CHAPTER 45: Calling of the Unknown.

"ASHER!" I called, slamming my door open. Asher, who is there napping on my couch woke up and takes a seat on the couch, scratching the back of his head.

"What's your problem?" He asked, yawning.

"You're the problem! How come you didn't even tell me that my family asked for your help regarding the barrier covering the Western Dukedom?!" My question seems to wake him up. He sighed and leaned on the back of the couch.

"That was two years ago, and you're asking me now?"

"That was two years ago, and you never tell me anything about it?" I asked, competing with the tone of his voice. Because he sounded annoyed just now.

"The barrier surrounding the Wester Dukedom is a barrier created by a dark magic. I certainly can break that easily, but that will cost the lives of the people within that Dukedom," What?

"Did you told my family about that?" He shook his had. Why didn't he tell them!?

"Why not!?"

"I'm trying to figure out how to move the people out of the place first before I try to attack it. Can you calm down? You're not even aware of the situation, why are you acting like someone who knew what's happening in the world?" I felt like a pain just struck my heart. What the heck did he just said? Don't I have the rights to know what's happening in this country?

"If you have such plan, why didn't you consider including my Dad and brothers in it? Do you think they are incapable of helping you? I know I have no power to do such things. My Dad is the ruler of this nation, the Western Dukedom is within our empire, the people of that dukedom are my Dad's people," he stayed quiet and stared directly into my eyes. I clenched my fist and glared at him.

"I may be ignorant about the whole situation, but my family aren't. They are worried about their people too, if you know a way how to enter that place, you should've told my family about it. That would bring them relief," I added. He's staying silent and just staring at me without saying anything. I don't know what he is thinking, but this is kinda annoying.

"Do you really see them as incapable people who are going to ruin your plan?" I heaved a sigh and walk towards my bed as I once again take a deep breath.

I'm so annoyed, but what he said earlier literally hurts me. It's true that I know nothing about the situation...

It's true that I am unaware of anything about that issue...

But, I want to know, that's why I'm trying to learn about it!

What's with him! He's so insensitive!

I feel like crying...

It's true that I've been useless these past two years. But, that's because I am not yet exposed to such civil affairs. And now that I actually found out about it, there's this eagerness to help and to assist my family.

"I want to help too, you know..." I clenched my fist and grit my teeth. This is so annoying, I feel so useless right now after hearing those few words from him.

I just realized how incapable I am in handling such situations.

"Alright, I'm sorry now..." I ignored his words, but I can feel him walking towards my direction. And when he reached me, he stood in front of me and then bend his knees a bit a match my height right now.

"I'm sorry. My words were thoughtless. I didn't mean to say such things. Stop crying now," He said, wiping my tears. I sniffle and pushed his hand away as I crawl on my bed. I turned my back at him as I lay down and cover my body with blanket.

Why is that. This is different from when we tease each other. His words cuts deep. It felt like he was telling me that I am not capable of helping even if I knew about the situation. It feels like he's deemed me useless. And I don't even understand why it hurts me this much.

I'm so angry. Sobbing silently hurts my throat and chest.

"Alina. I apologize. I admit I was wrong. Your determination to help your family is a great thing. I'm sorry," He's actually apologizing sincerely. But, I don't feel like responding to that.

Seriously...

He's so annoying...

***

"Alina..." I opened my eyes and found myself in my room. Asher is no longer here, maybe he left and went somewhere. It looks like I fell asleep. I yawned and stretched my arms.

"Alina..." My eyes widened when I heard an unfamiliar voice. What is this now? I can hear a voice, just outside my room. It's coming from the forest...

Who was that?

"Alina...save me..." Huh? Save who? Who's that?

I crawl to the edge of my bed and jumped down. I wore my slippers and walk towards the glass door towards the balcony.

"Save me...I'm suffering..."

Who's that? It's a deep voice, I can't figure out if its female or male.

"A-Asher?!" I hate the fact that even though I am mad at Asher, he's the first person that my mouth called for.

"You're the only one who can...save me...it hurts..."

"Aughhh--"

I held my chest when I feel it tightening. What's happening? My chest hurts so suddenly! Even though it's bearable. And it hurts right after the voice said it's hurting too. Just...who is that?

"Please...I've been in pain...help me...save me..."

"Who are you?!" I asked.

"I am...I am...******..."

I could not hear that. I'm pretty sure that was its name. But, how come I can't hear it? No, it's not that I can't hear it. It's like a static thing can be heard when he mentioned his name. That means, this world does not want me to know his name?

"W-what happened to you? Where are you?" I asked again.

"I...am...imprisoned...I am being used..." Being used?

"By who--"

"Ughh...it hurts...Alina...help me...!"

My eyes widened when the last words became louder. It seems like its desperate to ask for help. But, who are you?

"Where are you? How can I find you---*cough cough*" I covered my mouth when I coughed, but when I looked at my hands, there are blood.

What...

"Tell me! How can I help you!?"

"I'm sorry...if I'm hurting you..."

"I am fine, tell me where are you!?" What does it mean by its hurting me? Is it the reason why I am coughing blood?

"In...the west...ern..."

"Princess Alina!" My eyes opened as I catch for breath desperately. What--that was a dream? I was dreaming? Again...? Another nightmare? No, it wasn't a nightmare. It's an uknown creature trying to ask for my help. Who was that?

"What happened? You're coughing blood in your sleep!" Asher...

He looks like he's panicking.

He helped me to lift myself up and then placed his hand on my chest as gold glow appear.

Wait, what did he just said? I'm coughing blood in my sleep?

I touched my lips and when I checked it, there really is a blood on my mouth. How come? In that dream too...I coughed blood.

But...what? Who was that? It was asking for help. And just when it was about to tell me where I can find it, I was awoken by Asher.

However, I did hear it mentioning 'Western'. Does that mean he's in the Western Dukedom? That makes me even more determined to dig deeper about the issue. Did they cut ties because they are hiding something? They have imprisoned someone important? I really need to get to the bottom of this.

"You're healed...your mana overflowed so much at a great speed that your body couldn't control," What? How the hell? How did my nightmare affected my body this much?

"What did you dreamed about this time?" Asher asked. Wow, he looks really serious and mad. Did he sensed something while I sleep that it made him this mad?

"It's just...a voice..." I answered, still doing my best to breathe properly. That voice, it's so deep that I can't even figure out its gender.

"It's calling for me. Its asking me for help...I don't know who it was, but it said that only I can help it. The voice said it was sealed...in the west, and that it is being used..." What's this...I feel a pain in my heart again. Just what's happening to me?

"In the west, huh..." Asher mumbled, and then a few seconds later, he smirked.

"Alina, I'm really sorry for what I said earlier. If you want to involve yourself in the issues between the Western Dukedom and your family, how about we talk to your family about it?" What? All of a sudden?

What the heck is he thinking?

"Is it alright?" I asked. He nod his head, still smirking. It seems like he figured something out. Is he finally going to tell my family about the barrier?

"We should ask you family first. And no need to worry, with me by your side you will not be harmed by anyone," he replied, he even ruffled my hair. What the heck? He ruffled my hair!? Is this Asher? Or is this another way of him to apologize?

"Okay...I'll talk to them tomorrow--"

"We'll talk to them, so go back to sleep. I'll stay here,"

Hmm, well. I am annoyed at him earlier but, not anymore, I guess?

***