SYSTEM ASCENSION

”Is he a Morail?”

Zeal pushed himself back up.

”Unfortunately yes. A very few people knows that the name Morail is the royal family of the black empire.”

”Ahhhh....” The emperor scratched his head.

”And the empress was captured and killed too.” Zeal casually added.

Daevon slammed the table.

”Stop! Just...stop talking.”

Zeal turned around and walk to the bed, carefully cowering and scoping Rasy into his arm.

”Wait...” Daevon muttered.

”Why did you sneak in? You could have called a meeting.”

Zeal stared at him for a moment, before replying.

”When that child was captured, he was evaluated of his ranking. He’s an S rank raider. Shouldn’t his data be visible?”

”It was done secretly?”

”Yes. Technology in Salvador empire is not widely used and affordable, except to the leading families and few elites.”

Daevon nodded.

”You’re in possession of the child yes?”

”Yes.”

”Then keep him. I’ll come up with a solution later. We can’t just return him without a plan.”

”I should clear things up,” Zeal cradle Rasy against his chest and walk to the door. ”Even if your solution is to quietly eliminate him. It won’t work. That child is only here because he wants to.”

The emperor blinked once and turned his gaze. The room was empty. They were gone.

He sighed.

”He’s supposed to be a C rank right?”

He rubbed his nose bridge.

”What sort of —”

The door creaked a little. This startled the emperor so hard he was almost knocked off his feet. He rose up, straining his neck.

The door creaked louder, and a presence walked in.

A familiar presence.

The familiar white hair, red blazing eyes, cold expression and a refined aura.

”Son, what are you doing here?”

The crown prince gazed around, rather than looking at his father. He observed the room with stoic eyes.

”What are you searching for?”

The boy turned.

”Someone invaded the palace.”

Daevon eye widened.

”All this years, no one have detect Zeal’s entry and exit. This child has been different since he returned a week ago.”

”Someone evaded the palace? Are you mistaking.”

”The man is of our blood, but the child is not.” The crown prince coldly replied. ”They both came in here.”

___

This time, the sun was long gone. People had began to retire to their various homes from their daily life. The small town of Cody had become extremely noisy. Elias sat beside the window, curled up and made sure to avoid the sun.

He watch Rowen write down things he had no understanding of.

Keen, on the other hand darted in and out of the kitchen, preparing the ingredients for dinner.

Then—

The door suddenly slam open.

”I’m back!”

Zeal strolled in, swinging his arms and legs.

”Who miss me?!”

They all paused, turned their gazes, and instantly returned back to their various activities.

”That was harsh.” He pouted.

”Welcome back, sir Zeal.” Keen waved, dashing into the kitchen again.

”Someone did miss me.”

He dipped his hand into his coat and pulled out a letter. He waved it in the air.

”Rowen look! I wrote you a letter.

Rowen held up the paper he wrote on and observed it.

”And why would you write me a letter?”

”Cause i want to tell you something.”

”Where is your cellphone?”

”I lost it.”

”What is a cellphone?” Elias raised his hand.

”It’s a rarely used communication device in Salvador,” Rowen replied. ”It worth billions and it’s almost irrelevant, so people still prefer letters.”

Zeal shifted closer and stretched the letter.

”C’mon.... c’mon...take it brother... c’mon...”

”Tsk!” Rowen snatched it and tossed it on the table. Then, he turned his head. ”Yes? What did Daevon say about it?”

”That old shit did as we expected.” Zeal shrugged. He walk to Elias and pat his head.

”Are you alright? Your highness?”

Elias just stared at him for a moment, before muttering.

”Were you attacked?”

Rowen’s eye snapped to them.

”Attacked?”

Zeal grinned.

”Spot on! It wasn’t a physical attack, but one that can deal damage to my vital.”

”Vital attack?” Rowen dropped the quill and turned his attention to them.

”The head guard? Or the emperor?”

”Neither.” Zeal took a seat. ”The vital attack was attempted by the crown prince.”

”The crown prince?”

Elias glanced side.

”What is a crown prince?”

”You’re a crown prince.” Zeal replied.

Elias seem oddly satisfied with the answer, and just quiet down.

Rowen stood up and began to pace.

”He attempted a vital attack on you. That takes enough will power.”

”I barely escaped.” Zeal nodded.

”He’s sixteen this year right?” Rowen muttered, hand stroking his chin. ”I think our future is secured.”

”Indeed.”

”By the way...” Rowen suddenly released a murderous intent. ”were is Rasy?”

”Huh?” Zeal muttered. ”Aah! Rasy!”

”What the hell is she?!”

”I...I...” Zeal shrunk back. ”I left her in the city with your child number five. That’s your next destination right? You can just pick her up then!!”

Rowen clicked his tongue.

”Anyways. We need to move out of Cody since it’s close to Mispi. Other houses might trace up. But we can’t move to the city, or Elias would be exposed.”

”About that...” Zeal leaned back and crossed his legs. ”I’ll be taking Elias off your hands.”

Rowen frowned. He stared at Zeal who had gone from being a total douchebag to a serious person, and then the clueless Elias.

”You’re taking him?”

”Up till now, he had survive purely based on instinct and will power. He lack proper training, mentally and physically. I’ll train him.”

”Fine by me. He’s an handful anyway.”

Zeal chuckled softly.

”He’s more than an handful.”

He leaned closer to Elias.

”Do you want to go back home?”

A flat out reply came from Elias. ”No.”

His lip curved slowly and he tilted his head.

”And why is that?”

”I want to find that place...” Elias muttered.

”By that place, you mean the place you were held hostage?”

”Yes.”

A moment of silence fell. Rowen gazed from one to another. Zeal smile that didn’t reach his eyes and Elias’s dead expression.

”Why do you want to find that place?” Zeal finally spoke again. ”For revenge? Seeing your memories, I don’t think you’re the type to hung on to petty things like that.”

Elias eyes that were already cold seem to darken even more. He stared back to Zeal for a considerable amount of time for Rowen to subconsciously let his guard up.

”My mother...” He finally replied. ”I want to find my mother.”

”Oh...” Rowen muttered.

Zeal raised a brow. He leaned back and sighed.

”What are you saying Elias? The sealing stone records your memories from birth and shuffle them. The vivid memories come first, and those you barely remember or don’t want to remember comes last,” Zeal said. ”When I held that stone, I saw your most vivid memories first. The memories you can never forget.”

Elias tilted his head.

”And?”

”Why are you searching for the mother you killed with your own hands?”