"Brother Rio! Good morning."
Then tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, Aylin answered shyly, "Thanks for your concern, brother. I have just caught a cold."
Rio was around 176cm tall with facial expressions that looked quite defined and brightly handsome. Within his gaze was an arrogant and obstinate light. He was wearing the uniform of the royal guards just like the other guards who were patrolling nearby. Not to mention, numerous royal guards were combing the forest for some reason with serious expressions and were guarding the village too. They were stopping every passerby and travellers to check.
Without any warning, Rio raised his one hand and placed it casually above Aylin's head. Tousling her hair affectionately, he advised in a concerned tone, "Ah! Little Lin, when will you grow up and learn to take care of yourself?"
Pouting her lips, Aylin instantly complained, "Eh! Brother Rio, don't spoil my hair."
Jane also complained from the other side, rolling her eyes dramatically, "Brother, why do you always spoil Lin's hair? Don't you know you shouldn't touch a woman without her concern? It is manner-"
But, Rio didn't let his sister finish her sentence. Pinching her chubby cheeks, he scolded, squinting his eyes threateningly, "Are you going to shut your mouth or should I tell Mother that you are the one who has broken her favourite vase?"
"Uh umm! A-alright…"
Jane shook her head helplessly, rolling her head once again. Only when she agreed not to speak anymore, did Rio let her chubby cheeks go and turned his gaze on Aylin once again. His playful yet threatening expression changed into a soft and concerned one as he asked again, looking at the familiar empty bucket in Lin's hand, "Don't tell me you two are going in the forest…"
Aylin was caught off guard by the sudden cautiousness of Rio's voice. Her heavy lashes flew up as she asked in a confused tone, "Yeah, we are going in search of some urgent herbs. Why, Brother Rio? What is going on here?"
"The security is very tight today. Yesterday, a small troop of Arcelian soldiers were brutally killed in the forest and we have found traces of mana too. Trespassers must be from the royal family of either Morana or Fintan."
Jane asked curiously, taking a step closer, "Brother, are they still in Arcelia?"
Rio explained in a serious tone while rubbing his temple, "Maybe? We aren't sure. But, your Royal Highness has ordered to increase the security and check every nook and corner of the kingdom. Maybe they are still here in disguise as civilians or merchants. Who knows!"
Aylin asked in a worried tone, "Have you found any trace of the trespassers near our village?"
"Exactly. The murder spot is very near to our village and we have found the horse of one of the death guard near our village." But, noticing the panicked expression of Aylin, Rio stopped abruptly as he changed the topic, "However, allow me to accompany you, Lin. I can't just let you two go alone in the forest."
Aylin instantly answered in a grateful and polite tone, "No no… We would be fine trust me. Jane is also here."
"Exactly, Brother. You shouldn't neglect your duty. Leave now. I can take care of Lin." Rolling her eyes once again, Jane grabbed Aylin's hand and was about to drag Aylin along with her when another masculine and strong hand suddenly grabbed the free wrist of Aylin.
Pulling Aylin slightly closer to him, Rio claimed in his authoritative and brotherly tone, "No way… I am coming with you."
But, Jane wasn't ready to listen to him either. She pulled back Lin in her direction as she shouted back in her sharp tone, "Never. Just let us go, Brother."
"Stop acting annoying, Jane. It is not safe today."
"Brother, I know why exactly you want to come with us. Don't try to fool me?"
"Jane, I am warning you… You are not allowed to-"
But interrupting the siblings, Aylin declared in a determined tone, pulling her hands away from their grips, "Ahem! I am going alone. You two can keep quarrelling here. Bye bye."
Aylin already took a step forward when Jane shouted from behind, "Impossible!"
Rio also agreed with her, "Exactly! Little Lin, you are too frail and delicate to protect yourself. Let me come with you."
Aylin answered, frowning her eyebrows, "Nooo! I am going alone. Trust me, I am in a hurry."
Aylin was already familiar with the bickering of those siblings so she knew very well that they weren't going to stop any time soon. Her head was again throbbing so she wasn't in a mood to talk anymore.
