===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Luffia rode the Pegasus with a smile as she took the road towards Vaelon. As she continued to take the road, her back continued to tingle as if a type of heat source is currently pressed on it. For days since meeting Zoro, her back would sometimes react at their interaction, burning with heat - a heat she finds comforting and welcoming. She wondered what could have been the reason for such sensation to occur.
Her simple mind does not want to dwell on such details especially if her questions won't be answered - this will just leave her frustrated for not obtaining answers to her questions.
It did not take long for her to see the palace itself. A beautiful structure. Should her mother be here, she would love the whole place itself. It radiates art, culture, and beauty that no place in the Human Realm can compare.
Luffia looked below her. She saw residents, currently busy with their everyday lives. Up in the air, she saw many creatures flying and some of them looked at Luffia with curious glances. She waved and smiled at them. They all flew right beside her, like royal guards. She did not mind, but she finds it strange.
It did not take too long before she landed on the palace ground. The two Warrior Commanders, Johnny, and Yosaku looked at her with a little hesitance. They knew this human princess' tendencies of causing havoc in one place.
"Hello, Johnny! Hello Yosaku! Where's Zoro?" She asked without minding the formalities royalties are supposed to have. She radiated familiarity towards the High Prince and some of the creatures who heard her spoke looked at her with either confusion or a frown.
"And pray tell, what do we owe you this visit?" Yosaku asked as politely as he could. These princesses might be honored guests, but as a Warrior Commander, he needs to know her purpose of visiting the High Prince.
"I just want to see him. He did promise me that he will let me ride on his back and I want to thank him personally."
All the creatures looked at Luffia with a mixture of amazement and disbelief. They all knew that their High Prince is adamant in transforming into his full form and nevertheless, letting anyone ride on his back.
He never lets anyone ride on him, even his Master, Dracule Mihaw, yet this woman, a mere human dared to state this kind of reasoning.
They all can't help but feel animosity towards her. They were about to drive her away from Vaelon when a voice stopped them.
"Who says I promised to give you a ride?" an annoyed voice resonated. They all recognized it as the High Prince of Vaelon - Zoro. The creatures respectfully bowed down to Zoro while Luffia's eyes lit up upon seeing the man.
"Zoro! " She greeted happily and as she saw him, her back started to feel the warmth spreads on her entire back.
Zoro only frowned at her presence. There it is again, his mark starting to throb whenever she is around and yet, he saw no changes in her expression, no reaction towards him. What could have been wrong?
"Is there something wrong?" She looked at him with her innocent dark eyes that seem to look at Zoro with so much emotion. It is so deep and sometimes, his green eyes narrowed upon realizing he is almost drowning at those eyes.
"Nothing. Why are you here?"
"I just came for a visit and thank you or saving my ass." She said.
"There is no need for you to travel here just to thank me. You are barely recovered from your injury." Zoro's words only made Luffia laugh at him. She never seems to care about his reprimand or how his voice seems to growl with disapproving tone towards her.
"I have nothing else to do in Chopper's manor besides training." She stated as if she is expecting Zoro to agree with her. A sigh left his lips and gestured Luffia to follow him inside. The residents can only stare at the human princess. Her relationship with the High Prince seems to be anything but ordinary.
Zoro led Luffia in the round clearing near a cliff. This is a private area in the palace where no one dares to venture. They do not want to offend the High Prince by invading his privacy. Yet, here the human princess stands, in the most private area of the palace ground.
Luffia looked solemnly at the cliff and the adjacent cliff right in front of her. She was never afraid of heights so she stood near the cliff looking at the flowing river almost 2000 meters below her. She wonders how it would feel to descend in this height whilst flying. She looked at Zoro pleadingly to let her ride on his back.
"No." He refused even without hearing her pleas.
She just stood there silent and her mind wondered about what happened in the Purgatory. The voice she heard that time, leading her and her sisters in that cave.
"The creatures in Purgatory, aside from the ones we encountered, are there still anyone aside from them?" She asked curiously. Zoro looked at her dark eyes with carefulness.
"Yes, some of them are the wildest amongst Raftel and beyond that, the Blazing Inferno held the traitors of Raftel." Zoro carefully observed Luffia's reactions. She did not show fear, rather, her eyes are filled with curiosity.
