Chapter 4

Flashback

Albel was a very curious child. Being 12, he was always like that. One day, when he was in Woltar's mansion because his father and Woltar had to talk, he was walking around the place, looking for his father. Obviously he wanted to know what they were going to talk about.

"Glou, you know he is going to have the ritual soon," said a voice that belonged to Woltar.

"I know, Woltar, I know. But for some reason, I am worried." Said Glou.

"Do not worry, son. Even if he fails, I would not want to let him die." Woltar said seriously.

"I hope so, Woltar. I really hope so." Said Glou.

Albel heard all this. Who were they talking about? What ritual? Who is going to die? Who is he?

Just then, the door was going to open. Albel quickly ran into a room, which happened to be where Glou and Albel were staying for the night. Albel decided to do something so that if his father comes in, he won't be suspicious.

Just as Albel suspected, Glou walked in. Albel was pretending to polish his sword, his own sword which was given to him when he became 12.

Albel turned around to see his father, and Glou gave a smile when he saw Albel. Things were hard for Glou since his wife had passed away. He wondered if Albel was still sad about her death.

Albel gave a grin in return, even though Albel had thoughts of what his father and Woltar were talking about.

"I think your sword is polished enough, Albel. And…I have to talk to you about something, Albel. Something important." Glou said, his face turning serious.

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That was when Albel first found out that he had to have the Accession of the flame. Though he did not want to do it, it was for his father's sake. But he wished he could go back through time and change everything.

"Albel, are you listening to me?" Said the king.

"Yeah. What did you say?" Albel said expressionless.

The king sighed. "I said, what did you do to Lady Nel?" He said.

"I did nothing, sir. Why don't you ask her what I did? I bet she'll tell you everything you need to know." Albel said, got up from his chair, and left.

When Albel left, the king muttered, "Dear boy, I wish you were more serious, like your father."

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Nel woke up from a good sleep since god knows when. She laid in bed a few more minutes, and thought about things.

Her father has yet to visit her in her dreams. She also thought about Albel. Maybe she should just forget about him. Maybe her feelings were just an infatuation. Since yesterday, she felt a bit uneasy seeing him. And that question he asked after he most probably read all the pages, made her feel really shy. She knew she shouldn't have left the papers on the bed!

Curse her luck! Why did she have to leave it there? Now he might be thinking who she loves…when it's actually he who she loves!

Nel got up, showered, got dressed, and went to greet the king and discuss to him the situation in Aquaria. The sooner she gets out of here, the better. Just go and discuss with the king, eat breakfast after that, and get back to Aquaria with the designated soldier or who knows what. Simple and easy.

Nel sighed. She looked at herself in the mirror to see if she was calm. Ok, calm yourself, Nel. You know the plan, all you have to do is to just work it out.

Nel went out of her room, and went to the king's room/office. (A/N It's an office right?)

Anyways, she knocked on the door, and she waited patiently for an answer. A soldier opened it, and showed her in. The king was sitting on his chair, looking out of the window.

"Your majesty, I have come here to discuss to you about the situation in Aquaria," Said Nel.

"Ah yes. I was waiting for that. Please, continue." The king said kindly.

Nel explained about the situation. The investigation was the disappearance of their sacred arts, in churches of Apris. Though they knew Glyphians were not people who believed in this religion, the queen needed help. She did not want the religion to be gone, even if it meant that only a few people followed it. And Nel did not want the queen to feel that way, and did not want the religion to be gone, either. She would do the best she can to save it.

"Quite strange indeed. I will cooperate, I will send one of my good soldiers to help investigate. But I wonder who?" King Arzei said, thinking. Then he said, "Lady Nel, can you come back later to see me and I shall tell you who." The king said.

"Very well, your majesty. I shall come back later." Nel said as she turned to leave.

She decided to eat her breakfast somewhere. Once she found a good place, she ordered her food, and ate. But she found it a bit disturbing in this place, because there seemed to be a table of men who were perverted. That is really uncomfortable.

Ok, so now the sooner I finish eating, the sooner I can get away from these people. She thought as she quickly ate. She finished eating, paid, and left.

Nel decided to walk around the place, seeing that it might be too early to go back to the king. And she had to stock up on things, too for the way back.

