152 The Precious Charm of the Duchess

AUTHOR'S POV

The unbearable days passed, Stellan continued his deadly trainings without breaking his spirits. He became used to the punishments that happened everyday, and even at night. And when the days are bad, he would be locked up in the closet all night long that even the powerless Duchess could only stood by and watch his son by the door. The Duke continued to push Stellan to his limits and furiously lashed the paladin powers in him, while Evandrus lived day by day in comfort and luxury. Stellan never questioned his father's ways. One night, just right before Stellan closes his eyes to sleep, Evandrus steals Stellan away and brought him to a hill full of cedar trees. They both found sanctuary in that hill as it became their haven to breathe in - Evandrus from being pampered too much while he desperately crave for the Duchess' love and Stellan from all the miserable trainings. They went up there regularly at night. Stellan felt closer to his brother as they watch the stars side by side. He was even caught by surprise when Evandrus built a hut in the Cedar Hill - a place they called serenity. On a typical night when the moon was full, Stellan and Evandrus snuck out stealthily as they usually do. However, the head maiden and the Duke who were making out just by the back door of the castle caught the two brothers. The Duke steamed off in blunder and put the blame in Stellan. The poor boy was forced to stay out in the cold alone all through the night, while Evandrus was taken back to his room by the head maiden.

One day, after being punished with ten lashes for waking up too late, Stellan went straight to the river far from Hesam castle to wash his wounds. As he was about to crouch on the riverbed, he noticed a girl with a pair of bright grey eyes with flecks of green smiling idly at him. He just went on to attend to himself when the girl freely laid her palm on his bloody back. He flinched at her sudden prerogative to touch his royal back but he was more astounded when he realized what she was doing. "Don't get yourself hurt again", the girl said after healing him.

It happened a few more times. It made his every waking morning more meaningful and the road to the river became shorter. Unknowingly, he already forgot about the cedar hill for the new found peace that caught his eye. Only, every time he meets the bizarre girl with the pair of grey eyes, it would always be in the persona of different girls. Yet, he was approached in the same manner, and told with the similar stories in succession. Usually, the girl would only cure his wounds, but eventually she reaped her way to his rotting heart which he have surrounded with an ironclad barrier. She's magical in a way that hummingbirds answer to her calls, and she make the dying peonies bloom in his mother's garden. Certainly, she was his sunshine after the rain. The last time he saw her was when she's running in a hurry and accidentally leaving a pretty crest behind, which he kept in his pocket all the time just in case she comes back. That was the moment he started to learn about soul travelers. 

Years went by with the cold days and warm nights, the girl never returned. It left a hole in Stellan's heart and made him focused more in his trainings instead. Shortly, Stellan finally found the light of his paladin powers. Everyone rejoiced at his hardship. No one doubted the young lad, after all, he is extraordinary in many ways given that he's carrying the Hesam bloodline. This rattled Evangeline. Knowing that Stellan have become a paladin, his son Evandrus could be casted out and worse, lose the love from his father. Decided, she gave the crest to Evandrus and finally allowed him to explore his ability of soul travelling. 

One morning, Stellan woke up on a different bed in a different room. He was astounded to be served by several unfamiliar maidens to help him get up and change. When he looked at the mirror, he dropped his jaw to see the face of his brother, Evandrus. At first, he doubted himself of being a soul traveler. Hence, he knew that the power of soul traveling is only inherited from one's parent. He instantly realized, Evandrus is actually a soul traveler, and Evangeline, the head maiden, could be his mother.

Hurriedly, he watched his brother train under the heat of the morning sun. He winced at the punishments Evandrus received every time he loses his sword. Stellan almost intervened but the head maiden grabbed his shoulder holding him back. The pies and fruits were particularly sour that day. His troubled heart cried at the sight of Evandrus hurting. Duke Nero couldn't believe that the Stellan in front of him couldn't ignite his paladin powers on his sword, when it just awakened recently. That's when Stellan found out that the soul travelers can only claim ones body, and not ones powers and abilities. The day ended with Evandrus being locked up in the closet. He stayed there for a while, until the Duchess let him out. It was the cherry on top for Evandrus - being in the arms of whom he believed is his mother.

In the middle of the night, Stellan returned to his body, enduring the pain that electrified all over. Surprisingly, he was in the arms of the Duchess lulling him to sleep. Stellan have never been clingy to his mother that way. In fact, he wanted his mother to have more time for herself than waste it with him. It stings in his heart to see unhappiness in Duchess Lucia's eyes, except when she's in her garden tending to her peonies or in the library reading her favorite book. "Mother, let me take you to your chambers. Your beautiful eyes don't deserve sad tears", Stellan told his mother casually.

The next day, Stellan woke up in Evandrus' body again. He started to believe that Evandrus found a way to protect him from all the brutal punishments. However, when the two met eye to eye in the corridor, Evandrus just walked past him like a perfect stranger, followed by the Duchess who stared directly in his eyes as if she could see the real person inside its flesh. Later that evening, when the two switched souls back again, the Duchess handed Stellan a precious charm made of emerald gem and malachite that he mustn't remove no matter what. The following day, Stellan woke up in his body. Evandrus never soul traveled towards Stellan body from then.