The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 13 - Hyperion's former messenger

A BEAUTIFUL place opened to Weng when Kairo bring her to Kew Palace with the others. The British King George III owned that palace in the 18th century. The time when she was with Kairo today. She could not believe she could step on the ancient court built during this time.

The king's staff welcomed their group and immediately took care of them. According to one of those who took care of them as a Duke, the King was not there because he had an important meeting in the neighboring town.

"Welcome to Britain, Mr. Kairo Middlestone. I will take care of you here since the presence of King  George is not around," said Duke Mauro.

"Thank you. I am glad that my letter reached the King," Kairo replied.

"Hernon is already waiting for you in a room." It caught a glimpse of her. "But these two beautiful young ladies cannot come with you."

"They can't be with us inside? Why?" Kristoff asked.

"I'm sorry, but women like them will stay in other rooms as the palace rules,” the Duke said to them.

She glanced at Kairo, who was already staring at her, then he said, "I'm fine. You just went inside." Fortunately, she understood what Duke spoke. It spoke in her known language.

"We'll take them to the safe room. Ah... Peter!" He called a soldier near to them. "Take these ladies to the guest room we prepared earlier."

Peter nodded to Duke and turned to them. “Come with me, young ladies." The soldier conveys them to the safe room.

She again glanced at Kairo, who then nodded slightly to her as a safe sign. Later, Thiara and her went inside. She also looked back in the young men's direction, but it was far from them went to the other room.

"Why am I not in their group? Then I have another ⸻I look like the babysitter now!" Thiara complained.

"If you don't want to be with me, you can tell that soldier rather than complain and mumbled." Since last night, she has decided that she will be brave every time the angry warrior woman says something terrible.

"You know how to answer like that, huh. Well, maybe it's better to be with you than you will be with the men," the woman still ill-tempered.

She shook her head once. Oh, what if I was with them? Is she jealous of me because Hander still protected me? Whatever!

The two of them finally entered a quiet and elegant room. A room that only the ancient people there witnessed its beautiful structure. Once again, a sudden look of amusement appeared on her face as she rolled her eyes around. She approached a wall with a European architectural design back then. The soldier who took them also left the room after.

As she caressed the design of a wall with hanging paintings, she glanced at the materials used. She would naturally notice that because she was a civil engineer. A professional course that she has not forgotten even in her other identity today.

She sauntered while still touching the carved middle part of the wall that connects to the large glass window. This architecture is impressive! The wood used here is no longer visible in my time. Many things in the past have completely disappeared in the future. She let out a sigh. I am grateful to have seen it, but it is not suitable for me to stay in this world. I do not belong to this era, again!

"What are you doing?"

She glanced at the woman who was still being resentful to her. "Nothing." She slowly removed her hand caress from the carved design's on the wall, then walked towards the wide sofa and sat down.

"Are you wandering around? Why? Is there no such design in your country?"

"Yes. But unlike here in the past, the construction was polished because the materials used are very sturdy," she replied.

"You're good at beady-eyed things. Yeah, you're right. Everything around you is made of expensive materials that only the wealthy clan can afford. Are you an engineer?"

She nodded. "Yes."

She made a stare at her from head to toe. “It is clear base on your observation and calculation. Well, why am I asking this non-sense to someone like you? ”

"Why is it that you hated me that much?" she could not help but ask the woman in front of her.

"I don't like weak women like you." It was a direct response to her. "I also don't like women who have protection from the people who are important to me, especially you."

"Like Hander?" she answered.

"Yes," she replied.

“I will tell it to you directly. I do not like the man you cherish. I already know the truth because Kairo has already told me. I can't tell Kairo not to protect me anymore because they won't listen either. They are willing to help Kairo and protect his realm, but not for me. I handed the precious thing owned by him, so I guess they need to protect me. As simple as that.”

The young warrior could not speak what she heard from her.

“You are right, and I am weak when it comes to fighting. I am not like you, who does have raised in a war battle, so you already know how to save yourself. Me? My family and my future are what I always thought, so I want to finish it all and go back to my old life. I don't want to stay in a place where I don't deserve to be. One more thing, I do everything I can to be in your group and keep myself in safety promises. I hope you understand that.” She could not help but express her thoughts and her real purpose. She is not a woman who should hate because she did not even have an interest in the man she wanted.

The woman was utterly speechless, and she just kept quiet. She knew she had a point, and she had no right to be jealous of her. Yes, jealousy is the only reason why Thiara got paranoid since the first day they have met. She felt that thing because she was also a woman. She stood up and slowly walked, then went to the nearby window and looked at the palace's expansive yard while waiting for Kairo's group.

