Once he was a safe distance away from the doctor, Elias finally let out a shaky breath. His heart was still pounding, and his mind was a whirlwind of confusion and unease.
"What just happened?" he muttered to himself.
<"Nothing you need to worry about,"> the system chimed in, its tone dismissive.
Elias scowled. "That's not an answer."
<"It's irrelevant to your mission,"> the system said firmly. <"Focus on what matters: serving the prince and completing your tasks.">
Elias rubbed his temples, frustration bubbling up inside him. The system had been vague and cryptic before, but this felt like deliberate evasion.
"You're hiding something," Elias said, his voice low.
<"I am ensuring your survival,"> the system replied coolly. <"Fenrir's interference is dangerous, but manageable. Avoid further interactions with him if possible.">
Elias's frown deepened. "But he said I was 'special.' What does that mean? Does it have something to do with—"
<"Do not dwell on it,"> the system interrupted sharply. <"Trust me, Elias. It's better this way.">
Elias sighed, feeling the weight of the system's cryptic advice pressing down on him. He didn't know what to believe anymore, but one thing was certain: Fenrir wasn't someone he could trust.
As he made his way back to the palace, Elias resolved to stay as far away from the temple—and Fenrir—as possible. But even as he tried to push the encounter out of his mind, the man's words lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
"You're a very interesting individual, Elias."
He couldn't help but wonder what Fenrir had meant—and why the system seemed so intent on keeping him in the dark.
______
The heavy silence of the night wrapped around Elias like a suffocating blanket. He lay in his small, neatly kept quarters, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. The events with Fenrir earlier that day had unsettled him in ways he couldn't articulate. The man's words, his burned hand, and the system's evasiveness replayed endlessly in his thoughts, weaving a web of paranoia and unease.
Elias turned onto his side, squeezing his eyes shut in a futile attempt to force himself to sleep.
<"Host, you need to stay alert,"> the system's voice rang in his head, clear and urgent.
Elias groaned, burying his face in his pillow. "What now?" he muttered.
<"This is important,"> the system pressed. <"You need to—">
Before the system could finish, a cold draft swept through the room, making the hairs on Elias's arms stand on end. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding. A faint shimmer appeared near the foot of his bed, gradually coalescing into the familiar figure of the ghost he had encountered earlier—the one who bore an uncanny resemblance to the emperor.
Elias froze, his breath hitching.
"You have to help," the ghost said, his voice low and urgent.
Elias blinked, his mind struggling to process what was happening. "Help? What are you talking about?"
"Prince Aedric," the ghost said, stepping closer. "He's in danger."
The words sent a jolt of fear through Elias. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, already moving before he fully registered his actions. "What kind of danger? What's happening?"
"There's no time to explain," the ghost replied, his expression grim. "You must act quickly. If you don't, it may be too late."
Elias hesitated, glancing toward the door. "I should inform the guards—"
"There's no time for that," the ghost interrupted, his voice sharp. "If you delay, he'll be lost."
Elias's chest tightened, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He wanted to believe that this was some kind of cruel hallucination, but the ghost's desperation felt too real to ignore.
Swallowing hard, he nodded. "Alright. What do I need to do?"
The ghost turned and gestured for Elias to follow. "Come with me. I'll guide you."
The corridors of the palace were eerily quiet as Elias hurried after the ghost. The dim moonlight streaming through the windows cast long, distorted shadows on the walls, making the path ahead feel endless.
"Where are we going?" Elias whispered, his voice barely audible.
"The west wing," the ghost replied without looking back. "Hurry."
Elias quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his ears. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, though the halls were empty. Every creak of the floorboards, every faint rustle of fabric made him jump, his nerves stretched taut.
They reached a narrow staircase that spiraled downward into darkness. The ghost descended without hesitation, but Elias hesitated at the top step.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" he asked, his voice trembling.
The ghost turned to him, his expression stern. "Do you want to save him or not?"
Elias swallowed hard and nodded, forcing himself to move. The stairs groaned under his weight as he followed the ghost into the depths of the palace.
