Chapter 63: Body Swapped: Part - V

The moonlight glinted off dew-kissed grass as the carriage made its way along the road. The creaking wheels and flickering lanterns cast shifting shadows, creating an eerie dance of light and darkness. The chill of the night enveloped the carriage, and the distant sound of hooves on the road added along.

On that carriage, Ray, now trapped in Kai's body, with Hiro and Sakura, were heading back to the Archduke's mansion. The night had already fallen by the time they left, so almost everyone was feeling sleepy. But among them, Ray sighed, his mind a whirlpool of worry. His gaze was distant, lost in the darkness outside. Sakura was trying to keep up, but was feeling too sleepy, as she hit the corner of her head by the window. "Ack!"

"Ow…" she touched her head, rubbing it trying to cool down the pain. Hiro lightly chuckles at that side of her, while also caring for her. She turned to ask Hiro stop laughing at her, when she noticed Kai, who was actually Ray, lost in his thoughts. Clear to notice, his expression was filled with worries. Sakura's eyes, soft in the dim carriage light, filled with concern about him. She reached out to touch his hand, as she asked. "Is there something wrong, Kai?" Her voice barely above a whisper.

Reality hitting back, Ray looked at her. He shook his head, trying to hide his unease behind a forced smile. Sakura asked him, later Hiro joining in as well. But after somehow managing them that he was fine, his mind slowly started drifting back to the conversation he had with Kai earlier.

Before getting on the carriage, at the palace:

Ray was hurriedly scribbling a note, while Kai, now in Ray's body was punching in the air. "He really trained hard. This body is in great shape" Kai mused, when Ray finally put out a note in front of him.

"There will be a meeting of few noblemen today in the palace, followed by a dinner party later on. You will have to be present there as well, since now you're the crown prince." After reading through, Kai had seemed nonchalant about it until Ray mentioned that the nobles might say some unpleasant things about him. Kai's eyes had hardened then, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright!" He had promised to ignore them, his words firm and resolute.

Back in the present:

Ray could only hope that everything would go smoothly. His heart was heavy with worry, a silent prayer going through him mind. However, back in the palace, a sense of urgency had taken hold. Maids scurried about like ants in a disturbed mound, their faces etched with worry. Yet, amidst this whirlwind of activity, Kai, now in Ray's body, strolled leisurely down the gilded hallway, a carefree whistle on his lips.

He mused to himself, "I think I'll spend some time with the books Eva found for me." His thoughts were interrupted by Eva's voice, a note of concern threading through her words. {Sir, aren't you worried about the situation you've created?} she asked, to which Kai merely shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he retorted, "Why should I? I'm the crown prince at the moment. Besides, it was that guy who made the first move, not me." With that, he turned a corner and disappeared from sight.

Back to Ray, now in Kai's body, had finally reached the Archduke's mansion. With Hiro's help, he was led to Kai's room. The marble floor, the chandeliers, all too were not new to him, except for him getting help to move around in a wheelchair.

Exhausted from the day's events, Ray collapsed onto the four-poster bed with crimson drapes, his mind still racing. He lay there, staring at the ornate ceiling, his thoughts still wondering about the artifact and the nobles meeting. He sighed, his heart heavy with worry. The silence of the room seemed to amplify his thoughts, making them seem louder than they were.

Meanwhile, back at the palace, Kai, in Ray's body, was engrossed in the books Eva had found. His mind was far from the chaos he had left behind, lost in the world of knowledge before him.

He sat alone in the grand library, surrounded by towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls. He had been pouring over the books for some time now, his eyes scanning the dense text, his mind trying to absorb the wealth of information. But as the time ticked by, his frustration grew.

He muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the silent library, "None of this… none of this is helpful…" he grumbled, frustration tugging at the edges of his patience. A weary sigh escaped his lips, his voice laced with irritation. He raised his right arm to his forehead, massaging the tension that had settled there. He had hoped to find something, anything, that could help him navigate the dungeon or anything related to it. But the books offered him no solace.

He slammed the book shut, the sound reverberating through the library. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes reflecting his disappointment. "This isn't working," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. He glanced around the library, his gaze lingering on the countless books that lined the shelves. A sigh escaped his lips, a sound of resignation.

With a final glance at the book in front of him, he pushed himself away from the table. The chair scraped against the marble floor, the sound echoing in the silent library. He stood up, stretching his back, feeling the tension seep out of his muscles. He retrieved his coat, draped over the back of a chair, his gaze lingering on the book for a final moment. Then, with echoing footsteps, he turned away, leaving the vast room behind.

As he walked towards the exit, the heavy wooden door to the library creaked open. He froze in his tracks, his heart pounding in his chest. He wondered, "Who could be venturing into the library this late?" The soft glow from the hallway outside filtered into the room, casting long shadows on the floor. As the figure stepped into the light, he felt a jolt of surprise.

"Ray?" she asked, her voice echoing in the silent library. Her eyes, wide with surprise, were fixed on Kai. The one who stood in front of him, her silhouette framed by the dim light, was none other than Montina.

Montina stepped forward. Her gown, midnight-blue silk, whispered against the marble floor. Silver stars adorned her hair, and moonstones graced her brow. Kai was taken aback. He froze for a second, as Eva started to play her music again. But this time, reality hit him quick. "Eva…," his internal tone serious, with a slight hint of anger in it.

