Chapter 9 – The Dark Passion
Clarines, Izana's Office..
Zen and his three aides, Mitsuhide, Kiki and Obi were listening to Izana's plan to sneak into Ruthergent. Since news was heard that all communication and activities from and to Ruthergent was closed, Izana assumed that Ray was planning to stall the rescue party from Clarines.
"So that is the plan" Izana ended his explanation,
"Be surely prepared because that kingdom in high alert right now not to mention dangerous. Meaning, not only because of the disease, but you must be careful of Reinhart's ability"
Zen stared at his brother in confusion, "Reinhart's ability?"
"Yes," Izana replied, "I noticed from our conversation that he is unpredictable, able to lead and not mention, can lay out a good strategy"
Izana hid the part that Ray was just like him, it was like seeing his twin. Both of them were two peas in a pod, sadly enough that the differences between them was the aura and the burden they both carried.
Izana had assumed that Ray's burden was heavier than him, hence, the reason why he had dark aura surrounded him. Izana could see it, even though Ray behaved politely, giving smile, it was just a facade. Ray had set barrier that pushed people away from him, including his personal aide.
"But brother, are you sure?" Zen asked, pulling Izana from his own deep thought.
"About what, Zen?" Izana asked in calm tone, knowing what Zen meant.
"About rescuing Shirayuki and Ryu"
Izana let out a knowing smile, "Of course," He said, "The reason I send you all is to aid Ruthergent, showing the kingdom that Clarines will help everything they need, with that comes gratitude"
And Izana's aim was that so called 'gratitude'. With Ruthergent as allies, he would form a bond between the two kingdom and sharing knowledge that could benefit Clarines in the end.
Knock Knock!
Sound of door knocking came from outside. Of course Izana frowned slightly because he clearly had told his asistant to not disturb him until Zen walked out of the room.
"Enter"
A man entered the room, it was none other than his personal attendant.
"Your Highness, A lady has come to see you"
Izana sighed, clearly he was annoyed because he thought the matter was urgent to make his attendant disobeyed his order.
"I already gave you a specific order not to bother me right?"
"But the lady forced me to bring her to you, she said she has a debt to pay"
'A debt?'
Izana mused, clearly confused. He had never met a woman who had—
"That's right, A debt"
a voice spoke from behind the assistant and a woman with long wavy hair in honey color walked into the office. She was dressed like a traveling swordsman with two blades at the each sides of her waist.
"You are.."
Izana was indeed shocked, staring at the woman who was rather younger than him. It was rare to see him with a shocked expression, as if something beyond his prediction and plan had happened in his life. He now remembered an interesting woman he met on the way he traveled to the other region.
"Yeah, yeah.. skip the details for a little bit"
The woman waved her hand as if she was in a hurry, her golden eyes turned to Zen and his two aides as a warm smile appeared on her beautiful face.
"Sup, My name is Melodia Yule Van Rozenkrentz.. I think I should introduce my self properly since I am inside a palace right now but since I am kinda of running away from My kingdom, please call me Melody"
Zen blinked
Mitsuhide gaped
Kiki was stunned
Obi whistled
"Wait.. Rozenkrentz..? Isn't that..."
Zen spoke as he turned to Izana, his eyes were full of question. Izana sighed as he began to explain.
"Yes, She is the first princess of Yuvenlia Kingdom and I met her when I was traveling to other region"
"Then the debt she mentioned?"
"He gave me food when I was almost dying due to hunger, even though I'd rather die than getting helped by that sissy face prince"
Melody answered the question instead. Her face showed her dislike about the matter which kinda confusing to Kiki, Obi and Mitsuhide. Usually women were glad to be helped by Prince Izana due to his gentle demeanor and handsome face. Hearing a woman, more over a princess talked like that to Izana was indeed weird.
Izana chuckled as a sweet smile came on his face, the smile Zen rarely saw and showed how he was amused by Melodia's behavior.
"My, My, I am honored to have such cool nickname you gave me and truly grateful that you come all the way here just to pay the 'Debt' "
His tone was playful and it only riled the woman even more.
"Shut up, Sissy prince! Just tell me the plan and I shall do whatever I can to help!"
"Thank you so much, beautiful lady"
"Ugh, I really hate you so much"
"On the contrary, I like you so much"
"Go to hell, you sissy prince!"
"I rather go to your kingdom and ask your hand of marriage"
"Don't you dare, bastard!"
Zen, Kiki, Obi and Mitsuhide turned their head according to the conversation. It was like watching a childish verbal match which was very amusing. Zen knew how his older brother was having fun teasing the first princess of Yuvenlia Kingdom who had no problem talking like a pirate. Well.. more like she was used to talk like that..
"Umm.. Brother"
Zen cut the bickering between the two of them and Izana nodded, knowing that he had waste a valuable time. Couldn't help it though, with this woman who talked like a pirate even though she was a royal and for more, a princess, Izana's interest was picked the moment they crossed path. But now was not the time for his personal interest..
"Well then, Zen.. Let's review the plan once again for the first princess.. and at dawn, we will start the plan.."
"Yes, brother!"
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Ruthergent Kingdom..
Shirayuki and Ryu were busy studying alchemy from Ray who tried to explain to them in the most simplest and fastest way. After all, time was not their friend at the moment. They can't lose any single of it.
