“Why isn’t he waking up!?”

Aria yelled at the elderly woman who was shaking her head.

“There’s nothing wrong with him; I don’t know what else I can do. Forgive me, Empress.”

The old woman bowed deeply as she slowly spoke.

“You’re supposed to be the best court physician in this kingdom, get out!”

Aria roared out as she pointed towards the door.

The elderly woman glanced down as she walked out with a cane.

The old woman’s name is; Irea Miak. She’s over two thousand years and has been researching medicine since she was young. Over time, there have been very few cases she hasn’t seen or cured.

But, tonight she was called upon by the Empress herself in a hurry. She rushed towards the inner part of the castle. When Irea finally saw that the person to be cured was not the Empress herself, but a youth who was peacefully resting, she was confused at first.

She thought of the rumour which has been spreading over the whole kingdom, that the Empress’s son has returned. She connected the dots quickly and stepped forward to inspect his condition.

No matter how much Irea tried to inspect him, she could find nothing wrong with him. But, no matter what she tried, he would not wake up.

Irea could only shake her head as she left the castle in regret for not knowing what kind of illness or condition the kid was in.

“Shin, Shin, Shin…”

Aria stood in front of Shin, using her fingers to touch his face and his hair.

“Wake up, Shin.”

Tears emerged from the corner of Aria’s eyes as she glared at Shin.

“Sigh.”

“Aria, you should rest. Hopefully, Shin will wake up soon.”

Kali spoke while sighing. She grabbed the cup in front of her and drank a mouthful of tea, she swallowed it without tasting it. Her eyes continued to glance over to Shin every few seconds.

“How can I rest when Shin’s been unconscious this entire time?!”

Aria spoke with a hint of anger as she glared at Kali.

Kali shook her head while glancing at Aria and Shin.

“I’m also worried about Shin, but it’s only been half a day. His Protector should have taken a large toll on his body; maybe his body will wake up after a day or two.”

“I’m just saying that Shin would rather want us to rest than to keep going on like this. Even if I sleep, I will keep an eye on him. The second his breathing changes or if he moves, I will know about it. So can you, Aria. Therefore, you should rest.”

Kali spoke calmly before eating a biscuit.

Aria breathed a couple of times heavily before glancing at Shin one more time. She shook her head before walking to the other side of the bed, and she laid on it beside Shin. Aria’s eyes which were bloodshot, closed slowly while staring at Shin.

Kali continued eating her snacks and drank the tea in her cup. Keeping an eye on the two on the bed.

The door opened once more, without making any sound. Two maids entered – Laura and Peutoa. They glanced at the bed where Aria and Shin were sleeping, then at Kali who was sitting on the couch.

Laura walked in front while Peutoa walked a step behind her, Laura nodded towards Kali before she sat opposite of her.

She filled Kali’s cup with tea afterwards filling two more cups for herself and Peutoa. Laura beckoned Peutoa to sit near her, before lifting her cup towards her lips.

Kali didn’t talk, she just quietly sat and drank her tea while glancing towards Shin at least once a minute.

Peutoa’s hands had been trembling since she returned to the castle, she has been worried the entire time. It didn’t get better when she saw the court physician Irea Miak leave while shaking her head.

Laura closed her eyes while enjoying her tea, she was thinking about all the things she would like to do with Shin when he wakes up with a faint smile. After she thought of something, her soft smile vanished. Instead, her expression showcased sorrow, Shin wouldn’t be able to see anything in the future…

The atmosphere around the three was tense. But, time passed by slowly, minutes flew as hours passed.

After seven and half hour, Aria finally woke up. She stretched out her body with a yawn as she glanced once more at Shin. Her face twitched while a frown appeared, Aria shook her head while glancing at the three on the couches.

Aria stepped off the bed, looking at Laura and Peutoa before speaking in a low voice.

“Tell the chefs to prepare something light and bring it here.”

Laura stood up, nodded and walked out the room silently.

“I will be back soon; I will take a bath. Tell me if he wakes up.”

Aria left those words and left the room too.

Kali nodded and drank another cup of tea.

In the Kingdom of Leran

“Your Majesty!”

An elderly servant opened the door to the Majesty’s bedroom and yelled out.

“Who’s there? How dare you wake me up?!”

A young male voice filled with annoyance roared from the bed. The person stood up rather quickly. He seemed to be in his early twenties with short red hair, his skin was slightly brown and his figure’s muscular and broad.