But something felt really fishy here. She felt like there was someone following her. So she walked a bit more quickly, the corner of her eyes looking back.

After a few minutes, she gave up and turned around. Then she saw someone there. As he came closer, she realized it was one of the men who were ogling her!

She took a few steps back, and pulled out her dagger. She was going to attack when someone grabbed her arms and lifted her up a bit, making her drop her dagger. She gasped, and struggled to get out of the man's hold of her. But he was too strong; she couldn't get out as much as she tried.

Then she saw the man before her. He was coming closer and closer to her, with a perverted smile on his face. She panicked. What are they going to do to her?

"Heheheh…don't worry, woman, we're not going to hurt you. Just stay still…" The man said, obviously this is not a good sign. This is so not a good sign.

"S-Stay away from me!" Nel shouted out, struggling once more.

Then the man holding her said, "Listen to us, woman. We're not going to do any harm…" He said, smirking deviously.

Nel was scared. She didn't know what to do. If only she was stronger than them, then she could kick their asses. But she's not. What is she going to do now?

She felt tears in her eyes. No, she can't cry here! That will make these guys more interested!

The man in front of her, much closer to her now, slid his hand under her skirt, and caressed it.

Nel tried to shake him off, but how will that help? She struggled a lot, and tried to stop her tears from flowing down her face.

Just then, the man caressing her stopped, and fell. Nel wondered what happened, but then she knew it wasn't time to wonder about that. She struggled again, but still, to no avail. She thought it was the end. Tears flowed down, but suddenly, the man dropped her. She fell on the ground, and looked up. There she saw Albel, looking angry.

Albel bent down to see if Nel had any injuries. Nel bowed her head down, she did not want Albel to see her tears. But somehow, she couldn't stop them from flowing. Maybe she just was actually scared of being raped.

And for once, she just had to let herself go. She realized, she cannot hold herself inside all the time. She just hugged Albel on his chest tight, and cried.

Albel was shocked. But he thought maybe women aren't always tough. Neither are men. But for this time, he let Nel do what she wants to do. He let her cry on his chest.

But soon after, Nel fell asleep on his chest. He picked her up 'bridal style', and carried her back to her room in the castle.

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Thank god no one was around. Albel didn't want anyone to see him carrying Nel around.

He went into Nel's room, and placed her in her bed. For a second, she looked kind of cute. She was sleeping peacefully in her bed. Reminds him of himself when he was young.

But then, his childhood memories were mostly sad. Who would want to live a life like him?

He just looked at Nel's sleeping figure. Then he realized, she was beautiful. And that must have been the reason why he didn't want her to get hurt just now. With those filthy men.

Who knew that one day he was choking her, a few days later he would be saving her? I must be crazy, or stupid… he thought.

Then, Nel stirred from her sleep. She thought something felt weird. She knew what happened before…but then she remembered after that, she cried…on…Albel…

She turned her head, and saw Albel sitting with his eyes closed. Just when she was going to get up, he spoke.

"Feeling better? Didn't have any nightmares of those pathetic men?" He asked, and he sounded angry.

"Umm…no…but why do you care? I mean, why are you angry?" Nel said, feeling a bit weird at Albel's strange behavior.

Albel felt this. He had to cover it up. "N-Nothing, I…I was just asking." He said, faltering.

Albel is becoming weird now. Too weird. Creepy. Indescribable. Out of your world. You know what she means…

Anyways, she asked him. "Uh…are you okay, Albel?" She asked with a nervous laugh.

"Nothings wrong with me, okay? Never mind about me. What about you? How are you?" He asked.

There he goes again. "I AM FINE ALBEL! BUT I THINK YOU'RE NOT!" She shouted out.

Albel was surprised. "I'm fine too, Nel. I'm just….I don't know." He said, confused.

"O…K…" Nel said, confused too. She decided to go see the king.

"Well, I'm going to go see your king, so later." Nel said as she opened the door. with you." Albel said as he walked behind her.

"Huh? Ok…" Nel said as she just walked off.

"I know I'm acting strange…" Albel muttered under his breath, but Nel didn't hear it.

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Author's notes : Um….last part was weird…I don't know why I did that….oh well, please review!