Journal

"Let me set things straight," Isvhara exclaimed, her voice tinged with amusement, as she finished her sip of the still-warm, brown liquid and placed the antique cup back on the table. "Did Alorian ask if you have someone important for a specific reason that's because he wanted to make sure something?"

Althea, her face flushed, lowered her gaze and responded somewhat awkwardly, "Why are you making it sound so odd?"

"Isn't that precisely what Alorian was getting at?" the black-haired woman, her hair elegantly tied in a ponytail, leaned closer to Althea on the other side, propping her chin on her hand. "He wants to know if you're taken because if you're not, he might just have a chance!"

"You're certainly making this situation more complicated, Isvhara!" Althea said with embarrassment and covered her face with both hands.

With a teasing smile, Isvhara gently held Althea's hands to uncover her cute face. "So, what's your response?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. "I know my brother isn't one to play around."

Still feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Althea, unable to maintain eye contact with Isvhara, turned to the side and admitted, "I don't know... I hadn't thought that far."

Isvhara let go of her grip, raised her teacup for another sip, and mused, "That's rather peculiar, given how close you two have grown in the past five months. There were moments when I even wondered if you were in a courtship."

"We didn't have such a relationship," Althea exhaled, her chest racing with an inexplicable turmoil. Her eyes suddenly dimmed, and she murmured, "We're merely friends on a quest for the same knowledge."

Isvhara remained silent, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows and the only sound was a gentle breeze. "Well, perhaps for the time being. My brother still has a few months of self-defense training after his first trial."

Althea was caught off guard by this and, with uncertainty, responded, "Does that mean he won't be spending time in the library anymore?"

Observing Althea's disappointment, Isvhara tried to provide her comfort. "No, no, he still has more to learn, you know? If he needs you, he'll seek you out. Besides, who else is as close to him as you are here?"

In the candle's warm glow, Althea's face appeared to flush even more. She continued to look down, occasionally meeting Isvhara's gaze. "But he and I are on different paths. He must succeed in those trials, and I must maximize my abilities as a healer."

"So," Isvhara replied, "what's the issue?"

"We all have distinct goals that might not align, but that doesn't mean diverse paths will sever your connection, right?" the woman with ebony hair added, speaking words that drew Althea's focus. "I can sense that my brother has grown fond of you."

"And he won't simply let you go just because he'll be training in martial arts and spending less time with you in the future," Isvhara continued, leaning forward. "Isn't this a part of life? Meetings and partings are inevitable for all of us."

Althea now radiated a faint glow upon hearing the reassurance from her close friend. She still couldn't comprehend what was happening within her, the emotions she was experiencing, the constriction in her chest each time she encountered Alorian. Althea sensed that something was amiss, something profoundly calming, akin to when she was in the presence of her mother.

"But, Isvhara, what is this feeling that continues to haunt me?" Althea sneered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It weighs so heavily on my heart."

Isvhara tried to soothe her dear friend by caressing her hand on the table and offering a warm smile. "That feeling occurs when you discover someone valuable in your life. That's love."

Althea's eyes widened, and she couldn't deny that she had been contemplating the same thing, though she had been hesitant to acknowledge it. "But I'm still uncertain... I've never felt anything like this except for my mother."

"No need to rush," Isvhara said, taking another sip of her tea. "This feeling takes time."

Althea fell silent, lost in thought. She hadn't shared with Isvhara what Alorian had all said that night in the library, the night they had discussed something unexpected for Althea. According to Alorian's vision, she was the driving force behind his progress.

This connection might lead to unraveling the common thread in Althea's memories and the necklace she wore. She had recently recalled a few words from her mother in the past, suggesting that the necklace held a strength that would manifest when used in urgent situations.

Without revealing what could be useful in dire moments, Althea felt a sense of haste. However, she needed to be patient for now, focus on her training before returning to the palace, and reveal the nature of the hidden necklace.

