Lucas

Scatter!

"Impossible! this is Impossible!" the man in black robe gritted his teeth in anger. In a small dark room with almost no light shining it, a plenty of people gathered together, sitting in a high back chair by the side of a long table.

The dim candle light made the situation felt underwrapped and eerie, as if someone had entered the Underworld.

"Control your anger. Don't throw tantrum in the gathering, remember the Elder is still here." another person on the other side of the table spoke. Clearly, the people inside the room is all wearing the same black robe. However, they each had different patterns resembling different elements.

A man with a crescent moon patterns on his robe voice his thoughts. "Don't worry. It's not over yet. We still has our last pawn, he's still hiding inside the Prince Palace." he tried to reassure.

A woman voice sounded ethereal echoed throughout the small place. "As expected of the Son of Life born from the World Tree.."

The place soon came into silence the moment the small whisper was echoed out.

Suddenly, an elderly voice with a deeper tone broke the silence. It was a man at the end of the table, with skulls as his patterns.

"We can only hold onto the God of Death revelations. Remember, his wills is our wills!"

Upon hearing this, the people sitting on each highback chairs stood up in unison as they shouted the same thing, "The Death is the ending of all, the Horrors is descending! Praise the Lord!"

Exactly five years ago, where the Gate raised onto the land.

They suddenly received a revelations from the Death. And that is,' The son of Life is descending. '

It was only these short lines.

There isn't complete order on what they need to do, but just by understanding the meaning behind the revelations, one could tell the problem lies on the son of Life that is about descend.

They connected all the events, including the Gate that had recently raised from the depth of the cosmos.

Who couldn't tell that the descender was about to descend through the 'Gate'?

His birth marked the rise of the Gate, the Gate is only a vessel for him to reborn.

***

Emperor Residence, Claude's office.

Claude rubbed his temples wryly. He stopped his fingers, stopping his feather pen to continue writing on the page."..So that's what happened."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jenas replied sincerely.

Felix stole a few glances at Jenas, pointing out his curiousity, but he ultimately restrain himself.

"State the Prince condition." Claude raised his head and look straight at Jenas, asking frankly.

Jenas raised his eyebrows in confusion. Instinctively, he accidently blurted out. "Pardon?"

Claude calmly tapped the end of his desk. "I said, what is Amaranaath current condition?"

Jenas finally snapped back into his senses. "According to his Prince nanny, Tear, after that incident, the Prince lock himself inside his room without a word. Although he take the food the servants gave him, he didn't say anything and stayed like that for a few days. Fortunately, the Prince condition had improved and he currently already returned to normal. Following Tear orders, the servants tried to act non-chalant, as if nothing happened. None of them dared to ask anything. We also able to achieve this because the servants are all trained soldiers who were good at following orders."

Claude tersely nodded his head in acknowledgement. Mixing with a hint of concern, confusion, relief, and all.

Jenas continued, "She said that she was only able to send this report today because a lot of things happened, and she was alert in case anything might accured. That's why she delayed the daily transfer report till this day."

Claude sighed lowly and leaned back on his chair, resting his cheeks on his fist. "Very well. Both of you handled this matter quick witted and without doubts. Continue monitor the Prince condition, we will first look for any traces."

"Send a few mages experienced on the field to see if there's any hint of mana fluctuation or mana explosion."

Jenas bent his back before bowing elegantly, not influenced by the praise, he maintained his expression. "Yes, Your Majesty."

***

Sapphire Palace, inside the Prince Chamber.

"Sigh." the extraodinary Prince sat on his usual spot, the window seat, where he can see the garden layout clearly.

However, it was raining today. The rain made the window blurred out, blocking most of his sight.

The Prince mumbled softly, preventing his supervisor to listen on what he's saying. "..How great life is. Unfortunately, with me living here, peace won't happen unless i solve it myself.."

"It's the same in any world anyway." he continued saying silently.

After changing posture and closing his eyes for a few seconds, he slowly opened them back once again. Staring at the ceiling.

"How funny. The seeds of Death is in the spy i killed during my corruption. It's different from the rest, so they must be playing some important role to be bestowed such things. But just why would Death bothered with me.." The Prince stroked his chin, thinking thoughtfully, only to arrive in many conclusion.

He tried to wrap up everything he got, in order to grasp the initial problem.

"It shouldn't be Hades. Although i've only met 'him' once, 'he' knows somethings up with the Life. Confidently saying, i can see 'he's' planning to take me away. Of course, not by trying to kill me. Even if 'he' succesfully killed me off, 'he' couldn't interrupt with the bind of my soul." he blurted out.

Ranath gave up on trying to mutter silently. Instead, using certain spells to create a sound barrier around himself and illusion where he doesn't opened his mouth, he managed to fool his supervisors.

"Based on my guesses, the Life disappearance might be connected with Hades. Perhaps they're clashing somewhere in another dimension.. 'his' son? even more unlikely."

