Teri and Mizak were in Elley's chamber, where she was resting after the fierce battle. She had sustained a deep wound on her shoulder, but she refused to show any sign of weakness. She was lying on the bed, covered with a white sheet, while Teri sat at the edge of the bed and Mizak stood beside him. They were both worried about her condition, but they also admired her courage and determination.
"Does it hurt badly?" Teri asked, his voice gentle and concerned.
She smiled, a faint glimmer in her eyes. "No. And even if it hurts the slightest, it was worth it. This time, you were not the one protecting me. Instead, I was the one protecting you. I feel like a big sister now."
Teri smiled back, a trace of sadness in his expression.He knew how much she was hiding her pain, trying to be strong for him. "I understand, big sister Elley. Are you saying that to cover up your pain?" he asked, half-jokingly.
"No!" she said as she rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed. She loved his sense of humor, even in the darkest times. It always made her feel better.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Mizak said, his tone respectful and formal.
Prince Ivive opened the door and entered the chamber. He was dressed in a blue robe.
"Your Highness," Mizak said as he greeted him with a bow.
"No need to mind me in the chamber. I had nothing to do, so I am here with you," Prince Ivive said as he walked and sat down on a chair near the table.
"I wonder how you became the owner of the spear," Elley rolled her eyes as she mumbled. she didn't trust him yet. She also envied him, for having such a powerful weapon.
"The owner of the spear? The one in the box?" Teri asked, confused. He didn't know much about the weapons, or the prophecy that foretold their destiny. He only knew that they had to find them, and use them to stop the rebellion that had destroyed their lives.
"Yes, and bad-tempered lady is the owner of the red whip," Elley said, referring to Melovine.
"Prince Ivive owns the spear and Melovine owns the whip? You said there were two Xs on the map. Dew City was the first X, how can we have two guardians in dew city? Then what about the second X? King Athelin?" Teri asked, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to know why they were chosen.
"That reminds me, about the map______" Elley was about to explain, when someone barged into the chamber. She looked at the person who interrupted her. It was Darlene Ereen, her second elder sister.
She smiled, despite her pain. "Big sister."
"Darlene?" Teri said in his mind. He remembered the illusion and wondered how his family could have been if the rebellion didn't happen.He wished he could see his family again, the way they were before the rebellion. He wished he could forgive her, but he couldn't. He hated her, for leaving them alone, for betraying them, for hurting them.
He didn't tell Elley the truth, that they were abandoned. He told her that she got missing. He wanted to protect her, from the harsh reality, from the pain. He wanted her to be happy.
Teri stood up from the bed, as he was about to utter the words he hadn't said in a long time, second elder sister.
Darlene walked to Elley's bed and sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked at her with worry, "Are you okay?" she asked, softly.
"I'm fine. I'm grateful for your worries for me," Elley said with a smile. She was happy to see her.
Darlene turned her head to Teri and stared at him with hatred. She hated him, for dragging Elley into this, for putting her in danger, for making her suffer. She hated him, for being alive, while their parents were dead. "It's all your fault for dragging Elley into this! Not just Elley, but everybody in the mansion!" she shouted at him.
She continued,"what happened today was the first time we encountered this.This manor has been peaceful for years until you appeared.
Everywhere you go,blood is shed,people die, people suffer because of you!".
Teri felt shattered by those words. They reminded him of the words she had said to him when she left him and Elley. They reminded him of the pain, the anger, the betrayal.
Mizak wondered if he should intervene or not. He knew that Teri was not to blame, that he was a victim.He knew that Teri deserved respect, not hatred.
"Stop!" Teri yelled, his voice trembling. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't listen to her lies, to her accusations, to her insults. He couldn't let her hurt him.
She stood up from the bed, as she glared at teri"Why? Why should I stop? You know it too!" she spat at him.
"That's enough, Lady Darlene!" Prince Ivive said, his voice authoritative and commanding. He had been watching the scene but he decided it was time to intervene.
