"It's a disgrace to keep looking back."
Vivia, who was absorbing every last memory of the Demon Realm, which she didn't know when she would be able to step foot in again, stiffened by Elvin's disturbance. Warmth from her eyes dissipated, only to be replaced by a chill. Yet, she refrained from giving a response to a pointless statement.
Though the setting sun's rays still illuminated the carriage, the interior, nevertheless, spoke of an invisible dusky obscurity.
"Were you feeling too overconfident just because you were in a foreign land until now?"
His fingers reached out to his cheek, agonizingly brushing past it. A glint of a terrifying madness laced his eyes.
"But we'll soon be reaching Emberlain, Clairette. Yes, I'd love to see your rebellion still having any spine once we step foot there."
How the wish to slap him again had almost made her move. But she chose to keep her calm. Leaving Rudaheim's gates seemed to settle a dense fatigue within her. Her motivation to argue with Elvin again was far from her agenda at the moment.
"Throw the presents away once we reach the Realm of Harmony. We won't allow a single item from the Demon Realm to enter ours."
That one bold statement was enough to straighten her tired back. "Never. These are my presents, and I'm keeping them with me. Try to even touch them, and we'll have a big problem."
"Are you threatening me?"
"If you stop threatening me, then I won't have a reason to threaten you to begin with."
"You fool! What if they're just a facade for them to spy on us? Use your brain once in a while!" His rage was close to flipping off the carriage off its path.
But all his rant only went to deaf ears.
"Just wait till we reach the palace. You really need to be disciplined," his fists clenched silently.
Yet again, she chose to ignore his provocation. Resting her head against the cushion, Rudaheim's scenery slowly morphed into the border of the Realm of Harmony's forest. Her vacant gaze stared at the marvel of the birds, trees, flowers and sky that threatened to brim her eyes with tears.
Strangely enough, even though she was parting ways with Zerath, the first memory of their meeting and the time they rode his stallion together crossed her mind. A faint smile naturally curved the corner of her lips, and feeling her eyelids grow heavier, they slowly closed.
Not now…
I cannot already start missing you, Zerath…
—
Vivia's temple bumped against the window as the carriage violently jolted, an eerie screech echoing in the air. The wheels came to an abrupt stop, bringing a harsh break to her peaceful sleep. A glance outside and it was clear how they were already well deep within the forest.
Elvin demanded, stunned. "What happened!"
Xaviston, seated beside the coachman, said, "Apologies, Your Highness. The ground here is uneven, so the wheel got stuck in the ground."
"So take it out. What are you waiting for?"
"It seems to be deeply wedged in the ground, but Arcus and I'll get it out soon."
Elvin let out a string of curses. "Why did this have to happen now?"
A distant howl then reverberated, slipping Aeren into an immediate mode of alert. His hand swiftly grabbed the hilt of his sword, and Vivia's eyes narrowed in response too, casting watchful glances outside.
"Great. Now wild beasts are also here. Xaviston! Arcus! Get us out of here! I don't want to deal with any beasts right now!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Aeren suggested. "We should still check the perimeter, Brother. The beasts could be closing in on us. Xaviston and Arcus could be in danger."
Elvin cursed again, frustrated.
Aeren's severe gaze found Vivia's. "Stay inside at all costs. The knights outside will keep watch."
Silence slipped into the carriage as the brothers stepped out. Soon, a strange uneasiness gripped her chest. A dull pain clutched her head, beads of sweat moistening her temples. The dark silhouette of Mount Lavos stood tall in the distance, and her laborious breathing worsened.
This frustrating pain again…
A weird buzz vibrated from somewhere inside her dress pocket, but feeling someone's silhouette behind a tree - her senses dulled due to the earlier pain - heightened once again. That shadow was already gone, much to her horror, with all kinds of impending thoughts swirling in her mind.
Could it be Clairette's assassin? Is he back to kill me?
Goosebumps forced the fine hair on her skin to rise in attention, as that new presence now suddenly faced her - right inside the carriage.
Vivia's principle, guided by her master, was simple - Hurt first. Questions later.
