Chapter 16

The Moniyan Empire is known for its long history of greatest leaders, wealthy subjects and strongest warriors. It even existed way before the establishment of Magical City.

Currently, Princess Silvanna is the ruler of the empire and despite being a woman, she exceeds the capability of being a leader. Not only is she a princess in name but she's also known for being a great knightess.

She wields a lance skilfully, and can be on par with the best soldiers from the Royal Warriors. She had been trained to fight way back in her childhood years for she is the firstborn heir.

"Your Highness, a Dawnian message from Minsitthar has come," Gatotkaca announces as he hands her the letter sealed with the royal blue sigil of Magical City.

Princess Silvanna dismisses the royal general before opening the letter that almost made her lose her composure. She reads every line, comprehending what Minsitthar is trying to tell her. She grits her teeth upon seeing the name of the man she knew too well, a cruel man she never wanted to encounter.

"That Nero truly is a pain on the neck especially in critical times," Princess Silvanna curses under her breath.

The princess stands up and trots to her room. Every step she makes echoes throughout the hallway. Her shoes clang with the marble floor, giving signals to the guards on duty about her presence. She passes through the hallway of gallery where her late ancestors' large portraits are displayed, but she suddenly makes a halt upon reaching the end of it.

Her once folded hand slowly unfolds as Princess Silvanna stares at the picture of a baby she's cradling in her arms. The paint is a masterpiece for it had drawn the intricate details of her image and her younger brother.

"Dyrroth," she whispers under her breath before suppressing her emotions and continues to walk back to her private quarters.

She opened the two huge doors by pushing the two golden doorjamb. She slowly shuts her doors before walking towards her desk, and grabs a Dawnian paper to reply to Minsitthar's letter. With every stroke of the quill, with every word she writes, her heart aches as if it's being gripped by two hands.

"I'm sorry, brother, but I have to do this," she says between her cries. Her sobs almost got the  better of her but she managed to keep her composure.

It is a real heartache for her to choose and save the empire rather than protecting her younger brother that has been separated from her for years. It is already heartbreaking that her younger brother was kidnapped and she couldn't take him back, yet it is more heart-wrenching to be unable to save him from the war.

As she finishes her reply, she goes straight to the terrace and lifts the letter before whispering the address of its receiver. She wipes off her tears with her hanky, her eyes are slightly swollen and colored red because of her cries. But she does not make a big deal out of it and looks at the horizon.

"Dyrroth, we may see each other on the battlefield yet 'til I haven't lost my last breath, I won't lose hope and I shall fight to have you back," she whispers to the blowing wind.

Princess Silvanna watches the letter flies away until it became invisible. She has to take action now before the real danger strikes. She did have a talk with the Prince of the Abyss, but she does not trust his words at all for she strongly believes that the abyssal demons still has the SABER Squad under capture.

"We can make a deal to halt the occurrence of the great war, Silvanna. I only ask for one thing," Dyrroth stated with a smirk as if he has the greatest idea of all.

"Hearing your plan doesn't mean I agree to it," Silvanna replied, suppressing the urge to beg on her knees for him to come back to their side.

"Give us half of the Moniyan Empire, give us the land so we, the abyssal demons, shall freely explore the world," Dyrroth replied and such request is against the empire and the golden rule between the two races; demons and humans are not to coexist to keep the balance of the world.

In the end, you rejected the deal for you know that there is more to what Dyrroth wanted and it is too much of a risk. In addition, the toxicity of Land of Dawn is also caused by Dyrroth and negotiating with him would surely lead them to their end.

"Gatotkaca," the princess calls as she walks down the stairs. "Bring me all the profiles of every warriors here in the empire, including the ones from Magical City. I want them all on my desk by dusk."

The general responds to her command by placing his arm across his left chest with his fist closed. He bows to her before taking his leave. The princess makes her way to the basement of the castle that only her could get access into.

With a torch on her hand, she goes down the dark and spiraling stairs going down. The air is a bit cold and dusty, the ceilings are also covered with webs that she uses the fire to clear them up. Her footsteps echoes as she goes down further.

Princess Silvanna almost yelp in shock when she steps on a stair that is covered in moss. It made her realize that it has been a long time since she last visited the basement. When she finally reaches her destination, she lights up the other torches and the hallway is now seen clearly. The floor is covered in dust, the air is a bit dry that it's hard to breath in.

"The rightful one shall open thee,

With a touch of grace, open up to me,

Light of the Moniyan Empire,

Thou shall continue with burning fire."

Princess Silvanna chants the spell that could only open the two humungous, golden doors leading to the room where the power of the empire lies. It has been kept a secret from anyone with the exception of the heirs to the throne whose duty is to protect the orbs and grant the power to the rightful wielders.

