The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER EIGHT

Chapter Eight

Since she was sealed for many years, she does not have any idea about the place they have stated but her instincts were shouting danger.

“It seems to me that you only see the danger of sirens as a joke,” she commented as she lean on her chair.

“No, it is not like that, we have also prepared a plan to make sure everyone will be safe,” Mathew replied.

“Master, I can use magic to make our travel faster,” Celine insisted.

“It’s fine Celine, you should rest and restored your strength,” Casis intervened.

“We should not push that plan, sirens are no joke, and I cannot protect everyone all the time. You understand that right?” Celine replied.

“It seems like you did not believe in our capabilities,” Allen commented as he stared at her.

She did not respond.

“I will take your silence as an idea that you are just worried for his majesty,” Allen continued.

“We do not disregard your obligation to his majesty however, we also have responsibilities that we must fulfill for our people and this world. Unlike you who only waste time sleeping we are doing our very best to survive,” Allen said as he gives her cold stares.

Celine only stared at him but did not give any response.

Her face was blank and her emerald eyes were emotionless.

“You must calm down Allen, nothing good comes from arguments,” Nathan reprimanded.

“You surprise me with your words, Nathan,” Allen replied as he glance at him.

“Your words are too much for her,” Nathan responded.

“It’s because she won’t understand if we put it in kind words,” he replied.

“You must consider her feelings,” Nathan rebut.

“Look at her, she seems like she doesn’t care of whatever we say at all,” Allen responded as he pointed at her.

“Celine, we understand that you are only worried but we have put safety measures in our plan so do not worry anymore,” Casis interrupted as he glared at Nathan and Allen indicating them to stop.

“You must not push yourself too much, you just recovered from your fatigue so you must rest,” Mathew said.

“Whatever you say, master. However, your plan is a complete absurdity for me,” she bluntly responded as he stared back at him without any trace of irritation or pain from what she heard from Allen.

“You're brutally honest,” Mathew said as he chuckled, “However, I am not stupid enough to put everyone in danger that is why I’m their emperor, right?” he added.

An awkward silence arouse inside the room, despite this, her facial expression did not change at all however she opened her mouth and apologize to them.

“I understand that you are worried Celine but you can trust us,” Mathew replied to her apology.

“These people in front of you have proven themselves to me, they are not as easy as you think they are. They are stronger than you think, they are my people, and most of all they are my friends. I trust them,” Mathew declared as he smiled at her.

Lucas who was only standing near the door remained silent as he stared at Celine as he thought.

‘There will always be a time for trusting strangers even if you know to yourself that you do not want to. I have been there and trusting his majesty and the kings never did disappoint me once.’

“Then I will think that everything is settled, we must exit her room for her to rest,” Mathew announced.

“Yes your majesty,” They replied as they exited her room.

As they all closed the door and started to walk away from her room, Mathew gazes at Allen.

“Allen,” he called.

“Yes, your majesty?” Allen responded.

“I understand that you only said that for her to understand our side but do not push her too much,” Mathew said.

“I apologize for offending you, your majesty,” Allen replied.

“You did not offend me so do not apologize to me. However, we have no clue what she was thinking or what she felt when she heard what we have to say. I am afraid that we hurt her feelings,” Mathew responded.

“Sometimes we need to know what pain is to understand,” Casis said.

“But does she needed the pain to understand us?” Nathan intervened.

They did not respond to Nathan’s words and just continued to walk as they have ask themselves if what they have said is too much for her, whether it hurt her or not, they felt guilty for it.

Meanwhile, Celine was in her room still sitting and leaning on her chair, she looked at the opened window and saw the starless night sky.

Remembering their argument a while ago and how she did not feel any emotions despite the sharp words, she began to have a thought.

‘I must have forgotten to feel as well.’

She stared at the calm sea as her hair was swayed by the blowing wind.

“I must have snapped their patience and said too much,” she muttered.

In a faraway part of the sea, Erius was in bad shape, his amputated arms were not bleeding anymore but he can still feel the pain.

“Damn all of you! You’ll regret why you did not kill me!” He shouted full of wrath.

“Oh you must be having a hard time there,” said a voice.

