Bab 20: Chapter 18: Stephen reappeared?!
At the capital of Neveah empire, Astra,
In a dark, hidden underground chamber of the Royal palace in the capital, a single crystal ball, the size of a adult fist, was kept in the centre, above a short stone seat. The crystal ball was glowing in blood red hue, covering the whole chamber in a creepy red blanket. At an unknown point of time, the red hue from the crystal ball slightly began to turn blackish red. Slowly but steadily the black, suffocating aura silently continued to consume the red hue coming from the ball, dimming the only source of light in the chamber. Ultimately, black aura completely devoured the red hue and the chamber fell into utter darkness. After sometimes a clear 'crack' echoed throughout the chamber, indicating, the crystal ball had been broken.
.....
....
King Arnold Stronghold was sparring with his eldest son, Lucas. Seven years had already passed until Ray's disappearance. Lucas had just turned sixteen this year. He now looked more and more like the young version of his own father, only he looked a little bit childish, immature and shorter than Arnold. As a 'fighter' class, Lucas was not as talented as his father but he was way more hard working than any other boy of his age. This cultivation crazed personality and with the guidance of his 'king' staged father, Lucas had already surpassed the word 'normal' in terms of speed in cultivation and within only seven years achieved the late stage of 'Master' rank. (Well, don't judge Lucas with Ray. His situation was special). Also, not being able to protect his younger brother, left a deep impression in his tender heart, which acted as a fuel to overcome his hardships.
On the contrary, Leora, Lucas's younger sister, despite being one year younger than him, because of her extraordinary talent, had already broken through to the grandmaster rank of 'fighter' class. Yes, that's right. Leora also chose to be a 'fighter'. Speaking of Leora, she had been extremely frustrated with herself for seven years for not being able to see her sweet younger brother, Ray. As more days were passing by in waiting, she became more and more impatient. All day, Leora would think about the description of Ray, his older brother had given her and then she would try to make a imagined figure of a seven year old boy with silver hair and heterochromia eyes. But, that was not satisfying at all!! 'Ah!! Brother even get to name him!!' Leora would cut down trees after trees just by thinking about this, in extreme anger.
Sometimes Leora would spar with Lucas to vent those frustrations. At those times, even Lucas was a little afraid of her? But Lucas would never admit that. He could only sigh at the end of each sparring session with his body filled with bruises and scars. Having a younger sibling, stronger than yourself was really getting very hard for Lucas.
It was just near dusk, when Lucas had finished his sparring with his father. All of a sudden, they heard a commotion near the entryway of the garden. Lucas 's mouth twitched. He threw a silent plea of help to Arnold but met with his father's helpless expression. Their eyes interlocked. They seemed to have a cordial conversation with their eyes.
Lucas,'Save me!'
Arnold,'My son, I can't do anything in this matter. You have brought this upon yourself.'
Lucas,'Daaaad! You can't leave me!'
Arnold,'Well, I can and I will...'
Lucas,'You traitor!'
Arnold,'Ha ha ha...bye bye.'
Arnold left through the back of the garden. His face was full of smile. He thought childishly,'Hmph! You shouldn't have named Ray by only yourself! Now, bear the weight of it! ha ha ha ha ha....'
Beyond the vast Royal garden was a beautiful blue lake, surrounding which thousands of white roses bloomed, contrasting the colour of the blue lake. The scenery was so beautiful that it was beyond any words. Near this heavenly picturesque lake, amidst the white roses was a even more beautiful hanging wooden swing. The stand and the four chains, from which the swing was hanging, was made up of a particular blue crystal, that in the low light of dusk, were glowing weakly. Also, these chains and the stand were entangled with rose vines, on which, countless red roses were blooming, making them stood out, in the midst of thousands of white roses. The seat of the swing was made up with a special purple coloured wood. It's handle on both side were delicately curved, leaving an extremely beautiful pattern. All in all, the swing was breathtaking.
On this beautiful swing sat a extremely gorgeous lady, enjoying the splendid sunset. She slightly leaned on one side of the swing handle. Her unbound green hair swayed a little along with the gentle evening air. The soft light of the dusk gently kissed her soft, fair face and made her pale green eyes, shone in golden hue.
