Just a Dream?

The voices of the Southern birds had entered his chamber. However, that wasn't the only thing forcing him to wake up.

Suddenly, a sound of a large scale footsteps moving in the same rhythm were heard outside the Garden. The Prince, actually after having a nightmare and was able to sleep peacefully thanks to Lucas, is not very happy about this.

It's just really lucky that today is the day where the sound decreasing magic device is having some problems.

Ranath hardly and heavily opened his eyes. The sun had risen up high, and the window is already open. A familiar voice he always hear in the morning entered his ear."Good morning, Your Highness." Tear had been prepared since dawn. It was also her job to clean up the Prince chamber.

However, Ranath noticed that someone is missing. Lucas had disappeared! he had instinctively reached out his hands to search for the very person, but when he finally realizes Lucas is no longer next to him, he raised his body back up in surprise.

Still half-asleep, he rubbed his eyes and drifted his head towards Tear whose waiting next to his bed with a bowl of water.

"Tear, do you see Lucas this morning? uh.. the magician with black long hair who become my playmate just yesterday? he slept next to me this night." Ranath used this chance to ask Tear about where Lucas might gone to.

Upon listening to his question, Tear is fairly surprised. Both because of the fact Lucas is sleeping with Ranath, and the other is that she didn't see him even though she'd been here since dawn.

"..No, Your Highness. I didn't see him anywhere, but i can ask the servants if maybe they saw him somewhere." Tear suggested. She also suddenly have a thought that Lucas probably sneaked out before she came in.

By 'servants', she actually mean the supervisor. At night though, the supervisor doesn't hide inside the Prince chamber. They wandered around the Palace, going in shift each time. So it's likely the chance they saw Lucas when guarding.

The surveillance here is divided by two parts. There's the morning supervisor, and the night supervisor. There's only three teams for morning, but there are five teams for night.

Ranath doesn't feel really stressed out about Lucas disappearance, but he can't help but felt like being ghosted by a lover after a night."..Sigh.." seriously that guy..

He exhaled deeply before taking a moment to get fully awake. With a last yawn, he replied to Tear suggestion. "No, there is no need for that. He probably just went out searching for food." Ranath tossed away the blanket covering him on this cold night and hopped down the bed.

Tear didn't mind it and nodded. "If that's what you wished for."

After washing his face with the water from the bowl Tear had served previously, Ranath subconciously went towards his favorite window seat spot.

In actuality, he's just curious what are all those loud commotion going on about. He raised his eyebrows when he saw the Royal Knights actually did gathered on his Garden.

The Garden have always been the view whenever he sat on the window seat, and it's placed right below his room. For your information, Ranath chamber is on the third floor of the Palace.

"Tear, what are all those knights for?" Ranath asked although he already have clear ideas on why the Royal Knights are here. He just wanted to confirm something as additionals.

Tear had already been moving. She got a servant to take the water bowl, and some more to prepare for Ranath's bath. When Ranath states a question for the commotion, she suddenly felt guilty."Apparently there's quite a large scale chaos going on the Capital right now. Apologies Your Highness, but i'm not allowed to tell the details. All i can say is that some evidence are found from here."

She took a deep breath and, "I'm also deeply disappointed in myself to let the magic device facing such.. trouble. We heavily apologize for the inconvenience Your Highness."

Ranath doesn't really mind it in any case. He sighed and waved his hand, shrugging the unnecessary apology. "It's fine. Magic device isn't always omnipotent."

"But to think we've failed you as Palace maids.." She can't shrugged this failures just like the Prince does, as it actually meant alot.

"I say it didn't i? it's okay. I'm not troubled too much. Next time just make sure everything is in order, and do a daily check on the magic devices." Ranath doesn't feel burdened nor did he find it bothersome. Infact, he could fix the device right here right now if he wanted. And even if he didn't do anything, the Palace workers would have fixed it within a hour.

Tear finally felt a bit more reassured as the Prince tried to relieve her down. "..You're truly humble, Your Highness."

Ranath almost laughed out when he heard that. But just as when he's about to reply to her question, someone suddenly opened the door casually. He drifted his gaze and unsurprisingly saw that it was actually Lucas.