He tried to find the owner of the voice until his gaze landed on the eagle who just landed on his stomach.

“Surprise!” the bird said as its wings flaps.

“A talking bird?” he asks in complete amusement.

“You wanted to get revenge right?” the bird suggested ignoring what he said a while ago.

“Yes, but how can a useless bird do that?”

“Well between us, you’re the useless one, though,” it replied.

He felt his head pulsating as he glared at the bird.

“You know what? You cannot kill me with those ugly eyes of yours. However whether you believe me or not, I could make you achieve your revenge towards them.”

“I don’t trust you,” He replied.

“Well, just so you know, my offer only happens once, are you sure you want to decline?” the bird asks.

There was a pause between them.

“Then, I will try, but if this is a hoax I will surely kill you!”

The bird laughs.

“Then we should go now!”

“What?”

A sudden magical portal opened beneath Erius and transported them to an unknown place.

“Huh?!” he uttered surprisingly as he looked above.

There was a small cloud of rain on his head.

“Stop overreacting,” The bird said as it transformed into a human.

“What?! You are a human?!”

“Maybe,” It replied.

Erius only stared at the man beside him.

“Let’s head this way,” he said as he guide Erius along the way.

The hallway is long and dark, there was no ray of sunshine can be seen but only the light coming from the torches lining each pillar.

“Where are we?”

“Secret, I am not allowed to tell,” it replied as it smiled.

“Stops smiling it's creepy,” he uttered as he roam his eyes to the place.

They stop in front of a big door and automatically it opened.

It was spacious and empty, and like the hallways, the lights from the room are only coming from the torches from every pillar.

“So you have finally decided to accept the offer,” a voice said as it echoed around the room.

They continued to walk along the aisle and stops in front of a throne where a man or a monster was sitting.

He cannot see its face because of the cloak it’s wearing but Erius can see its grinning mouth.

He felt danger lurking in him.

“Who are you?” He asks.

“Consider me as a genie since I will make your revenge come true,” it said as his grin grows wider.

“And how will you do that?” He asks with disbelief.

“I will restore your arms,” it answered.

He did not believe him when he heard his answer. It was absurd, healing abilities do not exist, at least that is what he knows.

“I see that you do not believe in what I have said.”

Suddenly the man beside him cut his hand which made him surprise.

“Are you crazy?!” he exclaimed in shock.

“Yes,” it replied and smiled at him.

Suddenly the man who was sitting on the throne raises his right hand as it glowed then the bleeding hand of his underling was healed like it was never been cut a while ago.

Erius was amazed by what he saw.

“Do you believe in me now?” it asks again.

“What do you want?” Erius questioned as he stared at the man in front of him.

It laugh aloud as it echoed in the whole room.

“I can see that you do not want to prolong this meeting anymore. Well, what I wanted is simple, you just need to kill the sorcerer who cut both of your arms,” it replied as his grin faded into a thin line.

“The b***h’s life only? Ha! That’s too easy!” he announced proudly.

The man clicked his tongue.

“Do not underestimate that being, that thing can kill you in an instance.”

“That frail girl? Of course not anymore,” Erius said as he grinned at them.

“Girl?” the man sitting on the throne uttered in disbelief.

“Oh, you wanted me to kill that thing but it seems like you do not know a single thing about her? Yes, you are right, the being you wanted to die is a girl. Why? Are you being soft now?” Erius said as he almost laugh.

But to his surprise, the man on the throne laughs again.

“Good thing, then it is easy to kill her after all.”

All of a sudden his amputated arms began to heal and build new arms.

He was astonished, it feel like it did not get amputated yesterday. His mind laughs, he can finally have his revenge.

The man’s underling suddenly gives him a black dagger.

“What is this?” Erius asks.

“The sorcerer you need to kill is not ordinary for no human weapons can cut its skin, however, that weapon can cut it,” the minion said.

“What is this weapon?”

“You do not need to know. However, if you fail, I will kill you,” the man sitting on the throne warned.

“There is no need to worry about that because I won’t fail,” Erius answered as he grin.

“Then make sure not to disappoint me,” the man replied.

“You won’t.”

