Chapter 26:Between Love and Pride.

 Later on, the four finally arrive to a small village in Notherneil. There was snow all over the place since this area were not snowy around two month per year only. They rode their horses calmly through the village.

 The houses were made by pinewoods log, wooden planks and stone. Some were made by clay. The towns people mostly stay inside their house in this season since the snow fall almost all the time and they just attain the area with bonfire and firewood lit all around the area.

 "They surely face winter all over the year hmm." Equ said as white mist disperse out her mouth as she speak and breath.

 "Well. That's the life of people in Notherneil." Ekiu said and get down his horse.

 "There is an inn and a stable, that should do the trick." Black Blade said as he points to the place.

 They all set their horse in the stable and get into the tavern nearby to grab some food. After get some food for themselves, They all sit at a rectangular table by the wall. Codex sits by Black Blade and Equ sits by her brother across the two at the table.

 "Another two days hmm?" Ekiu break the silence as he speak and look at Black Blade.

 "Yeah. It should be."

 "Hey, I've been hearing something interesting while ordering the food earlier." Equ said catching attention from all of them.

 "What is it?" Codex ask.

 Equ drinks some water before relaying what she heard from some merchant by the tavern counter earlier.

 "The kingdom of Sunaris is under crisis."

 "What crisis? War?" Ekiu take a guess as her sister nodded violently

 "They wanna take down the princess who was ruling the kingdom. But the war was not that big. It just a small assault actually around the kingdom to pressure the princess for some reason." She continues as she look at all of them.

 "Is it civil problem or from other state?" Black Blade ask.

 "I heard that there is some third party between the princess and kingdom civilian."

 They all keep their attention to Equ as she keep her serious expression. Codex open her mouth as she asking about who was the so called 'third party' in this scene. Equ just shake her head as an answer.

 "No info regarding that yet so far. It just a rumor after all."

 "You mean the conflict is just a rumor?" Ekiu ask as he quite confused there.

 "No, I mean about the third party. The conflict is real thing. Do you even read the News Tablet?"Equ explains as she hit her brother's shoulder.

 "Well yeah, I don't..." He said as he rubs to part that Equ hit him.

 Codex implied that she also know about that. But the third party thing is the only thing make she curious since that was not written in the Tablet anyway.

 "I see. Maybe the princess want the crystal to solve the crisis there." Black Blade deduce.

 "Well valid point. We all know the migration of that kingdom's people every year at this time of the year. Maybe the princess has a solution to that but the people just don't believe into that and want to seek refuge in Metacillca." Codex said before she take a bite of her food.

 "yeah... I also think the same when I read the tablet." Equ said and she look at her brother but he says nothing.

 Then they all keep discussing about their next course of action while eating their food until they finished.Codex being the first finish the food as she leave the table first.

 "I need to go to the toilet first. You all can gone to the inn first if you're done before I finish." She said as they all nod.

 Not long after, Codex going to return to the table. She saw that all three of them just about to leave. She just about to calls out for them but she saw Equ's leg seems to stuck at the table leg and she's about to fall down.

 "AH!... Oh?..."Equ feel herself being held as she open her eyes to see Black Blade's robe.

 "Becareful. You almost got a bump on your head." He said casually as he look down to Equ's face who was leaning againts his chest.

 "Umm... Yeah. Thanks..." She was blushed slightly to that as she get off from Black Blade's hold.

 Equ look away for a moment before her brother talk to her. Meanwhile, Codex in the other side of the tavern see all that happen by her own eyes. Here eyes widen in disbelieve and jealousy to the scene. She was petrified to it as she stand there like a statue.

 The three of them didn't realised she was there as they all walk up to the inn who was just right to the side of this tavern. On the other hands, Codex standing there for a moment before snaps back to reality. The scene before her eyes earlier keep replaying in her head. She grasp to her own hand tightly before leave a light sigh and walk out from the tavern.

 "I should not let that get into me. It just an accident after all." She whisper for herself.

 At the same time, In Sunaris Kingdom.

 Princess Cjinme was sitting in her throne room. It was dark and only lights from the street lantern outside shines in the gloomy hall. She was leaning againts the throne, alone and frustrated.

 Her crown was on the floor and her hair was a mess. She seems just awoken from a sleep or actually couldn't sleep. Her eyes were tired and there is black circle under her eyes. Her gaze are weak as she gazing into the void.

 Her body limp againts the throne.

 "I can't believe this... Mom... Dad... I failed to protect this kingdom.... They just... Deny me. I don't know what to do." She speak weakly as the potrait of her parents, the previous ruler of the kingdom hanging gracefully behind the throne.

 She was done weeping at the moment as her eyes swollen due to how much she cried out before. Her gaze was still empty as she actually fallen into despair. It's slowly eating her up inside.

 Then, in the silence of the gloomy hall, There is a loud sound of people marching and shouting outside. Her ear perked as she hear all those sounds getting clearer and clearer. Hey eyes gained it's life back but her face makes up to a fear.

 She slowly stands from her throne, stepping on the cold tile and she stand by the window. The flickering lights greets her eyes as it's widen to the sight of people with torch and many things were gathering at the castle. Her heart breaks as she hear the screaming even clearer.

 "Down with the kingdom! Down with the Princess!" The people were keep shouting so and sounds very unsatisfied with everything that happen.

 "Will... this wall that I... care for... Gonna fall?" She said for herself as tears again roling down her cheek.

 Back to the Notherneil...

 Codex were standing behind Black Blade's door. She was composing herself from the thought of what happen between Equ and him earlier in the Tavern. She still couldn't shake that situation off her head since she's been hoping those thing to happen to her instead of Equ.

 She take a deep breath before she knock the door as it sqeak open by itself. It wasn't even completely shut.

 "Uh... Black Blade. I... What the-" As she look inside the room, there is Equ and Black Blade were sitting on the edge of the bed facing away from the door.

 "Oh. Codex you're back. Took you long enough." Black Blade said as he turn around casually.

 "Codex..." Equ wanna say something but her words seems stuck in her throat.

 "What are you two doing?"

 "Oh, we just talking a bit. Equ asking me about my combat skill. And it means by my skills in using weapons without magic."

 Equ try to seems natural since she could sense a bad feelig about Codex's face as it turns red out of anger and also jealousy. She said nothing and just leave to her room.

 "Uh... Did I make her mad?" Black Blade ask as he seems to not getting what's wrong at all.

 "You seems to be? Or... I am..." She said as she look at the door.

 to be continued.