“Tell me, why did you wake me up this early?”

The man asked once again, this time his voice was calm.

“Your Majesty, there have been rumours from the Kingdom of Alizad.”

The elderly servant spoke out once again with an urgency.

“Oh… What rumour is it this time?”

The male asked again with a hint of playfulness.

“Is the Freezing Highness going to war again? Has she been defeated? Has she gone crazy? Haha, that woman is rather lively.”

The elderly servant shook his head several times to deny all of His Majesty’s thoughts.

“The Freezing Highness’s son has finally returned, and the Purple Witch Kali has visited the Freezing Highness at the banquet for her son.”

“And the Purple Witch Kali haven’t left yet!”

The elderly servant babbled, trying to inform His Majesty.

Finally, the man reacted, his eyes widened.

“She managed to find her son?”

“And the Purple Witch Kali… What is she doing there? What’s important enough for her to stay there for a longer period? What can it be?”

The elderly man sweated as he didn’t want to say the next sentences.

“There’s been tales on the streets. The Purple Witch Kali loves the Freezing Highness’s son and is going to stay with him from now on.”

“Hahaha, that has to be the funniest joke I have heard!”

The man laughed while glaring at the elderly man despiteful.

“How can the Purple Witch Kali; who’s never looking at those weaker than her, love a child not fifteen yet!?”

The Majesty of the Kingdom of Leran laughed as he brushed the topic off as a joke.

At the outskirts of the Leran Kingdom.

“Hump…”

“Where was it?”

An old man floated thousands of meters above the ground as he glanced around.

The old man’s voice which was soft made all the beasts tens of kilometre run in fear.

“The wielder should not be above twelve years old; the child shouldn’t know how to control it. Then, why can’t I sense his Divine powers?”

The old man asked himself in confusion before his eyes widened then narrowed and spoke slowly.

“The child has either managed to control it with the help of an external power, or the child should be dead in the hands of those hunters by now.”

The old man shook his head softly.

“No, the child should have controlled his Divine powers. I will be the first one there, that child will be mine!”

The old man spoke to comfort himself before glancing around and disappeared.

The Kingdom of Alizad

“Mother, what was that power?”

Eline asked Susan, a powerful aura was felt throughout the whole kingdom the day earlier. No one in the la Ville slept during the day and night, preparing for battle.

Susan stood in front of Eline and rubbed her head.

“That aura came from the Empress. There should be something going on; I don’t think it was a battle between the Empress and the Purple Witch Kali. Because, if it were that, the battle would have lasted a lot longer.”

“No mother, not that power. There was another kind of ominous aura, I felt it, and my whole body shivered because of it. It was just for a couple of seconds, but it felt like I had already lost my life and I was waiting for the Death God to collect my soul.”

Eline shook her head and tried to explain. Her face was pale, but still calmly described how she felt.

Susan narrowed her eyes slightly.

“I didn’t sense that. If it was something like that, the Empress should have fought with it or something.”

Susan shook her head as she glanced towards the castle.

“Mother, do you think Shin is alright?”

Eline asked worriedly once again.

“Silly child, do you think the Empress would let anyone hurt him?”

Susan tried to ease Eline as she had already asked this question a couple of times earlier.

Eline glared towards the castle, she raised her hand towards her chest, feeling her heart beating faster.

Why is it beating this fast? Why does it feel like that you’re hurt? Please be alright, Shin.

“Kali, any changes?”

Aria walked back inside while wearing a red robe, her hair was still wet, and water drops could be seen running down her hair and face.

Kali glanced at Aria and shook her head before she closed her eyes once more.

A soft sound of footsteps could be heard outside the room; Laura walked back in with four plates on each hand.

She carefully placed it on the table, trying not to make any noise.

Aria dried her hair swiftly before she sat on the couch and looked at the dishes absent-mindedly.

She picked up the fork and ate the salad in a daze.

I bet Shin would have loved this.

Kali, Peutoa and Laura silently ate too; no one spoke a single word.

“Empress, a few of the Guardian Families wants to visit and talk about the sudden outburst of the aura they felt. They also want you to clarify why the Purple Witch Kali is still here.”

Laura softly spoke after they finished eating.

Aria shook her head in annoyance.

“Tell them to come back another time.”

Laura nodded and glanced at Peutoa.

