CHAPTER 9 - ARTH

The fireplace crackled and disrupted the silence in the small room. Arth sat on the huge chair, facing the hearth, his eyes dazing on the flames. He could never imagine what would’ve happened had they got caught by the archmages. Everyone would know about Janshai’s identity. All the people in Glacia would go mad and wild if they discovered their king had been keeping a demon in the castle for almost a year now. Trusts would be broken and suspicions would arise.

As much as Arth could not want to break his people’s trust, he also couldn’t afford to let Janshai fall into danger from the archmages … much more now that he’s ill. He promised himself he would protect his friend no matter what. And now, he’d been faced with a hard time, not knowing what to do to address both needs.

It was of pure luck that the archmages had yet to find them, despite taking Janshai out of the concealment barrier in his chamber. They could’ve traced them by now. But a day had come by since they snuck his sick friend out of the castle, with the help of Luna. The hideout that they had in the Lower Ring was still open, as it was the only closest place they had to hide Janshai.

“Tea, Your Highness?” Luna’s voice from behind interrupted him from his thoughts.

Arth shifted straight in his seat, then shook his head. “I’m fine, Luna. Thanks.”

The tall woman sat on the chair beside Arth’s, holding a cup of tea. She had her golden hair trimmed like a man’s cut, her sharp face shone by the firelight from the hearth.

“Are you not heading back to the castle now?” Luna said. “The councilors might’ve already noticed your absence last night.”

“I can’t,” Arth replied, still looking at the flames. “I have to watch him here. The archmages might barge in anytime today.”

“You have barely even slept last night, Your Highness. You should return now. I can watch Janshai while you’re away.”

“I can’t leave him.”

Luna let out a huge breath before sipping on her tea. For a long moment, they let the crackling of the burning woods fill the silence in the room. Arth was beginning to worry about Sir Kael. He had not seen the Divine Knight since they jumped through the trapdoor from Janshai’s chamber. What could’ve happened to him? Did Arch Garaman find out why Sir Kael was in that room?

Suddenly, there came the sound of the bed creaking. Arth turned his head, only to see Janshai struggling in his dreams … again. He sprang to his feet and went to attend to his friend.

Janshai’s sweat broke from his forehead; his eyes squeezed shut and his pale lips pursed as his breathing quickened. His grip was on the bedsheet, strong and tight.

“Janshai …” Arth sat at the bedside and pressed his palm on Janshai’s sweaty forehead. It was as hot as the flames from the hearth up close.

Luna came beside him. “I’ll have to wake him up …” She covered Janshai’s head with both hands, then she muttered, casting words in Elyfan language.

One moment there was dimness, the next her palms flashed golden light, tiny strings of alar entering Janshai’s head.

“Daemon Nexus!” Janshai hissed as he snapped awake, his breath racing.

“Janshai …” Arth held his friend’s shoulder and shook him. “Look at me …”

Janshai’s breathing slowed down before he turned his head towards Arth. His skin and lips were as pale as snow, and his red eyes showed fear and exhaustion.

“What did you see?” Arth asked, looking through the guy’s red eyes. “Tell me.”

Luna handed out a glass of water, and Janshai took a short drink. Then he inhaled big air and slowly exhaled. “I had the same dream as before … but this time … it’s different …” Janshai paused for a moment, his eyes wandering around the room.

“I was back in that tree, that gigantic tree from the Underworld. But I was not stuck anymore on the trunk … unlike my last dream, I was able to walk earlier. Then I saw them.”

Arth leaned closer, furrowing his eyebrows. “Them?”

Janshai nodded. “The six Demonlords … I saw them all standing in a magic circle.”

“Did you see the Demon King?”

“He wasn’t there.”

Arth shared a glance with Luna, frowning. Janshai seeing those Demonlords must’ve meant something big … but he could not point out what exactly. “What were they doing in the magic circle, the Demon Lords?”

“They’re …” Janshai pursed his pale, dry lips and swallowed hard before continuing, “They’re all staring at me … as if they want me to enter the circle. But I just stood on my ground … and I tried talking to them … but they wouldn’t speak.”

Arth was beginning to understand what Lucas had told him in the dungeon. The Legion wanted Janshai … but why? Whatever the reason was, Arth must not let them get their hands on his friend. It would risk Janshai’s safety and the life of all people in Glacia. He had to protect the guy.

Arth recalled how many times Janshai had saved his life before. At this point, he would have to do the same for him, now that Janshai needed him more than ever. 

“What else did you see?”

Janshai took a deep breath as he stared at his hands. “My soul,” he replied, turning to Arth with his exhausted eyes, then he returned his gaze down. “I saw it … red and burning … the Demonlords have their grasp on my soul.”

“That might’ve been the reason you keep on having that dream,” Luna said all of a sudden, looking thoughtful. “The concept of the soul is directly connected to the Tree of Genia in my country, Asveneas. It’s where all souls are born, from the life energy the tree brings forth. The tree that you’re seeing in your dream must be its exact opposite … the Tree of Exodia …”

Arth faced Luna, his eyes blinking in puzzlement. “There’s another one, then?”  

