Chapter 46

It was past twelve at midnight by now. Everyone was sound asleep but me and Felix had to have some late night talks.

Amelia and I sat in my office room, my legs placed up on my desk while she rested on my stomach. I leaned back on the arm of my chair, though it hurt my back. I still felt more comfortable in this position than just my standard sitting position.

"Where is he? I'm sleepy~" Amelia said mid yawn. "I don't know. He's taking longer than I expected."

I caressed Amelia as we waited for Felix. I had to train Amelia today as usual. I was skipping out on training for a few days but that didn't mean she wasn't making progress passively. She became even bigger, nearly reaching the second floor this time.

Her strengths were another thing that was boosted. In a matter of a few days she went from only being able to break trees to being able to break reinforced walls. Though an issue with her is her size. It's too big.

As I thought more about Amelia's strengths, the doorknob turned and slowly flung open. I quickly take my feet off my table and sit down properly. Felix enters the room, looking quite tired but still gives me a gentle smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long. The spies came late." He said as he took his gloves off. "What news do you bring?"

"Alaric seems to be having second thoughts about you. He realised you mean no harm to the crown. There's also rumours that he is counting down the number of days, the reason is unknown."

At that moment, something just clicked into place in my mind, as if it was a perfect fit.

"Wait, what do you mean? For how long?" I asked him, panicked and scared. "U-uh, it's been a few days now. I would guess two days." He said, nervous from my panicked behaviour.

Mori said something about the death of someone important. It was soon but he didn't say who. Alaric is counting down the days of something that is to happen soon. It's still a far fetched thought but it could be a possibility.

Not only that he seemed to be hiding something from me. His voice sounded more melancholy than before. Usually he seemed to have energy no matter how late it became, but when I talked to him over the call he sounded more sorrowful, as if something bad happened.

I rubbed my forehead as I thought more of the clues that I had to further prove it. As far as I knew, I had no further clues. Felix looked at me with concern while putting his gloves into his pocket.

"Did you figure something out?" He asked me, nervous about my answer. "I might have. His death."

Felix's already pale face becomes even more pale, as if his soul just left his body. "W-what do you mean?"

"I talked with Mori a few days ago. He said something about the death of an important person. He only hinted at that and he said it was soon. You say that Alaric is counting down the days. It's a far fetched idea but I cannot think of anything else. Why else would he be counting down the days?"

Felix listened along thoroughly but still wasn't sure of the idea either. "What if it's something else though?" He asked, as skeptical as I was. "Could be. But that's all I could think of."

"I have no idea either. But to think it would be his death… It's scary."

Amelia was also nervous. There has not been the death of a high king for over a century. Alaric is the second oldest, only losing out to Wulfhem, the high king of the Polaris empire.

"But he is healthy. How could he die?" Amelia asked me as both me and Felix thought to ourselves in silence.

"It's Mori we are talking about, the god of death. There's no explanation needed for him to reap the lives of whoever he wants. He doesn't need to stage a death, he can take the life whenever he wants."

She trembled in fear as I explained to her more and more. "That's scary… How could you be so risky with him and act so foolishly!?" Amelia shouted at me.

"He doesn't mind it. I will restrain myself so that I don't get myself killed. He's also quite kind to me for no reason whatsoever. I'm not sure what he has for me in but it must be important that he would talk to me even though I'm not his worshipper"

Felix groans in frustration from thinking too much. "Agh! I give up. I'll leave the thinking to you." He said as he walked over to the door.

I scoff at him for giving up already. "Well, It would be nice for you to help. Whatever, go take a rest. You must've had a hard day today."

He smiled as he opened the door. "That's everyday. It was a more relaxed day but I feel more fatigued than usual." He said before walking out of the door.

Amelia and I were left alone in the room as we both thought about it more. Amelia is quite smart, though childish at times. She can give me some smart ideas whenever I need them.

But it seems that this mystery was also too much for her. We both were unsure given the circumstances. We couldn't solidify anything in stone due to the lack of proof and clues. It was a gamble to say he was dying, not that it would matter much.

The only reason it would matter is because of the change that follows with his death. He is a prominent figure and a model, but Amadeus, his only son, is not one. His son is just an introvert that spends all his time indoors reading books.

