"Greeting to the Guardian of the Land, Your Majesty," Duke Hamdel bowed as he saw the incoming emperor into the Throne Hall. "I have returned." he looked up to the emperor. His expression was dire and nervous. Despite his clean and fresh attire, he looked tired and not good.
Emperor Aleq has been observing his behaviour since he entered the hall, knowing something is happening. Otherwise, he already rushed to visit his sister. His momentary excitement upon hearing his arrival shut him away from preparing what he would have to report.
"Report," he called out to Duke Hamdel. "Have you succeeded in delivering the message to the neighbouring Kingdoms, Duke?"
"Yes. I was able to get it done." Duke Hamdel replied. The emperor heaved a silent sigh. He won't tolerate any delay or reject the invitation. He must do it before the first day of the Spring. He is very much sure now that Lady Coraine will be the next empress. "But, I have something more depressing to report."
"Go on."
"On my way back through the South Kingdom, a city of the south has been ravaged by unknown creatures," Duke Hamdel begins. "Almost all the people were dead. The women's condition was not good either. Their body was ripped open, leaving not a drop of blood. The children are missing."
"Did they find out what this creature was?"
"There was some witness who witnessed the children being taken away into the darkness. They saw the creature holding a woman in its arm with blood in its mouth before disappearing into thin air," Duke Hamdel narrated what the people told him. Emperor Aleq narrowed his eyes while pondering. "Don't you think it might be caused by those ancient…."
"Don't say it. It can't be them." Emperor Aleq cut off his sentence halfway. He doesn't want that thing to be the talk of the town. "How's the situation in that City?"
"They refused to move to the nearest city for help. They want to stay, just in case those children 'return'." Duke Hamdel's last word sounded depressing instead. Not a hint of promising at all. Both of them attend the same academy of the land. They knew what those children would be facing. The chances that they will safely return might be slim.
Right now, they only need a miracle to have them rescued alive, or the mission itself will be a suicide.
"Bring in the Shaman. Let her see what's happening." the emperor's voice echoes to the guard outside. The nearby Royal Guards on-duty immediately bowed to the emperor before move away to execute his command.
"Can she be enough?" Duke Hamdel enquiry. They knew the present time, the current Shaman is not powerful enough to predict the future, or the other side's going on.
Emperor Aleq didn't reply.
This is not the problem that he wants right now.
The reports on people seeing this kind of creature are piling up in his study. Those creatures are not supposed to get into this land. Something attracts them to ransack living people's lives. But what? How dare these creatures cause troubles in this land openly.
"Another thing that these people had reported," Duke Hamdel continued hesitantly.
"Spilled it all out!" His voice raised in irritation.
"They thought they saw a glimpse of one of them. And immediately recognised him as the Late Crown Prince, Kaen."
The whole Hall was totally silent.
Emperor Aleq went aghast at his claims. It can't be. Though, they can't deny the one possibility as it was doable. But, who makes such despicable things to a royal family's body like that is likely planning something evil and cunning.
They need to find out more. What are their motives? The empire? It can't be that simple. The emperor stood up from his high throne and walked out. "Walk with me, Duke Hamdel."
He headed to the hidden garden behind the Throne Hall, towards his favourite tree. It is Fall season now, and most of the leaves have fallen to the ground. Looking out far into the mountain range of once a thick forest now looks bare with the fallen leaves, he can't appreciate the scene's beauty in front of him as he brainstorms the issue at hand. His mind processed the relation of another incident with the ancient tree previously. Could it be the same culprit? Do they aim for the ancient door?
"What is your conclusion on this, Duke Hamdel?" Emperor
"What are you trying to imply, Your Majesty?" he asked worriedly. Though he has the gist of what the emperor suspected, he can't say it out loud. The Emperor didn't say anything but stared hard at him as he weighed up if he wanted to spill out his worries. "Your Majesty?" Duke Hamdel felt uneasy watching his silence.
"Your Majesty, the Royal Shaman is here." One of the Royal Guard approached them with an announcement. Emperor Aleq nodded at him and walked away, heading to the Throne Hall, and Duke Hamdel followed behind.
Duke Hamdel looked concerned with the emperor's expression earlier. He was hiding something to himself. Again. Just looking at his majesty's reaction after he reported the whole situation at the South City, he seemed to have received the news somewhat 'normal'. He wondered if he had been receiving the same report as well, apart from the latter's report. There must be something going on during his absence. That will have to wait until the current situation is settled.
"I'm honoured to greet the Guardian of the Empire," a young shaman greeted the emperor with a deep bow. "Greeting to Duke Hamdel." Duke Hamdel nodded at her.
"Have you found out the reason for this outbreak, Royal Shaman?" Emperor Aleq demanded. He took his seat at the high throne on the Throne Stage.
She looked simple, humble and wise with her strong appearance. Even from her gaze, looking at the emperor while she spoke insinuated her abilities as a Royal Shaman. But, it didn't last long as the young Shaman went flustered at his enquiries. The emperor frowned at her heavily.
"Forgive me, your majesty," she replied. She suddenly fell to her knees with her palms pressed flat on the ground. "I regretfully inform you that I was unable to find the reason, Your Majesty." She asked for forgiveness.
Silent dead befalls the Throne Hall as the frustrated emperor sat there with he gripped the armchair tightly, it almost caused his hand to pale.
"How pathetic! How such a shaman called herself a Royal Shaman even powerless." He was disappointed with her performance as a Royal Shaman.
"Forgive me, your majesty!"
"Can't you even have anything at all?" His threatening voice warned her to come up with something useful.
"I... I did have something, but I'm not sure if it can be considered correct."
"Let me be the judge of that. Spill it out!"
"I had a premonition about a woman coming from somewhere, not here. Not from this land. Not beyond this world even."
"Continue."
"The time that woman's appearance was consistent with the first outbreak."
"Meaning?" Duke Hamdel asked, impatient. Emperor Aleq glanced at his way. Somehow, he can get where the story is going. If she plans to blame Raine, it could be dangerous if her identity is made known to others.
"Well,... That unknown woman might be the reason for such an outbreak to happen in the first place, Your Majesty."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I am sure, my lord." She looked at Duke Hamdel straight up. "I can't be the promising Seer like my ancestors did, but I am sure of what I saw. But I can't see what she will bring to our world. Good or evil." she shook her head in dismay.
Emperor Aleq waved his hand at Duke Hamdel to stop as he was about to throw her with another question. He knew the reason why Duke Hamdel was asking that question. He can't be more obvious of knowing that such a woman's arrival is someone they know.
"I see now," He looked down at the Royal Shaman. "You do have your point there. This information is indeed a sham. I believe you."
"Thank you for believing in me, Your Majesty." She bowed to the ground in relief.
"Thus, I want you to heed my command to you, shaman, not to share this piece of information with anybody else. Or you shall see the end of your life." Emperor Aleq warned her. "By the way, do you know by chance who Anak-anak is?"