Within this darkened chamber, countless glow stones, ensnared within intricate glass cases, bathed the room in a mystic light. Their radiance revealed a grand table of dragonbone-white marble, anchored firmly to the ship's belly, stretching across the room as if a titan's banquet. The high-backed chairs, arrayed in stately order and upholstered with fabric as soft as moonlight, stood like sentinels of comfort.

Although everyone had left the dining room, one person remained.

Invisible to the naked eye, Lazarus settled into a seat, massaging his temples. A chime rang in his ear, signaling his cloaking energy was down to 38%. He cast a glance around the room again. It was empty.

An electric crackle sparked from a chair, revealing a man. Dark hair, sky blue eyes, dressed in a simple leather vest over a white shirt, and sporting leather pants, he could pass for an average villager. His lean, muscular build, however, was anything but average.

Lazarus' heart hammered against his ribcage. He was cautious, he’d avoid that pesky noble and made sure to keep a low profile but the nightmare scenario he'd always feared – his family discovering his escape and a price put on his head – had just become horrifyingly real.

-’All because of Reisha…’- Lazarus mused.

He hadn't expected anyone in this world to still care about him. Most people would forget or push such matters to the back of their minds. But not Reisha. She had remembered him all this time and was now out searching for him. It did make him happy knowing that… but despite appreciating her intentions, he couldn't help but wish she'd just left him alone. If not for her, none of this would be happening right now.

-Now, what to do about that bitch Anastasia?'-

Kill her? That would only ignite a bigger firestorm, possibly drawing neighboring kingdoms or other political allies into the hunt. The headache that would cause was more than he wanted to deal with. And killing her would be no easy feat either. She was constantly surrounded by maids. They didn't look like bodyguards, but if Lazarus' understanding of fantasy worlds held true, those seemingly innocuous maids likely doubled as her protection. Not to mention the fact that he had no idea of her strength.

Lazarus sighed.

—----------------------------------------

What was his next move? His gaze darted to his shield energy level – it hovered at 39%. He needed more, but his patience was running thin, not being able to spy on Anastasia's activities. And what was that talk about Sophirea's rehabilitation? The way everyone reacted when Sylphi ran to embrace Sophirea suggested there was more to Sylphi's mother than what meets the eye.

-'Too many things to think over…'-

"This way, mom!" A feminine voice echoed from behind the door, jolting Lazarus to his feet.

*Click*

-=Cloak engaged=-

-'Crap… that nearly gave me a heart attack.'-

He got up and tiptoed towards the window, pressing his back against the wooden wall as Sylphi, Sophirea, and Rose entered the room. Being out in the open like that while uncloaked could have ended very badly.

Only an hour had passed since they'd left the room, and Lazarus' forcefield energy was hovering at 40%. It typically took six hours to reach full charge.

Sylphi, a young beauty with striking blue hair, led her mother into the room. Sopheria looked like an older version of her daughter. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and she wore a maid's uniform, yet her beauty was undeniable.

The pair settled into seats while Rose took up a vigilant position by the door, attentively watching over them. Sylphi wore a childlike grin of pure happiness, while Sopheria sported a mature, motherly smile. Their eyes met in a warm exchange.

"Mother, where have you been all this time?" Sylphi asked.

Sopheria's gaze drifted to the ceiling, lost in memories of the past. "Well," she began, "After the war... I suppose I was taken in by the Twilight Kingdom."

"Taken you in? So, you've been working as a maid to repay them?" Sylphi asked.

"You could put it that way, yes. They took me in when I was injured, and they've been nothing but kind," Sopheria explained.

"But why didn't you come back? It's been years, surely you've repaid your debt by now," Sylphi countered.

"I did, but I–" Sopheria's brows furrowed as her gaze fell. "Didn't your grandfather tell you?"

Sylphi shook her head. "He said you must've died in the war…"

"Did he now?" Sopheria's eyes narrowed, a smile playing at her lips. But to Lazarus, her smile looked far from genuine - her eyes told a different story.

"What's grandpa hiding?" Sylphi's brows knitted in confusion.

Sopheria remained silent.

"Mother?"

"I...I'm sorry, I was lost in thought," Sopheria apologized, a hand on her forehead. She looked at Sylphi. "Please, forget I mentioned anything."

"But I can't. Mother, please, I need answers," Sylphi pleaded, her eyes brimming with questions.

Sopheria attempted to maintain a comforting smile. "Tell me, dear, do you love the forest?"

Sylphi's brow furrowed. What was her mother getting at, evading her question? She nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. The forest provides for us elves and protects us. It's our duty to love it, isn't it?"