As they got to know the basic and intermediate knowledge of Alchemy, Shirayuki and Ryu had spent most of their time at herb garden and the lab. They even slept and ate at the lab, they only back to their room for a shower or two to refresh themselves.
"This demon's blood herb.." Ryu spoke as he examines his sample "..It's a very strong herb that can destroy even the strongest poisonous herb.."
Shirayuki looked at the samples, a frown was clearly on her face. "We have tried so many poisonous herbs, the element inside Demon's blood can easily destroy it.. And here we thought, we can fight poison with poison"
"True.." Ryu said, "I think we need more sample from other ancient herbs.."
"Ray is requesting it right now" Shirayuki took another sample and dropped a demon's blood essence in it.
"Since this is an ancient herb, there must be a counter herb exists, right?"
Ryu wrote down the information from the last sample. He had been doing it from the start but now it was like he was engrossed in this experiment. Shirayuki noticed how she needed to work harder to catch up to this amazing pharmacist.
"I agree, I will search more information about ancient herbs" Shirayuki said as she walked to the door.
"Shirayuki"
Ryu called out to her, Shirayuki turned her body slightly.
"Yes?"
"Don't overwork your self"
Shirayuki smiled to the young pharmacist, it was rare for Ryu to be so concern of other people when he was engrossed in something. When he did, Shirayuki was always happy.
"Of course Ryu, I can say the same thing to you"
Ryu gave a small smile before turning his attention to the paper once again while Shirayuki left the room. Walking along the hallway, Shirayuki noticed there was someone standing not to far from the end of the hall. The person was none other than Ray and he was staring at a painting of a man whom Shirayuki noticed from the darkness of his eyes, this person might be someone Ray knew. Probably.. the previous King of Ruthergent.
"Ray, Good evening" Greeted Shirayuki as she walked closer to the man.
"Good evening, Where are you going?" asked Ray, turning his attention to the beautiful pharmacist.
"Oh, I am heading to the library.. Trying to gather more information about ancient herbs, Ryu said there must a herb exists in ancient time that can counter Demon's blood" Shirayuki explained and turned her head to see the painting.
"I see, I shall help you with that" Ray said, his eyes returned to the painting, noticing how Shirayuki gazed at it.
"This is my father, the man who I used to respect.."
Shirayuki noticed the words 'used to' and it pained her to hear such cold hatred in Ray's tone. Judging from what story she heard, Ray had experienced a nightmare, caused by his own parents and in result, stained his hand with the blood of the person he, Shirayuki knew very well, loved the most.
"Ray.." Shirayuki started to speak, hoping to have her feelings delivered. "..I think we shouldn't dwell on the past.."
Ray frowned, turning his gaze at the red hair pharmacist. "What do you mean?"
"You have many people who are worried about you, your siblings, Yue and even Me" Shirayuki explained. "If you keep dwelling on the past, You can't see the present nor the future"
"You.. worried about me..?" Ray frowned even more, as if he didn't believe Shirayuki's words.
"Yes, I am worried about you" Shirayuki gave him a soft sad smile.
"..Then stay.." Ray muttered
"Eh?"
He pushed Shirayuki to the wall and caging her with his arms.
"Stay beside me!"
"Love me!"
"Accept me!"
Shirayuki was stunned as she saw the gleam of dark desire in Ray's emerald eyes. Those eyes were staring at her like a predator staring upon it's prey, it surprised her, really.
"R-Ray.. I- "
"What should I do..?" Ray murmured in dark tone that filled with desire. He touched Shirayuki's face so gently as if he feared Shirayuki would disappear if he used a little bit force.
"What should I do to make you see me, to make you love me.."
His tone sent a stabbing pain to Shirayuki's heart, because she knew that she would only break Ray's heart. She could only love one man and that special man plagued her dreams these days.
"..I love Zen.. Ray" Shirayuki said, knowing that she had to put an end to this man's feeling for her. The more she stalled, the more Ray would be hurt by it.
"...I only love Zen.." Shirayuki continued, "..I am so sorry.."
There was a tense and heavy silence hung in the air, Ray clenched his fist tight before slamming it to the wall, making a loud banging sound. Shirayuki cringed a little because of it.
"Then don't give me half ass sympathy! Stop saying that you are worried about me!" Ray shouted then walked away in anger.
Shirayuki slowly breathed out the air she, just noticed, had held it for a little while. Her eyes stared at Ray's retreating back and there was sadness in it as she watched Ray disappeared into the darkness. Continuing her way to the library, Shirayuki pushed herself to focus at more important matter at hand. The cure of Gehendra.
However, deep down in her heart, she couldn't push away the sadness for breaking Ray's heart and the longing feeling to see the man she loved the most.
She missed Zen, She missed him so much. She wanted to see his face, wanted to see his smile, wanted to hear his voice, wanted to be in his arms. She wanted it so so much...
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Okay! Finally Chapter 9 is out!
So sorry for the delay because life's happened ^^;;
I have work and my health has been down lately so please forgive me! ;;
In this chapter, I introduce a character that will have her own story. Yes, this will be a new story I make about Izana x Melodia.
As usual I need more reviews of how I write and about the story, I hope it's not boring T_T
Thank you so much for those who follows me and this story! I am deeply grateful and please continue to support me until the end of the story! *deep bow*
See you all in the next chapter! :D
Love and Peace! (^.^)v