Without waiting for their answers, she began to walk towards the forest taking hasty and long steps. Behind her, she could still hear Jane and Rio's voices.
Jane shouted again while running behind Aylin, "Lin, wait for me. You mustn't go alone."
But, before Rio could say anything, two royal guards approached him from the other side. Both of them were carrying the crest of the eagle, the symbol of Arcelia.
Hurriedly approaching Rio, one of them declared urgently, "Rio, come fast. The Crown Prince is here."
Rio asked in a confused tone, "The Crown Prince? But, why is he here?"
Aylin also stopped abruptly in the middle of the way to hear their conversations. Turning her head in Rio's direction, she was listening to them with a puzzled and curious face. That was the first time the Crown Prince himself came to check the patrolling. It was not a small matter.
The royal guard explained again in his breathy tone, wiping his sweaty face with the back of his hand, "Yes, he wants to check the scene of the assassination himself. Come fast. We need more guards."
Rio instantly nodded his head to his companion. Then slightly tilting his head and looking at Aylin and Jane, he advised in a concerned tone, "Don't stay long in the forest and be careful. Ok?"
Jane instantly answered, waving her hand, "Yes, Brother. We will be careful."
Aylin also agreed immediately, "Brother Rio, take care."
Along with his companions, Rio disappeared quickly among the crowd of the royal guards. Aylin was about to leave but grabbing her wrist, Jane murmured, pointing in a particular direction, "Look there."
It was a majestic black horse but it was the rider who caught Aylin's attention, especially his raven black hair and bright golden eyes. He reined his horse in and stopped exactly in front of the crowd of the royal guards who were waiting for their Crown Prince, standing in a queue.
He was in his early twenties, an energetic young adult with an air of isolation. His eyes were shimmering like a melted pot of the richest, finest gold and something ruthless glittered deep within, like an eagle keeping its eyes at its prey. He wasn't even looking in their direction yet Aylin froze at her place in fear, afraid even the slightest twitch would bring death pouncing down on her. She even noticed the crest on his Shadle, the crest of Arcelian.
The Crown Prince of Arcelia got down from his black horse.
Instantly,
All the royal guards knelt in front of him, pressing their right hand against their chest. Lowering their heads, they welcomed in chorus, "Long Live, His Highness."
From the corner of his eyes, the Crown Prince stole a glance of Aylin and Jane who was still standing a little far away like statues, frozen by his powerful aura. Then, shifting his shimmering golden eyes on the bowing royal guards, he ordered in his cold and deep voice, "Get up and report the situation."
The head knight of that group of the royal guards took a step forward, getting up from the ground and he began to explain the whole situation and what they found about the trespasser.
Aylin was curious to know about the full incident but Jane was reluctant to stay there any longer. The crown prince indeed had a frightening aura. So, without wasting any more time, they went in search of their herbs.
While walking away, Aylin overheard only a little part of that knight's report which not only horrified her but also made her worried for her aunt who didn't return to the house that morning. Instinctively, her speed increased...
The knight was still reporting in his formal and gruff voice, "... 26 soldiers are brutally murmured, His Highness but surprisingly, we have found the sign of two trespassers as there are footsteps of two persons, walking away in the direction of the Dawn Village. A horse of one of the death knights has been discovered near the Blossom brothel. We are sure that it is the work of the royal family of Morana or Fintan. Assuming the direction of the footsteps, those two trespassers are hiding among the guests of..."
His voice slowly disappeared as Aylin entered the dense forest. She shifted her all attention in searching the herbs. The bright and golden sunlight was peaking through the leaves of those long trees as soft breezes were ruffling her soft, midnight black hair.
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(Except for Arcelia, Two more kingdoms of Cenobia Island were Fintan and Morana. These three kingdoms were always engaged in war among themselves without caring about the death of numerous soldiers and civilians.
Fintan was situated at the North of Arcelia and the Royal rulers of Fintan were the holder of Fire and Earth. They have some other powers too like using speed or wiping memories.
Their ruby-like crimson red eyes were the proof of their mana and royal blood.)