Amadeus being the next leader of the humans could be a terrible choice as he shows no signs of leadership or power. He has no authority and is barely seen. Only sometimes is he seen.

This makes everyone question if he will even be the new ruler. There is always the choice of passing it down to another ruling family. Given Alaric's circumstances he has to either pick his son or one of the kings.

Also given the circumstances that his son isn't the best ruler and Alyssa, one of the other monarchs of the empire, is unstable, it only leaves me, the only capable ruler of the empire.

"R-ruler of the empire? No way…" I muttered out. "He wouldn't, would he?" Amelia said, hearing all of my monologues and what I had muttered out.

"He could but that's only if he wanted to."

Though giving the crown to another ruling family is difficult. A lot of complexions come when changing the family who rules. That's why there has never been a single change in the ruling family.

It's one of the only reasons why the Aberdeen kingdom's people did not revolt when Lukas was going insane, giving all of his fundings into the military and neglecting the people.

The change of a royal family takes months, if not years. Though if a revolution were to happen the people could choose the new monarch within days. But that's the difficult part, trusting and choosing someone as a majority. It can be quite difficult.

The train of thoughts kept flowing in as I sat down and thought to myself about this entire power scandal that would start with his death. Alaric's best option for the short term is to pick Amadeus, sacrificing the entire empire overall.

But the most beneficial pick would be me, to actually rule the empire. But that would mean he sacrifices his family and hands me a huge burden. I would need to rule both the empire and my own kingdom together.

I already have my hands full with the project, my own kingdom's rapid growth and Wilkins' new business. I would become overburdened with work, having no time to myself.

"No way he would pick me, right?" I said out loud. "That probability comes after his death. The question we need to answer is if he will die." Amelia said, bringing me back to my senses.

I realised that I strayed off to another probability that only would come if Alaric died. We still aren't sure of his death so it could not even be a thing.

"You're right. I'm thinking too far ahead." I told Amelia, smiling down at her. "Let's forget this for today and leave it for tomorrow's us to figure out.

I chuckled from her sudden wisdom that she is saying out of nowhere. "Haha! Sure. Let's get to bed."

I picked up Amelia and walked out of the room, turning the lights off and closing the door behind me. The hallway was still lit up. I could walk back easily without having to make fire to see this time.

Amelia soon fell asleep in my arms as I walked through the hallway back to my room. Even though she basically spent the day lazing around she was still sleepy. I couldn't blame her since I was really sleepy after walking around all day, carrying the bags and Kathlyn clinging onto me.

A long walk later, I finally made it to my room and took my clothes off. Amelia curled into a ball as usual and fell asleep on the pillow next to mine. I breathe out deeply from relief and flop on my bed, exhausted and ready to start trainingtomorrow for once.

Before I knew it, my eyes closed on their own from how heavy they got. I didn't have enough energy to even move an inch or open my eyes. I just wanted to pass out as the alcohol in my system starts to take action and make me drunk.

ZENITH'S POV

The night was slowly passing by. I couldn't tell what time it was but it was getting closer to becoming daytime. I couldn't fall asleep even though I had a whole barrack to myself with a bed and proper temperature control. All I wanted to do was train and get stronger.

I have been practicing since midnight. I had swung my sword over ten thousand times by now in one direction and stabbed multiple test dummies till they were nothing but torn clothes and broken sticks.

Sweat dripped down from all across my body. I took off my shirt to cool off my body, though it did nothing. I felt like I was less held back by the shirt that I wore.

My swings were getting strong and so were my stabs. I had become faster as well but I was unsure if it was enough to take out Artorius.

He is my strongest foe so far. No beast comes close to him in terms of danger. Even though I was just being used as an emergency card if something goes wrong, I couldn't slack on this mission. I had to give it my all.

With all of this motivation going through my mind, I kept swinging harder than ever. My footwork was near perfect and my swings were faster than lightning. This is the fastest I had become in my life and the strongest I felt.

Though this adrenaline rush would not last long as I felt the energy leave my body. I felt sick and nearly collapsed on the ground. I dug my sword into the ground and kept myself from flopping on the ground, exhausted and with no more power left in me to keep swinging my sword.

