Teri pushed the door of Mizak's chamber gently and entered quietly. The room was dark, except for a few candles that flickered on the table and the nightstand. The faint light cast eerie shadows on the walls and the furniture, creating a somber atmosphere.
"Mizak," he called softly.
"And Prince Ivive," Prince Ivive said.
Mizak was sitting on his bed, his back propped against the headboard. He tired, his eyes dull and his lips dry. Prince Ivive was standing across the bed with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn and apologetic.
Prince Ivive had come to beg for Mizak's forgiveness, but before he could utter a word, Teri had already entered. He felt guilty and ashamed for what he had done to Mizak, for betraying his friendship. He wanted to make amends, but he did not know how.
They were all in their night garments. Mizak's hair was tied up in a simple knot, revealing his handsome features. When Teri entered, they both turned to him, their eyes curious.
"Oh, you are here too. It is good that you both are here," Teri said, after prince Ivive spoke.
"Do you want to sit?" Prince Ivive asked.
Teri waved his hand. "No, thank you, Prince Ivive. I will not take long. We are going back to the capital, the palace specifically."
Prince Ivive glanced at Mizak and Teri, his brow furrowing. "Is it because of me?"
Teri exhaled. "No and yes. It concerns you. A map was given to your mother by my mother, at that time you were little. My mother was pregnant with my first older sister, Selene. Do you remember a pregnant lady that came to visit your mother?"
Prince Ivive thought hard, but nothing came to his mind about a pregnant lady visiting his mother. He had only vague memories of his childhood.
"Maybe it is because I was little, but I do not know about a map given to my mother by yours. And I do not think I have ever met your mother."
"Maybe it is still in your mother's residence in the palace, hidden somewhere," Teri said, hoping that it was true.
Prince Ivive looked at Teri, his eyes narrowing. "Are you saying that I will be the one to go back and bring the map?"
"Your highness, you will not be alone. We will be with you. However, I will need your help to draw the map of the palace.
Can you do that?" Teri asked, knowing that it was a lot to ask from him.
Prince Ivive hesitated as he thought about it and crossed his arms over his chest. He was not sure if he wanted to go back to the palace.
"I think I can," he said, glancing at Mizak and teri who was waiting for his answer.
Teri nodded. "That is the first help. And you will have to draw it tonight. Will it be burdensome for you, your highness?"
Prince Ivive sighed as he looked at him. "It will not be burdensome," he said, lying.
He knew it would be hard, to recall the layout of the palace, to remember the rooms and the halls and the secrets.
Prince Ivive spoke as he started walking towards the door. "I will have to request the needful from a servant to bring to my chamber then." He opened the door.
"Your highness, can you wait for me? We will go together," Teri said.
Prince Ivive turned his head towards Teri while his hand was still on the door and nodded with a smile. "Of course." He said as he went out and closed the door.
"There is obviously something you want to say to me," Mizak said, staring at Teri while his hands on his bed.
"Yes, there is something I want to say. Yesterday night, you were wounded by the mysterious and your blood was used to write the bloody writing on your wall. After that, you were shallowly buried alive.
And if we did not reach you on time, I could have been talking to your ghost already," Teri said.
He was grateful, grateful for Mizak's survival, grateful for his companionship, grateful for his friendship however he did not want mizak to die because they him.
Mizak chuckled dryly as he stood up and walked to the table beside Teri. He folded his arms over his chest and stood beside Teri, looking at him with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "So you are saying you are worried about me," he said, teasing him.
Teri sharply turned his head to him, "Who is worried about you? I have other things to worry about and none concerns you. It seems you did not understand what I am trying to say, or maybe you are pretending," he said.
Mizak tapped his fingers on his arm, while he turned his head forward. He sighed and turned his head sideways to Teri, who was beside him. "Maybe I don't," he lied, playing along.
Teri exhaled, frustrated. "We are going back to the capital. Even though you did not see what happened to you, I have told you. I wanted you to come with me because I could not ride a horse due to my blindness.
But now, Melovine is the owner of the whip. Prince Ivive is the owner of the extendable spear. Even though he is a prince, he still has to come with me.
It is just remaining to find Athelin, the king of the former dynasty of Delmos, and give him the sword. I do not know what will happen next. More dangerous fights will come across our way as we travel. So..." he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
"Shush," Mizak said, cutting him off. He knew what Teri was trying to say. He was trying to say that he wanted him to stay in the capital, to be safe and sound, to be away from the journey.
Mizak placed his hand on Teri's shoulder, stopping his words. He looked at him sincerely, earnestly, kindly, as if he was the most important person in the world.
"We are going back to the capital, so you want me to stay there and not travel with you. You are clearly trying to push me away, but I will stick to you.
I know we will meet dangerous people and dangerous fights will come across our way as we journey. You already told me things like this may happen and I still agreed to journey with you. Teri Ereen, I told you before, I never go back on my promises. I am going to be your travelling companion to the end, no matter if it seems it will end well or not."
Mizak chuckled slightly at himself as he looked down. "Well, that must have been very touching."
Teri was speechless and he did not know how to react. To smile, to cry, he did not know. However, one thing was sure, he was touched by his words. He had never imagined having a friend like Mizak. A friend indeed.
Even though he stayed in the bandits village after he came to Alririt kingdom, no one seemed close enough to call a friend to him.
Mizak looked at him. "Hey, are you asleep?"
Teri snapped back to his senses.
"Do you want to go out? If you want, take my hand," Mizak said as he extended his hand towards Teri.
"You can keep your hand. Prince Ivive is already waiting for me outside the door. I can find the door myself with my hands. You must think I am hopeless without Selena's guidance," Teri said.
"That is not what__".
Teri waved his hand to cut him off and used his hands to find the door as he walked.
Mizak watched him and chuckled dryly.
************************************
IN PRINCE IVIVE'S CHAMBER
The chamber was spacious and elegant, furnished with a large bed, a wardrobe, a fireplace, and a writing desk. The walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings, depicting scenes of history and mythology. The windows were covered with curtains, blocking the moonlight and the cold. The candles on the table and the nightstand provided the only illumination, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Prince Ivive and Teri sat next to each other across the table, where a parchment, a quill, and an inkpot were laid out. Prince Ivive was drawing the map of the palace, using his memory and his skill. He was careful and meticulous, tracing the outlines of the rooms, the halls, and the secret passages. He was determined and focused, wanting to finish the task as soon as possible.
Teri sat quietly as prince Ivive drew the map.
Prince Ivive glanced at Teri repeatedly, noticing his silence. He was concerned and intrigued, wondering what he was thinking about, what he was feeling.
"Are you sleeping or are you lost in thoughts, Teri?" he asked as he drew the map, but there was no response.
He poked Teri's arm with his quill, hoping to get his attention.
Teri snapped back and slapped his hand away, startled by the touch.
Prince Ivive looked at him as he continued drawing the map. "Were you sleeping or were you thinking about something?"
Teri wiped his face with his hands, feeling embarrassed. "I was not sleeping."
"Then what were you thinking about so much that you left this world? I called you before but you did not respond," Prince Ivive said.
Teri heaved a sigh,"just lost in thoughts".