Chapter 3: Nobles and Mystery

“… We can’t hide them forever. The others are getting closer to find out about Shinku and Rei.” Taking a deep breath. “We need to send them somewhere, where no one can find them.” Stating with a heavy heart taking one last look at the two babies.

“Then I’ll take them somewhere.” Another voice answered.

“We can’t. You’re too noticeable, the same as I.” Turning around to two blurry people. “Gavrial, Reijy. Watch over them.”

…

Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself back at the Armstrong residents my bed. I don’t remember anything that happened after that Demon and Celestial rescued me and, Arthur. Wait!

“Where’s Arthur!” Jolting up in an upright position. “Ow ow ow.” Clenching my chest from the amount of pain I was in.

“Master, you’re finally await. But you shouldn’t get up so quickly, while you’re still recovering.” A Demon butler in the corner rushed to my side.

“Who’re calling master? I don’t remember having any servants.”

“Well, I don’t blame you for thinking that, master. After all, we were only just appointed as your servants yesterday.” The Celestial answered stepping forward, blocking the blinding morning light from the window.

“Ah, where are our manners. We haven’t even formally introduced ourselves yet.” Taking a couple of steps back before bowing. “My name is Reijy, master. As you can see, I am a Demon and I’m currently twenty-three years old. It is an honour to server you at last.” Elegantly introducing himself. But, one thing that confused me. What did he mean by… at last? Since I couldn’t comprehend anything too complex at this point in time, I decided to dismiss it. As the celestial got ready to introduce herself.

“As for me, you can call me Gavrial. I’m a Celestial and twenty-two years of age right now.” Curtsying like a dignified person, which did match her superior attitude.

“N-nice to meet you.” Smiling awkwardly.

“I apologise for Gavrial’s crude introduction. But if you need anything at all master, just let me know. I am at your disposal.” Reijy, bowed proudly.

“Unlike you who should be disposed of. I am the best suited to personally serve the master , who is head of the family.” As Gavrial whipped away, crossing her arms. “But if you insist on staying then you can look after the young lady or die. Your choice.” Adding that snarky comment.

“Why you…” Reijy locking head with Gavrial as both begin to growl at each other like dogs.

“Lord Shinku, it’s Pia. May I come in?” Knocking on the door gently.

“Please, come in.” Hoping she would save me from being dragged into their argument.

“Yes.” Walking in dignified. “I am glad to see you finally awake. But I also came with a message for you to go see lord Jirron when you have awakened.”

“Jirron? What does he want?” I asked, feeling a bit uneasy at the thought of meeting him.

“He didn’t say, my lord. But he did seem quite urgent about it.” Pia replied, her tone indicating that it was important.

I sighed. “Alright, I’ll go see him. But I’ll get ready first.”

As I got out of bed, Pia handed me a change of clothes. “I took the liberty of preparing your clothes for you, my lord.”

“Thank you, Pia.” I said, grateful for her thoughtfulness. After getting everyone to leave the room so I could get changed, I headed to Jirron's study where I was greeted by not only him and the others, but some new faces that I had not seen before.

"Shinku, my boy, glad you could make it!" Sir Hinkbarkno said, giving me a big grin as he clapped me on the back. "It's good to see you're up and about again."

"Thank you, Sir Hinkbarkno," I said, returning his smile. "It's good to see you too."

"Allow me to introduce you to our new allies," Jirron said, gesturing to the other two people in the room. "This is Militiados Regalblood, a human and a skilled warrior, and Mediell Doomheart, a Dark Elf and a powerful mage."

I nodded at them both. "Nice to meet you both."

"The pleasure is ours," Mediell said with a curtsy.

"Now, down to business," Jirron said, his tone becoming serious. "We need to find these assassins before they can strike again."

"Agreed," I said, determined to help in any way I could.

"Alright, here's the plan," Jirron said, pulling out a map of the city. "We'll split into four groups and search the city. Shinku, you'll lead one group to search the slums. Sir Hinkbarkno, Rei Yozora, Mediell Doomheart, and Gavrail will search the marketplace. I'll lead a group to search the military district, and Fiamma Rosefire, Aria Moonfreeze, Antero Rosefire, and Yvette Doomheart will search the upper city."

We all nodded in agreement, and then headed out to our respective groups.

As we walked through the slums, I couldn't help but notice the despair and poverty around us. The people here lived in squalor, struggling to survive day by day. It was heartbreaking to see, but I knew that we had a job to do.

