Chapter XVIII: Persistence

Prince Frederick emerged from his bath, the steam lingering in the air, and slipped into a simple white button-up shirt and black pants that clung to his damp skin. As he made his way toward his bed, the soft rustling of fabric caught his attention. He turned his head sharply, eyes narrowing in suspicion."Who's there?" he called out, his voice low and commanding. Silence answered him. Muscles tensed, Frederick readied himself, summoning the flickering energy of his magic, prepared for any threat. He approached the source of the sound with deliberate steps, his breath barely a whisper in the quiet room. With a swift motion, he swiped the curtain aside, revealing...nothing. The tension in his shoulders eased as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.Frederick let out a long breath, his muscles relaxing as he let the magic dissipate. "Just my imagination," he muttered, running a hand through his still-damp hair. Exhaustion was clearly getting the better of him. He slipped into bed, hoping for a few hours of undisturbed sleep.Meanwhile, Medea and Caelus find themselves back in Medea's room, transported by Caelus's magic. They stood in an awkward silence, the weight of recent events hanging heavily between them. Caelus finally broke the silence, his voice filled with regret, "I apologize for acting rashly."Medea shook her head, her movements restless as she paced the room, her frustration palpable. "Something's wrong... my powers are erratic. Could it be this human body I'm in causing these issues?" she muttered, more to herself than to Caelus.Caelus stepped closer, reaching out but hesitating just before touching her. Medea suddenly whirled around, finding herself face-to-face with Caelus, who stood so close she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His hand was raised, hesitating in mid-air, as if caught between wanting to touch her and fearing the consequences. Before she could utter a word, Caelus gently placed his hand on her cheek, his touch both comforting and probing."I can sense your mana is what's blocking your powers," he said softly.Her brows knitted in confusion. "My mana?" she asked, skepticism lacing her words.Caelus's fingers traced a delicate path down the side of her neck, his touch both intimate and soothing. "Yes, your mana... or rather, this mortal's mana. Everyone in this world possesses mana. The difference lies in their ability to wield it—some can use magic, like me and other magicians, while others cannot. Unfortunately, the body you've taken hasn't developed its own magic, which is causing your struggle."Medea blinked, processing his explanation. She ignored the intimacy of his touch and focused on his words. As the realization dawned on her, she spoke with a mix of frustration and understanding. "So that's why my powers keep malfunctioning. It's because of this damned vessel."Caelus studied her for a moment, his hand still lingering on her skin before he finally pulled away. "Exactly. Because you don't belong in this world, your powers as a devil and the mana of this human vessel cannot coexist peacefully."She crossed her arms and tilted her head, a sigh escaping her lips as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "So it's a bad thing," she muttered, her voice laced with irritation. "How annoying. Does this mean I should start practicing natural magic now?" Her tone was a mix of annoyance and resignation.Caelus nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, that's exactly what it means. You either adapt or lose your powers altogether. You need to familiarize yourself with this body and its limitations. Only then can you adjust properly and harness the magic inherent to this world."Medea's annoyance deepened. She had hoped that apart from this body, there would be no other obstacles. Yet, she found herself facing more challenges than she had anticipated. She recalled the deity's words about accepting the reality before her and scoffed at the memory.Accept it? How could she? She had been transported to this world, forced into a body that was practically useless, and made to live as a mere human. The very idea of acceptance felt like a bitter joke.Inwardly, she seethed. If it weren't for this body's limitations, she would have already unleashed her full power and burned this world to the ground. The frustration of being held back gnawed at her, but she knew Caelus was right. She needed to adapt, to learn, even if the thought of it made her blood boil.She locked eyes with him, a hint of determination in her gaze. "I guess you'll have to welcome me as your pupil then, Cael."Caelus placed a hand on his chin, pretending to ponder her words deeply. Medea tilted her head, an imaginary question mark almost visible above her, clearly baffled by his antics. After a few moments, he finally spoke. "I will, but you have to pass a test first."Medea furrowed her brows in frustration. "Can't I just not? I'm already having a hard time here. Why should I put myself through another challenge?"Caelus crossed his arms, meeting her gaze evenly. "Why should I give you special treatment?"She scoffed, a smug smirk playing on her lips. "The fact that you asked for my help and I accepted it should answer enough, my dear Cael," she replied, her tone dripping with arrogance.Caelus couldn't help but think about how shrewd this devil was. Then again, he reminded himself, she was the Devil. It was no surprise that she was naturally stubborn and egotistical. Her unwavering confidence and unwillingness to bend to anyone's will were just as impressive as they were frustrating.He let out a deep, exasperated sigh, his irritation evident in his furrowed brow and tense posture. "Whatever. It doesn't matter how much I try to explain, it always ends the same way," he said, his voice heavy with frustration. Without waiting for a response, he turned abruptly away from Medea. "I'm leaving. See you later," he added curtly, before vanishing from her sight.Medea crossed her arms tightly across her chest, her thoughts racing. Looks like I'll be seeing him every day thanks to these damned circumstances, she mused with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. She exhaled sharply, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead as she made her way to her bed, hoping to find some rest.But sleep eluded her. Instead, she found herself replaying the earlier events in her mind. The encounter had been brief, yet the moments lingered with a peculiar weight. Caelus had shown a blatant disregard for the potential threat she posed, interacting with her as if her dark nature didn't matter. His touch had been disconcertingly gentle, his behavior that of a companion she had never known. As she stared at the ceiling, her mind replayed the scene over and over.Throughout my lifetime, she thought, I've lived alone in the shadows, deceiving humans and avoiding the light. Yet, he was the first person to reach out to me.