She turned her head to Prince Ivive and gave him a death stare.She didn't want him to interfere, or meddle.She wanted him to mind his own business, "What is enough? Speaking the truth? Do you know the pain he caused me?" she snapped at him.
Mizak scoffed, as he looked at her with his arms folded across his chest. He thought she was selfish, and hypocritical, and cruel. He knew what the pain she caused them, and he was not going to let her get away with it. He was going to confront her.
"Pain? What pain? While you were here, having a good life, did you ever wonder how your brother and little sister were living?" Mizak asked her.
"You don't know anything, Mizak," Darlene said, as she shot him a glare.
She didn't like him, or trust him, or listen to him. She thought he was ignorant, and arrogant, and rude.
She moved closer to Teri, standing in front of him and looking at him with disgust. "If mother was still alive, I bet she would regret over and over again that she dug you out from the grave. Look at Elley, she's hurt. What if she had died? It would also be your fault. But you can't see that, because you're blind," she said with a low voice filled with rage.
She placed her hand behind his back and pulled him closer. She tilted her head and whispered in his ear. "I told you to kill yourself and your sister too, to avoid suffering. But you didn't. You decided to face life. Who is to blame?
Since you can't do that, I'll give you another suggestion. Your core. It won't be easy for others to remove it, but if you remove it yourself it won't hurt.
If you remove your core, none of King Delmos' minions will be after you again. They just want your core.
"You have to decide what to do if you want to keep Elley alive," she said as she yanked her hand away from his back and stormed out of the chamber.
Teri stood still as he clenched his fist, feeling a surge of anger and hurt.
"Are you alright?" Prince Ivive asked, looking at him with worry.
Teri chuckled bitterly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He scoffed. "She thought she could break me again. She thought I would cry because of her words like when I was eight years old. How pathetic and miserable of her."
He rubbed his eyes. "I need to retire to my chamber and sleep. It was a hectic day."
"You should rest too, little sister," he said softly.
" You too and please do not mind elder sister words," Elley said weakly.
Teri nodded.
"Let me take you to your chamber then," Prince Ivive offered, walking towards him.
Teri sighed. "Don't worry, your highness, you should rest too. The nobleman will help me."
Prince Ivive was confused by his choice of words, knowing that he was also a nobleman. "The nob__"
"Mizak," Teri said.
"Teri is right, your highness, you need to rest," Mizak said, approaching them.
Prince Ivive looked at him with a sly grin. "I appreciate your concern, Mizak, but I don't think escorting him will be a problem for me. After all, I didn't really participate in the fight today, I only guarded a door."
Teri heaved a sigh. "I just want to retire to my chamber."
"Then let's go," Prince Ivive said, taking his arm.
Prince Ivive led him to his chamber and Teri sat on his bed.
Prince Ivive walked around the room, inspecting everything.
"I can hear you walking around. What are you looking for?" Teri asked.
"Anything suspicious. It's better to be safe than sorry to avoid mishaps," he said, continuing to check the items in the room.
"Or do you want me to stay here?" Prince Ivive asked, glancing at him.
Teri raised the corner of his lips slightly. "To stay? To protect me?"
He shook his head. "I'm grateful for your concern, Prince Ivive, but I can protect myself. I'm also grateful that you escorted me to my chamber, but I want to be alone now. Please, can you leave?"
Prince Ivive turned his head to him and stared at him. He saw the exhaustion in his face and the loneliness in his posture,he could Tell Teri wasn't alright but didn't want to cross boundaries if Teri does not wish it. He nodded. "If that is what you wish, I will let you be. But I won't be far from your chamber."
"Thank you," Teri said as he removed his blindfold, lay on the bed and turned his back to Prince Ivive, covering himself with a blanket.
Prince Ivive walked towards the door and glanced at Teri one last time before he left the room and closed the door.
When he turned, he was startled by the figure he saw standing beside the door.
It was Mizak, leaning on the wall, beside the door. His black hair was tied up, his arms were folded across his chest and his legs were crossed. His eyes were sharp and his expression was unreadable.