"Keep your eyes open," I told my group, which consisted of myself, Arthur, Iris, Pia, and Reijy. "These assassins could be hiding anywhere."

We searched for several hours, questioning people and checking every nook and cranny, but we came up empty-handed.

"We need to try a different approach," Arthur said, his brow furrowed in thought.

"What do you suggest?" I asked.

"Perhaps we could offer a reward for information," Arthur suggested. "Someone in this area must have seen something."

"That's a good idea," I said, nodding in agreement. "Let's head back to the Armstrong residence and see what we can do."

As we made our way back, I couldn't help but wonder if we would ever find these assassins. They seemed to be one step ahead of us at every turn. But I knew that we couldn't give up. The safety of our loved ones depended on it.

We all nodded in agreement, and then headed out to our respective groups.

As we walked through the slums, I couldn't help but notice the despair and poverty around us. The people here lived in squalor, struggling to survive day by day. It was heartbreaking to see, but I knew that we had a job to do.

"Keep your eyes open," I told my group, which consisted of myself, Arthur, Iris, Pia, and Reijy. "These assassins could be hiding anywhere."

We searched for several hours, questioning people and checking every nook and cranny, but we came up empty-handed.

"We need to try a different approach," Arthur said, his brow furrowed in thought.

"What do you suggest?" I asked.

"Perhaps we could offer a reward for information," Arthur suggested. "Someone in this area must have seen something."

"That's a good idea," I said, nodding in agreement. "Let's head back to the Armstrong residence and see what we can do."

As we made our way back, I couldn't help but wonder if we would ever find these assassins. They seemed to be one step ahead of us at every turn. But I knew that we couldn't give up. The safety of our loved ones depended on it.

The next day, we regrouped with the others to share our findings. It was clear that we were all facing the same problem: a lack of information.

"Any luck finding anything?" I asked, turning to Reijy.

He shook his head. "No, my lord. It's hard to search when we don't know what we're looking for."

I sighed. "I know, but we have to try. These assassins could strike at any moment." As I walked, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. It was as if there was an invisible hand trying to steer me in a different direction. As I was being pulled by this uneasy feeling, I came upon a very old rundown church. The building was barely standing, with walls crumbling and windows shattered.

"This looks promising," Arthur said, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

We cautiously entered the building, wary of any traps that might have been laid. Pia, always attentive to her surroundings, spotted a hidden passage that led down. Without hesitation, she gestured for us to follow her. As we searched the church, Pia, who had always been keen on details, noticed something unusual. She found a hidden passage behind a loose brick in the wall.

"Guys, over here!" Pia called out excitedly, pointing at the hidden passage.

We gathered around her as she pushed aside the brick, revealing a narrow passageway that led downwards.

"I think we should check it out," Pia suggested, her curiosity piqued.

We exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. We had come this far, and we couldn't afford to leave any stone unturned.

We descended the narrow passageway, our footsteps echoing in the darkness. The air grew colder, and the walls became rougher, indicating that we were deep underground. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally reached a massive underground chamber, adorned with ancient runes and markings.

"This is incredible," Iris said in awe, her eyes glowing with excitement.

"It seems like this place has been here since before the city's creation," Arthur observed, studying the runes. As we stood in the ancient underground chamber, surrounded by mysterious runes and markings, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. This place seemed to hold secrets that were waiting to be uncovered.

"Look at these runes," Arthur said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "They seem to be ancient, dating back to the creation of the city."

I nodded, my mind racing with questions. Who built this place, and what purpose did it serve? And most importantly, how did it connect to the assassins we were chasing?

"We need to search for clues," Iris said, her voice filled with determination.

We split up, combing through every nook and cranny of the underground chamber, searching for any hint of the assassins' presence. After what felt like hours of meticulous searching, Pia, with her keen eye for detail, stumbled upon a hidden door at the far end of the chamber.

"Guys, over here!" Pia called out excitedly, pointing at the concealed entrance.

We gathered around her as she pushed open the door, revealing a dimly lit passage that led further down into the depths of the ruins.

"Let's be cautious," Arthur warned, drawing his sword. "We don't know what we might encounter."

We descended further into the darkness, our footsteps echoing in the narrow passage. The air grew colder, and the walls became rougher, indicating that we were descending deeper into the earth. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we reached a massive chamber that seemed to be the heart of the ruins.

"This is incredible," Iris said in awe, her eyes widening at the sight of the enormous chamber.

The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and the ceiling was adorned with glowing crystals that emitted a soft, eerie light. In the center of the chamber stood two figures, a young woman and an older elf.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my hand on my sword as I approached them.

