The next day after the battle happened in the meadow, in a shallow, dark, endless place, a fire appeared. normal at first, but suddenly it extinguished, as if trying to tell something.
An old guy woke up from his bed shockly. He stood up just as a young man appeared in the room, stirring the old guy's coffee and arranging his breakfast. The old guy lived in a luxury bedroom, complete with a small table prepared for his morning meals.
The young man glanced at the warm coffee as he stirred it. His hair, bluely quite dark, shone with a chromic, gorgeous sparkle. He replied softly, "Good morning… Master."
The old guy sat back down on the bed. His expression was expressionless no emotion showing, yet anger simmered underneath, too deep to be seen transparently.
"E-Elias… my son…" A silence followed, heavy and sharp. Then the words continued. "Is gone."
He looked toward the young man. "Arthur… we're going to Marie's place."
Arthur's face held no expression to respond, but in his eyes, the shock and anger were clear evident, burning.
Time passed as Arthur wore his silvershine armor, and with the old guy walking beside him, they left the kingdom. Their destination was a certain old dungeon that used to be a mining place.
"We'll use the teleportation because it will be faster than the horse," Louis said.
Arthur replied, "Master, it will take just a day. I'm not certainly confident with you using the portal since only you and Elias know how to use it. You are not in a good condition—the portal contains radiation… for the age like you, you could be sick, Master Louis!"
Louis answered with an expressionless face, "It's urgent. With the portal summon, it will only take about thirty minutes to reach there."
Arthur sighed, "I-I understand, Master…" His voice showed evident worry about the consequences.
They eventually reached a dead end of the dungeon. Louis touched the rocky wall, and the stone twisted and disappeared, revealing a hidden entrance. They walked inside and saw a portal-summon mark etched on the ground.
Arthur watched Louis kneel down, wipe the dust on the floor, and place his hand over the mark as the summoning lines began to glow blue.
"Aperiatur via arcana, per ignem et lumen," Louis chanted.
"May the secret path be opened, through fire and light."
Arthur walked closer as the place grew brighter and brighter until—ZING!—an ambient humming filled the air. In the next instant, they were in a forest. They stepped out of the portal circle and breathed in the fresh scent of the wind breezing through the trees.
Suddenly Louis collapsed, falling onto one knee, his staff barely keeping him upright as he coughed hard.
"Master?!" Arthur rushed to his side, startled. He dropped his backpack and grabbed a leather water bottle.
Louis declined the drink. "I'm okay…" He gripped his staff again.
Arthur helped him up carefully, supporting him as the two continued walking forward.
Moments later
Almira walked downstairs, still a bit blurry from just waking up. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw her mother sitting in front of Louis. She rubbed her eyes, and once her vision cleared, she gasped in excitement.
"G-Grandpa?!"
Louis glanced over at her and stood up with a small laugh. "Ah, Almira, come here!"
Almira rushed to Louis and hugged him tightly as Louis patted her head.
"What's bring you here?" she asked, still clinging to him.
Louis returned to his seat at the dinner table. "Sit down beside your mother, Almira."
Almira nodded. Marie stood up. "I'll get you guys drinks and bread, okay?"
As she headed to the kitchen, Louis nodded. "Please do."
Louis looked toward the front door and called out, "Arthur! Come inside!"
Almira jolted. "Arthur?… I heard about him! The prodigy? The one born with blue fire—Dad told me about that!"
Louis smiled. "Go greet him."
Arthur opened the door slowly and stepped in. He sat beside Louis, his expression introverted and calm, barely reacting.
Almira muttered under her breath, eyes widening, "Hahhh… this is the person?" Her heart pounded wildly. "He is gorgeous!… omg omg!"
She spaced out completely. Arthur felt the atmosphere stiffen and raised his hand politely. "Nice to meet you…"
Almira snapped back. "A-A nice to meet you!" She shook his hand, her mind fluttering. I'm shaking his hand!!!
Marie returned with drinks and placed them on the table, followed by a bunch of loaf bread. "Here, here, eat up, you guys," she said with a warm smile.
Louis leaned toward Arthur and whispered, "C'mon, you're welcome to eat as much as you want. You haven't eaten breakfast."
Arthur nodded and gladly picked up a drink and some bread.
Louis took a deep breath, his expression tightening.
How am I supposed to tell them… This is such a wrong timing…
He stared at Marie and Almira, both waiting unknowingly for whatever he was about to say.