The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER SEVEN

Chapter Seven

Despite the stressful events yesterday Celine woke up on a comfortable sleep, feeling her cozy and soft mattress of her bed makes her feel not to stand up and just sleep more.

All of a sudden she felt sick.

‘This must be because I used too much of my magic these previous days,’ her mind stated

“Oh well, I just needed some sleep that’s all,” she muttered softly and as she closed her eyes again she felt her body being heavy.

Meanwhile, Mathew who just finished his meeting with the three kings together with their subordinates was walking towards Celine’s room.

“I have knocked on her door and even called her name but she won’t answer your majesty,” Lucas explained

“Then why did you not enter her room?”

“How could I, your majesty? It is a lady’s room and I cannot come in without her permission,” he answered.

“Yes you’re right about that Lucas but what if it’s an emergency situation? What if she passed out? Looking at how her body is so small, I am afraid that even the small blow of the wind would carry her away,” Mathew replied.

‘Your imagination is just too much your majesty,’ his mind commented.

“I understand your majesty,” he responded at him.

They continued to walk in silence until they have reached her door.

“Your majesty, let me knock on the door for you,” Lucas suggested as he walks toward it and knock thrice.

“Celine?” Lucas called but there was no response.

He knocks again.

“Celine are you there?” He called the second time but still, there was no reply.

“Celine if you still won’t respond I will enter your room by assuming that you are in distress inside,” Mathew announced.

Still, there was no response.

Mathew opened the door and as he entered the room, his eyes scanned the surroundings.

Her room was simple and expectedly empty, the transparent window was still closed as the white and long curtain was still covering it. In front of the window was a wooden circular table with two wooden chairs on each side. The only thing that is messy is her bed as he saw her still sleeping.

“Celine?” Mathew called and walk towards her.

She saw her sleeping face who was slightly pale as her hair was scattered on her white pillow.

“Celine are you awake?” He called.

He notices her sweaty forehead as he sits on the side of her bed.

He checks her breathing.

‘She is just asleep,’ he thought with relief.

“Celine?” He called but still, there was no response from her.

“Lucas!” He called.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Call the doctor immediately,” He commanded

“Yes, your majesty!” Lucas responded as he immediately exited the room.

He tried to shake her lightly to wake her up but her eyes were still closed.

“Damn. Why isn’t she waking up?” He uttered as he touch her face.

He called her name again but still, she was asleep.

“Celine?” He called again while shaking her shoulder lightly.

After a few minutes, Lucas together with the doctor barge into the room. The doctor immediately check her vitals and pulse, after the doctor give her medications, he then faced Mathew who was standing and observing the sleeping lady’s breathing.

“She is fine your majesty, she is just fatigue.”

“And?”

“She only needs rest,” The doctor replied.

“That is good to hear. However, I want you to check her health every day,” He said.

Lucas' eyes widened and stared at Mathew.

‘It is my first time seeing him worry like that,’ He thought as he secretly smiled behind Mathew.

“Yes your majesty,” the doctor said with a surprised expression.

“Okay, you may go now,” Mathew announced.

The doctor bowed his head and excuse himself as he exited the room.

“Lucas,” He called as he sits on the wooden chair.

“Yes, your majesty?” Lucas answered.

“Bring all the documents I need to finish here.”

“Pardon me your majesty but may I ask again, here?” Lucas asks emphasizing the word ‘here’ with a shocked expression.

“Yes, I will do my work here,” He responded as he glance at him.

“Yes your majesty, I will bring what you needed here,” he replied

“Lucas,” Mathew called

He stops and looks back at him.

“Also, bring me a good book to read, I may have wait here for a long time,” he continued as he smiled.

Lucas replied with a smile and bowed his head as he exited the room.

“It is a rare moment to bump with you along the way Mcrovier,” a familiar voice said behind him.

Lucas landed his gaze on a tall and well-built man with short messy hair as his blue eyes stared back at him.

Daniel Louress was the aide of Leberion’s ruler. He was carrying a pile of documents with him.

