Chapter 7 – After The Storm
"...i.."
'..who..?'
"...bi.."
'...Who is calling me..?'
"Obi!"
Obi opened his eyes in an instant, three faces came to his vision and it was Mitsuhide, Kiki and Zen. The three of them looked so serious, DEAD serious. The wave of uneasiness had washed over his heart, something was deadly wrong.
"Master.. What is wrong? Is everyone alright?" asked Obi carefully.
Zen clenched his fist and his eyes were deadly dangerous, Obi had unpleasant shiver when he saw him like that, the only time his master had shown such face was when...
"..Mistress..", Obi muttered "..Is she okay..?"
"..Shirayuki..", Zen muttered in cold anger "...Is kidnapped.. Ryu also.."
Obi felt his heart sunk, once again he felt a huge feeling of failure. Again.. he had failed to protect the Mistress, the most important person in his life. However, the one who suffered the most was not him but his master. It was shown clearly in his master's face, losing the woman he loved the most again.
"..To think King Reinhart is the one who kidnap Shirayuki and Ryu.." Mitsuhide muttered, clearly he was annoyed at his own weakness.
'Eh? King Reinhart?' Obi mused
"Wait..", Obi spoke "What do you mean, King Reinhart?"
"King Reinhart is the culprit, that thick fog was made by Alchemy.. That's why it can catch us off guard..", Kiki explained, her tone was cool but her expression was serious. It showed on her face that being caught off guard was a personal insult.
'Then Nikki.. Works for Him..?' Obi mused.
"So there you are Zen.."
A cool voice could be heard from the hallway, Zen and the others had their heads turned to the source and there was Prince Izana, standing while leaning his right shoulder to a pillar.
" I was looking for you, Come to my office," He said and turned around, "Bring your aides as well"
With that, he walked away. Zen stood up on his feet as he gazed on Obi who still sat on the grass "Can you stand,Obi?"
Obi, even though he still felt slightly numb due to the fog, nodded his head and stood on his feet. Kiki and Mitsuhide rose as well. All three of them headed toward Izana's office.
...
"Looks like he's really done it now" Izana smiled softly, staring at through the window with crossed arms. "..He is really interesting.."
"What do you mean, Big Brother?" asked Zen. Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi were standing behind him. All of them looked so confused.
"I know King Reinhart will try to kidnap Ryu" Izana said calmly.
Zen and his aides were surprised, it was something they didn't expect to hear from Izana. Izana kept staring through the window "But I don't know that he will take Shirayuki along," Izana smiled as he turned his head to face Zen and his aides.
"How did you know? Is there something you're not telling me about King Reinhart, Big brother?" Accused Zen, Izana's mysterious trait had pushed him to ask such question. He had lost Shirayuki once again and it drove him mad.
"Are you feeling restless, Zen?" Asked Izana, still maintaining the smile on his face and Zen really wanted to punch that smile off his face. Izana however, sensing that he had teased his little brother too much. Chuckling to the tense face Zen had, Izana started to explain.
"The reason I know his plan is because of our conversation. King Reinhart wants to borrow Ryu, I told him that I need a reason of why he wants to borrow Ryu. The King, however, said that there is no reason, he just wants to borrow Ryu's knowledge for Alchemy study" Izana walked closer to his desk and sat at the edge of it "..Seeing how he was reluctant to say the truth.. Gave me a hunch that he will do something and.." Izana's smile became wider, full of triumph "He did"
"But if you have such hunch, shouldn't you do something about it instead of letting him do whatever he pleases?" Asked Zen
"It's not that simple" Izana's face instantly turned serious. "..Because King Reinhart is desperate.. and if I do something about it, will only cause more casualties... especially on our side.."
"Huh?" Zen looked confused. "Desperate?"
"Yes, Even though he looks more mature than his age.. He is still young.. The problem in Ruthergent Kingdom seems heavy that he has to use such methods, risking the peace between two kingdoms.." Izana took a piece of paper on his desk and offered it to Zen. "..If you read this.. then you will know the problem.."
Zen moved closer, taking the paper off Izana's hand and started reading it. Soon, his eyes widened in horror as his head turned to Izana.
