What's this place? It's dark… Where am I? This seems like an underground place.
I looked at my arms and—why am I transparent?! What is this again?! This transparent body gives me PTSD from my experience two years ago!
"Alina…"
I flinched when I heard a voice. T-that voice sounds scary, what the heck?! Am I summoned into the darkness once again?!
"ASHEEER!"
"Alina…"
Eeek—no way, the voice is calling me. It sounds like it came from the deepest pit of hell! No, no no. What the heck happened that I am in such a place again? What now?! I have already controlled my mana flow and the spread out man inside my body should be naturally flowing out now and taken care of by Avi, so why am I in such a scary place again?!
"Help me…" No way! I don't even know you!
"You… you're the only one… who can help me…"
No—no… wait, that voice seemed like it was breathing heavily. Are they suffering from something?
"Help… me… my name…" Your name? How am I supposed to know your name?
"Find… my name…" huh?! How would I do that?!
"Help…"
"Apologies, but… I don't trust you!" I spoke, confident. However, I received no response from the strange voice. Also, what is this place? I'm in an underground place, and there are torches attached to the wall.
I turned around but I only saw a strange stair, leading further down. I gulped as I took one step, and another, and another… until I reached the first stair. The wall around the stairs have torches as well.
"Alina… don't go down," Huh?
I blinked a couple of times. That voice, it sounds like it came down there. A deep strange voice… it's hoarse, as if they have a sore throat or something. Except, you can notice that they are struggling to speak at all.
"Are you down there?" I asked. My voice wasn't even that loud, I was speaking in my normal tone of voice.
"Indeed… y-you shouldn't g-go down…"
I started taking small steps. What is this place anyway? And why are they telling me not to go down? Is that reverse psychology?
"N-no… Your Highness…"
I gritted my teeth when I slowly felt something strange on my chest. I stopped walking as my chest began to feel heavy. W-what's happening?
"Please… go back…" I immediately did as they told me and took steps back, until I reached the floor where I was earlier.
My heart's racing fast, and it hurts, it's heavy.
I kneel down on the floor as I try to catch my breath. What's happening now? Maybe I really shouldn't have tried to go down? But… staying here on this empty floor will do me nothing!
"I'm sorry… Alina…" Huh? Why are they suddenly apologizing? Not asking for help anymore, buddy?
*cough cough*
My eyes widened as blood dropped to the floor after I coughed. What the heck is happening now? My body is transparent, but I feel heaviness on my chest, I even coughed blood?!
"Sorry… my p-presence… must have affected y-you…" Their presence? What exactly are they?
"W-who are you…?"
"My name… shall not be spoken—around you…" Huh?! What does that even mean? And you have a name after all? So, why are they asking me to find their name?!
"Why is that?" I wiped the blood on my mouth as I turned to face the stairs.
"It's dangerous… for you…"
Dangerous?
"Help me… find my name… my real name…" I gulped as I tried to take a deep breath again. I don't know who this person is, why are they asking me to help me find their name?
*cough cough*
Blood again…
"I apologize… Alina… You must go… before…"
I must go? What's that mean?
"Go…"
"Your Highness!" My eyes opened in surprise as I felt my body flinching in my bed. Asher's looking at me, and he's sweating. What happened to him?
I lifted my body as I sat on the bed, but I only felt my chest tightening.
"Arghh…" what the heck? It's the same feeling in my dreams! Was it really because of that person's presence? What… no, who exactly were they?
I noticed red stains on my white nightgown when I lowered my head. Err, don't tell me…
I touched my mouth, and I confirmed that I vomited blood in my sleep. What the heck is the problem?
"Asher…"
"What the—what did you dream about this time to the point that your mana core almost burst?!" my eyes widened with Asher's sudden raise of voice. He looks extremely… mad. And what? My mana core… ? what?
"Tsk!" He ran his fingers through his head with his left hand on his hips. I can see the frustration on his face and voice.
