— A-Arvien? What are you doing here? — Aurëalis asked, visibly surprised by his sudden appearance.
— Shouldn't you be in training now? I mean, you joined the kingdom's investigation team, didn't you? — she continued, still lying on top of me, her tail tightly wrapped around mine.
Arvien, with a calculated air of pride, stepped forward and replied:
— Yes, Lady Aurëalis, I joined the investigation team and have already completed all the necessary training. Now I'm out in the field, conducting real operations. — he said, without taking his eyes off me, his gaze brimming with hostility.
Aurëalis raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed.
— Wow… That was pretty quick, huh? My father always mentioned that the investigation team's training is one of the most rigorous in the kingdom. I heard that many quit because of how hard it is. — she commented.
— Yes, Princess, I admit the training was challenging. But to me, any effort is worth it if it's for your safety. — he replied, puffing his chest with pride.
Aurëalis let out a humorless laugh, her discomfort evident in her eyes.
— I see… — she said, her voice tinged with disinterest. Then, in a firmer tone, she continued:
— But changing the subject, why are you here, exactly?
Arvien cleared his throat, adjusting his posture.
— Well, Princess, I'm here because of the incident that occurred with you a few days ago. As you're probably aware, your father was extremely worried and ordered a team from the investigation unit to be sent here. However, in addition to that, he requested that a small group from the team be sent in advance to conduct a covert operation before his personal arrival in Aerternal. Our goal is to find the culprit behind... — he shot me a sharp glare — any situation that may have endangered you. If a culprit is found, they will be taken to trial in the kingdom of Lumina, as harming or disrespecting a member of the royal family is a grave crime.
Aurëalis sighed, her face now showing a mix of irritation and fatigue.
— I've already explained to my father that nothing happened! I was the one who slept outside my room, lost track of time, and that's all! — she said, frustration evident in her voice.
— Princess, please try to understand… — Arvien began, but she cut him off.
— No, Arvien. He needs to understand. This has gone too far! — Aurëalis said, crossing her paws, now clearly furious.
Arvien stepped closer, with a gaze that was meant to be reassuring but only increased the tension.
— Princess, your father is only worried about your safety. He just wants to ensure nothing bad happens to you. Just as I do. — he said, with a strange glint in his eyes that made Aurëalis roll hers.
She let out a deep sigh, running a hand over her face.
— Sigh… Arvien, look at me. — she said, her tone now more controlled but filled with authority.
— Do you really think I'm incapable of taking care of myself? I'm practically an adult already. I don't need my father — or you — treating me like a helpless child.
— Of course not, Princess! I know very well what you're capable of. — he said, trying to hide his nervousness.
— Who could forget what you did to the best warrior in our kingdom? Not even Valerius was a match for you. Everyone remembers how you defeated him with ease, even though you were just a child at the time. That's why they started calling you a genius. A more-than-deserved title. — he added, bowing in respect.
Aurëalis narrowed her eyes, now fully losing her patience.
— And if you remember that, why do you keep insisting on trying to protect me when I don't need it? — she asked, her voice sharp.
Arvien hesitated for a moment but responded:
— Because, even though you're so strong, Princess, I still want to make sure you'll be alright. Always.
I watched the scene in silence, clearly noticing his interest in Aurëalis. However, it was evident that his affection wasn't reciprocated, which only made things even more uncomfortable.
Aurëalis, exasperated, finally disentangled herself from me and transformed into her human form. Her beauty remained dazzling, but now it was accompanied by an almost palpable expression of irritation.
— Arvien, is my father available at the moment? — she asked, her voice cold.
He grew visibly nervous at her tone.
— O-of course, Princess. The last time I spoke to him, just a few minutes ago, he was still in his study at the palace. I believe he's not busy. — Arvien replied, still bowing.
— Good. I need to have a serious conversation with him right now. — Aurëalis said, her eyes shining with the determination of someone who wouldn't be contested.
— May I know… the reason? — Arvien asked, unsure.
— The reason is simple. I'm going to put an end, once and for all, to these matters that are deeply irritating me. — she replied, giving him a cutting glare before turning away.
Arvien quickly bowed again in an exaggerated gesture of respect.
— The astral projector is already prepared in your room, as always, Princess. — he said, trying to mask his fear.
Aurëalis only nodded before turning to me. Her eyes, which had been sharp moments before, now appeared calm, almost gentle.
— Kyrion… as soon as I return, we'll pick up exactly where we left off. Understood? — she said, with a teasing smile, biting her lip as she looked at me like I was a juicy piece of meat.
— Gulp… O-okay? — I murmured, forcing a nervous smile as I looked at her.
As calm — even affectionate — as she seemed, I knew there was more to her expression, something that deeply worried me. The possibility of what she might do upon returning, combined with the fear of being discovered as responsible for her disappearance, was a terrifying mix.
