"What do you mean, Selena Klein? Ryuga." Ash spoke calmly. The ones intense emotions in his eyes fading.
"Selena 's father is the horseman of death. He took Allura knowing about her power."
"But he can't be the horseman. It just doesn't make sense! He is dead!" Ash spoke with gritted teeth.
"I know. But the last time I saw him, I knew his swordsmanship. It was similar to mine, because I learnt it from him."
Years ago in Arcadia were a group of six children who were closer than most. Among them were Ash, Xicor, Allura and Selena Klein.
The children grew up together and became very close with each other. Because of their fondness of each other, some developed special feelings towards one another. Ash was in love with Selena. But by the time he intended to reveal his feelings, Selena confessed to Ryuga. The failure to come face to face with his feelings in time caused him a loss.
Selena and Ryuga became the not only a couple but each other's most trusted confidante. But because the schemes built up by Ash's uncle, their family went nearly bankrupt. The Kenesis family lost their seat in the nobility and was reduced to a common family within the empire.
With the Klein family taking their seat in nobility. Selena 's father was man of strong convictions and righteousness. Because of that, many nobles disliked him and often tried to sabotage his work.
He used to train with Ryuga and Selena, making him grow attached to him almost like a son. He approved of Ryuga a lot, seeing the happiness he brought to his daughter.
Only in a matter of time, he received a letter from the Kenesis family. They had proposed to join hands with a marriage between Selena and Ash. A predicament that put Ash in a tight spot. But he had no say in the matter. He told Ryuga, but since he had always been some hard to read, Ash never got a response. Feeling helpless and and wanting to avoid being the cause of his friend's relationship ending, he went to Selena 's father and begged him to reject the offer.
The old man could understand the sentiment, so he granted the boy's wish. Only the result was devastating to him. That night, assassins were sent to wipe out the entire Klein family. Their estate was burnt down. Everyone member of the family slaughtered in the night. Man woman and child.
This was revealed to be the doings of Ash's uncle. Half of the Kenesis bloodline was then subjugated to repent for that single crime.
Ash has always blamed himself for the deaths of everyone who died because of that whole ordeal. As for Ryuga, he always suspected that the nobles were in the scheme all together because of the lingering corruption. His disapproval of nobility became something beyond hatred.
"Then that's even more of a reason for you to stay in there. I will bear the sin of my family and kill him again. This time I will protect the woman I love." Ash got up and dusted himself.
"Ash you you will not,,,! You lack the courage to even tell her how you feel" The calm Ryuga snapped with a roar and punched the cage bar. The sphere around his hand cracked in half and split, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
The doors opened with a creaking sound and Irla came in with Ryukka behind her.
"Ash, I promise you Allura will live. Get me out of here."
"If you want to get out. Ask you girlfriend. Or you can just smash your way out. It looks like you have enough power to achieve that much anyway." Ash turned his heel and left the cell, passing Irla and Ryukka without a word.
"Is Ash okay?" Ryukka asked walking, closer to the bars. She could see that his expression was not of the Ash she often teased.
"Ryukka, can I ask you for a favor."
"I just came to see if you are okay. I was so worried when I heard his highness was the one who brought. I'm so relieved. What can I help you with."
Ryuga leans forward to whisper in her ear. "I want you to go to my room. Under my bed, you will find a magic circle…"
Irla watched from behind as she could not hear what they were saying. Ryukka nodded and walked out leaving them alone.
"What is my princess doing in a place like this? Did I worry you too much? If that's so, I apologize." Ryuga turned his gaze and attention back to Irla.
Irla looked at his hands and was surprised by what she saw. Breaking the black stone with raw strength is a feat worth recognition. It is something meant to seal away all of the target's power without a fail. But she soon came to her senses.
She walked towards the cell bars and looked at Ryuga with a tender look in her eyes. "I know I'm in prison but I don't think I should be looked at like that."
"I'm sorry." That was the response Irla could give.
"No need to apologize. I knew the repercussions of breaking or threatening the barrier around Astron. Yet if it's for my sister...." He paused and looked at Irla. "Or my loved ones, I still wouldn't hesitate to do it again."
Irla looked down and spoke out to him. "I thought you should know, Al,, Allura might be dead." Silence reigned supreme in the room. It was as if a moment of silence was called in session. Ryuga 's mind went blank. "The gates of Netherworld have begun to appear all over Crysteria. The Elite Force has been dispatched and my father is planning to have you awaken Armageddon as it may be a catalyst for sealing away Zephra." Irla continued.
Ryuga sat down, calming his breathing which was getting erratic. "Was the emperor the one who allowed it to happen? I mean Allura falling into Netherworld? I don't see him failing if he wanted to stop it."
"My father may have known late. I am sure he wouldn't have —" Irla tried to reason but Ryuga interrupted.
"Then he intentionally let Allura get dragged into Netherworld. It looks like the noble are as self serving as they always have been." laughter. A low laughter escaped Ryuga 's mouth. Slowly it became louder and louder, filling the room as he raises his head to the ceiling. For the first time in a long time, a tear fell from his eye. "Haaaah. How could I have been so foolish? I think, I'm done."
Ryuga lowered his gaze from the ceiling and looked at Irla with a menacing look. She has seen him intimidating before, but this time something was different.
'Tap. Tap… Tap….. Tap'
Ryuga tapped the ground eerily multiple times. With each tap, his ohra was increasing. Like a ripple in a calm lake, his power was becoming stronger. A ripple, was becoming a raging wave.
"No. That's impossible. You shouldn't be able to use even a fraction of your power in there. This..." Irla steps back from the cell with surprised look. "This is an absolute sealing space!"
Ryuga 's power which was filling the room subsided back to its serene state. A magic circle appeared beneath his feet and he smiled. "I hope you live Irla." He uttered those words and in an instant he vanished on the spot.
…
…
…
[In His Room]
Ryuga appeared in his room. The bed is flipped over by the wall. The carpet is rolled over to the middle of the room. Ryukka is breathing heavily on her knees by the carpet.
"Thank you Ryukka. You really are good to me." Ryuga turned to her. He grabbed the sphere around his other hand and squeezed it. Cracks appeared all over it and it broke into pieces. He went down on one knee and have Ryukka a heartfelt hug, holding her tenderly in his arms. "I am truly sorry, I might not be able to keep my promise to you." He whispered in her ear. Ryukka stirred, attempting to get loose, but Ryuga drew a magic circle on her back and she lost consciousness. Her hand held tightly onto his sleeve as he carried her up.
He put her down on the sofa by the window and unclenched her grip. He smiled at her as he turned to leave. He halted a few steps by the door and a three dimensional magic circle appeared on his back.
His outfit changed. A black shirt, loosened at the neck. A black long coat. Black pants and boots. This was his combat uniform.
"We'll then, shall we begin." Like he was summoning them. The other Necromarcs walked into the room one after the other and surrounded him.
An amused smirk appeared on his face and a glint flashed in his eyes.
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