The doors creak open and Silvanna's heart beats faster as she once again enter the ground of power that only she could control. When she finally gets in, the doors shut themselves to keep away unwanted guests. As the princess stands by the middle of the room, fives lines on the floor lights up until it has crawled onto the ceiling, meeting the other lines at the center. The whole room which used to be so dark and lifeless, now shines brightly as the five gems come into sight, each illuminating different color but still are surrounded by the golden rays of light.

"To whom shall I grant these power to?" she thinks as the orbs start to circle around her as if they're glad to once again see her after a long time. She holds out her hand in front of her and opens her palms.

The orbs that seem to have a mind of their own gather themselves above the princess' hands. Each of the gems is interdependent with the other, for one to fully function, the other four must be in great condition so it could be in its perfect shape.

"Whose hands deserve these gems?" the princess once again thinks for she has to choose five great, responsible warriors to handle the power that is to be bestowed upon them.

Princess Silvanna's thoughts are interrupted when she hears footsteps above that seems to come down the basement. She raises her hands and the gems go back to where they used to be. She grabs the torch and takes her exit, the door closing behind her as if it has sensed the presence of an uninvited guest.

"Your Highness, Mr. Ton is asking for an audience with you," Gatotkaca reports to her which made her grit her teeth in anger.

"Tell him to wait by the throne room. I will be seeing him," she replies before going back upstairs with Gatotkaca on the lead.

As she struts into the throne room, she could see Mr. Ton smirking at her.

"Princess, as not to waste your precious time, I will be as direct as I can," he tells her as she sets foot in the room. "You know about the Land of Dawn, ain't it? And you also know that my dearest SABER Squad is keeping the Magic Cube safe. So, if you may, grant me the permission to use your royal lab to prepare the new squad--."

Before Mr. Ton could even finish what he has to say, Princess Silvanna cuts him off.

"I decline," she straightforwardly replies. "The SABER Squad does hold the Magic Cube but I have nothing to do with that. Leave the premises voluntarily or I shall have the royal guards drag you away."

With her response, Mr. Ton's laughter echoes in the room. The princess' forehead folds in confusion for she expected him to throw a tantrum but he didn't.

"My, Silvanna, you may be a great ruler but you lack the sense of business," Mr. Ton says as he turns his back and walks towards the exit. "The Magic Cube holds too much power and if it's opened by the abyssal demons, they'll overpower us. The Moniyan Empire shall disappear without you knowing."

The CEO waves his hand as a goodbye before turning in a corner where he could take his exit. Princess Silvanna breathes in and out to calm herself for she is really ticked off by that CEO. He has been boasting the Magic Cube for who knows how long but no one actually knew what it is capable of for it has been sealed right before it has fallen into the hands of Nero Ton.

"Your Highness, the profiles you asked for are set on your desk," Gatotkaca says in order to avert her attention to something else.

The princess simply nods in response and walks into her study room. As she opens the door, it creaks as if it has grown old with time. Her study room is well-lighted for her desk is just near the glass window. The bookshelves are packed with books of history, knowledge and magic. On her desk is a pile of papers that she has to go into and choose the rightful holder of the gems.

"Alucard?" she whispers under her breath upon seeing the very first profile. She grabs the document and reads it intently. "A demon hunter, huh."

Back at the Demon Hunter Society, Granger and Alucard are currently having their meal when the former suddenly sneezes.

"You're gross," Granger states as he pulls his plate a bit farther from his senior trainor. "Don't go spreading your virus. Have some manners."

Alucard wipes off his nose with his hanky and looks at his junior who has transferred to the next seat.

"I have been training with you yet I really can't get use to your sharp tongue," he replies. "As a junior, you have to respect your elders and keep your mouth shut."

"I do respect you when you're on the battlefield but it changes when you're in your normal state," he replies without looking at him.

Alucard simply shakes his head with a smile on his lips before continuing to eat his meal.

He suddenly flinches in surprise when someone bangs the table with a tray. Alucard looks in front of him and sees the greatest known archer. She is staring daggers at him for a reason he does not know of.

"What?" he asks her but he only receives a sudden whack om the head.

"You're not really a boyfriend-material, hmph!" Miya pouts as she takes her seat and never glances back at him.

Alucard looks at Granger, asking for help with his eyes but his student simply focuses on his food and not even sparing him a glance.

"Did your hunt ended in failure?" Alucard asked for he has no choice but to talk to her or he'll experience Miya's cold treatment, even colder than Aurora's kingdom.

"Almost," she replied with a sigh. The two of them just became a couple recently which makes Alucard unfamiliar with the commitment.