The door opened and closed softly and then Kevin appeared with a glass of blood in his hands. "Have this and let us talk about the strange energy I feel in here because I don't think it was here before I left earlier." He said.
"Thanks, buddy, but nothing escapes your notice, does it. I asked him, gulping down the blood but still feeling parched. "This is not quenching my damn thirst". I placed the glass down with a loud thump. Before proceeding to ask him " I guess Serena is not around? Because I want to drink straight from the source, or I can't keep a sane mind."
"Why are you asking about her before calling for a maid to serve you?" he asked
"That is because she is not comfortable seeing me biting on someone's wrist or neck to draw blood. Have you not noticed that? "No," he shrugged and ordered the guards outside to call over a maid.
"Seems like you are dumb in some areas, after all. I chuckled, "But man, pay some attention to her because you know how well she can hide her feelings and thoughts."
"You alone doing that is enough," he responded
"There was a soft knock, and a young maid emerged at the doorway.
Bowing her head she said "You called for me your highness "Her soft voice sounded in the room
I beckoned her over and took a bite on her wrist.
Wiping my mouth after having my fill, I sent her away and turned to my friend.
"Have you summoned the eastern kingdom's mage? I want to get this mark and everything related to it checked to know how to plan our way out of this situation. " I asked him seriously.
" He will arrive by twilight, so hang in there, and, sir Reshfield asked to scry into your soul to know its stability to avoid accident. I hope you will allow him." He answered
"I will think about that one after the eastern mage comes."
"And also his majesty the king will leave the kingdom to the southern sector to oversee the impending war between the people of Avantin and Cresta. So we can start our departure to Lumeris in a week from now." He continued his report.
"That is great timing. What about my mother? I asked
"The queen mother is still in the palace, although I kept the matter of you not being in the palace that night from her. I have an inkling that she knows, so you have to meet her before we depart.
"Mmm, she will definitely catch on, but that will be taken care of, so no worries. Just update Serena on our plans so she doesn't come here complaining about us leaving her out. You know how dramatic she can be.
"Yeah, I know," he approached the door about to open it but stopped and turned towards me.
"You did not tell me about the energy I felt when I entered the room," he questioned me again, standing and holding the doorknob, showing he won't leave unless I tell him.
"Hah, you this persistent man, it was a woman from the rift. Who claims to be the design of that ancient magic, and that she will be my guide, but I'm still pondering it. I don't want to step into muddy waters. I know nothing of so..." I trailed off
"It wasn't that hard telling me was it, " he taunted. "Anyways, your decision is good too.
Four days passed within the blink of an eye.
And for three consecutive days, I've been training non-stop like a maniac but still seeing little to no improvement.
I was now on the training grounds sparring with the mage from the east, Sir Avalt.
Suddenly I blacked out again for the third time this afternoon.
"Ugh, my head is hurting... where am I? I looked around to see that I was now in a forest. This forest looks like the one close to the villa. But, why i'm I here i remember falling unconscious on the training grounds.
"Hey, you finally woke up, Prince Iael."
I look towards where I heard the man's voice, and I see Sir Avalt now dressed in long flowing white robes. He was standing on a thin branch of a tree as if gravity did not affect him.
"Welcome to the forest of stans. It's a forest that houses more spirit energy than any I have discovered so far. So this is where we will be doing your training from now till you leave for Lumeris.
I look at him and ask "Why can't we train in the villa I understand that you want a place filled with more spirit energy, but my father is a sly old man you don't know when he will send his spies after me, and I don't want him knowing about this."
"I will activate a concealment magic and no one in this entire continent has been able to see through my magic so calm down young prince" he assured proudly.
"The spirit energy in your villa is unbalanced due to the use of more dark powers in your vicinity this is an untainted neutral environment, so to gain control we ought to start now."
"To begin, hmm...believe in yourself ."
My composed image threatened to crack,
"Is that supposed to help me in any way?" I thought we were diving into more profound methods.
"Yes, but right now you are scared and confused, like not knowing where to start. The problem you have is not only about control but also confidence and the will to strive forward. With a doubt in mind comes a weak resolve and you are facing that right now."
" I see ... so I need to discard the doubt. I continued flexing and swinging the gigantic sword in my hand.
"That is simple" Sir Avalt spoke, he thought for a moment and continued. " it's like a baby who instinctively knows how to cry....or ask for food from his mother. With your species of creatures, it's almost the same you are naturally born with confidence and pride that doesn't let you bow to just anyone.
"Just like how you mastered your abilities and weapons without aid, you can bring that resilience here."
"I get your point "I understand what he wants to imply, it's like searching my subconsciousness to find the memory of that undeniable and persistent power, confidence in yourself is the greatest weapon for even humans to accomplish something. It's like the basics.
Suddenly my vision becomes darker red, it's like I can see through everything around me the limit of my vision becomes almost limitless. And the next second,
I stood in pitch darkness like with the world around me is almost transparent even in the dark. I feel like I need to look for something although I don't know what it is.
"You have to look for the door, search for it before the darkness consumes you" I heard Mr Avalt's voice low and deep instructing me.
"Then I started looking around me, searching for that supposed door. My steps started becoming heavier the longer I spent in this unknown place. It felt like the darkness had become denser and was pressing on my shoulders.
I breathe out in short pants. Its weight is pushing me to give in, to succumb to its command but it won't be me if I comply to such a forced invasion.
I sat on my knees still fighting and reaching for the door that had now appeared meters away from me. A sudden blast of light blinded my sight for a second and the weight of the darkness was suddenly lifted.
I fell back on the growing shrubs of the forest panting hard.