Grimoires & Masters - Chapter 6.

Alexis was fuming with rage. The arrangements of the ceremony were under his command today. He had done everything he could to ensure the safety of everyone, but even then, fifteen assassins had managed to hide among the crowd and bypass the eyes of the surveillance team. There were tens of thousands of people in the Hall, but that was not an excuse for the events that had just unfolded. He would have never forgiven himself if his siblings had come to any harm under his watch.

He gestured the Guards waiting on hold to come forward and instructed them to check the stands again. The Head of the Surveillance Team was sweating profusely. He instructed his team to run a check on the crowd knowing that one more assassin could mean the end of his life or his Job.

“My Apologies, everyone!” Alexis spoke up to the crowd. “The Security Teams will now run a check on every individual present in the Hall today. I would appreciate it if you cooperate with them.” 

The crowd nodded to his words and happily cooperated with the security team. The people knew that what had happened today could result in a war with an Empire or a Kingdom if they are found, but they could never forgive someone for an assassination attempt on the lives of the Royal Household.

The spells were cast, the Runes were called out, and the crowd was engulfed in shades of lights that swept the entire Hall.

“They would have not attempted it if Elena and Aoun had failed today…” The Empress voiced out her assessment.

“Yes… but the emergence of an Emperor and an Empress is not something the Powers can easily digest.” The Emperor nodded to her words and sighed. “The World is Cruel, Rin. I am afraid that the decades-long peace would finally face war again.”

“That’s what they asked for…” Rinellia Zaryven answered gravely. The coldness in her voice was terrifying.

The conversation of the Emperor and the Empress was heard by everyone in the Royal Stand, and the pale looks on their faces revealed their fears of War.

“Rest easy, everyone…” Alana smiled at the Royal Guests. “As long as the assassins don’t turn out to be affiliated to your Lands, none of you has to fear a thing, but then again, if they happen to be your people, we shall still send you back safely to your homes with the declaration of War.”

The words of the Queen eased their nerves and sent chills down their spines at the same time. The smile on her face didn’t look like that of a mother who’s children could have been assassinated a while ago. She was a Queen, strong and ruthless, and the world knew better than to take her words lightly.

Minutes passed, the crowd was still basking in lights of spells. To the relief of the Head of Surveillance, no one suspicious presented itself. 

“Lord Alexis,” He apologetically lowered his head and said. “The Teams have not found anyone suspicious in the Crowd.”

“Take your time, General,” Alexis answered gravely, “When the Ice-Queen takes back that shield, and if another assassin appears, your head will be the first one to fall on the ground.”

The words of the Crown Prince reminded him of the ruthlessness of the World and his mistakes. He had forgotten to take into account that some assassins could still be hiding in the crowd and utilizing some spells or runes to hide their identities. There was a possibility that the assassins had managed to survive the Surveillance Checks. The threat wasn’t over.

“I will make sure that no one even gets close to the Platform if they are still hiding in the crowd,” The General said with resolution. 

The Elemental Cat of Annihilation, the focus of the crowd, was peacefully laying on the shield of Darkness it had created to hide Aoun and Elena from the world. It’s illusory black body sparkled, and crown over its head emitted wisps of Darkness. It was a beautiful creature, and those that were seeing it for the first time cherished the moment to the fullest. The Guests in the Royal Stand were no different. The young princes and their parents were intrigued by its presence as well. Waves of envy and helplessness washed over the hearts of Masters. A Legendary Class beast was a dream of every Master in the World. The Mystic Beasts and Elemental Beasts were both Legendary Class Beasts, but the Elemental Beasts were said to be a hundred times rarer than their classmates. 

The Dark Nyx opened its Stary golden-eyes making the crowd gasp in astonishment and sent waves of fear over their hearts. It was only now that they saw its eyes. A Golden Ranked Beast. A Beast strong enough to erase the Capital from its existence if it went all out. It was a Beast Strong enough to kill an Emperor-Ranked Master, and right now, it lovingly danced around the shield of Darkness that was evaporating, revealing what it was hiding. The Nyx stopped dancing and sat on the shoulder of Aoun, rubbing its face on his cheek and making him laugh. 