The young woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, had fiery red hair and eyes that seemed to flicker with flames. She wore a tattered cloak and had a determined expression on her face.

"I am Diana," she said, her voice steady. "And this is Zena." She gestured to the older elf beside her.

Zena, who appeared to be in her fifties, had dark skin and hair as black as night. She had sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to see through me, and she carried herself with an air of confidence.

"We are the assassins you've been searching for," Diana said, her voice echoing in the chamber.

I exchanged wary glances with my group. I had expected the assassins to be formidable, but I didn't anticipate them to be so young and seemingly determined.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, trying to understand their motives.

Diana's eyes hardened. "We have our reasons, and we won't let you stand in our way."

Zena remained silent; her eyes narrowed as she assessed us.

"We don't want to fight," Arthur said, sheathing his sword. "We just want to understand."

Diana seemed to consider his words for a moment before she spoke again. "We are here because of a prophecy. It foretells of a god being sent down to this world, which could bring chaos or balance."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Zena spoke up, her voice sharp. "You and your sister are the gods mentioned in the prophecy. We were sent to eliminate you to prevent the prophecy from coming true."

Iris gasps, her eyes widening in shock. "But they're not gods! They're just ordinary humans."

Diana shakes her head. "The prophecy speaks of two gods born from light and dark, who possess immense power," Diana explained. "It says that they will bring either chaos or balance to the world, depending on their actions."

"But we're just ordinary humans," I said, feeling a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Diana shook her head. "The prophecy is ancient and has been passed down through generations. It has been foretold that the gods will be born as humans, with no memory of their true nature, and their powers will only manifest when they come of age."

I exchanged glances with Iris, and we both looked bewildered. It was a lot to take in, and I wasn't sure what to believe. Could it be possible that Iris and I were the gods mentioned in the prophecy? And if so, what were we supposed to do?

Diana and Zena exchanged sceptical glances. "Regardless of what you say we were still sent to eliminate you based on the prophecy," Zena said sternly. "We cannot take any chances."

"This is the will of my lord, in order to achieve our goal of becoming the strongest nation" Diana added, her hand tightening on the hilt of her dagger.

I looked at my group, and we exchanged determined nods. We didn't want to fight, but we had no other option. We couldn't let ourselves be taken down without a fight.

With a battle cry, Diana and Zena lunged at us, their weapons gleaming in the dim light of the chamber. We quickly drew our own weapons and engaged in combat, the clash of steel echoing through the chamber.

The battle in the massive chamber of the ruins was fierce and intense. Diana, the fiery red-haired woman, moved with agility and precision, wielding her dagger with deadly accuracy. Zena, the dark-skinned dark elf, proved to be a formidable opponent, dodging attacks with seemingly uncanny luck despite her occasional clumsiness.

As the battle raged on, Diana, a skilled fire mage, unleashed a torrent of flames towards Iris, who stood her ground, her emerald eyes glowing with determination. With a swift flick of her wrist, Iris conjured a powerful gust of wind, creating a barrier of air that deflected the flames and sent them swirling towards Diana's feet.

Diana smirked, her fiery red hair dancing in the air as she raised her hands, sending a surge of flames towards Iris once again. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that!" she taunted.

Iris clenched her fists, her concentration deepening as she summoned a whirlwind of wind that swirled around her, merging with the flames. The resulting combination of fire and wind formed a blazing tornado that surged towards Diana, engulfing her in its fiery embrace.

"Argh!" Diana cried out, her flames sputtering out as she struggled to maintain her footing against the ferocious wind. She shot a glare at Iris, her eyes burning with anger. "You'll pay for that!"

Meanwhile, Arthur, a seasoned warrior with unmatched swordsmanship, clashed swords with Zena, a formidable opponent with a wicked smile on her lips. Their blades clashed in a symphony of steel, sparks flying with each strike.

Zena swung her sword in a wide arc, aiming to disarm Arthur, but he parried with precision, his movements fluid and calculated. "Is that all you've got, Zena?" he challenged, sweat dripping down his brow.

Zena chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I'm just getting started, Arthur."

With a swift flick of her wrist, Zena chanted an incantation, and a dark aura surrounded her. She swung her sword, and a wave of darkness shot towards Arthur, seeking to drain his strength.

Arthur gritted his teeth, pushing back against the dark energy with all his might. He muttered a counter-spell, summoning a burst of light that dispelled the darkness and sent Zena reeling back.

