Arnin walked along the road with Prince Khane beside him. A sack bag hung over his shoulder, containing the three thousand pieces of coin given to him by Lady Meiyer. He smiled as he touched the bag and felt the coins, "Everyone is counting on you. Do you feel suffocated?" he asked, glancing at Prince Khane.
Prince Khane spoke without turning or glancing at him. "Of course. If I hadn't lost my memory and my essence, I could have broken the seal already. I can't even remember how I blocked my meridians. How will it be released then?
Didn't Lady Pherna say I have to do it myself?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration as he looked straight ahead.
"Lady Pherna is not a physician. If we meet the alchemist and get the essence-growing pill, it's not going to be a problem. I have a solution," Arnin said, pointing at himself with a confident smile.
"What solution do you speak of?" Prince Khane asked curiously, turning his head to look at Arnin, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"You will know later. For now, let's meet the alchemist," Arnin said as they both entered a building.
As they stepped inside, they looked around and saw several people sitting and waiting. Suddenly, Arnin spotted an old man walking with Prince Eyrin, their conversation inaudible.
Prince Khane noticed Prince Eyrin as well. He furrowed his eyebrows and said in a low tone to Arnin, "Do you think he came for the same thing?"
"Possibly. I heard that Prince Eyrin has been stuck at the fifth phase and trains tirelessly to ascend. Let's meet them," Arnin said, and they both walked over to Prince Eyrin.
"We keep meeting each other," Prince Khane said as he and Arnin reached Prince Eyrin and the old man, their presence commanding attention.
Lourix and Palov, standing in a corner, gripped the hilts of their swords, ready for a fight, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of trouble.
"Tsk..." Prince Eyrin said with a smirk. "Did you follow me from the inn?" he asked calmly, a grin spreading across his face.
"Why would we? There are other matters to handle. Don't you know about the appearance of Bain?" Prince Khane asked, his voice steady but with an edge of urgency.
Prince Eyrin sneered, looking down before meeting Prince Khane's gaze. "I do. However, what concerns an empty vessel like you? If he comes, you will only hide and watch while others fight him.
Am I not stating a fact?" he asked, leaning closer to Prince Khane, his eyes glinting with mockery.
"If he was how he was one year ago, would you have the nerve to speak that way?!" Arnin yelled, his face flushed with anger.
"If you came for the essence-growing pill, there is only one, and I have bought it. You can go back. Do not waste your time here," Prince Eyrin said.
Prince khane was angry because of what prince Eyrin said about him but he suppressed the anger. He clenched his fist, knowing that if he fought back, he would be defeated and humiliated.
"He needs it more," Arnin said, his voice firm, his eyes locked on Prince Eyrin.
Prince Eyrin shook his head. "It's not my concern," he said, brushing past Arnin with a dismissive shoulder bump. Palov and Lourix stepped forward, flanking him as they walked away, their expressions cold and unyielding.
"Should we kill him and take it from him?" Arnin asked, glaring at Prince Eyrin's retreating figure, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon.
Prince Khane hurried after Prince Eyrin, passing through the doors and yelling, "Eyrin!" He panted as he caught up.
Prince Eyrin, already ahead with Palov and Lourix, stopped and turned. "So bothersome," he said with a sigh, his patience clearly wearing thin.
Prince Khane started to approach, but Prince Eyrin halted him with a raised hand. "Halt! Speak from where you are, Nameless," he said, emphasizing "Nameless" loudly so others outside could hear.
"I need to summon my sword to break the seal in Essed, but without essence, I can't. A person can go in but can't come out. I don't need the pill just for my sake, Eyrin, but for the safety of others. I'm sure you don't want to remain in Essed for long. Bain is not an ordinary demon.
So, please," Prince Khane pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation as he looked at Prince Eyrin, hoping he would give it to him. He hoped for hope.
Prince Eyrin pondered whether to give him the pill or not, but when Prince Khane mentioned that Bain was not an ordinary demon, he felt insulted, interpreting it as a slight to his strength. His anger flared as he glared at Prince Khane.
His gaze was piercing and full of hatred. "You said Bain is not an ordinary demon. What makes you think that I can't defeat him?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You couldn't defeat Arnin the last time you both fought. How will you defeat an ancient demon then?" Prince Khane asked, his voice steady but challenging.
"How dare you! You are saying I'm weak!" Prince Eyrin said angrily, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Then let's have a one-on-one fight again to see who is the stronger one," Arnin said as he stepped outside, walking to stand beside Prince Khane.
"Then we shall!" Prince Eyrin said immediately, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Let's have a deal. If Arnin wins, we get the pill. If you win, then you can—" Prince Khane was cut off before he could finish.
"I'll give my own condition if Arnin fails," Prince Eyrin interrupted.
"What is your condition?" Arnin and Prince Khane chorused, their curiosity piqued.
Prince Eyrin looked at both of them, then grinned. "If you want to hear it, Nameless, come to me to hear it. I want you to hear it well," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
Prince Khane started to walk towards him, but Prince Eyrin halted him again. "Stop. I didn't specify how you should come to me."
Arnin and Prince Khane glanced at each other, confusion and anger mixing in their expressions. "What do you mean?" Prince Khane asked.
Prince Eyrin placed his hand in front of him in a gentlemanly manner. "Get on your knees and crawl to me."
Prince Khane could not believe his ears. "What?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.
"You've gone crazy! Does he look like your servant? You only live that life because of what your father did. How can you... how can you tell him to do that in public? That's humiliation!" Arnin yelled angrily, his voice echoing through the street.
Passersby turned their heads, curious about the commotion. They wondered who the man was that dared to speak to Nameless in such a manner and whether Nameless would comply.
"What? Don't you want the pill? Let me see how desperate Nameless is," Prince Eyrin said, his voice devoid of any guilt or remorse.
"Eyrin, you know he is not just Nameless," Arnin retorted, his anger palpable.
Since Prince Eyrin's taunt, Prince Khane had remained silent. He was desperate for the pill, but the humiliation was almost unbearable. If he hadn't lost his essence and memory, he wouldn't be in this position.
Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard before dropping to his knees. The dust swirled around him as his knees hit the ground with a thud.
Arnin's eyes widened in shock. "Prince Khane," he whispered, his voice trembling as he saw the prince on his knees.
Prince Eyrin, too, was taken aback. He had not expected Khane to actually kneel. Now, he watched intently, wondering if Khane would truly crawl to him.
"Arnin, please, if you want to call my name, just call me Khailian. There is no Prince Khane in this kingdom anymore. The royal family was killed ten years ago.
Why should I still be titled 'prince' when we live like this? And why should I be called 'Nameless' when I'm this weak? If you want to call me, call me Khailian," he said, his voice filled with resignation as he began to crawl towards Prince Eyrin.