“Hey, Kuro…” Aoun gently stroked its head. 

“Hmph..” Elena pouted as she witnessed their exchange. “It never allows me to play with it, but it is so friendly with you.” 

“Oh.” Aoun chuckled at her complain. “I think Kuro only likes beautiful people…” 

Elena squinted her eyes even though she knew that he was only messing with her. 

“And I am not beautiful?” She asked threateningly. 

“Nah,” Aoun shook his head without hesitation. “You are a little too beautiful for this World.”

“I am not sure if that is a compliment…” She giggled despite saying that, and the rosy blush on her cheeks revealed that she was pleased by his answer. 

“Congratulations!” 

An excited voice brought their attention back to the World. It was Alexis who was grinning happily. 

“You two love birds are married now…” He winked at Elena as he said those words. 

Elena didn’t know how to react to his words. She knew that they were married, the seal of Love was warm on her heart. The vow they had taken was still fresh in her mind, and she could feel the emotions of Aoun for reasons that she was not consciously aware of. 

She was happy today. It was the best day of her life, and the fact that she knew what emotions her brother had in his heart made her day even brighter. His happiness amplified hers. She boldly grabbed his hand and leaned in his embrace. 

“He was always mine…” She whispered, loud enough for the world to hear it.

Aoun inadvertently looked in the direction Mellisa was standing, and the expressionless look on her face made his heart skip a beat. He noticed blocks of ice placed on the floor, and on a closer look, his expressions turned grim. 

“She took care of them before they could do anything,” Alexis answered his unvoiced question. “Alright now, show us our Elements. Everyone’s waiting to see them.”

Alexis’ reminder made Elena grab Aoun’s hand a little tighter. It didn’t catch anyone’s eye, but it conveyed her support to him. 

“It’s Ice…” Aoun whispered as he drew his free hand forward. A blue glove of ice took form on his hand and covered it. 

The crowd burst out in cheers, and the atmosphere in the Hall was again festive. 

“I am Fire…” Elena giggled as she drew her hand for the world to see. A ball of flame formed there, red and with specks of Golden. It was beautiful.

Alexis nodded with excitement and hugged them both tightly. 

“I am proud of you two…” 

“Thanks, brother…” They answered unison. 

Alexis couldn’t stop laughing, and it was evident on his face that he was the most excited one in the Hall today. 

Aoun and Elena felt sweet in their hearts seeing their older brother so happy. He was someone who had never stopped believing in Aoun, and he had never stop encouraging him on every step in his life. He was the man Aoun wanted to catch up to, strong, brave, resilient, and responsible. 

As soon as he allowed Aoun and Elena to escape from his embrace, he was back in his Crown-Prince persona. He proudly looked at the crowd and congratulated them on their Second Prince’s success. He also announced a week-long festival in honor of Elena and Aoun, and in celebration of their marriage. The crowd was ecstatic when they heard of his plans. The Crystal City and the Three Kingdoms of White Winter shook the sky on their heads with their enthusiasm. 

The ceremony was over for the day. Aoun and Elena took their leave first from the Hall and used the same Teleportation Rune that they had come from to depart. The Room they arrived in was the central living room of the Palace, and the rest of the family that was not present in the Royal Stand was here. They had witnessed everything on the illusory screens that were set up here.

“Uncle!” A small figure with his adorable smile and voice called out to him. He staggered as he took his baby steps towards him, and laughed as Aoun picked him up and lightly threw up in the air before holding him in his embrace. 

“How’s our little Arthur?” He asked the little boy. 

“Happy…” The boy answered honestly, his eyes sparkling in curiosity and other lights that an adult could never understand. “Why were you covered in that cage there? I wanted to see more…” He complained, but he was still smiling. 

“You are not going to greet me?” 

Elena smiled threateningly at the little boy, who laughed in return and totally forgot about the question he had just asked. 

“You are awesome!” His attention was now all on Elena. “Would you show me that Golden ball again?”

She nodded and formed the ball of flame again on her hand. She made it seem even more sparkling, and the curious eyes of the little boy seemed to be enchanted. 