Arnold's eyes were filled with unconcealed love as he approached this angelic figure. He sat down beside her quietly and embraced her while stealing a gentle kiss on her cheek. The lady pushed Arnold in utter annoyance and said," Can you not disturb my peacetime just for one day, Arnold? And you are covered with sweat and dust, all over your body! You better go take a shower first or don't blame me for being cruel..."
Arnold pouted like a child, holding his heart and exaggeratingly said," Ah....Alexa, you broke my tender, little glass heart!"
Alexandra pressed her right hand on her forehead frustratingly at her husband's childish behavior. She scrunched her eyebrows as she spoke helplessly,"Arnold, have you forgotten, you are an adult? Why are acting so childish? Even Lucy is better than you...."
Alexandra couldn't finish his sentence when there was a sudden explosive noise of something breaking from the palace garden, where a while ago Arnold was sparring with Lucas.
Alexandra's mouth twitched. She looked towards Arnold sternly and asked word by word calmly," Arnold, You again left Lucas and Leora together to fight irresponsibly?"
Arnold avoided her piercing gaze guilty,"Er...well, you see..."
Alexandra cut him off in the middle," Arnold, I can't even count the number of times we had to repair those entry pillars because of the two. sigh...."
At this time a sweet childish energetic voice drifted from afar.
"Mom~~~~~"
Alexandra raised her head and saw a five year old cute girl, sprinting towards them cheerfully. Arnold's head knight, Ron helplessly followed closely behind her with extreme caution as if he would catch her in any moment if she fell down.
Alexandra's previous frustration due to her two children almost vanished instantly as soon as she saw the child. A gentle and affectionate smile instinctively infected her angelic face, making her even more charming. Arnold grinned ear to ear and stood up while spreading his arms wide.
"Ah~ my cute Lucy~come to papa!"
But the girl didn't care about Arnold and went straight to Alexandra, then sat on her lap and hugged her longingly. She complained,"Mom! I missed you!"
Arnold pretended as if he had been hit by a large boulder and said sadly,"My daughter, you have only missed mom, then what about me?"
Sitting on Alexandra's lap the little girl thought for a while with her hands on her two rosy cheeks. Then she said innocently with a smile,"Not that much."
Arnold's world shattered. He said in a dispirited voice,"Ah....My heart broke twice today..."
Alexandra ignored him. She began to chat with Lucy happily.
"Did you enjoy staying in grandma's place?"
"Yes!!!"
"Oh..is that so?"
"Yes, they would quarrel so frequently, that it was too exciting to watch."
"...."
"Er...did you do your homework?"
"Of course!!
Lucy's shoulder length pale green hair which absolutely resembled Alexandra's hair, made it difficult to differentiate them, after they entangled with each other from the gentle wind. Her sapphire blue eyes as if held the light of the whole world as she smiled happily in her mother's embrace.
Lucy was Arnold and Alexandra's fourth child and the youngest daughter. After losing Ray, when the Stronghold family became filled in despair and self blame, Lucy became the only hope that gave them the courage and patience to wait for their lost family member, Ray to return home.
Now, while looking at her wife's smile, listening to his daughter's laughter and also secretly enjoying the small fights between his children, Arnold felt both sweet and sour taste in his heart. Sweet because he could spend such a blissful life with his family every day and sour because this blissful life was incomplete in the absence of his third child, Ray. In the every second he felt happiness, his heart would cry out in distress that how his precious child was spending that same second. Whether Ray was happy or not? Whether he was healthy or hurt?
Arnold sighed. The head knight Ron noticed this and moved to his side. He whispered to Arnold,"Your majesty, are you thinking of the third prince again?"
Arnold nodded dejectedly and then said in a complaining tone,"Ron, don't be so formal when we are in private."
Ron softly smiled. His light blue hair and blue eyes were in resonance with his gentle personality. But people who met him in the battlefield, knew the bitter truth of this overflowing blue ‐ it did not signify the power of water but the power of fire, the blue flame. Ron could absorb the variant of fire mana, the blue fire mana particles to not only let it strengthen his body, but also let it reside inside his sword. To his enemy Ron's sword was famous as the 'sword of nothingness'. Because as soon as it came in contact with the enemy, blue flame would surround him and there would be nothing left but ashes.
