Chapter 5 – The Beginning Of The Storm I
Ruthergent Kingdom..
Prosperous and powerful due to the Alchemy knowledge, happiness and blissfulness surrounded the people everyday. In that kingdom, lived the royal family that had knowledge in Alchemy. King Edgebert Thorian and Queen Elena Thorian were known to be the best ruler, both of them had two sons and two daughters. The first prince was Reinhart Thorian, The second was Princess Katherina, Third was Prince Wayne and the last one Princess Serine. They lived happily until it all went down to destruction. It started two years ago...
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"Immortality?" The younger Reinhart frowned at his father "Of course it's impossible father. Aren't you the one who told me that all things will have it's own end?"
Both King Edgebert and Reinhart were relaxing at the library, reading the books they liked. All of a sudden, King Edgebert mentioned something about immortality. His middle age face lit up like a child "But Imagine this Ray, if we have immortality then we don't have to worry about age right?"
Reinhart who was frowning at his father, suddenly laughed hard. "Are you worried about your own age, dear father?"
"Don't be so cheeky!" King Edgebert scowled at his oldest son. "And I am not worried!"
"Then what's with this sudden topic of conversation?", asked Reinhart
"Well, I just think having immortality will be good for the kingdom", King Edgebert muttered.
"Our Kingdom is fine as it is father, you have done well so far" Reinhart smiled happily.
King Edgebert smiled proudly at his son "You will be a greater King than me, Reinhart.. I am proud of you"
...
"Father... what is this..? isn't this guy one of the palace attendant?" asked the younger Reinhart as he stared at the dead body, blood still seeping from the pores of the dead man skin.
"This is just an experiment, Ray", said the King. "your mother has found a way to obtain strength far beyond human"
Reinhart's heart thumped with uneasiness, he couldn't believe his own eyes. "..Strength.. far beyond.. human..?"
"Yes, this will be the biggest breakthrough! Your mother needs our support!" Said King Edgebert, his tone was abnormallyexcited.
"No father! Open your eyes! This is murder! We can't use human as an experiment!"retorted Reinhart
SLAP!
Reinhart felt stinging pain on his cheek, his eyes widened as he stared at his father in disbelief. "..Father..?"
"How dare you!", King Edgebert roared in anger, "As the First prince and the heir of the Kingdom, you should support your parents!"
"But Father! How can I support it when the things you do is wrong?!", Reinhart shouted, trying to talk some sense to his father.
"Darling.." a sweet, gentle voice could be heard from the door of the experiment room. "It seems Reinhart needs to calm his head for a while"
Reinhart turned his head, there was standing a beautiful woman he used to adore, Long golden hair that reached to her waist, long eyelashes but the true beauty she used to had had vanished. The gentle smile which Reinhart used to like turned to a creepy cold smile, the loving eyes that Reinhart used to love to see had gone, it became abnormallycold, like the eyes of a mad Alchemist.
"Mother.."Reinhart was speechless.
Elena's hand lifted up and touched Reinhart's face gently, Reinhart shivered due to the coldness of those slender fingers that touched his skin. "You need to understand Reinhart, this is all for the kingdom.. Your father has allowed me to use as many subject as I want.. You will see it soon, this kingdom will move to a new revolution"
"But Mother!" Reinhart tried to debate but stopped by the guards.
"Bring the prince to his room, don't let him out for a while" said Queen Elena.
"Mother.." Reinhart muttered in disbelief as the guards dragged him away from the lab "No! Mother! Father! Open your eyes! Nooo!"
...
Reinhart woke up with loud gasp. He panted hard, his eyes frantically looking around, scanning the room as he soon realized that he was in Clarines. A heavy sigh came out of him, his naked body was drenched with sweats and his breathing was ragged as if he ran for miles.
"...I thought I won't see those dreams anymore.." He muttered softly to himself. Maybe because Prince Izana mentioned that 'cursed woman's' name yesterday, the memories he had suppressed, emerged once again.
Another heavy sigh came out of him again as he ran his fingers through his golden hair "..I need to be stronger.. more.. and more.. otherwise.. I can't save the kingdom.."