So her hand had already fluidly sneaked into her dress to grab a small but lethal dagger she had bought at Casca's festival, discreetly tied at her waistband. The blade's silver passed a flash of glint in the air, ready to strike her assassin without even a drop of mercy.
Yet a hand at an equally lightning speed caught her wrist before her dagger could carve any good damage to an important artery in the man's neck.
"I assumed the lady missed me enough to hug me, not kill me."
She froze, an impossible dream standing right before her very eyes.
"Ze…Zerath…?"
I guess the jolt earlier wasn't hard enough to break my sleep…
That was the only conclusion Vivia reached after hallucinating Zerath's presence before her.
"This isn't a dream, and yes, you're wide awake," Zerath smiled, but that quickly turned into a frown.
"You look sick."
With his palm over her forehead, he felt her temperature, making his eyes widen.
"Why are you burning with a fever?"
Vivia's thoughts ran on a different tangent altogether.
"You…You're really here?" She rubbed her eyes several times.
By now, Zerath's thoughts also ran on a different tangent altogether.
"This isn't good. You're feverish, your pulse is spiking, and your breathing is shaky. I'll take you to Sir Doloros right away!"
"Sshhhh!!!"
The fear of impending reality finally shook her wide awake.
"The knights, Sir Xaviston and Arcus are still outside. They'll hear you," She explained her urgency.
A crack formed in Zerath's usual calm demeanor. He had wanted it to be a pleasant surprise, but he turned out to be on the receiving end instead - and certainly, far from pleasant.
"I don't care who hears me. You need medical attention right away."
She shook her head. "I'm already feeling better now."
"Why did you fall sick in the first place? You fainted in the meeting room too. Clearly, something's wrong here."
His teeth nipped onto his lower lip in impatience. "I knew it. I should've stopped you from leaving…at least for a day - no, a week!"
She blinked twice. A flicker of surprise passed her face followed by a low but hearty chuckle.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't laugh, but it's refreshing to see you restless. Otherwise, you're always so prim and proper and always in control of everything."
"This isn't the time to be funny, Vivia. You should - What's that…hopping inside your dress?" A strange movement caught his eye, puzzled.
She quickly took it out. "Ah! It's that Moonflame opal I bought at the festival."
But why is it glowing so ominously? Ugh. Is it some vengeful spirit awakening now?
A wave of restlessness sparked in her chest as the gemstone rattled in her hand.
"What kind of a gemstone is it?"
She coughed.
I can't say that this could be a jewel of misfortune or something that holds a vengeful spirit, can I? Zerath will scold me to no end.
But wait. Is it the jewel of misfortune? Perhaps that's why the carriage got stuck, and wild beasts are here.
She paused to contemplate deeper.
But I got to meet Zerath too. So is it the jewel of good fortune after all?
That reminds me!
"I'm really doing fine now, so forget about my health, BUT! What are you doing here?" Her nervous gaze kept drifting now and then to keep watch.
Fortunately for them, Xaviston and Arcus were still occupied with fixing the wedged wheel, and Elvin and Aeren were still far from returning.
"You should leave. Clairette's brothers could return at any moment!"
"First, you're sick, so I should take you-"
"No. First tell me why you snuck in like this. If anybody saw you even by accident, then we're done for. The knights outside could hear you…and the wild beasts are here too.
"They aren't."
"They aren't? No, they are. We heard them howling."
He smiled. "Let's just say it's a small trickery of mine."
Vivia allowed a moment of silence and then gasped. "You…Did you make those fake howling sounds to fool Elvin and Aeren?"
"Perhaps," he simply hummed.
He was one step ahead!
Something else then occurred to her. "Is it possible that…the reason why this carriage is stuck is here because-"
"Another small trickery of mine."
Her brow twitched.
"But how did you enter the carriage with all the knights outside and without breaking the door?"
"I just used a small version of teleportation magic. Works at close range. Bribed my way to get my hands on the stone from the Magic Ministry though."
"..."
This cunning demon was actually several steps ahead!