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Chapter 7
Five Months Later...
The winter was harsh this year. Its been a month since it started snowing. The whites and greys covered the entire area. The snow covered the mountain range, as well as the flat roof tops of the stone buildings lining up the city. The temperature wasn't helping either. Its almost close to a negative fifteen.
King Izana took comfort to the warmth given by the Arleon's House. He decided to spend his winter in the City of Lilias for several reasons. First, his priority is to strengthen the borders and to control the entry of foreign people. Since Lilias is situated in a mountain pass which acts as one of the two major checkpoints in the northern part of the Kingdom, it's more likely that they will encounter them – the criminals from Alcatraz.
The criminals from Alcatraz roamed every Kingdom of all the continents, not just in Fortissia, and brought with them violence, misery and havoc along their paths. The information about the criminals was disseminated to the public six months ago and everyone was advised to be vigilant and careful. It has become a global concern.
There were few encounters after their first one in the forest seven months ago. Every single one did not exactly give their party a favorable result. The criminals from Alcatraz sported strengths a normal guard wouldn't be able to match. He ordered the Captain to train every single one of their soldiers as if they are preparing for a war. If it is necessary, they would tap the citizens to not just to protect themselves but also their Kingdom.
Second, he was to finalize Lady Haki's transfer to the Crown Palace in preparation of their wedding. Since the city is overseen by the Arleon family, he needed to give a courtesy call to their head, Makiri Arleon, Haki's brother, for her change in residence. They were engaged ever since they were children. He, together with her brother Zen, grew up with her. Izana is particularly fond of her as she is toward him. Talks were comfortable and spontaneous. Intimacy will not be a problem. She has all the qualities of a queen. She was the best match for him.
Third, which isn't really a reason, was because his dream told him to be here during these particular weeks. He was having weird dreams lately. The same dream occurs every night in his sleep for the past two months already… maybe longer, he could just not remember. What he remembers are those vivid, intense and realistic conversation with an old man. The old man was tall with broad shoulders. In his aged face under great snowy brows his eyes were set like coals that could suddenly burst into fire. He has a long white hair and a sweeping silver beard. He wears a golden cloak which made him look like some wise king of ancient legend.
He remembered when he asked him if he was a manifestation of his past life. The old man boomed a hearty laugh.
"Goodness, Your Majesty, you wouldn't want me to be your past life. There's that, and I'm quite sure I did not die yet."
Sometimes, they would just have a cup of tea, with their talks having completely forgotten the moment Izana wakes up.
In a particular dream, the old man started asking if there was a particular place with a certain geography in the Kingdom of Clarines.
At first, Izana thought he was talking about the north western city of Oriold.
"Well, there are two walled city's in the Kingdom. One is in the northern part of Clarines, Lilias and the other would be in the west, Oriold." Izana told him truthfully. If he was awake, he wouldn't tell him this kind of information, but he knew he was dreaming. He felt that the old man could be trusted.
"Tell me, what is this place, Lilias, like?"
"That's where the Academy District is located. It's a place full of large mostly stone buildings that are designed to house scholars and their books."
"Scholars?"
"Yes, they are the academics and researchers."
"She mentioned about being one." The old man smiled as he brushed his long beard. "She would like to be there."
"She?"
"Yes. She." The old man wiggled his bushy eyebrows.
There were nights where they would talk about that "she" person. The old man seemed to somber at the mention of her. There were only bits and pieces that he could remember.
"Life is not kind to that child. It's going to take everything from her." He said. "I pity her so."
"Give her what she deserves." He told Izana.
"Me?"
The old man will smile at him cryptically.
"Do you believe in destiny?"
And then there's the dream that will be repeated for the past week.
This time the old man was holding a golden staff. He was surrounded by what Izana could understand as magic circles. The urgency of the matter was so intense, Izana could feel it physically – or so he thought.
"I'm running out of time, young man. Please, let her live. Go to Lilias during the winter at its coldest."
