Back in Valenthar, the third prince's entourage stood in front of the Imperial Palace's entrance. Royal knights and magicians lined up from the gate to the main Palace's grand door.
A magical carriage pulled by 6 Skymanes was parked just outside the gate. The Skymanes were sleek, silver-coated magical horses with flowing manes. Their hooves glowed with faint starlight.
They had large, feathered wings that shimmer with soft light, resembling dawn mist. These magical horses were capable of riding on wind currents, making their flight silent and smooth. They also had an ability to create a protective bubble around them that could shield passengers from harsh weather.
They were extremely rare and only used by the Imperial family for comfortable and safe travel. They were also suitable for transporting sick or ill people.
Behind the carriage, 50 Jet-black Vulkari Steeds with glowing crimson eyes and fire-touched manes stood tall and intimidating.
Unlike the gentle and beautiful Skymanes, the Vulkari Steeds were fierce magical horses used by high-ranking elite knights and magicians for war. Their massive bat-like wings were laced with fire veins, making them look like spawns from hell.
The third prince, Elric Veilborne came out of the palace in a wheelchair accompanied by 2 priestesses. He was a young man known for being kind-hearted, bright and youthful with shoulder-length silver-blonde hair and violet eyes.
Despite his redeeming features, he was always sickly and had a weak body, so he always stayed indoors. Barely making any public appearances or receiving guests.
The knights and magicians bowed as he came out, headed for the carriage at the gate.
Two people stood in front of the carriage with their arms folded, their auras heavy and intimidating. Even in the presence of royalty, they didn't bow or show proper manners.
These 2 were Carlos Eredros and Lina Eredros, a brother-sister duo two of the empire's chosen heroes.
When Elric arrived in front of the carriage, he looked up to the 2 with a soft smile and greeted them.
"I'm Elric Veilborne, the third prince of the Veilborne empire. It's an honour to have 2 of the empire's heroes escort me." He spoke in a warm, soft voice.
Both Carlos and Lina snorted and ignored him as they looked away. This caused many of the royal knights and magicians to glare at them in anger.
Inside the palace, in a balcony overlooking the gate, Caedros frowned as he watched this scene unfold, he didn't move. But the air changed.
Whoosh...
The atmosphere tightened, like the oxygen itself had grown heavy. Then the temperature dropped, despite the rising sun outside, the sunlight dimmed.
And then- his aura surged.
It wasn't magic. But it was worse. It was something primal. A raw killing intent, like a beast had awoken in Caedros' eyes. It was pure bloodlust.
BOOM!!
It rolled out from his body like tidal waves, crashing into every soul present except for Elric. Every one present fell to their knees as their bodies stiffened. Many gasping for air.
The brother-sister duo also felt it, it was directed at them. They both staggered back, chests heaving as their knees buckled. They tried to fight it, but their bodies-their instincts-recognized death when it stood before them.
Bang!
Lina dropped first, knees to the floor, head bowed, face drenched in cold sweat. Carlos followed soon after, his lips trembling in fear.
They had been too arrogant. They had forgotten who the third prince's father was. Emperor Caedros Veilborne, the man who's fought many wars and wiped-out troops of elite knights and magicians on his own in the battlefield.
A ruthless, seasoned fighter who also just so happened to be one of the few 8th circle magicians in this world.
"W-We apologise for being rude your highness!" Lina suddenly spoke while kneeling in front of Elric.
Carlos followed, "Y-Yes! Th-This won't happen again your highness!"
Elric, who was unaffected by the pressure this whole time smiled and spoke, "Ah... no need to apologise. It's all water under the bridge."
Saying this, he turned around and looked at the balcony where Caedros stood with a soft smile.
Caedros noticed and withdrew his bloodlust with his eyes closed and a slight nod towards his son.
The pressure suddenly lifted, and the sunlight shined bright again as everyone felt relieved and stood back up. Carlos and Lina were the only ones who remained kneeling. Even though they grew up in a high-ranking noble family in the capital, this was the first time they met Emperor Caedros.
They were born with outstanding talent for magic and later chosen as hero candidates by the church. Since heroes were naturally stronger than most elite or royal knights and magicians, this made them grow more arrogant. Believing that they were not below the royal family in status.
However, today they learned their lesson. No matter how strong they are, the emperor could easily kill them with a wave of his hand.
Elric moved forward, reaching out to the kneeling siblings as he touched each one of them on the shoulder.
"You can rise now. The journey to Lunareth is far, so we have no time to waste."
As Elric spoke. Caedros' cold voice suddenly echoed in the siblings' minds, "I entrust my son's safety to you. If something happens to him..." The voice stopped there, he didn't need to say more.
The siblings suddenly jolted up and shouted, ""Leave it to us, your Majesty!!""
Elric was confused by their sudden response but said nothing.
After that, Elric boarded the carriage with the priestesses while 48 elite royal knights and magicians accompanied him on the Valkari Steeds, 12 on every side surrounding his carriage. The remaining 2 Valkari Steeds where close-by on the sides of the carriage, ridden by Carlos and Lina.
They had to keep a close eye on the prince, or they would suffer the consequences since the emperor personally entrusted him to them.
Emperor Caedros watched as they disappeared into the distance. In the room behind him, a shadow-like figure rose from the shadows of the room.
"My Liege!" The shadow said in greeting. Caedros didn't bother turning around to face the figure.
"So? What did you find?" He asked.
