C24 - A Favor

Vidus, in reality, has kept the scroll's history a secret because he believed Lyanna wouldn't refuse to try to use it if she think it was from her old 'home'.

The scroll was left behind by Vidus' grandfather. He always told about it like it was a tale of fortune. His grandfather once helped a strange wanderer to reach the old capital, and when they encountered some bandits on their way, he fought side by side with that stranger.

After that, they spent a week to know each other and relaxing before they went on their ways. On the day of saying goodbye, the strange man whose name has been forgotten pressed this scroll into the grandfather's hand.

"It's my thanks to you. With this, you can increase your aura's strength. Goodbye."

Those were the last words he heard. After that, he never met them again with the stranger. There were rumors about him meeting the royal family or traveling to the east to discover some hidden treasures, but nothing could be taken without proof.

More than 200 years later, this scroll was in Vidus' possession, but he couldn't use it. As a last resort, he showed it to Lyanna, maybe she could become stronger with it.

Lyanna stared at the scroll straight for one hour and she didn't move even her fingers. Vidus started to feel nervous. What bad happened to her?

He stood up and walked next to her. He wanted to shake her a little, just to ask if she was ok. Before that very moment, he heard a dull voice from outside, calling his name.

He left Lyanna's side and went to the door.

"What's up? I'm on a vacation." He said as he opened the squeaking door.

"Uhm, excuse me for my behavior, head-commander! Radan sent a message as the region lord will arrive in the following days." The soldier replied.

"Thanks, I understood." Vidus sighed and sent the messenger out.

His face was buried halfway in his right palm with a heavy breath. The region lord's arrival meant to do some preparation and paying attention, as every soldier needed to represent himself before him.

Actually, he didn't care that much about this, he can easily keep his poker face through that hours and make casual reports, but now ... Lyanna's presence made everything a little suffocating in the past days, also a little easier.

He enjoyed Lyanna's closeness like some burden and stress just fell off his shoulder since he didn't think too much about those matters.

As he walked back to Lyanna, he noticed that her eyes were closed and the air in the room became a little chilly.

A few minutes later Lyanna opened her eyes, silver sparklings rushed through her gaze as she raised her head and looked at Vidus.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Vidus asked her with worry.

"I'm fine. I understood its content. I'm sorry to steal your technique." Lyanna nodded and also apologized.

"No, no, no, no. No. No! You don't need to!" Vidus became completely confused.

Lyanna asked for his forgiveness since Orga told her that these kinds of scrolls came from a different world, and they can be considered treasures. To read it, or worse learn it meant to violate its owner by stealing its property.

"Even if I obtained it, you don't need to apologize since I couldn't even find any use in it. Thank godness, it helped you ..." He sighed.

"Then, thank you to let me learn it." Lyanna thanked him for this time, but her emotions were still buried under her empty eyes.

"Well, you can use this scroll as you wish. But ..." Vidus sighed loudly as he took a break in his sentence. "I need a favor from you."

"A favor by me?" Lyanna slightly raised her eyebrows while she pointed at herself.

"Yes. But before I tell you that, let me ask something. How much can you conceal your aura?" He asked her with a serious expression.

"Pretty much." Lyanna replied casually.

"Huh, pretty much? ... Fine. The region lord will take a visit in the city ..." Vidus didn't even finish his sentence yet the atmosphere became heavy and pressuring.

Lyanna's hair slowly started to turn back to blood red as her heart beat stronger fueled by her anger and hatred.

"P-please ... *cough* ..." Vidus barely stood on his feet and coughed up a little blood.

Lyanna calmed her senses and her eyes and hair gleamed in silver colors.

"I want you to conceal yourself while, ugh ... the region lord will be here." He told while he wiped the blood around his mouth.