"WHEN IS IT moving again? This year's its last right?" replied Ardelian.
"It is and it's moving ten days from now. You better hurry." His mischievous smirk still has not evaded his lips.
Recalling his words from earlier, Astier asked him, "How did you know that I lost my memory?"
"The answer is simple, you don't recognise me."
"We have met before?"
"Of course, we have," he exclaimed heartily. "My 'brother' and I are the ones who forged your weapons."
The knowledge that another human being knows his real identity despite having it hidden was enough to throw him off guard, but having to know that he was the same blacksmith he read from the book who forged Destroyer's Heinous nearly shattered his mind. How many surprises are still there that await him on his journey to find out who he really is?
Meeting the same blacksmith who forged his weapon was quite unexpected for him. But also reminding him of the fact that Grim was the one who took and hid his Heinous. He realises, why hasn't he given it back to him yet?
He learned quite a lot tonight but nothing changes the fact that Destroyer was badly beaten by the queen who loves snowflakes resulting in him disappearing for ten years.
"Don't worry. We'll find out more about everything once we get to Orvell's Library," Ardelian consoled him. After their conversation with the sage, the two of them headed into Astier's room to discuss their plan.
"The journey from our location to the border near Parledron Forest will take us only seven days maximum. But this depends on the amount of enemies we will encounter along the way," Ardelian added.
"Are you suggesting that we leave tonight?" said Astier. His mind is not fully fixated on their current situation. When the sage mentioned that he had a brother who helped him forge Destroyer's Heinous, something inside him suddenly kicked. A call of instinct as though his heart recognised a familiar word that was taken along with his memories.
His reflection was only interrupted when Ardelian asked of him Grim's whereabouts.
"He's not in his room. Did he tell if he'd gone back to his domain?"
He glanced away and opened his mouth for a few seconds before revealing what he had asked of their naive companion to do.
And that night, Astier has never seen his good friend raging mad like a bull.
♛♛♛
"WHAT IF THE queen found him and tore him apart? Sent his remains back into his domain so he can repair himself?" After knowing what Astier did, the two of them ended up staying up all night, waiting for Grim's safe return.
Ardelian has been lashing out his anger at Astier since last night but to his annoyance, the young man wasn't even that bothered.
The sun had already appeared, and the people had gone busy, occupied by their individual tasks and chores. Some had already had their fill of breakfast but Astier and Ardelian remained unmoved at the entrance.
"You worry too much," Astier finally blurted.
Ardelian stiffened for a second. "You seem surprisingly calm."
"He's immortal, my good friend. He can't die no matter how many times my queen will kill him."
"I would actually disagree with that." The news startled Astier, causing him to jump up from the bench where he was sitting.
"My queen, you actually came," he exclaimed in utmost excitement.
"She's not your queen, Astier," Ardelian inserted and lowered his head. "I don't want to be rude but what brings you here, Your Majesty?"
The queen glances around, imperial soldiers can be seen walking around so casually but she knows that their ears are as sharp as her vision.
"Let's talk inside."
Two minutes later they found themselves settled in a large table by the corner that Grim found.
"I won't be delaying anything, I'll tell you directly. My sister and I will pardon Destroyer from all of his crimes should he help us defeat the emperor of the Lunar Empire."
The two men were stunned. Not because of the queen giving a pardon but because of her knowledge about Destroyer.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but whatever do you mean by your words? I believe my good friend and I are quite confused."
One corner of her lips lifted for a smirk and unknowingly, Astier's green eyes are sparkling once more. They literally appear as though his pupils are made purely out of emeralds. His heart nearly exploded when the Queen of Ice turned her eyes on him.
"I guess innocence and naiveness run through your friendship. Your naive reaper here told me that you know who Destroyer is. Is that true?"
It took Astier nearly a moment before he could deliver his reply as he had to contemplate whether should he be honest or play the deceptive demi-human.
In the end, he decided to play his part: "Y-yes, I do. He is actually a friend of mine, but not so close. But I do know him."
"Y-you need his help?" he added, his voice nearly cracked.
"I do. I want my people to be free from the oppression of the emperor and his abusive soldiers. They've already suffered long enough because of a single mistake."
"But I thought you want to kill him? I-I know because of his wanted posters all over the kingdom," he quickly defended.
"It's the one thing that the emperor and I have in common--- we both want his head."
