Taking my steps away from the door, I let go of the hem of the skirt and allowed itself to get pulled along the ground. My deliberate and sluggish steps were cumbersome, just like my gaze on the back.
I am so filled with fear, panic, fear and prudence
I was too familiar with those stares, and yet I do not know that I ask myself, what makes me so detested here in this world?
My presence? My self? My fate?
Answers to questions were never given in the past as well as in the present. At one point, I tried to establish myself as good and just, but seeing how everything that was just meaningless.
I only perpetuated people's image of me being evil and poisonous snake.
It wasn't that hard. It wasn't quite terrible either.
The numbing sense of higher fear that I felt each time I crushed my opponent with devastating power was horrid.
Marbel white ground changed color each time sunlight touched it and at the opposite side of the walkway that went from the main door of the Nordwyn Residence was the silver carriage of Nyxveil where I had arrived previously.
Rina paced back and forth, chewing her nails anxiously. She stopped the moment she saw me and her eyes widen, "My Lady!"
I smiled softly to her as I stroked her head, "I am fine. Don't worry."
She drew a deep sigh of worry and her shoulder sank as if as enormous weight eased, "You told me last night Grand Duke will do no harm to you in any way but when travelling, you asked me to stay outside the entrance of the mansion and if Young Duke emerged, I was to send him inside by any means!"
She was panting after having uttered her words in one go, I smiled to myself and shook my head and stepped into the carriage.
" I am always specially prepared, that's all."
She scowled worriedly but pursed her lips tightly without inquiring anything further.
"Rudrick has come back after he was treated by the healer you mentioned after we left," Rina whispered in my ears and the news caused me to smile a little bit.
The puzzle pieces of the chess board are falling into place one at a time. Looking back at the grandeur of Nordwyn Residence, I could only think about the consequences of what I did today.
There were Emperor's Blue Light spies. They were most probably from there. The way their eyes were following me from the very moment I stepped into the mansion gate told me a lot.
I made a point to whisper my remarks to the Grand Duke and Ezekian subsequently ensuring Emperor gets an earful of only how I went to see Grand Duke and how I left the house after threatening them.
This would be enough to calm Emperor's mind for a while regarding the matters of Nordwyn and Nyxveil.
I got into the carriage and there was an unexpected presence inside it already.
" You have been running wild in the meantime, aren't you Foxy?"
My eyes opened wide looking at the person sitting across from me. Long black robe draped over him fell on his shoulder as he lifted his head to look at me.
" Master! When did you!" I gasped in shock and instantly locked the door of the carriage.
Master simply smiled stroking his raven hairs.
"Teleporting from Sian to Pyrexia is a piece of cake for a great mage like me,"
I was shaking my head in disbelief that he was brazenly boasting about his magical power shamelessly. Again, he had been shameless about his magical power from the beginning.
" What are you doing here? Where is the Prince?" I asked. Master snorted, "That devil bastard doesn't need my guidence."
" What're you saying? There is power inside him which is too great and if he gives in to the evilness of demon power, it would be catastrophic!"
Master gave me a serene look and took hold of my hand and patted the back part of my hand, I blinked my eyelids with doubt.
"Foxy, you are fretting over something that is not within your control." His soothing and calm words put me in a little emberessed state regarding my outburst.
Of course, whether or not Xavier gives in to the cruelty of demon energy in learning it or not, it is out of our hands. Unless this individual has solid emotional, physical, and spiritual control over him- It is impossible to stop him from doing so if he decides to give in to the cruelty of demon energy.
Nevertheless, having this realization didn't make me any less worried either.
"Master, if he becomes an enemy, do you think I would be able to defeat him?"
I looked up at him, my eyes seeking an answer. Master nodded his head no slowly and let out a sigh.
" You have thought about an alternative scenarior when you have made up your mind to bring him into your side even after knowing about his demonic ability, haven't you?"
I did not answer Master's question and bowed my head.
I did, I did envision such situation where Xavier is on the opposite side of mine, driven by the wickedness of demon power and devoid of any human feeling. I did envision such scenarior where Xavier is nothing but an embodiment of evil.
