5 Chapter 3: A Bad Omen

– Princess Alice and Caliek, at the royal room –

Caliek walked back and forth, thinking deeply about the threat of unusual phenomenon.

"Can you please stop and just sit back, Caliek? You are giving me an instant headache!" Alice frowned and made a face.

To be honest, she can't think properly. Alice thought for a safe and good place where she can hide her sick mother, Queen Marie, and her father, King Sulliman.

Caliek covered his face out of frustration and punched the air. "How am I supposed to relax, when all kingdom have been fallen and plunged because of that zombies! Tell me, Alice!" 

Caliek is a great warrior and a trustworthy friend. Alice told him to go across the borders of the nearby palace to observe and to guard keenly the place. And now, as soon as he heard about the undead, he immediately went back to the Alicesha.

"Blood and body component experiment?" Princess Alice uttered.

Blood and body component experiment is one of the traditional research technique, in other words, they need to have a live sample to bring about the possible cure.

Caliek stared at the princess in despair, it's not the best way to solve the problem. It is too dangerous and risky, and he believes that there is only a small chance to succeed. "I don't think it's the best way to find the cure, Alice. I have this gut feeling that there is someone who made the virus and spread it into the prominent and triumphant Kingdom. It is a weapon against an opponent, think about it, your honor."

Caliek has a point. A phenomenon like zombies apocalypse is not a hoax, and they must need to discover the elusive mage, the sooner the better.

"Then, we will find the cure, live, or dead." Princess Alice looked directly at Caliek, her eyes were full of determination, strength, and power. Her face was not easy to read, her personality either.

Caliek stiffened and gasped, he never thought that despite the problems she's dealing up to, Alice remained calm and relaxed. Now, Caliek realized one thing– Alice will be the best and promising queen of all Kingdom.

"Alice?" He broke the deafening silence between them. "Hmm?" Princess Alice mumbled, still, looking at nowhere.

"Aren't you afraid?"

"What an absurd and ridiculous question is that, Caliek!" Alice turned her head, and gave him an abrupt, but, awful laugh.

Caliek paused for a while, watching the loud laugh of Princess Alice. "I'm serious, Alice! Just answer my question."

"I am," Alice replied.

The smile on her face vanished and turned into a poker face, a sad face to be certain. Alice's eyes became teary and reddish, showing her powerful and dominant rare violet eyes.

When she was born, her father, King Sulliman surprised upon seeing her bluish/brownish eyes. It wasn't in their genes, however, as Alice grew up, it turns to be a shade of violet and it can only be accentuated upon direct exposure to sunlight.

Caliek walked towards the big portrait of Alice and Shaotzie. It was hung on the stoned wall perfectly.

"Caliek!"

Alice stood up. "You look stunning here. Your spherical eyes, your black with a shade of violet hair, your pointed beak, down to your soft, crimson lips. You are destined to be a Queen, Alice. There's something vital that was buried in you, but be careful of loving someone. He might drag you, and Alicesha down!"

Caliek told Alice without looking at her. He seems certain with all the things he said.

"Shut your mouth up!" Alice, in a quick and prowl move, pointed the sword into his gut. Caliek, laugh abruptly and heave the sword from its sheath that placed at his waist.

Alice, step backward and withdraw her weapon. "Thanks to Cartlon for teaching me that technique." She told him, sarcastically.

"Cartlon? Well, let's see, your majesty." He said in a whimsical tone.

Alice holds the sword upright in front of her with both hands and the blade is perpendicular to the ground.

Princess Alice steps onward her left foot, leaving the other one steady. She bent her knee close to her body and have a plenty grip on its hilt. She swayed her weapon in the air like she was a warrior aristocracy of Alicesha.

"Lay your weapon on me, Princess Alice!" Caliek said, waiting for Alice to attack him.

Alice moved forward without a warning, she swiped her weapon into Caliek's chest. Fortunately, he grasped the hilt forcibly to block the Princess attack.

"Nice try, Alice." Caliek steps forward and moved quickly to jag Alice upon stepping backward. But Alice was trained by a great swordsman, she saw him in her peripheral vision and slid her sword into his back.

Caliek felt something at his back, it was bleeding. "It was just a small cut, Caliek." Alice grinned.

"Grip tightly your sword, Alice!" Caliek turned around and thrust her weapon into the Princess's waist but Alice escapes in a flash.

