The Center of Cosmos

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Chapter Forty-Four

Mathew and Lucas already finished visiting the knights on the training ground. Lucas observed the strange silence of the emperor as he walks behind him.

“Your majesty?” he called.

“…Yes?”

“Are you okay?” Lucas asks.

“Yes I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Mathew answered without glancing back at him.

Lucas didn’t respond anymore and remained silent until they reach the place where the weapons can be found.

Mathew saw Allen with his aide inspecting the weapons as well.

“It’s good to see you here Allen,” Mathew said as he approaches him.

Allen and his aide bowed his head and then met his gaze.

“It’s good to see you as well your majesty,” Allen answered and smiled.

“I’m here to inspect the weaponry, but it's better that you check it as well,” Mathew responded.

Allen smiled, “If that’s what his majesty wants, then I shall do it,” he responded.

They stroll around looking and observing every sharp sword, shield, and other type of weapon.

“Frankly, I doubt our weapons could sustain demons,” Allen uttered still staring at the sharp metal of the sword he’s holding.

“As I thought you would say that,” Mathew replied.

“I heard that the dwarves will attend the meeting as well?” Allen asks.

“Yes, you heard it right,” he answered with a small smile.

“Is it okay for you, your majesty? It’s clear to us that Sir Vrontier and his son is always mocking your decisions, if you have patience despite their treatment to you, forgive me, but I don’t,” Allen said and glance at him, “Honestly, even Casis and Nathan was annoyed by their presence that they wished for you to punch them straight to their faces,” he added.

Mathew laughs remembering Celine’s words.

“Ah yes, next time, if I had enough of their childishness I’ll do that,” Mathew answered as he smiled brightly.

“That’s good to hear, your majesty,” Allen replied.

“Allen, even if you don’t like them, make sure to attend,” he said.

“Of course, your majesty, I would come, they aren’t that strong reason for me to not attend. And besides, I know you could straighten their curly minds,” Allen answered.

Finally, when they finish checking all the weapons and before Allen could walk away he called him again.

“Allen,” Mathew said.

Allen stops walking and glance back at him.

“Yes your majesty?” she replied.

“Thank you,” he uttered.

Allen responded to him with a bright smile and then walks away.

“Your majesty,” Lucas called, “It’s time for the meeting,” he added.

“Yes we should go now,” Mathew answered

As soon as they came into the meeting room, everyone was already in there. They stood up the moment they saw him and bowed their head.

He walks towards his chair and sits on it.

“I’m glad that everyone is here now,” Mathew announced and eyed everyone in the room, “ I don’t want to waste some time so let’s begin immediately. I called for your presence today because I want to discuss some important matters to all of you,” he said.

“First, my knights should have some rest in between their training,” Mathew announced.

“I disagree,” Milan began, “We’ll waste more time if we do that your majesty,” he added.

“I agree with my father, the more we waste time, the more disadvantageous it is for us, don’t you think, your majesty?” Brinton seconded.

“I understand your point but if we sacrificed their health wouldn’t it be too risky for us? A time to rest for a while wouldn’t be a burden to our battle, we’re just being concerned about them. I don’t want to see the imperial knights slowly losing their capabilities just because of exhaustion and fatigue,” Mathew commented.

“Your majesty it's part of the training, in war there’s no time to rest nor to let out a breath, they have to make their body used to that kind of treatment,” Milan replied, “Your decisions are quite unrealistic your majesty, don’t you think?” he added.

“I guess you misunderstood me, Sir Vrontier, that’s why we’re training them hard enough, continuously every day until the third month, however, too much exhaustion will only weaken them. Isn’t it shameful? Knowing the war is just only on its way and they have already lost too much of their physical strength? I’m afraid we're not going to lose because of the war, rather were going to lose because our soldiers wouldn’t even have the strength to swing their swords because of exhaustion,” Mathew explained, “And I don’t make unrealistic decisions, its base on how I should handle everyone with rationality and concern because that’s what I should do as an emperor, Sir Vrontier,” he continued to say.

The dwarves were speechless and couldn’t utter a single word. Meanwhile, Casis and the rest were very pleased by what they have heard from Mathew.

“I know Sir Vrontier and your son understands me very well since they have their people as well, so I’m hoping that we all agree to my request?” Mathew said and smiled at them.

“…Then, we will make sure to insert a time for them to rest, your majesty,” Milan answered.

“Thank you for your cooperation, sir Vrontier,” he responded, “Let’s proceed, the next will be the preparation for the coming of the high priest tomorrow, I have mentioned this in our previous meeting that the high priest will visit here,” he uttered.

“Yes your majesty I have prepared for that,” Casis answered, “High Priest Luminous, will be staying here for days and he highly requested for your majesty’s approval to have a private conversation with Celine,” he continued to say.

“What’s the reason?” Mathew asks.

“He did not clarify on his telegram your majesty,” Casis answered.

“Lucas,” Mathew called.

“Yes, your majesty?” Lucas responded.

“Sent a message this instance that I won’t allow his desire for a private talk to Celine not unless he tells me the reason or, he will let me join their private conversation,” Mathew replied.

“Yes, your majesty,” Lucas answered.

Mathew gazes at everyone again, “I have already decided when to visit the elves, and it would be on the third week this month,” he announced, “However, I still didn’t decide who will come with me, maybe I could come up with an answer after the arrival of the high priest,” he added.

“It would be fine for us your majesty,” Allen responded.

“And lastly, I will publicly announce the condition of the world before the second month ends, but, I am still deciding when would be the exact date, I’ll update everyone if I have a fix decision about that,” Mathew declared with a compose facial expression.