“Arthur…” A voice grabbed the little boy’s attention. “You can play with your Aunt later. She has just awakened, let her get some rest for now.” 

“Okay, Mumma.” The obedient boy nodded and gestured Aoun to put him down. He then went off to play with his maid that picked him up in her embrace. 

“I would have beat you up if you had not taken part in the ceremony…” The lady with Zaryven features laughed as she ruffled Aoun’s hair.

“Do you know anything other than beating people up?” Aoun retorted and tickled her belly to stop her from messing up his hair.

“You have no respect for your Elders.” The lady squinted her eyes and pouted her sensuous lips in complain. “Don’t ever forget that I raised you up in my arms,” She said and smacked a slap at the back of his head. 

Elena giggled when she saw their exchange and earned a sadistic smile form the lady.

“You too, little princess…” 

“Is that so, Lady Elsa” Elena replied back with an equally sadistic smile and grabbed the dagger that was placed on her waist.

Aoun let the two sisters be and moved over to greet the other family members of the family. He greeted his Aunt, Elsa’ mother, first and then moved on to greet the other ladies of the Palace. 

“Where’s Erica?” He asked Elsa, who was now laughing with Elena. 

“Oh…” Elsa sighed and palely smiled at Aoun for reasons he couldn’t understand. “She ran off to her room right after you completed your awakening ceremony.”

Aoun was surprised to hear her words. He had expected Erica to be the first to come and greet him, but it was little Arthur who did it. 

“You should go and meet her there…” Elsa urged him in curtained words, and Aoun nodded back before taking his leave from the room.

He walked past the corridors in silence as chaos descended upon his mind. His eyes were grave, heart racing, and his palms were sweating. There was a Rune in his mind, as black as darkness could be, revolving sinisterly and urging him to allow it to show its might. The first Rune was always bestowed to the Master by the Holy Grail, and the rest of the Runes were something one had to look for and attain. 

For Aoun, the rest of the Runes were not even in the subconscious of his mind. He was scared of what the fate had thrown him and Elena in, and the mere thought of the life of lies he had to live from now on sent a pang of pain that his heart trembled in. Despite all the pain, anger, and fear, there was excitement sizzling in his veins. Elements were the reflection of a person’s personality, and he was the enemy of the world. 

“Lord Aoun!”

His thoughts came to a halt as a voice called out to him. He found Seven standing in front of him, and unbeknownst to him, he had arrived outside Erica’s room.

A smile crept on his lips when he saw Seven. 

“Is she asleep?” He inquired.

Seven lowered his head and lightly shook it. 

“No,” He said. “She’s crying in silence.” 

The words shook his heart, and the grave look returned back in his eyes. This time it was not in fear, but a chilling rage.

“What happened?” He asked coldly.

Seven stayed silent. He looked at Aoun with a puzzled look. 

“I have no idea, my Lord,” He said and kept observing the expressions Aoun was wearing. “Perhaps, her pain is in her heart and the result of her thoughts.”

Aoun nodded and then turned to look at the left side of the door.

“Why are you outside, Nine?”

Silence answered him, but then a figure emerged as she let go of her invisibility cloak.

Nine was the Shadow of Elsa and the guardian of her daughters Erica and Rebecca. She was almost a hundred years old, but being a Tyrant, she looked no different than any other 21-year-old lady in the world. She was beautiful enough to have eyes still on her, but there was a unique sensuality about her than made her pretty looks incite lust in the loins of men. 

“Lady Erica made me leave the room…” She answered as she looked at him with a puzzled look that Seven had in his eyes as well. 

Aoun had not paid attention to it when Seven had looked at him like that, but now he couldn’t help but be curious. 

“What is it?” He asked them both. 

Seven stayed silent, and he apologetically lowered his head. It was his answer. He didn’t want to say it, but Nine was not like him. 

“Your Aura is terrifying…” She said is a questioning manner, expecting him to curb her curiosity with an answer. 

The revolving Black Rune stopped as soon as his consciousness focused on it. He was glad that we figured it out early, or he would have been in a lot of trouble later. 

“Is it gone now?” He smiled and asked Nine. 

“Subsided, yes,” She nodded. “Gone, no.” 

