The Crown Prince In Hiding

Dan brought his research team to visit a particular site in Diablo.

”Senior Thomasin, I remember what you told me... is this it? The evidence that Diablo was once underwater?”

”...My god...”

The young researcher stood with her mouth agape at the sight before her. Professor Pi’erre removed his glasses, staring with his own eyes in astonishment.

”...It’s absolutely beautiful...”

What lay before the professor and Senior Thomasin was no ordinary beach. It was a towering wall of limestone cliffs stacked layer upon layer, stretching out along the coastline for dozens of kilometers as far as the eye could see.

The setting sun struck the rock face, revealing parallel banded patterns of dense limestone packed with ancient shell traces, coral scales, and the remains of prehistoric organisms, layered in long strata waiting to be excavated.

This was undeniable, first-rate testimony that this vast, arid land of Diablo had once lain submerged deep beneath the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago.

The day Dan had first grasped the connection between the world and evolution, this place had come to mind immediately. He had ordered his men to search every corner of the island that matched the textbook criteria for a significant discovery.

He firmly believed this would ignite the fire of research in his paleontology team.

Thomasin’s mouth hung open. The notebook in her hand nearly slipped from her grasp. Her eyes widened, trembling as she adjusted her glasses to peer at the perfectly horizontal bands of limestone, as though sculpted by careful design. She stepped forward, forgetting herself entirely, her trembling hand reaching out to touch the fossilized coral scales embedded in the grey-white limestone.

”Professor... this entire kingdom really was once the ocean floor...”

There was hardly any need for further proof. It was undeniably clear.

The senior professors, who had weathered half a lifetime of experience, found themselves utterly stunned, no different from children seeing the wide world for the first time. They walked forward, running their hands over the limestone cliffs with a reverence for the immensity of time, their scientific excitement so profound that human history itself felt like a fleeting fragment of a dream.

”Senior Thomasin.”

Dan walked up to stand beside her.

”Has curiosity overcome fear yet?”

I’ve already negotiated with the Diablo... you’re free to conduct research, excavate anywhere you like. Whatever you need.

”Huh...? How did you manage that?”

”I’m serious.”

Dan gestured toward Roma.

”If you need help, just tell Roma. He’ll assist with anything you require. Just say the word.”

”Are you insane? Excavate freely, just like that? Dan, other groups have had to file paperwork for years before getting approval.”

Senior Thomasin remained Senior Thomasin through and through. She had read every line of Diablo’s official notice thoroughly, well aware of the strict regulations and penalties as severe as diplomatic law.

So the issue wasn’t about what they were allowed to do. It was about ”are you absolutely certain we can do whatever we want without consequences?”

Simply put, she didn’t trust Dan’s word alone. It was far too strange. They had been granted far too special an exception.

”If you read it carefully, you’d know that Article 5, subsection 5.5, regarding the freedom of foreign nationals, states that if the visit is for the purpose of academic research, and the individual belongs to an institution recognized by Diablo, the permit can be transferred directly.”

”That doesn’t answer whether we can do whatever we want without the hosts knowing!”

However astonishing and tempting to curiosity the sight before her was, life came first.

”Your word alone can’t guarantee our lives against Diablo’s royal court law.”

That was a fair point. Dan fell silent, and Roma and Freya exchanged a glance, waiting to see how their master would handle it.

Dan lowered his head, crossed his arms, let out a long sigh, and gave a small nod.

”Senior Thomasin, Professor Pi’erre, come with me. Everyone else, please head back to your quarters for now.”

The others: ”Yes, sir/ma’am.”

Dan led Thomasin and Professor Pi’erre away to a quiet rocky outcrop, where the sea spray and mist helped conceal both sound and sight.

Thomasin followed behind Dan with quick, tense steps, her face taut with anxiety. Her notebook was gripped so tightly her knuckles turned white. She had held her doubts in check the entire way until they stepped beyond earshot of the others.

Professor Pi’erre stood quietly with his arms crossed. Though his eyes remained fixed with wonder on the limestone cliffs behind them, his expression carried no less concern.

”Professor Pi’erre, Senior Thomasin, have you noticed that since we got off the ship, we haven’t seen a single Diablo soldier?”

