亚洲综合中美

“No, there is one person.”

“...”

“And?”

“...”

“...” a treacherous long-winded silence, a prophet of a coming disaster.

“There’s only one person,” her mouth articulated each syllable with prestige, “-Julius or thy son, Igna Haggard.”

.....

“Why my son?” the tide changed, “-how dare you suggest such a thing?”

“Don’t get so worked up, this is for the future of the kingdom. Get it done, lady Courtney, I’m still thy queen!”

“Fine,” audible discontent came in a tsk, “-I’ll figure something out on my end. The Dukedom of Rotherham needs to be equal to the effort we’re to put in.”

“Don’t worry,” said she, “-if the task is successful, I’ll have most of the land over there transferred to Duke Haggard, no worries,” a lighter almost childish stress on the ‘ies’ brought Courtney to a sulk.

“Gallienne, I swear,” said she, “-I can’t believe the audacity.”

“Oh, get off it,” refuted the queen, “-we’re best friends, are we not?”

“I suppose. Alright, I’ll have it done. Make sure the realm doesn’t fall to pride or ignorance.”

“Will do.”

Inside the comfort of the apartment, guitar in hand, the phone rang loudly. *Caller: Lady Mother.*

“Good evening?”

“Hello Igna,” the youthful voice never parted, “-I have urgent news. Sorry about this; you’ll need to return to Hidros for a week. Its matters of the Academy, and a few other private issues.”

“Alright, when should I make the trip?”

“Later tonight, I’ve already sent a plane.”

“Sure... WAIT!”

“No need to shout,” said she physically distancing the phone, “-speak calmly.”

“Mother, can I bring over my companions?”

“Do as you wish, son. You’re old and responsible. I’ll see you in Hidros.”

The happenings of the realms and world were naught but passing thoughts to him. He knew not of the abdication and the strained relations. One thing did bother, the academy – he hadn’t returned for a few months. Off to Alphia he went, messages from Lady Haru stopped half-way into the trip, it felt weird to worry about someone busy.

At around 14:45, the doors opened to show Alicia and a tired Celina.

‘What’s wrong with him?’ wondered Alicia narrowing her gaze at the stern Igna. He sat with legs crossed and elbows on the counter veering towards the silent outside.

“Are you ok?”

“Yes,” turned he yawning in full, “-welcome back.”

“Igna,” she paused, “-your hair and eye, what happened?”

“Nothing much,” said he avoided the subject, “-there are more pressing matters,” dashed to Celina’s side, “-Hey, I have good news!”

“What news?” asked she nonchalantly.

“Does this involve me?” inquired the manager.

“Depends on you,” said he, “-I’m heading to Hidros for a week. Celina, you’re coming with me. It was the plan from the start.”

“What about me?” asked she stomping to stare head-to-head,”-how... wait, WHY?”

“Calm it,” said he, “-Alicia, something important came up. I’ll be back in a week; besides, we can go together.”

“No, no,” she held his shoulder, “-that’s not the matter here,” her cheeks flushed, “-why didn’t you talk to me about this?”

“Why didn’t I talk?” the head tilted in confusion, “-aren’t you dating someone from Red-Loft. There’s no reason to speak on the matter. I said you can come, what’s the big idea here?”

“Do you not get it,” her fist tightened, “-whatever,” silently ambling to her room, “-I’ll pack my stuff.”

“Alright,” returned to Celina, “-this is important. I’m sure you figured that I won’t be able to stay forever. My wish is for you to become independent. It was selfish of me to take you with, and kill your father, still, seeing your face and that environment... sort of made me want to help, you understand?”

“Yes,” she tiptoed to pat the shoulders, “-don’t worry. I want to become an idol. I’ll work hard and become famous so you don’t have to worry. I’m not a child anymore, I realized it on the day everything changed.”

“Hey, hey,” pinching her cheeks, “-it’s not like I’m abandoning you. You’ll study and work at the same time. What do you say?”

“Alright,” she smiled, “-if my dreams are fulfilled, I’ll go anywhere.”

“Thanks for that, now, go pack.”

They arrived on Saturday the 6th at around 16:00. The plane landed with a screech. A scan around showed a rather empty airfield. Not many guards were about, empty-hangars and such. Suspicion rose upon standing on the warm asphalt.

“It’s good to be back home,” breathed Igna, “-there’s a difference between Alphia and Hidros.”

“Wait for us,” called Alicia pulling a heavy bag.

“I told you,” said he smugly, “-we’re here for a week. Why pack so much?”

“A lady needs clothes for multiple occasions,” she pouted while he facepalmed. Celina watched in a confused manner, ‘-why are you facepalming?’ voiced across the dulled expression.

“Sorry about that,” he took her hands, “-don’t worry.”

“Ok,” she shrugged.

A large luxury car drove onto the airfield, “-the ride’s here,” said he to Alicia.

“Where even are we?” wondered she, “-I’ve been to Oxshield, this is different. Feels more like a military establishment...”

“We’re in a military town,” said he, “-welcome to Rotherham.” The door to the metallic beast opened automatically. Luggage in the trunk, they headed for the skyscrapers.

“It’s pretty,” said Celina hung onto the tidy scenery.

“The town’s even prettier,” said Igna.

“Wait, we’re not in town?”

“No.” No elaboration, nothing, he left her to her own demise. She thought until napping against the window.

‘What could be so urgent mother called me. It’s weird, the academy isn’t so important for such actions. There’s something else behind the scene. What have you gotten into, mother?’

“Wait, Igna,” said Alicia awoke, “-why is Rotherham not marked on the map?”

“No idea,” said he, “-go back to sleep.”

“Whatever,” she did so.

Pulled before the behemoth of a building, a retainer came to open the door.

“Welcome back, young master,” said the valet.

