Chapter Fifteen
HE TELEPORTED TO HIS BED CHAMBERS, lazy to drag his feet from there. When he arrived, he immediately punched a hole unto the mirror and the pieces shattered, scattering all over the place.
"Your Highness!" Prince Edmund's personal imperial guard rushed in. "Your Highness, do you need to go out?"
The crown prince snarled, his fangs bared in a snarl. He really needed to punch something, a mirror didn't appease his anger.
Leon, the Prince's imperial guard led him out of the chamber.
Lilyan opened her door just in time to witness the situation. She was curious so she rushed, following behind them as they made their way down the little forest behind the castle. Her white fabric danced as she ran softly to not fall far behind until they were on a clear ground. Leon threw the sword towards Prince Edmund and he caught it effortlessly.
Lilyan stopped, hiding behind a tree. Her eyes flickered between the two men who started sword fighting. Prince Edmund's sword clashed with Leon's, the sound of steel on steel ringing through the training clearing.
The prince's movements were swift and precise, his anger fueling his strikes. Leon parried each blow as his eyes were fixed on the prince's face.
"You're holding back, Leon," Prince Edmund growled, his sword slicing through the air. "Don't treat me like a child."
"Your Highness…" their swords were still clashing, the sound ringing across the training grounds.
"I'm going to slash your neck if you continue treating me like this." He hissed under his breath. "How long have we known each other?"
"Ten decades." Leon did not hesitate to answer.
"We grew up together, didn't we?" They continued fighting.
"Yes we did." As soon as he answered, the sword was pointed down his neck.
A slight movement would slit his neck.
Leon's expression remained neutral, but he increased his counterattacks. The prince welcomed the challenge, his fury driving him to strike harder and faster. It went on until they were exhausted of fighting.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Leon asked as he looked at Prince Edmund.
The crown prince shook his head,"It's nothing to worry about."
Leon knew not to ask anymore questions. Lilyan sighed, turning to walk away but she accidentally kicked a few cuts of metals which caught their attention.
Prince Edmund was beside her in a second. She gasped, almost falling but the crown prince was quick enough to hold her in place. Lilyan froze at the touch, pulling away from the prince.
"I was not following you!" The first thing she thought of was defend herself. She was not a stalker.
"I didn't say you were following me." Prince Edmund was amused. His eyes narrowed down at her.
Lilyan's eyes flickered towards Leon before she looked back at the crown prince. "Your Highness, I was taking a walk when I accidentally got lost so I was trying to find my way back to the palace but I saw you sword fighting then stopped by to take a look."
"Why are you so nervous?" He chuckled, his eyes darting towards Leon. "Don't you have something to do?"
Leon snickered but immediately bowed, "Yes Your Highness, then I shall take my leave." he rushed away from the sight of the two.
"You seem guilty, relax." Prince Edmund said walking towards the wall which was filled with different kind of archery. "Do you know how to hit a target?"
"I've never leant archery, Your Highness." She breath out.
"Come here." he beckoned her closer, hanging her the archery and an error.
Lilyan concentrated as Prince Edmund adjusted her stance, his hand brushing against hers as he guided her arrow. "Keep your arm straight, your elbow locked," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
She nodded, her focus fixed on the target ahead. With a deep breath, she released the arrow, watching as it soared through the air, hitting the mark with a satisfying thunk.
Edmund smiled. "Well done, Priestess You're quite natural!"
"I wouldn't have hit that mark if you weren't guiding me obviously." She smiled ashamed.
"Oh come on, you're really natural. If you learn it by yourself, I'm sure you'd be a pro soon." He explained.
Lilyan sighed, "You keep buttering me up with compliments Your Highness. I'm afraid I might be sick from all the sugar."
"That makes you shy?" He asked.
"No. You're—" she didn't know what to say. "You're really impossible. Really."
Prince Edmund nodded with a slight shrug, "Let's go back. It's late."
Lilyan nodded, she followed closely behind Prince Edmund as they made their way back to the palace.
"Edmund!" Princess Lisa,the youngest daughter of the current reigning King rushed towards her brother.
Prince Edmund stopped and smiled, "It's my dear princess."
She stood in front of her brother, "I haven't seen you for a while."
"I saw you not long ago." Prince Edmund said.
"It's been five days!" That sounded like an accusation.
Prince Edmund pat her head, "Don't be a baby."
Lilyan recognized the princess at a glance. She was the youngest princess who had fallen sick days before.
"Who is this?" She referred to Lilyan.
"She's Lilyan, a priestess." Prince Edmund smiled,"Lilyan, this my younger sister. I actually have two sisters but the other one is married so she's not here."
"Ah! I remember, I've met her with the High Priestess." A gentle smile appeared across her face. "Hi."
Lilyan smiled and bowed, "Your Highness."
"Let's drop the formalities, I heard that a priestess was coming to stay at the palace but I didn't know it was you! I should have long visited you." She giggled.
"Well, I should have visited Your Highness much earlier but I've been a bit busier. I'll bear in mind to visit the princess as soon as I can." Lilyan smiled.
"How about you drop the formalities first? It feels so weird being addressed so formal." Princess Lisa laughed.
Prince Edmund rolled his eyes, "You've been called like that your whole life Princess."
"I'm making a friend!" Princess Lisa frowned, once again, accusing. She never had any friends before.
Prince Edmund tilted his head, walking in further.
Both Lilyan and Princess Lisa followed behind him.
"My brother can be a bit annoying but he's so cool!" The princess said, "Don't tell hin that though, he'll be more cocky."
Lilyan's smile widen, "He's your brother, he has to receive your compliments."
Princess Lisa laughed lightly, "Not my brother though. He's not supposed to receive such compliments, you don't understand how narcissist that would make him feel."
"Alright." Lilyan didn't argue.
"I actually ran away from my studies, it's so exhausting! But my mother thinks these studies are more important than everything!" She huffed, "As if they are."
"You—" they were cut off by a scream.
"Your Highness! Her Majesty is very angry!" A maidservant came crying as she rushed behind the princess.
Princess Lisa sighed, "That's my cue, I'll see you!" then she was rushing back to her minor.
Lilyan smiled,"Prince Edmund, I have to do my evening prayers."
"I will see you, priestess." He smiled and Lilyan smiled back as she walked back to her bed chambers.
She locked her doors and lit the candles, he sat down on the cushion and started reading the holy book. Calmness surged within her and she muttered a mantra under her breath.
A cold chill ran down her spine as she took in a breath, a vision flashed on her mind eye and a loud scream escaped passed her lips. She continued to mutter under her breath, mist surrounding her. She could only see cloudy air around her and her eyes rolled, turning her pupils pure white.
'Adrì ol tômo, pù…" She continued to whisper and the mist grew thicker, swirling around her. Her voice rose and fell in a hypnotic cadence, her body swaying slightly as if possessed by a divine force.
The air seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy and the candles flickered in response.
Suddenly, the mist cleared and Lilyan's eyes snapped back into focus. She gasped for breath, her chest heaving as if she had been holding her breath for minutes. The vision lingered in her mind's eye — a dark forest, a glowing portal, and a figure beckoning her.
"May the Gods be with me." She bowed, planning to pray for the whole night so she stayed awoke, reading the holy book and praying for the recent vision.