Regalith

I woke up in the arms of Toshiaki. He was asleep, but he woke up the moment I moved my head.

"You awake? That was a long nap of yours" He rubbed his eyes, and his voice sounded husky with a little sweetness to his voice.. His eyes began to look concerned about me.

"I'm fine, thank you. Sorry for the trouble" I said as he helped me to sit up.

"You passed out the moment you…" He stopped. Looks like he still couldn't believe his eyes. 

"My energy seems to drain whenever I try to decipher that thing" laughs a little.

"Maybe that was your Regalith?" 

"Regalith?" I raised my eyebrow.

"What? Don't tell me you don't know that?" He sighs with disappointment written on his face. He flicks his finger at my forehead.

" Regalith is a rare power deeply tied to status, lineage, and sheer willpower. It is believed to be the essence of authority, radiating from nobles and royals as proof of their "Divine Right" to rule."

"So the power holders are only for Royalties and Nobles?" I was shocked to know that, In my life, I thought I was the only person who didn't have abilities

"Nope. However, in rare cases, an ordinary human with unshakable conviction can manifest a raw, untainted form of Regalith, defying the hierarchy." He stood up and picked up a bottle of water and he gave it to me.

"The kids here, Including me, are ordinary human beings. But, due to our unshakable conviction, we possessed the power that's only for the nobles and royals" He spread his arms releasing a heavy atmosphere that proves he is as powerful as the people who have royal blood.

"I see. I understand now. But, my knowledge and intelligence that you saw is not my Regalith" I explained.

"There was once a royal family who saw me decipher one of their Pentarchivium. That's the first time I saw one of the five powerful archival knowledge sources and part of the Carved Stones" He started to get confused about everything. I guess telling them that story would only lead them to trouble one day.

"It's nothing. It's just a boring story of mine" I stretched my arms as I lay down to bed.

"Sorry, I'm gonna rest more. I might start saying weird things from now on" I Jested. He remained silent as I closed my eyes. I thought he left but something was moving beside me. I opened my eyes and saw him lying beside me.

"I'll rest too, don't mind me and just sleep" His voice became soft, and he fell asleep fast.

I couldn't catch some sleep, I don't know why. Maybe something is bothering me. I can't just find out what it is. 

I turned my head to the right, facing the face of Toshiaki who was sleeping safe and sound. After that head outside to take a good look at the Sabaku Palace. It looks like a ruin. It's almost a millennium since the Oplorus War, but still, this palace managed to stand up even though its original look is wearing off. I wandered every part of the ruins, hoping I could find something helpful.

As I admired the ruin's view, I heard footsteps behind me. That made me look behind me, I was shocked to see Toshiaki panting with sweat falling on his cheek "Nyxius?" He called me.

"Toshiaki? What are you doing?" I worried as I hurried to him. 

"Well, you suddenly disappear," He said while catching his breath. I Suddenly remembered what he said to me about the people tricking them and vanishing without a word.

I scoffed. It's not like I can escape a power holder like them.

"Thank goodness I saw you before anyone from the town. They might attack you like that again" He frowned. "Come! Don't wander here all alone. There's a time we go for a walk, you can come with us" He sighed. "Don't scare me like that, Idiot" He grabbed my hand and started walking back to the abandoned palace.

"Nyxius!" Mouie and Mikhail started running to us. "Gosh! You suddenly vanished without a word. Big brother was panicking thinking somebody might hurt you again from the town" Mouie hugged me.

"Shouldn't you be releasing your hand from him, Toshiaki?" Mikhail grinned. "Nyxius, come with me" Toshiaki clicked his tongue and released his grip on my hand. I followed Mikhail, as she was leading me back to the laboratory.

"Nyxius, Would you like to be part of us?" She said out of nowhere while looking at the Choronostones. "When you passed out, I saw something new to Toshiaki. His look at you was so precious. It's like you have something that Toshiaki has been looking for all of his life" I'm Flustered by what she said that made me speechless. Special? I can't believe someone would describe me with such a word.

"Uhm… I'm sorry" I looked at the ground. I could feel Mikhail's gaze at me waiting for me to speak up.

"About that… I can't. Although I want to. But I have so many things left to do" I finally found the courage to look at Mikhail.

"There's someone precious to me. He was the one who saved me from death before I came here. I don't even know if he managed to escape death too. The last time I saw him, he was covered in blood and was in pain" Mikail seems to understand my situation now.

"That's why, I'm sorry. I have to turn down your request. I was really happy though, you called me special like I am someone important. That made me so happy" I smiled and laughed a bit.

"Oh, so you can smile and laugh too, huh? I was worried you're some kind of robot" She crossed her arm while smirking and leaning on the wall. 

