The serene look on Ashley nearly made Richard forget the circumstances that led to him bringing her into the school's infirmary. Covered in a white hospital blanket, her chest steadily rose and fell as she slept soundly with her head laid on a soft pillow. The school was in turmoil. Everyone in the school was as yet shaken from the incident that happened in the cafeteria. Sirens were howling outside, noisy strides repeated in the hallways and Richard had enhanced his hearing to tune in for anyone approaching the infirmary.
Evading the risk of anyone finding out the truth about Ashley, Richard didn't even consider informing Adrian of what happened even if he could hear him desperately calling for Ashley. Adrian was a Hunter— a Hunter of the supernatural and one who hated the supernatural society with his whole being. If he found Ashley in the state she was now then he would know... he would know what Ashley truly was.
From the moment he met her, Richard knew there was something peculiar about Ashley. Yesterday, when the urge to feed overtook his body, it felt… different. Richard had learnt to control his lust for human blood. He hadn't directly fed from a human for over seven hundred years. But when immediately he got a whiff of Ashley's blood, his dark instinct took over, moving his body involuntarily towards its prey. Fortunately, he did manage to overcome the bloodlust but lingering in the back of his mind was the question; why did he get such an intense feeling in the first place?
Today, Richard got a disturbing answer to his question. The reason he was desperately drawn to Ashley's blood was because it was the blood of a human. Earlier in the cafeteria, as he saw Ashley begin to collapse, Richard had hastened towards her and taken her away from the crowd without anyone noticing. However, as she gradually lost consciousness… as her eyelids slowly closed, Richard gazed into them; and everything changed at that moment. His entire body went numb, his brain went blank, unable to process what was right before him.
In Ashley's eyes, Richard saw something he was once warned about. Something that shook him to his very core.
The blue glow… Ashley had it in her eyes.
The second he laid eyes on that glow Richard's mind was taken back nine hundred years ago.
"Even after you defeat him, The Chimera will return! One day you'll gaze upon a mermaid having the blue glow in her eyes and on the Solstice follows she will be the one who ensures it."
Those were the words of Talya; the Sea-Witch who fashioned the dagger Richard used to defeat Ethan. Talya was a mermaid with immense magical power and abilities. Only one other thing that surpassed her power; her love for Richard. Using this to his advantage, Richard exploited her to create the dagger and later betrayed her and everyone involved in the ritual. The last time Richard saw Talya was when she was being hauled to Drenagen; an underwater prison were only the worst of lawbreakers spent the remainder of their lives.
As a punishment, she screamed that prophesy at him, her voice tainted with all the hatred and contempt she had within her. Talya did get what she deserved but as justified as Richard's actions were, he still regretted seeing how hurt she was. Her face was burning with anger and her eyes were red with tears— beseeching him to help her— as the Drenagen Guards took her away. Richard's heart arched that day. He knew that all the atrocities Talya had committed were all because of her affection towards him. She wanted to see him happy— free of Ethan— and she was prepared to do whatever it took to realize her goal but unfortunately, so was Richard.
These events transpired over nine centuries ago. Aware of Talya's gift of foresight, Richard paid great heed to her words for almost three centuries and throughout that time he never came across a mermaid with glowing blue eyes; let alone any other creature.
After defeating Ethan a year ago, Richard made sure that no one would ever find his body. Until today, Richard hadn't thought about Talya's prophesy and had long forgotten about it.
Richard was still lost in thought when a loud electric sound crackled behind him and a bright blue light filled the room, disappearing almost instantly. He felt the solemn lines on his face disappear and the corners of his mouth rose; for he knew who had graced him with her presence.
"You know," he said, his gaze still fixed at Ashley. "It is still considered rude to show up unannounced like that."
The slightly resonant voice that came from behind him said, "Most in Arzyria would consider it an honor when the High Protector appears before them."
"I would consider it an honor if your presence meant anything but misfortune."
A soft chuckle shot out of his visitor's mouth.
"It's good to see you again, Prince Richard."
Richard turned. No one alive was left for him to call a friend but the closest he ever had to an ally was Shira; Arzyria's High Protector. As usual, she was dressed in her golden armor, holding her powerful enchanted weapon; Arshetia; meaning bearer of many weapons. It took the form a sword for now.
Richard felt his lips purse into a smile as he said, "Prince Richard huh? You know you are probably the only one who calls me that, Shira... High Protector of Arzyria."
Shira's glowing white eyes widened a little as she threw a gaze past Richard.
"You have company?" she said.
"No one important," Richard said, tilting his head slightly.
Shira first gave him a curious glance and later said, "We have a problem."
"We always do," Richard replied. "So... who or what brings you to the Earth Realm?"
"Not here," Shira said.
In a quick motion, Shira's right hand was on Richard's shoulder. An electric sensation coursed through his body and in a blink of an eye Richard found himself surrounded by trees and fresh outdoor air whipped across his face and into his nostrils. Richard's vision was a bit blurry at first and leaves and dry branches cracked underneath his feet as he staggered. He always felt dizzy after one of Shira's teleportation.
With an unmatched composure, Shira walked past Richard and a piercing metallic sword rang as she sheathed her sword across her back. It wasn't long after that Richard began to notice strange features about his surroundings.