In the middle of the night, several figures could be spotted in a room.

They all sat around a table, only one chair was empty, the ones sitting just patiently waited.

As they were waiting, the door opened and another person entered.

“Is he finally asleep?”

Kali – in her purple dress asked lightly towards the silver-haired Aria.

Aria glanced at Kali for a moment before nodding. She stepped lightly and sat on the empty chair.

She gazed at each and every one of the ones sitting around the table.

“Peutoa, what you told us earlier, is it true?”

Aria furrowed her eyebrows as she asked Peutoa.

Peutoa didn’t respond for a while, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“After the things, I saw in that space, the gap between the sculptures and the silver aura which broke out that day.”

“My conclusion is that what they said was true and would not tell me this just to throw us in another direction.”

“What about that guy?”

Aria asked once more, but this time with a conflicted tone.

This time Laura responded.

“After the battle between Muir and Shin, we brought him back here. He woke up yesterday and vanished, we tried looking for him, but there were no clues.”

“Humph!”

Aria's gaze turned cold as she spoke.

“Hath Kagatsu, let’s meet once more another time.”

Kali rubbed her temples.

“This is troubling.”

She glanced at Peutoa, Aria and the only male in the room, Leo.

“According to what we have already guessed, they should be the Rulers back then.”

“But, what's their goal?”

Kali's purple eyes looked exhausted as it was hazy.

“But one thing we can be sure about is that Shin is still not safe as long as Muir is still alive.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the room went silent because of it.

“I’m sorry to say, I will not be able to support much in that regard.”

Leo said casually.

“Explain.”

“Yourself!”

Aria’s voice turned ice-cold as she stared at Leo.

Leo didn’t mind and only shrugged.

“My goal is Muir, this time I have failed.”

“I also have my own Kingdom, I can’t leave it for your kid.”

“Humph!”

“Leave and never come back!”

Aria's every word was spoken with an ice-cold tone which could send shivers to most people.

Leo didn’t say anything, he glanced once again at Aria before slowly nodding.

He stood up from his chair and walked towards the door.

As he was leaving, he left behind a few words.

“Let’s meet again on the battlefield.”

The only one who hasn't spoken a single word yet, snickered as she glanced at Leo's back.

She had horns on her head and her snicker sent shivers to the fleeing Leo.

“If you ever are in his path, I will make sure that you won’t be able to see another sunrise.”

Azane’s calm words were filled with bloodlust.

She then quickly glanced at the other ladies around the table.

“What are we going to do now? I suggest hunting down that bitch.”

Kali and Aria shook their head at once, while Peutoa had a shine in her eyes.

“We can’t compromise Shin’s safety.”

Aria denied Azane's suggestion without thinking twice.

She shook her head, continuing to speak, but this time with a calmer tone.

“How’s the overall situation in the capital right now?”

Laura straightened her back and raised her eyebrows slightly.

“During the commotion, 15 413 commoners, 374 merchants and 17 nobles died.”

“A portion of the city is already in ruins, we have already secured most of the city and all that’s left is to rebuild the ruined areas.”

“What are the response of the people?”

Aria asked as she glanced at Laura.

“They are mourning for their lost relatives.”

“Also…”

Laura hesitated as she glanced worriedly at Aria.

“What?”

Aria’s voice turned slightly cold as she had a bad premonition.

“There’s a rumour that’s saying that the cause of the fight in the capital is because of Shin.”

Kali narrowed her eyes and she curved her lips upwards as she glanced outside when she heard Laura say that.

Humph.

Let’s see how Aria will deal with all of you.

But before Aria could speak, a shout could be heard and a weak aura could be sensed.

In another room

Shin was sitting up straight, he had sweat running down his whole body.

He was clenching his teeth and fists.

Shin’s dark eyes were hazy but filled with bloodthirst and he was mumbling to himself.

“Kill, kill, I want to murder her!”

“I want to break her bones, I want to slowly crush one bone after another!”

“I want to see her blood flow everywhere, I want to hear her screams!”

Shin’s mumbling became louder and louder until he was screaming it out.

“Uwaah!”

“Die!!!”

A weak aura gushed out of Shin’s body, but it was clearly a dark and vicious aura.

Shin couldn’t control himself after he slept, he could only sense a darkness erupting from within his body.

Shin could only feel a coldness and darkness around him, he only wanted to vent everything on the person he thought was the cause of everything.

He wanted her to die in the cruellest way possible.

Die!

I want her to die!

Shin’s surrounding was completely dark and his emotions couldn’t be controlled.

While being surrounded by the darkness, Shin felt a warmth covering him.

The warmth was gentle and a soothing voice could be heard, but Shin wasn’t able to clearly hear the words.

“Don’t worry Shin, mother is here.”

