Chapter 4

"Good morning, Prince Aiden" a maid greeted the prince when she noticed the prince starts to wake up.

"Good morning Tabitha!" the prince greeted back.

"My, how lively you are today, please have your bath while I prepare your clothes"

"Okay! Where is Zen?" he asked

"Oh, Sir Zen is just outside waiting, so you better hurry up"

Prince Aiden went to the other side of the room where a huge bathroom was located, he take his clothes off and plunges inside a tub filled with warm water.

Today is finally the day, he thought.

He prepared countless of plans on how to free Catori but he can only conclude one and that is to run away with her.

It will be okay, I'll just be missing for two days and hide her outside then come back to the castle in time for the marchioness of Luwan to arrive, he thought again.

What about father?

He soaks deeper into the tub leaving only his eyes visible...

He doesn't care much about me anyway so I guess it's okay.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Prince Aiden? Are you okay? You took quite a time inside" Tabitha knocks a bit worried

The prince suddenly got up "Yes! I'm sorry I'll come out now!"

After the King left for Corhall nothing changes much. Prince Aiden will have his etiquette lessons after breakfast and then his regular classes such history, philosophy, alchemy and of course magic. After lunch he will have his sword-fighting class with Zen and the rest is his free time.

"That was a long bath" Zen greeted him

"Sorry Zen" he replied hastily walking fast passed Zen after opening the door from his room, Zen followed.

Prince Aiden has been hiding his expression from Zen since last night because the young Knight can easily read him. Though Zen already is doubting him he has to make sure his plan will work for tonight or else Catori will die. As they are about to pass the throne room a servant-maid greets them.

"Good morning young prince" she bowed

"Good morning!" Prince Aiden greets her back

"I apologize for stopping you like this, I would like to ask if you have something in mind for the gifts Viscount Claren has given you?"

The prince stared at the pile of boxes inside the throne room. He almost forgot that the Viscount left them gifts from his travel.

"Hmmmm, I guess it's not good to just leave them, please open them one by one and transfer them to my father's room and I've been told I have one so you can transfer it to my room as well and please leave it unopen if you happen to find it."

"Understood your highness" the servant-maid bows again and went back inside. "Do you think it's kind of unusual?" Zen asks

Prince Aiden, "Unusual what?"

"The Viscount don't usually come here for visits, you know how your father treats the nobles right?'

" Yeah, he is called the black dragon after all"

"Exactly, I have a bad feeling about it especially at a time like this when your father is not around"

They continued to walk until they reached the dining hall and from there onwards the young prince started his day.

"Well, I'm sure everything will be okay, besides the Viscount was nice" he said

---

Since last night Catori did not sleep well. Holding the note Prince Aiden left for her, she kept staring at the window.

There's no garden there right? Everything was just an illusion, she thought

She turns around to look for the shadow whose emitting ominous aura but she seems to understand what he is trying to say.

Run away, run away, run away

Those words kept on repeating inside her head it's as if the shadow was trying to talk to her mentally, or she might just be turning crazy. She never believed in magic in the first place but when she arrived here in this kingdom, magic is everywhere. It's not the kind of place she was used to. In all honesty everything in this place is not what she's used to, she was just a lowly servant and now the Prince of Etilania is planning to escape her from death. A mere child at the age of five is planning to free her, a murderer. She sits down on the floor and leans back on the wall, she close her eyes one moment but the shadow is making her uncomfortable.

"What do you want from me?"

The shadow reaches out his hand but Catori rejected him again.

"You wanted me to die that much?"

She remembered Prince Aiden's words from last night.

"...or are you really worried about me?"

One second and the shadow comes forward. A bit surprise but Catori did not budge from where she was sitting, she looks up to the shadow and was shocked to see a face. He wasn't faceless at all, he was only covered with black all over.

But why? She thought

The shadow for the first time did something unexpected, he sits down on the ground and now both of them are facing eachother, it made Catori more bothered but as soon as the shadow got closer to her, his ominous aura started to fade.

"Now what?" She asked

---

Meanwhile, Prince Aiden is having a hard time with his sword practice, because he has been keeping quiet for a while, it was obvious that he's hiding something and Zen ought to know about it.

"Is that all you've got Prince?" Zen challenges him

"Y-youre too mean Zen!" the prince kneels while panting all the tiredness away

Zen gives an evil laugh, Prince Aiden knew that Zen was taunting him and that he wants him to tell what he's hiding.

"Whatever! I'll take you on!" he shouted back

He charges forward with his sword in the side and the moment he got near Zen he starts to thrust targeting his abdomen, Zen, on the other hand, did not have any problem evading it.

"You are out of focus today my prince, you're not usually the type to easily charged directly"

Prince Aiden pauses "Huh?"

"I know you have something in your mind right now but even so, to give such a poor attack is not fit for the future heir of Etilania. What if people are watching you?" This time Zen's face became serious

"I-I..."

