The three Ministers spared no second as they scrambled to get out of the audience room. Each fighting their way towards the door. As soon as the room only contained both father and son, the Emperor sunk within his chair. The bags under his eyes grew darker by the day, and his hair was no less a mess under the royal crown. If one thing came to Catrice's mind, it's likely how he looked exactly like his father at this very moment.
"Father... Has the plague resurfaced again?" Catrice asked with caution. The shadows casted across his fathers face only made him look more tired than usual. For a day filled with bright sun and cool clouds, the tension in this room was no less than damp and heavy.
Emperor Jericho dared not answer that question, he pursed his lips. He not even dared welcome the thought to his mind anymore than it already plagued him. Yet, sweat trickled down his face, and his hand tensioned around the wooden lion. That was the only answer Catrice needed.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Catrice asked, hand placed on his chest in sincerity. But the Emperor shook his head, "No. I did not intend for you to partake in that discussion at all," He spoke, voice raspy and quiet at the same time. "I summoned you for a different reason. Its about the Celestial Bond Ritual. You are aware it's only a few months away, right?" Emperor Jericho sat up straight, and from below, Catrice had to look up at his father from the throne. The heavyness that weighted his mind fell on Catrice's shoulders in an instance. That heavyness came crashing down like an avalanche.
"You do realize the importance of this event, do you?" The emperor asked once more. Honey brown eyes fell to the floor, anxiously avoiding the gaze of the Emperor in front of him as he stumbled for words.
"The Celestial Ritual will begin with the welcome of the reigning emperor. By this, you will accept the blessing of our Patron god. Are you prepared?" Emperor Jericho gazed down at his son, dark eyes looking over him with silent expectations to which Catrice hesitantly accepted. "Yes, I am aware," Catrice answered, finally after what seemed to be eternity that passed. "I am fully prepared."
Despite his confidence in words, Emperor Jericho could not help but doubt his son's declaration, yet, in the silence of this audience room, he spoke none of his concern in vocal. "Very well," The Emperor said, raising a hand, "You may be excused as well." with his other hand, he began to rub the bridge of his nose. The phantom headache never leaving his head. The Emperor was just about to leave for his quarters as well when he noticed his son had never left the room. Catrice stood idly by the side, clenched hands tucked deep into his pockets as he fixated his eyes to the floor. He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth like a gaping fish before he chose to speak. However, before another word could leave his lips, his father beat him to it.
"What is it? If you've got something to say, spit it out." Catrice swallowed thickly the nervous lump in his throat as he took in a deept breath.
"Your Majesty," He started respectfully, "I'd like to partake in helping subdue the outbreak." His words came flooding out as quickly as water to a drain. Whether or not he had actually said what he wanted to say correctly came unknown to him as the Emperor froze in his seat. Dark eyes now fully taking in the presence of the person before him. For the first time since he entered the room, this seemed like the only time the Emperor had fully looked his way.
Panic struck his core as Catrice began to stammer out his words, "Since I am to be reigning Emperor, and as current crown prince, I feel the need to—"
"Silence!" The Emperor raised his cane and slammed it on the floor, the loud thud echoed through the room once more, faltering Catrice words as they hung empty in the air. "You will do no such thing! What you should be focusing on is the day of the Celestial Ritual!" Emperor Jericho barked, "Must I remind you, not only will you be accepting our Patron god's blessing that day, it will also mark the offcial engagement date of yours and Lady Rachel." He sighed deeply. "Do not concern yourself with the Outbreak anymore. Leave that issue with the Mages and Magicians. Do you understand?"
Those were the only words Catrice needed to hear before he lowered his head, defeatedly. Brows knit in frustration, yet there was nothing he could do about it as he courteously accepted the Emperor's words. "Yes, Your Majesty... I understand."