"You're here. Where have you gone to?" Ranath raised his eyebrows as he picked a question curiously, before spotting a plate with cookies on Lucas arms as he munched the one in his mouth.

Lucas paused briefly to answer Ranath, "I'm searching for food, but i accidently ended up falling asleep there instead." he answered truthfully.

"By there, you mean the kitchen? how come no one find you.." if it's kitchen, when the servants went in they should've found Lucas. But no one even bothered to inform him about it, meaning they didn't spot Lucas anywhere.

After eating down the cookies in his mouth, Lucas finally managed to speak with a sly smile plastered on his puffy face. "Well i've put on some magic spell subconciously. I gave up since i'm already sleepy, but managed to cast a spell so one won't bother with me sleeping there."

The corner of Ranath's lips twitched as he shook his head as if it's just Lucas normal behavior.

However, since Ranath is curious about something, he send Tear out from his room after he took a bath and blocked the remaining surveillance using some spells.

Lucas walked towards one of the seat near the place Ranath is standing at while still holding on his plate of cookies."I suppose you don't use teleportation magic because it's too risky?" Ranath added as he kept his gaze to the visionary outside. He's staring at the people gathering on his garden, and also saw his Father leading the subsequent investigation.

Lucas casually raised one of his legs above the other. "Yep. I just restore my magic yesterday so it's quite difficult to control the scale. I might accidently explode the entire Palace if i used the teleportation magic."

Teleportation magic, in any sense, a high-level magic spell that allows you to jump from one place to another. However, in this current era, only those known as 'Magic Teleportation Circle' exist. Individual Teleport magic is strictly forbidden of usage, whatsover, it's too dangerous.

Lucas should've been able to control it perfectly, but with his slow recovery, the impact is greater. By any means, Lucas is higher in terms of any magician ranks.

"Well then that's that. You must've analyzed the cause of today commotion since it's too obvious for us who's sensitive with mana.." Ranath narrowed his eyes slowly.

"Yeah, someone used some ugly disgusting mana. It has been there since a few days ago, aren't it? i also have found the caster quite easily." Lucas, as the other side for the conversation, slowly explained.

Ranath exhaled painstakingly. "Seems like it only gotten worse. I thought Father were able to clear it by himself. I didn't interfere since it's too.." "Cursed. Right?" just before Ranath completed his sentence, Lucas added the last part based on his guess.

Ranath nodded, indicating that Lucas is right. "Let's see.." he blinked once. "After imbuing the mana on that plant, its very original purpose is obviously to infect me. However, the Palace barrier is too strong at that time. Therefore, the supposedly mana that should've weave towards me, ended up getting pushed away." Ranath paused for a moment and closed his eyes.

"The disgusting mana particle gets waved away, but it doesn't disappear. Instead, the particle got washed throughout the Capital and ended up infecting the citizens. It becomes the recent diseases. That's more or less the chaos that happened currently."

After eating the last piece, Lucas put down the plate and stood up with a grin formed. "The caster, upon realizing he had failed, ran away. Eventually, he's only a sacrifice. When 'that organization' knew he failed, they'll most likely send pursuers to eliminate him. There's also the Royal Knights who'll search for him once they solved the case." he unbotheredly added.

The corner of Ranath's lips curved up in amusement. "Before any of the two faction catch the caster, we must catch him first. He's a crucial key that would lead us to that.. Quill." there's a dangerous intent on his lingering gaze.

Lucas smiled widely as his eyes also turns into a smile. "That very guy we're talking about is now lurking in a gangway on the Capital." he rolls his index fingers on the air as it slowly emitted light particles.

Lucas spawned two sets of hood and tossed one of them at Ranath. He had already wore his sets and lifted up the hood. "Time to go for an expedition then?"

Just as Lucas say that, Ranath had also finished wearing his part. "Have you taken a bath though?" he subconciously asked.

Lucas smirked. "Why of course. Cleaning magic is convenient at times like this." he replied confidently.

Hearing his response, Ranath suddenly freezed into a stone. "Oh right.. i've forgotten that spell exist.." he muttered. Lucas also turned bewildered when he heard Ranath truthful confession.