It was already morning and Mathew was already sipping his morning coffee as he opened the clear window. After he took a bath, he change into his comfortable clothes.

“Lucas,” he called.

The door opened and Lucas came in.

“Good morning your majesty, is there anything you need?” He asks.

“The documents I have finished yesterday, kindly double-check them for me. And for the documents, I needed to finish this day, put it on my table,” he commanded as he gaze at him.

“Yes your majesty,” he answered.

“Did the doctor already check on Celine’s health?”

“Yes your majesty, I have been there a while ago.”

“Did she have her breakfast?”

“Not yet your majesty.”

“Then let’s invite her to have breakfast with us.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

But during their breakfast, there was a sudden awkward silence aroused between them, Celine who was fast to learn was holding the fork and spoon and continued to eat gracefully but soon stops what she was doing and stared at the men who are awkwardly staring at her.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asks them.

“We believe that you did nothing wrong, please continue to eat,” Nathan said as he forced to smile at her.

She stared at them all as she gently put down the fork and spoon on the plate.

“I apologize for my rude attitude yesterday. I promised not to do it again,” she announced.

“It's fine,” Allen answered, “Frankly I wanted to apologize as well. I’m sorry for saying those hurtful words to you. I was a jerk,” Allen replied.

Lucas was shocked hearing the king of Asvante claimed that he’s a jerk.

‘It’s the first time I heard a king describe himself as a jerk!’ Lucas’ mind commented.

“Do not be burdened. I completely understand,” Celine said.

Allen smiled, “Thank you,” he answered.

“Lucas, are the soldiers ready and well prepared?” Mathew asks.

“Yes your majesty, they are already in their post as the plan says,” Lucas replied.

“Good.”

“Your majesty the necessary tools have also been prepared,” Allen said.

“That is good to hear,” Mathew responded.

Celine remained silent while listening to them avoiding some unnecessary arguments.

“Celine,” Mathew uttered as he gaze at her.

“Yes, master?”

“Are you fine?”

“Yes, do not worry about me, the doctor already check me a while ago and said that I was fine,” she explained.

“That’s good, however, that’s not what I mean. I ask if you have a heavy heart to us,” Mathew questioned.

“I don’t have any heavy heart regarding everyone in this room. But, if there is anyone in this room who’s in a dangerous situation where I must use my magic, I will protect everyone by my own accord even if my master wouldn’t agree with me,” she declared.

Mathew chuckled.

“Then let us protect each other big sister!” Nathan cheerfully said.

Everyone in the room stared at Nathan as if what they have heard is a complete absurdity.

“Big…sister?” Celine ask.

“Stop with your crazy words Nathan,” Allen reprimanded.

Casis and Mathew breathe out a heavy sigh as Lucas was clearing his throat upon hearing Nathan’s word.

“No, it is fine. You can call me anything you want,” Celine uttered as she continued to eat.

“I am sorry for the interruption but may I ask your majesty if when will we arrived at the place?” Casis asks.

“Today, at noon,” Mathew replied.

“Then I must prepare myself, please excuse me, your majesty,” Nathan announced as he stands up and excuse himself.

The soldiers in each ship prepared themselves as they lined up on the upper deck. The needed things were well prepared however every heart feels different feelings.

Some hearts are beating fast because they are nervous or scared.

Some hearts are beating calmly because they believe.

Some are just beating.

No one knows what will happen to them and what awaits them.

Mathew together with Celine and Lucas went through the upper deck and saw the well-prepared soldiers.

The sky was a bit cloudy that gives a sign of rain.

“Celine?” Mathew called.

“Yes, master?”

“Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer him.

“It will be okay, don’t you trust me?” he asks.

She did not respond and stay silent as she looked at him.

“It seems to me that I don’t have a choice but to have faith in you.”

He laughs as he glances at her.

“Then I will try my best not to disappoint you.”

“Master, you do not need to prove that, for no matter what you do, I will never see you as a failure,” she replied.

His heart skip a beat upon hearing her words as his lips smiled.

The ship continued to sail, everyone was expecting that everything that is bound to happen will be a form of surprise. However, even if that’s the case, everyone hopes there are no surprises.