"What about the other kingdoms? My parents used to tell me stories about them."
"They are gone. Countless year, we tried to break the seal of the Valley of Xavaria, yet to no avail. We gave up on retrieving them. No one can break the seal outside."
"So the valley is still here? Can we see it?" Luffia's eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing the valley she heard since she was a child. Seeing it for real makes all the stories real as well.
A loud snort left Zoro.
"It is sacred ground, and no one aside from the Peacekeeper and us, the High Princes are allowed to enter that place. We only visit it during the Sacred Midnight."
"Sacred Midnight? What is that? When?"
"It will be 6 months from today."
Luffia only nodded. She has to wait 6 months before she can visit it. She felt a little disappointed but she can still wait. She was about to say coherent response when all of a sudden, she felt the familiar shiver she felt when she was speaking to the voice in the cave.
Her eyes narrowed and listened.
'You are not ready to go there yet, princess. You and the others are not yet ready.'
The voice once again echoed in her mind. She frowned. From time to time, the voice keeps on whispering thoughts in her head. She tried to keep it to herself. She never told her sisters about the voice and why it spoke to her more often after bordering past the Purgatory.
'Leave me alone! What do you really want? Who are you?'
'You will know soon enough. Pray that the High Prince of Beogia will come into terms of accepting his mate.' This confused Luffia even more.
'What do you mean? Mate? Who is his mate?'
'Oh, you know who it is, princess.'
Realization dawned on Luffia.
'Sab, my sister.' she said. Her words are not questioning but a mere confirmation.
'Yes, Princess Luffia. His denial will endanger your sister. And as for the eldest, she has to accept it as well.'
'What? Ann? Why are you telling me all of these?'
'War is upon you. Closer than you think and Raftel will only stand a chance if a High King and High Queen will lead. Your eldest sister held hesitance and we cannot afford to hesitate at this time.'
Luffia will not pretend anymore - she does understand all he is telling her. And why tell her? Why must the voice reach out to her?
'What about Zoro?'
The voice fell silent before he spoke again.
'It is beyond my power to tell you anything about his circumstances. Only time will tell.' After that conversation, the voice did not speak again no matter what Luffia calls to it.
Zoro sensed Luffia's odd behavior.
"Are you alright? You fell silent for a moment." His voice brought Luffia back to reality.
"Oh, I am. Nothing to worry about. I-I think I should go. I-I have to see Sab a-about s-something." She tried to find words of the reason for her sudden departure, but she can't tell him. Wouldn't it be weird if she told him about the mysterious voice that is constantly whispering to her?
Zoro only frowned at her, he saw how she seems odd and something is bothering her as of the moment but he did not dare inquire about it.
He only nodded at her as she dashed out as fast as she could. She looked for her pegasus and mount it back to Chopper's manor. She has a lot to think about and as much as she hated to think of details and matters, the situation is requiring her to do so.
She arrived in no time. She found out Ann is still not around and Sab is currently training at the back.
Luffia stopped and tried to think again. If she were to tell them what she heard, what difference does it make? And there is no guarantee they will believe it. A sigh escaped from her lips. She hated to think of complicated matters so the idea of blurting out what she heard was pushed at the back of her mind. She will just trust her instincts.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Ann left the Ipraecian Palace after in a haste to escape Even though she feels no animosity coming from the Ipraecians, she still feels uncomfortable. All of them did not make her feel as if she is an outsider. They welcomed her with open arms. It was a gesture she should be thankful - yes she is, yet there is still lingering feeling inside her that prevents her from opening herself up to them.
As she arrived at Chopper's manor, she was questioned about the delay of her return. She answered their inquiries with truth, after all, it was her sisters who were eager to know what happened.
"You can trust Marco." Luffia said. She paid no attention to her sister's words since she was well aware of what she means but Ann did not answer.
Days past, and their injuries have healed well. They were visited by Izou, Thatch, Haruta, and some other creatures who deemed the human princesses as harmless.
"Would you like to come with me today? There will be places I need to visit around Raftel." Robin asked the sisters at one of her visits.
"I'll go! I'll go!" Luffia was the first one to answer with enthusiasm.
Sab pondered for a moment before agreeing which only left Ann to decide. She agreed as well.
The four of them visited different ancient places in Raftel. They arrived in a huge rock which consists of characters the human princesses cannot decipher.
