“Malduk?” I gasped and then I sat back while looking at the ceiling and I started to think. “Wait. I don’t remember. Who is he again?”
‘I…’ Custard paused and looked at Viex for help. Viex simply rolled his eyes at him.
‘Princess, Malduk is the evil spirit who possessed you. Remember when you bathed in the spring to purify yourself? That was the guy you purified.’
“Now this I am following.” I nodded. “But I thought he was...purified? Like gone forever. How was he able to possess Custard when he was vulnerable?”
Viex started shifting on his paws. He somehow felt uncomfortable. ‘Because you can’t simply get rid of someone whose other soul is still living. Previously, there were two royal guardians. Malduk is the other.’ Mine and Custard’s jaw dropped at the news. Viex simply used his tail to shut Custard’s mouth. ‘Also, he is my brother. When King Ferius died, he was the one who lost it. Since we share the same soul, I was tainted as well. Fortunately, I was locked up before it consumed me and I was able to bathe in the spring when I woke up.’
Viex and I looked at Custard long enough that he started to feel awkward and hid his face with one of his paws. When he peaked and saw that we were still staring at him, he laid down and covered his face with two of his paws. ‘I didn’t know! I swear I didn’t know. He never told me!’
Viex looked at me. ‘Malduk must have sensed an active tamer when you arrived that he suddenly decided to attack that village. I guess, in a way, he’s still a royal guardian after all.’
“He won’t suddenly turn evil, right? And how do they do it? Morphing without the use of my magic?”
‘Honestly? I don’t know. Malduk has been awake for a long time. I simply can’t tell what he’s done for that to happen.’
‘But!’ Custard sat up immediately. His face looking determined. ‘He says that he won’t harm you. He swore.’
I looked at Viex. “Viex, why do you look like you want to dissect Custard?” I asked. Custard jumped and immediately ran to hide behind me.
‘Don’t do it. Don’t do it!’
‘Relax. I was just thinking if I can trust that guy who once turned evil. If he wants me to trust him then he better prove himself.’
‘Malduk says that he’s helping you right now by letting me take full control of our other form.’
I pointed at Custard as I looked at Viex. “Fair enough. I mean, he does have a point on that one. And we need at least one of you to morph right now.” I looked at Custard. “Can you show us that you can morph at your own will?”
Custard nodded. ‘Yes. But Malduk says that the maximum amount of time that I can morph without your help is 10 minutes per day.’
“Well, I guess that is long enough.” I said.
Custard looked cautiously at Viex. When he saw him nod and moved to the side, Custard took that as his cue to move to an empty space. As he started to change, his fur turned black and his eyes turned red. His horn was longer than when he was a white wolf.
‘What do you think, master?’ He asked with a goofy grin on his face.
“Custard, that is amazing!” I whispered. “I mean, yeah it kind of looks intimidating, but I trust you. And I think that it is perfect!”
‘Should we leave now?’ Viex asked.
I looked at Custard’s form once again. “You know? I think it would be difficult for us to leave now. I mean, it would be easy to spot a black wolf in the middle of the day, right? How about we do it at night?”
Viex blinked at me while Custard returned to his smaller form and hopped onto my lap. ‘Master, that is amazing.’
“What’s amazing?”
‘That you’re thinking for once.’ He says. I frowned and pinched his cheek. ‘Ow!’
“Don’t get too cocky just because you are starting to become a little bit independent.” I scolded him. “But since we all have that in mind, let us all take a rest after we eat. We’ll be needing our strengths tonight.”
After eating lunch, Custard, Viex, and I took a very long nap. But not before I made sure to prepare some clothes and equipment for our long journey.
As I slept, I began to dream again. This time, I dreamed that I was being whipped until the skin on my arm began to peel. I was getting kicked and thrown in the room by a larger man whose face I cannot see. He suddenly unsheathed his sword and the blade glinted under the flickering flames of the room.
“Don’t blame me. It’s your sister who never showed up to save you.” He says and then stabbed me with the blade.
At that moment, I woke up. I was sweating and panting. Viex and Custard woke up immediately and they climbed onto my lap.
‘Princess, it’s just a dream.’ Viex says.
‘Master, stop crying.’
“I’m fine. I’m fine.” I repeated as I whipped my tears from my face. I was Stella in that dream. Could that have been a premonition? I sure hope not. “What time is it?” I looked out of my window to see that it was starting to get dark. My lunch tray has already been replaced by dinner.