“It is good to see you Louress,” Lucas said.

“A lot happened huh, due to the busy schedules we hardly see each other despite being in the same ship,” Daniel uttered as they walk along the hallway.

“Oh, it is only natural for us,” Lucas responded followed by a chuckle.

“So how’s being the emperor’s aide?” He asks.

“Hmm, it is very hectic but enjoyable. His majesty is doing his best every day,” Lucas answered as he smiled cheerfully.

“My king is hardly reviewing these documents that it got piled up. Surprisingly, he will finish all of these today,” Daniel said with a sigh of relief.

“That’s good to hear,” He replied.

“We only have three months but despite that, a lot happened,” Daniel muttered.

“Yes, a lot.”

“But seeing the emperor and the kings doing everything they could, I guess we will be just fine,” Daniel said as he smiled.

“Hmm, yes you’re right,” He replied with a smile.

‘If we ever stop the destined tragedy of this world, what will happened next?’ Lucas thought.

“I’ll stop here,” Daniel said as he stops in front of Nathan’s office.

“Then, have a good day,” Lucas replied with a smile and walks along the way until he reached Mathew’s office.

He took all the necessary documents the emperor needed to finish and walks outside the office.

“Oh, Lucas!” Nathan called as he waves at him.

“Greetings to the ruler of Leberion,” He said as he bowed his head.

“Kindly lift up your head, may I ask why are you bringing them out of his majesty’s office?” Nathan questioned.

“I am bringing them to Celine’s room since his majesty wished to work there,” he responded.

“Why? Did something happened to Celine?”

“Celine was fatigue but she is already fine since the doctor has already checked her condition, your majesty king of Leberion,” he answered.

“Really?” a voice said behind him.

As he looked back he saw Allen and Casis standing behind him. He immediately bowed his head and greeted them which they responded.

“It must be tough for Celine yesterday,” Casis said.

“Yes, she must have used all of her strength which somehow made me guilty,” Allen uttered.

“I am sure Celine was not thinking like that, King Asvan,” Lucas comforted.

“Then please let us know if she wakes up and we will pay her a visit,” Casis said.

After they heard Lucas’ reply they have continued their stroll towards the upper deck of the ship while Lucas continued to walk and brought the documents to Celine’s room.

It was already sunset when Celine woke up, she can still feel that she did not fully recover from her fatigue.

When using her magic requires great stamina that is why she is fatigue not to mention she healed everyone who are injured from the fight yesterday.

When healing someone the pain from their bruises, cuts, and injuries will automatically transfer to her body which made her loses too much of her strength.

She didn’t tell her master about it because he might forbid her to use her healing magic.

As she sits on her bed she saw Mathew reading a book while sitting on the wooden chair facing the opened window.

“So you’re finally awake,” He said as he looked at her.

“I am sorry you waited too long master.”

“Do not apologize, it was completely understandable and since it’s clear that you haven’t eaten anything since morning I have commanded Lucas to bring us food here,” He said as he pointed the foods on the table.

‘Poor Lucas, he must have a hard time bringing all of these,’ her mind stated.

“Thank you for your concern master,” she uttered as she tried to stand up despite her weak legs.

Mathew who was sitting suddenly stands up and walks towards her.

“It’s not hard to ask for help if you’re having a hard time Celine,” He said as he carried her towards the chair.

“Thank you, master,” she said softly as he helps her sits on her chair.

“In fact, I should be the one to apologize, I must have put you in a rough situation, I am sorry,” he said as he sits on his chair.

“Don’t apologize to me, I am obliged to do that master.”

“You are not obliged to do that if it means putting your life on the line Celine,” He replied.

She did not respond as she stared at him intently like it was her first time hearing that.

“I guess this is just who you are master,” she uttered all of a sudden.

“Who am I for you?”

“You are too kind to me that is why I find you strange. We both know I do not deserve your kindness, master.”

“I am not too kind as you think Celine however I can give it to anyone who deserves it. I am not kind to you because you’re the weapon that could save us all, rather, I am kind because you deserve it,” he explained as he smiled gently at her.

