"Woah, that shit looks scary," Pier whispered as they started to enter the vicinity of the mountain ranges.

It did not help that on their third day of traveling by carriage and arriving at the Mir Mountains, the clouds decided to it was now the best time to cry and pour their hearts out.

The surroundings gave an eerie feeling and Pier felt himself shiver at how quiet the mountain was. Even the sounds of crickets could not be heard.

"Hey, Ciaran, are you sure we're going to be safe in here?" He whispered to the man through the window. Ciaran did not respond but instead just kept his eyes on the road like he usually did when acting as a coachman.

Pier looked around. It was dark and he felt like any moment from now, a huge monster would pop up. Pier readied himself.

He was very nervous and anxious about what he would see as they go in deeper inside the mountain range.

It was still the first mountain and he thought he would get eaten alive.

Only the frequent rattling and shaking of the carriage could be heard between them.

"Wear the cloak I gave you and cover your face. Do not show yourself whatever the cost is," Ciaran spoke after a few minutes of silence between him and Pier.

The young master's anxiousness grew even more at the seriousness Ciaran had in his voice.

"Okay," He spoke silently as he proceeded to cover his face with the oversized black cloak.

Rattle

The carriage rattled again as it hit a rock beneath.

He started to concentrate more so that at any moment when a possible danger comes up, he would be able to defend himself.

He looked at Ciaran.

"Hey, Ciaran, psst!" He called and the coachman nodded his head in recognition towards Pier's calls.

"I don't think I can protect you if a monster suddenly shows up considering I am still learning magic!" He whispered and Ciaran chuckled before nodding his head again.

"I understand. I am able to protect myself, Frosty" Pier looked around again after assuring he only needed to protect himself.

"I heard that this is a monster-infested place, why aren't there any monsters showing up?" He asked after a couple more minutes of riding inside the carriage.

"It's my magic." Pier abruptly turned his head to look at the cloaked man.

"Your magic?"

"Yeah."

"What's your magic?"

"..."

"Just... fending some monsters off," Ciaran explained and Pier raised suspicion in the answer.

'Ah, what do I expect from a suspicious man himself'

He thought. Why would Ciaran reveal all of his cards at the table when he's at an advantage in the situation.

"So does that mean we won't get to face any monsters until we approach your destination?" Pier asked and Ciaran shook his head in response.

"My magic can only be applied to fend off monsters on the first mountain. The creatures on the succeeding mountains are another story though," He spoke and Pier tilted his head to the side.

He breathed a sigh of relief at the explanation but another worry came up in his mind.

"Why's that?" He asked as he adjusted the hood of the cloak to cover his face better as Ciaran had instructed.

"Monsters on the succeeding mountains are not affected with my magic," He explained and Pier nodded his head.

'Maybe they're stronger?' He thought.

'I better prepare myself.'

Even though they're trailing through a mountain, the first mountain was a small one and without any hindrances due to Ciaran's unknown magic, they can easily cross it within a day.

"Don't worry though, our destination will be at the entrance of the second mountain so you do not have to worry about any monsters for now" Ciaran explained and Pier nodded his head.

'For now, you say.' He had an ominous feeling that what they needed his ice magic for was something very serious and might risk his life in danger.

'I thought I would be like Ash Ketchum where I get to pick starter pokemon and maybe battle gym leaders.' Pier thought as he rested his head back at the wooden carriage's walls.

'But the first thing I'm doing after getting out of the palace is helping a bunch of strangers in probably one of the most dangerous places near the Kingdom.' He dreaded over the fact again that he was alone.

And if Pier was to die, no one would even know it from the kingdom. Just a bunch of possible murderers will be the ones who'd witness his death.

'I hope they bury me properly.' He secretly crossed his fingers under the oversized cloak and hoped for better days.

---

"His Highness the Crown Prince and the King has arrived!" Servants lined up at the entrance gates of the Belmiunde Household's Mansion in the Central Area.

Ronnovian also stood at the entrance with his black suit waving lightly at the wind. His dark auburn hair was combed back and his young-looking face did not show any kind of emotion.

Gideon stood beside Ronnovian as he gulped nervously.

He was thinking about many things now. What could the king and the prince possibly want for personally visiting the House of Masters?

'His Majesty could have requested the presence of the Headmaster in the palace, though it would take probably weeks.' He analyzed the situation.

'This is a serious matter...' He concluded. The King wouldn't have notified his arrival at the Household a night before his visit if it weren't for any extremely important matters.

'Is this perhaps about my master?' he thought as he watched the carriage get bigger and bigger in sight.

He had not seen the young master for a week now and his suspicion of the young master getting abducted was high.

