Chapter 22

  The walls separating the rooms were thin, but the ones separating the floors must have been thick. Drakkel only thought this because none of the people from the other floors showed up after all the commotion. Since Aurien Wavel and his clanmates were staying on the second floor, while Drakkel and Rillian Adore were on the third, this explanation made sense. So Drakkel let go of his worry that anyone other than Rillian Adore would meet his acquaintances from Dragon's Dwelling and possibly gain more details as to what he had been doing while there.

  Once they entered the room, Ril Lita quickly closed the door behind them. Their room was the same size as Drakkel and Rillian Adore’s and basically just as small. With all of them standing within, there weren’t many places to sit, so they all chose to remain standing even when offered a seat on the small bed by Ril Lita.

  After asking, Ril Lita sat down himself, appearing to be exhausted. Catching his breath for a few moments, a light sigh escaped his lips before he looked up at Drakkel and said, “I’m sorry again for inconveniencing you. I hope you can forgive me?”

  Drakkel nodded. Of course it wouldn’t be an issue. It’s just that now his identity was revealed and so he was at the mercy of those who stood in front of him.

  Ril Lita continued. “So. Please tell me about what happened in Dragon’s Dwelling.”

  Drakkel nodded and began to recount his point of view of the happenings in Dragon’s Dwelling, trying to keep the more intimate and embarrassing parts as vague as possible. He even added him finding Malikai and learning certain truths from him and questioned whether the special guest from the Golden Peak Swords Clan that showed up to the Lita family’s party might have been him. When he was done, not only were Ril Lita and Lior Gaunlet surprised, even Rillian Adore looked at him differently.

  That was when Drakkel realized. At that time, Rillian Adore was trapped within the Golden Peak Swords’ Clan manor. When he escaped, he likely only heard stories about the man named Sylas along the way and then identified him as Drakkel later when the stories began to change. He had told Drakkel that he didn’t have to ruin his reputation, but now that he knew the truth, his feelings might have changed.

  Ril Lita’s face fell. “I’m sorry that happened to you. But I have to say that it adds up to my impression of you. Something really wasn’t right about the stories saying that you killed Master Som. Now that I’ve heard your side, I know what really went on.”

  He placed a hand to his chin as he began to think. “You mentioned that you found out that a demon was hiding amongst the Golden Peak Swords Clan and that demon killed Your Master and Master Som. As for your question, it’s true that the one who showed up at our family’s party was the assistant to the leader of the Golden Peak Swords Clan, so Master Som’s death truly must have been his doing. But there is something else isn’t there? Why was he specifically chosen to come to the capital? There was really nothing special about him. Unless…”

  His eyes widened. “This man showed up to the party with the Crown Prince and after a bit he disappeared just to return later… it couldn't be that—”

  Drakkel shook his head. “Enough, I can’t tell you anymore. Knowing more would put you in danger. Wouldn’t you agree, Lior Gaunlet?”

  Drakkel glanced at Lior Gaunlet and he nodded.

  “He’s right Ril, don’t look anymore into this. You know how delicate the Emperor’s position is. He can't act rashly right now.”

  Ril Lita frowned. He knew this all too well, but he hated to see injustices taking place in front of him.

  Drakkel walked up to him and patted his shoulder, “I said don’t worry. We’re working on a plan now. If you really want to help, just be open to listening when we request it, ok?”

  Ril Lita nodded, still depressed.

  Drakkel then said, “We don’t want to keep you any longer. The outside has probably cleared out too. We’ll leave now.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Actually,” Ril Lita said, causing him to pause. “I’ve been meaning to say. Your personality… You seem… different.”

  Drakkel froze. He didn’t know how to answer. After all, he was different. While in Dragon’s Dwelling, his demonic energy was influencing his personality and became rampant at a time when he was mentally stressed. He didn’t take the time to control the hostile intent that came with the energy, so his tendencies to the intent only got worse with time. Now that his demonic energy was suppressed, he regained his previous personality so of course he seemed like a different person. But, how would he explain it?

  “Well, I understand.” Ril Lita said. “If I went through what you did, I don’t know if I could keep my sanity either.”

