?" she comments and chuckles nervously. Getting no answer from the men, she proceeds onto telling them what happened, "It took place two years ago. I was exploring the southern mountains in search of something. At sunset, I decided to take shelter inside a cave. So I did. When I woke up, I found myself in an entirely different cave. I got up and took my dagger out of my bag. But it wasn't the right thing to do. Apparently what was a cave the night before turned out to be an illusion, so was the cave I was in the morning after. How did I know that? Well, two hairy beasts appeared out of nowhere, their eyes shone with hostility. You could sense their bloodthirst from kilometers away. So I took a fighting stance and waited to see what their move would be. They both attacked simultaneously, one from above, the other from below. I threw the dagger at the other stabbing it in the eye. Ironically, the second one clawed at my face instead of my neck and scratched my eye out. When it did, I started seeing to things at the same time. A cave filled with white crystals, and the cave from the night before. The creature that lost its eye got up and slowly made its way towards me. I had my hand covering the right side of my face in attempt to reduce the bleeding. The second creature was following the example its companion. So I dashed towards the injured one, swiftly took my dagger out of its eyehole, stabbed it in its neck and dragged the dagger down its abdomen slicing it open. The second one initiated another attack from above so I crouched down, waited it till it was close enough and did the same thing. Once both creatures were down, the illusion faded away and the white crystals started to shine brightly. That's when I lost consciousness." She finishes, unwilling to tell them what happened afterwards. The prince had his mouth agape, and Charles was looking at her baffled.
"Did you say white crystals? Are they the 'something' you were searching for in the southern mountains?" Charles asks night walker breaking himself and his highness from a trance.
"Yeah, white crystals. And yes they were the things I was looking for" Night walker answers
"Did you have the chance to collect some?" Charles lowers his voice while resuming his questioning.
"Why are you asking? There are plenty of white crystals in Mystal"
"No there aren't anymore," the prince replies grimly. The prince's statement surprises her.
"During the northern war that Charles mentioned earlier, all the supplies we had of white crystals were destroyed by the enemy's forces. The war went one for six months. Two-thirds of our soldiers lost their lives. Some who remained alive were unable to serve because they sustained serious injuries. Few returned with their health and lives intact. It wasn't a war, it was a one-sided slaughter. A massacre. After the news about our lack of white crystals spread to the people of Mystal and then to neighboring kingdoms, panic befell the commoners. I'm surprised you didn't hear of it". The prince explains with a hint of sadness and anger.
"I'm sorry," were the only words that night walker spoke.
"It wasn't your fault," the prince reassures her.
The waiter comes with the trio's breakfast. As he places the food in front of night walker, he steals a glance in attempt to see her face. The prince catches him and loses his temper, "Hey! Don't you dare!" he jumps from his chair while Charles tries to pull the waiter away from night walker. The latter is rooted to her seat as everything in front of her unfolds in slow motion.
The prince knocks the vase off the table, it crashes on the sidewalk attracting the bystanders' attention. Charles grabs the waiter's shirt pulling him backwards. The waiter drops the platter and tries to compensate for his loss of balance and grabs the closest thing to him, that being night walker's cloak. On instinct, she covers her face leaving nothing to break her fall. This is going to hurt, she thinks to herself.
Gasps and expressions of bewilderment are shared around the crowd that had gathered.
"Unbelievable!"
"Could it be?"
"Dear Heavens"
"By the name of our king"
"Impossible"
"It's…"
"PRINCE LEVIANTH!!!" the crowd cheers and bows.