DEPARTURE

“How can this be?” Diya said as she knelt on the floor. Sargon reached in to touch it.

“Don’t!” she blocked his hand. “It's a blessed weapon, you’ll burst into bits if you touch it, only the wielder and the goddess who blessed it can touch it.” She said.

Why would she specifically say goddess? He thought to himself

“What did you say? What’s blessed weapons? Why is this on the floor of my mother’s room?” he questioned her.

“I don’t have the answer to your questions, but I do know that this is one of three sets of divine armor given to a human with unparalleled strength and power, to defeat the demon kings of legends.” She sat on the floor as Sargon fished for answers on her face. “This weapon and armor disappeared one thousand years ago during the war, completely vanished.” She spoke

“it’s probably stolen.” Sargon shrugged,

“No, once the holder is dead, it returns to the heavenly realm where it is forever encased in glass.” He stared at her.

“I know what you’re thinking." she spoke, "but I’ve never heard of an immortal human, ever.” 'well, not in this world, she thought to herself.'

“But why is it here? And how is this connected to my mother’s disappearance? And who left it here?” Sargon asked.

“I have no answers to your questions.” she said. “keep this a secret from everyone else.” Diya said to him as she placed the door back on and sealed it. “It will be safe here, the only one who can remove the seal is me or it’s wielder.”

They returned to the fortress as if nothing happened. although they both acted and seemed perfectly fine during meetings, around the fortress and everyday life, there were some instances where Diya looked as if she was lost in a train of thoughts, and Sargon seemed as if he'd avoid her. This did bring some suspicions, amongst the other members of the high table, however they believed that it was due to their recent fight. Other than that, preparations to depart to the north went on as planned.

"Do you suppose they had a fight again?" Wendell asked Lia.

"Who knows?" she shrugged, "but I'm not asking."

A loud noise was heard outside the kitchen doors, as Lia popped her head out, she saw Diya on the ground rubbing her head.

"Are you alright Lady Diya?" she extended her hand to help her up.

"Ahaha, thank you." she helped her up.

"Why are you here in the middle of the night?" Lia asked her.

"Ah, I was hungry, and you?" she glanced at some crumbs on Lia's cheeks.

"well, someone left a perfectly delicious cake out and it was well received." Lia tapped her tummy. Diya giggled.

"I see someone's happy with my cake." Diya spoke as Lia paused with a look of fear.

"Y-y-you made it? i-i-it was good i didn't know you could cook." Lia stuttered.

"Haha, who do you think was in here before you or the other demons came?" Diya asked.

"Ugh, you got a point." she said as she followed Diya inside.

"I'm sorry i ate it without asking." Lia said

"It's not a problem, please help yourself. in fact, please continue." as she began preparing a light snack for herself. Lia continuously stared at her as she munched.

"Did something happen between you and the master again?" Diya froze.

"N-no, why do you ask?" she finally responded.

"You both have been distant lately, do you need some couple's counselling?" Lia tilted her head.

"We're not married! … yet." She calmly placed the bowl on the table.

"I know, but soon I guess." Lia shrugged

"What are you implying?" Diya asked

"I'm just saying, it's more fun when we're all smiling, we as your underlings, admire and aspire to be like you and master, so talk to him." she stared at her as she gobbled the cake.

"You're right." Diya exhaled. "Want to help me make another?”

“Another? Another what?” Lia asked

“Why, another cake of course.” Diya smiled.

Another sleepless night gone by as Sargon stared at his bedroom door. He missed Diya, he missed the times she'd stay with him until he fell asleep, or bring him warm milk when he couldn't sleep. but mostly, he missed her touch, her presence and her smile.

"What are you doing?" Wendell asked as he popped up behind him.

"Try to sneak up on me one more time and I'll have you sleep with the orcs." Sargon glared at him.

"I look forward to it." he said as he snickered. "but not tonight."

"What do you want?" Sargon asked

"To lend you my ears?" Wendell replied.

"Huh?" he crooked his eyebrows.

"You and our queen, did something happen?" Wendell asked.

"Nothing really." he avoided eye contact.

"Most of the subordinates noticed that you two have been distant lately." Wendell said.

"Is that so?” he crossed his legs, “have they been lazing around so long, that they dare peek into their master's life?" Sargon said as his eyes glowed red.

"Please sheath your anger, I'm here representing those concerned subordinates for I am one of them." he kept his head down. Sargon sighed.

"You're right, tell me, how can I get her to come back to me?" Sargon asked him.

Wendell felt relieved that Sargon was willing to speak with him.

"Well, our queen never left you to begin with. you know better than anyone she's the most loyal to you." he said.

"That's right. What can i do to change the situation?" Sargon asked

"Well, can I ask, have you even spoken to her?" he asked.

"During the meeting yes." he replied.

"No, not like that, but what she wants?" he asked.

"No, I've never done so." he replied.

"Good relationships are based on good communication, she listens to everything you say because she's your subordinate, but she's going to become your queen, which means her position will change the tasks she does now, will also change. that means you also must bend a rule or two." Wendell said to him.

"What are you getting at." he glared at him.

"Speak to her, ask her what she wants.” Wendell said. Sargon sighed.

"Very well, i will heed your words." Sargon said as Wendell disappeared into the shadows.

"Thank you Lia, i feel much better." Diya smiled,

"You're welcome." she smiled warmly.

"You know Lia, when I'm not here, you're the highest ranked female here." Diya said

"Hmm? you say that as if you're going somewhere?" Lia looked at her.