Not one, anywhere in sight.

Thomasin and the professor waited for his answer. They weren’t shocked, since they had already noticed. They were simply waiting for the explanation.

”This beach is a governed district with a designated Guardian. Each district has one Guardian, and they hold authority to command the soldiers within that territory.”

”So where’s the Guardian of this district?”

”He hasn’t disappeared. Every Diablo soldier here has been ordered to stay hidden from all of you.”

”Who gave that order?”

”I did.”

Dan’s tone changed abruptly.

There was no longer any trace of the humble junior. Instead, his voice dropped low, resonant, carrying a strange authority that made both Thomasin and Professor Pi’erre freeze.

”Professor Pi’erre, with all due respect... I think you’ve probably already guessed. But for you, Thomasin... I don’t currently have any official government authorization to give you.”

But what he could give her right now, without question, was this:

”On this land, we don’t need to ask anyone’s permission.”

Red light particles burst around his body, followed by the soft snap of two fingers in unison.

Roma, who was standing guard over the others, saw a bolt of red lightning strike down from a distance.

”So you’ve decided, then.”

Thomasin stumbled back a step in shock, her mouth open without a sound, while Professor Pi’erre’s eyes went so wide they nearly left their sockets.

”A pleasure to formally make your acquaintance. I am Fury... the sole and absolute holder of authority over this entire land and cliff. And you are my people. No one in this country would dare lay a hand on you as long as I still draw breath.”

.

.

.

Two days before departing Diablo.

Rafinya Saint Pauli flopped onto her mattress, eyes staring up at the ceiling painted with images of gods.

She had learned about the military system from Prince Fury as he had promised. They had parted ways in the evening, and she had walked back here alone. Fury claimed he had matters to attend to, which she guessed had to do with Senior Thomasin’s group, arriving that very day.

And, importantly, before parting ways, Fury had told her in advance to relay a message to Princess Nora: he likely wouldn’t have time to see them again. In short, they would meet again at Artheris.

With Fury gone and Nora occupied with the Empress, she found herself alone, quiet, with nothing to do.

Or at least, that was what Rafinya had thought, because as she was closing her eyes to sleep,

the sound of a pebble striking her window rang out. She assumed it was just the wind and paid it no mind, about to drift back to sleep. But when it sounded again,

she opened her eyes and sat up, now certain this was not nature’s doing.

She didn’t open the window right away. She peeked out first to see what was happening, but the moment she pressed her eye close to the glass, she jerked back in shock.

She had misunderstood. It wasn’t a pebble.

It was the culprit himself. The green-eyed young man. The one from the field. He was outside her window, clinging to the balcony railing, knocking rhythmically with his knuckles.

”What is this?!”

Rafinya was thoroughly alarmed.

[Open up, would you?]

Her face was a mask of questions. She slowly reached out and unlatched the window, allowing the young man to lean his head inside.

”Hello, human.”

”What do you want?”

”I want to talk to you.”

Rafinya wore an expression that clearly said ’what is wrong with this guy,’ but even so, he didn’t step into her room.

”You’re the Rafinya. The one who pounded Jaiba into the ground.”

”So what?”

”Jaiba is one of Lady Freya’s soldiers, but he’s not exactly hard to deal with... you used magic too. I’ve never seen magic before. Show me.”

”Want to be next in line?”

”Laying a hand on you means execution. No thanks. Not worth it.”

”I know you’re not supposed to be here.”

”This is my free time.”

”Free enough to sneak into human territory, you must be dying to get executed by Mr. Fury.”

”I don’t answer to him... though, fair point. You’re the only one who knows I’m here.”

He arched an eyebrow.

”If you don’t tell anyone, no one will ever know.”

”No thank you. I’m not getting involved in this.”

”Can’t be helped. If I don’t come now, when would I ever get another chance? They say you’re all leaving soon.”

He turned away, seemingly thinking something over, then turned back.

”Tell you what. I know some good spots on this island. Want me to show you?”

”I’ve already seen everywhere.”

”Have you ever seen it the unofficial way?”

Rafinya froze, while the young man wiggled his eyebrows in a wave.

”I know some good places.”

Rafinya: ”......”