***

In a different room, but with a similar interior, Alorian sat in silence at his study desk. Accompanied by a lantern on his side, he was fully engrossed in a small brown book. The diary still emitted the fragrance of his mother, Amarta - reading every beautiful script on its pages.

While reading the notes, Alorian discovered some crucial information. Herich now held complete power over Caeloria, meaning there was no one to prevent him from doing as he pleased. Even with decisions that could harm Caeloria, there was no one daring to oppose him.

Amarta was aware of this before the emperor arrived at her husband's funeral. Before Herich was officially appointed as the regent, Amarta had briefly filled the role of the Queen of Caeloria. It was strange that the emperor had to meddle with the throne.

Although it was true that the emperor had the authority to govern in the absence of the king, it didn't mean he could arbitrarily reduce Amarta's status. But all of this had been orchestrated by Herich and the Emperor during their conference in the Unitedland.

Rather than discussing Artonius's idea of comprehensive kingdom development, they had focused on restructuring the kingdom, especially for Caeloria, which was in a kingless state. Slyly, they had prepared a letter of consent that Artonius had signed, agreeing that in case of a vacant throne, the emperor could be involved in choosing the leader, even if the king's wife was available.

This had triggered opposition from several kingdoms, with some condemning the idea. However, Ulric didn't budge. With Caeloria now in his hands, he almost had an unbeatable military power. This forced some kingdoms to submit, while others stayed quiet, planning for their own future.

Now, the situation grew bleaker as Herich severed mutual agreements with other kingdoms, taking back some Industrial Revolution equipment without providing anything in return. This move significantly weakened their economy and artillery. Without proper transportation and technology, they struggled to recover from the downturn.

Also, overthrowing Herich would unleash profound consequences for Caeloria. Herich wasn't merely a pawn of the emperor; dethroning him would be tantamount to declaring war on both of the largest kingdoms. Since Amarta lacked extensive experience in such matters, it was almost certain that this would lead to a violent and tragic end for the people of Caeloria.

As a result, Amarta couldn't take any action for the time being. Finding solace within the palace, undisturbed, was the only thing that made her feel secure, as the diary had stated. It was a troubling falsehood that didn't sit well with Alorian. He knew he had to verify his mother's well-being, but not in the immediate future. His first trial was rapidly approaching, and if he passed, he needed to swiftly acquire the crucial martial skills required of a leader.

As he prepared to close the diary, he noticed a sentence at the very end, in the lower right corner. This sentence held the potential for either good or bad news, but it was clear that they had followed the directives of the Obsidian Sage Order and we're committed to safeguarding the future of Caeloria.

"... mother senses your Prana within me, and she is alive. Mother is pregnant with our child."

Suddenly, tears welled up in Alorian's eyes as he recalled the weight of his unforgivable transgressions. He became acutely aware of the added burden he had placed upon his mother, who now carried the pregnancy alone.

Struggling to control his sobs, he fought back the unrelenting flow of tears, each drop falling onto the yellowed pages. With immense effort, he choked back his emotions and cried out, "Forgive me, Mother... I'm so sorry."

The clatter of stagecoach reverberated on the uneven, rocky road, the passengers concealed behind their cloth veils, peering cautiously through the windows. The rhythmic breaths of the two horses pulling the carriage reached a high-pitched crescendo before they came to a halt at the entrance of Caeloria's prestigious martial arts institution, White Paradisaea School.

They were met with a reception worthy of their stature, with dignitaries and venerable Masters, including Master Vedana, awaiting their emergence from the carriage.

Clad entirely in obsidian black, their robes enveloping every inch of their forms, hoods obscuring their features and concealing their hair. An aura of profound and foreboding magical power radiated from them as they advanced, their path leading them to Master Vedana.

They were none other than the enigmatic figures of the Obsidian Sage Order. One among them, with an icy gaze and a voice that seemed to echo in the ears of all present, inquired, "Has the child learned much?"

The very sound of his voice sent shivers down the spines of many officials, but Master Vedana remained composed as he responded, "Yes, he has received extensive instruction and consequences."