In Search

Chapter 4

The sky is dark, emitting a cold temperature. At this time of the night, most of the people are inside the comfort of their home, tucked under the warm sheets of their bed yet, here they are, still up because of their stubborn prince.

Xiereu is up celebrating. Well, if capturing those small rats is worth a celebration, he would be the only man who would think that way.

That prince has only drank a small cup but is now acting drunk and all, and he is annoying the hell out of Kai!

Everytime Kai would attempt to stand up, he would hold her shoulders to keep her in place, lift and would force to drink.

However, Kai has a low tolerance on alcohol and a small cup would easily sway her and now she's drunk as hell!

"Xiereu! Drink some more!"

The prince accepted the toast and laughed out loud. This is why he likes Kai when she's drunk. She has no shame!

Xiereu and Kai are now laughing along with the other knights. Rios was sitting meters from them, keeping watch while sipping his drink from time to time.

As they drank and ate, new servings of food and drinks would be placed on the table.

Kai laughed out loud.

"Do you know that this prince of yours has the brain of a little kid?" She said as she drink from her cup. She dropped the cup on the table with force before she continued speaking.

"I was like, damn! What on earth did I get myself into?"

She was laughing out loud. But the knights, along with the prince fell in a deep silence.

Rios don't know if hell throw up or laugh, in the end the shock on his face remained as he watched Kai complaining about the prince. It was like a new Kai was unleashed.

Kai stopped laughing and looked at everyone that went silent. She then laughed once more while the other followed suit with a dry laugh. She was talking about the prince for goodness' sake, and his highness was just beside her.

Xiereu on the other hand, laughed together with Kai. His knight would really amuse him everytime, and he would always have fun at her expense!

Rios was just staring at them with a dumbfounded expression.

Everytime a celebration would happen, Kai would always be the one who would be drunk so hard even when she was the one so adamant to refuse at first.

• • •

Mumbling of incoherent words would be heard at the deep of the night. Everyone has fallen drunk except for the prince and Rios.

The candle light flickered as the soft wind from one's breathing came into contact with it.

The prince and Rios sat face to face with seriousness.

The mission earlier was successful yet something felt amiss. Everything was moving so smoothly that a fishy smell inevitably waft in the air.

"Everything was clean, your highness," Rios said. "Frankly, it's too clean."

"Every evidence that we've gathered would always point towards one person. The village chief. We can't find anything that would point them out." Frustration laced on Rios' voice.

It has been six years. Six years of trailing. Six years of looking for answers. Six years of trying to obtain justice.

That search earlier was supposed to lead them to their target. After years of waiting, they should have been able to get to their enemy nearer. All they got was another blank page.

Xiereu's face formed a frown. He knew that those people, the Shadows, are very hard to locate. They've liven up to their name —but he did not expect that they would still be one step ahead of him.

His face darkened even more. A burst of wind suddenly swirled inside the closed room.

"Uhrm." Kai moaned in her sleep startling the prince.

The violent wind suddenly vanished. Leaving a distorted room full of falling papers.

The prince sighed.

"I guess we have no choice now, Rios. We will be needing them."

Rios frowned. Those people are very hard to deal with. They're not enemies but neither can they be called allies.

"Are you sure? Your highness?" He asked.

"We don't really have a choice. The Crimson Rain is nearing. We don't have much time." Xiereu replied.

Yes. The Crimson Rain. Rios has totally forgotten about it. It's six months away. They really have two little time.

"We'll set off tomorrow. Prepare everything," the prince commanded.

"Yes, your highness." Rios bowed his head with his right fist on his left chest.

He then disappeared in the silence of the night.

Xiereu stood there, his eyes on Kai, but his mind elsewhere.

The blood water would fall

Land dyed with red

The eyes of a boy

The hand of the girl

Darkness covered

Oh! They will reign