IN THE OTHER ROOM, Kairo was in front of his intended man. The man who was Hyperion's messenger before then and only knew the secrets of his opponent. Hander, Jigger, and Kristoff, who were with the young man, were also present. The three sat down while Kairo was asking Hernon about his rival's secret realm. Hyperion's former messenger.

"Master Kairo, I'm glad to see you again," Hernon told him. “But what you are asking me, I cannot answer. I used to be Hyperion's messenger, and I only know the Soul Dimension where he lives.”

From his eyes, he can see if a person is lying and can also determine his past. There, he saw that it had only one destination every time he gave a message to Hyperion. "I understand. I have one more question I want to know from you, Hernon. Does he have no one to trust except his generals?”

"Hmm." He thought. “There is only one person I know who is close to him. It was Heira.”

"Heira?" Hander is cutting in.

"She's Hyperion's woman. If I'm not mistaken," Jigger replied.

"Yes, she is."

"Where can we find her?" Kristoff asked.

"I know where she is but prepares yourself for the long journey," Kairo replied.

"We want to know where he is, Master Kairo."

“In a country far from Europe. In Israel, ”Kairo replied to Hander.

"Then we have to travel again," Hander uttered.

“Let's go back to Mrs. Landrake's place first before we were leaving this place.”

"Yes, Master Cairo." His three warriors said in chorus.

Kairo turned to Hernon. "Thank you for the information you have given."

“It’s my pleasure to help, Master Kairo. Be careful on your journey.”

A few moments later, they left the room. They went outside and wait for the two women.

AS Weng’s direction, the soldier who had taken them to that room picked them up again. According to him, the young men were waiting for them outside the palace. When they meet outside, the others were already there, including Kairo, whose glimpses are next to her. No emotion could draw on his face, but he just kept staring at her. She also felt that feeling several times confused her, so she narrowly avoided looking at his gaze.

Kristoff greeted him. "Miss Weng, are you okay?" his voice feeling concerned.

She smiled. “Yes. We are fine. How’s your dealing with Hyperion's former messenger? ”

“Ahh…”

“We will talk about that later. Get in the carriage, ”Kairo ordered her.

"Hop in," Kristoff told her while giving her a wink.

She could have done nothing but follow Kairo's command. She felt that he is in sulk again, so she did not complain anymore.

WHILE they were on their way back to Mrs. Landrake’s house, she could not help but ask the young man about their conversation earlier with Hyperion’s former messenger. She can’t wait for that for so long before Kairo tells her.

“Don’t you have a plan to tell me anything about your conversation?  Do I have to wait for so long?”

Kairo just stared at her, but no words came out of his mouth. Only the two of them rode in the royal chariot while the others had their horses. Looking at his gaze, she was uncomfortable. It was an uneasy feeling again.

“You will not answer me again, and you will say, could you please wait for the right moment before I will tell it to you. That’s it? It’s unfair!”

She suddenly makes a pause when the moment moves past as Kairo grabbed and sealed her with a kiss. Her eyes almost widened as she stared closely at him as it covered her lips. His two palms also covered her face as the young man gradually closed his eyes and then felt the moment their lips met. What are you doing, Cairo? Why did you⸻ kiss me?

She wanted to stop what he had done to her, but could she call that tender kiss with a strange expression on his personality a blasphemy? She felt the young man's lips move and seemed to be mocking her. Because of the sensation she felt, she somewhat closed her eyes. She also could not control her own volition that just adapted to the flow of time. This is the first time the young man has kissed her apart from the first kiss she made. A chaste kiss they shared in the middle of their journey in the other portals.

She also felt the warmth on her cheek until they both feel the sensation intensively but with passion caress. How could she resist him whenever he was there to comfort her? Whenever does she think that she was a woman and partly need a man like him? Many strange things are happened between them, especially now that the half-stone crystal was gleaming again. It has happened when they are both close to each other.

They were out of breath when their lips parted!

They remained to stare at each other, especially in the young man's golden eyes getting brighter. But something got their attention even more. The previously glowing necklace was hanging around her neck. They both turned their eyes to it. It all seems to have something to do with both of them—the part of their treading destiny.

Kairo glanced at her again. "The next time you ask and don't wait for the moment I have to say it to you, I will do it again." It slowly moved away from her and returned to its place without using its ability.

She is stunned and can’t speak to him. She couldn’t believe it was happening between the two of them. The gleaming of the stone crystal on her neck also slowly disappeared. A moment later, the man keeps silent as she turned her attention to the outside they were going through. The creator has already punished me. Of all the possibilities that happened between us, we shared that damn kiss? I had made a kiss to an immortal one. Why are you doing this to me, Kairo? Why are you bothering my innocent heart? She just folded her arms in her chest while not taking her eyes off the window.