(Ch. 8) Just a Puppet.

"Why now? I have told you that I'm giving you hints. Trust me, you will thank me later." He smiled. "Now then let us move to our next location."

I heard his voice as my surroundings changed once again. This time I wasn't standing like before. As I moved my eyes side to side, I saw the ever-extending light blue sky, and beneath me was a landscape meeting with a mountain far away. I noticed Basak hovering beside me but before I could ask anything, our body dropped downwards as gravity pulled us with a snap of its finger.

Our fall only stopped a dozen meters above the ground. The brick-made houses came into my view. Although I was able to notice people moving around, most of it was blurry.

While passing through the marketplace, I noticed a large looming palace from the corner of my eye. I realized it was the place where we were heading toward. But one thing that stood out was why Basak didn't just bring us there in the first place.

"We are heading for the palace ahead, aren't we? Why bother flying there?" I asked.

"Despite being here twice, I managed to make some wonderful memories here. So it wouldn't hurt to just relive those." He explained and I didn't bother with any more questions.

From the little bit that I got to know Basak, he did not hold any sort of grudge over the fact that I'd occupied his body after his death. It was hard to believe that to be the case but until any further information, I couldn't deny the possibility. His actions were also aligned with that. He had been showing and telling me things that at first sight seemed to be helpful but he had been cheery picking some things.

Why? I wondered.

He had mentioned how the dark knights were going to come after me once I left Xavier but was that true? I couldn't tell. The only way for me to figure out the truth behind that statement is by leaving the town of Xavier.

I didn't doubt for a moment that regardless of the curse placed on Xavier, there was a way out. After all, Basak had managed to enter when nobody had for centuries. Besides if I were to trust what Basak had been saying then undoubtedly there was a way out. Otherwise, he wouldn't be mentioning all these things.

I was pulled out of my reverie when we passed over the palace gate into the garden. My body came to a halt in the air and I made out the Palace.

It was mostly white with stones and marbles engraved in to give it a profound look. And for the most part, it succeeded in doing so. But the whiteness of the stones had dimmed significantly—to the point that you would assume it wasn't going to last for long.

"I assume you can already tell that this is a Royal Palace?" I nodded and asked him why it looked so old. "Because it was built a couple of centuries, during the golden age of the northern continent. Back then The Royal family of Bragher was first established. It had probably been through some renovations but the main structure of it remains. Perhaps they wanted to keep it as their heritage," he said.

"Filia is a very small country in the Southern part of the Northern Continent. Unlike most of the other Kingdoms here, Filia lacks severely in its military strength, and over the years their agriculture has managed to become their main weapon. Now it had become strong enough that they could export a large amount of raw crops." He said, looking at my eyes. "And their biggest purchaser is the Empire of Godvolt from the Southern Continent. But recently a very violent civil war has been taking place in this country. It's between the Royal family and the rebel forces under a man called Xyphius."

I listened intently to the things that Basak mentioned, trying to remember them to the best of my abilities. I knew what he had been saying was somehow important, and maybe I would need that information in the future.

"Last time I'd been here, the war was almost in its last phase—the balance tilting in favor of the royal family but when it comes to war nobody can tell what the outcome might be. So, at this point no matter what speculation I offer you, it wouldn't matter. So, let us skip that part for now." He continued.

We flew above the garden and onto the balcony of a palace. It was the second floor and the hallway was long enough that I'd to squint my eyes to see its end. We moved slickly through a corner as the chamber came into my sight.

"But regardless of which force wins, the lackluster military of the Kingdom will be further weakened and it wouldn't be weird for its neighbor to come barging in like hungry predators," he said and our feet touched the ground for the first time.

He ushered me forward while walking ahead. I followed behind him into the large chamber.

To put it lightly it was huge and it took me a couple of looks to realize that it probably was the bedroom of a member of the royal family. It wasn't that glamorous and I assumed the owner of the room wasn't the materialistic type I'd first thought him to be. Unlike me, Basak didn't stop to marvel at the sight but continued marching forward like he owned the entire place.

That was when I noticed the only person present in the room other than us. It was a boy of ten years of age. His looks did not have anything special that made him stand out.

Just like me, I thought with dry humor.

