The group of friends found themselves one street over. Elie and Jin didn't understand the situation. She asked Marc for an explanation.
"We're going to move the Emperor."
"What?"
Even Jin didn't look serene. The Emperor was the last person in the empire who needed to be moved. If he got involved, they might all end up on the guillotine.
"We've gone mad."
"Why we?"
"I'll follow you in everything you do master. If you make a decision, I make a decision. If you go crazy, I go crazy."
"It's all right. I've got that. But I'm not crazy. Explain to them Nathanael."
"If the Emperor closed ruins that hadn't caused any accidents for ten thousand years, it's because he's able to see the aura that escapes from them. There's no other explanation. I often assumed we were the chosen ones destined to save the world, but I never took into account that we weren't alone."
At these words, everyone held their breath. They had always told themselves they were the chosen ones. Chosen humans with a noble destiny, and that they shouldn't tell anyone about it. Hearing Nathanaël speak came as a shock.
"I could be wrong, but it's the only explanation. If the Emperor learns that we're able to see the aura of this ruin, he might move from his seat to let us in."
"But...what if we don't have anything special."
"Then Marc will enter by force."
Jin looked at his master.
"I'll come with you."
"Me too."
"You're sick. We're talking about the Zvenne Empire here. These guys would be able to kill us just for trying to break in."
"Says the guy who insulted the Emperor in front of a guard."
"I didn't insult him. I just told him to do something."
Marc understood the importance of Nathanaël's words. The slightest mistake could be fatal. They were clearly in enemy territory. As if they were in the other world.
"For now, let's observe and have a good vacation."
Rest was important too. But during this long wait, Marc was still looking in the direction of the church. The golden light illuminated it every day. It was still perfectly in place, but some pieces had fallen off. These three peaks were very sharp, like deformed horns. It had lost all its splendor, but the light that came back every day was a reminder of how much more imposing it had been back then.
"They must have chosen this place on purpose."
Suddenly, Marc's eyes opened wider. The door. The church door had markings resembling that of the cathedral.
"What are you looking at, kid?"
A soldier had noticed Marc's attempted glances from the terrace where he was eating with his friends.
"Nothing sir."
"We can open this place up when the Emperor agrees. In the meantime, there's plenty to do in Orio."
"I know, sir. I know."
The guard watched sadly as Marc turned his head.
"Listen kid. I really like this ruin too. It's a real shame it's closed. I know you've probably made a huge trip to see it, but you're going to have to take it easy and wait a while. I'm sure it'll be open in no time."
Marc had never seen a guard so kind to Zvenne.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, kid. Enjoy Zvenne as much as you can."
Marc had seen the soldier's face. His blue cap shadowed his face, but he could see his blue eyes and matte complexion very clearly. His black hair waved in the wind. He was rather handsome.
"Marc, you've got to stop getting burned. We're going to get spotted."
"They've already seen us for a long time."
Marc continued sipping his drink, avoiding Nathanaël's warning. Suddenly, his heart stopped dead in his tracks. Behind one of the church walls lurked a shadow whose green eyes could be seen quite clearly. The shadow was looking in Marc's direction. He couldn't make out exactly what the person looked like, but he was sure of one thing: it was the Emperor. The Emperor had come and was looking straight at him. Marc couldn't understand how the presence of a shadow could make others guess who he really was. But here, he could make no mistake, for this shadow's aura was immense.
It was the most powerful aura Marc had ever seen in this world. It covered the sky, which changed its hue. He tried to look away, but saw that all his friends were in the same state. Jin's hands were trembling slightly. Elie could hardly breathe. Nathanaël was sweating profusely. He looked away again and noticed that even the waiters weren't moving.
This wasn't even due to his aura. At least, nobody knew that. The only thing they knew was that the Turcan Emperor was there. The Emperor of the most powerful empire, of the most powerful army, the Emperor whose name was known to all was present in this city.
He looked towards Marc for what seemed like an eternity, then left. Everyone began to breathe again.
"Are these them? The ones you told me about. Exorian."
"Yes, Majesty. The dark-skinned boy said he could see the aura of the church, telling you to act quickly."
"I see. You may not be able to see them properly, but you can feel them, can't you?"
"Yes, majesty."
"Did you see the dark aura coming off the black-haired boy in the red sweater."
"No, Majesty."
"I see."
Turcan could clearly see the auras of all four kids. He'd been fixated too long on that of the boy in the red sweater. It wasn't large, but it gave off something odd.