When Izana asks him questions, he will not answer. The dream is like a recording that was being played in his sleep for an entire week.
He got the message.
On the third night after he'd arrived, Izana was woken by a loud tremor from the earth. Its intensity was getting stronger with each second that it created cracks on the walls. Dust started falling from the ceiling. He can hear the people from the Arleon's household started panicking at the corridor. When the tremors stopped, his personal knights entered his room and escorted him out. He instructed one of his knights to go to Lady Haki's room and ensure her safety. But before they could evacuate to an open space, a light as thick as a building descended from the night sky. It was so bright that it almost blinded everyone. The moment it touched the ground, the light exploded emitting waves that only Izana could describe as an energy. It made all hairs in his body stood; he could feel the chill ran through his whole being.
"What on earth just happened?" One of his knights asked as they looked through the window.
It happened so fast that it took him a moment to compose himself. The light landed on the nearest mountain surrounding the city. He was suddenly engulfed with the sense of urgency he felt during his dream.
Thud.
Thud, thud, thud.
His heart suddenly started to beat at a speed he never knew possible. He could hear it clearly and distinctly.
He had to go there.
Lord Makiri appeared and asked if he was all right. He nodded.
"Prepare the horses." Izana ordered. Several knights immediately went to the stables.
"The light… it landed at the foot of Mount Aien." Lord Makiri informed. He was disoriented, he wasn't sure he saw what he saw.
"We'll go there." Izana told him. He pressed his left palm against his chest.
Thud, thud, thud.
"Your Majesty, are you sure you are all right?" Lord Makiri asked again.
"Yes, I'm sure."
He needed to go there.
…
The gust of icy wind was piecing them to the bones as the horses gallop to the foot of Mount Aien. Thankfully, it wasn't snowing but the coldness was seeping through their bones despite their thick and furry clothing. Izana was accompanied by Lord Makiri and four knights.
It took them ten minutes to arrive.
"Let's split up to search the area." Izana instructed.
"What are we looking for, Your Highness?" One of the knights asked.
"Something different." He answered. He felt like he's experiencing déjà vu.
It did not take long when one of the knights screamed. "Yo…Your Majesty!" The scream did not bode well.
Izana usually is in control but as of the moment he started to panic. All the men immediately turned their horses to where the knight was.
"Oh my god." Lord Makiri covered his mouth.
Izana wasn't completely aware that he left his horse until he heard the crunch of snow under his shoes. His body was automatically moving. All he now knew was he was running.
Running to her.
"What do you think happened?" The men dismounted their horses.
She wasn't moving so the first thing he did was to feel her pulse. It was weak, but she's alive. He gulped. He couldn't think straight. He was shaking.
She now wore her hair short so he immediately noticed and checked the wound in her neck. The parallel slice would have killed her. It was new, but it was already closed. No stitches, just closed. The blood from the wound was still warm. There was also blood in her shirt. He was not sure if she was also wounded in her body. She was only wearing a knight's garment shirt and pants, obviously tailored to her. If there was any armor, it was missing. He took of his coat and immediately covered her with it. He noticed that her arms were full of defensive wounds. Some were new, most were old. He gulped again.
"Noti…" He stopped and cleared his throat. He couldn't think.
"Notify the doctors."
Two knights immediately rode their horses back to the city.
"Help me." He ordered his knight and Lord Makiri. He must have an expression they never saw before because they quietly obeyed him.
Izana carefully gave them her body to hold. He then mounted his horse. They also carefully lifted her body up to him when he was settled.
When Lord Makiri was out of earshot, one of his personal knights asked him with worry.
"Your Majesty, is she not Lady Althea?"
He quietly nodded and looked at the fading color of the woman.
Yes, she is his Lady Scholar.
And she needed immediate help or she's going to die.
He tightened his hold to her body imploring her silently to hold on and bid the horse to run at lightning speed.