"Not everyone in Raftel can speak this language. It is the language of High Kings and High Queens of Raftel. Only those of royal blood can learn them." Robin explained.
"But you can read them, can you not?" Sab asked. She looked closely at the characters and some of them are understandable.
"Of course. It is the privilege of being a historian of Raftel. Aside from myself, the Peacekeeper and the High Princes, no one knew this language."
"That is amazing." Ann muttered.
"The language will also be taught to the future High Queens of Ipraecia, Beogia, and Vaelon." Robin informed them, as usual, her words held meaning behind it, and her eyes spoke more than it should.
"Ah, so it is a mystery language!" Luffia laughed at her idea. They all did, after all, her idea is simple yet quite true.
"If you put it like that, then yes, Luffia. It is such a complex and mysterious language."
They all fell silent as Robin began to enchant the stones and write characters they cannot comprehend. The three of them looked at the stones around them. They noticed a series of characters that they can decipher - mate.
"Robin..." Luffia called out.
Robin stopped at what she is doing and looked at the human princess.
"What is the process of mating with someone?" The question shocked Ann and Sab. How could Luffia ever ask such a question?!
Robin looked oddly at Luffia, carefully studying her, then laughed a little before answering.
"Well, being with a mate is a connection to their very souls. In human terms, you fall in love with that person." Robin's answer made the twins interested. "You will feel the connection deep in your heart and soul and once you and your mate established an agreement, you mate for life. It is a holy ceremony for both parties. After linking your souls to each other, then there comes the holy matrimony or what you call a wedding."
"Link of souls? What does that mean?" Sab curiously asked. These details were not provided by their mother and father but she would like to know of such things, not because she is planning to mate with anyone else. This is just out of curiosity.
"Exactly as what it says. When your mate is in danger, the other one will sense it. They will be able to track the other one. It is the strongest when you and your mate become one. in Raftel, we can mark someone as our mate to be. By marking someone, you will know if he or she is in danger. The more powerful the beast is, the strong the link will be." Robin explained diligently at the human princesses.
She knew that these princesses will hold powerful positions in Raftel. She knew that they will complete the High Princes. Robin saw signs of these. Marco is never subtle in welcoming Ann - despite failing to get close to her due to her trust concerns.
Sab already showed her connection to the wolves. Her bond with the Wolf Lord shows such connections. The High Prince of Beogia already knows this, yet the red-haired prince is still adamant of accepting such matters considering the tragedy his parents faced during the war.
As for Zoro, their situation is complicated. Robin can feel the fluctuations of his emotions whenever he sees the youngest human princess and yet, he places his guard up high against such emotions for fear of being wrong. After all, he already marked someone years ago, and for some reason, he could not remember who he marked previously.
"The mating will change both men and women alike. If beasts alike mated, it will make them stronger. The stronger the raw power of the other, then the more power will be bestowed to both. If a human were to mate with a powerful beast, suffice to say, changes are inevitable."
This took the interest of the three human princesses
"What changes?"
Robin smiled before answering.
"They will gain inhuman power, of course. A power based upon the mate. If you were to mate with a dragon, you will also get their power. Not as powerful as the dragons of Vaelon, but close to it."
They all fell silent after what they heard. Robin left them to ponder on those thoughts for now. It would do no good should she push more information towards the princesses. They are not yet ready to face the reality of being mate with the High Princes.
After a while, Robin leads them to another ancient place. There is a vague sense of familiarity in the place, yet Sab pushed the thoughts away - but it seems the familiarity she felt is right. As she looked down below, she deemed she knew the place. If given a chance, she does not want to be near this place as much as possible. she would like to avoid encounters with a certain High Prince, but she cannot run away now.
If she decides to leave all of a sudden, her companions might start asking questions she is not willing to answer.
"We are at Beogia's!" Luffia exclaimed.
Robin led them further to an open clearing where they saw a huge stone house. No one resides in the place, but the stone house is quite well maintained. Not far from where they are, stood the great palace of Beogia.
"Welcome to the Great Stone House of Beogia. This place holds Beogia's history of their great High Kings and High Queens." Robin led them inside. The stone house resembles a temple. The walls are filled with portraits with corresponding names.
"This place is amazing." Sab can't help but mutter as she looked around. The rich history encompasses these walls only tells her how long the Beogia stood its ground. It survived countless years and still prospers.
