31| True Purpose II

Moments later…

"They are called the Old Ones..." Sylteena's palms rested on the parchment as her eyes ran over the lines; Philip only sat silently opposite her.

She then began to read,

"Before the birthing of the High Kingdoms, before even the River-Claim and the Ashen Crown, there were the Ones-Who-Walked-First. They were not kings, nor were they men... not entirely. The Old Ones, as later tongues named them, dwelt not within stone walls or bound law, but in Root, in Rift, and in Reverence."

She then picked up one of the sheets from her father's document.

"Papa wrote that... They were shaped not by time, but by the turning of the world itself — as if the land had dreams, and those dreams birthed them."

Philip pinched the side of his temple, already feeling overwhelmed with the information.

"According to Papa's Fifth Theory, the ancient corrupted civilization — the catalyst — is the source of the dark magic poisoning the forest. The primal evil behind everything... This ancient civilization must have been the old one the Chronicles speak of!"

Philip's brows furrowed.

"But this civilization you speak of, it is nowhere stated in the whole of Welerian history—"

"EXACTLY!"

Philip jolted at her bark.

Stretching forth to pull out an old history text, she flipped through frantically.

"Everything! Everything in our history starts from the year of the first Dranvon era, stating them as the founders of our nation... But we both know the Chronicles date far before that."

Philip shook his head.

"It could also most likely be an assumption, because our kingdom was the first to officially rise after the First World War."

Sylteena picked up another piece to read.

"The Book speaks of a Covenant. Though the glyph is cracked here. 'Cove___'... Possibly 'Convergence' or 'Covenant'. Either way, it implies a binding between the Old Ones and something... Perhaps another civilization..."

Philip's eyes widened.

"You see it, don't you??" She pulled out the geographic map of the land.

"What if the Covenant was between the Old Ones and our ancestors after the war?" She snickered.

"It is said that the Old Ones yielded what even divine power still yearns for. Power beyond the grasp of their timeline..."

"Oh no..." Philip shook his head.

"Oh yes, Philip... It is clear as day!"

"My Lady—"

"What if the only reason our kingdom rose first after the war was because of the Covenant between us and the Old Ones? What if our origin of advanced sorcery and civilization was rooted in them!"

Philip only paused for a moment to take in the knowledge dump. "Wait a minute... Just pause! Now! Let us assume that everything you have said is accurate… Because I know your conclusion is absolute to your soul."

"But of course!"

"What do you plan to do now? To find the remaining six theories? Because we are unaware where your father hid them."

"That is secondary... First things first, I need to get back into that forest."

"But of course you need to get back in— WAIT WHAT?!"

Sylteena offered him a nervous laugh.

"I was expecting that reaction..."

He palmed the wooden surface as he leaned forth.

"Have you finally gone insane just on the first day!? Why do you want to do THAT!?"

"Because I need to speak to the Sliqruki."

Philip took a moment to blink.

"Speak??"

And just like that, Sylteena finally revealed to Philip her unforgettable experience from the previous night after her supernatural abduction by the monkey shifter.

With each and every word she uttered, shock and sheer horror was glaring in his wide eyes as his being stilled on the spot.

A word couldn't leave his mouth as she explained the verbal exchange she had with the unholy entities of the forest.

He let out a disbelieving chuckle as his fingers glided through his scanty hair with a bald scalp.

"My Lady, this is all too much..."

"Exactly why I need to go back to them... Only the Sliqruki can answer the questions I seek — or at least help me with the clues to the rest of Father's research."

"I am very sure when your father was writing these papers, he didn't envision his daughter out there walking into a forest with beasts! To converse with them!"

"Which is exactly what will give me the advantage over this research than he had!" She finally shut the book before her.

"The SQ will know it all. He would answer all the questions I seek and provide me all the hidden secrets limited to our species' access."

"My Lady, let's not head dive—"

"This is the only sole purpose I have!"

His lips froze agape.

Sylteena pushed off her seat.

"Please, Philip! I need to do this... I lack any value for my purpose in life... Until last night. And the SQ already made it clear it has no interest in harming me."

"So you want to give it one?"

"No! I want to make use of this rare opportunity and make meaning of my life and my father's leftover research!"

About to retort to her argument, Sylteena snapped,

"You do not understand me, Philip! This is the first morning I woke up not feeling dead inside! And if you are too much of a coward to help me, then fine! I'll do it myself! But what I will not do is seclude myself in fear in this shithole called a life that assures me nothing but tears and pain every FUCKING DAY I WAKE UP!"

Philip froze.

Staring at him with teary eyes and clenched fists, Sylteena then realized she was far leaned over the desk before she slowly pulled back and wiped her eyes, clearing her throat softly as she straightened her dress.

She slowly descended to her seat as she rearranged the sheets before her, letting her eyes roam the table longer before murmuring.

"Hhem... Forgive my foul language," she scratched her palm. "That is no way for a royal to speak... Much less a princess."

Philip's gaze lowered as well, stretching his fingers across the back of his neck. He let out a sigh.

"Perhaps..."

Sylteena peeked up between her blonde strands, waiting for the remaining words that seemed hesitantly lumped in his throat.

He drew in a deep breath.

"I assume I should start drafting my letter of leave for the next few weeks..."

Her brows pinched closer.

"After all..." His shoulders dropped. "Who am I to defy Her Highness' orders?"

A wide smile stretched on her lips as hope twinkled in her eyes.

Philip chuckled.

"We'll discuss my commission later on—!"

She immediately jolted from her seat and ran to his side, wrapping her arms around him as she buried her face in his shoulder.

Frozen, stunned for a moment, Philip's expression dissolved to a warm smile before wrapping his arms around her.

"Thank you..." she whispered.

"I promised your father that, to my very last breath. And I intend to keep my word."

Sylteena smiled.