The Princess And The Lord

"Zian's?" Arthea didn't notice the significant change in Zian's mood even if she did Arthea wouldn't have guessed how dangerous Zian's thoughts were.

Zian turned his gaze to Arthea and smiled kindly as usual, "There might be a way... but it won't be cheap" his eyes lit up as he spoke.

"Of course, I promise I'll pay whatever it costs, right" Arthea replied without hesitation.

A mischievous smile played around the edges of his mouth "Fine, but I'm just asking for a down payment first, what do you think?"

"Okay, what do you want?" she asked.

Zian pinched his chin pretending to think then he looked at Arthea playfully. "How about...give me a name?"

"A name?" Arthea frowned "But, you already have a name?"

"I want a new name, I don't think 'Zian' suits my new look" Zian spread his arms showing off his mature appearance proudly.

Arthea's bright eyes scanned Zian's appearance she felt there was nothing wrong with the name 'Zian' but seeing Zian's expectant look she could only give in.

"Well then..." Arthea tilt her head while pondering for quite some time before her eyes returned to Zian "Then...what about Lazarus? it means Gift from God"

"Gift from God?" His forehead creased in dissatisfaction.

"Yeah, at least for me" Arthea replied sincerely "Because without you I don't know how to deal with all of this on my own"

"A gift...for you?" he was taken aback for a second then his expression gradually came to his senses and a wide grin spread across his face, "I accept it, from now on my name will be Lazarus!" he laughed happily.

Actually, he wanted something that connected them apart from each other benefit, something more concrete it was then he remembered that his brother said to him that in his world people only gave names to things they found love and valuable so asking Arthea to provide him with a name will make him feel more important in her heart wether if it's true or not.

"Since you did a good job, I will help you now!" Lazarus held Arthea's hand then he dragged her along with him.

"Zi…!"

Lazarus gave him a rebuking look making Arthea quickly correct herself "La..zarus, where are you taking me?"

Hearing her call out the name she had given to him made his heart itch as if a feather scratched his heart if only Lazarus had seen his own expression by now he might not recognizes himself.

"Don't worry, I take you to a place that can solve your problem!" Lazarus led Arthea up the spiral staircase and for a long time they climbed for a long time luckily before Arthea was out of her breath, they stopped at one of the doors. Aretha stared at the door with looks full of hope and worry mixed together, and she subconsciously clenched her fists tightly.

"Don't be afraid" Lazarus chuckled then stroked her head which made Arthea pout as she felt Lazarus was treating her like a child but later she understood what Lazarus had been complaining about all this time.

Lazarus was amused by her adorable angry face it was always good on the winning side but he didn't tease her further, Lazarus then pushed open the door slowly later on they both entered but there was nothing there other than a giant floating crystal shrouded in white light that illuminating the dark space.

"What is this place?" Arthea didn't think this place was like any world she had visited.

Lazarus shrugged indifferently then scoffed "just another failed world that the gods created"

"So why are you taking me here?" she was confused.

"Therefore" Lazarus pointed at the gigantic crystal floating 13 feet above the ground "long ago a god created a normal world in this place was actually one of the most advanced civilizations compared to other worlds but then the humans living in this place became dissatisfied even though they get everything more than they need yet they still want more" Lazarus sneer thinking how insatiable human greed was.

"With the knowledge bestowed by the God who created them, they end up creating an object that can fulfill all their wildest desires just by focusing their minds on it, of course, not everyone has the ability to do so, only a few are blessed or perhaps cursed by that ability"

"How rare are they?" Arthea could tell it wouldn't end well for them.

"One in every hundred million people in it get lesser by time..." Lazarus said with a cold expression.

This world is actually one of his favorites and for a long time he has liked to see how far humans can push their knowledge to the limit to be able to change the face of the world itself, unfortunately, they are spoiled by comfortable living around them and for some reason the gods continue to grant them whatever they desire even the craziest wish, like this crystal.

"They abuse power don't they?" Arthea remembered how her sister always reminded her not to be carried away by the power they had and gods never gave something for free one way or another they had to pay for what the gods had given them even though they didn't know how, when or how much but knew for certain whatever we take eventually will come due.