Peutoa nodded and stood up, bowed respectfully towards the three and left the room.

The sun gradually went down from the horizon, leaving the sky dark.

“Kali, aren’t you going to rest?”

Aria softly asked as she was preparing to sleep again.

“I don’t need sleep, and I can rest in different ways.”

Kali shook her head with her eyes closed. Her breathing was calm and steady.

Aria nodded without asking anymore, and she walked leisurely towards the bed.

She softly laid on it, her hand reached out towards Shin’s face, touching it with her fingers. A tear ran down Aria’s face as her eyes closed.

“Old man, can I wake up soon?”

Shin asked again. He has probably asked this question at least a couple of hundred times.

“I had no idea us guardians could have a headache…”

Ker’Vrak mumbled softly to himself.

“Master, I have already told the other guardians to hurry up. Just wait a couple of hours. It’s already night-time now, let’s hope that you will wake up in the morning.”

“Oh, that’s great, Old man.”

Shin excitedly said.

“Old man, do you know when I can meet with the others?”

Ker’Vrak thought for a couple of seconds before replying.

“I don’t know. They are all able to help you in dire need, but it’s hard for them to show themselves yet.”

Shin pouted as he wasn’t in the mood for talking any longer.

“Master, you don’t have to be like that. They told me that they couldn't wait to meet you again, at least Kira, Mekina and Murutha was eagerly hoping that they would meet you soonest possible.”

Ker’Vrak hoped that Shin’s mood would be better if they talked about the others.

“Really? Did Kira, Mekina and Muru said that?”

Shin asked wishfully with an eager smile on his face.

The hours passed by quickly as they spoke.

“Master, they are now done. Do you wish to return now?”

Ker’Vrak suddenly asked.

“Yes, I do.”

Shin nodded.

“Uhm, thank you, Old man.”

Shin’s face turned red while he glanced around.

“Haha, you don’t have to thank me, master. I will always protect you.”

Ker’Vrak laughed warmly as he saw Shin’s shy look.

Kali sat on the couch, keeping her eyes closed the entire night. She could feel the sunshine hitting her face through the window.

Kali suddenly heard something beat faster, her eyes opened and glared towards where she listened to the beating sound. She rose from the couch and tiptoed towards the bed.

“Aria!”

Kali shouted in a low voice with an eager expression on her face.

Aria eyes opened without any delay, and she could plainly see Kali’s eager appearance while glaring at Shin. She hurriedly stared at Shin too; she could hear Shin’s heart changing its beating rhythm, and could see his fingers twitching.

“Shin, Shin.”

Aria mumbled in a low voice with an excited expression. Her lips were curving upwards, and her eyes showed a glint of light, quickly revealing how happy she currently was.

Shin’s eyelids started to shiver as a moan escaped his mouth.

“Hum…”

Shin slowly raised his upper body, his eyelids opened, but all he could see was darkness.

“Shin…”

Aria weakly spoke when she saw Shin’s empty and unfocused pupils.

“Mother?”

A bright smile appeared on Shin’s face when he could hear Aria’s voice near him.

Shin threw his body towards where he heard Aria’s voice with his arms opened widely.

“Mother!”

Aria held Shin in her embrace tightly, slightly shocked that Shin would jump into her embrace.

She who had blamed herself for what happened didn’t know how to apologise to Shin. But, the first thing Shin did when he woke up was to smile brightly and hug her. Aria felt like that a huge boulder in her heart had been lifted as tears kept running down her face.

“Hihi seems like you’re finally awake, Shin.”

Kali laughed with a smile on her face. She had already prepared herself that Shin’s eyes would be empty like it was now for the past day. It did pain her heart when she saw it personally, but she could only smile when she saw that Shin didn’t blame them.

Shin tilted his head towards where he heard Kali’s voice.

“Kali, is that you, right?”

Shin asked in a testing tone.

Kali rolled her eyes as she stared at Shin as her smile turned mischievously.

“Who else could it be? Don’t you want me to be here?”

Shin shook his head swiftly and said happily.

“No, no. I’m really happy that you’re here!”

Shin left Aria’s embrace unwillingly and testingly used his arms to feel what’s in front of himself while he crawled towards Kali slowly.

Aria clenched her fist when she saw how Shin crawled slowly towards Kali.

Kali’s emotion felt sour when she saw what Shin was doing, even when he had lost his eyes, he crawled with a smile on his face.

