In front of tall wooden gates with rusty metal holding them in place, two bored guards stood straight by it. As the other one yawned, thinking of his lovely bed waiting for him at home to snuggle in comfortably, his partner displayed a horrified expression with what he saw coming their way. He immediately reached his partner's shoulder and tapped on it anxiously as he whispered, "hey, hey!"
"What?!" the other yelled, visibly irritated with boredom.
'The commander,' he mouthed.
The other's lazy bubble burst when he learned who was coming, he stood straight and immediately wore a stoic face; Lance was marching towards them with both Coral and Lars towed behind him.
"Sir!"
They stomped their left foot as a greeting and transferred their gun to the other hand.
Dash and the others did not bother greeting them back, they all seem to be in a hurry; the faces they have worn explains it all. There must be a discovery that requires their immediate attention.
"Copper, what do you have for me?"
The Vancouv said as soon as the automatic doors opened for them; a lab full of busy people, conducting a series of experiments and equations.
"Sir," the other J.I member saluted, "we gathered this dust at the area where the older trainees are."
Copper took a step to the side to let Dash see what he saw through the microscope; the latter tilted his head before peeking through the two magnified holes.
He saw a universe within the dust they had gathered, but it wasn't all pretty colors such as purple, pink, and yellow. Rather, he saw black and bits of sparkles in different colors inside. It was confusing.
"What is it?"
"We are trying to conduct a series of tests to break its components, sir," Copper sighed, "unfortunately we are not close to one percent."
Dash's brows furrowed, his lips trembled; his fist met the metal table which displays the glass jars.
"You have one whole day to report to me fifty percent of the result."
"But sir, the materials we need won't suffice."
"You will find a way to make it happen," he turned to leave, but before he could step outside of the lab, he tasked Lars.
"You make sure they never leave this room until they give me what I want."
Lars, not liking his commander's demands, bowed his head, "yes, sir."
"Let's go, Coral. We have to see his majesty."
The rest of the J.I inside the lab watched their commander's back as the door closed behind them.
"Will you be okay, Copper?" one of them asked, Riela.
"I just have to make it happen," he brushed his fingers through his hair, "no matter what it takes."
"You are lacking in materials, yeah?" Lars spoke.
"It will have to do, sir." Copper's voice trembles.
Lars looked at Reila and saw in her eyes that her laboratory partner was lying.
"Write down what it is that you need and I will have it in no time."
"But sir," he wants to protest, he fears if Dash learns of this, he will be removed from the team and be demoted. Worst, stripped of any job that would force him to do any low paying labor work.
"Do it now, we have not enough time, Copper."
"Of course."
In a white carriage with green flags with a hawk and a sword as symbol, the Jade Investigating Unit's top members are on their way to meet with the king, Rafael Mac Aetos Trouv.
King Rafael is currently in the position along with his wife, Queen Blys Havenglow, a commoner he was so entranced with, he courted for a long duration of over two years. Once the Queen saw the sincerity in his eyes, she accepted his proposal. Not long after, they have gotten married that was celebrated throughout the Meadow Kingdom.
Despite Queen Blys' request to keep it simple, people have made all efforts to make sure it will be the best gift they give to the new beauty of their land.
Coral clicked her tongue as her brow twitched, watching Dash reading a book effortlessly in a moving carriage.
"You haven not told me the reason for our visit to his majesty," she broke the loud silence between them.
"I was just instructed to go, there were no further details written," he tossed the envelope he received this morning before they visited the laboratory.
Coral opened it and her brow raised, "ha, this is weird for them to send us an empty invitation."
"We will know what it is they want when we get there."
"Perhaps it is the Vancouv family who wished to see you?" she taunted.
"It is us who are invited, not me."
Coral shrugged, throwing the paper on him, "you best read it again," she grinned, "sir."
Dash glared at her, not knowing what it was inside her head. He had always had a hard time understanding her, he wouldn't know if it was her lack of interaction with women, or if it was her own complicated personality.
He did not want to argue with her and read the content of the letter, again. And it is true, he had missed the part where it was only him who was invited. But since it is not mentioned how he is not allowed to bring a companion, he figured it would be best to have Coral by his side, in case of what would happen during their meeting.
'Why must they summon me inside the castle?'
Dash is not someone who would dwell on things, he tends to shrug it off and think of a solution with not a second to waste. But after rereading the invite he got from the palace with the royal seal on it and golden ribbon melted with the wax, it tells him how important and urgent it is. That he must be there as soon as he can.
