THE VIRGAM KINGDOM
***
GENERAL ASTON PRYCE was quick to evade Astier's knuckle. Astier bombarded him with several physical attacks but neither one caught up with his speed.
'He's too slow.' he mentally commented. But his smug expression only drove Astier to the brink of his annoyance.
His frustration of not being able to land a single punch on him only made him feel more degraded and looked down, something he didn't fancy. Without a second thought, he released an energy blast. His movement was too swift this time that even the general had himself flabbergasted and was unable to move out of the way.
The energy blast travelled swiftly into the air, heading directly at the arrogant general but unfortunately, it didn't reach him again. A strong barrier of flame suddenly appeared, protecting the general.
Astier angrily turned to the princess. "Why are you protecting him? He's harassing you," he growled.
"You have no idea what you could have done," she argued.
"That was a powerful attack," General Aston commented. "That could have inflicted me severely if the princess had not protected me in time. You're a strong man to be a peasant."
Astier felt insulted again. His jaw clenched and tiny dark violet bolts began to encircle his fists. "What's that supposed to mean? Peasants can't be strong?"
He nonchalantly shrugged. "Only the nobles are granted the favour and the gift to possess such incredible power and energy. The low-class people are not worthy enough to receive them. So, it's a surprise and quite a rare moment to witness a peasant possessing such ability."
General Aston gave him no chance to reply when he turned to the princess again. "Three days, princess. The fate of your kingdom lies on Destroyer's head."
General Aston and his soldiers soon departed but not without giving Astier an arrogant smirk to irritate him even more.
"I will not forget this encounter, do you hear me?" Astier bellowed furiously.
"And neither will I." The general finally left them after having his last laugh.
The princess' exclamation of his sister's name finally awakened Astier and brought him back to a more important person to worry about. He approaches the queen with the intention of carrying her back to their wagon. But as he placed his arms underneath her legs and behind her back, her palm was quick to slap him, he compared the sound of it to a crumpled crispy chicken.
"When I tell you not to get involved it means that you step aside and leave us alone," Queen Neiryl yelled, her icy blue eyes glowed as though thousands of sparkling tiny snowflakes appeared, encircling her pupils.
"You have no idea what you could have done," she added spitefully.
He stared at her for a moment before answering, "Was it wrong for me to stand up against him because I felt insulted by his words?"
The queen's countenance did not betray disappointment when she freely wore it. "Incredulous."
Her chest finally stopped tightening allowing her to breathe freely once more. Her strength is gradually returning. Fortunately, the general only brought with him a small piece of cryssonite stone, just enough to weaken her, enabling her the chance to fight.
She brushes off Astier's hand, stands up confidently, and faces him. "Thank you for that unnecessary intervention," she uttered in utmost sarcasm before turning to Ardelian. "The entrance to the kingdom is just at the end of this trail. We'll go in together and escort you to the nearest inn belonging to a sage so I'll know where to send my servant."
"That is highly appreciated, Your Majesty," replied Ardelian.
They mounted on the wagon again and this time Ardelian maneuvered it. They shortly arrived at Virgam Kingdom. Astier successfully evaded being detected by the scanner for the second time.
Once they finally entered the kingdom's premises, his eyes began to be busy admiring the structures around him. He instantly forgot how he ensued a fight earlier and received a slap from his queen. His emerald green eyes are glowing in excitement, one can really tell how he is more than satisfied.
Everything he has seen is more than accurate to what was written in the book. With one look at the structures, anyone can already identify the being that rules the kingdom. All of the roofs of every house and other structures are covered in flawless ice. The streets may appear in the shape of bricks but they're literally flawless ice, and for some reason, it's not even slippery for Astier saw a few kids running by the side of the streets.
In the book, the Virgam Kingdom is mostly inhabited by humans, demi-humans, elves, and faes. But right now, Astier only sees the majority of the human population. Whatever happened to the other races and why can't he see even just a few of them? But those weren't the only things that Astier noticed, because all that passed before their queen didn't seem to be showing their respects. They pass before her like she's an ordinary being, as though she wasn't a queen blessed by the deities.
'What is going on here? Was there a deeper connection with the feud going on between my queen and the emperor?' he gazes at her but she doesn't seem to be minding her people's disrespect.
His reflection only halted when his eyes landed on another wanted poster of him. They're all over the place.
"You're very famous, my lord," Grim whispered beside him.
"I know."
"It's not surprising. You were already an infamous Ulterion."
He could only grimace inwardly. They stopped in front of a small inn and shortly after they dismounted the wagon, imperial soldiers immediately approached them.
Astier readied himself for a fight but the queen threw him a glare.
"I don't need you, or any of you, to intervene with our business lest you'll only make things worse," the queen coldly stated.
"They're only here to escort us back to the palace," the princess queried, much to her sister's disapproval.
"They don't need to know that, Nyrinn. I thank you again, gentlemen. I hope we never cross paths again."
Neiryl turned her back right away expressing her gratitude for the last time. The soldiers escorted them to a carriage that would take them back to their palace. She recalled the general's words. Despite having been weakened by the cryssonite stone, she received his words perfectly.
'Three days? Three days should be long enough until he shows up. But where am I going to find him this time?' Destroyer may have inconveniently survived again. His last run was to hide within the town of the undead where his energy would blend in with their darkness. If he did decide to surround himself with light beings, his dark energy force would disrupt those around him, thus giving away his location.
'That sick wizard. I must find him and retrieve that location before I kill him and deliver his head to that bloody emperor.'
"Are you alright, Neiryl?"
Her reflection halted upon hearing her sister's voice.
"Are you thinking about them?"
She thinly smiled. "I'm alright." She held her sister's hand. "We will find Destroyer in no time and free you from your curse."
♛♛♛
ASTIER AND HIS two companions had themselves settled in the inn. Ardelian booked three separate rooms but unfortunately, Grim had this peculiar habit of sharing Astier's room.
"You don't like your room?" Astier asks after Grim settles himself on the sofa inside his room.
The rooms don't look too fancy and every single one nearly looks identical to the other. It only contains what a regular room should have; a single bed, a bathroom, and a mini sala set (the term back in Astier's original world). Grim knocked on his door earlier and asked if he could sleep in with him.
"My room is fine. The design is not very aesthetic."
"So, you don't like it."
He shrugged. "I simply want to sleep in the same room with you. I feel safer whenever you're around. I see you as a big brother that protects his little brother."
His words somehow warmed his heart but at the same time, he felt a sudden ache. "Are you sure you're not just telling me that so I can let you stay?"
The taker of souls was quick to avoid his eyes like a little kid being caught in the act.
He sighed. "Go on now. You have your own room." He proceeded and opened the door for him.
"B-but---"
"No buts, please."
"Just for one night? Please?" the Grim Reaper pleaded. He even brought his palms together and his eyes are like a cat whenever their irises dilate. He didn't even spare his lips and pouted them.
"Please? Please? Only for one night?"
"Grim, no," he firmly stated. "Go to your room now."
The taker of souls reluctantly rose from the sofa and headed for the door with droopy shoulders.
"Seriously, what is wrong with him?" Astier muttered after closing the door.
He sat by the window to his room. His pupils dilated and his eyes sparkled again knowing that his room location was just perfect for him to see the wondrous palace of the Virgam Kingdom. Its roofs were not spared by the flawless ice and the towers surrounding it had a pole on the top of its roofs and instead of having a flag dancing along with the flow of the wind, it had a large beautifully designed snowflake at its tip. It sparkles and shines so magnificently under the sunlight.
"My queen... you really are an artist."