He was sitting in his bed—which was way too large for a person like him, with a look of sleepiness on his face. He wiped his face to rid of slumber but slowly turned his head up when Basak walked toward him. His eyes passed from Basak to me but then it slowly morphed into horror like he had witnessed a monstrosity that was never seen before.

He threw something from the table near him but it didn't touch us and tumbled toward the hallway outside. He leaped above the bed, retracting like a scared cat as screams tore from his throat. It was only a few moments later that a couple of maids rushed inside the room. They reached the boy, asking him what was wrong. He pointed his shaky finger toward us and the maids turned to look but then passed a look amongst themselves.

They said something and then gently guided the boy out of the room. He looked at us over his shoulder one last time, his face full of fear.

Once they were outside, I opened my mouth, "How was he able to see us? I had noticed the same thing with the person you referred to as Mother Queen."

I hadn't noticed that Basak had been fiddling with some stuff on a table, his back turned toward me. "That's because I'm a little too strong. A powerful mystic like me can easily kill a normal person just by revealing my presence." He laughed out loud. "But to answer your question it's because the boy or should I call him Prince Sorvel Bragher is a sentient just like me. So was Mother Queen."

"Prince Sorvel wasn't able to see us. We appeared like some kind of monstrous creature to him and I don't think it's unnatural for a boy his age to be afraid of something like that after just waking up." He explained.

"But how was he able to see us when this is just supposed to be a manifestation of your memory?" I asked.

"Whether it is the future or the past both exist in the same plane," He said, turning toward me and flickering a coin-like object. "It's two different sides of the coin. This means," He caught the object in his fist and paused, staring deep within at my eyes.

"Sentient can cross between Past and future," I muttered, still not understanding anything.

"Nope. Nobody can do that. But we can influence it greatly. Just like how I did and will do in the future. Imagine how a father raises a child. But even after the father dies does his influence disappear completely?

"If you asked me, I would say no. Because for as long as the child lives, the father's lessons and thoughts will live within the child. They will guide him, and influence him. Then the child will become a father and leave his imprint on his child's life. That's quite a beautiful thing, isn't it?" He smiled.

" So if you have been wondering why I don't seem to care much about my death and is fine with you using my body that is the reason. Because I have lived long enough and now desire to influence the world through other means. It isn't like I'd have hated to live longer but since that isn't the case, I'm fine with this too."

"So I'm that child here?" I asked back.

"No. You are just a puppet right now. You will move however I desire," His eyes turned cold and I felt chills down my spine. He moved his arm up and a string appeared. "But the string can be severed. Just like how a pawn can become a Queen, so can a puppet become the master." He moved his hand and the string severed.

"And I will look forward to that day." He smiled a hint of madness present in his features.

"Now enough of that. The main reason why I showed you the prince was that he is a very important piece to the game," He said, walking out of the room onto the balcony, leaning at the railings and looking out into the sky. "Do not bother asking me why as I will not reveal that to you. It would not be pleasant to see a show unfold if everything is known. Regardless of which side wins this war, I want the boy alive. Now I did leave him enough help for him to save his life and escape but in this messed up world he won't last long alone."

"How would he be alone if the Royal Family wins in the war?" I asked.

"You know nothing of the royal blood do you? It is a very messed up place where a father can hate his child or the child can kill his father. It is very rare for a royal family to be completely right. But either way, I want you to help him in the future."

"But makes you think I will?" I asked, my curiosity picked because of his nonchalant tone.

"Because he is the key to you becoming a Senior Mystic," he grinned wildly looking at my eyes.

I remembered back to what Darren had revealed about what a senior mystic was. A mystic would become a Senior mystic only when they ascended to rank three of their respective Sub-domains.

"But-"

"No. You will need to get stronger Zareth. Because each of the Dark Knights is at least Senior Mystic if not stronger. You won't stand a chance against them if you are strong enough," he laughed.

"But it sounds like something you are making up," I answered with a blank tone.

"You are free to think like that and as time goes on you will able to make sure whether I am lying or not. But I just hope you don't realize that too late."

"I look forward to it then," I answered.

"Good. Anyway, I have shown you enough. Now let us return," He paused. "I don't have much time left it seems," he mused.