28 — The Secret Passage

"Your Highness," a blonde haired young man entered the room, interrupting Yuden's focus on his laptop.

Adjusting his glasses, Yuden looked up, raising an eyebrow.

"Rei? I thought I told you not to appear unless absolutely necessary," Yuden remarked, his tone slightly stern.

Rei was more than just Yuden's right hand; he was a symbol of Yuden's past and a reminder of his own actions.

They had a unique bond forged in the aftermath of a human trafficking case in the southern region of Yurania, where Yuden had taken ruthless action against those involved, inadvertently inspiring Rei to follow in his footsteps.

Rei admired Yuden's strength and resolve, seeing him as a protector of the weak and a figure worth emulating.

Despite Yuden's initial reluctance to involve Rei in his darker dealings, Rei persisted, determined to be part of Yuden's world.

Yuden, recognizing Rei's potential and resilience, eventually relented, allowing Rei to join him in his underground operations and on the battlefield.

However, to ensure Rei's safety and loyalty, Yuden initiated a blood contract between them, a vow of life that bound them together until death.

In this contract, both parties cut their thumbs and combined them, creating a magical link with their lives and symbolizing their partnership.

The agreement stipulated that the bond would only be broken upon the death of one partner, with the survivor enduring severe pain, worse than death.

However, due to Yuden's lineage as a member of the Revensly family, known for their unique resilience to pain and rapid healing abilities, he would not suffer any pain if Rei were to die.

This fact added a layer of complexity to their relationship, as Rei was fully aware that his own life was intricately tied to Yuden's, in both loyalty and pain.

"Pardon me, Your Highness," Rei bowed and then raised his head, gazing at the crown prince.

"What brings you here?" Yuden made a sign with his hand for Rei to take a seat.

"I brought a few of our men in that cave, however..." Rei shifted his eyes from right to left.

"However?" Yuden asked, eager to hear what his subordinate had found out.

"There was nothing," Rei hesitantly spoke.

Yuden abruptly rose from his chair in disbelief.

"How could this be?! I saw it with my own eyes!" Yuden exclaimed, stupefied.

"I... I understand your highness. But maybe..." Rei sighed. "Maybe it was an illusion?" he nervously looked up at the crown prince.

Yuden scoffed.

"Do I seem crazy? There is no way it was just an illusion! I could be mistaken about the cave but not about that monster as well!"

"Your Highness, please keep your calm," I nervously stated as he rose from his seat.

"This is just too weird! First, that cave and now even the monster was an illusion?!" Yuden was baffled in disbelief.

"I will look into that. However, we have urgent matters. A new attack arose in the area of Moncia. If this keeps going on..."

"If it keeps going on?"

"I'm afraid we will need to go to war against the Gralx. And as you know... the population will be in great danger. We need more men. We suffered quite a huge loss in the last couple of wars," Rei sighed.

"You're informing as if you're my secretary," Yuden remarked.

"I keep track of everything. After all, my life is bound to yours, Your Highness. I need to make sure you are always safe, even from the shadows." Rei smiled softly.

Yuden nodded in agreement.

"I need to hurry with Averlyon's alliance too. Their army is loyal only to Averlyon. They don't want to fight unless it's for their land. If I could make the Queen dowager listen to me..." Yuden mumbled in deep thought.

Rei stared at frustrated Yuden, his face filling with worry.

He wanted to erase the troubles he was suffering like Yuden once erased all his problems. But it was easier said than done.

Royals are no better than monsters. They hide their real intentions behind sweet smiles, giving their opponents no hint of what they are planning behind their backs.

"Your Highness," Rei spoke, bringing Yuden back to reality.

"Yes?"

"Might I ask why we can't kill the Gralx? I mean, we have swords and guns," Rei curiously inquired.

"I know we do. But we made a pact with them," Yuden sighed.

"You did?"

"Of course not me but my ancestors did. There was constant war between Yurania and the Gralx. Having enough of that, the king of both sides decided to sign a peace treaty. There was peace over the centuries. However, I don't know why they are starting to attack us now," Yuden sat back on his chair.

Rei listened to Yuden in silence. He was confused at first however a thought crossed his mind.

"Your Highness, maybe something is wrong in their region? Perhaps they lack food or something?" Rei raised an eyebrow, making an assumption.

"It's not impossible," Yuden nodded in agreement.

"I will look into it," Rei bowed. "Permit me to take my leave."

Yuden nodded, raising his hand dismissively. He was too tired from all these thoughts. He was unable to understand any of it. Just a few years ago everything was going well yet now, only chaos prevailed.

"It's been happening since Princess Zahra," Yuden paused, marvelling at the thought.

"When Princess Zahra disappeared..." Yuden mumbled.

However, he quickly shook his head.

"It is all mere coincidence." He scoffed. "I should go to the library and get more information on them. I barely remember studying about them when I was ten years old," Yuden stepped out of his study room, heading towards the library.

As he arrived at the library, Yuden opened the door.

As he walked into the huge room, Yuden marvelled at the towering bookshelves that stretched up to the fourth floor.

Each floor had its own set of doors, allowing access to the levels above.

Descending through the stairs was easy, providing a sense of depth and grandeur to the library.

The soft glow of the chandeliers illuminated the vast collection of books, creating an atmosphere of knowledge.

Yuden walked towards the bookshelf that seamlessly blended with the wall, its edges imperceptible until he was right upon it.

His fingers glided over the spines of the books until they landed on a scarlet tome, distinct from the others.

With a practised motion, he retrieved the book and pressed a small, black button nestled discreetly within the shelf.

As he clicked the button, the bookshelf smoothly slid aside, revealing a hidden passage.

This was a familiar sight to Yuden; King Aiden, his father, had shown him this secret place when he turned eighteen.

Stepping through, Yuden found himself in a small, dimly lit room, the air heavy with the scent of old parchment and leather bindings.

Despite its modest size, the room was packed with ancient tomes, each one a repository of knowledge reserved solely for the rulers of the kingdom.

These books held the sealed wisdom of the kingdom, a legacy passed down through generations to every king and future king.

They contained not just historical records, but also strategic insights, arcane knowledge, and the hidden truths of the realm, safeguarding the secrets and history of the kingdom for those deemed worthy to access them.

Yuden marched through the dusty floor, looking for a book that might be related to the Gralx.

He felt his step on a soft yet hard surface. He gazed down curiously. It was a book with a completely dark cover. Yuden curiously picked it up and opened the first book.

There was a sketch of the Gralx!

Yuden hastily wiped away the dust on the cover, trying to see what was written on it. However, it was in a language he couldn't read.

Paying closer attention, he could slowly figure out a few characters, resembling the characters of the southern language!

Yuden quickly stepped out of the small room and clicked the dark button again, closing the secret passage. He placed the scarlet-covered book back on the shelf as he exited the library, hoping to find more information on the Gralx.