"Exorian. Where are they staying?"
"Orio-bas, majesty."
"Let's go quietly. I don't want everyone to know I'm here."
"Very well, your majesty."
Marc and his group left the restaurant where they were. The experience they had lived through had made their blood run cold. The waiter who had given them the bill had two large stains under his arm. No one said goodbye. But they didn't say goodbye either. Walking down the street, Nathanaël spoke first.
"He was there."
No one could answer. As if they hadn't seen a man, but a superior being. Marc spoke second.
"Yes."
The most terrifying thing about the Turcan Emperor was just his presence.
"And what do we do now?"
Jin had asked, but he was only looking at the ground. Even he didn't dare confront him and his army.
"We try Erazel. We've already been waiting three days for this church. My guess is no one will let us in."
Nathanaël didn't want any trouble. But since the Emperor had come, they were already in trouble. He hoped they'd tell them they could come in because he'd seen their aura, but he'd just threatened them with his presence.
"What do you think Marc?"
"I'm forcing my way in."
"What?"
Marc wouldn't give up. He didn't want to give up after such a long journey. Orio's church had answers and he wanted them. Even if it meant facing his army alone. He'd become capable of it.
"You don't have to follow me, but if I stop here, I won't be able to say I've tried everything to make amends."
Nathanaël, Jin and Elie all knew why Marc was fighting. The trauma was still stored inside him. That's why he'd lost the gleam in his eyes. Nothing could stop him.
"I'm coming with you anyway."
Under no circumstances did Elie want Marc to do all the work. He'd promised he wouldn't let her down. Her only hope couldn't die like this.
"I'm coming with you too master."
Jin couldn't let go of his master. He had to follow him to the ends of the earth to learn from him. Marc looked at his friends. A tear almost fell from his eye. He wasn't that insensitive when he was with them.
"You're sick, you know that? But I'm going with you anyway."
"Yeah."
"The gang's all here."
"Good. We'll go tomorrow then, But remember I didn't force you."
The four walked side by side down the sidewalk. The golden sun shone down on them.
Marc and Elie arrived at their room. At first, Marc didn't understand why he was with Elie, but then he looked at his parents. He realized that it was all a set-up.
"We're not a couple."
"Yeah, right."
"Good luck, lovebirds."
Marc couldn't say anything. He didn't really want Elie to take a room with Jin and Nathanaël for all that. The simplest thing, for him, was for Elie to have her own room. But he didn't want to leave her alone either.
"Let's go Marc, I'll shower first."
"If you wa...."
Again. It was back. The Emperor's immeasurable aura was back behind that door. Elie stopped dead in her tracks. Marc stood on guard.
"Enter then. His Majesty is expecting you."
A voice came from the room. It did not belong to the Emperor but was very imperial. It indicated not a request, but an order. Marc felt compelled to open the door. When he did, he saw the emerald eyes glaring back at him. The Emperor was sitting on the bedroom chair. Legs crossed, he watched Marc and Elie with a superior air. They felt obliged to take a knee before the Emperor.
"I'll be brief. Who are you people? And what do you want with these ruins? And as I have been brief, so be it too."
The voice of this human being was not normal. Every word made Marc's head reverberate. He trembled with all his being.
"We are simple people who have seen many things. We thought that to avoid the end of the world, we'd find answers in these ruins."
Marc's voice was still trembling. He was waiting impatiently for the Emperor's answer.
"I like your answer. Tell me all about it."
Marc was sweating so much that a small puddle was beginning to form at the level of his head. Even so, he told the person standing in front of him what he'd been through. He omitted certain details but told what he could so as not to be killed by the man standing in front of him.
"I see."
It was the Emperor's only response. Marc waited a few minutes before he began to move.
"I like your story. Come to Orio church tomorrow at nine o'clock. Don't be late. I'll tell you what I know."
Marc couldn't believe it. Nathanaël's plan had worked. Turcan rose from his seat and walked out as if nothing had happened, followed by his most loyal soldier. Marc still hadn't seen his face. They waited about ten minutes before getting up again. Elie looked in the direction of the stairs to see if he was still there.
"I hope he won't be here tomorrow."
"I hope so too."
They stood there for another dozen minutes before Elie wanted to go back into the bedroom.
"I'm going to wash up first, though."
She went inside for good while Marc was still scanning the staircase. A smile spread across his face.
"This is it. Here we are."