After hearing Arnold's complaint, Ron, as his childhood friend shrugged,"Well, It's kind of out of habit. These days I am meeting with you less and less in private after all."
Then there was a little silence. Only Lucy's cheerful laughter could be heard from time to time, along with Alexandra gentle voice. Arnold looked far into lake and said," Say, Ron, do you think Ray will accept us as his family after returning? After all we didn't manage to protect him, when he needed us."
Ron sighed,"Arnold, you are asking the same question again. Don't worry. I believe the third prince will understand."
Arnold smiled and said,"I really hope so."
Arnold was about to say something when suddenly it became dark, so dark and cold that it was suffocating to even breath. Yes, even breathing became difficult. It was as if the air became denser and more polluted. Arnold and Alexandra's heart sank. The air was filled with dark mana particles, the same kind, which appeared during Ray's disappearance from Stephen's mysterious ancient artefact. And the density of this dark mana particles were denser in the entrance of the garden, where Lucas and Leora were supposedly training. 'No' Arnold's heart was as turbulent as the stormy ocean as he shouted,"Not again! Stephen!!! You Scumbag!!! Darn it!! I shouldn't have left the crystal in the underground!"
At this time Alexandra's panicked voice came from the side," Arnold!! Lucy, she fainted. She had already consumed a large amount of dark mana."
Alexandra had already condensed a mana ball to disperse the dark mana particles. In the dim light of the mana ball, Arnold saw she had already made her strongest mana barrier around Lucy to prevent her from being affected from the harmful dark mana particles. But as Lucy was so little and her cultivation was little to of no significance, the little time she was exposed to the dark mana, made her unconscious. Arnold paled. ' No, this shouldn't be happening...Lucy...'
"Arnold! Hurry! Go to Lucas and Leora! I am trying to separate this mana particles from Lucy's body! you go. Don't let them happen anything please!"
Even Ron was a little affected by the immense flow of dark mana but he didn't care. It was not the time to care. He couldn't protect Ray before. Ron didn't want something to happen to Lucas and Leora again. Even if it cost him, his life today he would protect them. Ron didn't want to let Arnold fell into utter despair again because of the loss of someone dear, just in front of him.
Ron and Arnold sprinted towards the entrance almost in a lightning speed only to see endless darkness. Amidst the endless darkness a small red ball was floating silently with a sinister aura. Arnold cursed inwardly,'Stephen!!!You Scum!!!'
In the dim red aura Arnold saw Lucas and Leora, lying unconscious in a distance. Arnold breathed a sigh of relief. ' Even though they are unconscious, at least they are still here.' But his relief didn't last long. Because in the next second a large dimensional hole appeared just next to Lucas and Leora. Arnold's breath almost stopped. ' No no no no no no....not again...never...'. He grinded his lips and ran towards Lucas and Leora. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. A sinister voice rang in his head at this time,'So, how is it, Arnold? You are now going to loose your remaining children because of me....ha ha ha ha ha...you shouldn't have confined me in that damned crystal. Do you know how much that hurted? Every hour, every minute, every second hurted like hell. You should have killed me that time. Now look at the consequences. I don't know why but the power from the ancient artefact followed me into the crystal. The amazing thing was it demanded my soul to fulfill one of wishes. At first I didn't relented. After all, destruction of your soul was indeed sounded a little scary now that it would be happening to me. But after suffering for seven years, I don't really care anymore. I won't exist anymore but your children will go to a realm where magic doesn't exist and where danger lurks in every corner. They will suffer helplessly before death. After all destruction of your soul after transporting to another world doesn't sound fun anymore. And oh.. I see now you have a younger daughter. Now that she have consumed the dark mana, I have specifically arranged for her with the help of the artefact's power, she won't be waking up, no matter how hard you try. No one can help her unless it was a mana of a angel realm mage. So, see your only child suffer under your own eyes....hahahahahahahaha.....'
Between the crazy laughter of Stephen, red ball disintegrated into dark mana and the dark mana as if was alive, soon devoured it. The suction of the dimension hole became even crazier than before. Arnold had already reached by the side of Lucas and Leora. Ron also reached after a second. It was really hard for him to reach near the dimension hole without getting sucked by it, with a cultivation level, lower than Arnold. But after reaching he couldn't move a bit against the suction of the dimensional hole.