With nothing more left to say, Catrice retreated back to his room in silence. As he lay slump on his bed like a sack of flour, the aroma of sweet, warm dessert flooded his room as Gerard wheeled in a cart of the Royal chef's freshly baked pies. "I see the meeting with His Majesty did not end well," Gerard said, voice low as he tried to empathized with Catrice. "The Emperor is only looking out for you, you are the Crown Prince after all," He carefully set the freshly baked pie on the table before pouring a cup of tea on the side.
"Easy for you to say," Catrice grumbled. "You don't know what we were talking about." As expected by him, the Emperor refused to allow any other ears to know about the Outbreak.
It's easy for Gerard to think I was asking for something ridiculous when no one else other than the Magic Tower and the Emperor know of the premonitioned disaster. Catrice grumbled once more before he pushed himself off the bed. He sat at the table before idly picking at the pie in front of him, ever so oftenly, he would take a bite of the apple pie.
"I may not know of all the royal's affairs but what I do know is everything will turn out alright. You rest assured, Crown Prince." Gerard set down another piece of pie, this one had cream on top with blueberries peaking from the side, "This one is a new recipe, made with a rather special ingredient from the royal chef's hometown. Have a bite,"
Without a second thought, Catrice moved his fork to the second plate as Gerard began tidying the mess in Catrice's room. "I just don't get it, Gerard. I'm obviously taking over the empire someday. Why not build up a reputation before it happens? Won't it help me gain people to my side when that happens?" Catrice argued, taking aggressive bites of the pie.
"Your Majesty has no siblings and no opponents to fight for the throne. Why would you need to cause problems for yourself?" Gerard asked as he folded the royal gards Catrice carelessly discarded as he changed earlier into a loose shirt and pants. Catrice couldn't argue with that. But there was a more deeper reason for his insistence than what meets the eye. Still, there was no arguing to a wall with no signs, so he remained quiet for the duration of his tea break.
"When I was young, I too got in trouble with my mother. She wouldn't let me work with the miners for a minimum of 5 days. It was basically easy work and the woman wouldn't let me earn a few merits! You know what I did?" Gerard spoke as he folded the cape neatly. Catrice swallowed, "What?"
As the memories resurfaced in his mind like a message in a bottle, Gerard grinned, "I went anyways. But you know what I realized when I worked in the mines the entire time? It was rough and harsh. It was difficult to breathe down there, and then I saw my fellows get hurt. That's when I realized my mother only wanted to protect me. Do you get what I'm saying now, Your Majesty?" Gerard asked, feeling a sense of pride in himself. Most people called him experienced and wise, and that's exactly what he is! Perhaps this story will make the Crown Prince see the true intentions behind his father's words. Gerard could not help but give himself a pat in the back.
The silver fork was carefully set down the table. Arm on the table, an idea crossed Catrice's mind as he rest his face on his knuckles. The twinkle of mischief in his eyes went unnoticed behind Gerard's back. "So you're saying I shouldn't do as my father says, and I should just go behind his back?"
Before Gerard could process those words, he whole heartedly agreed. "Yes, I'm —" he paused, "Wait, what?" The floor disappeared beneath his feet as he was sweeped off the ground in a tight hug by the taller man. "Thank you so much, Gerard! I know exactly what I'm going to do now!"
"No, no," Gerard opposed, anxiously. "No, don't thank me. I have nothing to do with this at all! Your Majesty, please don't do anything stupid until the Celestial Bond Ritual."
At those words, Catrice set the old man down, patting off his clothes in an attempt to smooth out the wrinkles. "Right, before the Celestial Bond Ritual. Got it," Honey blond eyes winked knowingly at Gerard, much to his horror. "No you don't get it at all!"
Six years ago, at the ripe age of 16 years old, Catrice Everlock spent most of his time learning the sword and ran away from etiquette and history lessons. Wherever he went, he captured the attention of many. With the stunning fluff of blonde hair, and eyes that gleamed like honey under the sun. He was the Empire's Darling. But personality wise, his amgelic looks were a huge contradiction to the words he spat out with his soft lips.
"Ha! You're supposed to teach me swordsmanship? I think you need these lessons yourself." Pointing his blade at his instructor, he laughed.