Each time, I thought about such situation, I could not imagine a situation where I might defeat him or stop him. But I could not go on to harm him in any way.
Rather, I thought of thousands of ways to stop him from falling victim to the malice.
" The saint's Holy Stone can prevent him from giving in to the malice." I grumbled to myself. Master let go of my hand and scowled in confusion.
" Holy Stone of Saint? Isn't that a legendery weapon? As I know, unless the Saint is strong enough to wield the Divine Sword, he possibly can't craft a Holy Stone." Master smacked his lips as he shook his head.
" And after the Cataclysm of Dusk and Dawn from 6500 years, the Holy Sword couldn't be moved by the Saints who came later."
I nodded. This is the truth that the Holy Empire revealed to the world. But there is a dark reality which is concealed from the outside world, even for someone like my master who might possess all the knowledge of the world in his pockets.
After Cataclysm of Dusk and Dawn, the Saint of that time died after a few years without leaving behind his last words or order.
- Never let the people forget the goodness of the Creator and Divine wrath. Make People's religion strong only then when the Chosen One appears will they follow him.
The individual who will have the greatest Holy Power among his or her contemporaries will act like a Saint and keep people's heart soothing until the Real Saint appears and uses my sword.
The saints so far are not truly saints, but a representation of faith. To people who are so easily persuaded by their passions and inclined to cause chaos, placing saints before them had been a way of reminding them of the mercy of God not to submit to their passions and the wrath of God to submit to their-destructive passions/.
That activity has been acting as a shackler upon the Kings and Emperors of the world for 6500 years. Everyone prays for something different but has an equal source of conception regarding the creator. Everyone admits somehow, There is a person, superior to everyone and anything else.
"Second owner of Divine Sword has been born and I am taking him to my side," I said in a casual manner.
Master's eyes are wide in shock and he looked like he couldn't process if I was joking or if I was serious for a moment. His shook his head and let out a sigh, " Foe! You must be kidding me? How could you call upon the Owner of Divine Sword of the Holy Empire! Does he think he'll have fewer guards than the Emperor of Wymhold?"
Master shook his head in refutation of my proposal in entirety.
"Don't worry. No one is aware of it, even the King of Holy Empire."
Master's eyebrows were raised hearing me out, baffled and bewildered expression on his face, tense shoulder and shaky legs.
I did not expect him to care so much about the Holy Empire.
"So how do you know?" He leaned forward, testing me. I didn't budge and said, "Because I came from a future where you didn't exist."
Master scoffed and lightly pinched my cheeks, he didn't believe me. But I wasn't lying. Again, it wasn't even a thought one could access. Cause even with the strongest level of dark magic, it's not possible to reverse time.
"Cut the jokes, fox! Be honest with me." I brushed off his hand, "I am honest. The master of Divine Sword is born but temporarily, his Holy Power is sealed and he is merely a small Saint candidate living in the most selucted place of Holy Temple."
Master seemed not to like my answer, he let out a deep frustrated breathe through his mouth, leaning back he folded his legs as he cupped his cheeks with his palms.
He stared at me, solemn fear.
" You are so ready to make Holy Empire your enemy just to save him? There is so much at risk here, Foxy."
I blinked slowly, calmly placing my hand on the hilt of Slayer I nodded, " I know."
Master's ruby red eyes darkened, " Even if you know, are you still going to risk this? You gotta be kidding me!"
Master's voice became slightly louder, he was worried about me more than angry.
He has the right to feel angry, every individual who takes care of somebody will get disturbed and angry if they are aware of the way that individual is going to play with fire that will burn her if one slight mistake happens.
I glanced through the window of the carriage, passing the crowded city of Pyrexia, laughter of common people, smiling face of the children and business flourishing in every corner.
It was a peaceful scene of Pyrexia before the incident of Darkest Night. For after that, nothing remained except agoney and war.
A lot was at stakes for me. I am challenging my power against something thousand times stronger than me. A single error, 6500 year old history will repeat itself.
