SKERPLA DAY OF MOON

The glaring light was too bright that I woke up from it. I was welcomed by the sight of men lining up at my bedside. The interior was familiar as it had the same layered stained logs that I saw when I visited Reichen the other day.

"You're finally awake. I would have murdered the fvcking doctors if you slept any longer."

"What are you doing here, Night?"

The last thing I remembered was Yves had put something in my drink. That freaking brother of mine! To think that I had trusted him even for a fraction of a second. 

"We kidnapped you."

"What? Are you in your right mind? I had to go back. I... I..."

If I was here and those two were at Ezriel without me, I was sure Father would know by now. Panic consumed me figuring that they would be blamed and they would suffer the outcome. I was just cursing Yves but I did not actually want something to happen to him.

"Calm down, Ace." Night took my shaking hands. "That brat, Yves, got everything handled. No one will suffer because of you. You were already in Ezriel when we took you."

"Are you confident about that? Everything in that palace is all a product of deceit."

"I'm fully aware, Ace. But I made sure no one will be harmed so you don't have to feel liable for your escape. I had contacted Yves and everything was calculated to dupe that cunning king. I received reports that he is ferreting round for you but we bought some time and he won't suspect us."

I was aware that Night had few clues on my situation but the tone of certainty made me doubt if he knew everything and something dawned on me as he spoke.

"Does that mean you arranged all of this?"

"Yes but that idiot made a mistake. I told him to give you only a sip but he let you drink the whole thing that was why you woke up so late. I'll strangle that neck of his when we meet again."

The lines on my forehead sunk deeper into his words.

"How did you even manage to work with Yves?"

Night quickly avoided my eyes and I faced the other two men who had been silently watching us.

"I have no idea. I was only in charge of making commotions and adhering to Night's instructions," Blaze answered, shaking his head in denial.

"Me either. I was quite surprised when I saw you here in my cottage," reasoned Reichen.

I looked back to Night and he cleared his throat. "Well, that's not the point right now. You should understand that you can't go back to the palace at the moment."

I should be glad. Ecstatic, even. Granted that if this happened in the past but since it was in the present, everything screamed shadiness to me.

"But why are you just doing it at this stage when you even stopped me last time, Night? You even said I have an enchantment so I cannot leave. So why now?"

"An enchantment? Who did it to you?" interrupted Reichen.

"Shut up, bastard. What are you two even doing here? You should have been gone a while ago."

"So heartless. After I took the effort I assisted you when you are Reichen's rival."

"You know we are here to help you explain when we woke up. You even used my cottage."

"Hah. Yours? This is the fvcking hideout that you're treating like a home, dumbass."

"Night," I called before they started arguing while I didn't comprehend a single thing.

Why was I here? And why did they have to put such great lengths to hoax me and bring me here? Questions after questions ran into my mind which led to the frustration on how unwary I was on everything.

"I need your bloody answers, Night. Tell me right at this moment or I have no choice but to leave. I had enough of a life full of treachery. I don't think I can trust people any longer after they played me in the palm of their hands when they can have just told me straight away."

"I'm sorry, Ace. Though this plan had been made for years, it should not be this soon. It was an impromptu decision. Everything is in chaos and I cannot leave you back in that palace. The Reapers had taken Lady Mhilrim and all Amicas are currently in danger without her."

"Lady Mhilrim is not just a priestess, she is the Goddess herself," Blaze cut in.

"Hold on. Aren't the gods all gone?" My forehead wrinkled at his statement.

"The gods had never been gone. Our faith was what makes them alive. The True God has the kingdom of Solaris and was incessantly spreading their religion. The Amicas have Mhilrim and the Cattivos have Cannaria," he continued.

I frowned more. "Isn't the Dark Queen Cannaria just a child of the Fallen God?"

"No. That was only a rewritten for the fact that a goddess who has fallen in her grace had a descendant with a mortal. Only several knew this and you have to know too since your role is crucial in this. That is why I was even willing to help Night," said Blaze.

"But that's not the worst part," stated Reichen. "We had confirmed King Enmir is not only the leader of the Reapers but also the true will of the Fallen God. There was no doubt that Lady Mhilrim is in his hands and you are the only one who can stop this because you inherited one of the blessings of the True God, Verdari."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Verdari was the name of the True God, the creator of all things. He is the beginning of all but his power was split among his daughters, Lady Mhilrim and Cannaria. Since you are a progeny of Cannaria, it also meant you are from the lineage of the True God which must be the reason you were able to inherit his magic. Not to mention, Cannaria's blood was potent on women but you still inherited two magic which was thus far rare on its own."

"You have two magic?" Blaze faced me. "No wonder Night insists on taking you. I thought it was simply because you are from the Ezriel. It is already strange you received the Goddess' blessings but to think you have two magic then that means your holiness is on par with the Goddess and you can eradicate..."

Blaze voice faded out as his eyes landed on Night and the latter one exhaled heavily.

"Remember when your first met Lady Mhilrim? She had told me that she did not expect that your given name was the same as the True God and she had no real grasp of the extent of your true abilities as Ace or Verdari," Night explicated.

"Furthermore, people with two magic are hunted by both Amicas and Cattivos because of their strong powers that can easily defeat even the gods but this time we needed that power. After Mhilirm learned you had two magic, we had already concluded that King Enmir must have kept you not because you are the Will of Cannaria but because you can slay a god. Cannaria and Mhilrim are the same but also different. They coexist equally as light and dark. No one can destroy another. Rare beings like you that were born once in a millennium are either seen as a threat or a savior and this time your role is a savior."

I would have applauded Night for talking continuously without a single profanity if not for the graveness of the situation. I already had several titles under my name, a princess, a thief, a hero, a monster but it seemed I would be deemed as a savior if this progressed later on.

"In the first place, Cannaria had never been dead. She existed in each of her descendants but only her will could fully wake her. It was only because of the Lost Treasures that they were able to defeat her. The two organizations had been foraging for it ever since and now it is a race to complete all the treasures to end this silent war of the gods," said Reichen.

"As of now, we had three on our hands, and from what we know the Reapers also had four with them. We had an inkling of where the Lost Treasure is except for the last one. We left no stone unturned but no one had found it," added Blaze.

"Lost Treasures? Isn't it just a mere myth?"

"Gods are a thing from myths too but they exist, that goes the same with the Lost Treasures," Reichen replied.

"You mean it can truly grant any wish if you collected them all?"

"Of course. If not for that, do you think people can stop a berserk god bent on destruction?"

"I see."

I recalled that our mission last time involved the Candor of Ores which was a cape that was rumored to be part of the ensemble of the Lost Treasures. Based on the tight security, it must have been true since no one would guard and even place an enchantment on something that was not valuable.

"Since you are here why don't you help with the mission and formally join the Crusaders?" suggested Night.

"But..."

There was still a feeling residing in me that just could not believe I was free. Besides, I did not know about the effects of the enchantment except that it may kill me so I could not be complacent.

"Don't worry, Ace. I'll do everything to stop the enchantment. I won't return you no matter what. Especially not now," vowed Night as he brushed the top of my hair.

I nodded my agreement. I wholeheartedly wished that Night was genuinely true to his words this time.

***