"You call this a meal? The Bakery down the village has better bread than this." He spat out the cake in front of the royal chef.
"Your Majesty, please come out! It's time for your history lessons!" Catrice watched his personal teacher look for him from a tree branch he sat on, leisurely taking a bite out of an apple before tossing the rest at her head.
Needless to say, he was a menace. Until that fateful day arrived. Under the cloudy gaze of the sky, Catrice had been woefully captured against his will and was forced to be secluded in the library until he could recite all previous emperors, their achievements, and their history. Dread filled his chest as he dropped his head on the pile of books, the desire to jump out the window growing ever so strongly with every second that passes. Having no other choice left, he waded through the piles of books, skimming through every page, reading over them deliberately in a course of a few hours. By the time he finished the last book, what seemed like eternity had only been five hours that passed. He had another hour to kill before they would agree to let him out. Young Catrice pushed back his chair before he took a leisure walk around the library. He saw many things: replicas, domes, scriptures and the likes. Knowledge from around the world, and knowledge hidden away from the world all resided within this room. Admittedly, despite growing up within the palace, this had been the first time Catrice had ventured for so long in the library. He never even realized there were things in here that he never knew existed. As he passed by one dark row of books between shelves, a book caught his eye. He glazed over it for a moment, his hand merely grazing it's spine before he paused.
'Ancient Deities, Old gods and sermons.'
He pondered for a moment before slipping the book off the shelf, waking the sleeping dust bunnies in progress. As he took a closer look, the book looked more than a decade old. It's spine broken, and pages yellow. The leather bound cover had already started peeling, the texts engraved on them could barely be read. Catrice has heard of gods and deities before. Heavenly Celestials that people worshipped. Prayed, kneeled, and begged to. For the Empire, that god would be none other than Aelius, representing the rising of the sun across the horizon. A mark of a beginning for a new day. Catrice huffed, brow raised at the aged book. Contrary to its looks, the book weighed heavy in his hands. Out the window, the clouds casted shadows over the palace as wind howled strong, barking against the palace windows. Catrice shivered, a cold breeze passing through his cheek as he stood in the secluded space between shelves.
Night consumed the sky in cold silence over the Magic Tower as the wistful madalea flowers swayed with the breeze. A watchguard of the magic tower yawned, head drooping up and down as he struggled to stay awake as he stood on guard. A cloaked figure in the shadows moved swiftly behind the fatigued man, ice cold fingers ran across the back of the unwitting man. In the next second, the watchguard lay deep asleep on the ground, his snores becoming the only sound by the magic towers entrance. Catrice sighed, never once did he thought the magic tower could be so easily infiltrated as he took off his hood. Maybe once after he finishes his goal, he'll station more guards to the Magicians departments. But then again, what better defence could be established other than magic? Perhaps they relied too much on magic. And just as he thought, Catrice stared with a perplexed look on his face at the magic riddle on the door.
"A riddle to unlock the door? Are these magicians even trying to stay safe?" Catrice wondered, eyes glossing over the words.
Over the door, the words sparkled in the night in blue hue as the magic hummed, awaiting to be answered.
"I am to feed at night and feed at day. I am never alive yet I breathe—"
Without a moment of hesitation, Catrice answered, "Easy enough. The answer is sourdough."
His words hung low in the air as the magic riddles humming came to a stop.
"You didn't even give it time to think..." The magic riddle complained, it hummed in sadness.
Catrice, reading the words carefully on the door, tilted his head as in confusion. Think? Why would he need to think it through?
"Isn't this just another riddle related to Magician Mike's obsession with sourdough bread?" Catrice asked. The magic riddle fell into deeper silence, it was left astonished. Or rather, disappointment at it's creator. The Magic Riddle hums and for a moment, Catrice could feel its immense emotion seep through those noise. As the blue dust shifted in the air before him, new words formed on the word.
"Alone, I am weak. In a pack, I am not easy to tear down. What am I?"