I guess that means that sneaking out tonight will be my best option. “Come on guys. Time to prepare.” I got out of my bed and started pilling pillows together to make it seem like I was sleeping under the covers.
Then I opened my cabinet to grab a bag and shoved the wrapped bread that came with my dinner. I grabbed my hood then and places it over me. Thankfully, they never took away my training clothes or boots, because I obviously can’t fight while wearing a dress.
Terrence did make me fight in a dress once, it was doable but it can put you at a disadvantage.
I opened the balcony door and allowed Viex to look ahead and scout the area below us. I was being careful this time. I don’t want anyone or the princes to see me looking out at my balcony. Surely they would suspect that something is off.
And with the dream that I just had? I don’t think I can manage getting caught at this point.
When Viex wagged his tail, it was a signal for us to move. Custard began to morph while I took Viex and rode on Custard’s back. ‘Go to the stables.’
‘Yes, Master.’
Custard jumped from my balcony and landed silently on his paws like a cat. We saw a light coming from the corner of the castle. ‘Custard, the knights! Move quick.’
Custard immediately went in the opposite direction and ran. Even though we took a long way from the stables, it didn’t matter. Custard was a fast runner that we soon got there in no time. Custard stopped and moved behind the stables instead of the front door as we got closer to our destination.
‘Custard?’
‘I thought I saw someone by the door. I should dimorph first in case I get spotted.’ He says,
‘Good idea.’
As soon as Custard was done, we started moving carefully as we sneaked our way towards the front of the stables. I turned to peak at who was guarding it and almost screamed with fright.
What the hell is he doing here?! Why is this PRINCE out here while sitting on a chair? And is he asleep?
I quietly made my way in front of him just to make sure. He was breathing evenly. It was a good sign. I moved along and opened the stable door. I bit my lips in fear when the door let out a creak that stirred him up. Immediately, I ushered Custard and Viex inside.
I gulped and started singing a lullaby that a person like him would like. “Rock a bye Nora sleeping on my lap. When a suitor comes I’ll strangle his neck.” As I sang, I was slowly retreating inside the stables and closed the door behind me. But before I did, I saw PRINCE Ace smiling in satisfaction as he went back to sleep.
What a scary guy.
I let out a breath of relief. I guess I will have to worry about how to get ourselves out later without waking him up. But seriously, what is that guy doing here!?
I went to Cloud’s cubicle and she immediately began pacing excitedly that she scared both Custard and Viex.
“Cloud, please. I am begging you.” I said while I stroked her chin. “Don’t-”
Too late. Cloud neighed loudly that I covered her mouth with my hands. We all waited for any signs that HE would wake up and open the door. When nothing happened after a minute, we all sighed in relief.
That is...until Cloud bit my hands that were still covering her mouth. I screamed.
It hurts. Everyone thinks that just because horses don’t have fangs doesn’t mean that their bite doesn’t hurt.
WELL, IT DOES.
“Cloud, when we get back I will ask Nate to train you again! You are going to school young lady!”
“You should just teach her yourself so your bond will become stronger.”
I froze on my spot and slowly turned around to see Ace crossing his arms and glowering down at me.
“T-This isn’t what it looks like!” I reasoned. “I was just-”
“I knew this would happen. So don’t bother denying it.” He says. “What took you so long to get here anyway? I was starting to doubt my judgment on whether or not you’ll be stopping here.” Ace passed by me and headed for Midnight’s cubicle. When he got him out, I noticed that Midnight was already equipped with his saddle and reigns.
“Waited for me?” My gaze darted towards Midnight and then to him. “Where are you going?”
“To Tereau. I’ll be going to save your sister.” He says while locking the now empty cubicle of Midnight.
“What?”
Ace paused to looked at me as soon as he tied his black hood over him. “I knew you were planning another escape when I saw you comfortably sleeping instead of attacking us during dinner. You must have a plan in mind. I don’t know what you did, but congratulations. Unfortunately, you can no longer go any further than this. Leave the rescue mission to someone who’s capable.”
“Capable?” I somehow took offense on that. “Excuse me, I may not look like it but I am capable enough. Besides, I am her sister. I have to be there for her.”
Ace stalked towards me and crossed his arms. “You don’t have to be there for her physically.”
“She’s a kid. How can you expect someone like her to simply come with a stranger like you? Besides, there’s a plan. We may not have to fight when we get there.”