"I see...." Sopheria's lips thinned as she rose, turning to face the window where Lazarus stood. He gasped silently as he saw her expression morph from unadulterated rage to an icy, chilling smile.

-'Something's wrong with her…'- Lazarus was sure of it.

"Heheheh…" Sopheria chuckled, causing Sylphi to call out.

"Mom?"

Lazarus's gaze flicked to Sylphi, noticing that Rose, the silent maid at the door, had subtly shifted her stance, ready for action.

Sopheria exhaled deeply, her eyes closed. "Well, a lot happened, and it's difficult to come back. I truly apologize, but I really can't return." She turned to Sylphi, her smile sad yet distant. "Your grandfather has taken good care of you in my absence. You've grown up; you don't need me anymore…"

"That… doesn't make sense," Sylphi said, her voice wavering as her fist clenched. "Please, why can't you just come back? If you can't, at least tell me why!"

Sopheria walked over to Sylphi, wrapping her arms around her from behind. "I'm truly sorry, dear, I can't explain, but please understand… It's not just that you no longer need me, but that I wish to serve the Twilight Kingdom."

"But Mom, we do need you......" Sylphi grabbed her mother's hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sera is waiting for you!"

Sopheria held her, remaining silent. Lazarus saw her face from behind; it was devoid of any emotion, and a dark aura surrounded her.

Eventually, Sylphi composed herself and left the room. Sopheria didn't follow immediately, only doing so after Rose prompted her. Sopheria let out a sigh, following Sylphi out with the air of someone asked to complete an unwelcome task. Rose trailed behind.

-=Cloak disengaged=-

"Damn. 25% cloak energy remaining."

He needed to hide somewhere and replenish his energy. Maybe the cargo bay again? As Lazarus was about to head out, he heard muffled talking outside the door. It was from a couple of maids. What were they doing there? Lazarus waited for sometime, until one of the maids complained.

“When is the next shift coming over? I’d prefer not to stand around all day…”

As Lazarus listened, he realized that they were most likely on standby in the diner’s room just so that if any of the guests or Anastasia herself decided to eat, food preparation would begin immediately. If he opened the door now, they’d wonder why it would open when nobody was there. What was their position? Were they in-front?

Lazarus expelled a weary sigh.

Keen to avoid another near-discovery, he surveyed his surroundings. The dining table, he estimated, was roughly two full arm spans away from him. His eyes rested on the potential hideout under it. If anyone came to use it, the considerable width would shelter him from any accidental foot contact.

Lazarus crawled under the table while uncloaked, his mind swirling with thoughts about Sopheria's strange behavior.

There was the matter with his family, Reisha and now Sophirea.

His head throbbed just from thinking too much.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back within the royal confines of Princess Anastasia's quarters, Rei held a plush towel at the ready while the princess luxuriated in a grand bathtub. Steam curled lazily upwards from the surface of the water, tracing the air in wispy patterns. Ana languidly lifted a leg, her fingers skimming over her flawless skin while her other hand absentmindedly toyed with the tendrils of her hair.

"Tell me Rei," she began, her voice echoing softly off the opulent bathroom tiles, "Has there been any conflict between the two of them?"

Rei, the ever vigilant attendant replied, "Nothing yet, though it's quite likely considering their relationship."

The water lapped gently against the edges of the bath as Anastasia rose, her slender silhouette casting long shadows in the dimly lit room. Accepting the towel from Rei, she wrapped it around herself with a practiced grace before reclining in a nearby chair. Her legs crossed at the knee, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her thigh.

The princess picked up a steaming cup of tea from a side table and turned her gaze towards the window, savoring the soothing warmth of the drink. "Do you remember when we first welcomed Sopheria into our midst?"

A flicker of a smile played across Rei's face, "Yes, she was such a kind soul until that fateful encounter with the elf..."

"True," the princess mused, "yet I now regard her as family. Perhaps her meeting with her daughter was destined."

Rei nodded in agreement. "I hope so too. But it remains a mystery why she harbors such animosity towards her own kin."

Ana's expression turned thoughtful, her petite hand cradling her chin. "Well, I trust she will reveal the truth in her own time."

Sensing the subtle shift in the princess's demeanor, Rei took a deep breath and ventured into more sensitive territory. "Pardon me for asking, Princess, but if you hold Sopheria in such high esteem, why not the exiled prince?"

Anastasia regarded Rei with an enigmatic smile. "You know my tastes, don't you?"