Arnold already utilized his king realm's aura in full force but he still couldn't move a inch under the heavy suction force, while holding both Leora and Lucas. At this time Ron said with difficulty, " Arnold, take them outside one by one. I will hold onto the other until you return. Hurry."
Arnold nodded. He kept Leora in Ron's care and held Lucas tightly and then moved against the suction force with heavy steps. Strong winds blew against him as countless debris of nearby pillars flew haphazardly and disappeared into the immense darkness of the dimension hole. Step by step Arnold got out of the entrance of the garden and reached near the lake. Air was quite weak in this part. Alexandra saw him and ran towards him while holding Lucy. Seeing the unconscious Lucas in Arnold's arm she anxiously said," Arnold! Where is Leora? And what about Ron?"
Arnold had no time to explain so he placed Lucas in her care and uttered sternly," Stay here. Don't move."
After that he again moved towards the dimensional hole. Ron was already reaching his limits. He coughed out blood from time to time under the heavy pressure but still firmly protected Leora against the suction with his aura. When Arnold reached there he saw this scene.
Ron was a precious friend of Arnold. They graduated from the same academy together with Alexandra. He was more like a brother to Arnold. They had undergone many life and death situations together. Even now, Ron was protecting Leora with his aura, when he himself was bearing the great pressure. Arnold knew that if Ron stayed any longer in this situation, his cultivation base would be destroyed. He couldn't let that happen. So, Arnold hurriedly approached the two. At this moment the dark mana particles as if had gone mad by sensing his intention. The darkness intensified. Now it seemed it could be felt just by touching. With that, the suction of the dimensional hole intensified all of sudden.
Ron tried and tried but he couldn't hold on anymore. He looked at Arnold who was desperately trying to approach them but it seemed the dark mana particles surrounded him, preventing him to do so. Ron desperately gathered the last bit of mana that remained in him and then transformed them into aura to strengthen his arm. The veins and skin around his forearm and hand bursted and blood flowed from them uncontrollably because of the excess aura but he didn't care. He held Leora with his bloodied hand and threw her towards Arnold while he himself was thrusted into the dimensional hole because of the reaction force. Arnold reached out his hand but it was all in vain. The force of dimensional hole grew a level more and Leora was sucked into the immense darkness. This was the last scene Ron saw and closed his eyes in regret as he was swallowed.
At the moment of drowning into the large hole, Leora slightly opened her eyes only to see her dad's desperate crying face. ' What?! Dad is crying?!' She thought in amusement. Then after feeling the violent suction force behind her she looked behind. Leora was horrified at the sight of the utter darkness. Goosebumps invaded her. Hundreds of thoughts went through her head in just a fraction of second.
'What is happening? I was clearly fighting with elder brother. Wait, where is elder brother? Right the dark mana suddenly appeared...dark mana? Ray was also sucked into a dimensional hole because of the dark mana. Then this pitch darkness behind me... Is this a dimensional hole? This suction force... Am I being sucked into it? I don't wanna go. I am afraid. Ray must be afraid at that time too, facing all of this alone. Mom..Dad...someone save me...."
Slowly, in front of Arnold the dimensional hole closed fully until the remaining purple hair of her daughter disappeared completely. The dark mana disappeared gradually and the surroundings regained their calm eventually. The strong wind due to the suction force also disappeared as if it was never there before, only leaving the evidence of destruction behind. Arnold kneeled on the ground lifelessly. He clearly remembered the tearful, helpless eyes of Leora, staring at him before the dimensional hole closed. Arnold didn't know what to do. He even forgot to cry. Everything felt like utterly surreal. It was as if Leora and Ron would appear before him in the next second.
After quite a few minutes footsteps approached him. But he didn't turned around his head to look. He just foolishly stared into the distance.
Alexandra hurried towards Arnold while holding the unconscious Lucy. Lucas also regained consciousness after the disappearance of the dark mana. So, he followed after her anxiously. But when they reached near Arnold, they found him in a utterly dumbfounded state. Alexandra gave Lucy to Lucas and kneeled in front of him. She firmly grabbed Arnold's shoulder and woke him up from his daze.