I can feel my face turning red like a tomato, and hot as boiling water. She also laughs at my silliness movements due to embarrassment. 

"For now, feel at home. Tell us if there's anything we could do to help you" 

I'm grateful that I can rely on someone now. But I cannot take advantage of their kindness anymore.

 ***

Several weeks have passed since that day. I can feel the word home. I thought it was the place that you called home. But it is the people themselves. Toshiaki mostly spent his day training the kids Regalith. I can feel his tough emotions and power. He is as powerful as my Big Brother Zephyr.

My head started to ache just thinking about my brother. Toshiaki noticed something strange about me and hurried to check if something was wrong. The kids also got worried and rushed towards me. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Toshiaki asked. I looked at his worried eyes with sweat passing through his cheeks.

I giggle. "I'm not that fragile. I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry. I even interrupted your training with the little kids" I pat the towel on his cheeks to wipe his sweat away.

"Would you like to train with us then?" He asked. The kids started to jump out of excitement.

"That's a great idea! Come join us!" I couldn't resist the puppy look on their faces. I had no choice but to join them.

Although I'm not that active in combat training, I'm most likely the one who's getting beat up the most. My trump card is my intelligence and knowledge in a way of fighting.

"Do I have to?" I said while holding a bamboo stick. Toshiaki and the others are trying their best not to laugh at the situation we're in.

"Come on! Stop teasing me!" I was so embarrassed. I don't know how to hold the bamboo stick and I don't even know how to swing it properly. Urgh! Forget about the power of knowledge and intelligence. I can't even use those in this way of fighting.

Toshiaki showed me the proper way of handling the bamboo stick while laughing. Making the both of us couldn't concentrate.

Hours passed, and that's the first time I laughed too much. While resting, I let out a groaning sound. Blood came out of my right iliac. This one is the deep wound I got last year. It hasn't healed yet due to the powerful impact I got from that person.

I tried my best to hold my voice back so that nobody would notice. But Mikail appeared out of nowhere. Her eyes widened as she saw blood coming out of me.

"Hey! That's a lot of blood" She started panicking. She immediately tore her clothes and patched it at my right iliac. 

"What's wrong?!" Mouei appeared. "That's! You pushed yourself too much!" She started healing me with her Regalith.

"Please don't tell, Toshiaki. I don't want him to worry about me" I told him I'm not that fragile. But I insisted on doing some training with him which made my wounds reopen.

"Oh, shut it, now!" Both of them were worried sick about me. That made me happy and my smile was over the moon.

"What are you laughing for? Dummy!" Mouie slightly pinched my cheeks. I could see her face turning red while biting her lips. Trying her best not to cry.

"I'm not gonna die over small things like this, silly" I chuckled. I don't know what kind of feeling this is. But my heart seems to be full of love. I can't put into words how happy I am. They let me experience new things that I couldn't do In the palace for over 15 years. 

"You could die!" Mikhail frowned as she stood up and carried me on her back.

"We're going back to our place. We'll tell this to him if you keep worrying us" She said with a sigh.

"Got it. I'm sorry" I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I held onto her close.

"You're very light! Well what am I expecting, you also look scrawny" She complained. I have an unhealthy body that's why I'm fragile. 

"I'm sorry. I only eat sweet potatoes and water at the palace!" My cheeks pump out as I pout.

"How could a royal blood like you eat something cheap like that? Your family is horrible. If you continue living with us, you'll be able to eat different kinds of food" Mouie mentioned about me continuing to live with them which is very impossible. 

"You heard her…" Mikhail whispered to me in such a serious tone.

"I know…But, I can't," I whispered back. My heart started to ache. It's like a sharp knife stabbed through it.

As we came back, my face remained gloomy. Toshiaki noticed that and asked why my face was gloomy.

"You wouldn't let him strike you even once, that's why," Mikhail said as she continued carrying me while entering the room to lay me down in bed so that I could rest.

"Rude Mikhail" Toshiaki pouted.

"For now, continue to rest, don't do anything stupid" She bonked my head and I nodded.

"You'll have to stay in bed for a month and a half," Mouie said. 

I think a month will be fine. But, I'm still worried about Archie. I hope he's okay. I hope he is alive.

"I got it, thank you" I now started to feel like a burden to them. They were very good to me. Toshiaki accepted me even though he hated people with royal blood. The kids were very nice, they're such pure and innocent kids who need to be protected. Mouie helped me a lot, if it weren't for her, I could've died now. 

There are many times when life tried to go back against me…But, what's keeping me alive until now? Fate? Hope? Or was it Luck? 

Many hours passed and I fell asleep without realizing it. I woke up surrounded by nothing but an empty place. I was scared to be left alone. 