  Drakkel could only nod at his comment, hoping he didn’t say more.

  As he made ready to leave again, Ril Lita hurriedly stated, “We’re heading to the southern border of Densai Forest! What about you two? Maybe we can travel together?!”

  Drakkel’s mouth twitched. Of course he would say no. “Actually, we—”

  A knock suddenly sounded on the door.

  Ril Lita gave Lior Gaunlet a glance and he immediately went over to answer it.

  Behind the door was Aurien Wavel, a bright and sincere smile sitting upon his face.

  Aurien Wavel said to Lior Gaunlet, “Hello. I just wanted to check on my junior brother. Is he here? Although they were faint, I heard noises coming from upstairs so I came to check it out.

  He looked around. “I actually thought I heard his voice coming from this room, so I just wanted to see.”

  Drakkel wanted to slap his forehead. He had forgotten that his Senior Brother and fellow disciples honed their sword sense! Even if the walls were thick, it wasn’t as if the noise would completely escape their senses. Likely, they heard the commotion and his Senior Brother said he would go alone to check it out.

  Now he stood at the door, exuding his excessively kind energy as he politely asked to come inside. Even Lior Gaunlet, tough and cold as he was, couldn’t withstand Aurien Wavel’s overwhelmingly warm presence.

  He turned to Ril Lita and Ril Lita nodded as a signal to allow Aurien Wavel in. Once Aurien Wavel stepped inside, he first bowed to Ril Lita and introduced himself with Ril Lita reciprocating, then he caught a glance of Drakkel and Rillian Adore who stood to the side.

  When he saw them, he smiled.

  “What’s going on?” He asked. “What are you two doing here?”

  Drakkel sighed. It seemed that some mystical force really didn’t want him to leave Ril Lita and Lior Gaunlet yet.

  “It’s a long story, Senior brother.” He answered.

  Drakkel took the next few minutes to summarize how he knew Lior Gaunlet and Ril Lita and what he had told them. By the end of it, a wide smile formed on Aurien Wavel’s face.

  “It seems they’re heading to the same place we are! Why don’t we travel together?”

  Drakkel’s heart was crushed, Senior Brother!

  His Senior Brother was really kind to a fault!

  Drakkel had been trying to avoid having these two come with them but not even a few minutes in the place and his Senior Brother had already undone all his hard work!

  Ril Lita smiled. “Aurien Wavel, was it? We would really appreciate it if you could travel with us! Actually, Lior was worried about protecting me since my sword fighting skills aren’t great. But if we travel with you, he wouldn’t need to worry! I really hope it won’t be a problem.”

  Drakkel nearly rolled his eyes. That’s not what the man said when he was arguing with Lior Gaunlet!

  Aurien Wavel laughed. “Not at all! The more the merrier, I would say.”

  He turned to Lior Gaunlet, “Don’t you think, Sir Lior Gaunlet?”

  Lior Gaunlet nodded.

  “Rillian Adore?” He looked at Rillian Adore and he shifted his gaze awkwardly as he nodded as well.

  “Drakkel?” Drakkel tried to stop his mouth from twitching as he nodded.

  Aurien Wavel clapped his hands together. “Good! Then it’s decided! We plan to depart early tomorrow. We hope that’s fine with you.” He returned his gaze to Ril Lita and Ril Lita excitedly nodded. “Of course! Thank you, Sir Aurien!”

  As innocent and bright as the sun, Drakkel couldn’t help but think that like Ril Lita and Lior Gaunlet, these two shared a trait as well. He really didn’t want to stick around any longer. He said to his Senior Brother, “Senior Brother, as we've been here for a while, we’ll head out now.”

  Aurien Wavel nodded and waved them away while he continued to speak to Ril Lita.

  As Drakkel and Rillian Adore headed back to their room, Drakkel breathed a sigh of relief.

  So far, none of the people who figured out his identity had actually been out to get him.

  At first he was against traveling with Ril Lita and Lior Gaunlet, but thinking further on it, they were the Emperor’s closest confidants. Maybe, if he could convince them to see Ebinenda Itor, he could gain the Emperor’s assistance and then slowly acquire proof of the matter of the Crown Prince’s treachery.