A cloud of uncertainty passed over Rei's face, but she nodded, accepting the princess's tacit statement.

A brief silence fell. It seemed as though Anastasia was lost in her thoughts. Eventually, she released a sigh.

“Is something troubling you, your highness?” Rei ventured.

"It’s trivial. Merely old recollections of that wretch surfacing." Anastasia's tone was dismissive. "His ineptitude in controlling mana is a direct insult to our noble blood. He taints the proud Valhearts' legacy. Can you fathom being linked to such absolute and abhorrent trash?"

Rei's gaze slid to a portrait of a man bearing jet-black hair and eyes as blue as the noonday sky. Being an orphan herself, the concept of siblings was foreign to her. She opted for silence, allowing Anastasia to vent her ire uninterrupted.

“I fail to see any worth in that filth, let alone comprehend my dear sister’s attachment to him.” Anastasia held her head, frustration etching her features. "He shamed me before our mother, and because of him, I bore the brunt of our father's fury! His actions resembled those of a wild beast attacking unprovoked!"

Rei just looked at her. She'd heard this story a million times now. But according to the servant grapevine, it was actually Anastasia who'd gone after Lazarus, only for him to swing back with a book. Still, knowing how the Princess would blow her top if she pointed this out, Rei zipped her lips.

"The humiliation!" Anastasia seethed, her cheeks flushing an angry scarlet. “The damage he caused? Father's disappointment...Mother's worry...He marred my image of perfection. As such..."

Her voice grew ominously quiet. "He will face my judgment. I am doing this for the betterment of our noble family and to cleanse the tarnish he left on my impeccable reputation."

She moved towards the window, her gaze piercing into the void as if trying to incinerate an unseen foe. "To be born into a lineage renowned for beauty and talent, he possesses neither. He is a void, utterly worthless and pathetic."

At that moment, Rei's voice broke through the charged atmosphere. "Princess, it's time for you to prepare for dinner."

Ana's eyes flicked towards the ornate clock on the wall, and she let out a long sigh. "Indeed, it seems it is. Then, Rei, prepare my attire at once."

"Understood." Rei murmured, bowing deeply.

Anastasia turned her gaze back to the expanse of the ocean visible through her window. "Have the crew increase our speed," she commanded into the empty room, her voice echoing off the walls. "I can't stand the thought of spending another moment at sea."

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:00 P.M

Cloak Energy at 37.31%

The dinner table was set, awaiting only the arrival of food and the commencement of conversation. They had convened to further discuss matters regarding the exiled prince, with Lazarus, in his guise, among them.

Princess Anastasia, adorned in a new dress strikingly similar to her earlier attire, sat with regal poise, while Leo, oddly out of place with his protruding muscles, still wore his white long sleeve shirt. Sophirea and Rei stood at the periphery of the room, their attentive gazes ready to serve. Sylphi, with an aura of nervous anticipation, was full of questions she knew she wouldn't get answers to. Not yet, at least.

With the food not yet served and the air still brimming with curiosity, Leo decided to carry on with their discourse.

"Your highness," he ventured, addressing Anastasia. "If we were to encounter the exiled prince in the future, how would you persuade him to return to the kingdom? Wouldn't he bear a grudge against the royal family for his exile at such a young age?"

Anastasia fell silent for a moment, her palm gracefully obscuring her mouth as if deep in thought. Beneath her hand, a quiet snicker escaped, her fingers dropping to reveal a surprisingly somber expression. "His exile may have driven him towards delusion. With his isolation from the world, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume he has gone mad."

"M-mad?" Leo echoed, his gaze shifting towards Sylphi, who seemed visibly uncomfortable.

"Yes," Anastasia asserted, leaning forward with a pensive air. "Have you not heard what can happen to humans subjected to prolonged isolation?"

"Well..." Leo's words trailed off.

"It's not just humans," Rei interjected, her voice resonating with certainty. "The same holds true for elves, the extinct dwarven race, and most of the other species. Only demons seem to resist the mental deterioration induced by prolonged isolation."

Leo shifted his gaze to the elf in their midst. "What's your take on this, Sylphi?"

A silence hung heavy in the air as all eyes turned to Sylphi, whose own gaze remained distant and unfocused.

"Sylphi?" Leo prompted once more. The unexpected attention snapped her out of her reverie, and she looked around, her eyes wide as she realized everyone was awaiting her response.

"U-uhmm, I apologize, but what are we discussing?" she asked, a hint of embarrassment tinting her words.