“I see…” Aoun frowned at her reply. He didn’t have an answer for it right now. 

He shook his head off the thoughts that were coming to him. It was his Aura that had been sleeping all these years, and he knew that he couldn’t force it. Taking a deep sigh, he stepped forward to open the door and see what his little princess was hiding.

“My Lord…” Seven called out to him. “Congratulations on becoming a Master!” He said in simple, yet heartfelt words. 

“Thank you, for you never stopped believing in me.”

Aoun nodded back with a smile before entering the room. He locked the door behind him and walked to the bed in silent steps. The little figure on the bed was hugging a pillow, and as he stepped closer to the bed, her body lightly shivered. She knew it was him.

“I must say that I am a little sad, lady…” He said slowly with a sigh. “My favorite Princess has not yet congratulated me on my success. Is she the same girl that proclaimed her faith in me every day?”

“Hmph…” She hugged her pillow tightly. “I am not your favorite Princess. You love Elena more than me.”

“Well… that’s true.” Aoun nodded without hesitation even though he knew that his words would hurt her. “I love her the most.” He said as he sat down on her bed and leaned in to plant a kiss on her head. The dried tears at the corner of her eye made his heart uncomfortable. 

“Congratulations Uncle… You have married the person you love the most in your life.” The little girl turned her head to him and said with a forced smile. Her misty eyes were trying her best to contain her tears.

“Thank you!” He chuckled as he saw her act in front of him. 

Aoun picked up Erica and sat her down in his lap. He made her face him, and as a result, he saw her eyes turn grave, and her cheeks burn in her anger. 

“You don’t seem happy about it. Do you hate your Aunt?” 

Erica shook her head. 

"Then, do you hate me?” He asked again as his eyes turned serious. The playfulness in his eyes vanished, and the severity in his voice made her heart tremble. 

“No…” She answered and lowered her head. 

“What is it?” He demanded an answer. 

The little girl didn’t mind the severity in his voice. Unbeknownst to her, her mind had calmed down now, and her heart was not that uncomfortable. The mistiness in her eyes subsided. 

“I don’t know. I felt pain in my chest when I saw the Holy Grail seal you two in a seal of Life and Death, and then in the seal of Love.” She whispered. “I have read about it in the library. The seal of Life and Death can only be placed by the Holy Grail. And the requirement for it is the unconditional and unyielding love the two people hold for each other. It is the best of the blessings, a result of the purest of the feelings.” She had not hidden the envy in her voice.

Aoun stayed silent after he heard her words and observed her expressions. He had always known what this silly girl was cooking in her mind. Her feelings were innocent, but the cruel time had hurt her so early in life. 

“It is the truth of life, girl…” He caressed her cheek and planted a kiss on her forehead. “No one is capable of loving his loved ones equally. There is always someone we love more than others, and for me, it’s Elena. However, there are people that I dearly love, and I love them more than I can put in words.”

Erica looked at him with serious eyes, a shine of understanding reflecting in them. 

“As long as the feelings are sincere, and the trust in each other is unwavering, the love never ceases and keeps growing.” 

“Do you love me?” 

“Of course!” He nudged her nose. “I love you dearly, little princess.”

“So, I am your second favorite girl?” She asked as she tilted head. 

“Third… I guess.” He smiled and winked at her. 

Erica squinted her eyes and pouted.

“So, there’s another girl you love more than me. Your heart is too fickle, Uncle.” She folded her arms on her chest and pretended to be upset about it, but the curiosity in her eyes was evident. 

“Want to know who it is?” 

As expected, she smiled brightly and nodded her head. 

“I will tell you if you promise to keep it a secret between us…” 

“I promise!” 

Aoun knew that this girl would stay true to her words. He leaned in close to her ear and smiled devilishly. He wanted to see how she would react to the news. 

“I am married to Mellisa.” 

The news blanked out Erica as she dumbfoundedly looked at him with her eyes and mouth agape. 

Minutes passed as several expressions descended upon her lovely face, and he enjoyed every bit of that. 

“Seriously?” 

“Have I ever lied to you, girl?” He chuckled. “But sshhhh…” He placed his finger on her lips. “It’s a secret for now.”