The shadow-like figure stepped forward into the light, revealing his true appearance. He was the same dark elf from the slave marketplace who had followed Nolan and Selia (Chapter 15).
He was also the shadow watching on the rooftop when the cloaked, red-eyed woman from the Ash Hands found her massacred comrades in the silent street back in Lunareth(Chapter 17). As well as when Selia cast the long-range teleportation spell on the slaves in the marketplace's hidden dungeon (Chapter 18).
His name was Erden, one of the last few dark elves remaining. He was an undercover agent under Caedros sent to spy on the slave marketplace and its activities.
"There's much to discuss my liege. Please take a seat." Erden said in a deep-cold voice. Caedros turned around and walked off the balcony and into the room, taking a seat on his desk.
"Go on. I'm listening." He spoke.
Erden began telling him everything. From Selia's connection to the underworld, to Nolan's first appearance in Lunareth and the Ash Hands' attack on them, and the long-distance teleportation spell cast by Selia on the slaves.
A few minutes later, he was done explaining everything.
"Hmm... So, you're telling me the child selected the slaves herself while Selia followed?" Caedros asked.
"Yes, my liege. And I looked into the slaves she chose. Most of them had an innate, undiscovered talent for swordsmanship and magic. With some being talented in other various areas."
"Hmm... I see, this child is not simple. Are you sure she wasn't an adult using a disguise spell to hide her true age?"
"No. I sensed no mana coming from her, but she had a tremendous amount of aura. I watched her fight the with the Ash Hands' magicians myself. She was like a monster, brutal and precise yet surgical. Like an experienced swordsmaster on the battlefield." Erden said as his eyes shined in awe remembering the fight.
"I see, did you manage to trace where the teleportation spell for the slaves was co-ordinated to?
"No, my liege. It seems that High Priestess Selia changed the spell's signature. So, it can't be traced."
"I see, return to Lunareth and keep watching from the shadows. The third prince is heading there right now, so keep an eye out and make sure he's safe." Caedros said as he stood up and walked towards the door.
"Yes! My liege!" Erden replied before disappearing into the shadows as usual.
...
...
...
Moonlight Sanctuary –Lunareth’s Temple.
Elaria kneeled in front of Luna's statue, praying. Her eyes suddenly opened as a divine light flashed across them before quickly fading away.
Coming back to her senses, she suddenly frowned. She had just caught a glimpse of the events to come, a revelation. Chaos was fast approaching. Soon, Lunareth would be embroiled in a storm of blood and chaos.
Although the revelation was vague, she had seen those at the centre of the storm, and there were 3 of them, one already in the city and 2 heading there. The Ash-Hands, a child of royalty, and the Moon's chosen one.
She knew of the Ash Hands' shady plans. And the Moon's chosen one was no other than Nolan, whom she knew personally. What she didn't know was the identity of the child of royalty from the revelation.
She was confused; the royal family lived in the capital. Which was far away from Lunareth. Not to mention, the capital had a Saintess of their own. Saintess Vivian, who was older, more experienced, and had more divine power than her.
Saintess Vivian was also the Moon's favorite back in her youth. This was why she was currently the empire's strongest saint. Given all these variables, there would be no reason for any of the royals to come looking for her.
She pondered for a while, trying to figure out who it might be, but couldn't think of anyone. Since Lunareth was far, news about the capital didn't reach this place.
After a while, she decided to go to her mother. After all, Selia had many connections in the empire. Maybe she could help her figure things out.
...
A while later, she entered Selia's office.
Selia was busy with paperwork as usual, "What brings you here this time my child?" She asked with a soft smile.
"I've received a new revelation from Luna, and this one might bring disaster upon the city." Elaria said in a calm, serious voice.
Selia's smile faded as a frown appeared on her face.
"What is it?" She asked in a serious manner.
"The revelation was too vague; I only saw a storm of blood and chaos. I only have 3 clues so far. The Ash Hands, Nolan, and a child of royalty. I know of the Ash Hands' shady plans, but I'm not sure what Nolan is up this time. As for the child of royalty, I have no clue as to who they might be or why they would come here."
Upon hearing about the child of royalty, Selia fell into deep thought.
Elaria silently waited for her to come to a conclusion.
"Could it be... the third prince?" Selia murmured to herself.
Elaria overheard and asked, "The third prince?"
"Yes. I heard from one of my sources that Saintess Vivian, who was responsible of the third prince's treatment, left on an expedition to purify the Forest of Dread near the south border a while ago..." Selia paused as she thought of something before continuing.
"Now that I think about it, Saintess Vivian was also the Moon's favorite back in her younger days, but that title has been inherited by you now. If I was the emperor, other than Saintess Vivian, you would be the next best person to look after the prince as the current Moon's favorite."
Elaria listened to her mother's words and found that it made sense. Even though Lunareth was far from the capital city, news had spread throughout the empire after she was chosen as the Moon's favorite. So currently, she was considered the fourth most powerful saint in the empire despite her young age.
"The Ash Hands, Nolan, and the third prince huh... this is a bizarre combination. I can't imagine how these 3 are going to be connected to each other." Selia expressed her worries.
After narrowing down the parties involved, Selia and Elaria made plans to deploy the holy knights throughout the city to protect the citizens in case something happened. They also called a meeting with temple's elders and High Priests.
Elaria told them about the revelation but left out details about the Moon's chosen one or Nolan. She couldn't risk exposing Nolan's existence in case there were spies among the elders and High Priests.
Plans were made and the temple was on full alert for the time being.
However, no one knew what the chaos coming would bring.