I huff and puff as I feel no oxygen getting to my lungs. My vision was getting darker the more I tried to breathe. I overdid it.

"...Damn… It…"

With no energy left in me, I give in and fall to the ground. Breathing in and out sharply and trying to stay alive. All my limbs were numb and my heart was beating faster than ever.

No one is around me to help me stand up. It was midnight and I had the training ground all to myself. There is no way I would be found before sunrise.

I close my eyes ever so slowly, trying to regain enough energy to just walk back to my bed. Slowly trying to pick me up but failing. My arms felt wobbly and fragile as if it was gelatine.

Even after trying so hard to get up from the ground, I failed to even move an inch. I wouldn't stay conscious any longer. I'll have to give in.

"Get up, Zenith. Why give up here?"

This voice… A familiar voice that I haven't heard since… I was a child.

"Stop slacking on the ground. Get to bed." The strangely familiar voice called out once more.

"D…ad?" I muttered out with whatever energy I had.

I looked up from the ground but saw no one around me. Was it my imagination? I heard him talk to me. But he's just… gone? How?

Just hearing his voice gave me enough energy to pick myself up from the ground. I sheathe my sword and look around me once more, just to make sure no one was around and trying to prank me.

I felt no presence near me. It must've been my imagination. But it felt so real…

There was no time for me to think about what happened. I had to get rest and be ready tomorrow. I had more training to do. Early in the morning, I have to go for a run up the hills and down again, after that I had to do more working out. I couldn't slack.

As I walked back into my tent I felt my legs aching, exhausted from the agile footwork and pressure when landing while dodging. My forearms couldn't even open the buttons on my shirt when I tried to open them. After fiddling for a few minutes I got frustrated and just dived into my bed.

My face tried to dig into my pillow, yet it was harder than usual. I picked a pillow that is harder to sleep on to get used to sleeping in uncomfortable situations. It was to make sure I could fall asleep in harsh conditions like hard surfaces without any issues.

As soon as my eyes shut, I was woken up. It felt like I had just closed my eyes but it was already early morning and the general had woken me up by shaking me furiously, as I asked.

"Zenith, wake up. You have to go for your run as you said."

The general's voice rang through my ears as I tried to grasp my situation. I barely had any energy after the night but I couldn't take a rest today.

Without wasting any more time I quickly wore my boots and tie the scabbard of my sword to my holster.

"Yes, general Elisha. Thank you for accepting such a trivial request of mine." I told him before taking my rucksack and taking off running.

"Wait! You forgot your water!" The general called out.

I quickly stopped and turned around to take my bottle. General Elisha threw it over to me and I caught it.

"Take a break here and there. I know you work hard every day to get even better. You're just entering your adult years."

Why was he telling me all of this now? Did something happen?

I gave him a skeptical look before turning around and running away. It was still really early and the sun was still rising. The morning fog was only recently clearing out and visibility was becoming normal. I could see the steep hills even from here. It will be a long trek as usual.

My stomach was empty and all I had was a sip of water from my water bottle. I slept covered in sweat and only got two hours of sleep at most. I was used to such conditions but I could never get used to them.

The only thing that keeps me going were the words that my father told me before dying. The reason I want to get stronger is to be able to protect the one who saved my life, King Alaric.

"Protect your sister no matter what."

Those words have haunted me since that day. The day I lost my family. I think about it every day when training to give me a boost in motivation, to keep living because of the sacrifice my parents made for me.

I live with one regret, the regret of not being able to save my sister. I close my eyes to remind myself of those memories again.

The sounds of people in horror, screaming in fear and dread as the entire village burns down. The smoke filled my lungs as I tried to run away from our house that was burning.

"Zenith! Take your sister!" My mother shouted out as she rushed to pack some essentials.

My father was trying to fend off any soldiers that tried to enter our small hut. As I picked up my sister I saw him fending off two people at once. I couldn't stop and admire him though as I had to run outside and save ourselves.

"Zenith! Protect your sister at all costs! I believe in you, my son!" My father shouted out as he got stabbed fatally in his stomach by a spear.

Blood spilt from his guts and he slowly fell to his knees, coughing up blood. The soldier pulls out the spear and I am left in disbelief.