"Heh, no. I'm just saying. After I become queen, you will inherit my current position.” as Diya said those words, Lia finally felt recognized.

Sargon knocked on Diya's door, there weren't any replies, nor did he feel her presence there so he began to search for her. Diya said goodbye to Lia as she took a slice of cake with her, while aimlessly walking through the hallways, she met Sargon who was coming from the direction from her room.

"Ah, why are you still awake?" she subconsciously asked him.

"I couldn't sleep." he said reflexively. They both stared at each other in silence, until it became awkward.

"I have some sweets, want some?" said Diya

"I'll gladly accept,” he said to her. "It's good," he said as he munched.

"thank you." she replied.

"It's been a while since i had something made from you." he pointed out.

"Should I go to the kitchen often?" Diya asked, he didn't answer.

"Diya." he said

"Yes." she replied

"You know I love you right." he said

"Yes, i know." she replied.

"I also know you would do whatever you could to save someone." he said

"Yes." she replied.

"You're headstrong," he said.

"Yes." she replied.

"You're also irreplaceable to me." he said

"Yes." she replied as he clenched his fists.

"You're also my weakness." he said

"Yes. i am." she replied.

"That's why no matter what I say, you'd go wouldn't you?" he asked.

"Yes, Please let me find her.” she said to him.

He felt a cold chill pass through his body. Sargon looked at her as he stretched his left hand towards her, just within reach, as if he wanted to hold her.

"I did say, you are always within my reach, yet so far away." he said. she turned to him.

"Didn't i say, I'll just have to meet in the middle?" she reached out and joined her hand with his. how he missed this warm touch.

"Promise me, if there’s something you can’t handle, you are to return to my side immediately." he said as she held his hand tightly.

“I was thinking, for mother to leave such powerful weapons behind if it did or did not belong to her, means that something more powerful came for her right?” he asked.

“Right.” she replied.

“All the more reason to stay far, I knew that one day you’d leap out of my grasp and I won’t be there to protect you.” he said as she smiled, then chuckled.

“These weapons hold a significant meaning to me.” she said as he remembered when she pointed out that only the goddess who blessed it can touch it.

“Only this time I’ll close off my emotion and let you go.” He gently took her hand and placed a bracelet on it. “This will absorb one fatal strike. If it does happen, my bracelet will shatter alerting me that you are in danger. At that time, I will drop everything and I’ll come to your side. That’s final.”

She shook her head indicating she understood. He took a long and deep breath and exhaled.

“Why are women such a pain?” he shook his head and remembered the camellia that Diya would always bring each morning to his bedside. “I’ll be waiting at Claw’s mountain.” He pulled her to him, and tightly hugged her, as she embraced him deeply, then took some steps back and turned around.

“I’ll also be waiting for those camellias so don’t take too long.” he said to her

“It may take months.” She replied.

“MONTHS? I’ll wait years if I have to, just return to me. I’ll be counting the days until your return, I am a man after all.” he tried acting tough.

“Yes, a splendid man.” She smiled in gratitude, flapped her wings and took off. He waited until he no longer heard the sounds of her wings and then left.

A couple of days later they left for Claw’s mountain. Sargon recalled the army in his shadow. a skill he modified after seeing Wendell move through shadows. Both Wendell and Sargon agreed to travel in human forms, they took horses and the four of them, including Lia and Alfreed embarked. They planned to stop in the town of Pixel, where a wealthy noble ruled under the protection of Vanir; Along the way they passed what were once smaller villages, now turned rubble at the hands of Vanir. They camped out at these ruins all the way until they were just a day again to Pixel. Along the way Lia, who was upset that Diya was not with them, was reluctantly quiet, and seemed like she didn’t want to go to Pixel.

“It’s been five days, are you still upset Diya isn’t here?” Sargon asked her.

“It’s not that, it’s just that I’m not fond of the direction we’re heading.” She said with her ears folded which made Sargon unintentionally reach out and patted her head.

“Whatever is bothering you, we will protect you.” He chuckled “Isn’t that something Diya would say to you?” he reassured her to keep her head high for she served a carefree yet powerful master.

Just before they arrived at the town, Sargon picked up on some faint life forces. Using his heightened sense of hearing, he was able to distinguish that the mansion just at the edge of the river had roughly eight persons inside in addition there was an underground passage and room where there seems to be cages and three other life forms in there. with two people standing guard.

“Could they be monster traffickers?” he said.

“What do you mean?” Wendell asked him and he shared the information.

“That’s why I didn’t want to come here.” Lia said.

“Because of the monster traffickers?” Wendell asked.

“Yes, but mostly I have been running from this specific one for all my life.” She clenched her fists. “I beg of you master, help them, the ones trapped inside.”

“Of course I planned to.” Sargon replied.

“Is there a way inside, I will rescue them.” Alfreed said.

“There is, follow the river upstream and you’ll come to an underground passage where small boats can fit through it going right under the mansion.” Lia said.

They were surprised that she knew this, but Sargon only suspected something and decided to let it go for now. As Alfreed headed to the river, the three of them entered the town and were surprised that even with the protection of Vanir, the town was destroyed except the mansion.

“Look alive they noticed us.” Sargon said as they stopped in front of the mansion.

They were greeted by the men pointing swords at them.

“Who dares disturb me.” Said a voice from the top of the balcony.

That very voice sent shivers into Lia’s spine as they looked up they were greeted by an over weighted man smoking a cig.