Did they leave me alone? Why did they leave me here? Is it because I told them I'm not gonna stay with them? Why? My mind was filled with too many questions while sitting on the floor, looking at every corner left with no trace of them. I suddenly think about the Carved Tablet and run into the laboratory. 

"It's gone!" I shouted. I saw the laboratory in a mess. All of Mouie's work, books and even the medicines she made were on the floor covered with a weird chemical.

There was no hope left for me. Maybe abandoning me was a good choice for them. Of course, they will not stay with someone who can bring harm to them someday.

While walking, I unconsciously passed by the ruins. This is where I wandered alone that time when Toshiaki found me nowhere at their place.

While exploring, I sense a different kind of atmosphere. To where exactly I stood I heard a sound. It sounds like a person almost dying.

I rushed to follow that sound. And when I arrived, I was shocked to see that person. That person was the one who told Toshiaki about me. The one with the Regalith who can see Information through reading a person's facial expressions. I let down my guard that time and He easily got some information about me.

I panicked and quickly held him close into my arms. He is bleeding to death. I covered it up with my hands. I couldn't do anything. If only I have the power to heal people, I can save him.

He finally opened his eyes and was shocked to see me.

"N-Nycie?!" He coughed with blood coming out of his mouth. 

"Don't talk, Hov! You'll lose too much blood!" I'm frustrated. Tears started to come out of my eyes, thinking something might have happened to everyone while I was In deep sleep.

I closed my eyes tried to calm myself and kept holding onto Hov's hand and his wound so that the blood wouldn't come off.

"Ny-Nycie… Please.. RUN!" He shouted and I heard a cracking noise behind me before I could look behind. Someone grabbed me by the neck. As I see Hov trying to stop the person who is trying to hurt me. He got kicked hard by that person.

"HOV!" I shouted as loudly as possible so if anyone was near us, someone might come to help us.

"You little shit!" I heard a man's voice. He threw me hard into the ground. 

"Ugh!" I coughed. My neck hurts, I feel like throwing up.

"W-who are you?" I said. I crawl back with fear written on my face.

"Haa, we had trouble finding you. Be a good boy and come with us!" He raised his voice which made me shiver through my spine. 

He came looking for me?! Don't tell me he is from the palace. Did my brother already know my location? What did they do to Toshiaki and the others?

"You…Stupid hell!" I tried to attack him with all my force but my knees got numb as I tried to swing the small sharp piece of glass on my hands. 

As my knees got weak, I fell on my knees and tears burst onto me. I closed my eyes and hugged myself, I tried to think that what happened to them was my fault. 

"Nyxius!" Hov shouted and when I opened my eyes someone dashed in front of me. It was Toshiaki. He swung his sword at the guy's neck. The guy dodged it.

"Toshiaki!" I shouted while bursting with tears.

"What are you doing? You should be in bed, "he said. I can feel the coldness in his voice. He was covering me trying to protect my very existence. I'm so worried about him, but he looks like he is carrying more worry than me.

"I-I'm sorry" my voice softened and my head tilted down. I know I'm being a burden to them. I hurt to see someone trying to help me, but couldn't help themself. 

Toshiaki fought with tension while trying to protect me. He held me by my waist, lifting me to prevent me from the impact of their fight. The guy saw that Toshiaki's main priority was to protect me. He aims for me and Toshiaki loses his calm.

"This duel is only between you and me. Don't ever think of touching him!" He angrily said as he swung his sword, this time he held me tightly. He never let go of my waist as he fought with tension. This time, he finally caught the guy's neck. 

The guy fell on his knee as he started to cough blood. The slice on his neck burst out a lot of blood which made him die quickly.

"Y-you…Shit" His final words to us. Toshiaki wasn't showing his mercy and he blew off the guy's head. 

"Never test my patient while I'm still being nice" he wiped off the blood stain on his cheek. I can see the coldness in his eyes. 

He gave off the aura of one of his Regalith abilities. That made me shiver. I got hella scared of him. He is still holding me by my waist, lifting me while looking at the dead body he killed. 

"Big…Brother. Ny-Nyxius won't be able to handle…Your Shadowlight Aura" Hov said as he finally stood up.

Toshiaki finally snapped out. He immediately released the aura he was giving off. He looked at me with worry in his eyes. I finally calmed down.

"Sorry. Are you okay? Did you get hurt from the impact earlier" Instead of putting me down. He carried me in his arms. 

I shook my head. "No… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone outside knowing how reckless it can be" I squeezed myself onto him. 

"Please tell me they're fine," I said with tears coming out of my eyes again.

"We'll find out later. Let's go somewhere safe first" His eyes softened.