Chapter 8: safety report

After leaving Lucien's room, Caelum checked his coreband to ascertain the reason for its persistent signal.

He looked down at his wrist and furrowed his eyebrows softly.

"What is it?" Altair asked, catching the shift in his expression.

"Audius requested to meet me," Caelum replied calmly.

"Already done with the check?" Altair muttered under his breath.

"I suppose he is. Let's go—he's waiting in the drawing room," Caelum said, languidly turning toward the corridor.

"Sure. Time to face the music, I guess," Altair muttered, anxiety laced subtly in his voice.

"Think positive. We said we trust him—so let's trust him," Caelum said, steady as ever as they walked.

Altair followed a few paces behind, his steps slower.

"I do trust him... but I think I still have the right to be worried, don't I? Aren't you worried too?"

Caelum's silence spoke louder than any words. He glanced once at Lucien's door—expression unreadable—before continuing down the hall.

They continued toward the drawing room without another sound.

When they finally arrived, the door opened after sensing their arrival and they stepped inside.

They were met with the quiet, unreadable gaze of Audius.

---

Audius was their grandfather's comrade's son—born in the later years of his father's life, making him only slightly younger than their own father.

His father had died in the war. But before his passing, his final wish had been simple: for their grandfather to take care of his son.

Their grandfather hadn't hesitated. He took Audius in immediately.

Since then, Audius had lived alongside their father—as his adopted brother, his right hand... and, begrudgingly, their nanny.

Audius looked at them calmly before candidly stating his piece.

He waved the the original draft which was supposed to be used " If this is what you sent to your parents, then you just committed parracide but if you absolutely terrified yet relief expression is something to base up of, you clearly didn't use it".

He continued calmly as he passed the drive to caelum

"Which is good, cause this is the most unsafe root to follow".

He looked at them straight in the eye with a gaze that spelt 'I hope this is clear, if it's not then.....'.

"You aren't naive not to understand what this drive implies, I will let you handle it only cause it's your parents involved, but immediately you prove incompetent, I will take over, I am clear" He said calmly, he wasn't giving them a choices nor was he asking for their opinion, he was just plainly informing them how this would go.

"How do we know that the coordinates that they're currently on is safe" Altair asked in a serious tone.

Audius glanced at his watch and said dispassionately

"Well I don't need to explain to you the rank of the danger zones or how to determine them do I?, but for your peace of mind, the terrain your parents went to explore was discontinued due to lack of funds, so it's is most likely a yellow zone, any path they follow apart from this one is also a yellow zone.

"So this path is a red zone then ? caelum asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Of course not, don't be absurd....." Audius said monotonously

Caelum and Altair sighed in relief but immediately turned pale when he continued

"...Why would I worry over a mere red zone? It's a black zone. You do know how dangerous a black zone is... right,whoever gave you this coordinate is quite brave and forefront I must say " he said as he patted Altair shoulder, before he works himself up.

"So no matter the path they take asides from this one..."he says while pointing at the drive in caelum's hand

"....they are going to be alright, so don't fret I guess " he concluded dryly.

" I will be taking my leave, I expect results before your parents return, say hi and goodbye to little Lucien for me" he said as he walked out through the doors without once looking back.

A soft bang was heard signifying the closing of the door, leaving caelum and Altair alone by themselves with their thoughts.

"I guess we do owe Lucien an apology, don't you say" caelum asked Altair, only to receive silence in return.

He looked at him to see an unreadable expression on his face

"What is wrong ?" Caelum asked softly

" you have been awfully quiet today " caelum continued.

"No, don't worry, I'm just perturbed by the thought of what could have happened if Lucien didn't arrive when he did" he sighed softly

Caelum knew there was more to it but won't push him until he was ready to say.

" well get some rest, it has been a tough day for everyone " he said as he made his way towards the door.

" What are you going to do " Altair asked caelum seeing he had no intention to rest.

" You heard audius, he wants results and that's what I will give him " He looked back and said before leaving the drawing room completely.

Altair stayed in the drawing room for a while before returning to his room.

_—————_

Was she nervous ?

Absolutely

Was she scared?

Yes, yes she was

Did she regret doing it?

Immediately the drive was given.

But will she do it again ?

Unfortunately, yes, yes she will.

She aurile virelle was an illegitimate spawn of Lord virelle, she knew, she had always known.