Everyone was surprised by what they heard, probably because they know to themselves they don’t know how they would tell the people that the world is ending, they wouldn’t come up with a better idea on how they could confess it to everyone without making them panic.

‘As I said, his decision is very unrealistic and yet it is only for the ones with brave hearts. What an arcane man, where did he get all the guts to come up with that decision?’ Milan’s mind commented while he keep on staring at Mathew.

‘I cannot read this kid,’ his inner self added as he averted his gaze from Mathew.

“That would be the end of our agenda, if you have some questions or anything you have against with, feel free to speak. I am willing to answer or to argue,” Mathew announced.

No one responded.

“I’ll take your silence as a response. Well, it seems like we’re settled, you may leave now,” he said and smiled at them.

“Thank you, your majesty,” they responded.

“Thank you as well for attending, please rest well,” he responded with a smile.

The meeting has finally adjourned and they have exited the meeting room.

Mathew glance at the glass window and saw the orange sky. He didn’t notice the time, the meeting was quite long and exhausting.

‘Finally, I could see you after a long day,’ Mathew’s mind uttered while thinking of Celine.

“Your majesty,” Lucas called.

“Yes?”

Lucas cleared his throat.

“The former emperor is outside,” he whispered to him.

He glances at Lucas with a crease forming between his eyebrows.

“What?”

“The former emperor is currently outside, your majesty,” Lucas whispered again.

“…Please tell my father to come in, and tell the maids to bring us… tea,” Mathew said.

“Yes, your majesty,” Lucas responded and bowed his head.

‘What does he want? I thought he doesn’t want to talk to me?’ Mathew’s inner self asks.

It was already dark and Celine was sitting on the bed leaning her back on the cold wall of the dungeon. She can feel her hand slightly aching and she badly wants to stretch her body.

She let out a sigh.

The door suddenly opened, she immediately glances at the person stepping inside the opened door thinking it’s her master but instead of Mathew, it was someone else.

“You?” Celine asks as she stared at the man with messy hair being tied in a manly bun.

“I apologize if I’m not your master,” he said and smirk mockingly at her.

“How did you enter the barrier?” She asks as her stare started to darken.

“Secret,” he answered and chuckled.

“Answer me this instance, Shin,” Celine warned making him laugh.

“It’s because I bring no harm to you and the people in this place. Your incantation is only against those who bring harm,” Shin answered and shrug his shoulder.

“Then why are you here?” she asks.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see how helpless you are right now,” Shin replied and sits beside her.

“Stay away,” Celine mumbled as she move away from him.

“You look shameful, Omega designed you as a weapon, and a weapon should be used in war, not for peace,” Shin said.

“Shut up, if saying that nonsense is the only reason why you’re here, you may leave now,” Celine replied.

“You should just leave them behind,” he uttered.

“Hah! What are you trying to say? Just leave me alone,” Celine responded moving away from him adding more distance between them but he move closer.

“I’m serious, you should just leave them behind,” Shin replied as he move a little bit closer to her making her stand up from sitting on the bed.

“Leave me be,” she coldly answered him.

He laughs and stands as well, he then walks closer to her and pins her on the wall.

“Sorcerer, I’m here because I’m worried about you,” he whispered in her ears making Celine slightly tilt her head because of the tickling sensation she felt.

“I don’t trust you,” she answered as she met his eyes once again, still having an unreadable expression.

“The proof that I went through your barrier without a single scratch is enough right?”

She didn’t respond.

“My master will try to break the barrier you build and will bring a group of tainted souls to devour everyone here, he will come along. You don’t stand a single chance,” he said.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks.

This time Shin didn’t respond because he didn’t know as well why he was doing it.

“Just leave them be,” Shin answered ignoring her question.

“No.”

“You are stubborn huh?”

“Call me whatever you want, I won’t leave my master.”

“Why? He let you in this place, he let you tied like a damn criminal, so tell me why?” he asks as he steps away from her.

“No, he didn’t.”

“Hah! Trying to defend him, I see,” Shin replied mockingly.

“I can see it,” she uttered making him silent, “I can see how he tried everything for me, I can see despite the hatred and accusations to me, he still believes. How could I leave someone like him who never once treated me like a slave nor a weapon?” she whispered as her expression softened.

Shin clicked his tongue because of irritation.

“Now I can see why my master said that,” he uttered.

“What?”

“My master said your barrier will break soon, now I can see why, do you know why sorcerers have a dead heart?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh please don’t play innocent here,” Shin said and chuckled.

“I honestly don’t know,” she said.

His smile faded.

“What?” he asks in great shock.

“I never know why,” she answered seriously.

He laughs.

“Ah, it seems like Omega messed you up,” he uttered.

She didn’t utter a word to answer.

“If you wanted to know you have to tell me your name,” Shin asks.

“Why would I do that?” she asks in disbelief.

“Because, we both know that you’re desperately want to know who you are,” he answered.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.

“There’s nothing wrong with saying your name, right? Your name in exchange for the answer?” Shin uttered.

It took her a few seconds before she sigh and met his gaze.

“…Celine,” she answered.

He smiled, “Nice name,” he replied.

“Now tell me,” she responded.

He chuckled.

“I’m sorry but I changed my mind, I won’t tell you anymore,” he mockingly said.

“As expected from you,” she uttered.

“But… do your best not to bring that heart into life again. That is if you don’t want to fail in protecting him,” he whispered, “It's nice meeting you Celine, I hope you can survive,” he announced and transformed into a small bird enough to get out on the small window.