He then took a deep breath and sat down on my bed. He slowly and gently reached for my hands. His expression is not really good right now. I have no idea if he's mad or guilty because he raised his voice at me.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell… just—"
"I dreamed about someone. Asking me for help to find their name," I understand he's frustrated. I am, too. I didn't know that encounter with that person, or whoever that is, would take a toll on my mana core.
"Find their name?" I nodded again.
"They didn't tell me anything, but… I'm quite confused. They said they already have a name, and asked me to find their real name," I added. I don't even know what their fake name is because they didn't tell me about it.
"I assume they are the reason why your mana core went crazy like that…" went crazy? Also, just what kind of creature were they to affect my mana core like that?! If Asher didn't wake me up, my mana core would've ended up exploding!
"I felt a strange presence as well. But it's a very familiar presence…" Asher added, turning his head towards the balcony, as if he's looking at something.
"I see…" Did he figure something out?
"I see now who's you're talking about," Asher crossed his arms and lowered his head, thinking. It looks like he is really aware of the guy's name.
"Who is it?" He stood up and reached for my right hand, closing his eyes. Suddenly, a light appeared on both our hands and I could feel the pain in my chest slowly fading away. The stains on my nightgown have disappeared as well.
"Sleep. I'll let you know tomorrow, and… congratulations, your mana flow has been stabilized," he said, giving me a small smile.
"Ahh, Asher. Why did I faint right after I got my mana flow in the right path?" I hope none of my family's worried about that.
"You coughed blood as well, I heard. That's just your body reacting to its changes. Plus, the unused mana within your body that hasn't left yet added a toll on it. Avi worked hard to absorb all of it in just four hours. Normally, it should take a whole day… but you were vomiting blood even when sleeping, so she was determined to remove and cleanse your body from the unused mana." I see…
I turned to Avi's bed, but she wasn't there.
"W-where's Avi?"
"In the Tower. She overexerted herself, and the Magic Tower is the only safe place for her to recuperate. We had to watch out for her divine core as well as it absorbed too much mana in rapid speed," Avi…
"You should visit her tomorrow. Oh, and you should see your political and governance teacher as well. She definitely hated it when you made her wait, and suddenly got the news that you fainted. I'll come with you tomorrow, so don't worry." Asher added. Even though he seems worried about the dream I had, it looks like he's still able to compose himself.
"Now, sleep. I'll stay here." Asher… he's always busy because of me.
"Let's stroll the Central Plaza as well before we go back here tomorrow," I smiled as I lay down.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Hehe ~
***
So, this is Countess Scarlett's mansion.
"Greetings, and welcome to our humble abode, Your Highness. Please come inside," Countess Scarlett looks calm and unbothered about my absence yesterday. Also, she's with her children. Her twin children. It looks like they're the same age as Asher—I mean, Asher's appearance age.
Asher, and Ryna followed us inside the mansion and Countess Scarlett led us to the living room. She ordered her servants to bring us snacks and tea.
"I am honored by Her Highness' presence. To what do I owe the honor of such a visit?" Countess Scarlett asked, giving me a small smile. She is pretty, isn't she? She's a descendant of one of the knights that survived the war against the evil dragon thousands of years ago. She had… well, scarlet hair, and her eyes are deep red. Even her daughter and son have the same traits.
"Countess Scarlett. I humbly apologize for my tardiness and failure to attend yesterday's meeting." I stood up and gave her a proper bow. That's when the servants knocked the door as well and was allowed to enter by the butler.
"Your Highness, please raise your head and take a seat. I was informed yesterday that Her Highness fainted during her magic exercises, and I understand that you require rest. Duchess Chantel has already apologized to Count Silva and me on your behalf." Ahh, Aunt Chan did? Well, she was with me yesterday. I think I need to personally apologize to Count Silva as well.
"Nevertheless, you deserve my personal apology, Countess. I was not only late, but missed your class as well, and you had already been waiting for me…" I replied. I really feel like I was the biggest jerk in the world because of that. Countess Scarlett chuckled, giving me a smile as she slightly tilted her head.