Aria held Shin in her embrace as she gently spoke in Shin’s ears.

Behind Aria, stood Kali, Peutoa, Laura and Azane gazing worriedly at Shin.

Outside the capital

A youth in his late teens held an elderly woman as they slowly walked towards the walls.

The youth was wearing a jet-black robe, his eyes were coldly gazing at the things around them. He would only send a warm gaze towards the elderly woman which he was holding.

“Mother, we are almost here.”

He spoke in a gentle tone.

The elderly woman had her eyes closed and only walked with the support of the youth.

“Son, thank you, but I could have come here by myself. You should have remained back in the town.”

The elderly woman said with a weak voice.

The youth narrowed his eyes as he coldly gazed at the city walls in front of him.

“Mother, since the day you gave me the name – Anaj, I would always stay by your side and protect you.”

Even with his cold gaze, he spoke with a calm and gentle tone.

“Let’s see what they got.”

Anaj spoke unhurriedly.

“I bet that the Empress would not throw you away. Not with your status and my battle prowess.”

“My dear Anaj, you don’t have to risk your life for me. I only want you to be happy and live a carefree life.”

The elderly woman shook her head as she spoke.

“I don’t want you to end up like your father.”

Inside the palace

Shin’s dim eyes slowly turned clear, he felt like he was being hugged and could only glance over the shoulder.

He saw the worried gazed of Kali, Peutoa, Laura and Azane.

Shin also heard a soothing voice in his ears, Shin felt like every pain in his body vanished by just listening to that voice.

A weak and hoarse voice came out of Shin’s mouth, but it also sounded excited.

“Mother.”

“Hum hum.”

Aria nodded while keeping her sobs back.

She caressed Shin’s cheeks as she asked in a gentle tone.

“Did you have a nightmare again?”

“Uhm.”

Shin hesitated for a second before answering.

“Yes.”

After half a minute with silence, Shin raised his head from Aria's embrace and asked in a hoarse voice.

“Why can’t I still remember everything?”

“Shin, don’t rush things.”

Kali spoke out calmly as she stared at Shin.

“You will eventually remember things over time, it’s just been a day after you woke up.”

Shin nodded absentmindedly.

“Shin, we will go out tonight. There’s something I want you to watch.”

Aria told Shin with a confused expression on her face as she turned around and glanced at Kali.

Kali nodded slightly and said.

“Shin, you should at least know that your life is in danger because of a certain person.”

Shin groaned and frowned when he heard Kali say that.

“That’s why we want you to see something and choose how things will go on from tomorrow on.”

Aria said while caressing Shin’s cheeks.

“I don’t understand, but I will do my best.”

Shin nodded with a smile on his face.

In the capital

Anaj and his mother walked past several streets, they slowly walked towards the humongous palace in the middle of the city.

“Do you need a little time to rest?”

He asked worriedly as he glanced at his mother.

She shook her head and said.

“We should be there soon, don’t worry about my body.”

“Sigh...”

Anaj sighed lightly and continued to walk while supporting his mother.

The longer they walked, the fewer people they met and more guards.

As they were getting closer to the palace, the guards stared at them.

A couple of guards in silver armour walked towards Anaj and his mother and said.

“This is a forbidden area, here lives the Empress.”

“If you don’t have a summon-order, you must turn around and leave.”

They calmly stated it and didn’t put their eyes off Anaj and the elderly woman.

Anaj glanced at the guards before quickly speaking.

“Hello.”

“I’m here for several reasons today, could you tell the Empress that Anaj Bumak and Ulrike Bumak wants to meet her?”

Anaj Bumak had a faint smile when he finished speaking.

Anaj had black hair reaching down to his ears and his eyes were shining red like fire.

Bumak...

Where have I heard this name before?

One of the guards had a frown on her face as she was thinking. She turned around to the other guards and spoke like a commander.

“Tell the Empress about these people, I will stay here and guard this place.”

One guard left at once, the other ones stepped back to their position with only one guard in front of Anaj and Ulrike.

Inside the palace

After being disrupted by a guard, Aria stepped into the throne room and listened to their description of the two people who wanted to meet her.

She frowned and thought.

How can they appear at this time?

This can’t be a coincidence, at least not with what we thought of.

“Let them in.”

She ordered and the guard left at once.

She turned around towards a maid and ordered.

“Tell Shin to dress up and come here.”

She paused for a second before continuing.

“If anyone else wants to follow him, do not stop them.”

The maid nodded strongly before turning around and walked.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, her name is Amanda, she had been working as a maid in the palace for three years.

Amanda has blue hair which flows down to her chest, she also has clear blue eyes.

She clearly knew where she was going to, the Empress’s room has been off limit ever since the unofficial Crown Prince appeared.