“About the exiled prince, Lazarus, perhaps being insane due to solitude.” Leo patiently elaborated. “After all, he had been exiled at a young age with barely any contact from the outside.”

Sylphi's eyes widened further at Leo's explanation. She'd been so lost in her own thoughts that she'd barely registered their earlier discussion. But as she thought back to their encounters with Lazarus, she couldn't help but furrow her brow in consideration. It was true that Lazarus had displayed some peculiar behaviors and lacked certain common knowledge - his carelessness in plucking the Azalea flower being a notable example. However, to label him as insane seemed an unwarranted leap.

"I-..." Sylphi began, but her words were cut short as a loud bell tolled, diverting everyone's attention.

"Dinner is ready. We will commence serving," Rei announced as a flurry of maids entered through the grand double doors, pushing wooden carts before them. The mouthwatering scent of a myriad of dishes wafted from beneath the large, circular steel covers, prompting Leo's mouth to water.

A particularly eye-catching maid was the last to enter, her lustrous black hair complemented by a pair of cute, feline ears. For a moment, she placed her tray on the table, but then paused, her cute nose twitching in the air as she scanned the room. Her ears perked forward, her tail swishing from side to side, seemingly in response to some unseen stimuli.

"Silica? Is something amiss?" Ana asked, observing the cat-eared maid with a curious gaze.

Silica turned her head to address the princess, her voice a soft murmur. "Strange scent... here."

"Strange? How?"

The maids began arranging the dishes on the table with Leo salivating from the sheer smell alone.

Lazarus, leaning on a wall, felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. His optic camouflage was efficient, but against the catfolk's acute sense of smell, could it hold?

"The scent is akin to Princess Anastasia's, but with a blend of...hmm? Metal? Meow~. Peculiar. Very peculiar. Smells so strange." Silica continued her curious investigation, sniffing the air as her eyes landed on the table.

She held her gaze steady, scrutinizing the room for an extended moment while the roomful of onlookers watched her in perplexed silence.

"Silica?" Sophia called out. Silica simply walked around the table and was heading for the startled Lazarus’ direction.

Seeing her approach, Lazarus felt his heart pound against his ribcage, his eyes going wide. He knew cat folk were renowned for their heightened senses, their sense of smell being particularly keen.

"Mya!" Silica sounded, with furrowed brows, but found nothing to her immediate view.

-'Fuuucckkkkkk!!!'- Lazarus's thoughts were a chaotic mess, a silent scream echoing within his head.

"Nya?" Silica moved further, almost a meter away from Lazarus. His heart was in his throat, his mind repeating a singular refrain like a broken record, 'crap! crap! crap!' as he slowly tiptoed away from her, avoiding the maids that were standing on attention.

"Silica, enough," pleaded a maid with tresses of chestnut brown. She began her purposeful stride towards the perplexed Silica, causing Lazarus, inadvertently caught in her path, to make a hasty sidestep. The swift maneuver, however, left him with little choice but to retreat to the secluded corner of the room.

Oblivious to the maid's pleas, Silica instead zeroed in on the corner of the room, where Lazarus was currently huddling. Caught in the cat maid's unyielding focus, Lazarus comically pressed himself flat against the wall as though attempting to blend into the decor.

*Sniff sniff*

-= Hold your breath, Master =-

Lazarus complied, his lungs burning as he held his breath, her nose almost brushing his face.

*Sniff sniff*

-= Hold it in harder =-

-’Now is not the time to be funny you fucking brain tumor!’-

In a desperate bid to create some space between them, Lazarus ducked down.

Silica moved even closer, her brows furrowing in clear confusion. "Nya?" Her nose is touching the corner’s wall. The cat girl tilted her head, looking puzzled. Slowly, she turned her attention to the ground.

Lazarus felt his soul leave his body the moment he looked at Silica’s slitted lavender and pink eyes. She stopped, just above his hair.

*Sniff sniff*

The sensation of his hair being tousled by her sniffing made Lazarus's heart stop.

-'Ah shit.'-

With a puzzling motion, Silica began to slowly lift her skirt.

-'Okay, what's she doing now?'-

Casting a quick glance, Lazarus's eyes widened, not due to the sight of the white fabric safeguarding her modesty but the sight of two sharp knives strapped to her thighs. Swift as a viper, she slashed at him. Reacting purely on instinct, Lazarus managed to evade the attack, the knife only grazing the wooden wall.

"Whoa!" Leo exclaimed, startled at her sudden movements.

"Nyaa..." Silica tilted her head, furrowing her brows in confusion.