His discomfort did not escape Coral's prying gaze, "what was on your mind, Vancouv?"
Vancouv.
The only time she calls him Vancouv is when she's trying to get in his nerves, she knows something is off with him.
"Do not try my patience right now, Coral."
Coral's face shows disapproval, "I am not trying it. I am genuinely concerned."
"Your tone does not match the concern you speak of."
She scoffed, "if you do not wish to believe me, I will not force it on you."
Dash kept the invitation and faced her, he sighed, "What is it that you know?"
Coral smiled, "we are here, sir."
The J.I commander stared down on Coral and as soon as the carriage stopped moving, Coral escaped with elegance, leaving the door open for the Jade commander.
"Follow me," she said and walked up ahead. Dash could only sigh as he shook his head before following her to the castle.
"She's for sure enjoying this," he told himself as he knew Coral was just waiting for an opportunity to act as his superior.
When he entered the double doors, Coral was waiting for him inside with both hands folded in front of her.
"I will now take you to the private parlour," she smiled and it creeped him out. She's never acted this way the whole time they have known each other.
"Tell me what it is you know right now, Coral." But he was left unanswered.
"Have glued your lips all together, soldier?"
Arriving in front of a fancy double door, Coral stood by the side for him.
"They are waiting for you right now, Sir."
Dash did not do anything and stopped making her tell what was happening. He opened the door and was surprised at the set of eyes looking at him, he moved his head a little, confused.
His right eye twitched, wondering, "Greetings."
As polite as he could, none of the people inside the room greeted him back, nor smiled at him. All they did was look at him with intense gaze, but this has been normal to him.
He clenched his jaw.
"Coral, come inside."
"I'm good in here, sir."
Dash growled, "come inside!"
Coral sighed and slammed the door behind her.
"Can you not do that in front of my family?" he whispered to her. But she only walked towards the couch where he would be sitting and stood next to it.
"Settle down, Dash."
The loud stern voice of his grandfather, Keen Vancouv made the hairs on his nape stood up. All this time, he's always been afraid of him.
"Grandfather, could you read my reflection paper on philosophy?" the fifteen year old Dash asked Keen who had his quill dipped in the ink.
"Not now, Dash. I have piles of work to be done."
"But it will be quick," he insisted.
"You must learn to wait, boy."
The teenager's eyes widened, he got scolded again.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Go away now."
When he opened the doors, the four year old Lance was smiling looking up at him.
"Is grandpa in there?" the innocent sparkling eyes were speaking to him.
"He's busy, he's working."
Dash was still upset at how Keen never looked his way and stopped for a moment to see him as one of his kin.
"What are you doing standing there?"
Dash flinched at the older man's voice. And before he could turn around to tell him, little Lance peeked his small head in between the door and Dash.
"Grandpa!"
The older Vancouv cousin frowned, he already knew what would happen. Keen would just send the child away with his usual reason: busy working.
"Lance, my boy!" Keen let out a grungy chuckle as he settled down his quill and stood for Lance with a smile on his face.
Dash walked to where Coral is and sat down, waiting for who would speak first. If he would ask, they would only say he's being disrespectful with the protocol. It is in these moments that he would hate the privilege he has as a noble blood.
A guard who's on standby inside the room stomped his foot and announced, "May I announce His Majesty, King Rafael Mac Aetus Trouv, Her Royal Highness, Queen Blys Havenglow, and His Excellency, Prince Rafael Bliss Mac Aetus Trouv."
The double doors opened and the family with the protection of the four elemental spirits arrived in their lavish clothing, a quality only the royal blood could acquire.
"Your highnesses," the Vancouv family, including the servants present, did their courtesy and bowed before the royal family. And although Dash had followed the protocol, the questions he has in mind doubled.
'What is going on?'
The atmosphere inside the Jade's laboratory is intense, the scientists are taking no break, their noses kissing their microscopes; magnifying glasses, petri dishes, and many more tools needed to accurately record what they find. For every second turns to minutes, every minute turns to hours, these people are racing towards the deadline their commander had given them.
If they somehow would disappoint them with the report they will give him, he will not stop until he's satisfied with whatever punishment comes to his mind.
They must be very careful.
