"Are you kidding me?" Asher shook is head and sighed in disbelief. I can see how annoyed he was when I chose not to believe his words. I mean, is that really possible?!
"Haha...no way...are you for real? No, if you really are incarnation of the Three Gods, you won't tell me about that without hesitation at all!" That's right. It should be a secret, right? If he's telling the truth, he won't easily disclose it to someone who's not even from this world! What if I tell everyone about it, right?!
"Huh? Why not? It's known to the whole world, it's not like we need to hide it," Wait...
They're famous around the world? What the heck?! Are we actually lucky that two of the Astra's Three are here and the other one is even tasked to be my bodyguard?! What the hell---wait, my mind is being filled with this huge information.
"What? Headache?" Asher asked when I placed my right hand on my temple. This is actually unbelievable. Why were my brothers rude to him during our first meeting?! Do they actually know about it or this guy is lying!?
Hah...I see. That's why he told Ziel before that it should be me showing him respect. That's because he's actually an incarnation of a God. I feel like my heart is also going to explode after hearing his revelation.
"Then, which God's incarnation are you?" I asked. If I remember correctly, The Three Gods are the God of Creation, God of Prophecy, and the Goddess of Fate. Looks like Alina's godmother is the incarnation of the Goddess of Fate.
"Creo. The God of Creation. Abel's the incarnation of the God of Prophecy, Deo. And the Goddess of Fate's is Ashley," Dang it. I'm still having a hard time believing it. But, I can't deny the fact that Orpheus and the others are making a big deal about the Astra's Three. Wait, does Ziel have no idea about it?
"Asher. Since you are famous all over the world, do they also know what you look like? Ziel doesn't seem to know about it." I asked. Because the way Ziel talked to him when they first met, it seems like he had no idea about his identity at all.
"No. Plus, there's a lot of people with the name Asher, and I am not originally a magician in the Ciera Empire, that's probably why," I see. That's why...? That's hard to believe...
I narrowed my eyes at him when I noticed him not being able to look at me directly in the eyes. This jerk's definitely lying.
"Hey...look at me when I am talking," I spoke, taking a peek on his face, but he refused to look at me at all and even closed his eyes. He's stubborn.
"Hey! Were you lying when you said you're incarnations of the Gods?" He immediately turned his head to me and he looks offended! What a funny face!
"No!"
"What did you do to Ziel when you first met?"
He averted his eyes again.
"Seriously? You probably altered his memories about you, am I right?" He slowly turn his head away from my direction. Probably because I hit the bull's eye. He can even alter memories? This bastard is amazing.
"Well, he's gonna make a big deal out of it. How am I going to act around if he knew that I am one of the Astra's?" What a kid! And you're telling me you're a God's incarnation?! I feel like my head is starting to ache because of this guy.
"But is it true that you're not a Ciera magician?" I asked.
"None of us were a magician here. I told you, we have our own Magic Tower within the Three Empires. The only reason why we decided to stay here was because of the Black Magician. After Ashley sealed her, sis went to hop world, and because that magician is powerful, we had to guard her. I became a Magician of the Tower here, but I also ended up leaving this world, so Abel took over," Huh...see? His explanation is kinda complicated, but if you think back about it it's still understandable.
"I thought you all were born to watch over the Three Empire?" I asked. He scoffed.
"You, could it be that you don't know about the Three Empires? I wasn't talking about this world's empire," Huh? Wait.
"I was talking about the Three Empires of the Gods. Those Empires are also known as the Holy Land. It's in a different dimension, but still within this world," My head...I feel like it's going to spin. He should've said it specifically so I won't get confused!
"Headache?" He asked again when I lean my elbows on the table and massage my temples.
"Headache..." I replied.
It looks like this little brain won't be able to absorb all these information given by this incarnation. I took a deep breath and exhale slowly, to reset my mind! Because what the heck---come to think of it, there's more than three empires in this world after all! How stupid am I?!
"Then...hah ~ these Three Empire, is it normal for people to know about it?" He nod his head again. It looks like I need to read more books about this world, otherwise I won't be able to catch up with anything at all.