She did not respond nor showed any change in her facial expression. She just stared at him intently.

“Eat your food before it gets cold,” he said.

She stared at the food and to the unfamiliar utensils beside the plate. She cannot use her magic yet because she was restoring her strength.

“Oh, I forgot you don’t know how to use them right?” He said as he drag his chair near her and took the spoon and fork.

“You should use it like this,” he demonstrates and then brought the food closer to her mouth.

She looked at him.

“This is weird,” she bluntly said as she opened her mouth and eat the food.

He laughs with amusement.

“Tell me, Celine, how did you survive all the years in that place?”

“I survived because… I forgot a lot of things,” she said.

There was no emotion in her eyes but somehow when she said that there was a pain in her heart.

“You mean you forgot eating?” he joked as he chuckled hiding his sadness when he heard her words.

“Maybe,” she replied shortly as he keeps on feeding her.

“How about you master? How did you survive this kind of world?”

Mathew thought for a second and stared back at her.

“I just kept on moving forward,” he answered with a smile.

“What keeps you moving forward?” She asks.

“I don’t know, that is why we are partly the same,” He said.

“I am like the cosmos, I exist without having a center,” he continued.

“May I ask what a cosmos is?”

“It is everything that’s existing,” he answered.

“Then we are not on the same boat.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you still have something to lose while I have none,” she simply said.

“Then I guess it’s fortunate for you since you have nothing to fear.”

“No it's not, between me and you, you are the fortunate one. Everyone here compared to me is lucky enough,” she muttered.

“How can you tell?” he asks.

“Because everyone here including you master, is not like me.”

He cannot find the words to say, he just keeps on staring at her as she munches her food. He tried to understand her words but like how deep and wide the universe is, he cannot reach its depth.

Suddenly, there was a sudden knock on the door as it opened.

“Gree—Are we interrupting something?” Casis began to talk as he stand in the doorway.

“No,” Mathew answered.

“Anyway, greetings your majesty, and to you too Celine,” Casis said with a smile as he walks inside.

Nathan and Allen greeted them too as they walk inside.

“We apologize for interrupting,” Allen said

“We just wanted to pay a visit to you,” Nathan said as he smiled

“To me? Did I do something illegal?” Celine asks as she stared at Mathew.

“Is this why all of you are here right now because I have a crime?” she questioned.

“No, no, that’s not what we mean Celine, were here to visit you because we were worried,” Casis explained.

“You didn’t do any crime,” Mathew clarified.

She did not respond instead she stared at all of them.

“How are you now?” Allen asks.

“I am fine.”

“How do you feel now?” Nathan questioned.

“I can’t tell but I have regained some of my strength,” she replied.

“It’s good to hear,” Allen responded.

“Why are you being kind to me all of a sudden? I am not a friend nor your subordinate?” she continued.

“Do we need to have a reason to be kind to you?” Casis asks.

“I don’t know but someone like me should not be treated special.”

“Why because you are forsaken by the gods? But Celine, we are not gods,” Nathan uttered.

“It is true that sometimes we have doubted your loyalty to his majesty and doubted that you’d help us in hard situations in the future but it does not mean that we disregard your existence, Celine. Do not put yourself too low because you are not,” Allen announced.

Celine did not respond instead she just look at them in the eyes. No one could tell what she thinks at that moment and there are no emotions reflected in her face.

However, there was an unknown feeling inside her heart and then, she opened her mouth.

“Thank you. I may look like I am not grateful for what you have said to me but this time I mean what I say,” she replied.

“And I have decided since I woke up from a long sleep to help the ship travel faster to Asmeira,” she continued.

“Celine, you should not drain your strength since you just have recovered,” Casis uttered.

“He is right Celine, you shouldn’t,” Mathew seconded.

“We have already discussed that during our meeting,” Allen announced as he looked at her.

“We have changed our route to shorten the days we travel in the sea,” Allen continued.

“And what route is that?” Celine asks.

“The Den of Sirens,” Nathan answered.