The Real Demon (3)

"Where is Lucien?" There was a shadow hiding Yllana's face. And her voice was solemn and cold.

Theoden was about to approach her seeing she had cuts and bruises all over her when she raised her hand and stopped him.

"What happened? Where did the emperor take you?" Yrah asked not knowing that Yllana's mood was a bit off. Hearing no answer from her sister, Yrah took a deep breath. "Yana, take a rest first. You must be tired. Lucien locked himself in his room. It is beside yours."

"I will. This is Kheera, Princess Blanche sent her. And Imari, her sister abducted by the emperor." she was too tired to explain anymore. From the miserable way they look and their almost depleted life forces, nobody dared to urge them to tell the story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

She stood by the door. There were some questions she would like to ask him. But there are also some answers she was afraid to hear. She raised her hand ready to knock, but she stopped midway. Her hand stayed still in the air. She sighed. Lucien never had red eyes. But the scent of that demon that day reminded her of him.

"Afraid?" Midel watched Yllana with amusement. He felt like teasing her while having a battle within herself.

"There was a demon. I'm sure you heard it. But it only attacked the palace and he let us go." her mind took another tumble with her thoughts fighting against each other. "You said that he disappeared that day before the rain started pouring. I just want to ask where he was that day."

"Market," the door opened with two black eyes staring at Yllana. He looked at her suspended hand in the air. He smirked. "You just have to ask. Here," Lucien held Yllana's awkward hand and placed a shining blue gem on it.

"This is?" she lowered her head in embarrassment. Somehow she felt relieved knowing that he had an excuse that day. Maybe she was just feeling jittery since Lucien was always wearing black colored clothes which almost makes him look like a demon.

"A moon teardrop," then he shut the door in her face.

Yllana was stunned for a few seconds. Midel's eyes went wide with shock too. "He was busy, I suppose?" he tried to guess Lucien's reason for shutting his door. But just then, the door opened again, this time, Lucien was wearing a blue robe. He was holding another smaller version in his hands.

Yllana was still stunned when he draped the blue robe over her. "Better," he commented as he placed a hand under his chin while inspecting how Yllana looked. The magic of the fruit of disguise has not worn off yet. Her hair was still brown and her eyes were still black. But under Lucien's scrutinizing eyes, it was if he could see her wearing it as the real her.

"You are giving me this?" at last she found her voice to ask him a question.

With his 'mh-mmm', Midel chuckled. "You are an odd couple." then he went away leaving the two behind.

"Thank you. Do not mind what he said. I will call you for dinner." Yllana followed Midel out. Something red crawled to her face and it was the first time she felt that way. When she got inside her room, she examined herself. "I do not have any fever and yet I feel like my cheeks are burning."

Knock knock knock

Three taps caught her attention while still holding her face. "Who is it?" she asked.

"Hey, it is the handsome prince."

Yllana prepared her scowling face when she opened the door. Prince Devon was still younger than her so when she opened the door, she still had to look down on him a bit. "Yes, little prince?"

"Little?! Why you! If it was not for my pretty lady's worries, I would not be here asking if you are ok or not!"

"Oh, Yrah has a new maid? I never thought she would take in a young boy."

"This prince is not a boy! I am a young man! A young man!" With the prince's shouts, several people have already opened their doors to look at what is happening.

Yllana felt a headache coming so she suddenly shut her door. The door hit the prince's nose and he yelled even louder.

~~~~~~~~~

"We have to leave tomorrow morning. The carriages are ready. We will be departing for the New Hills Province at the edge of the South Kingdom's borders. Snow is thicker there." Theoden told the story about how he and Naia met in the New Hills Province. It was Naia's birthplace. "I heard there was a new vein of gold ore there. You can all go with us if you like." Theoden's kind invitation filled the dinner table with joyous approvals.

"Father, I will not be going with you. I have to find the ingredients for the 'sight spell'. At the same time, I have to train. Reaching the high honor rank is going to take years in this state." Yllana felt regretful when she saw her father's pained face.

"I know that you are doing this for your sister, but getting stronger? Do you still have plans on going back to the North as a knight?" Theoden's worries showed on his face. Wrinkles formed on his forehead making him look like he aged for years.

"I have other reasons," Yllana just smiled. As long as she is not strong enough, she will not be able to conjure up the spell herself so she has to prepare a back-up plan.

"I'm going with you," Lucien said before drinking a cup of tea. He stayed quiet for most of the time during the meal but no one could deny the joy in his eyes while glancing over at Yllana. They were both wearing blue robes with clouds sewn on the collars.

Yllana did not mind the looks they were giving them. She just scratched her head seeing weird smiles from everyone except her father.

"That is settled then. How about you Kheera? You can not move Imari at her current state now. There should still be a day before she wakes up. She will need more rest after then. Also, the enchantment on her might still be stronger so you have to keep an eye on her." Midel was keen on following Yllana wherever she may go but now that the road leads to New Hills Province, he would like to enjoy the snow for a bit more time.

"Where will you go first then?" asked Theoden to Yllana.

"Dragon's Eye Cave," nobody dared to say a word. The air went chilly. And Theoden's heart sank more. His daughter's travels never concerned him before and that was because she never tells. But that is because she was under the North Kingdom's army then. Now that the royal family planted an irrevocable mistake, she was not bound by their orders. He never knew that danger would still follow them even after they have left the kingdom.

"Yana, if the cure for this blindness will cause you to risk your life, then I'd rather be blind my whole life. At least I know you are safe, sister." Yrah's words melted Yllana. It caused her heart to be determined all the more and find the cure as soon as possible.

"I will be fine with Lucien by my side. And if I face any danger, I swear I will value my life first, sister. I swear." The promise between the two sisters touched the others.

"I will keep her safe." Lucien could have said it in a cold tone. But his reassurance made Theoden and Yrah felt a little ease on their fears lifted. Lucien was very protective of her just like a small sister.

" I can take care of myself, I just need you to train me on those spells." Yllana grinned at Lucien. She knew that he has become more powerful. And she knew when to take advantage of opportunities when placed before her.

"This prince will follow Lady Yrah," Shiiba's eyebrows shot up when she heard the prince.

"If you are to become a helper in the Sabers' household, you should at least know what abilities you have to do some things." she eyed the prince up and down.

"You little blue ball! And what about you and your master?! Haven't you two been leeching on the Sabers? You did not even swear to protect them!" he rebutted with his face getting a little red.

"Because we already knew that we will protect each other! No need for useless words! Unlike some people..." Shiiba teased the prince until she saw the redness creeping up to his neck.

"Shiiba, stop playing around and finish your meal. It is not good to eat anything not edible. You will find it hard to digest." Midel's smiling eyes stayed on Prince Devon while talking.

"What are you trying to say? That I am not edible?! Mind you, I am still a prince even in these pauper's clothes!" Prince Devon stood up and pointed at his chest. His action made Kheera giggle.

"What an adorable little child!" she stated. If her sister was awake, she might also find this amusing human being. He has guts but does not even act on his words. She knows he is hesitant. It is a trait for younger people who still have doubts about their lives. And seeing the prince acting like this, she was seeing another perspective of the royal family. "Princess Blanche has always been prim and proper so I thought that all royal children are like her. It seems I was wrong."

"You...you demon!" he shouted.

Yllana's eyes twitched at the silly prince's words.