"There are three portals, and one of them is in the Ciera's Temple. The one that leads to the Empire of Fate," Now it makes sense why it was Ashley who came here when the Black Magician wrecked havoc. It's because she's the closest.
"Hmm..."
"By the way, is that all you need to know?" I want to know more. But I really feel like my head is spinning because of the things he said.
"How come there's only one Black Magician?" Athalia is the only Black Magician in history. It was also mentioned in the Odilia book.
"Hmm...originally, there was only one. But it turns out that Athalia have subordinates, and they initiated a war against the Ciera Empire. They're all killed though, but the empire still suffered great amount of deaths and casualties," Naturally. It's not like they're invincible or immortal. Ohh...
"Asher...if you and your twins are so powerful. Why is the curse still active up to now?" I asked. I'm just curious about it. They are God's incarnations, so why is this curse still here after 285 years? I don't know how many Odilia's were affected by the curse. Because it's not like a female Odilia is born every fifty years.
Wait, I was being insensitive when I asked that question!
But he's looking at me right now as if he's guilty about something, or maybe he feel bad? Because the one who asked him about it is someone who is currently bearing that curse?
"Don't worry about it. I'm here to put an end to that stupid curse," he replied and stood up. He sounds so confident about it, making me feel at ease for a bit.
Asher is an incarnation of a God, so he's definitely powerful. Maybe there are circumstances that caused them to have difficulties in dispelling this curse placed by the black magician. I feel like I want to trust Asher with it as well. He seems really genuine when he said he's going to end this curse.
"I'll trust you then," I said as I smile at him. He looks at me with a surprised expression and then stared at me for a moment before he smirked.
"What can a five years old do?" He asked.
"I'm eighteen, sir!" I retorted and rolled my eye. Bruh just laughed at me, it was kinda annoying. Tsk.
But I'm determined now.
I should...no, I must help him in ending this curse. Because it will give me a miserable life if this curse continues! I still have fifteen years before this curse activates, and I'll do whatever I can to prevent this curse from awakening!
---
"No! Stop it!" Huh? Where am I? I roamed my eyes around the area but it's all dark. Where did that voice came from then?
"I didn't poison...! It was the ***** ******!" Huh? Who poisoned who now? I didn't hear the last words because it sounded like statics inside my head. But, seriously, where is this place?
I stood up and tried to look around but I see nothing. It's really dark. I can't see anything even though my eyes are wide open.
"Asher?!" I don't even know why he was the first person I called. Maybe because he was with me all day while we're talking about the curse? Anyway, I can hear cries...
"It wasn't me...I didn't do it...I'm not a criminal..." Huh? Who's this person talking?
I blinked my eyes and suddenly, everything changed. I'm inside a...prison? What the heck?! I was about to stand up but I noticed that I am chained and my arms are tied behind me!
"Ashah--hmph?!" Wait, I even have a metal gag in my mouth to prevent me from yelling?! What the heck is happening to me? And why is my clothes like this? My hair is straight too...and it's red. Huh? What--no, who is this? Am I once again transported to another world? And wait, why am I inside a prison?!
I turned my head to the side when I heard footsteps. Looks like they're heading here.
As the footsteps slowly approach my direction, I feel nervous.
Who's there? I wanna ask. But because of this thing in my mouth, I couldn't speak at all.
"Haha...you look really pitiful," I flinched when I heard an unfamiliar voice in front of me, just outside the cage. However, when I turned to face him, I can't see his body completely. He's blurry?
"Hmmph! Hmmph!" What? I wasn't trying to speak at all, but this body is doing what it wants! Seriously, this is making me scared! Who's the owner of this body? And who is that person in front of me? His voice is not familiar at all, and he's even blurry. I can't see his face clearly, but he's got black hair...? Is he a Ciera?
"What? Are you begging me to stop your execution?" Huh?! Execution?! I'm gonna be executed?!
"Hmph! Hmmgghph!" She seems really angry. I can feel the pain within her chest and the feeling of anger within her. It hurts...I want to squeeze my chest, but my actions are limited because of these chains.
"Pfft---no one's going to believe you even if you try to explain yourself, Ali,"
"Hmmmph!!!" I closed my eyes when the lady tried to yell her lungs out but couldn't say anything at all because of the gag on her mouth. My heart hurts...this person's emotion, I can't understand it at all. Why is she mad? Why is she tearing up...why is she crying? And wait, did I just heard my name?!
