Chapter 7 - Not the same

The three of them were carried from the Grand Halls to the Temple of Elmarian Gods located at the outskirts of the Bastalian Capital. The Journey was supposed to take up almost the entire day as they were to take the procession for the people of the capital to see and bless. The Trio rode a palanquin carved out of gold and silver, decorated with rare gemstones as elaborate carvings of elegant and beautiful flowers adorned the dreaded carriage.

The Grand procession moved through the celebrating streets like a river of color, with the banners of Bastalia fluttering in the breeze and their golden palanquin glistening under the warm sun. The rhythmic beat of the drums echoed through the people lined streets, who tossed flowers and sang songs as the palanquin passed them. Young children ran alongside the horses and guards surrounding the Palanquin—bumping into incoming people, laughing and waving at the horses. The sweet smell of sweets and foods tickled the senses of the Trio as all sat silently inside, looking at each other—their eyes and lips almost pouting in disappointment. Vaughn peeked outside the palaquin's curtains catching a glimpse of the celebrating streets, rolling his eyes, he closed the curtains to look at his team.

"Well….."

Annik rubbed his eyes as his lips curled up, he rubbed his eyes with his left hand tightly to try and vanish the incoming laughter of despair. 

Mio looked the most scared out of the trio. 

They did not speak the entire way to the temple after. 

Soon they reached the Grand Temple of Elmarian Gods. It resembled a cave carved out of red stone, with its outside lit up with wooden torches. There were no gates to the temple. The Trio were tied and taken to the entrance of the erie temple. As they moved along the passage to the centre of the temple, Vaughn took notice of various carvings and paintings on its walls. A Farmer, A man in tattered robes, A woman presenting her child with her two hands, A dragon rising behind the mountains, A snake with a crown of flowers framing around its head as if they were held behind her ears. 

A scared grunt diverted Vaughn's attention to Mio. He leaned forward, whispering "Trust."

Mio nodded as she continued staring at her tied hands.

"I think Mul must have told everyone of our plan by now…" 

"Don't worry, He cannot." Vaughn smirked as he remembered. 

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In the Palace, Stulo was overjoyed. Finally one more thorn from his side was plucked. Next will be the 2nd prince and then the 1st. Many people in the Senate thought he was clearing the way for the 1st prince, after all he was the prince's uncle. Ha! Mul scoffed at the thought. He was only loyal to himself and when he died, it would be Mul, who would rule the State of Bastalia. As if just remembering Mul, he called for Breto.

"Breto! Send Mul to my Quarters!" He yelled for Breto who looked disoriented with confusion. 

"I am unable to find Mul since last night, Sir.." 

Confused, Stulo faced Breto.

Breto continued, "I was told he was at the temple, I spent the entire night searching for him, I thought he may have arrived back at the palace, but I am still to find him…."

Stulo's eyes chilled. Mul was a weak muscled man, unable to defend himself, angrily he punched Breto in the stomach. UGH! Pulling on Breto's collar he demanded "I thought you were his keeper?! You know right, if something happened to him….you will be burned in the pyre too?!" He ended his last sentence as menace dripped from his words. 

"I-I my lord.. "

"Everyone! Guards! Look for Mul!" 

The guards and maids of the palace turned it upside down, searching for Mul frantically. Stulo sent some men towards the procession and some towards the grand halls. 

"Who was he last with Breto?"

"I saw him going somewhere with the 3rd Prince, my lord."

"And you did not think about following them?"

"It was master Mul who did not want me guarding him."

Upon hearing, Stulo marched towards the prince's quarters as Mul's words replayed in his mind. As if they are not the same. 

His heart drummed with anxiety as chills flooded his veins with every step he took towards the door.

He was about to push the doors wide open, when Breto stopped him. "Sir, you must not. It is a Gods room now, We cannot enter it.." He urged Stulo to stop, who pushed him back with an angry grunt. 

"Move!" He said menacingly as he pushed the doors to the prince's quarters wide open. His legs trembled as they became jelly, bringing a shaking hand to his mouth he instructed Breto towards the center of the room. 

He pointed towards it as his eyes welled with tears. A note lay pinned with a sharp knife to the wooden table in the middle of the prince's room but that was not what caught his breath in a hitch. It was the bundle beside it, resembling a figure, covered with white sheets — the sheets which were slowly speckering with blood red spots from some parts. 

Trembling he moved towards it as he slowly removed the cloth off the figure. His heart almost burst as his breath came to a halt. His ears rang as the whistles went off in his head. Breto took a few steps back as he took in the person in front of them. 

Mul, his face all battered, stabbed around his cheeks and eyes various times with a knife. His eyes were dead and his lips busted. Falling on his knees, Stulo held Mul's body close to his chest as he wailed out loud. The sound of his cries echoed in the stone walled chamber. 

"My Son! My Son! My Son!" Stulo wailed as he kept repeating the same sentence again and again. 

To console the wailing advisor, Breto— who was also now lightly sobbing, put his hands on the advisor's shoulders.

"You!!!" The advisor screamed at Breto. 

"You were supposed to protect him! You will pay with your life! I won't leave you alive!" In a fit of anger and madness, Stulo pulled the knife out of the table and tried swinging it towards Breto.

Breto in reflex dodged the advisor's attacks, who grew frustrated and fell to his knees. An ear piercing scream escaped from his throat as he fell to his fours wailing loudly looking at nothing in particular. 

In an attempt to calm the Advisor, he searched around the room when his eyes suddenly fell to the note. A smile formed on his face as he thought, His master was going to heaven.

I don't want to miss my friend in heaven - Elio