# Chapter 66 | Royal Storage

Two youths stood before a large wooden door, secured by a metal lock with no visible keyhole. They exchanged glances. The black-haired youth, a cursed child, offered his usual smile. Beside him, the golden-haired saint wore her usual grumpy expression, clearly displeased with the situation. A group of people stood with them, awaiting their master’s decision.

Rain gestured toward a sign on the door, “Ella, have you seen? It says ‘Storage Room.’”

Ella glanced at it and replied, “I can read. But this storage is only for higher-ups.”

Rain circled around, nodding. "Yes, yes, I know. For your happy, royal and beautiful lives. Every wine and brewing ingredient, fresh meat and milk, even far away continent resources, all the premium supplies, are safely stored there."

Ella raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed. “Not just for us. It’s for everyone, we just have the procedure to open it.”

Rain stopped in front of the group. “Oh, what’s the procedure?”

Ella looked at Rain and the people behind him. “Emergency Black Code.”

Rain smiled, “Wow, I like that color, but what does that mean? Can you shed some light?” He nudged the portly minister who had also come to inspect the royal storage room.

While holding a rare black mushroom, the minister quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, Saint Sky Piercer, please enlighten us.”

Ella lowered her eyelids, staring at him, How dare You bribed our minister?, she signed and then said, “It signifies the castle’s collapse or harm to the royalty,” she said, touching her badge.

“Oh, so it’s suitable for this time, right?” He said, handing a white mushroom to the minister. “We’re in a difficult situation, and maybe a small supplier in that privileged room could provide us a solution or at least a glimmer of hope.”

Without a moment’s thought, minister took it and swiftly nodded. “Yes, yes.”

“No, this isn’t right…” She looked at the people behind him. They still wore clean clothes and intact, shiny armor, but their emotional crystals had turned yellow and red, a sign of anxiety. “We can still fight! White Rey Fort cannot collapse so easily. We have three saints, and our castle still has the Codex’s light. I can still fight, even within this dark sky.” Light emanated from her saint badge.

Rain gave her a gentle smile. “I know you will, Ella. You have the Codex’s light.” He touched his wrist. “But what about the normal people? How can they fight?”

People, along with the civil servants, watched her intently. The light from the crystals and torches danced in their eyes.

She longed to seek guidance from her close friend, the Blue Saint, but she seemed occupied. With only the saint present, and the intense gaze of many, especially those piercing blue eyes, fixed upon her, a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. It ultimately swayed her, and she finally gave up, "Alright—"

Rain grabbed her hands and said, “That’s very generous of you.”

“Too close, Raccoon,” Ella swiftly pulled her hands away, but Rain had already raised his and raced towards the door.

“Thank you again, Ella. I’ll bake you a cake later, after this.” He said as he touched the lock on the door. Light shone from his follower’s badge. Encrypted letters on the iron bar illuminated one by one, rotating into a circle.

“Thrifty Raccoon! I’m supposed to open the door!” Ella chased after him and put her hand on the door.

“Sorry, sorry, I used to do that, my mistake.”

“‘My mistake,’ my foot! I swear, I’ll kick you and teach you some manners.”

“Wah, Waahh, the Gollira Curse is back!”

“You darn Raccoon, don’t you run away!”

They both spoke like children, while the others watched, confused by what had just happened, wondering why they were so close, like friends.

Shizzz! Wink! The cryptic symbols finally formed a complete ring: Cruddde! The giant wall slowly opened, spilling out yellow and purple light, but this was only the beginning.

The scent of fresh air filled their noses.

“What is this sweet fragrance?!” People murmured.

A ray of light slowly bathed the hall. One civil servant reached out and touched the light. “Warm, it’s warm.”

The portly minister’s eyes widened as he gasped, letting out a strange sound, “Gee gee…” He couldn’t believe his eyes. Before him wasn’t a storage room filled with boxes or cases, but a vast field of green grass and something he never thought to see in this era. A sun!

Others were equally shocked, their mouths agape like cows in a field munching on their favorite grass. Only the silver-plated knights remained calm.

Clap! Clap! Rain clapped his hands to regain everyone’s attention, and said with loud sound. “Okay, everyone, let’s go and find something useful.”

The others listened, but did not take action. All eyes were on Ella, who had grabbed his collar, ready to punch him. Rain looked at her, hands clasped, and gave her his best puppy-dog eyes.

“That won’t work,” she said.

“People are watching. Aren’t you worried about gossip?” he said.

“Not anymore. Just this is worth the price.” Light shimmered on her fist, golden.

“Ella, if I get hit by that, I’m going to die.” he said.

“Yes, you will.” she said.

He swallowed hard. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. What do you want?”

She narrowed her eyes, her voice low. “I want you to be well-mannered, the best you can be with that big brain of yours.”

He let out a breath. “Alright, alright, Milady, that’s an easy task, simple as breathing.” He held his hands up.

Ella squeezed his collar tighter. “With reverence and civility.”

“With reverence and civility,” he repeated.

Ella loosened her grip. Rain ducked his head, freed himself from the golden grip, quickly straightened his clothes, and bowed. “This humble servant awaits your word, Her Majesty. Please present us the light of future.”