"No one can save you. The person you're waiting for is not going to come here..."
The lady sniffles as she keep yelling against the gag on her mouth. Tears are falling down her eyes, and it's also affecting me. Her emotions are affecting me...
"Enjoy your remaining time," And after that, the guy left. He's like a villain...who the heck was that? I'm hoping this is just a dream, and that guy isn't a Ciera.
"Hmm..." The lady closed her eyes, and when it opened.
The place changed again.
We're in front of a crowd, and all their faces are also blurry. And what's with our position right now? My neck hurts, and the floor is so close to my face. Also, the red hair is not long anymore but a bob cut. Are we...under a guillotine?
Wait, wait a dang minute!
"Kill her!"
"She deserves that!"
"Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!"
They are all chanting to kill me. No, this person. Just who is this person?
I noticed the knight on the side with my peripheral vision. His mouth is moving, and it looks like he's reading something from that scroll on his hand. but I can't even hear it...I can't see him clearly as well, because this lady isn't looking anywhere at all. She has given up, I can feel it within her. She's staring at the floor in front of her.
"Now then, for all the crimes that you did. You are to be punished...via death sentence!" Right after one of the knights said that, the crowd became louder even more. My chest aches even more, and I feel like there's a vein within it that is being twisted.
"Hngg..." it hurts...
"Cess...!"
It hurts. It hurts. My heart aches so bad that I wanna cry. I wanna squeeze it and hit it, but I can't move.
It hurts...it seems like there's a lump in my throat. I wanna cry, but this lady looks like she has already given up on everything. I can feel exactly the pain she's feeling, as if our hearts and feelings are connected. Is it because I'm inside her body?
"...Highness!"
"Now then...on my mark, you should..." I couldn't hear the whole sentence, but that voice sounded the same when I was in the prison.
"Kill her! Kill her!" My heart is aching even more. My neck hurts as well.
"On my mark! 3, 2, 1!"
Everything went black when the Lady closed her eyes as tears starts to fall to the ground.
"Stop!"
"Your Highness!!" I forced my eyes open as I squeeze my chest. It hurts---it's like something is burning within my chest. My heart feels like it's being torn into pieces, literally!
Was it a nightmare...?
But, it feels so real. I can still feel the pain within my chest, my heart is beating so fast, and my knees feels weak. What kind of dream is that? I thought I was transported to another person's body again. And the fact that I can feel her emotions, that's really scary...
I turned my head to the guy who's in front of me, sitting on my bed while looking at me with those...panicked expression? What is this guy doing here?
But thanks to him...
"Asher..." my voice just cracked. It's like something is blocking my throat that I can't even speak properly.
"Did you have a nightmare?" He asked. Looking worried as he crawl close to me and wiped away the tears on my cheeks. I gulped as I put both my hands on my chest. My heart's still beating fast, so I tried to squeeze it to calm myself.
"I noticed your mana in a mess, so I immediately teleported here. What did you dreamed about...nevermind, how do you feel?" I'm glad he's being considerate. But that dream keeps repeating inside my mind, as if it's a memory.
"Alina...do you want to have a stroll in the Central Plaza?" I looked at him and then suddenly, he smiled. That smile looks really real that my tears starts escaping my eyes again.
"Oh...what now?" He panicked again when I cried. I feel relieve now that Asher's here and I'm not alone. But I still feel nervous and scared because of that nightmare.
He placed both his hands on my cheeks and wipe my tears away. He leaned forward, and instead of leaning away from him, I stayed in my place. He pressed his forehead on mine and for some reason, my heart starts to calm down now.
Did he used magic to help me calm down this kid's heart?
I sniffled and wiped my eyes.
"Have you calmed down now?" I slowly nod my head. He caressed my cheek by his thumbs and then smiled at me again.
He's even more beautiful when he's smiling like that. I think this is the first time...
"Should we take a night stroll in the Plaza?"
I nod my head right away. This is the first time I'm going outside the palace, and I can't let this opportunity go. Specially when Asher's being nice and kind right now.
I hope this can help me forget about that nightmare.
***