Chapter 12 - Seeking For Answers

[The world was made of entangling thread of fate, colored with captivating stories, and tampered by untamed inclinations.]

Edric Eldarius diel Edessias. The first in line to the throne. A bubbly and very amiable person. Knowing what happened to Rein, he immediately gave away his room for the purpose of treatment without hesitation.

Rein and Edric wasn't anyone new to each other. As the lord commander of the royal guards, Rein often met with the royal family in various affairs. Since Edric's personality is very amiable and bubbly, he tends to easily make friends with anyone, especially with Rein. They bond so well to the point that Edric has treated Rein like his own brother for as long as he can remember.

" Eh? You can shout already huh? Ahaha, to think that you look worse than a corpse just some moments ago. "

" Edric! Aren't you supposed to be inside your room? Things are going crazy out there, who knows what might happen to you. "

" Aah! You're worrying too much, doc! That's not how a man is supposed to live! "

Edric is messing with doctor Wal's bushy beard, braid it in thirds while laughing. He then nudges Luis's butt, telling him to make some space for him to sit. Edric throws an arm on Luis's shoulder while staring sharply at both Rein and Luis consecutively.

" So, how was it? "

" How was what? "

" The dragon of course! "

" It's... powerful. "

Edric sighed as he didn't get his answer, while the other two are confused about the dissatisfied look that he gives.

" Aw, come on. I wouldn’t need to ask you to know that it was powerful. "

" Right, so what kind of answer do you want to hear? "

" Hmm, what about... Ah! Do you think father can beat it? "

Alright, now that's a real question. A question that no one expected nor wanted to answer. Listening to the question, doctor Wal burst into laughter. He is excited to see how they will react to such a question.

" Err... If we somehow turn him into a giant, then maybe? "

" Well, I think he also needs a big bad sword... I mean, a lot of big bad swords... "

" And spears! "

" Oh! That's right and spears! "

" And also, a giant armor made of ice, like, very very cold ice. "

" Hmm... that's true! Very true! "

Luis and Rein keep spouting nonsense over nonsense, trying to dodge their real answer to the question. Until Edric pulls Luis's sideburns and smacks Rein's bandaged feet. Doctor Wal can help but laugh at their antics.

" Ow ow ow! "

" Ouch! Y-You little! "

" In summary, he can't. "

Rein and Luis turn silent. They turn their faces and look away, daring not to see Edric in his eyes. But actually, Edric was already aware of this beforehand. He just trying to confirm it with those who have actually seen it firsthand.

" Well then, how many more minutes till he can back in action doc? "

Doctor Wal pull out Rein's arm and turn it upward. They can see faint- glowing streams that swirl underneath his skin, within his ulnar to the radial artery. This signifies rapid mana-recovery that took place in his body.

" Hmm... five or ten maybe? "

" Now that's more like it! "

Edric jumped off the bed in excitement. He heads to the door and takes his leave without saying anything, confusing the rest of them with his odd behavior.

Roughly eight minutes later, he came back. But this time, he didn't wear any of which that he had worn previously. Edric is wearing chainmail under a gambeson, while on his waist was a short Damascus-steel sword with distinctive thorn patterns on its scabbard.

Yet what surprised them so much was what Edric is carrying upon his back, which is his brother, the second in line to the throne of Edessia, Sivias Silvariella diel Edessias.

" S-Siv! "

" What are you-?! "

Edric uttered a shush, putting his finger on his lips. Instinctively, the others lower their voice after noticing that the little man on his back was asleep.

" Listen, I need your help to take us somewhere. "

" ...And what do you specifically mean with that 'somewhere'? "

" The Eldergleam. "

Eldergleam, a relic of ancient times. A tree that is said to have existed long before the kingdom itself. The object of worship of those who adhere to The Teaching.

" You don't mean... the Garden of Sincerity? "

Doctor Wal doesn't believe what he has heard, as it has been quite the decades since the last time the people of Edessia have ever set foot on the Garden of Sincerity ever since the king interdiction to enter the area.

" Yeah, the one and only. "

" But why? You know it's forbidden. "

" I want to seek her advice. "

Her advice? What does he mean? The three of them stare at one another, each looking for an answer for themselves. Who is he planning to talk to when there's not even a single person that dares to enter? Even the scholars of The Teaching were prohibited to enter the area, leaving them only to deepen their knowledge from books and sayings.

" Oh, this is new! So, you uh... can talk to trees and plants now? "

Edric burst into laughter after hearing Luis's conclusion. But then they immediately shush him out like what he did to them before.

" Ahaha, sorry sorry.

I wasn't going to talk to the tree... but I'm going to talk to what's inside the tree. Especially on this full moon. "

Among the three, only Rein was tremendously surprised by what Edric has said. Suddenly he thought of the late queen. About how she always asked for him to accompany her to the garden on every full moon. Every single time until her death.

Edric knows that Rein wasn't a stranger to this, for they had been together for a long time. Thus, he glanced at him with a soft smile.

" Uhh, I'm not sure what you're talking about. "

" Anyway, Gear up now will you? We're setting out. "

" Aight, off we go! "

" No no, not you, doc. You can just stay and eat some mung beans at the dining hall as much as you want. But don't tell even an ant about this, ok? "

" Ohh! I'll take it to my grave then! "

Luis and doctor Wal are helping Rein to get on his feet. He put on him a set of leather armor, but unlike the one that they wore against the dragon, this one is much more lighter and comfortable, even though naturally it didn't afford as much protection as the previous one.

" This is embarrassing. I can't even properly stretch my arm. "

" Pay it no mind, young man. You're busted to the bone after all. It's actually absurd that you can still even walk as you are now. "

" Ahaha, sorry for working you worse than a horse, even though you were literally a pulp right now. "

" Now that I think about it, maybe this is the only chance for me to beat your ass for good. "

Upon the gate of the deciding venture, they laugh. The four of them ride upon the wind, veiled by the cloak of the night. Heading for a place that is lost to time, what answer may lie at the end of the light of the blessed moonlight?