Lars, who has been watching them do their work nonstop as soon as he got back from gathering the things they needed for the research, seems so worried as they have not taken a break as soon as he came back. All they did was work, not even stopping to hydrate themselves. But as much as how he wanted to remind them to pause for at least a second, he can't disturb them.
As the clock ticks, one of their messengers barged in, saluting, "Cairo Romes reporting, sir!"
The person left in charge by Dash, Lars, turned to face him and asked, "What is it?"
"One of our crows came back with a message, sir."
Lars nodded, telling him to proceed.
"The Rubies had found something interesting in the northeast, sir. A Crystalized Tree."
Lar's shoulder's dropped, he thought this could be the biggest discovery after the mysterious stone of the northern forest.
"Take the report to the castle where the commander is currently at and tell him it is urgent," he waved his gloved hand and the messenger turned around immediately to do what was tasked of him.
"Lars?" Copper seemed to have difficulties catching his breath when he spoke to get the proxy's attention.
"What is it?" Lars walked to him, waiting for his next words.
"I might have an idea what this dust is made of."
The superior man's eyes twitched as his head tilted in confusion, what was he saying?
Copper walked away from the table and pressed something on the wall that opened a secret passage, Lars was surprised.
"What's in here?"
"You weren't allowed here before, these are all the records of our research."
"And?"
"I know I've already seen the particles inside the dust before," Copper said as he was looking for something within the gigantic shelves.
"You've seen it before?"
"Yes!"
Not long after, he found a book with the title of 'Northern Forest: Stone'.
"There you are."
He took it out gently and opened it to read, as they exited back to the laboratory.
"The records are detailed down to the visuals of particles found from every thing that was dug and looked into."
Copper laid the book down and flicked his finger on top of it; a white light appeared with a ball of silver.
"What's that thing?"
"This is the visual recording of what they found," Copper grinned when he opened the ball and it released some wriggling things in different shapes and colors, "now have a look through the microscope."
Although he felt it was strange, he did so to see what Copper was talking about and as soon as he looked through it, what was shown in the ball's visual record, can be seen inside the dust. But something is strange with it. They may seem similar, but their movement is very different.
The giggles over teacups covered the whole parlour, and everyone present in the room was so present, engaging with conversations, exchanging words with such enthusiasm but Dash. He is as lost as a child accidentally entering a maze, not knowing which path to go to leave.
"What about Sir Dash over here?" The Queen pointed at him with her teacup, sipping it in the process.
"Ah," Lord Keen chuckled, "the young boy's doing well in the J.I."
"That is a relief that you enjoy your job, child."
Child.
Dash is trying to calm himself, they still see him as a child. Not a man.
"Let us focus on the reason why we invited the Vancouv," King Rafael waved his hand and looked at Lyssa.
Dash followed the King's gaze.
"My dear," he smiled at Lyssa, "how would you like your engagement to be?"
Dash trembled with what he heard, an engagement. None from his family, nor the butlers had informed him of this engagement. Had he known, he would have destroyed Lyssa's reputation to the prince and have his parents choose another candidate for him.
In his mind, if Lyssa were to marry Prince Rafael, Lance would surpass him. If she will become the next queen, she would use her authority to have his brother back at the manor. He can't have that.
"Engagement, my king?" he tried to let out a laugh.
"Have you not been informed?"
He let out an awkward chuckle, "with the job I have, I am ashamed I have so little time to spare with my favourite little cousin."
"Well, you must do a better job from now on and guide her."
"Of course, your majesty."
It may be a decent conversation, but in the eyes of the eldest Vancouv, Keen was embarrassed at how he cut off the King in the middle of a conversation with Lyssa.
Before they continued, one of the guards came beside the King and whispered in his ear with information.
"Send him in," he said.
A messenger from the J.I entered the private room and did his courtesy, "forgive me for disturbing your meeting your highness."
"Yes?"
"I have an urgent message for Commander Vancouv."
The messenger carefully took a glance at the king but he was caught.
"Go ahead, pray tell." The king encouraged.
He gulped the lump in his throat to swallow his fear, "a crystal tree was found near the main village of the Land of Scorpion, my King."
King Rafael grunted and hummed, "I suppose this young man right here needs to do his duty."
Dash bowed, "I would like to have permission to excuse myself, your majesty."
Unfortunately, he wasn't permitted to, "have your right hand check on it, you have missed so much of the Vancouv's affair for you to slip out on this one."
Dash nodded, "of course, your highness."