"Silica! Please stop this at once!" Anastasia commanded, sounding stern. Silica, however, simply glared at the spot where Lazarus had been and reached for him, but found only empty air.

Realizing an opportunity, Lazarus lured Silica near the table who immediately jumped above it, causing it to tremble dramatically and rattled the dishes. The sudden movement, accompanied by Anastasia's shrieks of surprise, provided a chaotic backdrop to his swift exit. Taking full advantage of Silica's fleeting confusion, he went for the door while all eyes were on Silica and bolted away. He quickly distanced himself from the spectacle, leaving Silica to her baffled examination of the now empty table.

The cat-eared maid kept her nose to the ground, diligently following the scent that had baffled her. In a surreal moment, Silica exited the room, leaving the rest of its occupants in a state of stunned silence.

Leo's jaw hung agape, a mirror to his wide eyes. Sylphi's brows furrowed in deep thought as she scrutinized the door Silica had vanished through. Ana covered her face with her hand in exasperation, while Sophia could not help but offer a small, amused smile. Rei, as ever, remained impassive.

"Can anyone tell me what just happened?" Leo finally managed to sputter out.

Rei responded, her voice as steady as her gaze. "Silica tends to react strongly to unusual scents. I assure you, it's quite normal. Please disregard the disturbance."

"Right..." Leo said, still looking incredulous.

Rei continued, "To add a little more context, Silica may act strange and looks small but she has successfully defended Princess Anastasia from over ten assassination attempts."

Leo's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wait, that cute girl did all that? And when you say 'dealt with them'... you mean..."

Rei gave a solemn nod. "Yes, those assassins did not leave with their lives."

The room went quiet again, the reality of Rei's words hanging heavy. Ana sighed, then turned to Sophirea. “Please, follow after Silica, and make sure she behaves.”

“Understood.” Sophirea gave a bow and followed after Silica.

Anastasia looked at Leo with a more composed smile and said. "Shall we return to our previous discussion?"

Leo, still looking slightly dazed, responded, "Yeah... let's do that."

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lazarus darted out of the dining room with Silica hot on his trail. Her slitted eyes narrowed in on him - or rather, the space where she thought he was. Lazarus' heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted down the corridor, dodging incoming ship crew and furniture.

Suddenly, a new set of footsteps joined the chase. Looking over his shoulder, Lazarus spotted a familiar figure - it was Sophirea, and she was shouting something at Silica.

"SILICA, SLOW DOWN!" She yelled, but to no avail - Silica was solely focused on the unusual scent that had intrigued her.

Sophirea found herself panting, her chest heaving with every step. As she continued to give chase, an odd realization dawned on her. The sound of the footsteps she was hearing was... strange. The rhythm of the footfalls was off. It wasn't just one person running - there had to be someone else.

Lazarus turned a corner and sprinted toward the lower decks of the ship. The claustrophobic corridors of the lower levels would hopefully throw Silica off his trail.

They had run around and circled the interior of the ship repeatedly, and after a while. A dreaded sound played.

A loud beeping echoed through Lazarus' mind. He looked down at his screen, his heart sinking as he saw the red indicator flashing. His cloak only had one percent energy left. He needed to find a place to hide, and fast.

—-------------------------------------------------------------

Shortly after Lazarus dashed into the cargo bay, Silica skidded around the corner, Sophirea close behind. Sophirea, panting heavily, reached out and grabbed Silica's shoulder to halt her pursuit. They both took in the scene in front of them.

The ship's cargo bay was a cavernous space filled with crates, barrels, and various nautical equipment. The dim lighting cast long, looming shadows that stretched across the room. The smell of brine and wood hung heavy in the air, permeating the space.

Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds echoed around the room, followed by a faint glow. Both women turned to the source, their eyes narrowing as the light grew brighter. The air seemed to ripple and distort, as if something was trying to break through the fabric of reality.

A few seconds later, a figure materialized out of thin air. Standing in front of them was a man with jet black hair and piercing sky blue eyes. He was dressed in simple villager clothing and was looking at them with an unreadable expression.

"It can't be..." Sophirea whispered under her breath. She could hardly believe her eyes. The man in front of her bore an uncanny resemblance to the man in portraits that Anastasia had drawn – the exiled prince, Lazarus.

"An intruder." Silica declared, her cat-like eyes focusing on the man. Her hands twitched, ready to draw her knives at a moment's notice.

"Can you two please let me go?" The man pleaded, his gaze shifting between Sophirea and Silica. His voice was calm but there was an underlying urgency in his tone. "Because otherwise, this can get really ugly, really fast."