***As the night stretched on, elsewhere in that world, a woman named Elysia—lover to the crown prince and the most revered priestess of the Genovian Empire—stood alone. When she opened her eyes, she was immediately greeted by the sight of flames. The scene before her was one of devastation, the entire area engulfed in fire. Her eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping her lips as she took in the horror around her. As she looked more closely, she recognized the surroundings. It was the Genovian Empire, now reduced to ashes, the air thick with the acrid smell of smoke.Elysia clamped a hand over her mouth, struggling to process the catastrophic vision. "No... what is happening? Please, tell me it was just a dream!" she pleaded, closing her eyes tightly. When she opened them again, she found herself staring at a dark ceiling. Her senses slowly returned to normal, the oppressive weight lifting from her chest. She could feel beads of sweat trickling down her forehead as she breathed heavily. Slowly, she sat up in bed and pressed a hand to her forehead. "It was a nightmare... or was it?" she whispered, her gaze shifting to the window beside her bed. Though the night was still dark, it already felt like morning. Unable to sleep, she remained awake, her mind troubled by the disturbing vision.The next morning, Prince Frederick immediately noticed her distress. "Elysia, are you alright? You seem like you haven't had any sleep," he said with concern.Elysia set her cup down on the table, her lips pressed into a thin line. "It's just that I dreamed about something," she began.Frederick's brow furrowed as he blinked in concern. "What was it? Was it a nightmare?" he asked, but Elysia interrupted him."Last night, I dreamed that the entire Genovian Empire was burning, reduced to ashes, with nothing left," she said, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. Frederick was stunned into silence, unable to immediately respond to her revelation. After a moment, Elysia continued, her voice more measured but no less worried, "Could it be a warning of a war to come? Could this vision be a premonition of a potential disaster?"The crown prince sighed deeply, his concern palpable. He reached out and gently took Elysia's hand in his, hoping to offer some comfort. His eyes glistened under the soft morning sunlight as he spoke in a soothing voice, "Elysia, I won't let anything happen to you or the Genovian Empire."He squeezed her hand gently, trying to reassure her. "Dreams can be powerful, but they are not always omens of what's to come. We must stay vigilant, yes, but we must not let fear consume us."Elysia looked into his eyes, searching for the reassurance she desperately needed. The warmth in his gaze and the firmness of his grip provided a small measure of comfort."I know it felt so real," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "But the thought of losing everything... it terrifies me."He paused, his grip on her hand tightening slightly in a gesture of support. "I understand your fears, and I share them. But together, we will ensure that such a tragedy never comes to pass. Our people depend on us, and I will do everything in my power to protect the empire."He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. "We will get through this," he promised, his voice filled with determination. "No matter what."Elysia looked into his eyes, finding solace in his unwavering resolve. She nodded slowly, her heart still heavy but buoyed by his comforting words. "Thank you, Frederick," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. "I believe in you. In us."They sat together in silence for a moment, the weight of her dream still lingering but now shared between them. Elysia felt a renewed sense of resolve, bolstered by Frederick's unwavering support. She knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together.In the midst of their search for solace, a knight entered their space. Placing a hand on his chest, he bowed respectfully to the future ruler of the empire before speaking. "Pardon me, Your Highness. Lady Medea has requested an audience with you." Frederick looked up, his expression shifting from concern to attentive focus. He gently released Elysia's hand and stood, his demeanor becoming more formal. Elysia furrowed her brows in curiosity and suspicion. "Lady Medea? Why would Lady Medea want to see His Highness?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. The crown prince hesitated, a lump forming in his throat. He knew their relationship had ended badly and that Medea was notoriously stubborn. Unable to provide a full explanation, he sighed and met Elysia's gaze. "I will explain everything to you later," he promised softly.Turning to the knight, Frederick's expression hardened. "Why is Medea here? Does she have a reason for requesting this audience?" The knight shook his head. "She did not provide details, Your Highness. But she seemed quite insistent." He nodded slowly, a mix of apprehension and duty filling his thoughts. "Very well. Inform her that I will see her shortly," he instructed. As the knight bowed and left to convey the message, Frederick turned back to Elysia, his face etched with worry. "Please, try not to be anxious. I will handle this matter swiftly." Elysia nodded, though her concern was evident. "I trust you, Frederick. But be careful. Lady Medea has always had her own agenda."Frederick gave her a reassuring smile, though the uncertainty lingered in his eyes. "I will be. We will talk more about this later," he said, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead before heading to meet Medea. As he walked away, Elysia couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in her chest. She knew that whatever Medea wanted, it wouldn't be simple. Yet, she trusted Frederick to manage the situation with the strength and wisdom that had always defined him.The Prince walked through the hallway with a mixture of annoyance and anxiety gnawing at him. Why did that woman insist on appearing so unexpectedly? He recalled sending her a letter detailing the appropriate time for their next meeting, yet here she was, evidently impatient. With a distressed sigh, he halted in front of the imposing door behind which his unwanted guest awaited. He couldn't help but wonder what awaited him on the other side and mentally prepared himself for the encounter.  After a moment's hesitation, he signaled for the knights to open the door and stepped inside. As he entered, he beheld the woman he considered the most formidable presence in the empire. She sat gracefully on a sofa, legs crossed, leisurely sipping tea. Her eyes, like gleaming ruby gems, opened and locked onto his, sparkling with mischief at his arrival.