She was ashamed of herself but any time she thought of his gentle smile and sweet words, she couldn't help but become more greedy.

The first time they met was at the royal banquet held just to introduce him.

She remembered how the other noble lads and ladies mocked and made jester of him due to his low birth but all he did was smile and was still ever as polite.

When she was being bullied and mocked by the ladies of noble birth, he stood up for her, comforted her and made her feel worthy of love.

It was a different acceptance than the one given to her by the Thorneveil and she craved madly for it.

They frequently sent messages on their corebands until he told her that it was the Thorneveil that was supporting his older half-brother the crown prince which was inadvertently cornering and holding him down.

He told her all she needed to do was keep an eye on them for him, so he could least avoid getting on their bad side, she thought it was no big deal and did just that.

The Thorneveils were a very peaceful and elegant family, they barely acknowledged anyone talk less of looking for an illegitimate spawn's trouble.

She reported about their journey to the discontinued terrain and he told her to tell him everything, she only thought he wanted to use this opportunity to earn his father trust, so she did.

But he suddenly asked her to change the coordinates to keep them there a little longer, so he could have more time to win his father trust, she was disinclined to agree, until he told her how they were of the same kind, that he was doing it for them, that after he earns his father trust, he will gift and honor the Thorneveil for their unknown contribution.

It was a lie she chose to believe, just for the craved acceptance he gave her.

So she accepted the coordinates he sent her and replace it with the original.

She did it.

She just didn't expect little Lucien to do what he did, even though she was a little scared she couldn't deny the relief she felt.

But now she was done for, caelum would not let her off, the scary thing is that she isn't even aware if he is suspecting her.

She paced nervously in her room until she received a message from her coreband, that caelum wishes to see her, she turned pale in fright but she still had to go and deny everything.

_———————_

Caelum was immersed in his book as he raised his teacup to his mouth elegantly, he was interrupted by the transmission signifying someone is at his door.

He put his teacup down slowly, he ordered the house system to let her in, already knowing who it was, when his phoenix red eyes met green's, he couldn't help but smile softly. But his gaze held an unreadable expression, it was almost as if he knew something no one else knew and it amuses him.

He watched her stiffly make her way up to him and nervously looked around, she already exposed herself without him even doing anything extra.

"Aurile darling, join me for tea, won't you?" He said languidly, he wasn't exactly asking was he ?

"Uh, oh, alright young master" Aurile said hurriedly.

Even her voice trembled, he was already certain this was going to be boring, he was already loosing interest playing with her.

Should he just kill her now ?,

No, he still needed her to find the mastermind, he had already ascertained that such a plan couldn't be conjured upon by her, with her guilty expression and behavior.

I guess I still need you alive unfortunately.

"Do you know why I asked for you miss virelle ?" He asked with an amused gaze and soft smile.

"No-no, Y-young master " she stuttered

"Well I need you to do something for me, I need a report of all the people present at the control room earlier this morning, can you do that? " He asked softly.

"Yes young master " she answered quite unsure and seemingly shocked, this was not the question she was expecting.

"Alright, you may take your leave now" he said languidly.

"Thank you young master" she got up quickly seemingly in a rush to leave.

"Before you go, would you like to tell me anything thing aurile, anything at all" he was giving her a chance to admit it herself, it might be easier finding her owner if she was on board.

Caelum looked at her with a rare seriousness he didn't usually show, if she admitted now, he might consider giving her a quick death, pained but quick nonetheless.

She looked guilty and constricted, she opened and closed her mouth so many times.

"I-i ....." She paused swallowed and muttered softly.

"I have nothing but appreciation and gratification towards the young master"

"Okay, you may leave now" he said why drinking his tea.

He didn't truly care whether Aurile confessed today. What mattered was how many names she'd unknowingly lead him to tomorrow.

She bowed and made her way out only to let out a shriek.

He raised his eyebrows softly in questions.

her lips trembled, but she said nothing. She turned and fled."

Immediately she left, he brought a tablet showing a red dot, the red dot's destination, heart rate, brain waves and actions.

"Poor aurile, you have been quite a bad girl now haven't you" he said languidly with a hint of amusement.

"You will be very fun to play with, don't disappoint me now okay" he linked to the tablet to his coreband and continued his book and tea as he chuckled softly in amusement.