"Arnold! What happened?! Where is Leora and Ron?! Answer me!..please answer..."
Alexandra already knew in her heart what happened based on the situation but she didn't want to admit it. Arnold looked at her. There were already tears on his eyes that he forgot to shed a while ago. He only repeated the three words," I am sorry, I am sorry......"
Alexandra released her hands from Arnold and broke into sobs," Why again....no...Arnold, I can't bear it again....can't again....."
Lucas turned around to hide his tears from his parents. Again, he couldn't be of a single use.... While drowning in the self blame Lucas raised his eyes as if sensing something, then his eyes widened. He exclaimed loudly, " Mom!! Dad!!! Look!! What is it?!!!"
Arnold and Alexandra turned around and their eyes also widened. Because what appeared in front of them was another dimensional hole. But it was far more beautiful than the hideous one from before. The inside of if was also filled with darkness but surrounding the hole was a very complex, patterned magic circle. The magic circle was shining brightly in golden white hue. It was magnificent. They could feel the pureness of mana from it. Alexandra gasped. As a mage herself, she could feel how pure the mana was. Just by sensing it a little, her old injuries healed a little. Even Lucy woke up while rubbing her eyes.
"Mom, I am hungry... huh? how come I am in elder brother's arm?" Afterwards, she looked at the large dimensional hole and said in awe, " Mom! what is this?! So pretty!"
Arnold was surprised that Lucy was awake. But didn't Stephen say that Lucy would only woke up by the mana of an angel realm's mage. He shouldn't have lied at the time of his death after all. Then this meaned..... Arnold gasped.' My God! It is a mana of angel realmed mage.'
But that was not the end of their amazement. Soon, two figures came out of the dimensional hole and then, the dimensional hole gradually closed.
As soon as Arnold, Alexandra and Lucas saw them, they began to doubt life. Lucas almost dropped Lucy from his embrace in surprise. Lucy, who didn't know anything, called out, " Elder sister!! I am back from grandma's place. I missed you! Uncle Ron!! When did you go to elder sister? Weren't you with me? And why are you two looking so haggard, like you haven't showered for almost a month? Ew..you two smell strange....."
Lucy kept chattering on and on but no one listened to her.
Leora and Ron who were equally dumbfounded at last spoke. There was a little bit of tear stain still remained in Leora's eyes.
"Uncle Ron, we are really back!"
"Yes! After fifteen days. But the time here didn't seem to proceed much."
" But he didn't come with us...."
"Don't worry! He will come when it is time."
" Can't believe he became so strong in just seven years."
"Leora?!" Alexandra called out," Oh my god! Are you okay?!"
Arnold also beckoned Ron and asked," Ron, tell me, actually what happened? Didn't you just get sucked into the dimensional hole? How come...."
Ron said cheerfully," It may seem just a few minutes to you but we spent whole fifteen days in the strange realm. And we met..."
Leora, who was talking with Alexandra and Lucas hurriedly stopped him and said triumphantly," Stop, stop, Uncle Ron, I will tell them first..."
Except Ron, everyone looked a little confused. But they had a bad hunch. And Leora fulfilled it with immense pleasure.
" Mom, dad and my dear elder brother...."
" And, me me, pick me too..." Lucy raised her hand in a spirited manner.
"pfft..alright you too. Then again, let me start.....ahem,ahem ...."
Leora cleared her throat and spoke," Mom, dad, my dear elder brother and little sister...."
There was few moments of silence. Ron sighed and then shook his head helplessly. Leora waited as if to ferment their curiosity and then said in a excited voice,
" Ahhhhhhhhhh....I met Ray...ahhhh....he is so cute and even more beautiful than I imagined...Ahhh...ah~~~~~"
Leora held her two cheeks in excitement and began to jump.
The other members of the family,
"....."
"....."
"....."
That day there was a loud and strange "whaaaaaaaaaaat???!!!" like sound, echoing suddenly throughout the place, that even the place guards had heard. But they didn't know that it was only the sound of disbelief and exclamation of their beloved king, queen and prince.
— Bab baru akan segera rilis — Tulis ulasan
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone