Ryuu Aidan

Darien's POV:

Why did I only realize this now? Is it because this plot is happening too early, and there are so many changes? Damn it. I knew this plot was coming, but it wasn't supposed to happen now or in this way.

According to my idea for this plot, Darien would live with his foster family after a month had passed since the Grim Reaper game incident. During that time, he was a brooding and withdrawn person, always lost in thought about Eirian's death.

He still tries to learn how to use his power, even though no one taught him, and his foster family members don't know how to use the power yet. 

He wants to become stronger so he can protect his foster family, who genuinely loved him, even though his status didn't say what his power. The system had already mentioned that he had a power, so he would not give up.

His power came out suddenly when he tried to save his foster family from a dragon attack in their village, and he managed to defeat it on his own. Everyone, including the knights who came to rescue them, was left speechless because he was just a weak 6-year-old boy, yet he managed to defeat it alone.

Because of that, he attracted someone's attention. Someone who had the highest power in Serenity and was a very important person for the kingdom.

Ryuu Aidan, a young man who was a spy for the Serenity kingdom. His identity wasn't just from a high-ranking noble family, but also because of his power, which was very rare and at the same time dangerous. In fact, he was the youngest appointed spy in Serenity's history.

So, when Darien was brought to the palace to discuss what to do about his dangerous power and abnormal status, Aidan offered to be Darien's teacher to control his power and gave his guarantee that Darien wasn't a threat.

But I didn't write until the end whether Aidan was a good guy or a bad guy. Because originally, I only intended for the character of Aidan to use Darien for something.

... The thing that's happening now is the same as that plot... but at the same time, it's not. Maybe it's because Eirian is here, or because we're at the palace? Not to mention, Ryuu Aidan,  who was supposed to make his debut appearance in another chapter, showed up and saved me and Eirian from Kiito that day.

That means, will Aidan be there too?  If he is, I have no choice but to hope he will help us. Again. But I can't let my guard down around him either.

We were almost at our room when one of the knights who was escorting us suddenly stopped in front of us. He held his ear, touched a small round object in his ear, and was talking.

I'm sure that's a magical tool they use in this world to communicate. It's like an earphone, but a fantasy-world kind of earphone. Interesting.

The knight then turned around, looking at me and Eirian with an unreadable expression. We tightened our hold on each other's hands, feeling afraid for no reason.

"Why?" asked the other knight who was standing behind us. The knight in front of us was still looking at us, or should I say, he was actually looking at me? I could feel my heart pounding fast.

The knight shifted his gaze from me to his colleague, as he hadn't been staring at me like he wanted to tear me apart to see something, and honestly, I felt a chill just thinking about it.

"I have new orders. We need to take them to the judge's room now."

"!!!"

Eirian and I flinched hard; It's like my heart stopped beating when I heard what the knight said. The judge's room. Just as I had written in my notebook, that means Aidan will be there too. There's still hope, even if it's small.

While we were walking to the judge's room, I was lost in thought. Thinking plan B, just in case Aidan doesn't help us.

"Darien."

I was startled when Eirian called me in a whisper. I turned to look at my brother, who was staring at me with a look I couldn't read. I thought I could read people's facial expressions, but... apparently not.

Even so, there was something in his face that made me feel a little comforted and safe. Oh, I just realized we had arrived in front of a big, gold-plated door with some blue gem decorations. This must be the judge's room.

"Don't worry, we'll be okay, I'll protect you," he said in a calm and warm tone, but I could feel a bit of fear in it.

I couldn't help it when I remembered what the head knight had said earlier, and it came out of my mouth before I had time to think about it. "How if they will separate us?"

"No. They won't. We will always be together... I won't leave you. So, you can't leave me either," Eirian replied with full determination and seriousness. It was as if he was making a promise to me and wanted me to promise him too.

Actually, I've had this one thought since I arrived in this world: what was Eirian and Darien's life like before they became orphans? I never wrote it down, but I have a few ideas for it, though I still want to know their life.

Because I noticed from his tone just now that it was as if he was afraid of losing someone again. He seems traumatized. Maybe I can't read his face, but my gut feeling is always true. But I understand his feeling, too. I don't want to be left again, to be alone again, so I won't leave him either, no matter what happens.

Knock. Knock.

A knight knocked on the door before it opened on its own. Eirian and I hesitated to enter, but the knight behind us pushed, to make us to go inside. Geez, can you guys relax for a bit?

When we were inside, a loud and heavy "Thud" echoed in the room, indicating that the door behind us had been closed tightly. 

I flinched a little because of the sound, and my brother noticed, so he tightened his grip, then walked and stood in front of me as if he was trying to hide me again from people he felt would try to hurt me.

Maybe this is his instinct whenever he feels I'm in danger. I've noticed he always does this every time we meet someone we don't know or someone Eirian feels is dangerous or his don't like, maybe.

The atmosphere in this room was also quite suffocating and tense, with its silence and the presence of everyone there.

When I tried to peek from behind my brother, I immediately felt small and a little trembling from nervousness and maybe fear. In front of us, there were 3 giant tables, standing upright.

Two tables were a little lower than the one table in between them, which must belong to the chief judge. I tried to peek again; a woman was probably in her 30s, with silver hair and beautiful yellow eyes like sunflowers.

Then, I glanced over to see an old man on the chief judge's left and a man about the same age as the woman on her right.

Below them, I'm sure that's the King of Serenity. Wow, I'll admit. He's quite handsome, indeed good-looking. I can immediately tell he's the King. Not because of the crown on his head, but because of his aura and the small smile on his face, which looks gentle. 

And next to him, I'm sure that's his Queen. The Queen is also beautiful. She's too stunning. Too real, as if she's not a human but a doll that little girls love. Her long, soft, and smooth sky-blue hair and gentle turquoise eyes. Truly gorgeous.

And for the King, he has lilac-purple hair and eyes that look mature, though there is gentleness and calm in stunning navy-blue eyes.

I'm not sure what these two characters' personalities are. I just hope they're not cruel rulers like I've read about a lot. *Sweatdrop*. 

And, I don't see the Crown Prince here. Looks like I'll not see him for several years before the academy.

But, where's Aidan? I tried to look to my left, but there was only a group of 5 scary old men with their serious faces. Ugh, I think they are nobles here from their clothes, which look almost the same. I looked to my right, and there I saw him.

Aidan was now among a group of 5 men there, too. Now that I know where he is, I hope he will help us, but how? I'm worried he won't help me and Eirian, especially since he's not even looking our way!

He just had a bored and tired face as if he was forced to come here. Is it certain that he will help me and Eirian? I'm not sure if it will follow that plot. I feel scared now. What should I do if it doesn't follow the plot I wanted?

What if they separate me and my brother? Or worse, we get kicked out of Serenity? I know there are still some kingdoms out there, but at the same time, the journey to go there is so dangerous because of monsters, demons, and some mystery I heard of.

Can I really rely on Aidan to help us? And why does he want to help us, though? I still don't understand why he helps us in the first place and appears out of nowhere.

"Shall we begin now?"

Our fate is in Aidan's hands now.