Their travel was uneventful, since their estate was deep in the territory of Caladrius's nest and was once the royal family's summer home, thus the roads were safe for them to use.

However, by the time they reached the first town,  Letum didn't look good.

He was leaning on his brother's shoulder, his eyes closed and brows furrowed. His lips were pale and he looked like he's going to hurl any moment.

Somnus only frowned at him then at Eury.

"Can't you heal him…?"

"If I try to heal him, he'll only feel worse." Eury said as a matter-of-factly. "The changes in the purity of the ether around us has decreased so he has to acclimate to it on his own. If another ether were to enter his body, I'm pretty sure he'd experience twice the discomfort right now."

If Somnus could frown further, he would have done so.

"Lady Eury—"

"I am not ignoring his plight, child. I really can't do anything about it as you've lived near the purest sanctuary, so this kind of thing is to be expected. Anyone with high sensitivity like Prince Letum or Princess Nyna suffers this kind of thing in areas where the ether is polluted, and there's no known way to cleanse it yet."

Urien looked out of the carriage, squinting up at the sky.

"We could probably still make it to the next town over, then we'll find an inn for the night."

Eury checked outside as well, letting out a low hum.

"I hate to admit it, but you're right about that observation."

Urien took in an offended breath as he glared at Eury quietly.

×××

Twilight has descended when they have finally found a respectable inn usually used by nobles and high ranking merchants to settle in for the day.

People milled about the inn curiously upon seeing the crest on the carriages and hoping to catch a glimpse of the members of the royal family who had decided to grace their area with their presence.

Somnus had a quiet dinner with his brother in their shared room, frowning with worry when Letum barely ate anything, before retiring to the bed near the window while Letum took the bed by the wall.

It was late into the night when Somnus woke with a start.

He sat up carefully, looking out of the window.

He could hear the faint ringing of a bell from a distance.

Quietly reaching and putting on his boots, he stood up to check outside the window.

People were moving hurriedly on the road, and he noticed them holding various weapons.

He frowned, rubbing his ear in annoyance as if it was itchy.

The annoying buzzing sound in his ear won't go away.

Urgent knocks resounded in that dark room, making Somnus stealthily weave his seifon, ready to go at any moment.

"Somnus, Your Highness."

Somnus quickly shook off his hand to disperse his attack, as there's only one person while they were growing up who would dare mix up how they'd address him.

Sir Urien.

"Come in, Sir." Somnus told him while Letum stirred from his sleep and slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Urien came in wearing his usual knight uniform and holding onto a slender sword in one hand that Somnus recognized as his teacher's prized possession, even though he had not seen him wield it personally. Somnus thought it was because he didn't want to break the only thing that has some worth to their family.

His expression was grave as Somnus turned on the lights and Urien closed the door behind him.

"What's going on outside?" The prince asked. "You don't look like you're going to sleep at all."

Urien smiled wryly. "The town is under attack by monsters, and Lady Eury has ordered our knight escorts to help them out."

"So you're here to protect us?"

"I'm afraid not, Somnus." Urien said as he walked over to him and went down on one knee to present the sword up to him in a ceremonious way. "It's still early to hand this over but…I want you to have this, to protect yourself and your brother."

Letum frowned at the two of them, taking off the blanket around him and sitting at the side of his bed. "Why do you sound like you're planning on dying out there?"

Urien smiled at him. "Not at all, Your Highness, but it would be remiss of my duty if I don't deliver this sword properly to its rightful owner."

Somnus didn't move to take the sword being presented to him and instead, coldly analysed the knight's rather carefree expression.

"You said this sword is an heirloom passed down in your family. Why would you give it to me?" Somnus pointedly asked.

Urien smiled apologetically. "It's true that it's an heirloom but…it actually belonged to the Imperial family. Crown Princess Fraus has asked me to hold onto it and give it to the prince that shows promise with using a sword before we came here years ago."

Letum stood up and walked over to them barefooted, slinging an arm around his older twin.

"Surely, you don't expect us to stay put here, don't you?"

Somnus glanced at him, scowling. "You're not even feeling well, what the hell are you talking about?"

Letum lazily grinned at him. "I'm fine. I've mostly acclimated. So take the sword, okay? I know you want to go out there to see how you'd actually fare in real combat."

Urien inwardly groaned, even though he had expected that the twins would insist on going out to fight.

However, he didn't expect it'd be Letum that would urge his brother to do so.

A smile finally broke through Somnus's frowning face as he took the sword that was being offered to him and casually pulled it out of its scabbard.

The twins admired how the blade still gleamed as if it was brand new that they failed to see the surprised look on Urien's face when Somnus effortlessly pulled it out.

"The rightful Emperor…" He mumbled under his breath, standing up carefully, as he watched the princes put some more decent clothes to go out.

He didn't expect that the fabled story passed down for generations in the Imperial family would come true right in front of him.

The sword he had given was one that even the current Emperor couldn't draw from its scabbard as it is made from one of the Guardian Phoenix's claws, and one that chooses its wielder who will be hailed as a blessed Emperor.

Somnus raised an eyebrow at the knight as they were about to leave the room.

"Why are you blanking out, Sir Urien? You really didn't expect us to sit back and watch the town be attacked like this? For what our stay was worth, the kingdom's our second home and we'd loathe it if something bad happened when we could have done something to help its citizens."