"Is this because of her?"

Prince Aiden looks down.

"I'm sorry to tell you this your highness but she doesn't deserve you. She killed someone of high standing and because of that she must be punished, once the marchioness arrives she will no longer be on our custody" Zen explained

The prince just continued to look down on the ground. Zen got a bit dissapointed when he looks at the young prince but he decided not to scold him any longer. He's holding on to the promise that the young prince will never visit that woman.

"Sigh. Let's end todays lesson, the sun is already setting."

Prince Aiden nodded and together they left the training grounds. Upon arriving at the castle the servant-maid from this morning welcomes them.

"Your highness, we already opened everything except for your present, since you are already here do you want me to give it to you right now?" She bows

Prince Aiden got confuse until he realize she was talking about the Viscount's gifts.

"Ah, please just leave it in my room as I instructed this morning"

"Understood" and she gracefully exits

"Let's go your highness, dinner must be ready inside the dining hall" Zen touches the Prince's back as he guides him.

---

The servant-maid went back to the throne room, picked up a small box and walks out until she arrive at the prince's room, as she slowly puts the present on the bed she can't help but feel a bit curious to what's inside. For the entire day all she did was unwrapped all the presents the Viscount left, majority of the presents though are meant for the King - beautiful high quality curtains made with silver linen, an expensive set of golden teacups, different kinds of jewelry made out of gold and diamond and lastly robes - lots of robes, all of these for the King of Etilania. Then finally she found the present meant for the young prince, a small box wrapped with beautiful blue silver.

It must be a piece of jewelry, she thought. Curiousity won her over and decided to take a peek and opens the present, inside she sees a beautiful blue pendant - glowing. She took it out of the box and can't help feeling mesmerized by it, she goes near the window where there was light and lifts it up, when she did the pendant glows brighter and brighter that it covered the entire room. Shocked by its sudden brightness she immediately return the pendant inside the box and hastily run outside.

---

"What's wrong?" Catori asks

The shadow suddenly stands up facing towards a direction she is not familiar with. His aura starts to emit negative energy that made her curl up from where she's currently sitting.

"Hey, why are you making me feel like this? It's intoxicating." She cries

But the shadow did not hear her, he was too focus looking at something and the longer he stares the more negative energy he releases. Catori decides to stand up and shouts at him.

"Hey! Stop doing that! Or else I'll -----"

BOOOOOOM!

Catori looked at the direction where the shadow was staring.

An explosion? Why could there be an explosion? She ask herself

The guards outside were all running towards the explosion and she was left alone. She looks at the shadow and this time their eyes met.

"Prince Aiden..." She utters

Immediately she ran towards the window and shouts "Hey! Is anyone out there!? Can somebody hear me??? The prince might be in danger!" no one answered, as expected there was no garden, only an empty cell.

BOOOOOOOM!

KRAAAAK!

Another explosion happened again and this time it was much louder and bigger than the first. She started to get worried about the Prince and looks at the entrance to her cell.

If only I could go out then I ---

KABAAAM!

Another blast occured but this time it's inside her cell. The bars blew up and in front of the chaos the shadow stands facing her.

"Did you do that?" She asks

The shadow nodded and lifts his hand to her.

Explosions and screams can already be heard outside the dungeon, any more delay and the young prince might be in danger... Catori stares at the shadow, eyes so sincere.

"What will happen if I accept you?"

----

"Sir! The palace is under attack!" a knight screams panting himself out from running.

Prince Aiden was having his usual dinner when they heard the explosion. Alarmed by the blast Zen grabs the prince and started to run outside the dining hall when the knight greeted them.

"Attack? By who!?" Zen shouted as they both run while he carried the prince.

"We don't know yet but they are not humans!"

Zen stops running "Not humans?"

"Yes! All of them were goblins! Hundreds of them! Let's get the prince to safety sir!"

Zen nodded, they kept running when he said "Let's go behind the throne room, there's an exit there that leads to the forest!"

The knight agreed.

While being carried by Zen, Prince Aiden can see what was happening outside from the windows. Everything was burning when hundreds of small green creatures barged inside the palace gate. Knights in formation charged into battle but they were outnumbered so they were easily killed, it was not pleasant for a young boy to see.

Then Zen suddenly stops from running and he looks at the lobby, body shaking and tears starts to fall on his cheeks when he saw how horrible these hundreds of small creatures can do to humans. The palace's servant-maids lay there on the floor, some were cut into pieces and some were dead naked, the lobby was a blood bath.

B-b-baaarf!

The knight together with them grosses himself out and started to puke.

"They were raped and killed" Zen explains as he use his right hand to cover the young prince's crying face.

"We must move forward prince"

They run towards the extension building of the palace and were ambush by goblins.

"Aaaargh!" The other knight screamed as he was being pierced with daggers.