After a few minute of silence, he suddenly snapped back into his senses. He widened his eyes for a moment before returning back to normal.

"The God of Life once said, Life is equitable with Death, Death is interchangeable with Life.. Heh heh. I didn't understand the meaning before, but now i can vaguely discern it." Ranath couldn't help but curved his lips into a tiny, mocking smile.

"Aren't you too evil, my God?"

After grasping the crucial and core problem, Ranath shattered his illusion and slowly gets up from his windowseat.

He went for his bed, where he could see a set of black robe was folded and placed on it.

Along the way, he reached out for the tie that had been holding his braided hair, carefully letting his hair loose.

Ranath didn't think much as he picked the black robe prepared on his bedsheet, before he suppresed his voice and muttered. "You will only see that i was heading to sleep. You won't notice any changes, and will treat any abnormalities normal. Block anyone that wanted to see me, distort their intentions and don't let anyone come inside my room."

It was a hypnotizing chant. They were directed towards his supervisor. Ranath had planned on going out without notice, as it involved a very personal matter. As for the Palace barrier, it doesn't concern him at all. He also blurred Tear's sightings on him for a few seconds before, but after chanting the hypnotist, she would also treat it as normal.

In their eyes, the Prince went to change into a set of pajamas, and headed for the bed to take an afternoon nap.

In order to do this, Ranath had also deliberately acted as if he needed afternoon nap in the past few days. Even if someone noticed something abnormal with their act, they won't discover any evidence.

He doesn't waste any more time as he tieded his hair and wore the hooded black robe. He also used magic to prevent anyone seeing his face clearly. He's currently being cautious.

He paused briefly. Debating whether he should use his adult form or not. At the end, he decided not to do so. He recalled how Obelian mages have a very sharp intuition. They might notice that someone used a high-level magic in his room, and a frequent used of mana. They can tolerate it if it was proved to be from the supervisors, but the supervisors had no way on chanting such high level magic chant. Therefore, he gave up on this act.

He can also try using it outside and not inside his room, but the outcome would still be the same. The Obelia Empire always had wandering mages doing repeated checks.

Unofficial mages were still respected by the Royal Family. Regardless of any discoveries, in exchange for payment, they will always informed the officials about it.

Not that he can't, he just doesn't want to be bothered nor involved with it. He had decided to lead Athanasia into a peaceful life, he could only maintain it like this and not go back to his past habit.

After wearing the hood, Ranath turned and marched towards the balcony. After reaching outside, he didn't hesitate to jump out and used certain mana particles below his feet, helping him stand on the air.

He shifted his gaze to the front, then began heading into his destination.

***

"Brother Izekiel, won't you eat with me this time?" the long-brown haired girl stood to his side, looking up at him in expectations while tugging his shirt.

The person he called Izekiel, with a platinum white hair and droopy golden eyes was holding on a stacked of white paper. He was to delivered it into Duke Alpheus, his Father.

"I'm sorry Jeannette, i can't have dinner with you this time. What about we go to the garden tomorrow? or maybe tea party?" he emphasized gently, not wanting to upset the young girl.

"Okay.. i will eat my meals then.. don't forgot what your promised!" at first, she sounded very disappointed. However, her expression beamed immediately only with the mere thought of having tea party with Izekiel.

She let go of her hand, before turning around and walk away.

Izekiel exhaled in exhaustion. He took a deep breath and went inside the Duke office.

"Father, i brought the letters from the Royal Palace.." during time, he lowered his tone.

Duke Alpheus was sitting opposite a man, the man looks like he's around twenties. Upon seeing Izekiel came, the foreign man didn't hesitate and stood up. Smiled and bowed at the young lord, before he walked out from the office. Leaving the puzzled young Alpheus and the headmaster inside.

"Father, who's that?" he decided to ask while placing the stacked paper on the table.

The Duke maintained his silence briefly before returning a question. "Why are you the one delivering it?" his eyes revealed his unconcealed puzzlement look.

Izekiel was stunned in place. He looked up at his Father in an innocent confusion, almost furrowing his eyebrows. "Aren't you the one wanting me to deliver it?" he wore the same puzzled look.

The room instantly turned silent. No one spoke for a long time. Not wanting to continue this further, the Duke reign his thoughts before calmly said. "Perhaps i was the one who forgotten." he coughed.

Duke Alpheus pointed towards the bookshelves and continued, "Those are the books i wanted you to read. You can take some of them now. If you had finished, come back here and i will give you a certain tasks."

Izekiel only nodded without uttering any words. When he was about to head towards the book section, he captured a single statement on the corner of his eyes. It was a title on a particular sheets his Father picked.

'The wide spread disease.'

***

Ranath arrived beside a huge towering mountain. It was a mountain in the depth of the forbidden forest, which was known to suffer many kind of curses.

He shattered his floated state, and landed steadily on the ground.

He saw a stone buried inside the mountain emitting a faint glow. In ordinary peoples eyes, they weren't able to see the faint glow, and will unknowingly treated the stone as ordinary.

