8. Chased by death

The gaze of the moon could be seen outside the huge glass window panels. The silence of the night made the atmosphere inside the room appear melancholy.

So was the face of the man standing behind the fluttering curtains of the opened doors leading to the balcony of the room.

The man was gazing at the bright moon. It shined so bright and full. And amidst a dark silent night, only the sighs of the devastated man can be heard.

The man was the king of the empire.

Revillon Ignis Semaria.

He was standing on the balcony. His mind was preoccupied with lots of things, as a king should have. But at that moment, the only thing that he could think of was the moon shining down on him. He was reminded of how a certain someone's name was derived from it.

It gave him a headache. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed once more.

He was reminded of the discussion that happened at the Lotus Hall earlier that day. Everyone in the room was left dumbfounded. Even his upright and righteous attendant was in a daze. Although the crystal ball has finally found its true ability, they still can't say that the convicted lady was indeed innocent.

The change on the ball was, in all honesty, useless in her case since she was no longer present. Her soul was no longer there, so it could no longer be checked. Additionally, there are witnesses to prove her guilty. But the king now doubted those testimonies. It felt like everyone who was involved in the lady's death was prejudiced due to her being a dark mana wielder.

Everything was a mess.

He was afraid that if this were known, the credibility of the judiciary of the palace would plummet, maybe not entirely on his own kingdom but it could appear detrimental to his reign from a foreigner's perspective.

Especially, the Holy Nation.

Although one of the priests-in-training said such negative words on the topic of using the ball to the said lady, it can be reasoned that he was yet not prepared to be a high priest.

The Holy Nation was a peaceful country, it is due to ensuing laws that protected humanity, advertised equality between nobles and commoners, preached God's words, and strictly condemned corruption and wrongdoings.

It can even be called a paradise for simple-minded and contented individuals. The only downside is that one should possess divinity to be able to enter.

Another thing Renvillon was concerned about, is the existence and the identity of the woman who occupied the lady's body. She appears to be somehow attached to the owner's body, so he is doubting if the woman really did come from another world.

He thought that although magic is present in this world, the idea of another world existing out there is possible.

He looked up and saw tiny blinking lights starting to become even more visible in the vast night sky.

'Maybe each twinkling star can also be another world....' he thought that perhaps her soul could also be on one of those worlds, living a more righteous and unconfined life.

For the first time, the king bowed and whispered.

* * *

"Where are we going?"

Mona asked the Grand Duke who was currently untying a horse' rein on the stable.

It was already dark. The moon shined so brightly in the sky that she thought a lamp wouldn't be needed anymore.

After the meeting with the dignitaries of the Holy Nation and His Majesty, the Grand Duke received an order to accompany Mona on her way to the Holy Nation.

Being perceived as the subject of prophecy, the priests claimed that she should enter the holy nation to further analyze the purpose of the sudden revelation and to examine her condition.

She wanted to refuse and stay since she thought she just come to that place and the empire somehow gave her familiarity already. But she realized that perhaps that was due to the presence of the Grand Duke. She thought that she couldn't always lean on him for everything, seeing that he didn't want any excess baggage.

So, Mona can only hope that the holy nation is a better and safer place than the empire, and no citizen will try to harm her at all costs.

"To the Lost Pier." The Grand Duke answered without looking at her. He was now mounting up the saddle on the horse.

"Why? Can't you just use magic on me? Like the priests did earlier."

The Grand Duke glared her at with obvious irritation on his face. He was actually thinking that all of this preparation for travel would not have happened if this woman in front of her did not reject magic.

"Have you forgotten what happened earlier? Magic won't be of use to you. It repels you and you nullify it." He answered grudgingly.

Mona actually should have been riding with the Saintess and the highest priest back to their country. But when the carriage passed through the open portal that connects the kingdom and the nation, the next thing happened to her, instead of welcoming the heavenly atmosphere of the holy land, her butt slapped the paved road of the palace. It turns out that she was left behind.

The highest priest came back without the carriage and tried taking her again, but every time she would enter the portal, the same place where she left off would greet her.

In the end, the second highest priest suspects that since she came from another world where magic is non-existent, her body seems to reject it.

"Who knows if your magic can be used on me?" She still insisted.

The Grand Duke, looking so done with her, finally faced her and spoke.

"I know. I tried freezing you earlier because I was curious. It didn't work." Mona gaped at him which he only ignored. "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

"No."

The Grand Duke only sighed with disappointment before jumping and positioning himself atop the horse.

Then he reached out his hand to pull Mona up.

But Mona did not take the hand, instead firing him a question.

"We're leaving? At this hour?"

"The day would be too dangerous for you. Although you were completely a different person, the people still see you as Lady Vandross." He leaned down and reached her waist instead, then suddenly hoisted her up on his front. "And Lady Vandross has a lot of enemies. People unsatisfied at the cancellation of her execution, and people holding deep grudges against her."

The Grand Duke's voice that hovers above her head seemed deeper than usual in her ears. Plus, the sudden contact of his hand on her body made Mona's heart so unsettled that she could not even think of a reply to him.

The horse finally started to run, and the conversation ended. With the sudden movement in her seat, she instinctively grabbed the Grand Duke's outer suit beneath his black coat that fluttered in the air.

Kyden felt the hands of the woman, but he did not complain or push her hands away. The woman became silent after hearing his words, so Kyden thought that she was feeling anxious and afraid of what could happen. He thought that even though they travel at night, he cannot assure her that there will be no danger.

He whipped the horse and urged it to run faster. The faster they could reach the docks, the safer it would be for them.

But as soon as they left the capital, Kyden could already sense danger approaching them. Mona felt the tension on Kyden's body, so she looked up and saw his serious face.

"We're being followed."

When she heard those words, she immediately hid her face in his chest and squeezed tightly on the clothing she was grabbing at.

Kyden could see the trembling of the woman's hands, so he made the horse run faster.

But when they reached the entrance of a village they needed to pass through to arrive at the Lost Pier, shadows of approximately eight in number slowly emerged from different corners.

When the moonlight pointed at them, Mona, who looked up from her head being burrowed on Kyden's chest because of the horse's pace being slowed down, could see the shadows belong to normal humans. Five looked like an adult, and three seemed to be youths.

Then they heard the galloping of horses from behind them. The ones chasing them had already caught up.

Kyden held the reins tighter. And Mona, as if knowing what the Grand Duke was planning to do, completely embraced her arms around his waist.

The horse neighed and was ready to jump over those people when a young boy emerged and stood in their front. The boy's eyes are filled with fury, unbefitting of a mere child. He was probably between the ages of seven to eleven. He spread out his hands, stopping the horse in its tracks.

But the Grand Duke has not even shown the slightest bit of slowing down.

Mona was scared. Not for her, but for the young boy. So, she squeezed the Grand Duke's waist and shouted.

"Are you trying to run him over?!"

Without looking and appearing completely focused, Kyden answered.

"The adults would snatch him soon."

But none of the said adults are even trying to stop the child.

"Grand Duke, let's just stop and talk to them...! Explained why the execution must be stopped."

"Do you think they will believe you? Or even hear you?"

"But what if he didn't move and you killed him?"

"I won't."

The horse continued rushing directly at the boy, but fear was not even registered on his face. Mona can only name one emotion on their faces.

Fury.

She closed her eyes when they came closer. She's afraid of dying again, but she does not want to kill someone to live.

So, she gathered up her courage and whispered to the Grand Duke, enough for him to hear.

"Please, stop, my lord."

But even before the Grand Duke could stop, the horse they were riding neighed loudly and became aggressive.

"Damn it!"

Kyden cursed at the arrow pierced on the hind leg of his horse. It kicked the last time and threw them off to the ground. He immediately stood up and checked on his companion.

Only to see her crumpled and unconscious on the ground.