“From the ancient texts of Elyfan Mythology, there are two trees of origin in which the Adentus had created …” Luna paused as she took a sip on her tea, “They called it the Tree of Genesis and the Tree of Exodus a long time ago … but we now refer ours as the Tree of Genia. The demons, on the other hand, worship the Tree of Exodia. Some people believed that there is the third tree of origin in the heavens … they would call it the Tree of Skya, since there are only three Adentus that existed before Earthos was created.”

“I see,” Arth said, nodding slowly, “So it’s the Tree of Exodia Janshai must be seeing in his dreams …”

“That’s what I presume,” Luna said.

Janshai laid his head back on the pillow, his breath crisp and deep. “I just can’t understand why the hell I am in that damn tree.”

“Dreams are caused by either two things … your past … and your future.”

“Future?” Janshai raised an eyebrow, darting his eyes at Luna. “It’s impossible. I’ve no plans for going back to the Underworld. The portal had been closed, is it not?”

Arth frowned … realizing Janshai had not yet known about the demons attempting to take him. He’d been thinking about telling his friend, just so Janshai would be more careful now.

“If it’s not caused by what will happen in the future,” Luna continued, “Then it must have something to do with your past.”

A blank expression came into Janshai’s face, then he shifted his eyes from Luna towards the hearth. “What do you mean to say?”

Luna sighed. “I know you never talk about anything in your past … so I cannot ask any more about it.”

“Why?” Arth said, looking at Janshai. “You can tell us now … even just an idea of where you came from. You said Lucas found you during the war nineteen years ago … how exactly did it happen? Like … where were you before the Legion came?”

“You heard Luna,” Janshai spoke with a sudden bitterness in his tone, “You better stick to that.”

“Janshai,” Arth said, his serious eyes studying the guy’s face. “You have to tell us … I have to know—”

“Why would you have to know, you idiot?” Janshai snapped.

“Because those damn demons are all after you now!” Arth stood, both hands on his waist as he gazed at the fireplace.

Silence broke in, shortly giving him the chance to hear his own breathing.

“What the hell did you just say?”

Arth closed his eyes and let out a huge breath. “A demon has been trying to trace you … the same demon who tried to free Lucas from his cell. You’re in a deeper trouble than you imagine.”

“Well, why didn’t you just tell me? Why would you have to keep silent, the both of you?”

“Because I still do not know who we’re dealing with … and I didn’t want to worry you,” Arth replied, turning around to face Janshai. “That’s why I’m here to protect you … I have to know, Janshai …”

Janshai stormed his eyebrows; a cold, serious look. “Know what? My past?”

“I have to know what those dreams of yours meant. Because I am certain it is connected to what’s about to come to Glacia. Your dreams might be telling us something.”

“Damn it,” Janshai leaned back on the wall, “I do not have a certain answer of what those dreams meant.”

“Then at least tell us where you came from … I believe it can help us find out what’s happening with you now.”

Janshai lowered his gaze … his red eyes unsteady. “I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“I said, I can’t …”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t remember a thing …” Janshai said with a sudden raise in his voice. “I can’t remember what happened before the war. I don’t know where I came from … or who my parents are … or why the hell I am a half-human and a half-demon.”

“You …” Arth blinked twice, “You don’t?”

Janshai shook his head. “Only Lucas knows.”

“Well, have you tried asking him about it?”

“Many times, I did … but he’d always say … nothing in my past matters now.”

“Yes, it does!” Arth said, rubbing his face. “It does matter now, Janshai.”

At first, the burning woods crackled amidst the silence—the next there was a knocking sound on the door, causing their heads to turn around.

“Your Highness,” a familiar voice said behind the door, “it’s Kael.”

“Get in.”

The Divine Knight was dressed in a white cloak as he entered the chamber; breath racing as if he’d been running for hours. “Two things,” he said, showing two fingers of his uncut hand, panting hard.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Arth stepped forward, “What is it now, Sir Denvorn?”

“Tristan had just come back from Cold Hills,” Kael replied.

“Tristan?” Arth blinked his eyes under his stormed brows. “But I thought he …”

“He changed his mind, Your Highness. He said he’d take the quest if you’d agree to the terms he had for you.”

“Very well. I’ll see to it as soon as I get back to the citadel. What is the other one?”

Kael took one large breath before he continued. “They now had their eyes on me, My King, those archmages including the high councilors.”

“What do you mean?”

“Them finding me in Janshai’s chamber yesterday had raised suspicion. They think I’m working with Lucas … and with the demon inside the citadel. Now, I’m yet to be certain if I have been followed on my way here. The high councilors have got eyes everywhere, I believe.”

“I see,” Arth replied, nodding, looking worried. He had to return now to the citadel, else the councilors would find out about his absence. But he couldn’t leave Janshai alone here in the Lower Ring … he’d never forgive himself if those demons would capture Janshai just because he left his friend.

“I know what you are thinking, Your Highness,” Luna spoke all of a sudden. “It’s okay. I can watch over Janshai in the meantime.”

“Thank you, Luna,” Arth replied. “Now, we must go, Sir Denvorn.”