Astier unknowingly lifted his hands and held his neck. He can imagine already the feeling. He doesn't want to lose his head.
"And I reckon that you will want us to convince him to join your side instead and defeat the emperor together?" Ardelian inserted.
Princes Nyrinn nodded to him and responded, "Nothing is much better than to work with the same being who has the same enemy as yours."
"But how can we be certain that you will not kill him right after we kill the emperor?"
"You will be assured of his survival," answered the queen, then her voice toned down a little bit, "I needed something important that he possesses."
"And this important thing that he has--- what is it?" Did Destroyer and the queen have something going on before? Why wasn't it written in the book? This important thing she speaks of was never mentioned.
Lately, he's been encountering some unfamiliar events which were not written in the book. If he still hasn't acknowledged yet that he's in the existence of a magical world, he could have concluded that the plot of the story has drastically changed.
"That matter will only be discussed within Destroyer and I."
Astier thoughtfully nodded his head. If only he could appear to her right now without endangering their mission he could have already done so earlier. But now is not yet the right time to reveal his true identity. Even he is still unsure of who he really is.
Until he receives Destroyer's memory, he'll remain hidden in the shadows.
"I know where to find Destroyer," he finally said, much to Ardelian's surprise who suddenly choked with his own saliva.
The queen's eyes turned even graver that they nearly glowed in anger. She gulped, hoping to swallow her rage and tried as she might to sound calm. "Where is he then? I need to speak to him as soon as possible."
"He's not very far from here but I know where he is. Unfortunately, he's experiencing a big problem and he's asked me to help him out. Which is why my friends and I are now embarking on a journey to Orvell's Library to help him find some answers."
Even he was amazed at the fluency and consistency of his story. His countenance looked very convincing enough that even Ardelian was eyeing him at how he easily invented the story.
"Why can't he do it himself? How badly injured is he? Does that mean he can't fight?"
"He 'can' still fight," Astier replied with unnecessary haste. "His crisis is not in his physical body."
"Where he is now?" demanded the queen.
"I will not tell you where he is because I will take you to him. And rest assured, my queen, he will be joining your fight."
There was something in his sparkling green eyes that appeared very familiar to Neiryl. The same comfort and assurance she felt from his eyes unfolded an old memory of the first moment that she met the same colour of the eyes. Amidst the darkness, it was his beguiling eyes that stood out.
"So, when are we leaving?" uttered Grim, breaking their sudden silence.
♛♛♛
HE WASN'T USED to believe that some people can change. Humans say it all the time but in the end, they never left their bad deeds and did it again anyway. Promises after promises were broken each day. He used to have humanity, he once adored them and even branded them as the greatest beings in Azalia excluding the Seven Queens.
But seeing how they easily ruined the very things that gave them comfort, love, and care, Grim lost his faith in humanity. They never differ from the others living in Azalia. Their hearts are so easily coated with avarice, compelling them to perform their bad deeds.
They turned themselves into monsters. And despite the irony of the title he bears and the domain he owns, Grim was never of fond the dark forces. But what changed his mind was that he finally decided to give a chance to the evil beings so that maybe one day they could revert to the light once more.
The very night when a Dark Wizard saved his life from being eaten by the troll who attacked him after he decided to resurface.
He never thought that he would be saved one day by the forces that he despises.
Destroyer saved his life and even mended his wounds until he fully recovered.
He furtively looks at his saviour sitting at the front, manoeuvring their wagon.
'You may not remember who you are but I will never forget what you did.'
"Are you that happy to help?" The princess' voice awakened his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, did you say something, Your Highness?"
"You're too formal. You can just call me Nyrinn. And to repeat my question, are you that happy to help?"
"Helping you and your sister or helping Destroyer resolve his crises?"
Nyrinn pressed her lips. "I don't think you'd feel such happiness for us because we don't really know each other. But how long have you known Destroyer?"
He paused for a moment. "You are right. I don't feel happy with you."
"Wow. I'm really sorry to hear that," she replied with utmost sarcasm.
"That is alright. But to answer your second question, I have met Destroyer from long ago--- when he saved me."
"Saved you?" she exclaimed, her eyes swirling a tornado of disbelief.
"Yes." He stared at her confusingly. "Why do you look so shocked? The bad 'can' be good, you know."