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Saga 5 Part 2

Alberta is very much different from Geffen, Morocc or Prontera. It is a port city and because it is located so near the sea, the air is mostly salty and the place is always windy.

"Great change of scenery! I was really getting bored of Geffen," chimed Galicia.

"Why on earth are we having a holiday here in Alberta?" complaint Ri-anne.

"What are you whining about, sis? We all deserve a holiday once in a while and why is Ivor carrying YOUR luggage?" asked Feng-xen sternly.

"He said he didn't mind."

Ivor smiled weakly at Feng-xen. "It's nothing. It's just one luggage."

"See?" Ri-anne shrugged.

"You're such a bully, sis!"

"I don't see why you are so protective over him. Always speaking for him," she sniffed.

Feng-xen opened his mouth to retort but Phelysa interrupted him. "Unlike you, Ri-anne, Feng-xen is more compassionate. He's quite right to call you a bully."

The male assassin glanced at her, unsure what to make of about her helping statement but inserted a "Yeah!" anyway. His cheeks were a faint pink when she giggled at him.

Ri-anne, however, did not bother about their words and carried on walking, as though she had heard nothing.

They walked a fifteen-minute route before Ri-anne announced, "This should be the place!"

The group faced the side view of a double storey manor with blue rooftops. Instead of having brick walls and heavy iron gates to guard the manor, coconut trees and short, light green bushes lined the vast compound of it. Anyone could have just walked in without any restriction.

"People in Alberta should be a bit more wary on security terms," remarked Phelysa.

"You can't blame them. Alberta is a very peaceful city. Crime rates here are much lower compared to other cities," said Galicia. She knew the place better than the rest since she did spend quite some time in Alberta before.

"Let's just go in. I want to rest my feet," muttered Ri-anne.

"Ha-ha-ha. An assassin-cross complaining about sore feet," said Feng-xen sarcastically. "If you want to hurry to meet your dearly-missed guardian already, just say so."

She threw a death glare at him. He returned a deadpan stare at her. "Don't make me hurt you."

Ivor looked from Ri-anne to Feng-xen anxiously. He stepped between them and gave a hearty laugh. "Lead the way, Miss Zedt. We're right behind you!"

Ri-anne dropped it and strode off, Galicia and Phelysa followed promptly. He sighed and then turned to Feng-xen. "Come now, you shouldn't have made your sister angry."

Feng-xen snorted. "You're the one who's in love with her, not me. I do not ban myself from seizing the chance to piss her off. She deserves it sometimes."

"Appreciate the fact that you have a sibling, Feng-xen."

"I know, I know. You have none and you wish you had because it's quite lonely to be the only child," drawled Feng-xen. "Your thinking never changes. If you had one like my sister, you will see having a sibling can be quite a pain in the neck."

The two chuckled among themselves.

"Hurry up, you two or the both of you can camp outside for the night!" roared Ri-anne from upfront.

They winced. "We're coming!"

Arriving at the doorstep, Feng-xen and Ivor arrived just in time to see the housekeeper open the door.

"You are…"

"I'm Ri-anne Zedt and these are my friends. We're here to visit Antares," informed Ri-anne, smiling politely.

"Oh, Lady Ri-anne!" gasped the woman in her forties, delighted. Her hair was a mix of grey and light brown. "Do come in! Forgive my ignorance!"

"It's okay. I don't think we've met before anyway," she said, entering. "Would it be too much of a trouble if we stay for a night or two, Madam Lefain?"

She chuckled, "Of course not! It would be my honour and pleasure to serve you, Lady Ri-anne. I have heard so much about you from Sir Sen-yu." Her aged greyish-blue eyes saddened. "I'm sorry I could not attend his cremation."

Ri-anne gave her a hug. "I still miss him too."

Madam Lefain smiled. "It's no wonder he is so fond of you, milady. You have his shadows in your eyes… Oh, what am I blabbering about? Here, follow me. I will take you upstairs. It's a good thing I'm always ready for guests—not that we've had any guests all these while… I'm sure Antares would be so happy to see the lot of you."

The manor was bright and airy. Large windows were open and white curtains tied to the side. They passed the living room as they headed for the stairs. The veranda after the living room presented the beautiful view of the open sea. Galicia and Phelysa vowed to explore the manor properly after greeting Antares.

Antares' room was at the very end of the corridor on the upper floor. Madam Lefain knocked on his door and told him that there were visitors. They waited for a response. She was about to knock the second time when they heard movements behind the door.

"Antares, you okay? It's me, Ri-anne," Ri-anne called out. The group exchanged nervous and worried glances.

To their relief, a croak came from within. "Princess? 's that… you?"

"Who else would it be?" she snapped, earning chides from Galicia and Phelysa.

"I… don't think… it's good for… me to… see you now," said Antares. He sounded weak and very sick.

"I am seeing you now," she said with a tone of finality.

Knowing it was useless to persuade her to leave; he agreed to open the door on the condition that he would only see Ri-anne.

"Okay, there's only me now," hissed Ri-anne, growing impatient.

He unlocked the door and opened it slowly. She didn't know how to react when she saw him face to face. His face was a sickly pale and it was obvious that he had been sweating profusely. His eyes looked disarray and a blanket was tightly wrapped around his shivering body. She went into the dark room (the curtains were pulled over the window) and was bewildered to see numerous feathers on the floor; feathers which were as black as the night. Antares quickly closed the door.

"Antares… What… strange illness are you suffering from? Why are there so many feathers in your room?" asked Ri-anne, shocked. "Does Madam Lefain know about this?"

"A patient… should not be burdened… with so many questions… at a time, Princess."

"Not funny, Antares," she grunted.

"As grouchy as… ever, I see."

Ri-anne sensed that her guardian was indeed seriously ill. He looked more and more unwell though he was merely talking. It was exhausting him greatly.

"But you, on the other hand, are in a really bad shape. How on earth did you become like this?" she demanded.

Antares was already halfway getting onto his bed and ready to hit the snoozing button. "I don't know… It's been almost… a week. The feathers… were there this morning. I don't know… how they appeared here."

"Doesn't Madam Lefain know about this?" She came to the side of his double bed.

"Told her… it's just a… fever…"

"You haven't seen a healer, have you?" she scolded. She pressed her palm on his forehead. She let out a yelp at the burning temperature. But as she felt again, it was freezing cold. "Antares, I think Phelysa should have a look at you."

"Just… let… me sleep… will be fine… Don't tell the rest…"

"Antares! Hey, you can't be asleep already!" she sighed. As a matter a fact, he WAS already sleeping like a baby. Not even wrath of heavens could wake him now.

She decided to let him rest and would later judge if she would ask for Phelysa's help. She didn't see how his condition could be kept a secret. She knew Antares most likely did not want to worry the rest but honestly, she couldn't see why the others shouldn't know about it.

Ri-anne lifted the blanket so as to cover him properly but her discovery left her experiencing an ominous chill.

His bed was harbouring uncountable amount of the same BLACK FEATHERS!