"Yes," Izana said grimly "There is heavy disease falling in Ruthergent"
Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi turned their head to each other, Mitsuhide took the lead to walked closer to Zen and took the paper of his hand. The three of them read it and their reactions were the same as Zen.
"The Disease is called 'Gehendra', It's written in ancient language.. The meaning is 'Demon' Curse'.. According to the spy I sent to Ruthergent, This disease causes human's body and soul to change. First the change of the body, the skin became thick, some have scales then Fangs start to show.. unfortunately.. That is the only thing I can gather.. Because the spy I sent.. was dead at the spot where my messenger came to take the report.." Izana explained.
Zen curled his hands into fist, If this was true then Shirayuki and Ryu were in danger. "..Brother.. Let me chase after him and bring back Shirayuki and Ryu to Clarines.."
"I refuse" Izana said calmly.
"But if there is such dangerous disease—"
"You can't chase after the King, You forgot that Ruthergent Kingdom is powerful due to Alchemy.. This is not something to be taken lightly"
Zen knew that, but the thought of Shirayuki and Ryu in such dangerous place was unbearable. Zen gritted his teeth, "I am still going" he said stubbornly.
Huge silence fell into the room, filled with tense atmosphere. Izana and Zen stared at each other for a while before Izana let out a soft sigh. "Very well, but not now.. If you still want to go.. You have to go with my conditions.."
"And That is?" Zen asked, knowing his brother's manipulative trait.
"You have to follow my plan" Izana said.
Zen didn't say anything for a while, he was bidding his bet whether he should follow along his brother's plan or not. But having permission to go was better than sneaking out of the palace. "Very well, Brother," Zen finally answered,
Izana smiled, clearly satisfied "Good, Now I shall tell you the plan.."
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Shirayuki opened her eyes, staring at the place she was in right now. She was at the cabin inside the ship that had taken her and Ryu to Ruthergent Kingdom. Sighing to the fate she was in, her mind drifted to the first moment she woke up and found herself inside this ship.
...
"..Where am I..?" Shirayuki asked Yue who brought food to her cabin.
"You are inside the famous Ship of Ruthergent Kingdom, Shiva" Yue answered.
"And Why am I in this ship?" Shirayuki asked, clearly confused.
"Because His Majesty wants you to come along with the little boy"
"Little boy? You mean Ryu?" Shirayuki asked and her expression changed when she had put two and two together. "..Are you Kidnapping Me and Ryu?"
Yue who walked toward the door stopped when he heard the question. "Yes" he simply answered and left the room just like that, leaving Shirayuki stunned hearing his answer.
...
Shirayuki sighed softly, Ray had not visited her. The only one who did was Yue and Ryu, Even when she walked out of the cabin to get fresh air, Ray avoided to meet her gaze on purpose. He treated her as if she was not there.
Shirayuki wanted to ask him the reason behind the kidnapping but when she visited his room, Yue said that Ray didn't want to see anyone. Ryu was acting calm as always, when Shirayuki asked how he felt about the Kidnapping , Ryu said that there was nothing to be done about it. He had a feeling that the King kidnapped him for a reason, But his dis likeness could be seen whenever he saw Ray.
"Harbor!"
A voice could be heard from outside. Shirayuki stood up from her bed at the same time her door was opened from outside. It was Yue and he brought Ryu along with him. "We have arrived, come with me," Yue said.
Shirayuki and Ryu followed Yue from behind and noticed that the ship was getting closer to the harbor once they were at the deck. "Welcome to Ruthergent Kingdom" Yue said.
Shirayuki and Ryu looked at the town in front of them, It was a big town but somehow there was something missing. Gloominess could be felt hanging on the air, even when they descended from the ship, They were brought to carriage as soon as possible. Ray did not say anything along the way, his face was stone cold, there was no feeling could be seen there. Shirayuki peeked from the window, the people of this kingdom did their activities with fear on their faces and it rose so many questions in her mind.
As they arrived at the Palace, a girl who looked slightly younger than Ray ran toward him. Her face filled with worry and again, Shirayuki noticed, Fear.
"Brother! I mean Your Majesty! There is one guard evolving to final phase! We tried to hold him in 'That Room' as instructed but—"
"I know" Ray cut the girl's words and walked away, changing the speed of his feet. Yue, Shirayuki and Ryu followed from behind him quickly. Shirayuki noticed that Ray was grabbing tight his sword, his eyes became fierce, cruel and most of all.. Relentless..