Coral saluted and bowed to the high positioned people within the room, especially to the King and to Lord Vancouv. "I shall take my leave, your majesties, my lord."
Dash, who has always been on top of his game, felt voiceless and invisible in front of these people. He felt small compared to their gigantic reputation, while his pride is barely hanging with every event the Vancouv must partake in, he's the last one to know. Sometimes, left out.
'I swear I will crush that bastard.'
"Achoo!" Lance sniffed and rubbed his nose.
"Gross! Cover your mouth please." Serene made a disgusted face.
"Somebody's talking about me," he suspected, still rubbing his nose.
"Oh, my world! Stop rubbing your nose without a handkerchief!"
Serene then pulled out a handkerchief from her portal inventory and threw it at Lance's face, unfortunately it landed on Verin's face who's riding with Lance.
"I do not wish to eat a lady's handkerchief," he said, irked at the two's constant bickering.
"I, myself, do not wish nor fantasize about riding a horse with a man." Lance gritted his teeth.
Serene's ear twitched, she looked at Lance with disgust and summoned a small thorn to throw at him as Lance and Verin's horse was already ahead of her.
"What the fuck is your problem, you old lady?!"
The redhead scoffed and turned her attention towards Thenea who's looking at her. When she noticed how the light mage was watching her, she changed her expression and smiled happily.
"I'm so happy you rode with me!"
Thenea happily swayed her feet and hugged Serene tighter, "of course! It's fun to ride horses."
"Have you been riding doing this since you were young?" the rose mage asked.
Thenea shook her head, "no, grandfather was strict with me. He's scared I might fall."
"Then how do you know riding horses is fun?"
"I sneak out!" she proudly revealed.
Serene spoke under her breath, "she really does have something in common with Viv."
"Hmm? You said something?"
Serene flinched, "no, no."
Up in front, the commander and his substitute, leading the group, Lance said something that irked Verin causing him to jump off the moving horse.
"Hey, come on back up!" Lance said, trying to reach Verin's hair as they keep moving.
"I am not coming back there."
"We are still far from the forest, idiot."
"If I am an idiot, you are worse than I am."
Lance chuckled in a teasing manner, amused at his flustered friend.
"How so?"
Verin's lips trembled, his eyes twitched; ears turning red.
"WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I WRAP MY ARMS AROUND YOUR WAIST!"
Everyone following them behind, Serene, Thenea, Lithea, Viv, and two guards who are driving both Lithea and Viv, were all taken aback with Verin's revelation.
Serene raised an eyebrow while the others were too surprised to even utter a single word, absentmindedly blinking, trying to sync in the words that escaped his mouth.
"What now?" Serene said, wanting to clarify what they heard is correct.
Lance laughed loudly, he's satisfied with his friend's embarrassment.
"Once we are done with this mission, I'll deal with you," Verin growled, ears still bright red, "lift me up."
Lance snickers before taking Verin's wrist and pulling him up.
"Come on, upy upy!"
Verin pulled his hand back and stared blankly at Lance, irked, "ha."
"What's wrong?" he grinned mischievously.
"I'm walking."
"Oi, no. I'm just kidding."
"Shut it, you're disturbing my peace."
"Oi!"
As Lance kept teasing Verin to entertain the others and let them relax for a while, they finally are getting near the northern forest. Lithea, recognized the area where she last sensed the energy and they put to a stop.
"Here!" she said as she scanned the land, "this is where I last sensed it."
She hopped down the horse and summoned her threads again, going to position to use her sensory skill. As she was looking for more energy, the others watched her with obvious nervousness overtaking their being. No matter how dangerous and slow the progress will be, the greed to capture this person is increasing in each passing minute.
Unfortunately, Lithea is having a hard time. The energy keeps going in circles. She thought there's something she must have missed.
She added more mana on her threads and saw a person surrounded with the negative energy running towards them, fast.
Lithea opened her eyes and immediately called back her threads to create a big shield for everyone, and just as she did, Viv leaped high up and threw his knives, hitting the man's thighs.
Everyone was surprised by the two's sudden movement; the horses moved and those who were not prepared for it fell on their butt.
"Woah, woah!" one of the guards who didn't fall tried to calm the animals.
"What the heck was that?" Thenea whispered.
"He's here." Lithea informed them, all of them squinted their eyes as they couldn't see with the thick cloud of dust forming around them due to Lithea's abrupt effort in pulling back her threads along with Viv's sudden attack.