Gideon was simply hoping that it was not the case.

The Royal Carriage that contained the Prince and the King finally stopped in front of the entrance. The horses neighed as they stopped and the Royal Knights who accompanied the two royals lined up in front of the carriage.

The coachman opened the door and soon, two men with reddish hair got off the carriage.

There stood King Henry and Prince Asher, the two individuals who had the most influence in the entire kingdom.

However, Ronnovian was not even fazed at the two royals.

Gideon was amazed at how the Headmaster did not even care.

On the other hand, Asher's heart was beating so hard. He clenched his fist and strengthened his resolve as he saw the Headmaster stand outside the gates of the Belmiunde Household.

It would be utter disrespect for a prince to ask for forgiveness with another person that is not of royal status but it was the Headmaster they were talking about.

He needed to inform Ronnovian about the situation.

"I greet the Sun of the Kingdom, His Majesty the King and I also greet the Future Sun of the Kingdom, His Highness the Crown Prince," Ronnovian spoke in courtesy and immediately all servants behind them bowed in respect to the king and the prince.

"I greet the Headmaster of the House of Masters," the two said in unison and Ronnovian nodded his head.

"I believe that what we are about to discuss will be of high significance since his majesty and his highness personally came. Allow me to accompany you inside the mansion," Ronnovian said and the two nodded their heads.

Asher then looked at the person beside the Headmaster.

'Knight Woodlock'

He recognized the knight that swore upon his name and title to Pier and was now serving the young master.

The knight was lowering his eyes in front of him and his father but it was not the same for the other person that was beside the knight.

'A maid?' He asked himself as he proceeded to stare at the maid who had dark hair and brown eyes.

Martha proceeded to stare at the king and the prince. She had been worried about the young master whom she had not seen after the Crown Prince's celebration of his birth date.

She knew something was wrong which caused the young master's disappearance and she also had a hunch that it was the Crown Prince who had caused it.

She would frequently hear her young master's grumbling about his dislike for the prince every time she served him tea and even though it was an act of blasphemy towards the royal family, her loyalty was now only towards the person who had given her another chance in life along with her family.

She carefully observed the two as her suspicions were also rising.

"I believe these two are your knight's captain and head maid, Headmaster?" The king asked and Ronnovian looked at Martha and Gideon.

"Ah, that is incorrect, your majesty. They are my Pier's head maid and personal knight," Ronnovian spoke and the king raised his eyebrows.

"We greet His Majesty and His Highness," they both chimed.

Henry observed the two. The maid was standing firm even in the presence of royalties and the knight did not falter either. They both knew that they were in a position where they cannot back down against anyone especially now that the issue seems to be related to the person they were serving.

'Pier chose good people.' He had realized how Pier came to grow more mature than the last time he had seen him with how he chose those who are to be by his side.

The group of people started to head inside the mansion and Asher became more and more nervous.

Once they were all settled inside the spacious guest room of the mansion, Asher noticed that there were some parts of the guest room that had odd patches.

"Are you perhaps undergoing some renovations, Headmaster?" Asher asked and Ronnovian shook his head.

"Martha," He called to the head maid and Martha nodded her head.

"The magic patches are attached to strengthen the walls of the mansion, your highness. We have known about this matter when the young master's magic violently destroyed the room," She explained and both the King and the Crown Prince had bewildered looks on their faces.

"The young master's... magic?" King Henry hesitantly asked. Who in their right minds would destroy their own home anyway? King Henry was also thinking about how Pier's magic would have been so destructive to destroy their guest room.

"Yes, your highness." After the confirmation, Henry immediately turned to look at Ronnovian and he also nodded his head.

"I have not confirmed my son's capabilities as well. However, based on the reports of the damage, he had caused quite the ruckus in less than a minute." King Henry and Asher both let out gasps of amazement at the words the headmaster had said.

Especially Asher who had seen Pier's magic with his own two eyes. He knew Pier wielded magic but he did not know it was this powerful.

Gideon silently listened to the conversation they were having. He also knew how powerful his master was so there was no need for him to speak up.

"Now, let us get into the topic, your majesty," Ronnovian said as he picked up the teacup filled with the strong aroma of tea.

Henry nodded his head and turned to look at Asher.

"Headmaster, you might have already noticed but the young master's whereabouts is currently unknown" The King started. The head maid and the knight immediately tensed up at the mention of their young master.

"I am aware, your majesty. However, I lack the information as to why Pier had gone missing," Ronnovian answered as he casually sipped on the tea.

"Headmaster, I would like to tell you that the young master might have run away from the kingdom," The Crown Prince spoke and Gideon clenched his hands at the statement Asher had said.