Her lip curled. “Don’t call me that. I don’t like who use that title, but for the sake of the suffering, I’ll forgive it.” She smoothed her dress and addressed the crowd. “These times are difficult, but the light of the codex will protect you all. Please, follow my lead. I promise to keep you safe.” She placed a hand over her heart. “Welcome to the White Rey Storage. Please, take anything you find useful. The light will stay with you.”

Light shone on her back, causing her golden hair to shimmer. The people regained their hope, grateful that a saint still existed during this dark time.

Rain clasped his hands and nodded admiringly. “Well said, Your Majesty.”

Ella turned, but only saw his back as he walked, no, ran away, two large bags in his hands, like a restaurant owner off to the market. “Shady Raccoon!” She ran after him.

Rain glanced back, seeing Ella’s anger, but the people remained in a daze, so he said, “Didn’t you hear your ruler? Go and grab what you need. This free market rarely opens, maybe only once in your lifetime.”

Hearing this, the people started moving, only to stop when they heard Ella.

“It’s not a free market! Everything in here costs coins, and it’s making my head hurt just thinking about it!” Ella said, trying to catch up, but he was too quick. He ducked under a cow’s belly to escape her grasp.

He kept calling out, “Yeah, yeah, I know. The price for saving cows and green fields is high. Such a royal way to use dimensional space.” Rain threw the bags at Ella.

She caught them, and it was filled with herbs, grass, and flowers. “What is this?”

“Eh? Aren’t these your favorite things? White vanilla and sweet grass?” Rain tilted his head, still holding onto some herbs.

Ella, her hands trembling, looked at his silly face. “I’m not a cow! I don’t eat grass happily like you.”

Munch, munch, munch, “Bwo is the bow?” he mumbled, chewing grass.

Ella rolled her eyes. “Argh! I’m banning you from all the storage rooms on my land!” She pulled the grass from his mouth.

“Haaaaa, that’s not fair! I just ate a single blade of grass. It’s less than your little cow eats! How can you ban me like that?” He said, continuing to sample another herb.

“This is my property, and I can make the rules,” she said, pulling the herb from his mouth. “This, too, is off-limits. I’ve banned you from collecting it.”

“Nooo, that’s so mean! This space isn’t just yours. It’s her space too, with her magic and the white wagon, they have authority here as well,” he protested.

“I designed the whole system—”

Woosh. A gentle breeze swept through, touching everyone. Ella’s hair fluttered, and a fragile whine accompanied the air.

Rain stood up and looked at the sky, then at the wooden house in the distance. “Her magic won’t last long. Space is cracking.”

Ella turned to him, “What are you talking about?”

“Willanna, daughter of Teller. I have to go meet her,” he said, his voice lowering and laced with a sharp pain. “She needs the connection now.”

Ella was startled, a picture of Willna screaming as her brother’s reversed pain flashed in her mind. She remained silent for a moment, then nodded at him, “Let’s go.”

Rain nodded and ran toward the wooden house in the center, his steps light, creating only a faint wind sound.

As Ella began to follow, the knight with the silver plate came to her. “Saint Sky Piercer,” the silver knight said as he got closer, his hand on his chest plate.

Ella showed her hand up.

The silver knight stepped closer and said in a low voice, “The knights of the North Gate have sent word that some people are causing trouble there.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“They want to go to the Rose Garden in the North,” he replied.

Ella’s face darkened. “Are they blind? Monsters are still in the northern area. Do they truly want to die that much?”

The knight continued, “Some Outsider Holy Orders are with them. Even light's follower.”

“Fools! Hah, let them go as they wish, but our people must stay,” Ella declared, touching her badge. A white light shone, and she spoke to someone on the badge, “Yes… Yes… just watch them.” After she finished, she looked at the silver knight. “Stay with Lord Ravie. He will assist you. I’ll finish here quickly and follow soon.”

The knight touched his plate and then left.

“Fools, a bunch of fools…” she muttered, then began running toward the cabin house.

People were still gathering supplies, marveling at the wide space. Some even eyed the animals, but their friends intervened. The portly minister was among them, a true expert in managing and efficiently directing the flow of traffic. As Ella ran, people waved, and she responded with a nod and a smile.

Finally, she spotted the figure with black hair up ahead. Something was off. He was standing still, rooted to the doorway. She approached him, but he didn’t budge. She moved closer, studying his face.

Black eyes. face paled.

Their emptiness startled her. “Raccoon?” she asked.

He didn’t answer, his dark eyes fixed on the door. Before him stood a black wooden door, adorned with floral carvings intertwined with vines.

“Thiefty Raccoon,” she said again, her tone growing louder.

His faint voice replied, “This Black door again, why are you still be here…”

“Rain!”

His eyes shifted to blue, and he looked at Ella. Color returned to his pale face, and a smile graced his lips. “Ah, Ella, I’m so lucky you’re here.”

“What happened? Why aren’t you going in and looking at the door?”

“Hehe, I am scared of door.” He said as he rubbed his head. “May Her Majesty…help me…open it.”