Seeking Answers (3)

The castle of Selvenia was peaceful today too. It had been a week since the Wave, and albeit with their own traumas and a few loose screws in the head, a lot of people managed to survive.

However. . .

"The Wave still isn't over?!" Margilus stood as he listened to one of the knight's report. He clenched his fist as grief overcame him, as he muttered, "then what reason did my son die for. . ."

He then turned towards the knight, "You," he called out, "what is your name?"

"Aerym, Your Majesty!"

"Then Aerym," he spoke, "where did you learn this information?"

"From the man named Lancell, Your majesty."

Aerym who spoke so, had cold sweat streaking along her cheeks as she confessed. She knew how much the king hated Lancell, as she was aware just how much the king doted on the crown prince.

And just as she expected, the king frowned, "Oh?" he then went silent for a while, then spoke, "I see. You may take your leave."

And so, Aerym left without hesitation.

A short while later, someone approached Margilus, "Shall we interrogate her?"

Margilus did not take offense to the casual behaviour, as he shook his head.

"No," he declined, "we cannot oppose the devil. We nowhere near strong enough."

"But with the—"

"Not yet," Margilus cut off in cold tone, "there is time for it, and it is not now."

◇ ◇ ◇

Waking up, Lancell opened his eyes as he then sat up, and made a small yawn.

However, his yawn was unlike usual as he didn't opened his mouth, so perhaps it could only be considered as stretching?

Nonetheless, that mild action was more than enough to wake Lancell up as his mind quickly sobered, and he then stood and changed onto a new set of clothes.

"Good morning, Lancelot," Arkenvalle greeted as she materialized in her human form as she sat in his bed, "Carlos finished what you asked for."

Lancell's brows perked, "Oh?" he looked towards Arkenvalle, "how does it look?"

"Black, and Red. Just as you requested," Arkenvalle spoke, but a bit of teasing was transmitted into their connection, "your favourite colours."

Lancell averted his gaze from her, as he made an excuse, "It's the colour of blood and darkness after all. My best friends."

"That just makes it worse." Arkenvalle giggled.

Lancell just went silent, but he could feel his face heat up. He then cleared his throat, "In any case, let's just go, shall we?"

Arkenvalle nodded, and then disappeared into countless particles.

With a smile that vanished soon after, Lancell walked out of the room.

◇ ◇ ◇

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Three loud knocks that seemed closer to banging resounded in Carlos' door to the workshop, snapping him out of his long awaited sleep.

'Alright, which son of a bitch is it this time?!'

With a fuming expression, he headed to the doors as he flexed his fists. Determined to punch the shit of whoever it was.

"Yea. . . I'mma then feed em' shit to their throat tah show em'."

He then opened the door and threw a punch without even discerning who it was, and paid a dear price for his idiocy.

The fist he threw out suddenly stopped as it was caught by a palm, and a sudden mind blowing pain in his crotch made him blank out for an instant.

"Aaagh...." he groaned in pain and suffering as he held his family jewels, and fell down to the floor.

He rolled around for a while, until he finally settled down.

"Finally sobered up?" Lancell asked as he saw that Carlos had stopped squirming.

Carlos weakly stood as his pale face paled even further when he heard Lancell's voice, "L-Lancell," he stuttered, "y-you' back eh?"

"Yeah, and I'm here for those things I ordered."

"Ugh..." Carlos groaned, "how'd ya know it's done? You a ghost or somethin'?"

Lancell shrugged, "Just get those already."

Carlos seemed hesitant, "Err... bout' the price..."

Lancell raised a brow, "You need money?" he asked, "in this kind of times?"

"No, not that," Carlos shook his head, "I want'em materials. The leftover."

"There are leftovers?" Lancell was surprised, but nodded, "alright. You can have those."

Carlos grinned ear to ear as he then walked inside a room in his workshop in good mood. When he left, he was bringing with him a black coat with red outlines, and a black sheath with white linings and thorn like carvings.

"Here ya go!" he handed the items over, "am' curious but, who's gonna use those?"

Lancell only gave him a sideward glance, as he materialized Arkenvalle and placed her sword form inside the sheath.

He then wore the black coat as he walked to the direction of the door, but before he left, he said, "Me obviously."

He also snatched a sword carriage by the table beside the door before he went.

Carlos was speechless.

◇ ◇ ◇

The moment he went outside, Lancell had a near indistinguishable smile on his face, as he communicated with Arkenvalle.

(How is it Valle? The sheath.)

(Hm...) Arkenvalle pondered, (It's pretty comfortable, but not as warm as it is inside you.)

(I see. Sorry about this) Lancell apologized, (but I can't waste the boost that your sword form gives.)

(It's fine. I don't mind. It's rather refreshing this way. I feel like I can also perceive things a bit easier.)

Lancell only smiled inwardly as he didn't speak further. He continued on walking as he walked along the castle grounds with familiar movements. Now that Arkenvalle was here to help him navigate, he didn't need to worry about getting lost.

The two of them continued on, until they finally found a person that Lancell was looking for.

(Is this really fine?) Arkenvalle asked, (you might've killed her brother after all.)

(It should be fine. After all, I remember her calling her brother an absolute douchebag in the past timeline.)

(I'm worried, Lancelot.) Arkenvalle conveyed, (There are too much things I can't see in the throne room.)

(Even so, I have to do this.) Lancell said firmly, (I can't risk being betrayed now. Not this early.)

And so, Lancell continued on, in order to try to nip the budding seed of betrayal.