They entered a lab and moved toward a room that was guarded by two soldiers. Ray unsheathed his sword and nodded to guards, signaling them to open the door that was made by steel.
Shirayuki and Ryu were stricken with horror when they saw what was inside the room. It wasn't a person, no.. it used to be a person but the traits were not there anymore. Horns, Pointy ears, Claws and Fangs and Red Eyes. Yes, that was what people called as Demon and it sensed death the moment Ray stepped into the room. Sticky droll dropped from it's mouth, the demon growled as it launched at Ray.
It happened quickly, Ray managed to dodge while swinging his sword and cut one of it's feet. The demon growled in pain and Ray cut the head soon after. Shirayuki gasped as she pulled Ryu into her embrace, but it was too late because Ryu already saw the scene.
Ray swung his blade, letting the blood splashed away from it and sheathed it back as he stepped away from the room. "Burn the body" He said in oddly cold tone, it as if there was no life in it.
"Yue.. Take Shirayuki and Ryu too their rooms" Ray ordered, still walking away. "Katherina, meet me in my office.."
Katherina glanced apologetically at Shirayuki and Ryu before following Ray, Yue stared at Ray's back for a while, there was deep sadness in his eyes. He soon regained his composure and turned his head toward both Shirayuki and Ryu. "Follow me, I will show you to your rooms" He said politely.
Shirayuki and Ryu followed Yue in silence. In her minds, Shirayuki was sure that whatever it was that happened in this kingdom, it was connected to the demon she just saw. She decided to ask Yue along the way.
"..That.. Person.." Shirayuki started carefully.
"It's not a person anymore" Yue answered, his tone sounded stiff. "..That is a person who has been infected with Gehendra disease and reach the final phase of infection.."
"Gehendra disease?"
"..I know that.." Ryu spoke out of the blue, "..I have read it in a book that my master has.."
"Really Ryu?" Shirayuki asked the little boy.
"Yes, It is said the Disease will change the shape of human's body and alter the human's soul.." Ryu explained.
"Correct" Yue said, "Gehendra is an ancient language, It means.. 'Demon's curse' It change Human's body into a demon and alter human's soul into a soul of demon.."
"But how did the kingdom get heavy disease like that?" Ryu asked, "This disease suppose to be gone long time ago.. That is why My master said that it's an ancient disease.."
"I am afraid.. I am not the one who suppose to explain where it all started.." Yue said as he stopped in front of a double door. "This chamber has two rooms inside and it connected to each other, from now on, this will be your rooms"
"I need to speak with Ra-... I mean The King" Shirayuki said.
"I am so sorry, but the His Majesty's order is for me to show you to your rooms.. I assume he will explain it all to both of you later.. You have to rest for now, I shall assign maids to fulfill everything you need," Yue said, "Please have a nice rest"
With that words, Yue bowed and left Shirayuki and Ryu alone. Ryu turned his head to Shirayuki
"Shirayuki.. Let's rest for now, We might need more energy later.."
Shirayuki nodded and smiled, there was sadness in it. Her heart and mind were in a mess, at one side she missed Zen and was afraid she might not be able to see him again, but on the other side, she was concerned of Ray's behavior and curious about what happened in this kingdom. Resting was a good idea.
"Okay, Ryu" said Shirayuki and entered the chamber with him. Both of them entered their rooms, hoping that they would get a good rest. They really hoped they could...
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Okay this is my latest chapter! ^o^/
I am so sorry that it is late, I have pilled up works and it really takes time to finish some of it. TT_TT
Anyway, this chapter is the entrance of a deeper plot. I introduce the disease's name and the source of Ray's suffering.
As always, I need reviews and I am grateful to those kindly point out where I did wrong! :D You are the best! :D
With that I can improve my sucky writing! XDD
and as always, I thank you for all people who add this story as their favorites and follow me or this story. Thank you so much! :D I love you all ! :D
Okay, Time for me to sleep! XDD (It's late here.. ^^;;) We will meet again at the next chapter! Love and Peace! (^o^)v