"Your Highness, your apology is most appreciated. I assume Her Highness would not leave me be should I refuse her kindness," she said jokingly. Thank goodness, a thorn has been removed from my throat.
Countess Scarlett is a gentle person, and she always makes sure that I understand everything she discusses. On the other hand, Count Silva is a cold one—but his discussions are always the easiest. He uses terms that I could easily understand. And even though his expression is always the same, he never fails to praise me—with a blank expression. Count Silva is a descendant of the knight, Amira Silva. Those people that survived alongside my ancestors were granted nobility, and now their family still stands tall.
"Hehe…" I scratched the back of my head as I looked at the two kids on her both sides. They are staring at me quietly.
"I greet the Young Lady and Young Master as well," I said, lowering my head to give them a bow.
"Your Highness is adorable," the young lady announced, now she's smiling at me.
"You flatter me, Young Lady. You, yourself is quite the charm too," Seriously? Why am I talking like this to kids? I suddenly want to go back.
"These are my children, Fiona and Fionell, Your Highness."
"Oh my, what wonderful names!"
"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness," they said simultaneously. Woah… having a twin must be so fun.
***
"Brother…"
"And Your Highness, greetings to both of you." Sir Abel greets as he comes down the long stairs. It's been two years since I last visited the Magic Tower and I think it hasn't changed a bit. Except the unfamiliar tools on the tables that surround the huge glowing crystal in the middle.
Those tools and books are probably being used by Asher and Sir Abel as they investigate this crystal.
"Avi is still recuperating, Your Highness. I congratulate you on your achievement, you have finally stabilized your mana flow." Sir Abel spoke, his smile never fading. It looks like I won't be able to see Avi yet.
"Thank you, Sir Abel. Oh, and I heard from Asher that you two are investigating the crystal. May I ask about the progress?" I am not really aware what's the purpose of this crystal, but it is Aisha's stuff. It must be very important.
"As of now, we have yet to uncover its real purpose, Your Highness. However, it showed signs of a very familiar power. That of Aisha's incarnation. My brother, before he came back to this world, was resting in this crystal as well. But, it remains intangible despite that." Sir Abel explained. I see—wait a minute, Sir Abel's getting comfortable talking to me, isn't he? Oh yeah, obviously because he knew that I am not really seven.
"Asher mentioned that the Astras and the Selene were born from this crystal… could it be that it is related to 'life'?" I asked. Sir Abel nodded his head.
"Indeed, Your Highness. After all, it is Aisha's crystal. This is the only thing in this world except the Essence Tree that has the original power of a Primal Luminar. Brother and I figured out as well that this might be our chance to make a portal that will connect to the current location of the Essence Tree," portal, huh? Ah, wait. I remember Asher using a portal when he came to the library.
"Correct. The portal I used when I teleported to the library was the same one we recently made. Usually, portals can only be activated where the magic circles were drawn. The portal we made can be activated even without magic circles. Meaning, we can go anywhere." Asher explained. Wow, that's quite amazing isn't it?
"Hmm… but how do you intend to track down the Essence Tree, when neither of you knows its current whereabouts?" Hah… why did they neglect the tree in the first place? Huhu.
"Plus, what if Virexon found it first before us?" I added. The two brothers exchanged looks before they faced me again. Sir Abel knelt down on one knee and rested his right elbow to his right knee.
"Your Highness. The Essence Tree is hidden within a powerful distortion magic. Only those who can sense divine magic can discern whether the area is where the Essence Tree lies or not. Virexon had already abandoned his godhood, thus rendering him incapable of sensing powerful divine magic. This distortion magic is placed by Raini, therefore… it'll be difficult for Virexon to find it." Sir Abel explained. I see, Raini is a powerful divine being after all.
"Hmm… Well, I am unaware of your plans, so I shouldn't be meddling with it. May I stay here for a while, Sir Abel? I would like to watch over Avi," Sir Abel nodded his head as he smiled.
"No problem, Your Highness."
I am curious why the crystal was intangible before, but it looks like they haven't figured it out yet.
Hmm... Once Avi's recovered I'll start learning how to control mana.
***