The Princess And The Lord

It's been a week since Arthea started distancing herself from Cavio, lately, for some reason, she has become quieter not only that for these few days her sleeping hours increasing day by day she almost doesn't have time to take care of Demian anymore she must ask Merry the cook to taking care of Demian. Cavio knew his sister was hiding a big secret from him but every time he tried to ask Arthea became defensive therefore he can only give in at the same time, Cavio's worries grew bigger and bigger by the day.

Actually, his worry for his sister had existed since Arthea asked for the power to predict the future, Cavio knew she was asking for that power to protect him because why should you fight if you can avoid it.

However, Cavio realized that this power was not given for free he knew there was a price he had to pay though he didn't know what it would be.

Hence Cavio's worries grew, even more, when Arthea's new power awakened, the power to create illusions with her mind and make the illusion become real.

At first, Arthea could only make an illusion real only for a few minutes then later on it become half an hour soon it became an hour however this power drained Arthea's mana to the point that almost killed her. Knowing how dangerous this power was, Cavio reprimanded her sister not to use her power if not urgent.

Albeit,  deep down Cavio actually scared for his little sister well being because more than anyone he knew there's a great temptation in every great power, the temptation to abuse the power for personal gain.

There is a fine line between you using the power or the power is the one that uses you. Hopefully, the latter would never happen to his sister, he could only hope. but before his worries subside Cavio now had to face Arthea's sudden change.

Cavio looked towards his house a few moments later saw Demian giggling, when he turned towards the source of the voice he saw Demian in the baby seat playing with a bunch of toddler boys between the ages of two or three, they were children from the last group that come to their village though the group is small however, they were quite a powerful Gifted people needless to say they will become a great addition to their village strength.

However, what made Cavio even happier was that as Arthea had predicted, the toddlers of the group liked Demian as soon as they saw him and became very close to Demian, so it would not be surprising for them to become close to Demian in the future.

Watching them playing Cavio smiled faintly he was relieved that at least he didn't have to worry about Demian, but Arthea…

Inside the bedroom that looked simple yet very neat and comfortable, Arthea was in deep sleep without a sound coming out of her other than the faint sounds of her breaths as her chest moved up and down in a monotonous rhythm, she looked like an animal in hibernating after sleeping for ten hours but her eyeballs behind his eyelids suddenly moved erratically indicating that something was happening in her dream.

Once again she was faced with cavio lifeless body all of a sudden her whole body was froze she unable to move as if her feet has nailed to the ground, Arthea forced herself to close her eyes she begin to chant inside her head 'It's not real - it's not real - it's not real'

As soon as Arthea opened her eyes she then knelt beside Cavio then slowly raised her hands over Cavio's body then she took a deep breath as soon as Cavio's body was enveloped by a purple light but then the light burst into a brilliant light after soon after Cavio's body disappeared into thousands of lights like thousand of fireflies scatter in darkness.

"Show me" Arthea whispered and her eyes shine a dim purple light.

The lights gathered and then flew in the same direction soon Arthea followed the little lights to the cross road and each road created more paths just like a tree branch it grew in every direction on and on without ends, Arthea saw the future and the past alternating in each of those paths, she saw her young self with Cavio, then she saw herself and the grown Cavio, as well as the villagers.

Arthea then saw a large white bird with white wings with a long golden tail, the bird flew gracefully with its large wings and split the clouds smoothly into the blue sky then the bird made a loud deafening squawk, Arthea wrinkled her forehead seeing the figure of a woman on the bird's back but unfortunately, it's only for a second it is not clear who is riding on the big beautiful bird.

Arthea shook her head and continued walking following the cluster of lights, but her steps suddenly stopped, Arthea saw the sky turning pitch black and corpses were strewn everywhere and their blood turning the ground dark red.

Arthea gasped at the horrific sight in front of her, then she saw Cavio on his knee with his shoulders drooping limply at his side and his body covered with deep wounds with blood pouring from his wounds.

"Cavi!" Arthea shouted.

Cavio with difficulty raised his head and their eyes locked at each other, the corner of Cavio's lips curled into a sad smile.

"Let it go..." he said weakly.

"No, Cavi! CAVI!" Arthea rushed toward Cavio she no longer cared if it was real or an illusion she just wanted to hug her one and only brother who always there to protected her since she was a child.

"I will save you, Cavi! Don't go!" Arthea cried to the top of her lungs while chasing after cavio with all she got but somehow he was getting farther and farther away from her reach, Arthea was getting desperate but she didn't stop chasing Cavio's shadow.

'Do not go!' a beautiful woman with blonde hair suddenly appeared out of nowhere, her large blue eyes filled with distress and worry then she moved her lips as if she was talking but Arthea couldn't hear what she was saying so she ignored the strange woman that she thought part of her forgotten memory.

Arthea didn't have time to find out who the woman was because all her attention was focused on Cavio's figure who kept moving away from her, Arthea had a feeling that if he lost Cavio he would really lose Cavio for real and the fear of losing her beloved brother like a sandstorm that swallows all her hope and strength, there's no way she'd let her brother die?!

Cavio's figure was suddenly swallowed up by the black mist causing Arthea to panic, she jumped towards Cavio but he missed then she fell and rolled like a rolling ball on the ground only a while later she finally stopped with her face kissing the ground.

suddenly someone called her, "Who are you?"

Arthea was stunned then raised her head in reflex then stare at the figure of a small child with long, jet-black hair like ebony, and cold dark eyes that remind her of the depth of the abyss but strangely there was a faint golden light around his eyes, meanwhile the boy bloody red lips pouted tightly it makes his lips even more contrast against his pale white skin.

Arthea was bewildered for a long time before she eventually raised her body from the ground then she looked at the boy who looked not more than ten or twelve years old but what surprised Arthea was that the boy's countenance is not like anyone she has ever seen in her world obviously he is coming from a different race she never knew existed before.

"Who are you?" Arthea was surprised this was the first time she had seen someone who had consciousness in her dream like he wasn't part of the dream at all, which is very weird.

The boy frowned in annoyance and complain angrily, "Hey, I asked first!"

Even though Arthea was still unable to comprehend the situation she still kindly answered the boy's question "Oh..oh, I...my name is  Charteanna"

"Cha...Charti...what kinda name is that, it's so hard!" the boy grumbled.

The boy's innocence relieved her tension quite a lot, gradually her head became clear again "Just call me Thea" Arthea said with a gentle smile.

Arthea's smile make the boy blush though only for a second "Thea?" the boy tilted his head while whispering Arthea's name  a few times later a satisfied smile appeared on his face for the first time "I like it!"

Arthea thought the boy was harmless therefore she became more relaxed "What's your name boy?" Arthea ask curiously, she actually really wanted to know where the boy came from and how he was able to enter her dream.

"I'm not a boy!" he quickly rebuked.

"Oh...sorry," Arthea's brows raise as she pretended to be surprised she thought the boy was quite cute "Then.. what's your name mister?" Arthea deliberately put on a serious face to tease the boy.

But the boy didn't know instead he look satisfied, then he lifted his chin proudly and said: "I don't have a name!"

"...." Arthea mouth twitch slightly.

Seeing Arthea's reaction the boy felt embarrassed, it was a strange feeling he had never felt before, nor did he know he couldn't feel this way, especially to a stranger he had just met, something tugging at the strings within his heart made his heart flutter immediately the boy turned around pretending to clear his throat then replied in a childish voice. "But.. my brother used to call me Zian, which means peace"