Her eyes wander and it stopped as she looked at the portrait in front of her. The writings are in their common tongue.
High Queen Freya Langley di Beogia I
The woman has long blond hair with blue eyes. She is as beautiful as an angel. Sab continued to read and she found out that High Queen Freya was mated to High King Sylvar di Beogia. The High King has a noticeable Red hair and a fierce gallant look of someone who stands at the top of the Beastly Beogia.
"A beautiful queen, isn't she?" Sab was startled when she heard Robin's voice. She looked confused a moment before answering.
"Yes."
"She is the very first human who became Beogia's High queen. " Sab looked curiously at Robin as if asking if her words held meaning, instead she answered otherwise: "And also the last."
"The last? Why?" Sab realized how idiotic her question is. She knew why.
Humans caused bloodshed and war that forced the three Magical Kingdoms to disappear.
"Before, in the time of High King Othorion of Daerene, that was the time when a mere human peasant met the High Prince of Beogia, Sylvar. Old folks and historians told tales of their love. How Sylvar fought with his life to be with this woman - a mere human. According to the books written for them, when Freya was abducted by a high born royalty to be made as a sex slave, Sylvar was enraged. He alone stood before the army of the royal family. He brought blood and carnage and death to those who would dare harm his mate. Everyone will do the same should their mate be faced with such danger."
Sab's heart quickened. The way Robin tells her of the story, it made her shiver. It made her felt as if she is involved in the story, but that is impossible. She might be a human like Freya, the late High Queen of Beogia, but she knew in her heart that the current High Prince will not do the same thing for her. That is impossible.
Why would he do such a thing, anyway? She is of no value to him or Raftel.
All of them continued to look around until Luffia called out to the twins to take a look at a portrait.
It is Kidd's portrait and right beside him is a portrait as well - although this one is empty.
"It's Kidd's portrait!"
Sab read the writing.
"High Prince Kidd Eustass di Beogia." She did not realize how she read it loudly. She continued to stare at the portrait of the man. He hates her and her kind. Sab wanted to hate him as well, but she knew too well the reason why he does so. The main reason is the death of his parents by the hands of humans.
"Kidd is a very mean person and he always growls at me, but he is also lonely and confused." Luffia said thoughtfully. Sab looked at her sister. The blond princess knew how her sister has always been instinctive and perceptive about a lot of things and she rarely goes wrong. Sometimes, she tells them straight facts, yet they sounded so vague and she never offers for a relative explanation since she cannot explain it herself.
Ann was about to tell Luffia a few words when all of a sudden, they heard the door open, revealing the two men.
Robin smiled upon gazing at the High Prince and his most skilled Warrior Commander, Killer. The historian already set their meeting beforehand which is also the reason she brought the princesses today. Kidd and Sab's eyes met and an intense glare emanated from Kidd. No one said a word. Silence engulfed the Stone House as the two of them are staring at one another.
Luffia looked from Sab to Kidd, then she decided to break the unwavering atmosphere.
"Kidd! You're here!" She greeted at him, smile so wide it could almost split her face. Kidd broke his glare from Sab and turned it towards Luffia. He can still remember this woman's impudence in front of the authorities of Raftel.
Kidd did not respond to her greeting and instead, directed her eyes at Robin.
"What more do you need here?" He asked without hesitance. He walked towards Robin, ignoring the human princesses. The historian smiled at the High Prince before answering.
"Of course. I will be adding books in your library consisting of ancient history. I have deciphered most of it and it is almost done, but to finish the history of Beogia, it needs your words of validation, Your Highness."
Kidd nodded. He knew the responsibility of keeping their history for the future generation. They may be a beast, but they hold history valuable.
"Ne, ne, Kidd. The portrait beside you is empty. Should we add someone's image inside?" Luffia's teasing words caused Kidd to intensely glare at her, but she paid no mind to his glare. Instead, she dared to laugh loudly at him then said: "Should I tell? Should I tell?"
Kidd growled at her. This woman is insufferable. Did she dare to mock him and make fun of him?
"I suggest you keep your mouth in silence, woman." Kidd said. His encounters with Luffia already gave him an idea of what she might tell the others and the prospects of her words do not sit well with Kidd at all.