Despite all that, I just can't shake off my desire to save Xavier. I just can't look away from the likely way of having him realize his potential without debilitating him under the malice of demoniacal power.
Why so?
I don't know. No. I never want to know for whatever reason.
" I've made too many enemies. I won't be bothered with one more if I succeed in rescuing him,"
Those words tumbled out from my mouth without a second thought. Surprise on Master's face were inevitable but I did not exaggerate when I said so.
This yearning within me is more of a fate tendency than something that I acquire year by year. From the very moment that I saw him in the darkened room, shackled and wounded, I wanted to help him regardless of what it would cost.
" You." Master pressed his lips together and said nothing. I didn't move him as much either.
Master wasn't so worried about Xavier as he was about me. It's probably hard for him to catch up with my obstinateness.
" You'll regret it and it'll be too late, will you still be alright?" Master spoke under his breath. Corner of lip curled up into a faint smile, eyes still fixed on the vibrant city of Pyrexia.
" I won't regret it because it's the first and only time I decided on my own."
Master let out a great sigh when he heard my outspoken claim. His want to just hit my head could not be contained but I contained nevertheless.
* Hnghhhh *
" Huh!" I held onto the carriage wall which suddenly stopped moving. Master's eyes reflected a narrowed look.
" Some stopped the House of Nyxveil carriage in board daylight!" He mouthed while smiling with an amusing face.
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DO YOU HAVE DEAD WISH?" I heard Rina shouting from outside.
" I will go and check," I complained and Master nodded in my direction. " I will be waiting inside."
I opened the door of the carriage and saw Rina with three guards accompanying me standing like a guarding wall in front of me.
"What's happening?" I touched Rina's shoulder and she turned around in shock.
"My Lady, why did you get down from the carriage?" She looked at me worried.
"I am not a common noblelady like other ladies," I assured Rina who just let out a desperate sigh.
"This boy suddenly jumped forward of the carriage and kneeled down without speaking at all!" Rina elaborated and made way for me.
A guy in a sky blue hanfu was kneeling on his knees with his head bending down, soft long silky hair pulled back into a ponytail fell at the middle of his back, Although he knelt down, it was clear that he was a tall and warrior-built man.
I had my heart feeling a little thrill looking at that individual, an odd feeling of satisfaction made my mind ease.
" One day, at the edge of Eastern Empire which was ruined by the bandits, I lost everything as a child. Parents, brother and grandparents. A deserted village, where as a last survivor, I never thought I won't even survive up to the end with no water and food, I was saved by an unknown person."
My heart pounded, shiver came down until my spines, my lips trembled and hairs of my skin stood, my eyes started turning red as I listened to the person who was standing in front of me speak.
His shoulder was trembling, soft breeze made it hard to determine if he was trembling due to cold or else.
"Through cold, bitter winter I came waking in the arms of a stranger woman, riding astride black horse. She smiled down on me with gentle smile and soft smile imposed. Her red warm shawl hugged me close and she muttered,"
He lifted his head. Ocean blue eyes shining with tears, lips trembling as if scarce words escaped his lips.
I know that face. I recognized that face too well.
Shaking hands and warm tears began streaming from my eyes as a small smile broke on my lips.
"Peonies shine brighter after the rain,"
I pressed my lips together tightly before smiling through tears, my voice trembled as I opened my mouth,
" Hardship vanishes—clear skies will last."
Tears flowed from his eyes and he let out a painfull teary huff from his mouth as he nodded.
We both smiled at each other while. Hundreds of words were being exchanged between us then without even opening our mouth.
How won't it?
How will I fail to recognize the face of the boy whom I saved from the ruined, dark and cold village from the brink of death? How will I fail to recognize the eyes of the boy whom I took as my own son? How will I fail to recognize the smile of the boy whom I watched grow and stand by me to share my loads?
How will I fail to recognize my only disciple?
"It has been a while, Hao Ran," I whispered with a smile.
" I found you first this time, Master," He panted softly with a large beaming smile.