Kajin and Ruya continued to leap from tree to tree, their movements fast and fluid. Kajin's face was drenched in sweat as he struggled to keep up with Ruya. "I can't do this anymore... I feel like I'm about to pass out..." Kajin thought, his breaths coming in short gasps.
"Kajin..." A deep, familiar voice echoed in his mind. "It's this voice again," Kajin muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening. "You need me, Kajin... You can't ignore me forever... You need to accept who you are..." the voice continued, its tone both commanding and haunting.
Kajin squinted his eyes and pressed his hands against his temples, as if trying to push the voice away. "Damn it... Just get out of my head! I'm tired of you!" he shouted in frustration. In his distraction, he failed to notice the tree looming ahead. With a loud thud, he collided with it and tumbled to the ground.
Ruya turned his head sharply at the sound. "Huh?! Kajin?" he called out, his voice tinged with concern. Seeing Kajin lying motionless, Ruya immediately stopped and rushed to his side. He knelt down and placed a hand on Kajin's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. "He's passed out," Ruya said, his brow furrowed. Cracknut peeked over Ruya's shoulder, his tiny eyes wide with worry.
"He must have pushed himself too hard," Ruya muttered. He quickly grabbed Kajin's waist bag and rummaged through it, pulling out a vine of grapes. Plucking a single grape, Ruya gently opened Kajin's mouth and placed it inside. "I hope this works," he whispered, watching Kajin intently.
After a few moments, Kajin's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. "W-what happened?" he asked weakly, propping himself up on one elbow.
"You passed out and crashed into a tree," Ruya replied, letting out a sigh of relief. He pulled a water tank from the bag and handed it to Kajin. "We should rest for a while, at least until you're ready to move again."
"Not happening," Kajin said firmly, gulping down the water. He splashed some on his face and hair, the coolness refreshing him slightly. "We're just an hour away from Slavara. We can't stop now."
Ruya frowned, crossing his arms. "What are you saying? In your condition, you're in no state to keep going!" he protested.
Kajin sat up fully, his wet hair clinging to his face as water dripped down his cheeks. He looked directly at Ruya, his gaze steady. "Ruya," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "We're going to continue, and we're not stopping until we get there."
Ruya stared at him for a moment before running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Ahhh... Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he groaned. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed the grape at Kajin, who caught it effortlessly.
"Fine," Ruya said, standing up. "I'll follow behind you this time. Just go at your own pace." He crossed his arms and waited, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern.
Kajin nodded, his eyes calm but determined. After a brief silence, he pushed himself to his feet and leaped back onto the trees, his legs once again engulfed in white flames. As he moved, he popped the grape into his mouth, chewing slowly to regain some strength.
Ruya followed closely behind, keeping a watchful eye on Kajin. "Good thing we took those magic fruits from the squirrels," he thought. "They really come in handy when potions aren't an option."
~~~
The room was vast, its walls painted a deep crimson red. A massive red glass window stretched from the floor to the ceiling, its long, thick curtains framing the sides and casting a chilling atmosphere across the space. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with countless tomes, surrounding a grand, classy table positioned in the center of the room, directly in front of the window. At the table sat a figure, meticulously analyzing a stack of papers. His pale hands gripped the documents tightly as he reached for another, his focus unwavering.
After a while, a soft knock echoed through the room. The figure lifted his head slightly, his sharp red eyes flicking toward the door before returning to the papers. "Come in..." he said calmly, though his voice carried an undercurrent of danger.
The door opened gently, and a woman stepped inside. She had horns that curved gracefully from the sides of her forehead, and her long brunette hair swayed with each step she took. Her form-fitting dress was accentuated by pieces of armor that adorned her hands, forearms, waist, legs, and shoulders, glinting as the red light from the window caught their surfaces. Her hips moved with a deliberate rhythm as she approached the desk, stopping a few feet away and bowing deeply.
"My majesty..." she said, her tone low and submissive.
The figure set down the papers he had been examining and leaned back in his chair, his red eyes narrowing as they studied her. "Fiona," he began, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers, "I hope you don't disappoint me today."
Fiona hesitated for a moment. "No, my majesty... Today, I bring news that I believe you will find most... favorable," she replied, her voice steady but laced with caution.
Darius's expression shifted slightly, a faint glimmer of interest crossing his face. "Oh? Is that so?" he said, his lips curling into a subtle smile. "Then tell me, what is it?"