"Oooh... But it would be a shame not to." She is testing his patience and upon seeing this, the twins have to interrupt them.
"Luffia! Stop this action this instant!" Ann strongly reprimanded the young princess but Luffia shook her head, grinning at her eldest sister then to Sab.
"But I am only stating a fact. Besides, his portrait looks lonely sitting there with no one beside it. I know whose image should be placed in this portrait. It is going -"
"Why you - " Kidd acted. His hand outstretched in order to stop her from saying any words. Sab mistook it as if Kidd is trying to attack her sister. Her reflexes activated, placing herself in front of Luffia whilst her hands are positioned on her right side as a form of defense. Sab knew that if he put enough strength, she might find herself with broken arms or worse, sent flying in the air. She braced herself for the impact, but it never came - but his hand came close to her arms.
She looked at him, challenging whilst he looked at her with a little confusion.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I am protecting my sister. You were about to attack her!" She exclaimed, accusing him of such actions. She would never let her sister get injured. Better her than any of her sisters.
"And you felt heroic enough to jump in front of me ready to take my attack? Do you know what will happen to you by then?" Kidd asked mocking for her actions which made Sab furious.
"I have a couple of thoughts in my mind and the worst of them is about my death in your hands." Sab felt furious for one reason and the other. She is boiling with rage that she does not know where it originates.
"Recklessness will be the death of you."
"Better me than my sister." She answered as if challenging him to contradict her words, but he did not.
Little does Sab know that in Kidd's mind lies the struggle.
Kidd only looked at her for a moment before he broke his gaze with an intense growl as he walked away from her muttering words that stabbed Sab's heart. "Disgusting humans."
"He is tempted to attack me, but his actions only meant to cover my mouth from spouting anything he does not want to hear." Sab looked at Luffia with bewilderment but the youngest looked serious and sincere that Sab sighed in relief.
Kidd pretended not to hear any words and instead, walked towards Robin to discuss formal matters about the Stone House and the books he is meant to validate. He tried his best not to be affected by her scent but the more she stays around him, the more he starts to lose his sanity. Her display of courage and bravery earlier was commendable and Kidd is slightly impressed by how her reflexes have been fast enough to place herself in front of Luffia.
Regardless, his control over himself is starting to waver. He has to get out of here. Killer also sensed this and stared with worried expression at his High Prince.
"I have important matters to attend to. I trust you enough to do the needful matters." Kidd's instincts started to roll in, he started to shiver as more of her scent illuminated his senses. The close range of contact earlier triggered this. He cannot lose his control now. He will not allow it! Not to a human!
Kidd did not wait for Robin to answer before he started walking out of the Stone House.
Step by step, his instincts are starting to consume his control.
The others noticed how the High Prince is tensing, but they did not dare obstruct him from leaving.
As soon as Kidd is out of the Stone House, he immediately flew off away, as far as he could be away from her and as he did, Sab looked sadly at the High Prince retreating form.
After visiting the Stone House of Beogia, the four of them traveled towards the great ruins of *Magji. Robin provided the information they never thought happened before. (Magji - Albanian Term for Magic)
Raftel contains so many ruins as if it just survived a battle despite the war happening years ago. The ruins served as a fresh reminder of what happened during the wide scaled war.
Bloods spilled, treasures gone, lives lost and death is what will await to those who are weak.
Seeing the ruins scared the twins while Luffia looked at it with curiosity. The twins held enough knowledge of what war will cause to everyone. Let it be enemies or allies, death will still be there to welcome them with open arms should they fail to protect their lives.
A sigh escaped from Ann's lips as she looked at the ruins. It reminds her of the image forever imprinted in her mind - the invasion in her own palace.
She could still hear the wild screams of their men as they rallied to defend their kingdom. She looked at her youngest sister. Luffia was accompanying Robin deeper in the ruins while Ann and Sab stayed where they are, looking at the dead ruins of Magji. Ahead of the ruins, they saw a huge temple.
"This is the Temple of Xavaria. They all worshiped Xavaria. This is where they will pray to her for prosperity and power. This is a sacred place where the union between mates will transpire." Robin explained to the twins. The historian then left without uttering anything and proceed to continue her task at hand. Luffia followed Robin around asking details of what will cross her curiosity.