"No! Zen help him!" Prince Aiden pleaded

"I can't your highness! We must move forward"

The goblins all together thrust their daggers to the knight non stop until the knight can no longer bawl. Laughters can be heard after from them when they suddenly locked their eyes to Zen and the prince and starts to chase them.

"Zen look out!" Prince Aiden shouts

Zen heard him, swung his sword behind him and killed two goblins. He puts down the prince and starts to chant words.

"God of fire heed my call and bring forth walls!"with a wave of his hand, fire starts to come out of thin air and exploded straight towards the goblin chasing them creating a huge wall of fire.

" Let's go! That wall won't last long!" He grabs the young prince and they run straight to the throne room.

Everything was in chaos, screeches from the servant-maids can be heard outside the walls and knights in battle can also be heard.

Why is this happening? Zen thought.

Goblins don't attack openly not unless they're being bribe, by who? And for what purpose? Just when the King and Leon is not around. He looks at the young prince - crying but still trying to keep his composure.

"Could it be?" He utters

They finally reach the throne room. Just when they're near the hidden passage a hobgoblin appears.

"No... How did they know about the passage?"

Roaaaaaaaaaaaarrr!

The hobgoblin cries out as both Zen and the prince covered their ears. While seeing both of them still in dismay due to his scream the hobgoblin charges forward and with his huge bat aims to hit the young prince.

"No!" Zen rushes himself forward and blocks the hobgoblin's attack.

"Zen! Be careful" Prince Aiden sobs

The hobgoblin got confuse about what happened but he still directed his gaze to the young prince.

I'm sure of it! Their main target is the young prince! Zen thought

Swiftly its his turn to attack and without delay he jumps in front of the hobgoblin, the creature raises his hands to catch Zen but the young knight suddenly disappeared in front of him.

"I guess it's true that you're the slowest of your kind" with a slash of his sword Zen beheaded the hobgoblin.

"Zen!" Prince Aiden runs towards him

"Prince! Are you alright?"

The prince shakes his head "I'm okay but you! Are you okay!?"

"Yes, now let's move forward. We have to get you out of the palace"

The prince nodded and they rush towards the hidden passage, again, heavy footsteps can be heard this time there were more hobgoblins.

"Zen... I'm scared..." Prince Aiden holds unto him.

"I'll distract them, if you see an opening please run as fast as you can..."

"But..."

"Listen! No matter what happens, you must survive!" Zen looks at the hobgoblins getting closer and looks at the young prince "Stay safe your highness"

Zen then runs forward with his sword on the side making the hobgoblins unleash their weapons.

"God of fire I call upon thee, bring forth spears!" He chanted and hundreds of spears appear out in the open air. With a wave of his hand the spears directly hit the hobgoblins, some were killed while the others were wounded.

"Now, prince!" He shouted

Prince Aiden then rushes to the passage as fast as he could only to be surprise by three goblins.

Kwakaaaaaaaa!

The goblins screech and actions to stab the him until Zen blocked their attacks making them stab him instead.

Aaargh!

"Zen!"

The goblins were pleased as they continue to stab him multiple times!

"Stay away!" Zen created a fire burst between them making them backed away.

"Zen! Zen! You're wounded!" The worried prince shakes Zen

"I am fine, I'm sorry for not thinking there might be more goblins there...are you okay?"

"Why are you asking me that!? I'm not the one who is wounded! Look at yourself!"

Rrraaaaaaaaaaar!

The three remaining wounded hobgoblins starts to move and Zen holds the prince tightly.

It hurts, Zen thought, the stab wounds he received were so painful he started to stagger, but he has to do something, something. He lifts his sword again charges forward, and the moment he was near he suddenly freezes.

What? Paralysis!? Since when did I got poisoned!? He looks at the goblins near the hidden passage bursting out in laughters.

Shoot. Their daggers must be poisoned, the hobgoblins were in an advantage, without hesitation one of the injured hobgoblin swung his bat hitting Zen right on the head.

"Nooooo!" The prince cries and races towards Zen

" Zen! Wake up!"

"Y-your higness.. Run.. I-ll d-distract th-em..." Zen coughs out blood and one more hit he might faint.

"No! No! No!" Prince Aiden wails

The hobgoblins were now in front of them smiling at the young prince

"What do you want from me!?" the Prince looks at them while carrying Zen on his arms.

The goblins began to cheer the hobgoblins sure about their victory. Once again the same injured hobgoblin moves forward to them and lifts his weapon.

Prince Aiden closes his eyes and hugs Zen tightly ...

"P-pri-nce, p-please r-run" Zen utters

"No!"

The moment the hobgoblin swing his bat, he shouts a battlecry of victory.

Rrrrrraaaaaaaa ------

And his head fell to the ground.

There was silence in the room when the prince open his eyes, he saw a familiar figure.

"Are you alright Prince Aiden?"

"Catori?"

------- End.