That memory… It still haunts me. It has traumatized me and I cannot forgive myself for not doing something about it. I couldn't because as soon as that happened the house collapsed.

The roof fell on us and with only a split second to spare, I covered my toddler sister with my body and blocked whatever debris fell. I tried so hard, yet it was not enough to protect her skull from being hit and bleeding out while I lay on top of her, unconscious and beaten.

As I think back to those memories, I realise that I had already gone halfway to the hills. It wasn't far away and I could see the large willow tree, where I would turn back around to get back to the camp.

It takes me about five minutes to reach the finish line with my heavy rucking bag. Most cannot carry the bag on their own and even walk with it, but I manage to somehow be able to run with it at full speeds and run about ten kilometres on rocky and uncertain terrain.

Only two days left till I would meet my most powerful foe. It could go smoothly and I will come out of it alive without having to draw my sword, or it can go wrong and I have to kill or be killed.

ARTORIUS' POV

The morning had started rough for me as I woke up later than usual. I could tell my sleep wasn't any good as I woke up with a throbbing headache, as if my head was being beaten in.

I felt tired and drowsy, with no energy left in me. I wanted to just waste away and not deal with anything but I had to get to sparring with Felix in the afternoon, and also go pick up the ring and dress.

"You don't seem that good. Do you want tea?" Amelia said as she stared at me with concern in her eyes.

I let out a long yawn before rubbing my eyes. "Not at all. I feel hungover." I told her, trying to not fall asleep on the dining table waiting for food.

Everyone else was talking amongst themselves at the table while I read my newspaper in peace, would be in peace if half of the stories in the newspaper wasn't about me and Alexander.

"Felix, can I skip breakfast for today? Give it to Amelia. I'll just have tea." I spoke out, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Why? Are you feeling unwell?" He asked me out of concern. "No, I just feel like eating. I feel really hung over even though I barely had any alcohol."

"Barely any alcohol you say…" Felix muttered out under his breath.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, skeptical of what happened.

"Well you drank about two bottles of wine yesterday. Not counting the one whole bottle for lunch. In total I'd say you had five bottles of wine yesterday." Felix said, giving a recount of all the wine I had.

Kathlyn chuckled from hearing the recount while I tried to remember it. "Did I now? Well anyways, get me some tea."

"As you say."

Felix leaves to bring me tea while I close the newspaper, getting fed up by the boring news that exists in the daily newspaper. I rest my head on the table and fondle my hair, trying to not fall asleep.

"Hey, Artorius. Do you want the tea I made for you at my house?" Kathlyn said as she shook my arm, trying to see if I was still alive and awake.

"That doesn't sound bad. Though I'd rather not ruin your breakfast for my stupidity." I replied back to her, not moving my body a single inch.

I could tell she was looking at me with a gentle smile, even though I had my face planted into my arm. "It's fine. It's a way of repaying you for all that you did."

"Why repay me? We're long-time friends, basically family at this point." I told her as I raised my head, resting my chin on my arm and staring at her. "There's no reason to repay me. Don't feel indebted towards me."

She puffed her cheeks in anger and knitted her brows. "Hmph! Always being kind and not expecting anything in return. I must say you are quite the king." She said, irritated by me.

Feeling tired, I sigh and just groan from needing to stay awake. "The kitchen door is open to everyone in the castle. If you feel like making me tea then do so."

"Okay!" She exclaimed before standing up and leaving the dining table.

Amelia jumps onto the dining table and snuggles up to my face. "Are you really fine? You said you have a high alcohol tolerance but it seems like you're hitting a limit finally."

She wasn't wrong. I'm becoming lazier as days go on. My body doesn't have any sign that I'm getting weaker, I still look shredded and have a physique that people admire. But it seems that I'm hitting my alcohol limit.

I got tired of sitting at the table and stood up, leaving Vincent's family to eat breakfast while I went to lounge in the living room. Amelia followed behind me, not getting on my shoulder but just walking alongside me for once.

"I bet you, her tea is going to set you straight.' Amelia said with a confident smile on her face. "How do you know?" I asked her with curiosity. "Last time you had it all your fatigue disappeared, the same will happen this time too!"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's see."