18 Bond

Took him a while to stop being grumpy because of El's confusing answers. He gained two things from El today. One, the history books that he thought would give him answers weren't going to be helpful. And two, the Duke family's status as his enemy was unclear. He walked around the capital, getting sunburnt, and all that tiring afternoon wasted for two confusing answers.

He knew how to trigger the bond. Like what El said, he knew how to use it, but he didn't know its meaning. El should've just told him what to do instead of leaving him with more questions.

Ailen sighed, changing his position to sit. He looked outside the window of his chambers, full moon glowing above him. Stars were decorating the dark hazy blue sky. Instead of doing his homework for his classes, he wasted his time thinking about El's words.

His head was hurting.

"Irma, Meredith, I'm going to take quick stroll around the garden," Ailen said when he saw them outside his bedroom.

"By yourself?" Irma asked. Meredith frowned.

"Let us keep you company, Your Highness,"

Ailen shook his head. He fastened the ropes on his oversized nightgown. "It'll be quick. I just have to clear my thoughts,"

Irma and Meredith seemed hesitant but nodded their heads regardless. Ailen sauntered the empty stairs, arrived in the grand foyer, and then walked to the pillars' side door. He heaved a heavy sigh when the cold breeze brushed his skin. The little boy walked down the small stairs, then making his way inside the garden.

Moonlight shone above him, glowing brightly to illuminate his path. Subtle whispers of the foilage kept him company, away from the eerie silence. Ailen hugged himself to seek warmth as he tried to focus on clearing his mind.

If only he could summon El by mentioning his name. Clearly, that wouldn't work. However, he's too lazy and too busy to look for that oddball again in the capital.

Classes, gatherings, meeting noble children around his age to be his playmates, and the list goes on. Ailen stopped to sit on a bench near the bed of flowers. Their vibrant colors were prominent because of the moon's luminescence, swaying gently because of the breeze. Ailen stared at them with a small smile, envious of their peaceful lives.

"With no worries in the world," Ailen whispered, his fingertips touched the silk-like petals.

[Woosh!]

"W-What?" Ailen widened his eyes in shock when he saw a knife just flew past him from behind, succeeding in scraping the side of his cheek. Ailen turned around, spotting a figure up in the tree, covered by shadow. The mysterious figure, who's wearing a tight black attire and a mask, took out another knife from the side of his belt.

Ailen's heart hammering inside his chest. The little boy got up from the bench, looking up with terror. He could feel blood deliberately trickling down from his cheek. His hands were deathly cold, trembling in fear. Ailen wanted to flee and look for a safe, hidden place. But despite his primal survival instincts, he froze.

He's frightened. Is this what it felt like when you know your life was in danger?

The blade flew toward his way once more.

Ailen shut his eyes closed, feeling an intense electrifying sparked in his bones. His cold body turned warm in a matter of seconds. Then the heat just progressed. It's the same feeling he felt when he got his magic assessed in the church.

His silver locks swayed as the vigorous wind swept his body. The trees were shaking from the strong breeze. Ailen could feel a gentle tremor under him, a mini earthquake that made the mysterious assassin having a hard time not to fall from the tree. When Ailen's vision got blurry, he saw the assassin ran away.

Ailen fell onto the ground, panting heavily as the heat made his head coated with mist. It's hard to focus. A single thought appeared in his mind before passing out.

The bond was triggered.