Amanda has head lots of rumours about him. His name – Shin, if Amanda was to say something about Shin based on the rumours she has heard, it would be; Angelic!

Every single one of the maids and the guards which have seen him was flabbergasted by the pure innocence of Shin.

They were saying about how frail his body looked like.

But, lately, Amanda could hear a scream in the night. It was a scream of terror and pain.

When she heard that scream, her whole body was shivering.

Not long after, Amanda came in view to the door of the bedroom. She knocked lightly on the door, before hearing someone.

“Come in.”

Amanda opened the door carefully and entered, she was put off when she saw the ones in the room looking at her.

From the curious Shin, indifferent Azane and Peutoa, and the irritated gaze of Kali.

“What is it?”

Kali asked before turning her head towards Shin once again, ignoring Amanda's presence.

Amanda bowed slightly as she said.

“Young Master, the Empress want you to change clothes and enter the throne room.”

“Mother did?”

Shin tilted his head as he asked Amanda.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Amanda bowed deeply as she glanced at Shin.

Why don’t the Empress want us to call him Crown Prince or Your Highness, but instead Young Master?

“I understand.”

Shin nodded and glanced at Peutoa.

“Can you get me a change of clothes?”

Before Peutoa could answer, Kali smiled brightly and almost yelled out.

“No worries!”

“I got some of your clothes here, let me change them for you!!!”

Kali stared at Shin like he was a little lamb.

Shin didn’t know why, but he gulped and felt afraid of the current Kali. Her eyes seemed like she wanted to eat him alive.

“Uhm...”

Shin looked down with red cheeks.

“I can do it myself.”

“No, no, no!”

Kali denied Shin without a second thought, she lifted his body from the bed to his feet.

She had a smirk on her face as she glared at Shin’s body.

Kali licked her lips, she extended her left hand and a silver robe appeared.

“Hihi...”

Laura rolled her eyes, while Azane only stared at Shin, but not with the same expression as Kali.

She only wanted to protect Shin.

Peutoa didn’t know what to think, she clearly knew that she was Shin’s Guardian, bound with her soul. But, since she saw Shin on the day he tried to run away, she felt like her heart warming up.

She could only watch Shin right now with slight confusion and an excited gaze.

Amanda was surprised by how the Purple Witch Kali could be this familiar with Shin.

Hasn’t she only been here for under two weeks?

Kali quickly undressed Shin to his shorts, her eyes were glaring at Shin and her mouth was becoming dry.

“Shin, can I bite you?”

Kali asked as she licked her dry lips?

Peutoa, Laura and Azane rolled their eyes at the same time as they wanted to smack the back of Kali’s head.

Before Kali actually bend forward to bite the frightened little lamb – Shin, a yelp could be heard in the room.

Amanda pointed at Shin with her eyes widened.

“What’s with his body?!”

Amanda saw Shin’s body filled with scars.

Shin trembled when he heard Amanda's yell.

He looked down at his body, feeling sad on how Amanda yelled it out.

The surrounding air turned frosty as Kali slowly turned around towards Amanda.

Kali’s face was ice-cold, showing an expression of suppressed anger. Her purple eyes turned golden and she slowly raised her right hand towards Amanda.

“How dare you!?”

Amanda could only stare at Kali in fright. Her whole body was frozen like ice and she couldn’t move a single muscle.

Am I going to die like this?

She couldn’t even close her eyes. She saw Kali raising her hand and none of the other girls in the room moved.

What!?

Amanda was shocked beyond anything before Kali did anything, she could see Shin holding Kali tightly while screaming.

“Don’t attack her!”

Kali quickly stopped and stared at Shin.

She could clearly feel how much Shin wanted her to stop. She felt the weak Shin trying his best to hold her.

Kali’s golden eyes turned purple, sending a glance towards Amanda before softly holding Shin in her embrace once more.

“Shin, I won’t attack, alright?”

She spoke in a gentle voice.

Shin could only faintly nod and tried to push himself away from Kali's tight embrace.

“Your name?”

Peutoa asked with no expression showing on her face.

“A, Amanda.”

Amanda could only whisper her name, her body was still shaking.

“It would be for the best if you never do something like that again.”

“And, tell Aria about your mistake.”

Peutoa spoke casually and as usual with no hint of any expression in her tone.

“The Empress?”

Amanda stared at Peutoa in shock.

“Why are you calling her name and not her title?”

Amanda glanced around the room, hoping that they wouldn’t tell the Empress about her or Peutoa who spoke out her name.

Peutoa shook her head and casually said.

“I am not a maid of Aria any longer.”

She glanced at Shin, who was still in Kali's embrace.

“I am his Guardian, accordingly to that, I do not serve anyone than him.”