Stopping the music, she apologises. {Sorry, sir. But you shou-}, but Kai cut her off in between. "Quiet."

He blinked, trying to hide his surprise. "Wait… how does Ray address her again?" He started to wonder. "Her name? Her title? Nickname? Or does he ignore her as well?" he thought to himself, wondering what to do.

Montina just kept waiting for him to answer, while Kai was working his brain to find a solution to his situation. But after a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke up. "…Mono?" he managed to say, his voice steady despite the shock. He watched as a range of emotions flickered across her face - surprise, confusion, and then, a bright smile.

"Ray, I heard about what you did at the dinner party," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "You stood up for yourself! You should have done this a long time ago." Her words were sincere, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Kai was taken aback. He hadn't expected Montina to react this way. He managed a smile, "Thank you, Mono. I guess I just… I just had enough." As he said so, he thought to himself. "Guess he's on good terms with her, unlike Niatina."

Montina nodded, her smile never fading. "Well, I'm glad you did. It's about time they saw the real you." She kept talking, while Kai could just nod to her statements wondering, "She talks a lot huh…"

After talking for some time, Kai, saying he was tired slowly exited the library. Following him, Montina too went ahead, back to her room.

Walking through the hallway, Kai seemed to be lost in his thoughts. His eyes looked forward, but mind elsewhere. Images of Montina back from the library kept playing on his mind. He sighs, as he murmurs to himself. "What am I thinking…"

As Kai was retracing his steps back to Ray's room, he abruptly halted. A wave of negative energy washed over him, a sensation he was intimately familiar with. He remained tranquil, his heart steady in his chest. He stood in silence for a moment, processing the ominous feeling, before resuming his steps. With each step, his pace quickened - from a walk to a jog, and then to a full sprint, dashing straight down the hallway.

At the same time, on the second floor of the palace, a heated argument unfolded within a lavishly adorned room. The air crackled with tension, as two figures could be seen through the window.

The younger figure,barely out of his late teens, stood there, his head swathed in bandages. "How can you just sit back and watch, Father!?" His voice cracked with raw emotion, echoing off the gilded walls. "We can't afford to wait any longer!" His eyes blazed with anger, and his fists clenched, as if ready to strike. He wore a simple linen shirt, sleeves rolled up, covered in sweat and wine, and worn trousers.

The elder man, around his mid-forties, remained composed. His doublet, deep burgundy velvet with gold embroidery, spoke of authority. His cravat was pristine white, and polished boots completed the ensemble. His coat, heavy wool, hung untouched, buttons gleaming. A signet ring adorned his finger.

As the younger man's accusation hung heavy in the air, the elder man raised a hand, attempting to calm the storm. "Patience, my son," he said, his voice measured, "we will find a way to rectify this. Trust me."

But the younger man wouldn't be silenced. With a final glare, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him, leaving the room trembling in the wake of their clash.

Inside the room, the man sighed, his gaze fixed on the ornate carpet. The intricate patterns seemed to mirror the complexities of his thoughts.

As he stood, a soft knock interrupted his musings. The door creaked open, revealing a maid—a mere whisper of silk and servitude. She bowed respectfully."Excuse me, Lord Lucrus,"she said, her voice hushed. "The emperor has summoned you."

He nodded, dismissing the maid with a curt gesture. "Tell him I shall attend shortly," he replied, his voice barely audible. Once alone, he muttered, "That bastard…" His steps echoed down the corridor as he exited the room, unaware that a shadowy figure had been observing him from a distant building, concealed by the night.

Down the moonlit hallway, Lucrus walked, lost in his own turmoil. Walking through the marble floor, many thoughts were running through his mind. But suddenly, as he walked, he noticed someone approaching—a mere palace worker, he assumed. Ignoring the figure, he continued, but a sharp pain erupted in his back. He staggered, gasping, as something thrust into him.

He turned, expecting to see a servant. Instead, a dark figure stood there—cloaked in darkness. His eyes were devoid of mercy, and his claw-like fist pierced through Lucrus's back. Blood dripped from the wound, staining the opulent carpet. The attacker pulled back his claw like fist, as Lucrus fell, crawling as if trying to escape from the scene. His agonized scream echoed through the corridor, a primal sound of pain and desperation.

But the cloaked figure wasn't done. He stepped on Lucrus's injured back, grinding the wound. Lucrus's scream intensified, a guttural cry that seemed to pierce the very walls. His vision blurred, and he tasted blood.

And then, as if fate itself intervened, the assailant hesitated. His monstrous claw-like fist hovered, poised for another strike. But a sound of strong wind reached them. A bullet—made of compressed air—whizzed through the hallway. It collided with the assailant's clawed fist, creating a burst of pressure that pierced through his hand. The figure stumbled back a little, but maintained his stance.

Lucrus, still reeling, followed the trajectory of the bullet. Moonlight spilled through a nearby window, revealing the savior. Both him and the attacker looked ahead, as a figure approached them.

The figure stepped into the moonlit corridor. His coat white with golden lining, billowed around him. His blonde hair danced and fluttered in the wind, with a single dragon scale pendant hung from his neck.

"Guess I arrived on time," he declared, a smirk playing on his lips. Standing before them was now Ray, or more accurately, Kai.

Lucrus was surprised, his breath catching. He uttered two words before losing consciousness: "Crown… prince…" Kai looked at him, then next to the intruder. Their eyes locked, as the air around them started to change.

-To be Continued