Yes..
He needed to get a hold of himself. This was not the time for past drama, he didn't need the past nor he could change it. All he needed now, the way to save his people and Clarines held the answer to his problem. Well, that will be for later.. For now, he wanted to enjoy the date with Shirayuki.. Just for today..
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Clarines Palace..
A grand place that filled with people who worked at the palace, serving the kingdom whole heartedly. But for a man with short, spiky hair, it was the place where his master and mistress lived. As he entered the palace using the 'usual' method, meaning hoping from tree to tree, well, that was usual for him, he expected to see his master in a bright mood, but he was clearly mistaken.
The clear blue sky out there couldn't even reduce the dark cloud inside the office of the second prince of Clarines. The moment he landed on the balcony, he was surprised to see how dark his master's mood was.
"So, Master is sulking because he lost the duel and it caused Mistress to have a date with the guest from other Kingdom?", asked Obi.
"Yes" Mitsuhide answered, "Well, by this time.. Shirayuki is having fun—"
BAM!
Zen put the paper he just signed with more power than usual, Mitsuhide cringed because of the loud sound. He nervously changed his words, "I- I mean, She is forcing herself to have a date with King Reinhart.."
"Heee" Obi put his hands behind his head, "And here I am wanting to hug Master with all my love"
Zen shot him a sharp glare, Mitsuhide scowled at Obi "you really want to be killed that badly huh?"
Obi grinned, "If it's master who wants to kill me then I am willing to give my heart, body and soul~"
"Pervert" Kiki muttered without even glancing at Obi, her hands kept on working.
"Hahahah~ Lady Kiki is so cold as always~ It makes me want to give you a kiss~" Obi grinned wickedly.
Mitsuhide's eyes grew cold as he started unsheathing his sword "Farewell, Obi"
"Wait, It's a joke, Sir! It's a joke!" Obi waved his hands, tried to stop Mitsuhide from lifting his sword.
BAM!
Once again Zen put more power when he put the paper he just signed, Mitsuhide and Obi froze, Kiki let out a sigh.
"Obi..", Zen's tone was low and dangerous, "I have a job for you"
"Y-Yes?", Obi asked nervously.
"Follow Shirayuki from the shadow, report everything to me and if King Reinhart starts acting funny toward her, stop him right away" Zen said.
"As you wish" Obi said as he dashed toward the balcony and jumped down from it. This would be an interesting job for him.
...
At the same time, Shirayuki was having a date with Reinhart, the King of Ruthergent Kingdom. Both of them were having a break at the restaurant after walking together for a while.
"Nee, Ray..", Shirayuki looked at Ray who was taking a sip of the coffee he ordered.
"What?" Ray replied without even glancing at her.
"Why?", Asked Shirayuki suddenly, kept staring at his face.
Ray froze for a while before putting the cup back to it's saucer. He lifted his gaze to meet Shirayuki's "Why what?" he asked, giving a soft smirk at her.
Shirayuki sighed, she really didn't understand Ray's personality. While they were walking earlier, Ray rarely spoke, Shirayuki also didn't know what to say but still did her best. Sometimes Ray showed playful side like this, but sometimes, Ray showed a very cold side, it's like there was darkness aura surrounded him, made him unapproachable, untouchable, couldn't be understood by others. It wasn't like Shirayuki had special feeling for Ray, she just wanted to know him better. To know Ray for who he was, the true Reinhart Thorian.
"Why do you want to have a date with me? Why do you have to rile Zen up so much?", Asked Shirayuki seriously.
There was silence before Ry opened his mouth, "Because I.. think you are interesting", Ray decided to give that kind of answer then grinned "And because Prince Zen's reaction is funny as well~"
Shirayuki narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed, "Ray, you really have a bad personality"
Ray's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time for a woman to say that to him, usually they always laughed it away and pretended not to hear it, wanted to charm him even more. Those kind of women disgusted him, it as if he saw a part of 'that woman' in them. Yes.. a part of his mother..
