Arch Duke’s Invitation

Arch Duke Devlorchy:- Then, how about you guys stay in my place until then? I mean, it will take you guys a lot of time to pass the duchy. Since the Arch-Duchy is quite big and the capital is totally on the opposite side. It will take less days and you all have a lot of time to spare for your training if you come with me.

Nora:- To your place? But won't it be inconvenient for you to let us stay there for such a long time?

Arch Duke Devlorchy:- Of course not. It's fine. I don't have any family members, so my place is always empty. It would be better to have some people in there. And my castle is big and wealthy enough to have some guests for a month. (He replied with a smile.)

Zen:- If you say so. 

Then they boarded the carriage together.

Arch Duke Devlorchy:- Let me introduce myself officially. I am the Arch Duke of the Devlorchy Arch Duchy, Caspian Nightwing.

Nora:- I am Nora Floid.

Lucas:- I'm Lucas Averill

Zen:- I'm Zen Paxton.

Caspian:- Paxton? This surname sounds like I heard it before. Were any of your relatives in the Imperial knight? (he raised his left eyebrow.)

Zen:- Yeah! My father. My father was an Imperial knight. 

Caspian:-(He suddenly remembers something and stops further questioning) I see. Anyways, let's go back to the spiritual power topic. A person who owns more than one spiritual power is called Moon Knight. There are only a few Moon knights. The spiritual power normally chooses only a certain person for the certain power but sometimes they choose other persons who can wield other powers too. Some Moon knights wielded about 6 powers. There are 12 spiritual powers in nature.

Caspian:- But a person rises after every 500 years who can wield all of the spiritual powers, when monsters start to creep in the continent from nowhere. Those persons are called "Sacred Moon Knight". The moment I saw that you use more than one spiritual power, I understood that you are a Moon Knight. Also the spiro had a good help for guessing it.

Zen:- I see. Then can you tell us what these stones are? (He showed him the spiritual stones.)

Lucas:- And what is Spiro?

Caspian:- These stones, where did you guys find it?

Nora:- We got it from the duke of Trobotdom Duchy. He said he also got it from an old woman. 

Caspian:- (As he heard it he realized there was a mystery there.) I see. These stones are actually spiritual stones. You see, there are 12 stone's place in there, it represents the 12 spiritual powers. These stones are actually mysterious. They choose their owners when they get in close range with their specific spiritual warriors. These stones have the power to enhance their owners power and can heal a fatal wound once. After their owner dies, they also disappear. There are more stones other than these for Moon Knight and Sacred Moon Knight. But finding them is the hardest thing. 

Lucas:- Woh, These stones were actually this important? Damn. Is that the reason that the stones didn't react to Zen?

Caspian:- Yes. These stones only react to spiritual warriors. It's already been 500 years since the Sacred Moon Knight appeared. We are expecting a Sacred Moon Knight to show up soon since we got news that in some places monsters are reappearing. 

Zen:- Oh yeah, we also encountered a lot of monsters on our way. The Trobotdom Duchy was invaded by those monsters recently. 

Caspian:- Oh? I heard that too. I heard a rumor too that three spiritual warriors helped them. Was that three people, you guys?

Nora:- Indeed. Rumors spread quickly. Do you know what kind of monsters they were, your grace?

Caspian:- They are called Emberbeasts. A circle of bad vampires manages them. The Imperial family are trying to find out more about them but that's all we know right now.

Zen:- Vampires? They were actually vampires? But they were using sorcery. (He looked toward Lucas and Nora in confusion.)

Caspian:- Really? We are sure that they are vampires. But it's new news. I will make sure to report it to her highness and investigate it further. And as for the Spiro, Spiro is a tattoo which appears in the user's body when they awaken their spiritual powers. It directs their power. Such as nature spiritual warrior gets nature symbol, air spiritual warrior gets air symbol.

Zen:- Then what about me? Why is my spiro a dagger but not a normal spiro like the others? 

Caspian:- As for moon knights, it depends on their total amount of power and personality. Each moon knight gets different symbols. While all the same spiritual warriors get the same symbol from the very beginning. 

Their conversation gets interrupted as the coachman stops the carriage and calls them out. 

Coachmen:- Your grace, we have arrived at the Devlorchy Castle. 

Caspian:- Looks like we have reached. Let's go inside. 

They got down from the carriage. It was already evening. They went inside. It was indeed a castle. It was vast, the main decoration was black and white themed. It was decorated with various types of flowers like Wolfsbane, Begonias and with expensive furniture. As they entered from the entrance a few staff members stood there with a bow and a young man around the Duke's age approached us.

Mika:- Welcome back, your grace. What took you that long? I was worried about you. You don't usually take much time out while being on a visit around the border. ( A gentleman in his twenties stood at the entrance with a concerned look in his eyes while speaking to him.)

Caspian:- Ah. A little problem appeared while returning. That doesn't matter. We got some special guests. One of them is a Moon Knight and two spiritual warriors. (He replied while passing his coat to him.)

Valda:- (She suddenly came out from Lucas's pocket.) And a spirit too!

To Be Continued

**Khadiza Jahan**