“Thank you, are lady Elvira and Courtney present?”

“Yes,” returned the valet fearful of matching Igna’s gaze, “-they wait in the office. Please head on inside.”

“As you wish,” returned he to a stop a few steps up the stairs, “-Alicia, Celina, will you stop gawking and come along?”

*Gulp,* “-yes, yes,” they followed. Ambling at his side felt awkward. The working personnel nodded in respect at Igna.

“Who are you, really?” wondered Alicia.

“Told you already, a son of a rich family,” said he calling the elevator.

“Rich alone can’t achieve such a prosperous facility, there’s more to it.”

“Digging too deeply might end in death, are you so pressing to see the scythe?”

“No, never mind, forget I said anything.”

*Ding,* a whiff of misfortune slowed the walk, ‘-something’s amiss. I can feel sadness and regret. What’s happened here?’ down the corridor felt as if diving further into the depths of an ever-tranquil lake. ‘-This is serious,’ he stopped shy of the door, “-could you girls please wait over there?” he pointed at a glass door leading into a study of some kind, “-mind taking care of them?” asked he to guard.

*Click,* ‘-wait?’ the bright interior took adjusting, ‘-Cousin Julius, Aunt Elvira, Mother, and lady Haru...’

“Ahh, you’re finally back,” said lady Courtney, “-come, come, sit by my side.”

“With pleasure,” to which he made his way across the heavily charged atmosphere.

“Igna,” said Julius tapping the shoulder, “-be strong.”

‘What’s happening here?’ checking lady Haru showed a distant expression. Turning to Courtney showed naught but the shake of dismissal.

.....

“Igna,” called Elvira, “-I’m sorry for the urgency,”

“No, let me,” interjected Haru. “-Igna, listen,”

“...”

“-Chef Leko’s dead.”

“Dead?” it took a few moments to sink, “-DEAD?”

“Yes,” said Haru.

“When, what, how?”

“A student found him hanging inside the restaurant two days ago.”

Words kept on filling the room, they explained, tried to go into details about the cause of death to no avail. He sat there with an empty expression, the death of someone who was practically family. The pain, the regret, the memories, ‘-how can they be calm...’ more than pain, something flipped. The aura of the room toppled.

“Igna?” the lips moved but no sound reached his ears. “-Igna, Igna?” said they trying to get his attention. ‘How can he be dead?’ a burst of dark-mana flooded the room, ‘-impossible,’ the hair levitated, ‘-There’s no way Chef Leko hung himself!’

“Keep it together,” *Mana-Cancellation,* a flick on the forehead, “-don’t fall prey to despair,” said Courtney pulling him into a tight embrace. “-Listen to me, don’t fall prey to any of it, you hear?”

‘Mother’s beating heart,’ *thud, thud, thud,* ‘-she’s right, there’s no need to worry.’

‘How can I just say that?’

‘Don’t worry.’

‘I should worry, a close friend of mine’s dead.’

‘What about the lives you have taken, were they not also precious to another. Stop being selfish, one who kills must be readied to be killed or have those close die.’

‘No, tis not what I mean...’

‘I know what you mean, Igna, there’s no need to worry. Trust in me, trust in yourself. Remember who you are. Emotions are a pain, don’t worry, trust me, don’t worry.’

‘Trust in me, yes, trust in myself. Who cares if someone’s dead, they’ll all reach the afterlife someday. I’m a fool, snap out of it.’

“igna...Igna...IGNA!”

“Yes, sorry,” sat upright in the chair, “-the shock came so suddenly. Thank you, mother,” turned to Haru and Elvira, “-how did he die?”

“We’re suspecting a murder,” said Elvira, “-Leko would never kill himself. No idea on the motive so far. The academy’s dodged the issues entirely.”

“I’ll take it from here,” interjected Courtney, “-let me explain what’s happened over the past few months.” All and all, it took more than two hours, the guests were carried to a nearby hotel.

‘How did he die?’ a pitch-dark room swayed by the draft of the night-wind. Glimmers of the setting sun onto the rising night, moon in the company of the stars, a lonesome combination of astral-bodies from which many drew fortune and what to expect. The answer sought in the astral plane sure were convoluted and vague. Hanging onto the stool of the double-hung window, ‘-the stars sure are lonely. Weirdly feel appeased by them. Leko’s dead, the realm is in chaos and I’m here trying to become a star. It doesn’t feel right anymore. I worked hard to be a chef, and now, the reason why I cooked is gone. What’s the point of anything, its so fleeting. Here I thought life was going great, what a big pile of goo that was. Arda’s in trouble again; the place I swore to protect and nurture’s fallen into the hands of Lucifer. How many times are you going to pain me, damned god of Kreston? Can’t you leave me alone – took my life, stole my powers, and still not enough. Eira’s not any better either, she chose him as opposed to making amends. Tharis, Orenmir... screw it.’

“éclair, call Cousin Julius right away.”

“Sure.”

“Hello?”

“Hello, cousin Julius,” rage bellowed, “-I need a favor.”

“What is it?” returned he cautiously.

“Can we head to Arda as soon as possible?”

“Yes, why?” the voice grew even more suspicious.

“I need to meet with my aunt. There’s something important I ought to say. Goes double for princess Eira as well.”

“You do know the state of affairs there,” the way he asked so casually turned caution into annoyance.

“I know and I don’t care. She’ll be pleased to have a surprise visit from her son.”

“Mind I ask the reason?” the temper bordered a thin-line.

“I want to reclaim Orenmir and Tharis.”

“Are you serious?” he coughed, “-the cursed weapons?” pent-up ire vanished.

“Yes, the cursed weapons, will you help or no?”

“Are you so willing to die?” argued he.

“Cousin Julius, please, grant me this singular wish.”

“Put that way,” he gave, “-I suppose I can do something.”