Chapter 6
"Holy fuck, Kael, bro, you are a fucking genius," Draco exclaimed excitedly, jumping on Kael's shoulders again.
"Draco, I'm exhausted from having used too much magic." Kael cried out.
"You don't look as exhausted as you claim." Fiona pointed out.
Percival stared at Kael in wonder. "Dude, why the fuck did you stop learning magic?"
Kael shrugged his shoulders. That was a story for another day and he was just ready to share that with anyone at least not yet.
"Stop being a gossip you guys, let's move," Fiona called out to them.
Kael gave her a nod and they all began moving. It was funny to Kael that he had teleported everything including their horses and still did not feel exhausted. It wasn't supposed to be but he shook it off. It was just one more anomaly or perhaps a gift to him.
Kael was a bit excited at seeing his brother but he was more excited about seeing Cecilia. They disagreed before he left and judging by the letters which she did not reply to, it seemed she was still annoyed with him.
News regarding the war had spread around the capital. Everyone came out to congratulate them. The whole country was filled with colours and flowers and joy as people smiled and made merry.
Augustus never expected that Kael and his troops would have made it back so early. He had also laid a trap for them on their way to the gate. How was it that Kael and everyone who had been accounted for after the war was over were still gathered here? How?
He fumed at the fact that his plans had been soiled but put on a bright smile to congratulate Kael. He would have to deal with the other issue, later.
Once Kael got to the palace, Augustus let out a hearty laughter and moved quickly to hug his brother.
"I knew you would make it." Augustus boasted proudly.
Kael smiled. "I hardly did anything." He told Augustus.
Fiona scoffed. "Nonsense. We succeeded thanks to you."
Augustus cocked a brow at that. Kael was only a fourth-circle magician so how was it that a war that had been going on for years ended because of him? Was he hiding things from him? Augustus had thought he had done everything to gain Kael's trust but perhaps Kael still hid things from him.
"We greet the sun of the empire." Everyone apart from Kael who had been so caught up in his brother's embrace greeted.
Kael was about to go down on one knee to greet her but Augustus laughed again.
"No need for this. I should be the one greeting you guys. Thank you for all the effort you guys have put into the war. Come in, rest and at night we make merry." Augustus told them.
A cheer went high in the air. The people were excited and even Kael had to admit he was excited but first, he needed to meet with Cecilia.
"Um, Augustus, I need to…."
Augustus laughed. "Don't worry, worry later, for now, we celebrate."
No matter how Kael tried to speak to his brother about meeting Cecilia, he could not get through. Augustus was swamped with meetings and reports.
"Damn, I thought I would be able to see my sister today," Draco grumbled.
They had all been taken to different rooms to rest ahead for the evening festivities. The room had two beds for two people. And it just so happened that Draco was rooming with Fiona.
"Same here. I wanted to see my brother." Fiona said to him.
She took a seat on the bed and removed her boots.
"Is it just me or does it seem like the king is trying to postpone the briefing?" Fiona asked with a frown on her face.
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "I have no fucking idea. All I want to do is see my sister."
"You and your sister complex."
Draco scoffed. "It's not a sister complex. It's more like a huge love for my youngest sister."
"She is the only sibling you have," Fiona said to him.
"There is a bathroom to wash up, you can use it first since I'm a gentleman."
Fiona scoffed. "Gentleman my ass."
She moved to the bathroom while Draco lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. He hated to admit it but he felt there was something off. Fiona was right to suspect the king but Draco could not put his finger on it. Why was he making them stay overnight? Why did he want them to attend the party? Well, on second thoughts, they needed to celebrate. He was sure the king wouldn't be able to pull up any tricks during the celebration.
Hours later, doubts were put aside as everyone made merry and enjoyed the festivities. The war was over. Kael drank more than he was supposed to and he kept on drinking with the friends he had made.
Augustus made sure that they all drank to their heart's contents and even more. Especially Kael's friends. They may have escaped the trap he had placed should they have gotten to a teleportation gate but they wouldn't be able to escape this one. Not at all.
Kael had lost track of time. He kept on drinking until he fell asleep. He only woke up because he kept on hearing a voice that was so familiar. A Voice that sounded like Cecilia's but when he opened his eyes, someone else was staring at him.
He did not need to be told twice to know that it was a ghost. He blinked and the ghost disappeared. He took in where he was. He was still in the hall where the party had taken place but there was no one present. The tables had been cleared already. Kael tried to rub a plan down his face but he discovered he was restrained to a chair.
His heartbeat increased. Something was wrong. A chill passed the room. He knew he was still in the palace but who would restrain him? Perhaps the war was not over yet and the enemies from Giaia had made their way into the palace. But how? Kael struggled to get out of the chair but then a voice spoke up.
"There is no need. Unless you know high-level magic, you can't get out."
Kael turned and took note of the ghost he had seen when he first opened his eyes. He was no longer shocked or scared when he saw ghosts. He had seen enough during the war that it had become normal for him.
Kael frowned at the ghost's words. The restraints were bound with magic in them? And the ghost spoke like he knew who had done this.
"Do you know who did this?" Kael asked him.
The ghost shrugged. "You'll find out soon enough."
Kael was about to ask him what he meant when the lights in the hall dimmed. Kael had been seated next to his brother at the elevated part of the room. It was like they had prepared a show for Kael. Filled with dread, Kael watched as the lower floor opened up and three different projections came up.
He knew this had to be done with magic because no device in the city could do this. The middle projection showed Fiona and once more Kael's heartbeat increased in fear of what was to come.
Fiona was also restrained to a chair and she watched as her brother fought for his life. Kael only knew he was her brother because of how similar they looked. Fiona had said he was sick but Kael had no idea it was this serious. Felix could hardly stand up from the wheelchair but he was determined.
Just then, the door to the hall opened and Augustus walked in with a smile on his face.
"Augustus," Kael called out.
"I see you're awake. Just in time for the show to begin." Augustus said to him.
Kael frowned. Augustus was talking strangely. It was like he knew what was going on.
"What are you talking about?" Kael asked him.
Augustus chuckled. "Oh, stop with the naive act brother. This show is all for you. I get to be your commentator. Like your precious Fiona, captain to you and a very dear friend also. Did you know her brother is sick? He has hellfire disease. That anomaly tends to affect individuals with a high affinity for magic."
Kael stared at his brother, confused because he had no idea what his brother was getting at.
"Confused?" Augustus asked Kael with a wide smile.
He was enjoying the play of emotions on his brother's face. He was enjoying it a little too much.
"Let's make it clear then. I told Felix I was holding his sister in custody and the only way to free her was if he fought his way out." Augustus told him.
Kael's gaze went back to the projection where Fiona was screaming with tears pouring down her face. Felix was in a wheelchair but he struggled to fight. Kael knew there was no way he would make it. Hellfire disease was a disease that spread like wildfire recently. It was also the reason why Fiona had to replace Felix in the war. The more you use your magic, the more the burning sensation increases.
Kael had also heard that even without using magic, one gradually lost the use of their limbs. It was like it crawled up your body no matter how hard you tried to stop it.