Amanda didn’t know what to say. She could only quietly watch Shin trying to break free from Kali’s hug, while Kali was also trying to dress him up.

After a couple of minutes, Shin dropped down on the bed, exhausted.

“I’m tired...”

Shin was now in the silver robe which was outlining his body.

“Hihi, I’m full now, let’s go and meet Aria now.”

Kali laughed and dragged Shin with her.

Behind them, Peutoa, Laura, Azane and Amanda followed.

Amanda didn’t dare to speak any longer, only quietly staying behind them.

When they entered the throne room, they could see Aria sitting on her throne and two people standing in front of her.

A youth in a dark robe and an elderly woman.

When the three heard the doors opening, they glanced at those who entered.

“Shin, come and sit here.”

Aria watched Shin with warm eyes and she pointed at his throne.

Shin could only nod while glancing at the youth and the elderly woman.

He passed them both and sat down on his throne.

To his right, stood Kali.

To his left, stood Azane.

Behind him, stood Peutoa.

Laura walked behind Aria's throne.

The youth narrowed his eyes when he saw the three protecting Shin, he could sense that all three of them were strong.

The elderly woman by his side opened her eyes and stared at Shin with her hazy eyes.

“Anaj Bumak and Ulrike Bumak, now that my son is here, tell us what you want.”

Aria said and raised her eyebrows slightly.

“Even if I have an idea of what it is, the others don’t.”

Anaj furrowed his eyebrows and Ulrike nodded.

She grabbed Anaj's robe and softly pulled it.

Anaj snorted while standing straight.

He glanced at Shin then staring at Aria.

“I’m here to ask for a favour, after listening to my mother, we came here.”

Aria nodded softly before asking.

“What’s the favour you need?”

“Heal her life-force!”

Anaj said it in a low and dark voice.

“Hehe.”

Aria laughed for a second before raising her hand and shaking two fingers.

“Let me tell you two things.”

“One; is that how you are supposed to ask for people from favours?”

“Two; besides, who the hell do you think you are, coming in here acting highly!?”

Aria's voice turned slightly cold.

This time Ulrike raised her weak arm up, speaking weakly.

“Aria Von Meria, I am here for two things.”

Ulrike ignored Aria before speaking again.

“It’s true that I am looking for to rebuild my life-force, but there's something more important.”

A white ring on her raised hand shined for a second before a paper appeared.

“This is for you.”

Ulrike stared at Shin when she said that.

“This piece of paper is a map, you would want to go there.”

Aria clenched her fist and rammed it to the armrest.

“You want to send my son off to somewhere?!”

“You got guts!”

“Hehe, besides, why do you think I can heal your life-force? I don’t have anything to help you with that.”

Anaj widened his eyes as he stared at the map in Ulrike's hand.

“You don’t.”

Ulrike shook her head slowly.

“But he does.”

“Humph!”

“What do you know?”

Kali stared at Ulrike with a small frown on her face.

“Even if you don’t want him to go, his Guardians will tell him in the end, to do so.”

“It will just be safer to do it earlier.”

Ulrike ignored everyone and just spoke what she wanted to say.

Anaj stared at Shin in surprise, wanting to know why his mother would go this far to only tell him to go somewhere.

Shin didn’t speak but slowly closing his eyes.

After a whole minute of silence, a grey aura erupted from within Shin.

A broken sound came out from his mouth.

“I. Did. Not. Know. That. You. Will. Arrive. In. Front. Of us...”

“Why. Do. You. Want. Him. To. Go. There. Earlier...?”

Ker'Vrak using Shin’s body, asked Ulrike as he was watching Ulrike and Anaj.

“Time is limited and fate has changed because of the death of someone.”

Ulrike spoke slowly as she stared at Ker'Vrak.

Ker'Vrak narrowed his eyes as he said.

“Alright. We. Will. Do. So...”

“For. Your. Broken. Life-force... That. Kid. Has. To. Follow. Him...”

As he was speaking, Ker'Vrak glanced at Anaj.

Ulrike shook her head, coughing weakly.

“No, I will not give you my son.”

“Kid. What. Do. You. Choose...? Your. Mother’s. Life...? Or. Your life...?”

Ker'Vrak asked while staring at Anaj.

Anaj didn’t hesitate even for a second. He didn’t know who that child was, or anything about the grey aura which burst out of him, nor why his mother would talk to him. But he knew that Shin was special and could save her mother.

“Cure my mother, I will follow anyone you want.”

Ulrike sighed as she glanced at Ker'Vrak.

Not long after, the grey aura vanished, replacing it, was a flame.

The flame gushed out like a volcano and enveloped Shin and Ulrike.

“Humph.”

Aria coldly gazed at the auras switching from within of Shin and then at Ulrike.

Just wait one day...

Don’t think you’re the only ones who are scheming things!