"Paper. Easy to tear but not when its a wad." Catrice easily answered, unfazed. The sleeping guard behind him shifted in his sleep momentarily but Catrice stayed ignoring him, never minding the guard who now sucked on his thumb as he cradled his spear.
"You know what.... Just come in. Let these magicians learn the lesson for themselves." The Magic riddle dispersed in the air, the blue glow vanished completely as the door clicked open, making way to what seems to be a dark hallway. Leaving the unconscious guard behind, Catrice made his way in.
"I'm telling you, if we focus on severing the incantations and carving them on my inventions, we could have these, like, vaccine canons!" A mans voice could be heard arguing from one, brightly lit room down the hall, followed by an exasperated sigh and a loud thunk.
"Ow!???" Siege held his head in pain. Mike retrieved his staff before taking his focus back on the incantation inside the magical orb. Runes flew in uniform around the orb as it tried to decipher the words written on the paper, yet no matter how long they had done this process, the answer remained the same.
As expected, the runes fell to the ground like mere pebbles, showing no results and changes from the inscribed letters. That was it. The incantations couldn't be understood. And if it couldn't be understood, they could never reach it's full potential.
"Ugh! I'm so tired! Why can't that old man just come here and teach us the incantations hinself!?" Daelus grabbed a fistful of Siege's hair as she cried, ignoring the man's woeful protests. "Hey—! Stop that! Weren't you the one who said to give the old man a break in the first place!? Now you're asking he comes down here with his cane and heart problems?" Siege grabbed hold of the hands that ruthlessly pulled on his hair.
"That wasn't me, idiot! It was Mike!" Daelus corrected, letting go of Siege's hair. But now she had been caught in a deadlock as Siege refused to let go of her arms. The two stood glaring at each other like hungry dogs fighting for the leftovers on the ground as Mike continued to observe the orb's reactions.
"There's no use, unless we actually go ahead and use the incantation first hand to study it, we have no actual choice." Mike said, turning to the other two ministers, only to find they have not moved from their positions. The scene was almost comical with how they reminded Mike of two civilized monkey. The Minister of Magic Artifacts would have laughed had it not been for the unsavoury circumstances before them.
"Why don't we just go with my idea?" Siege asked, hands raised in the air. He was tired of feeling unheard. What was such a big deal of copy paste in the first place?
Daelus opened her mouth, a string of words she would not even dare to say to the most wanted criminal in world threatened to spill from her lips, was immediately interrupted by Mike as he spoke, "Do you not remember the last time you did that, Siege? When you copied an incantation for creating frozen cream and pasted them on one of your weaponry, thinking you could make a canon shoot frozen cream dessert but it ended up shooting out hurricanes and storm? You destroyed an entire village because of it! To this day our salary still gets deductions for the cost it took to rebuild that village," Mike said, "So I beg you, as our teachers taught us before—"
Siege finally caved, defeated as he recited the infamous line in magic school. "Understand the incantation, understand the potential. Where magic lies low, perceive the highs of their soul. Fine! I get it." He crossed his arms in silent tantrum.
"So what do we do now?" Came the abrupt question. Siege, with his auburn eyes still fixated on the orb, calmly answered. "Well, I suppose one can only turn back to the most common method of sampling when lost in research. We'll have someone use the incantation for a limited amount of times, noting and detailing every observation until we get enough information."
Daelus nodded in agreement to every word, "Once we've scourged enough information, we'll be able to replicate the incantation before the outbreaks abrupts at an assumed date!"
Mike also agreed, yet his brows knitted in worry the more he thought it through, even with such a simple equation as this, it would deem to be difficult for even one of them to venture out of the palace given their current circumstances. "Still... The decision of which of us will be best suited to go on this expedition will need to be discussed. The rest of us can't spare a single second to even step out of our departments." Mike turned to the other two. Their eyes clearly avoiding the other's gaze. Out of sight, out of mind.
"I can't be out and about, my Venus Fléche is still in a work in progress. If I am to be away for even a day or so, all my hardwork will dissipate like baby powder to a hurricane!" Siege said.