Kali hurriedly walked in front of the bed near him, she reached out her left hand and guided him towards her.

Shin grabbed Kali’s soft hand and pounced on Kali.

“Haha, I got you!”

Shin cheerfully laughed as he hugged Kali’s soft body.

Kali caressed Shin’s back with her left hand while she closed her eyes. She was prepared to be cursed at, ignored, beaten and anything else, the only thing she wasn’t prepared for was that Shin wouldn’t blame them and happily embrace them.

“Shin, sit properly on the bed. There are a few things I want to ask you, and Aria might have a few questions too.”

Kali told Shin, her tone was a little more serious.

Shin nodded and used his arms to feel what was around him, and he crawled slowly towards where his pillow was. He used the pad to support his back as he leaned himself on the headboard, Shin lifted his face towards where he thought Kali was, then glanced at where he thought Aria was.

Kali smiled weakly when she saw that Shin wanted to glance at herself and Aria but looked in the wrong direction.

“Shin…”

“How did you lose your eyesight?”

Kali asked softly while she kept her eyes stared at Shin.

At that moment, Laura walked into the room with Peutoa behind her.

“Young master!?”

Laura shouted while she swiftly stepped forward towards Shin.

Peutoa eyes widened, and she quickly glanced towards the bed, where she could see that Shin was leaning on the headframe while his face pointed towards them. A smile appeared on her face but drooped quickly when she saw his empty eyes.

“Laura, Shin is going to tell us how he lost his eyesight. Don’t act like that now, do it later.”

Aria narrowed her eyes when she glanced at Laura and Peutoa and spoke coldly.

Laura nodded hurriedly and stood in front of the bed, staring at Shin.

Peutoa stood half a step behind Laura and did the same. She wanted to know everything.

“Uhm, hello Laura.”

Shin awkwardly scratched his face.

“Let’s see, my eyes…”

“I told the Old man to take my eyes.”

Shin spoke softly while his eyes were opened widely.

Aria narrowed her eyes while a frown appeared on her face.

“Old man? Shin, who’s that?”

Aria barely managed to keep her voice calm, if Shin weren't here, her voice would have been cold enough to let the most extreme cultivators feel frightened.

Kali clenched her fist while her eyes narrowed.

Shin knew that they should be alarmed in some way. Therefore, Shin didn’t want to lie.

“He says that he’s my guardian.”

“Guardian? What guardian would harm the one they protect?!”

Laura asked in dismay as she stared at Shin.

Peutoa glanced at Laura and nodded.

“It shouldn’t have been that easy. Shin, would you mind me telling how you got that guardian?”

Kali shook her head as she thought of a few possibilities.

“I don’t know. I just know when I’m close to death or if I’m losing my sanity, Old man would take over my body and help me.”

Shin glanced downwards while thinking.

“Old man said that he would only protect my body as long it can and not take control of my body unless it’s needed.”

“Wait, you’re saying that this ‘Old man’ has been making sure that you haven’t died or gone crazy yet?”

Aria asked while her frown vanished slightly.

Shin nodded slowly this time.

“Yes, he said that he couldn't do much because my body is weak. Therefore, he would usually refrain from taking over my body to help me.”

“Shin, are you sure that this ‘Old man’ is friendly and not doing this to take possession of your body? Or, he hurts you for fun? He did take your eyesight from you.”

Kali asked nervously.

Shin didn’t speak for a couple of seconds, tried to glance around the room.

“When the Old man takes over my body, a sacrifice needs to be paid. It depends on the severity of my body condition. Old man hates people who hurts my feelings or harms me, that’s why when he took over, the sacrifice was for the four who was there to die.”

Shin shook his head while his voice was turning depressed.

“But, when Old man told me that there was four and said who the people were, I was happy. I was happy that none of you left me. That’s why I couldn’t let Old man kill any of you. That’s why I asked him to take any part of my body he needs.”

Shin’s fingers anxiously intertwined as he nervously spoke.

“Oh, Shin…”

Aria used her hand to caress Shin’s cheeks as she stared intensely into his eyes.

“I would and never will leave you.”

“Aria is right on that one, Shin. Neither will I leave you, I know it had been tough for you, but you have to understand that we do care about you.”

Kali spoke tenderly while a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Yes, they are right, young master.”

Laura hurriedly spoke while nodding her head.