Fiona kept her gaze lowered as she spoke. "A report arrived early this morning from our M.S.C.C. (Magic Sphere Communication Center). It was from Byron. In his report, he claims that his division encountered Kajin during a mission."
Darius's eyes widened ever so slightly, a flicker of intrigue breaking through his calm demeanor. Fiona continued, "Unfortunately, the division was unable to capture him, but they believe they have a clue as to where he is heading. It is suspected that Kajin is making his way to Slavara..."
Silence filled the room as Darius absorbed the information. Fiona's hands clenched slightly, her anxiety growing as she awaited his response. Finally, Darius broke the silence. "Well... that is indeed great news," he said, his smile widening just enough to be noticeable. Fiona exhaled quietly, her relief palpable.
Darius stood, his movements deliberate and graceful. He turned his back to Fiona and walked toward the window, gazing out at the sprawling capital of Darkvill. The crimson light from the window bathed his figure, casting long shadows across the room.
After a moment, Fiona spoke again, her voice tentative. "My majesty, what should we do? Byron also mentioned in his report that he plans to double the forces stationed in Slavara."
Darius didn't turn around, his gaze fixed on the city below. "Do you truly believe that flooding the city with troops will help us catch that... slave?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
Fiona was caught off guard, her composure faltering for a moment. "W-well... I think that with the Royal Patrol stationed there, capturing him will only be a matter of time if he shows himself," she stammered.
Darius chuckled softly, the sound low and almost menacing. "We shall see," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"You really believe in the Royal Patrol, do you?" Darius asked, his voice calm. Fiona's eyes widened slightly, her composure faltering for a moment.
"My majesty... forgive me for asking, but why? Don't you have any faith in the faction you yourself created? As for your question, yes, I believe in the Royal Patrol," Fiona replied, her voice steady but tinged with unease.
Darius remained silent for a moment, his gaze distant, before tilting his head slightly. "The Royal Patrol..." he began, his tone thoughtful. "Yes, it was created by me, but its purpose was never just to chase a goddamn slave." His words were cold, and Fiona felt a chill run down her spine. Beads of cold sweat began to form on her forehead as she listened.
"The Royal Patrol was created to prevent human rebellions," Darius continued, his voice growing sharper. "And in that, it has failed. I learned that lesson the hard way." He closed his eyes briefly, as if recalling a painful memory. "That rebellion led by Alfredo not only delayed our plans for war by decades but also came dangerously close to succeeding. If it weren't for Agnus, we would have been left in ruins, humiliated for a centuries."
He opened his eyes and turned to face Fiona, his crimson gaze piercing. Fiona swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "My majesty... I apologize for questioning your judgment. I didn't mean to—"
Darius raised a hand, cutting her off. "No, don't apologize. It's not your fault for asking," he said, his tone softening just enough to ease her tension. But before she could relax, he vanished from her sight. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly in front of her, his sudden proximity making her heart skip a beat.
"Now..." Darius said, his voice low and commanding as he placed his hands on her shoulders. A wave of fear and icy chills shot through Fiona's body, her breath catching in her throat. "I have some orders for you."
"Yes, my majesty..." Fiona replied, her voice calm but betraying a slight quiver.
"First," Darius began, his words deliberate, "contact the mayor of Slavara. I want the entire city on high alert. Second, General Rhyver is to be removed from the city immediately. I don't want him anywhere near the gates. And finally..." He paused, his crimson eyes locking onto hers. "Send in the S.D.F. (Special Dragon Force) to Slavara."
Fiona's breath hitched at the mention of the S.D.F. Her mind raced. "The Special Dragon Force?! Kajin... what kind of monster are you to warrant the deployment of the most feared unit on the continent?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Fiona bowed her head. "Your words are my command, my majesty. I shall take my leave at once," she said, her voice firm despite the lingering fear.
Darius gave a slight nod, releasing her shoulders and stepping back. "Very well. Go," he said, his tone dismissive but not unkind. Fiona bowed deeply one last time before turning and walking swiftly toward the door, her footsteps echoing softly in the vast room.
As the door closed behind her, Darius returned to his chair, sinking into it with a quiet sigh. He picked up the papers he had been reviewing earlier, but his mind seemed elsewhere. "There's something about this situation that feels... off," he muttered to himself. "If that brat manages to escape again, I'll have no choice but to..."
His voice trailed off as his crimson eyes began to glow faintly, casting an eerie light in the dim room. The air grew heavy, the silence deepening as his gaze burned with an intensity that could only be described as bloodlust.
"Take desperate measures," he finished, the words hanging in the air like a dark promise.