"Would you ever imagine us, standing here today?" Ann asked her twin sister. This feels like a dream as well as a nightmare. They encountered so many things that sometimes it is hard to believe it is really happening.
"Honestly, no. I am quite glad to see that the stories we all believed are true, but I also wanted to go back in time to avoid the invasion and prevent it from happening." Sab answered as her eyes were directed to the walls of the temple. It is closed and they did not dare to enter yet they can stand in front of it.
There were carving - similar to what Sab saw in the cave of darkness.
Sigils of the kingdoms in Raftel encircled around each other.
"The voice we heard in the cave - do you think it means something?" Ann asked again. From time to time, she kept asking about certain questions. The voice does not sound like the monsters who chased after them. It is different and Ann wonders how is it possible to hear such a thing.
"I don't know Ann. It is confusing. The voice led us to different paths. It led me to the cave full of markings such as this whereas it led you to the cave of nightmare. As for Luffia - I do not know."
"Were we meant to come here? Were we destined to? But looking back, that dream I had, our father does not want us to be here. It scares me that they might betray us as those noblemen did."
Sab cannot deny this. They are being hated and was attacked before. Who knows when it will happen again. Some of the creatures might be welcoming them, but there is no denying that some would love to see them dead. And this makes her sad. They are being hated not because of who they are, but because of what they are. Humans.
"To be honest, I do not know what to believe anymore. The voice is mysterious as if he's expecting us. This may be the case, yet we can't tell anyone about this." Sab defiantly stated.
"Do you think they will be wary of us?"
"They are already wary as it is - at least some of the people here in Raftel. We cannot stay here any longer. We have to gather our scattered allies in the human realm and start planning on taking back the kingdom."
"We can't let them know about this. They might prevent us from leaving." Ann stated.
"Yes. We have to bid time and plan how we can get out of here without their knowledge. When I was in that cave, I saw glimpses of the history of Raftel. We - humans - along with some traitors caused such massive war and tore down the peace that was established here. Do you know where that holds us? We are at war and if we bring Raftel to our war - history is repeating itself. We will be the cause of its destruction."
Ann looked at Sab as if her words finally dawned in her mind - and yes, it did, however hard it is.
"We cannot get attached to them." Ann added. Sab nodded solemnly at her twin sister. "Even if they seem to be trustworthy." Her words were mumbled but Sab heard it nonetheless.
"We have to tell Luffia, but not now."
Ann nodded at what Sab said. They cannot tell Luffia right away for fear of her announcing such plans to anyone.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
After encountering the human princesses, Kidd was forced to face Marco. It is rare for him to visit Beogia unless something urgent is happening.
Kidd saw him carrying a huge portrait. It must be a painting.
"I am not expecting this visit, Marco." Kidd said suspiciously at the blond High Prince. Their relationship might be labeled as good friends but it does not mean Kidd is not suspicious of what mischief Marco has in mind. It is the very same reason of how they are friends that sometimes he does not trust the glint of amusement in Marco's blue eyes.
"Is that a proper way of welcoming a good friend, yoi?" Marco asked.
"If the reason is of nonsense, then yes, it is."
Marco only laughed at what Kidd told him. They had known each other for years since they were young, albeit a little age difference.
Marco was born several years before Kidd and a decade later did Zoro came into this world.
"I brought something, a gift for you, my friend, yoi. I am quite satisfied with my work of art." Marco gestured about the wrapped portrait. Kidd nodded in appreciation. He knew that Marco's paintings are pure work of art. He made most of the portraits Kidd possessed.
Yet, Kidd is wary of this gift. He knew that despite being friends, Marco never gifts his paintings easily except for occasions. There is no celebration worthy of being gifted a painting, so why is Marco being generous today?
"Why are you giving me this painting, if I may ask?"
"Because I know it is something you will want, yoi. I also made one for Zoro which I will be giving to him later."
Kidd nodded and accepted the gift. He is tempted to open the gift, but he shook the idea off. He will be unwrapping it later.
Kidd commanded a servant to carry the huge portrait to his chambers. He, then, gestured Marco to follow him so he could offer a Sake. They found themselves enjoying the good scenery at the balcony with cups of Sake to share.
"You have been stressed lately, Kidd. Do not dare to deny this fact, because you know it is foolish to deny it."
"Stressed? There's nothing to be concerned about. I am not worried about the upcoming attacks that our sworn enemy might throw at us."