"My Clarasei throws tantrums whenever I'm away. I do not want her exploding again and making a mess out of my department. Magic manifestations have feelings too!" Daelus answered, referring to her pet made of magic manifestations. With two people strongly declining responsibility, Mike began to sweat profusely. "Well I can't go either! My students can't be left unsupervised for even a moment. One minute you turn to the board and suddenly they've created bizzare new incantations that almost set my department flying to Escanavia!" Mike cried. "No one even dares to take over them for me these days!"
That completely settled it. All three, self-proclaimed magic genuises can't set foot out of the palace grounds. The fate of the world was now officially doomed because of an arrow, a magic pet, and some rowdy students.
"Then who is going to do this sampling for us!?" Siege bellowed, gloved hands clenched in fury and frustration. In this moment of disarray and pointing fingers, the voice from before spoke once more.
"I'll do it!" Catrice voluntarily accepted the task as he stood beside them, the blue light of the magic orb shone on his face like moonlight to pristine rivers. Hearing those words, Mike's face glowed just as bright as the full moon as he turned to the royal figure beside him. "That's a great idea, Your Majesty! With your help, this would definitely progress much easier..."
Mike's words fell into silence as it dawned on him like waterfall of whom had suddenly stood before him. His heart sunk to the floor as his eyes bore on to Catrice's own expectant gaze. None of them had realized the crown prince's presence until this very moment, too indulged into their discussions to even bother noticing. anything out of the ordinary around them. Afterall, who could easily infiltrate the Magic Tower when it was so heavily guarded!
"Your Majesty!" All three magicians fell to their knees, faces sunken and pale. As if they had just seen a ghost. Or even worse, their department rights revoked from under their noses!
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. I misspoke! I did not intend to say that to you at all." Mike pleaded, his life already flashing before his very eyes as he knelt on the floor. Daelus too, trembled in fear as she dared not look directly at the person in front of them. "We would never allow his majesty to come by any harm! We were just distracted is all. Those words were not for you."
Beside her, Siege cried a river of tears. At the very moment, he neither cared for how he looked nor acted. Ideas and images of his researches being stripped away from him already plagued his mind by a simple mishap as this. "Mommy—!" He wailed, leaving the other two stunned.
Catrice stared at the three magicians on the floor with panic as they practically begged for their life. What were they doing? Question by question flew all across his mind as he was left in pure confusion of the situation. Nervous as he was, he tried to calm them down, rejected every assumption they made as he went back and forth only to realise soon enough his efforts were useless.
Now there was really nothing else he could do. Hesitation clouded his mind, jusging from their state, he only had one resort left as he clenched his hand and ran his thumb over his finger. A breath of resignation escaped his lips
"Silence!" he ordered. In a breath, all noise ceased in the room, leaving only the soft humming of magic to fall on to their ears. When the situation finally calmed, Catrice sincerely apologized.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice but you all were not listening." He started, "What I wanted to express was that I want to partake in the sampling." Words left his mouth and entered the magicians ears like moth to a flame as they stopped everything they were doing. Catrice observed the baffled looks on their faces as they asked. "You want to go on the expedition?"
Finally we're getting somewhere. Catrice thought. "Yes, I heard everything you've just said. You all can't go out to do the sampling, right? And no one else is allowed to know about the upcoming disaster. The Emperor is too important to suddenly leave without reason for a number of days which makes me the perfect candidate," Catrice offered a great deal for the magicians, and for a moment, they seem to think it so too. "So what do you say?"
The crown prince eagerly offered to be the hand that reaches out to help them, it would be too wasteful to turn it away, or so Daelus thought. Mike had his own reservations too as he sighed, ready to turn down the crown prince's offer.
"You'll be in good hands, Your Highness!" Siege spoke up, shocking the other two into oblivion as the optimistic magician reached and shook Catrice hand, enthusiastically.
Now only one thing crossed the other two magicians minds. Siege, you fool!