"Why did you come up with that idea, your highness? My son does not have any reason to run away from the kingdom." Asher gulped once more as he was starting to feel anxious but he had to.

He needed to face this as this was his fault for why Pier had run away from the kingdom.

"Back after the young master had performed for my dance with the Marquis' daughter, I have gone to follow him at the royal garden," Asher explained.

"At the scenario, I have... said some unpleasant things that made the young master upset," Asher confessed and Ronnovian stopped sipping on the teacup in his hands.

"What did you say, your highness?" He asked and Asher's hands trembled.

He was only a young prince who had just reached adulthood. It was natural of him to feel scared especially now that he is facing the father of the person he had tried to forcefully confine in the kingdom for his own benefits.

"I... I asked the young master to be..." He said as he stuttered.

The three individuals from the Belmiunde Household did not say anything as they waited for the prince's explanation.

"I asked him to be my concubine, Headmaster." Asher bowed his head in shame as the words left his mouth.

Silence.

Silence reigned at the people inside the room.

"What..." Gideon's hands trembled and Martha covered her mouth in shock.

He could not believe what he had just heard. Someone had dared to ask his young master to become their concubine.

Without even thinking, Gideon's hands went directly into the sword in his side.

He had lost all thought of rationality at what the Crown Prince had just said. He unsheathed his sword and it made a clanging noise as it got out from its holder.

But before the sword could fully come out from the sheathe, Ronnovian's hands stopped Gideon from stepping forward in the Crown Prince's direction.

"Headmaster..." Gideon called out at the father of his master.

"Don't."

Ronnovian spoke and Gideon took a step back before bowing his head and returning the sword to its rightful place.

The King and the Crown Prince only stared with wide eyes at the knight who attempted to attack the Crown Prince.

It was a crime to do so but they could also not act against the knight's actions.

Gideon was Pier's personal knight whom the young master had trusted his life and hearing such things which made his master probably escape the kingdom, it was purely instinctive of him to destroy whoever made the young master displeased.

"Pardon me for my actions" Gideon spoke as he gained his senses back.

Ronnovian nodded his head at the knight's statement and he looked back at the Crown Prince.

Asher's body felt the fear creep up as the Headmaster's eyes focused on him.

"Is that so, your highness? I did personally ask Pier and he said he no longer desired to be with you," Ronnovian spoke and Asher nodded his head.

"T-That is correct, Headmaster," he spoke in a shaking voice.

"Rest assured that we are doing our best to look for the you-" The king tried to explain but Ronnovian interrupted him even without a second thought.

"I have been allowing my son to do whatever he wanted for the previous years, your highness," He started to speak.

"I watched him go after a useless thing such as affections and love because he wanted it. I watched my son become the laughingstock of the entire kingdom in hopes that he would learn and grow from it. I did not mind even when he was spending so much of our fortune just to impress you, your highness." The other four listened to the Headmaster's statement.

Martha was constantly nodding her head and Gideon was forcing himself to calm down as he was hearing all the things that had happened to his young master.

"And now that he announced his departure from going after you, you're asking him to be your concubine?" Ronnovian asked in a low voice. His expression was firm and his voice was stern.

Asher bowed his head in shame again at the Headmaster's statement.

"Ron, please-"

"Asher needs to learn, don't you think, Henry?" Ronnovian asked the King as he addressed him informally.

"What do you mean?" Henry also asked Ronnovian nervously.

"I know the knight of my son is enraged with what his highness had done that's why I have a proposal." The four listened quietly to the Headmaster. They were all anxious as to what Ronnovian had in his mind.

"I want a duel between the Crown Prince and Pier's knight," And as he spoke that, both Gideon and Asher's eyes widened.

"You have asked my son to become a concubine which is enough reason for us to depart from supporting you, Asher. But I do not want to do that. I will also handle the matters regarding my son. However, you need to have a duel with my son's knight," Ronnovian said as a small smile crept up in his lips.

"If you win against Pier's personal knight, I will continue supporting his highness position to the throne" He spoke as he placed the teacup back down on the table.

"However, if you lose, Asher, I will have to remove my support and place it on somebody else" The King and the Crown Prince's eyes widened at the proposition Ronnovian had made.

They could not utter a single word as they were left speechless.

It was as if everything was a game to him.

"I will personally involve myself in searching for my son. If he is still within the Eastern Continent then I can find him" He assured as he crossed his legs and he started tapping on the armrest of the couch.

"Consider this as your payment for disrespecting my household, your highness," He spoke and Asher nodded his head that was filled with hesitation and anxiety.

Gideon only stared at the exchange between the two. His hands found their way again into his sword and he gripped it tightly.