"Pfft. Hey, we used that everytime we're in midst of longterm battle without a break.. how come did you forget? did this leisure life had gotten into you?" Lucas teasingly said, almost laughing out loud.

Ranath sighed in defeat. "Maybe.."

***

It took quite a while for the preparations and for them to escape from the Palace. Especially when there's so many Royal Knights around, and Claude. Surely, he might detect something if they get out recklessly.

Ranath casted an illusion spell like he did previously when he get out from the Palace to pick up Lucas. They both also chanted a spell to distinguish their presence. What's more, Claude had spread his soldiers around the Palace to search for the suspect since they've confirmed the authenticity of the evidence provided.

Jenas and Felix is also there with them. Seemingly got private order from Claude.

However, aside all those commotion, the two 'children' managed to escape their surveillance and went to the Capital quite easily.

Since Lucas had regained back his power completely, they can now do something more within their wishes without getting caught.

Right now, they both were hiding somewhere inside a gang with both being covered by the long clothes.

Ranath raised his head. His vision going through the wall and directed towards the two people at the other side of the gang. He slowly narrowed his eyes as if realizing something."Lucas.." he silently called.

"Mhm. The River of Fate is frantically calling us.. i couldn't make out what does it whispers." Lucas nodded. Inside the hood, he had furrowed his eyebrows.

The River of Fate.As it called, it is where every beings fate lies. Ranath and Lucas is quite the special occasion. They can peek into the River of Fate thanks to GOL permission, except they can't see their own and people they get in touch fate. The River actually have some kind of unique consciousness. And since Ranath and Lucas often peek into its place, it slowly become intrigued. At the end, something unexpected happened.. is where they actually managed to befriended it somehow.

It then helped them such as whispering things related to their current situation. But the thing is, sometimes, they couldn't hear it clearly. And wow, how lucky that it has to be today. Lucas sarcastically said in his mind.

Lucas, as annoyed as he is, cursed GOL in his mind. Letting out every possible harsh words he got at the very God.

However, before they could react, an invicible hand goes through the wall and caught Ranath by his mouth. They failed to react to the sudden attack thanks to the River suddenly distorting their minds with a large number of words. Just at the right time.

Ranath was about to use his magic, his mouth getting covered with a strong smelly cloth that's pressed by the passing hand. Lucas also quickly composed himself and was going to cast a spell before suddenly..

'Go.'the word reverb inside both of their minds. The familiar voice whose meant to be followed, the previous voice whose panicking, having a trouble. It is the voice of the River.

‘ No matter what you seen nor what you did, always listen to the voice of the River. ’ A phrase from long ago that were passed down from the ancient history showed up in their mind.

At first, they obviously doubted the voice of the River, saying he should 'go'. In this situation, 'go' only means to go along with the current destiny. Go along with the person attempting to kidnap him.

After recalling that phrase, Ranath's expression softened. He raised his gaze and met Lucas stunned ones. He squinted his eyes and managed to transfer his thought.'Follow the voice. Hunt the caster down and track me after.' it was his last words, before the Prince were dragged away, vanishing through the wall with the invisible hands.

Lucas stand there, and deliberately withdrawed his magic chant. Different from Ranath, he's still full of hesitation despite recalling the Ancient phrase. However, he eventually gave up since Ranath said so.

It was only a matter of time before Lucas went to destroy the Capital.

—

I was originally planning to make two parts about this chapter.. but i just thought it'll be unnecessary since the second part is quite short.

Anyway, here's your second meal, and i hope you can keep up further with the undiscovered plot! i always do sarcasm irl so i kinda brought the habit along.. and oh uh i'm not native eng so naturally i don't really know how to do sarcasm in english.

And like i just said in previous chapter, this chapter will also contain a funfact. So here's today fact![ Funfact: Ranath is older than Lucas interms of real age. ]

Reminder, all those aspects are just the one i made up. It's not canon in the manhwa nor the novel, so don't take it too seriously.

I'm not sure what else to say, and since we'll immediately met next chapter.. so yeah! Otsu!