"Oh, yes indeed. With your power and abilities, I doubt anyone will be willing to meet you in battle, but that is not what I am referring to, yoi. You might not be afraid of battle, but you are afraid of facing the truth."
Kidd glared at the blond High Prince. He knew where the conversation is going and right now, he regretted inviting him in.
"Truth of what?"
"The human princesses." A growl escaped from Kidd. It seems that Achilles is not alone in hammering the truth into Kidd's mind. "It is quite shocking when I found out that my mate is human." Marco openly said. Kidd envied him for daring to utter such thing and accepting it as if he already knew from the very beginning.
"You should understand my sentiments, Marco. You were in the same position as I did." The previous High Kings and High Queens of the Beast Kingdoms died because of that war. Marco is no exception.
"I am well aware of how the war caused endless grief to all of us, but I am willing to accept it."
"Yes, you are willing, but is she as willing as you are?" Marco fell silent at Kidd's question. Ann is the least trusting of the three and despite accepting a conversation towards Marco, he could still feel the hesitance and the wall that he cannot break - wall she carefully built.
"I am in no hurry. I am patiently waiting for her to open up to me. Currently, I am satisfied in seeing she is safe, away from any harm and danger, yoi."
"You are uttering nonsense!"
"It is hard to accept it, yes. But this is reality and the present, yoi. We cannot escape our fate."
"You are talking about yours, not mine!" Kidd is dead set in escaping this. Escaping reality and Marco can only shake his head. He cannot force Kidd in accepting this fate, but he wished Kidd will accept it as soon as possible because Marco knew no one can escape their fate.
"I suppose I should bid farewell now, yoi." Kidd only nodded as a form of acknowledgment. He does not have words to deliver to the blond High Prince, especially his mind is not set on the current subject. "I hope you find my gift satisfying. I hope to see the portrait in the walls of the palace, but I reckoned you might want to hang it privately in your chamber instead."
Kidd scowled at Marco's words. What does he mean by that?
Before he could ask the meaning behind his words, Marco left immediately which leaves Kidd pondering about the portrait.
Curiosity won over him as he walked towards his chambers where the portrait is at.
He stood in front of the wrapped portrait as if contemplating whether to open it or not. In the end, he ripped the cover apart and the instant his eyes fell on the portrait, a wave of different emotions flooded him.
Yes, the portrait is beautiful, or even beyond that.
It shows a woman sitting on a hill, bright rays of the sun illuminating her surroundings. It also shows the pixies almost as if dancing around her. She is wearing a white and blue haltered strap dress embedded with shining specks of dust. Her hair is swayed by the breeze of wind. Atop her head is a shining silver tiara with diamonds.
She is like a fairy.
Kidd appreciated the beauty of the painting and more so, the beauty of the woman in the portrait.
The woman in the portrait is Sab. Kidd wanted to fly towards Marco and confront him of gifting a portrait of a human and he even expected Kidd to hang this portrait in the walls of the palace!
He will not do such a thing!
Out of rage, Kidd lifted his hands, claws ready to rip the portrait but when his hands are a mere inch before ripping the portrait, he stopped. He cannot find enough strength to rip it apart especially when he stared at the smiling eyes of the woman.
Kidd shook his head to clear it out of such nonsense and gathered any will left in him to rip the portrait, but he still can't.
"Argh!" He shouted in frustration. Instead of ripping the portrait, he ripped the curtains of his chambers which made way for the rays of the sun to illuminate the room. He looked at the portrait again and sighed.
He sat right in front of the portrait. The more he stares at it, the more frustrated he becomes. He gave up trying to force himself in destroying it, but the disapproving and very conflicted scowl is still evident in his face.
He diverted his gaze away from her portrait and chose to delve his mind towards the creator of the portrait. Marco had mentioned he created a portrait for Zoro as well. Does that mean that Zoro's mate is the youngest human princess?
Kidd scowled upon remembering the annoying human princess.
A knock on the door woke Kidd from his musings. He saw Killer and Achilles entered the already opened chamber. His trusted Warrior Commander was about to utter a word when all of a sudden, his attention was diverted to the huge portrait.
The size is something anyone can notice. Killer did not ask, but the way he looked at Kidd, he is clearly asking about the portrait.