A soft chuckle came out of him as he muttered softly, it as if he was talking to himself, "..a bad personality... huh..?"
"Ray?" Shirayuki tilted her head, confusion could be seen on her beautiful face.
"It's nothing~", Ray gave a playful smile. "Have you done eating the cake?"
"Un!", Shirayuki answered
"Well then, let's go to the market.. the last time I was here, I don't have the time to visit it", said Ray, standing up from his seat. Both of them exited the restaurant and headed toward the market which located near the harbor.
Both of them were having fun indeed. Ray who rarely showed his real smile, smiling a lot when they were looking around at the goods at the market. Shirayuki noticed how relax he was, how comfortable he was and deep down, she felt like a big sister who looked after a little brother. However, she wouldn't say it to Ray, for she knew that would upset him. He was older than her after all.
"Are you having fun so far, Ray?" Asked Shirayuki as both of them stood side by side at the harbor.
"Yeah, I am" Ray smiled happily, "How about you, Shirayuki?"
"Of course!" Shirayuki gave the same smile, it sent butterflies in Ray's heart. "Especially since I can see your real smile"
"Eh?", Ray stared at her in confusion.
"You might not realize it Ray, but you rarely smile and laugh for real.. Well this is only from my quick observation.. but somehow, I feel like you are trying to push people away.." Shirayuki explained in gently.
'It's because I have lost the reason to smile and laugh from heart..' Ray mused 'After what happened, After what I had done.. Even though it was to save my father and the people from the worse condition.. I still..'
"Ray.." Shirayuki called out to him, her tone was gentle and soft, just like flutter wings of a butterfly. "I want you to smile and laugh like you did today.. I don't know about your life but to push people away from you, that is just sad.. because I know I will be sad.."
"Shirayuki.." Ray muttered, clearly surprised how she could know what he was feeling. Soon, a soft chuckle came out of him as he smiled gently at her "You really are.." he lifted his hand and caressed Shirayuki's cheek with the back of his hand "..Something.."
Shirayuki was surprised due to his touch, she wasn't sure how to react but seeing Ray's gentle smile made her happy. "Zen told me that we decide our own life, our own future.. So I am sure you can also do same"
Ray's hand froze when Shirayuki mentioned Zen's name, his heart once again felt like it was squeezed tightly, his blood boiled, raging in anger. "...Don't say his name.." He muttered softly under his breath
"Eh?"
"I said.." As Ray used his hand to grabbed the back of Shirayuki's head and pulled her face closer toward him. "..Don't say his name in front of me.." he muttered in low dangerous tone and with that, he pressed his lips on hers.
Shirayuki's eyes widened in surprised, she could not believe what was happening right now. The same with Obi who stood on the top of a house, he was about to jump when suddenly a chain was wrapped around his body from behind.
Surprised by the sudden attack, Obi turned his head to see his attacker but his body froze, his eyes widened and fear could be seen in those golden eyes. Fear usually far from his dictionary, but when dealing with this person who just attacked him, he couldn't help but sinking in the feeling called fear.
Soft giggles came out of the woman who had violet hair that reached to her waist, a pair of grey eyes stared at him with amusement in it. "My My ~" an alluring voice came out of the woman yet the tone was icy cold, Obi felt like his blood mixed with cold water, slowly taking the heat out of his body.
"You are still being reckless, My sweet Obi~" said the woman, unsheathing her medium sized blade. "Just like the old time~"
Tried to be as calm as he could, Obi muttered the woman's name, his tone filled with fear and a slight disgust in it.
"...Nikki..."
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Okay! I hope you all enjoy the story so far! :D I add a new char, the woman who Obi used to have history with ~ XDD I want to thank you to people who give me reviews, follow my story and add it as their fav story. Because of you, I can still write this story! ^o^/
As usual, I need reviews since I know my grammar is suck T_T and yes, I leave a cliffhanger to make it more interesting, I hope you guys become curious of the next chapter, Did it work? XDD I hope so XDD
Anyway, I love you all readers and I shall do my best for the next chapter! ^o^/ Love and peace! (^.^)v