Aurëalis simply smiled softly before turning and walking away with an almost supernatural elegance. Her steps were light but carried a determination that made the air around her feel heavier. I watched her until her figure completely disappeared among the trees, heading toward the castle and her room.
Arvien, on the other hand, remained kneeling, in an exaggerated display of respect. His devotion was almost suffocating to witness, but at that moment, he wasn't the one worrying me. Feeling like the situation was becoming unsustainable, I decided to leave as discreetly as possible. After all, staying near someone from the investigation team for too long was like playing with fire, and I no longer had the energy to deal with it.
I was almost gone when Arvien's cold voice cut through the silence.
— Kyrion, huh? So that's you? — he said, without even turning around.
My body froze. A cold wave ran down my spine.
— Damn… — I muttered under my breath, trying not to panic.
— Don't bother trying to run, idiot. I already know everything that happened. And now that the Princess isn't here, things just got a lot easier. — he continued, slowly turning to face me.
— W-What are you talking about? — I asked, trying to keep my composure despite the cold sweat running down my face.
Arvien gave a cynical smile, full of contempt.
— Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I'm talking about. — he said, taking a step toward me.
— The one responsible for her disappearance that day was you, Kyrion.
At that moment, my world seemed to spin. My heart raced, and my mind went completely blank. It took me a few seconds to react, struggling against the avalanche of chaotic thoughts hitting me.
— W-What?! How was it me? Do you have any proof to say that? — I asked, my voice louder than I intended, exposing my nervousness.
Arvien narrowed his eyes, savoring my discomfort.
— I say that because I've been watching every move Aurëalis made since the day she disappeared. And during one of the times you two were together, I clearly overheard both of you admitting that it was you who was responsible. — he said, his voice filled with anger and disgust.
My mind worked frantically to find ways to make him understand what had really happened that day. But as I looked into his eyes, I realized it was useless. He wasn't there to listen to explanations, much less accept excuses. His decision had already been made.
So I simply let out a deep sigh, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion weigh on me. Everything that had happened in the last few minutes — from Aurëalis's affectionate outbursts to the inevitable confrontation with Arvien — had drained every fragment of my energy. There was no room left for more arguments or justifications. The weight of the situation was suffocating, and my will to fight against it simply dissipated, as it had so many times before.
At that moment, something inside me changed. A small switch seemed to flip in my mind, and as quickly as it happened, I stopped worrying about those things that only drained my energy. It was as if a second version of myself — a far more rational and aggressive version that only seemed to surface during moments of extreme stress and pressure — began to emerge. It wasn't something I consciously chose. It was instinctive, almost primal.
— Sigh… Okay, you know what? Yes, I was responsible for what you're calling a "disappearance." — I said, my voice heavy with exhaustion.
— But let me make one thing clear: I wasn't trying to harm Aurëalis. That day, I just wanted to take her back to her room without waking her up. That's it. I had no idea it would cause all this absurd commotion. — I continued, looking directly at him.
Arvien, however, seemed even more furious than before. His fists clenched, and he took a step forward, as if trying to suppress an impulse to attack me.
— Tsk… Ha! You really have no shame, do you? You admit this as if you're proud of it! — he snarled, his face contorted with indignation.
I slowly opened my eyes, staring at him with a neutral expression.
— Hm? No, I'm not ashamed. But you know what I would be ashamed of? Eavesdropping on private conversations. That, yes, I'd be ashamed of. — I replied, keeping my voice calm but firm.
Arvien's expression darkened even further. His face looked as though it was about to explode with rage.
— What did you say?! — he growled.
I sighed again, utterly exhausted.
— Look, honestly, I'm too tired to argue with you. — I said, turning my back on him.
— If you need me, just search for me at the places where I use to rest that I'll surely be in one of that places. And you don't need to worry; I'm not going to run. — I added, preparing to take flight.
But before I could lift off the ground, his voice reached me again, dripping with hatred.
— Listen here, you inferior creature! Who do you think you're talking to?! — he roared, his voice reverberating like thunder.
I froze, still facing away from him, and said nothing more. The silence that followed that insult seemed to smother the forest itself.
Even though I wasn't looking directly at Arvien, I could feel his eyes boring into me with inexplicable fury. I, on the other hand, kept my expression neutral, though in truth, after that insult, my blood was beginning to boil uncontrollably. His words echoed in my mind like an unbearable refrain, making me angrier with each passing second.
— Inferior… race? — I repeated, my voice low but thick with tension.
— Hahaha… sigh… ever since you arrived here, you barely introduced yourself, and I could feel your anger from a distance. — I said, now slowly turning to face him, laughing softly in an attempt to dissipate the rage surging within me.
— And now you insult my race and me, huh? You… really don't know when to stop, do you? — I continued, staring him down.
— Oh, but of course, you know that what I'm saying is true, Kyrion. You're a Void Dragon, an abomination among the superior races. Something that shouldn't exist. — he spat, stepping closer with slow, threatening strides.
In that moment, after uttering those words, his fate was already sealed.