Chapter 3: Ai

Aria: So what bothers you Azra.

Adrien: Nothing.

Aria: Are you okay?

Adrien: I'm fine, why?

Aria: Oh, it's just that grandfather told me you were here for your treatment and will be gone once it's over.

Adrien: Oh yeah, but I, I mean… sighs, forget about it.

Aria: Well, do you want to stay here?

Adrien: nods in approval

Aria (laughs): You could've just said so, dummy

Maximus suddenly appears in between and exclaims.

Maximus: I couldn't agree more princess.

Adrien (shocked): Woah! Where did you come from?

Maximus: Directly from a meeting with the emperor, of course, I told him of your situation and he gave us two months, how about that?

Saying this a smile appeared on Aria's face, Adrien was shocked due to the revelation and began tearing up, he then hugged Maximus and exclaimed thank you, Maximus gets annoyed and respectfully pushes him aside; Zachariah then shows up at the place and challenges Adrien to a duel.

Adrien (shocked): Wait, what!

Zachariah (smug): The emperor's verdict states that you can only stay if you defeat me in battle.

Maximus (smiles): In that case, I shall fight in his majesty's place.

Zachariah (smiles): Even better, see you tomorrow at the arena, Maximus.

Zach then leaves and the conversation shifts to Aria, Adrien, and Max.

Adrien (shocked): WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

Max: Relax, I was already craving for a challenge

Aria: Max, Zachariah has been training his whole life under the Tenshi emperor, his skills in magic and mastery in the art of swords are top-tier, please try to understand.

Max (thrilled): This certainly hypes the fight a lot, I get to fight the emperor's protégé, how exciting, I can hardly wait.

Adrien: Max, please withdraw.

Max: I see no reason to.

Aria: Adrien is right, you could get killed.

Max: I will be thrilled to fight such an opponent.

Adrien: NO! Max, you need to withdraw.

Max: Why?

Adrien: It's because…

Max: Because what?

Adrien: IT'S BECAuSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOu TOO.

Saying this Adrien runs away crying, Maximus is left too stunned to speak, and Aria goes in search of him but is stopped by Max.

Aria: What is it?

Max: Leave him, he needs to be alone.

Adrien then runs to the other side of the gardens without noticing and suddenly finds a tea party, here he finds Zachariah with a beautiful well-dressed noble girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, he hides inside a nearby bush and eavesdrops on the conversation between a well-dressed girl and Zachariah.

Zachariah: How much longer till we end this charade?

Ai: Have patience, Zach, to lose patience is to lose the battle, has Maximus taken the bait?

Zachariah (smirks): He fell for it, just as planned.

Ai: Well done, all that's left is to kill him and rid the world of his curse. Now, as per plan…

Ai stops as she hears a twig snap from the distance; Adrien runs with this information but is soon caught by Zachariah.

Zachariah (smiling): Leaving so soon, your highness.

Adrien: grunts…let me go.

Zachariah: I'm afraid you have to die now, young prince.

Zachariah lifts his sword and is about to plunge it into his skull but is stopped by Ai.

Ai: Wait, not now.

Zach (irritated): WHY

Ai: We need him for the plan, you can kill him after Max.

Zach: argh… Fine.

Ai then looks at Adrien and smiles.

Ai: You have a far better use, little one.