"They are…" Lazarus had witnessed how the end of this world with a slight pity, but he could not interfere with the destiny that had been drawn for that world.

"The last person they tortured for this power was the one who destroyed this world by wishing for nothing" his face looked happy seeing Arthea's surprise.

"That's what makes humans special compared to other creatures, they were created on this earth, some are destined to lead the world, some are destined to protect it, but there is one special person who is destined to be the destroyer of the world, and in my opinion, that person only fulfills destiny ordained by the gods"

Arthea don't want to believe it, even though she knew there really were some things that couldn't be changed after all she was a Seeress but deep down she wanted to believe that every human being is given the choice to change his destiny if not she wouldn't be here, but of course, she realizes there is a price to be paid, though sometimes the price will be too high to pay, therefore, in the end, it all depends on the person whether they ready to pay it or not.

"So, what should I do with this?" she turns the conversation back to the beginning.

"Don't you say your brother died so why don't you create your brother's copy to replace him?"

"But you said it has to have the same value how could…" Arthea ask.

"Your blood, the Lucient blood" Lazarus squint his eyes "used your blood to create a doll to replace your brother"

"Could….could it work?" she was uncertain.

Lazarus shrug nonchalantly "You don't know if you don't try, and if you failed…"

"I will replace my brother, myself" Arthea firmly said.

"I will not let you!" Lazarus cut her off, one can see the warning in his gaze.

Arthea pressed her lips into a thin line, she knew she had angered the temperamental boy, oh wait! a temperamental man.

"You said very few people are able to use this crystal so what makes you think I can use the crystal "

"Because of your new power," he pointed his index finger at Arthea "Your new awaken power is used to called 'Illusionary reality' which means the ability to make illusions become reality for a moment, however, with the help from this crystal your power will expand even further..."

"How far?" Arthea's heart pounded.

"In this world, that power was called 'coalescence' it's a power that mimics gods' ability to create objects out of nothingness"

Arthea paused her eyes bulged widely as she stood without moving or blinking while trying to process what she had just been told. it will be different.

Lazarus was confused by the anxiety on Arthea's face. He thought Arthea would leap with joy but why did she look restless instead?

Lazarus leaned his head forward, "What are you afraid of?" he whispered.

Arthea was startled that Lazarus' face was too close, she reflexively pushed Lazarus' face away from her face while saying "It's okay, I just feel uneasy..."

Lazarus didn't mind arthea pushing his face instead he was elated to feel the soft touch on his face, subconsciously his tone became gentler "Uneasy? why?"

But Arthea didn't realize the change in his voice as she was still immersed in her thought, arthea then shake her head and say: "Using this much power for selfish gain didn't feel right to me," she lower her head dejectedly, Arthea worried about the consequences of using this much power.

Lazarus snorted loudly "What are you worried about, if the gods don't want us to use this power they must stop us from using this power but look...where are they now?" Lazarus spread his arms and sneer "The same as they shouldn't let humans make these crystals but the gods don't care, they are not as wise or clever as you think" Lazarus mocked god freely without hiding his resentment besides that this is not the first time he mocked god and whatever he said god never reprimanded him so what is he afraid of.

"Besides... if you don't take this opportunity then your brother's fate will be unavoidable... can you accept it?" Lazarus' eyes lit up he knew Arthea would not let her brother die no matter what, ironically the thing he hated the most was the only way for Arthea to fulfill his wish only by making Arthea owe him Lazarus had a reason to make Arthea fulfill her promise.

Arthea didn't pay attention to the obsession in Lazarus' eyes maybe because she never found out clearly what kind of character Lazarus was or maybe she felt pity after hearing how Lazarus's family sacrificed him to live in this place alone in exchange for power, she feels bad how Lazarus got separated from his only brother and in the end he watches his brother die without being able to do anything furthermore she's just too happy to have someone to share all of his worries without fear of upsetting, scaring, or worrying him.

Arthea also never had a close relationship with anyone except her brother so she didn't understand how selfish love could be, how deep someone's obsession was, and how destructive it could be, her sentimental feeling makes her overlook Lazarus's strange attachment toward her and that's why one day she would learn it the hard way.