Alice kicks his knees and punches him. "Thrust deeper the blade, Caliek!" She told him.

"You are certainly going to defeat me. Aren't you, Alice?" Caliek stood up, stumbled, and wounded.

"Not really." Alice moves forward and swiped the sword horizontally.

A sword fell down, and so Caliek. He looked at the blood-stained at his sword, and his stomach was bleeding. He smiled genuinely at Alice and lift his hands into the atmosphere.

"I am surrendering, your majesty," Caliek told her.

Alice turned her head, she gets a small cloth and wipes her bloody sword. "Get up, now!" She helped Caliek to stand.

Princess Alice saw herself at the blade, she looks fearless and bold. "You're making me startled and frightened." Caliek burst into a loud chuckle, making some itsy bitsy jokes to the Princess.

Without an order, two servants came in with medical equipment with them. "Your majesty." They greeted the Princess livelily.

"Clean his wounds," Alice uttered. The servants nodded and quickly do their job.

Alice walked towards the door and said, "Please, bring here my favorite wine!"

"Yes, your majesty!"

Alice shook head and watch Caliek's back.

"Here, your majesty."

"Leave it there," Alice said the servant went off away leaving the wine and two glasses at the table.

She walked closer and filled the glasses with it. "Perhaps, you need this Caliek."

"Wine from barley and rye?" Caliek replied without turning his head.

Alice steps closer to Caliek and twirled the glass before giving it. "Yes. How did you know?"

Caliek turned around and swallowed it without savoring. "It's obvious, your majesty." He lifted up the glass, wanting for more. Alice did the same and replenished their glasses again.

"Well, you are too good at guessing." Alice chuckles and gave him an unusual look.

"Your majesty, he got only minor wounds. One or to three days, it will be healed." Alice shook her head, and the servants went back to their usual job. "Perhaps, you have a plan to kill me, Alice. Am I right?" Caliek stood up like he didn't get hurt. He was topless, and he's not yet wearing back his clothes.

Caliek grinned at Alice, who's looking away at him, disgusted and embarrassed. "Wear your clothes first! That's an order." Alice turned around and gulped.

It's no a big deal, but she's a woman, still and as a woman, Alice can't bear to watch someone topless, talking to her exposing his flat abdomen.

"Don't act innocently, Alice. We've been an old and best friend since we're young. You see me, the whole me, and now, stop with your malicious ideas." Alice glared at him angrily, and her pale face flushed into scarlet.

She was caught off guard by Caliek. He's right, there's no reason to think maliciously. Where in fact, they've been trusting each other for the longest time now.

"Look at your face, Alice! You are so unbelievable!" Caliek gets his sword back, and pour some wine at his glass.

"Stop with your nonsense jokes, Caliek! Here, fill it." Alice narrowed her eyes at him, and Caliek chuckles, pouring her glass again.

Princess Alice squirmed her glass, smiling at Caliek who's coughing and touching his stomach. The alcohol was too strong, perhaps it's the reason why Caliek coughs.

"You're such a fragile combatant!"  Alice burst into a laugh, and accidentally she dropped the glass on the floor.

It was broken into pieces, and to her surprise, she left open-mouthed. Her round eyes widened, watching the broken glass.

According to the old beliefs, when someone drops something fragile accidentally is considered to be one of a bad omen. It symbolizes death and or tragedy.  "What happened?" Caliek asked her, clueless and shocked.

"Shaotzie."

"Shaotzie!" Princess Alice screamed Shaotzie's name.

"What's going on, Alice?" He was concerned, why Alice uttered her younger sister's name– Shaotzie abruptly.

Worry and fear plaster at the Princess's face. She seems disturbed and frightened. "Bring Shaotzie here!" She ordered and wardens immediately search for the younger Princess.

"It's a bad omen, Caliek! A bad omen!" Alice walked back and forth, and her heart beats so fast.

There must be bad news awaits the Princess, and her Kingdom, Alicesha.

Caliek wanted to calm her down but he does not know-how.

"Princess Alice!" The main door opened, showing Cartlon who's breathing deeply. "Cartlon!" The Princess answered worriedly.

"You need to follow me, your majesty. It's about your father, King Sulliman." Cartlon stared at Caliek, standing in front of them.

Without hesitation, the Princess walked out and went to his father's room. Leaving the two men, throwing some meaningful and deep glimpse.