The air grew colder the further they went, and Elias found himself shivering despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. They emerged into a dimly lit corridor that Elias didn't recognize.
"This way," the ghost said, leading him toward a heavy wooden door at the end of the hall.
Elias hesitated again, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. But the ghost's urgency was contagious, and he forced himself to push forward.
When they reached the door, the ghost stepped aside, gesturing for Elias to open it.
"Inside," the ghost said.
Elias's hand hovered over the iron handle, his palms slick with sweat. "What's in there?"
"No time," the ghost replied, his tone clipped.
Summoning every ounce of courage he had, Elias grasped the handle and pushed the door open.
The room beyond was dimly lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. Prince Aedric stood in the center of the room, his back to Elias. He was surrounded by three figures clad in dark cloaks, their faces obscured by hoods. The air was thick with tension, and Elias's breath caught in his throat.
"Prince Aedric!" Elias called out, stepping into the room.
The prince turned, his eyes wide with surprise. "Elias? What are you doing here?"
Before Elias could answer, one of the cloaked figures moved toward him, their hand reaching for something beneath their cloak.
"Stay back!" Elias shouted, his voice trembling.
The figure ignored him, drawing a gleaming dagger and lunging forward. Elias stumbled backward, his heart racing.
"Get away from him!" Prince Aedric shouted, grabbing a nearby candlestick and swinging it at the attacker. The blow landed with a sickening thud, and the figure crumpled to the ground.
The remaining two figures turned their attention to Prince Aedric, their movements swift and calculated. Elias's mind raced as he searched for something—anything—that could help. His eyes landed on a heavy metal vase sitting on a nearby table.
Without thinking, he grabbed the vase and hurled it at one of the attackers. The vase struck the figure squarely in the head, knocking them off balance.
"Run!" Elias shouted at Prince Aedric.
"I'm not leaving without you!" the prince shot back, his voice filled with defiance.
The remaining attacker lunged at Prince Aedric, their dagger aimed for his chest. Elias's body moved on instinct, throwing himself between the prince and the blade. The dagger grazed his arm, the sharp pain barely registering as adrenaline coursed through him.
Together, Elias and Prince Aedric managed to fend off the attackers, their combined efforts finally forcing the figures to retreat.
When the room was finally still, Elias collapsed against the wall, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Prince Aedric knelt beside him, his expression a mixture of concern and anger.
"What were you thinking?" the prince demanded. "You could have been killed!"
"I was trying to protect you," Elias replied weakly, clutching his bleeding arm.
Prince Aedric's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Elias's shoulder. "You're an idiot," he muttered, though his tone was more affectionate than angry.
Elias managed a weak smile. "Maybe."
The ghost reappeared then, his translucent form hovering near the doorway. He met Elias's gaze and gave him a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of his bravery.
"You did well," the ghost said softly before fading into the shadows.
Elias closed his eyes, exhaustion washing over him. Whatever had just happened, he knew his life would never be the same.
Elias and Prince Aedric huddled in the shadows of the dimly lit room, their breaths shallow and hearts racing. The tension was suffocating as they listened for any sound of the attackers returning.
The prince clutched a heavy candlestick, his knuckles white from gripping it too tightly, while Elias pressed his injured arm to his chest, trying to stifle the bleeding.
The minutes felt like hours until the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. A moment of fear coursed through them both, but relief flooded Elias's chest when Head Maid Sasha's commanding voice cut through the silence.
"Prince Aedric! Elias! Where are you?"
"We're here!" Aedric called out, his voice cracking with urgency.
The door burst open, and Sasha stormed in, flanked by several armed guards. Her sharp eyes immediately assessed the scene: the overturned furniture, Elias's bloodied arm, and the prince's disheveled state.
Without hesitation, she barked orders at the guards to secure the area and track down the attackers.
One of the cloaked figures, still incapacitated, was quickly apprehended. Sasha turned her piercing gaze to Elias and Prince Aedric.
"Are you two alright?" she asked, her tone stern but laced with genuine concern.
"We're fine," Elias whispered, though his trembling hands said otherwise.