11 Truly A Beloved Sister

Afternoon at the hospital, the doctor finally removed her casts. The young Suzuki surprised everyone again, as the limbs that were in the plaster for weeks didn't deteriorate. Her arm and wrist that were supposed to be feeble even showed strength by giving the doctor a good grip during her checkup.

Nobody knew of course that Ara tried her best not to squish too much. In her prime, she's able to crush a man's hand with little effort. Since this was also not her original body and was injured, her might had decreased by miles.

When the people left, Ara trudged towards the bathroom, and for the first time since waking up, decided to take a long shower.

Inside the room was a ceiling to floor-length mirror, and her eyes examined herself in all her naked splendor. Even with the accident, her body wasn't covered in abrasions and scars. This must be because of her soul's blessing. As the descendant of Perun, any part of her, whether it's her body or soul, she would have her divine inheritance – fast healing was part of it.

Sadly…

Ara shifted on her feet and turned a bit to check the part behind her right hip. She was supposed to have a mark there in the shape of the lightning oracle. It was proof of her pact with her lightning familiar, but there was nothing there now but smooth skin.

It seemed she had to start over again. Without the seal, she wouldn't be able to command the lightning properly. She wouldn't be able to regulate the electricity.

With a sigh, she entered the glass cubicle and proceeded on taking a bath. She was very happy to try out the rainfall shower head option, and the crystal chamber filled with steam as she stood under the raining hot water.

Closing her eyes, clasping her hands, Ara freed her brain of her woes, focusing on her mind's inner chamber where she used to communicate with her familiar.

===========================

Kingdom of Ritz…

A chariot pulled by six chanleyas, creatures that looked like white tigers with wings landed in the courtyard of the castle. A tall, bulky built warrior wearing silver armor with flame-colored cape jumped out of the carriage as soon as he arrived.

Servants and soldiers ran to greet him, but he waved them away good-naturedly. With the man's status, this was normally a taboo – a total faux pas on the Ritz Kingdom's part.

Since the unannounced visitor was a good friend of the emperor, and his sudden visits were very common, it was forgivable.

"Ritz!" the man bellowed as he unceremoniously opened the study room where the Ritz emperor liked to spend time reading.

Indeed, inside, a lanky young man with celestial looks: longish silver hair, a pair of huge amethyst eyes, and a face more beautiful than women, sat in a huge velvet red and gold chaise with a book in his hand. Wearing a white chiton, an intricately draped garment with many folds and pleats, he looked like a delicate angel – a far contrast to the newcomer's rugged albeit still good looks.

"Kres, you're always too loud," the delicate-looking man, Alistair, emperor of Ritz commented dryly as he eyed the newcomer's disheveled longish red hair, his rough, handsome face filled with stubble with disdain. Behind the rugged, travel-worn face was a pair of gleaming jade-green eyes that didn't even react with the ridicule he just received.

As per usual, Kres, or Ivan of Kres, the current Flame Emperor marched into the room and made himself at home on one of the comfortable chairs facing his friend. He had just returned from official business and didn't have time to come home and went straight to Ritz to meet his friend and ask about his little fiancée.

"Did you finally settle it?" Ivan asked, and Alistair nodded his head.

"It took a while, but yes," the Ritz Emperor answered.

Ivan was asking about the brewing internal upheaval in the kingdom. Ever since Alistair came into the throne, there had always been factions who were planning to overthrow him. The current Ritz king may look delicate, but he was not so in reality. Those factions had been biding their time to come out and replace him with someone they could manage.

And they did find someone…

The recently concluded Immortal War had given those factions a chance to revolt against him, by stirring the people to rally under Alinea's flag, the princess who was able to manipulate lightning and dethrone him. After all, Ritz was a country of Perun, and they said Alistair did not inherit Perun's powers.

"I see," Ivan nodded. He understood that dealing with these things was not easy, most especially when Alinea was involved. "Does she know?"

At the mention of his sister, Alistair shook his head. "I don't want to involve her in this mess," he said so seriously, making the other laugh.

Alistair looked stern, and was very strict on Alinea most of the time, and even appearing aloof. For outsiders, it would seem the king did not care for his sibling at all. But Ivan knew so well that there was no other person in the whole world who's crazy protective of his beloved younger sister than the Ritz King.

It was the reason why despite all the gallant kings and princes who had asked for her hand, Alistair had somewhat forced his best friend to be engaged to his sister. He couldn't freely visit Alinea if she was married to someone else – not that Ivan was complaining. He adored Alinea like his own sister as well. As he didn't care for any other woman, he was alright in becoming Ali's husband.

Going back, Alistair's sister-spoiling was also why the king had done everything to distance himself from Alinea for the time being as he secretly settled the opposition. He didn't want his sister to be targeted and roped into the bloody internal battle.

"Where is she now?"

"Out on a merry chase," Alistair answered in an amused tone, his amethyst eyes danced with mischief.

Ivan became curious, but before he could ask, his friend explained.

"I asked her and her team to search for the artifact left by Kronos at the Devil's Cavern."

Hearing this, Ivan really let out a hearty laugh. After all, the two of them knew very well what the "artifact" was. It was definitely not an item someone could just retrieve and put in his pocket. Also, even if they did find out what it was, it wasn't the same thing as in the legends. It couldn't turn back time, and it didn't really work according to anyone's wish.

But of course, other than them, no one else knew about it.

"You're so mean. Knowing Ali, she wouldn't stop until she completes her task. You'd make her lose a lot of time for nothing," Ivan reproached his friend.

"Well, I was desperate to make her go away from the castle for a bit while I dealt with the rebels," Alistair reasoned out. "Besides, she's with five of her finest soldiers. She'd be fine."

"Still, Devil's Cavern's surrounded by numerous monsters. She – "

"Only one," Alistair interrupted. "There's only one monster there, the guardian of the cave. It's just a harpy. Ali can deal with it easily," he added with pride and Ivan was speechless for a while.

Only one monster?

Ivan was beyond amazed. Alistair's sister-pampering method's on a whole different level. Without saying anything, the Flame Emperor knew the Ritz King had tasked someone to wipe out every monster other than the harpy around the Devil's Cavern before making his sister go there. It's so his sister wouldn't be in danger nor exhaust herself too much.

Shaking his head as he smiled, Ivan spoke. "When is she coming back?"

Now that the factions had been squashed by Alistair, there was no more reason for Alinea to be away.

"Soon. I already ordered someone to fetch them," Alistair said just as urgent knocks sounded at the door, and the king smiled. "It must be them," he announced, and he commanded the person to come in.

It wasn't Alinea who opened the door and came in or her people though. It was the scout Alistair ordered to go fetch his sister.

The man looked terrified that both Ivan and Alistair sat up rigidly as they waited for the man to give his report. "Speak!"

"Your Majesty…" the man began.

As the two kings listened to the man's news, they hadn't realized how they had both started trembling, the hair on their bodies rising as disbelief and horror-filled them to the core.

"Ritz!"Ivan called out his friend's name as Alistair had stood frozen still like a statue, totally shocked.

"A-Alinea…" he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Take me to Alinea!"