The Marlin had departed, and Principal Abinay, a master of deception, had secured his leave. A chilling silence settled over the grand halls of the academy. Yet, for Jai, James, and Zayn, the departure of their quarry brought no peace, only a churning sense of confusion and unresolved dread. Under the escort of the palace guards, the trio returned to the magnificent royal residence. At the palace gates, the guards offered a respectful bow, secured their own permissions to leave, and dispersed to their homes, leaving the three youths to face their destiny alone.
As the three stepped into the main chamber, the Queen stood before them, a figure of icy majesty and profound anger. Her regal presence commanded the space. She moved slowly, deliberately, until she was directly in front of the three young men. Then, with a swift, echoing motion, her hand struck Zayn across the face.
Jai and James watched the shocking scene, their eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
"Mother!" Zayn cried out, the pain and humiliation echoing in the vast chamber.
Jai and James felt a burning urge to speak, to intervene, but a deeper, ingrained sense of protocol shackled their tongues. They were mere outsiders in this dynasty, and they possessed no right to interfere in the private, volatile matters of the Royal Family. They stood in stunned silence.
The Queen's voice, though sharp, was laced with an aching disappointment, cutting deeper than any lash. "What were my instructions to the three of you? I commanded you to steer as far away as possible from this enemy plot. Yet, you three are utterly defiant, refusing to heed my words, acting only on your own whims!"
Jai, though chastened, stepped forward, his resolve unshaken. "Your Majesty, we merely sought to confirm the presence of an enemy. We laid a simple trap. The treacherous Principal Abinay then launched his direct attack while the King was present! We barely escaped with our lives. If such reckless attacks continue, what of the lives of the common people?"
The Queen's gaze intensified. "Yes, I know! You are designated to become a Minister, Arthur, but that does not grant you the right to act without informing anyone! Even as a Minister, every action, every plan, must be reported to me or to the Magistrate. But you act as you please! I explicitly told you, Arthur, to simply enjoy your time until your Minister's Ceremony. And why did I say that? Because the ceremony has been postponed in the King's absence."
In that moment, a flicker of comprehension crossed Jai's face; he finally grasped the weight of her concern. The Queen's voice softened, burdened by memory. "I married into this family and saw with my own eyes a rebellious young prince, a mere child, struck down by his own father. I do not wish to lose another son. Arthur and Clement (James), you both saved my daughter, Morisa, and thus, you are as dear to me as my own children. I feel a duty to care for you both, as your own parents would. I, too, wished to strike you, but I am not truly your birth mother, so I held my hand. I hope you understand the gravity of this."
Humbled by her revelation and her sorrow, Jai, James, and Zayn bowed low and offered their sincerest apologies to the Queen.
She then explained further, her voice steady: "The enemies are cunning and powerful. You three young men cannot face them alone. Therefore, I implore you, before you see or do anything, speak a single word of it to me."
The three youths nodded their solemn assent. The matter settled, for now, they retreated to their respective chambers.
Jai quickly refreshed himself. Taking the young Arthur, he proceeded downstairs for dinner. They ate in unusual tranquility until Morisa, the princess, voiced the palpable tension. "Why is the dining hall so quiet?"
Zayn subtly motioned for silence, and Morisa, understanding the unspoken drama, finished her meal without another word.
As the hour grew late, Jai halted both Zayn and James, demanding they meet in Zayn's room at midnight.
"Why?" James questioned, bewildered.
Jai met his gaze with a rare, fierce anger, his eyes flashing a warning. "Just come. I will explain everything then."
The moon reached its zenith, and the appointed midnight hour arrived. The three met in Zayn's private chamber, seating themselves around a golden table.
Zayn began the urgent conversation. "Arthur, why did you summon us here at such a late hour?"
"Wait a moment, I am about to explain," Jai instructed. He then turned to his host. "Zayn, do you still possess the scroll detailing the missing persons—those who returned of their own accord but with gaps in their memory?"
Zayn nodded, confirming he still held the crucial document. He produced the scroll and handed it to Jai.
Jai quickly unfurled it, his eyes scanning the names. He noted with satisfaction that the document, designed for easy investigation, also included the addresses of the missing individuals. A shared thrill of discovery ran through them.
"We are going to investigate every person on this list," Jai declared, his voice low and firm. "Without anyone knowing a thing."
James protested immediately. "You still wish to investigate? The Queen explicitly ordered us to cease!"
"Yes," Jai affirmed, his jaw set with determination. "But I cannot stand by and risk any more people being injured. I will uncover the enemy before they finally reveal their full strength."
Jai then proposed his cunning plan. "The Queen told us to 'enjoy our time.' Why don't we use that very excuse—a few youths taking a trip—to secretly investigate the people on this list?"
Zayn considered the plan. "It is sound. However, I am the King's son. My face is known throughout the kingdom. If I go out, the enemy will immediately understand our plan."
James, sensing a critical point, interrupted the two. "Speaking of understanding, how did the Queen know we were investigating the Marlin teacher in the first place?"
Jai and Zayn paused, the sudden realization of this security breach chilling them to the core.
Jai murmured, his brow furrowed in thought, "How did the Queen know? Only the guards, us, and the Principal knew. Who spoke of it?"
Zayn confessed, his voice heavy with self-reproach. "I told the plan to one of the Ministers. He is elderly, but he was like a close friend to my father, the King."
Jai immediately framed the core question. "Why did you tell him the plan?"
Zayn explained, "He is considered one of the most intelligent Ministers. I thought he might offer some strategic counsel."
"We will leave that matter for now," Jai said, shelving the new mystery. He then offered the solution to Zayn's dilemma. "Why don't you simply cover your face, or better yet, use a powerful artifact to disguise your appearance?"
Zayn's eyes widened. "How do you two know of artifacts that can change one's disguise?"
Jai shared a secret long held close. "My mother and father used such an artifact to manipulate the greedy money lender back in our former life. Because of that money lenders my younger brother and I escaped from that wretched place and came to this place."
Hearing this, a sense of relief washed over Zayn. "I will take care of securing such an item," he promised.
Jai leaned forward, his final words a stern command. "Do not tell this plan to anyone. Understood?"
James and Zayn nodded in unison, a low "Yes!" sealing their pact.
With their resolve hardened and their path chosen, the three began their clandestine detective journey, a perilous quest to unmask the enemies lurking within the kingdom.
The stage is set. Will Arthur Jai uncover the enemy before the darkness swallows the realm?
Meanwhile, on the distant, round planet known as "Earth," a figure sat in a high-backed chair, sipping coffee. He possessed raven hair, eyes the color of fresh blood, and wore a finely tailored black suit. A lady's voice called out, "Rayn," and the man slowly turned his head.