"Marco gave it to me." Kidd answered and that is more than enough for Killer to understand.
Such a marvelous portrait should be hanged in the walls of the palace, Your highness.
Kidd growled at Achilles.
Oh, but such beauty might cause the servants of the palace to be mesmerized all day. They might choose to stare at it forever.
Another strong growl escaped Kidd. Deep inside him, the idea of anyone staring at this portrait with lust does not do well with him. A strong possessive feeling burst into him.
But I cannot openly blame you to keep this to yourself.
Kidd did not answer. He has no answer for now because he knew, he cannot accept it.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
"A portrait?" Zoro asked incredulously to Marco. The visit quite surprised the green-haired High Prince because is not expecting Marco to visit.
Marco's visits are usually for sparring and other important matters, yet today, he visits to present a gift.
"Yes. I also gave one to Kidd earlier on." Marco said. Just like Kidd's portrait, Zoro's is also wrapped.
"Alright. Let me see it."
Marco let Zoro open the wrap and as the portrait slowly unveils, he carefully examined Zoro's expression.
He bears a look of surprise, bewilderment, amazement as well as confusion.
"Such a marvelous image, don't you agree, yoi?"
As soon as Zoro gained his composure, he looked at Marco with a small scowl.
"Why give it to me?"
"It seems right doing so, yoi."
"I could understand if you gave something like this to Kidd, and it will not surprise me if you created one for your own, but both you and Kidd are destined to be mates with the twins whereas I am not."
"You do not feel anything for Luffia? Anything at all?"
Zoro fell silent because, in fact, he felt some sort of connection to Luffia. The only reason why he denies it is because he already bears the mark. The mark should have lit up or there should also be a mark in Luffia's back, but he did not see anything unusual.
More than two decades ago, Zoro found himself with a mark at his back, but he found no memory as to where his mate is or how he found her.
What he only knew is that his memory of his mate was stolen.
Every dragon, once their destined mate is born, they will immediately feel it, and as if in a trance of homing instinct, they will travel as far as they could until they find their mate and put a mark on them.
This mark will not disappear. After marking their mate, the dragon will let their mate grow up until fate works its way for the two to meet and as soon as the meeting happens, their mark should glow and there should be a connection.
As for Zoro, he does not remember anything at all.
Your memories of your mate were stolen. Only whoever stole it can give it back. Those were the words of Dracule Mihawk when he saw the mark at Zoro's back.
When Zoro met Luffia, he felt a little connection and he hoped she is the one, yet she did not show any unusual reaction towards Zoro. This disappointed the High Prince, but still, he can feel the connection no matter how small it is.
"It might sound ridiculous and absurd but they came here on the same day bearing such connection to us, yoi. Three of them! Isn't it a little too coincidental that three High Princes - for all the years we exist haven't found their mates and all of a sudden, they came here!"
"Are you implying that Luffia is my mate?"
"It is possible, yoi."
Zoro snorted loudly. He does not want to let his hopes up when he knows it might not happen at all.
"She does not feel anything at all! There are no marks at her back!"
"I still think you should be open to the idea that she might be."
"She might not be.' Zoro countered.
"You cannot be sure when your memories are stolen."
"I am hoping of trying to get it back in the Sacred Midnight. The magic is strong at that time. I might be able to get back what was stolen from me." Zoro is determined to get it back no matter what.
He failed each year because his determination has not been firm enough to cast the magic of tracing his memories, but right now, he has to give his best in getting his stolen memories.
He has to know where his mate it and why his memories are stolen.
"I wish you the best in tracing it back, yoi."
"And I wish you the best as well in convincing your mate to trust you."
Marco smiled warmly at Zoro at the mention of his mate.
"Ann is slowly letting me approach and I am in no hurry as well."
Zoro nodded in understanding to Marco. He felt envy towards his connection to his mate and how Marco is fully accepting it. Zoro wished his situation is nothing like this. He is kept in the dark and he hated not knowing anything that concerns him the most.
"My situation is not hopeless. Kidd is."
A small laugh escaped from Zoro. Kidd's struggles are not easy, especially now.
"He is bearing such a heavy mindset, but at least, he is not like me. I am the most hopeless out of the three of us."
Marco did not say anything anymore and nodded. All he can do for now is to wish his friend and fellow High Prince the best.