“I know there is. But it is Tereau that we’re talking about. Plans can both succeed and fail.” He says.
“But-”
“Are you ready to take out someone’s life?”
I was taken aback by his question. “Pardon?”
“You are going to enemy territory. A king who doesn’t think twice about shedding blood just to get what he wants. You think that when the plan fails that you can escape that place without killing anyone?”
My lips quivered as I starred at the ground. His words do make a lot of sense and I can’t believe that I hadn’t thought of that in the first place. But even though I was desperate, I just can’t see myself taking anyone’s life. “I can’t.” I answered.
“I know. That’s why you should leave this to me.” He says confidently, but when I looked up, he faltered. “What? What? W-Why are you crying!? Hey!” He demanded as he started to look around him for the culprit.
I sniffed. “Why am...I so...incompetent?” I hiccuped as tears just fell down my face. It was hard to see his exact reaction because my eyes were getting flooded.
“You’re not incompetent. You’re not! Who called you that? Tell me and I’ll-”
“You did.” I sniffed and started whipping tears out of my eyes.
“I said you’re not that ready to save your sister. Sorry if...if you took that the wrong way. Stop crying!”
“Why are you yelling at me!?” I cried again.
Ace looked like he was about to either faint or panic. His hands going everywhere as he stood in front of me. “Fine. Fine. I’m sorry! Put this thing back in there.” Ace whipped a single tear from my cheek and placed it back to my eyes.
I slapped his hand away. “Why are you putting my tears back!?”
“I don’t know! You wouldn’t stop this waterfall action! Just tell me why you are crying.”
“I just realized that I am incompetent enough to kill someone!” I hiccup and sniffed.
Ace stopped panicking as he stared at me. “You do realize that you just said that you are crying because you can’t kill someone, right?”
“...yeah?”
Ace ran his hand over his face in frustration. “Rose, not being able to kill someone doesn’t make you incompetent. It just means that you have a better conscience. And I wouldn’t even let you try because I know that it would destroy you. You just don’t have the right heart for it. That’s why I am asking you to leave this to me.”
I was still catching my breath and whipping away my tears. “Y-You...you’ll come back, right? You and Stella? In one peace?”
“Of course.”
I looked at Viex and opened my arms to him. Viex understood what I wanted him to do and jumped into my arms. I looked back at Ace and handed Viex to him. “The letter says that you should ask Viex to fetch this Leo guy. He’ll be useful.” Ace looked hesitant to take him because he and Viex were never really got along. “Please.”
He sighed. “Fine.” He looked at Viex and tilted his head to the side. Viex took that as a cue to jump on his shoulder and nestled himself there.
I took off the leathered bracelet from my arm and attached it to Viex’s neck. “It has a bit of my magic. Just in case.” I told them both.
“Impressive.” Ace said and I was shocked to see him giving me a small genuine smile. “You’re starting to learn a thing or two about magic.”
Now I was starting to tear up again because he was being kind. I hugged him as I cried. Surprisingly, he returned to gesture. “Be careful, Ace.”
Ace sighed. “You know, the only reason I want people to remember my title is for them to respect me. But you...you never did respect me so I guess it doesn’t matter when no one is around.” He says and then I felt him placing something on my hand when we parted. He looked away but I saw the tip of his ears turning red. “Open that when I leave.”
I ignored him and started to open the box anyway. Ace caught me and slammed it shut. “I said open it when I leave!”
I smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Sorry.” Ace huffed before he hopped on Midnight. “Be back soon!” I called out as he was started to head for the door.
Ace looked back and gave me a side smile. “As long as you’re still here when I come back.” He says before pulling his hood over and headed for a run.
As I watched his form getting smaller and smaller, my anxiety grew. I looked at Custard, who was now riding Cloud’s back. “Custard.” I called for him. He immediately jumped down until he was sitting by my foot. “Follow them.”
‘But I am supposed to stay here. Who will protect you without me or Viex?’
“Don’t worry about me. Just follow them. If anything happens, only you can help since you can morph without me.”
‘But, Master-’
“Please, Custard.” I gripped the small box that Ace gave me closer to my chest. “Just follow them and be careful.”
Custard must have seen the look on my face because he nodded and started to morph as he ran to follow them. Now I was left alone inside the stables. But even though I sent my strongest familiar, I still could not shake the feeling that something big was going to happen.
And I was right.