“What should we do?”
Louis asked, paling as he realized our current predicament and started anxiously chewing on his nail.
“Stop that.”
I held his hand tightly to prevent him from biting his nail and also to reassure him.
“Listen to me, Louis. We’ll be fine.”
“Do you think Father would find us?”
“Surely. We just have to wait.”
I said that, but honestly, I didn't feel confident at all either. It was normal for us to be anxious. We’re stuck in a situation where we couldn’t do anything but wait, and we didn’t know when Father would find and pick us up.
We’re presented with nothing but two choices. One is to walk out of the dark alley and head into the night market where there’s a lot of people. Second is to stay where we are and wait. The second is the safest choice, as while the alley is dangerous, Louis and I are capable of protecting ourselves from mere ruffians. The first however, would put us in a very precarious situation.
If anyone were to find out our identities in this place right now…the results would be nothing short of disaster. It was the worst possible outcome that could happen at the moment.
When Louis and I were younger, we had tried to sneak out of the castle before in curiosity of the outside world, as well as the desire to see one of the famed festivals in Aris. The experience was traumatizing, to say the least.
We hadn’t thought of hiding our identities then, and we haven’t even gotten far before people started to take notice of us.
If it only ended on stares and whispers it would still be bearable, however…
To our shock, the people surrounded us like crazed mobs and began their “worship”. We we’re young at that time, and didn’t know what to do. Louis’s presence overwhelmed mine, effectively saving me from all the attention, but Louis wasn’t so fortunate.
People kneeled, prayed, and cried. The more desperate ones pushed amongst each other just to get closer, and grabbed Louis, perhaps hoping to be blessed by some miracle. It was chaos.
Back then, we hadn’t thought that people could be so frightening. And didn’t really understand why Father insisted that we must stay at home. It was a truly frightening situation.
Fortunately, Father was at home at that time, and quickly heard of our disappearance. The late Prince Consort was also near the scene, allowing him to quickly intervene, covering us from all the people’s gaze, while Father chased the crowd away. Otherwise, we dare not imagine what would’ve happened.
Since then, we, especially Louis, became weary of crowds. That experience completely erased our interest in the world outside of the castle walls, and made us content to stay within the confines of our home, where it’s safe.
And…Louis didn’t know since it was something that happened after his death, but I also had a few bad experiences where the people would shout curses and throw rocks at me whenever they saw me. I hated people.
But as if bad luck stuck to us, a party of drunk men soon happened upon us.
“Hey look! What’s a couple of noble kids doing in a place like this?”
“Hehe! Did you two get lost or something?”
“Aren’t we lucky? I think they’ll fetch us a large sum.”
As if instinct, Louis pulled me to his back and pointed his sword for the second time today towards the drunk ruffians. He glared at them.
“Don’t come any closer if you don’t want to get hurt.”
He said but I was worried. Louis was a sheltered child from birth to his death, and never once killed a person. He acted bravely to protect me but I can see his hand slightly trembling. His uneasiness affected me, causing me worry. Louis was still a child after all. All of these are new to him.
“Look at this kid, acting all high and mighty. You think we’re scared of you huh? You little shit?”
One of the guys spoke in anger, but one of the men behind him grabbed his shoulder and said.
“Wait! These kids…they’re not normal!”
“What?”
“Y-yeah!” Another one said. “Look! White hair and purple eyes, they’re from Aleister! This kid must be…”
“No way…”
Our anxiousness peaked at that moment and our composure broke down when they recovered from their shock and screamed.
“His Highness! Yes! The Blessing has graced us with his presence!!”
“Ahh! All Mighty Goddesses! Please Forgive us!!”
“Thank you! Thank you!!”
“We must tell every–”
“Sh-SHUT UP! DON’T SAY ANOTHER WORD OR I’LL KILL YOU!”
Louis screamed in panic, while I was one second away from killing them all here before…
“Children!”
We heard Father’s voice.
It was as if salvation dawned upon us. We quickly ran towards him and jumped into his embrace.
“Dad…”
“I'm sorry, I’m so sorry…”
He cried in between his hurried breaths. We clung onto him tightly, and he held us in similar desperateness.
“Dad, don’t leave us again, please…”
“I know, I’m sorry son, I almost lost you again…I’m sorry.”
Father repeatedly apologized while he consoled us with pats and kisses.
It was really scary. If he hadn’t come any sooner, I would’ve killed those men, and I would end up showing Louis something I didn’t want him to see. Really, we were lucky this time.
Meanwhile, the knights that Father brought with him apprehended the men who are still in daze after meeting the Goddess’s Blessing. They would be silenced to prevent a word of our presence from getting out.
It mustn't be known. At least, not until we reach the Imperial Capital.
That night, I wasn’t able to sleep until the light of dawn came through the window.
After that incident, Father stuck to us throughout the entire journey, not leaving our side even for a minute. Hans purposely apologized as well, but Louis said that it wasn’t his fault. It didn’t help the poor guy out of his guilt though.
We weren’t able to find out the identity of that strange mage. The most we knew was that he was powerful enough to do multiple forced teleportation, but it wasn’t much of a lead. It had seemed like Father had an idea, but he wouldn’t say anything so we didn’t pursue the matter anymore.
Whoever that blasted mage was. I sincerely hope his “see you later” is just an expression, and we never ever see him again. If we do, I’ll break his neck before he even says a word.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. And soon, we arrived at the Imperial Capital of the Holy Empire of Erlain.
It was my first time seeing the city so lively. Back before the Goddess turned back time, my first time in the Imperial Capital was after Louis had died. Back then, the atmosphere around the city was dreadful and gloomy. There weren’t any sounds of laughter or smiles like now then.
Our home, the city of Aris back at the north of the Holy Empire was referred to as the Holy City. The blessed family, the House of Aleister’s castle was located there, as well as the biggest church of the Goddess and the Headquarters of the Papacy.
People there were so devoted to the Goddess that the majority of the population were either Priests or Holy Knights. It was a lively city where the citizens were faithful and happy, but peaceful as there was hardly any conflict. So much so, that the dungeons that the castle have, had been empty for decades due to the lack of crimes.
There was even a saying where ruffians that went to Aris all became good men.
However, while that all sounds great, Aris wasn’t a place for the non-believers, and even worse for Mages. The people that live in Aris were all headstrong and devoted believers that they were too stuck up on their own beliefs, making it hard for them to accept anything else that was different.
That’s why, if there’s ever a crime to take place in Aris, it always has something to do with faith.
The Imperial Capital of the Holy Empire was different from Aris. If Aris was hell for Mages, the Capital had some mages that lived here, although a minority. They also did not enforce faith onto others, and the people in the Imperial Capital were more diverse.
Of course, it’s still the Holy Empire which meant that there was still a great deal of discrimination, but it was leagues better than Aris in that regard.
The High Society of the Imperial Capital was also more developed than in Aris. In the capital, there’s gatherings and tea parties held almost everyday, and the nobles spend most of their daily lives socializing with other nobles and engaging in political matters.
At the center of the Imperial Capital, stood the Imperial Palace, where the Imperial Family lives and all matters regarding the well being and management of the Holy Empire takes place.
The Imperial Academy, where youths were taught and nurtured for the future of the Empire was also located in the Imperial City.
The Imperial Capital was a city bustling with activity, where there’s no lack of merchants and travelers walking in the streets.
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