Little did they know it was the place where a code needed, to open up a passage into another place. It was some kind of key.

Ranath reached out his index fingers. At the tip of his finger, a small fire ignited. He slowly traced his finger on the stone, drawing a particular secret incantations where only he knows of on the stone. The stone were carved following his finger.

And soon, it formed a complex symbol. After waiting for a little while, it emitted a brighter red glow, and it enveloped him completely. Ranath disappeared without a trace, as if he was kidnapped by a devil.

The stone shakes after it completed its task, and soon turned into his former form. A stone without any complex symbol, just like the one before it was carved.

Ranath perspective.

He was surprisingly calm without any hint of panic. And it's more like he had entered a place he often goes into.

Ranath quietly marched along the dark passageway without any light. It was taking him for about a half a minute.

That was until he saw light up ahead did he slowly curled the corner of his lips. He quickened his footsteps and approached the source of light.

Finally, he arrived. He immediately stopped on his track.

Infront of him was a figure with a waist-length long black hair. He was back facing him. And infront of the figure was a blob of light, bubble shape, with an obvious crack on one side.

The taller and faintly corporeal figure seemed to notice his presence as he turned to look at him. His red eyes met his Jewels.

Ranath didn't show any reaction, and he kept maintaining his smile.

The person narrowed his eyes before revealing a smile. It was unknown what is its meaning.

He turned his body to face him directly, and walked towards him slowly. Ranath suddenly flinched. His expression froze.

Without bothering the other party reaction, the taller figure suddenly shrank in size as he followed Ranath's height, turning from an adult into the same age child as him.

He didn't stop even after an inches apart. Just as he was about to reach the silver-haired kid, he suddenly stopped on his track. As if someone had blocked his path.

"Okay that's enough Lucas. What do you think you're doing walking towards me using that form without any cloths on?" Ranath flatly asked. He throw a set of clothes towards the boy, who was now on the same age as him.

Lucas only snorts and laughed dryly. "It's been a while, i just wanted to tease you a little." the black-haired mage didn't deny it.

It's really awkward with you using a child appearance though.. i mean, it wouldn't be any different if he were to use his adult form. Imagine.. he shook his head.

"You seem to have noticed my descent. Are you waiting here on purpose knowing i will come to you?" Ranath asked once again. This time, he lifted the transparent wall between them.

While starting to wear the clothes Ranath gave him, Lucas answered sincerely. "As you know, the time flow here is different. I rather wait for you here anyway." as he said that, he already finished covering himself up.

"What's with this clothes? i prefer my mage robe.." he muttered with a frown.

"Stop complaining, i don't know where to get your 'favorite' robe." Ranath sighed in exhaustion.

Upon hearing this, Lucas tsked. However, he deliberately ignored it after a series of complaints. Knowing the transparent wall is now gone, Lucas didn't hesitate to continue his previous attempt on snuggling Ranath.

Ranath raised his brows in piqued interest. He sneered and asked, "Clingy much? it's only been a few decades."

Lucas tsked once again and only continued burying his head on Ranath's neck. "Correction, a few centuries." he corrected frankly, remained unturbed.

"It's really weird doing this in our child form, you know.." he said awkwardly. However, he still managed to get himself pressing on Lucas waist.

"Do i look like i care? not at all." he stated.

Hearing this, Ranath could only sighed. "Alright, alright. We need to first head back. Aren't you still in your recovery state? i will gave you a portion of my mana."

Lucas freezed. He retract his head and face-to-face stare at Ranath Jeweled eyes. Squinting his eyes slowly as if examining him. "You're only a child during this time. You shouldn't be able to gave that many." he solemnly replied. Lucas gave him a deep look.

"..."

Silence filled the silver haired boy. He coughed twice and answered, "..Then i will help you enter the space where the World Tree is located."

Without continuing talking about the matter, Lucas changed the topic. "Looks like the Life isn't watching you this time. Why is that?" this was the crucial problem Lucas had noticed. It took him some time to adjust his words.

Unfortunately, the answer he get is only a shook of head. "I'm not sure either. But i have some guesses." he added.

Lucas fell silent as if he was thinking about something. He softly mumbled, "Either way, this is a good thing.." his tone wavered.

Ranath didn't dare say anything as he only watched Lucas losing in thoughts. The corner of his lips curved. "It is." he nodded in agreement.

—

Well uh yeah so probably that's all. It was pretty short, i know. I decided to separate the parts, so this is mostly only about certain information and no progression with the story.

Honestly saying, i'm not sure how the plot will end up. Right. Let's just go along with the flow..

Either way, you will find out how Lucas knew about Ranath. They're talking like they're an old friends, aren't they?

Correction: i only read the manhwa and not the novel, so i wasn't sure what state Lucas was in when he was 'asleep'. I just made this up, and as you know, it was a non-canon situation.

By the way, it has been a long time since i last read wmmap, so i don't think i can grasp their personality correctly. Please don't mind it..