Chapter 4: Voneveir II

Such joy in his face made Alex feel the opposite.

'So in the end, he didn’t survive. He won so many battles but he died at the hands of those he taught how to wield a sword… and as your King, I just let them do so… what kind of king am I if I just let you die like that? I even made your family live like this.'

"He was named as a criminal for defending the king. I don’t care about his loyalty to the royals because, in my eyes, none of them deserves the throne. They are all scumbags."

"Are… you not afraid of speaking about them like that?"

Snickering, Clad didn’t even hide his resentment towards them.

"I know who I should respect. In my opinion, they are not qualified for such a thing. All they have is a name, a royal bloodline which they probably made up just to be in that title," he sighed. 

Many things surely did happen in his life and he was well aware of it. But among those things, he was not a bit happy about what happened.

"To be named as a criminal, if you are a royal or have a name for yourself… then your family will also…"

"You know a lot for your age. And you even said you are from Floranteine?"

"…"

"I don’t care how you know that old man but as much as I hate to talk about it, I said what you want. He is the reason why those guards are chasing me. They want me dead. Even though I know it wasn’t his very fault, he was the one who gave them a chance to exterminate those who possessed his ability. Hah, what am I even saying, speaking to someone like you? Who are you exactly anyway?"

"I... am Alex. Just like what I told you last time-"

"Do you think I am a fool? How did you know about Kranses? It is a top secret of the kingdom. How can a Floranteine citizen like you learn about that? And even know how to make an antidote?"

'I am indeed not just any Alex that Frank knew before. I am the Voneveir’s former king. The very reason why your life is like this… but how can I tell you that when you would surely kill me if ever you learned about it?'

"I read it in a book I saw before."

"A book, a book containing that information to be read by... you? And you can even read, huh?"

"I am telling the truth."

"Hah, there is no hope in you telling me who you are. If you don’t speak it yourself, then don't mind me looking for it on my own."

Standing up, the wooden chair hit the floor made from smoothed stones.

"Brother Clad? Alex? You two are not fighting again, right?"

"No, we were just talking."

"That was good to hear, I was worried for nothing."

Alex gave him a small smile.

"Frank, do you want some?"

"No, I am already full."

He said, grinning in happiness.

"Who wouldn’t be full after eating so much food? Are you a shark or what? You finished a week's worth of my food! Tch."

"I will just replace it," Clad replied without hesitation.

"As if I would let you."

"Frank, it is alright… I think Brother Shank is just a bad-mouthed person but he is kind."

Alex added to comfort him. Even with this short time, no bad person would tell someone that thing he said. They met just this day but he did help them in many ways.

"What? I am just telling the truth. And don't call me Shank. Only Clad can do that. It is Cielo. Brother Cielo," Shank- Cielo said, defending himself.

"Sorry, sorry if I ate too much. It was you who said I can eat to my heart’s content... I… didn't know you didn’t mean it like that... Living in a slum doesn't give me that tasty food. I was a bunch excited after eating such a meal..."

"Now you made him cry," Clad looked at Cielo with eyes saying it was Cielo’s fault.

"What? Wait.. Why am I the bad guy?? My food was eaten by kids I barely knew! How can I..."

"Sorry..."

Out of frustration, he walked out, leaving Frank in a down spirit. Clad just shook his head and sighed.

Days passed and they hid in this place but they knew they couldn’t hide forever. The time would come when they would need to leave. And to Clad's calculation, it came faster than he expected.

"Clad, some guards are patrolling and checking door to door."

"Damn.. they are here already?"

"Brother Clad, it's you whom they are looking for, right? Then... We can buy you some time for you to escape."

"I’m in. What they said is true. You have to leave. They are after your life, Clad." Cielo started smiling in agreement with what Frank suggested.

"But..."

"We will be safe. If that is what you are worried about. I’ll babysit these two just for now."

A knock was then heard on the door, and they all knew that the guards were outside. 

'Go.'

Cielo pointed him to the escape door he had. Clad nodded and bid farewell. 

"Hey, open up this door right now!"

The banging grew louder and louder. Frank couldn’t help but hide his fright. Even Cielo had no plan on what to do with this situation. They indeed had a plan and that was to let Clad escape while they bought him some time. 

'But how am I exactly going to stop them? I didn’t think much about it…'

A drop of sweat fell from his forehead.

He knew that if they did not do anything, they were doomed.

Surprised when Alex pulled the two, he whispered to them which made their eyes open wide in surprise. A grin was then written on Cielo’s face.

"We have warned you. If you do not open this door in my count of three, we will force our way inside!"

"One!"

"Two!!"

"Three!"

And by that, a loud crashing sound was heard as the door banged open wide.