As the battle continued, I, a master of elemental magic, joined the fray. I channelled my power, summoning fire and wind in equal measure, and sent a barrage of flames and gusts of wind towards our opponents, disrupting their attacks and creating chaos in the chamber.

Diana retaliated with her own fire spells, creating blazing tendrils of flames that lashed out towards us, accompanied by crackling bolts of lightning that illuminated the room. Arthur continued his duel with Zena, his sword dancing with deadly precision as he parried her attacks and launched his own offensive.

"Enough!" Zena hissed, her eyes blazing with frustration. She gathered her dark magic and unleashed a powerful blast of energy that sent Arthur flying across the room, crashing into a stone pillar with a loud thud.

"Arthur!" I shouted, rushing towards him, but Diana intercepted me, her flames surging towards me with renewed intensity. I retaliated with a powerful gust of wind, pushing back against the flames and creating a momentary barrier.

"Iris, hurry!" Arthur groaned, struggling to his feet. "Finish them off!"

I nodded, my mind racing as I focused my magic, summoning all my strength. I gathered the elements around me, fire and wind swirling in a cyclone of power, and unleashed it towards Diana and Zena with a resounding cry.

The combined force of fire and wind struck Diana and Zena with incredible force, sending them flying in opposite directions. They crashed into the walls, their spells dissipating as they slumped to the ground, defeated.

The air crackled with tension as Diana and Zena, two formidable foes, unleashed their spells during the epic battle. Diana, a master of fire magic, raised her hands and chanted incantations in an ancient language. Flames roared to life at her fingertips, swirling and building until they formed a massive inferno.

"Inferno Blast!" Diana shouted, unleashing the fiery wave towards us. The intense heat threatened to consume everything in its path, and we scrambled to dodge the searing flames. The ground charred and blackened, and the acrid smell of burning wood and flesh filled the air.

"Watch out!" I yelled to my companion, as I narrowly dodged a blast of flames that scorched the edge of my cloak. I retaliated with a blast of ice, attempting to counter Diana's fire with my own elemental magic. The two spells clashed, creating a steamy cloud of mist that obscured our vision.

Zena, a rogue sorceress with unparalleled agility, took advantage of the chaos and cast "Shadow Step." She vanished into the shadows, only to reappear behind us in a blink of an eye. Her daggers glinted in the dim light as she struck with lightning-fast precision.

"You can't escape me!" Zena taunted, her voice dripping with confidence. She darted around us, her movements almost impossible to anticipate. Her blades slashed through the air, leaving behind a trail of glowing green sparks.

"Enough of this!" Diana snarled, her eyes blazing with determination. She raised her hands once more, conjuring a fireball that grew in size and intensity with each passing second. "Pyroclasm!" she shouted, hurling the massive fireball towards us with all her might.

We scrambled to evade the incoming inferno, but the sheer force of the spell was overwhelming. The ground trembled as the fireball crashed into the earth, creating a massive explosion that sent us flying. I could feel the searing heat singeing my skin, and my ears rang from the deafening roar.

"I won't let you defeat us!" I shouted, struggling to regain my footing. I channelled my magic, summoning a gust of wind that buffeted Diana and Zena, momentarily disrupting their attacks.

"Is that all you've got?" Zena sneered, her eyes glinting with mischief. She vanished into the shadows once again, only to reappear right in front of me, her daggers poised to strike. But before she could deliver the finishing blow, Reijy intervened taking the attack as both of us flew into a pillar.

As the battle raged on, Diana and Zena's spells seemed to overpower our group. Shinku, Iris, Arthur, and Pia were starting to show signs of fatigue, as they were not accustomed to the rigors of battle. Reijy, on the other hand, focused on protecting us, deflecting spells and projectiles with his shield.

But just as things seemed dire, Shinku felt a surge of power welling up within him. It was a familiar but unnerving sensation - the call of his unique magic, void magic. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of the consequences of using such potent and dangerous magic. However, as Diana and Zena gained the upper hand, he knew he had to take a risk.

Gathering his resolve, Shinku shouted the incantation for the void spell, and the air around him crackled with dark energy. The ground beneath him cracked and split, and a swirling vortex of darkness emerged, swallowing everything in its path. The void magic destroyed the surrounding area, creating a sense of chaos and devastation.

Diana and Zena, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, tried to flee. But before they could escape, Zena turned to Shinku with a wicked grin on her face. "I hope we meet again, Shinku," she said cryptically, disappearing into the shadows with Diana in tow.

Shinku watched as they vanished, a mix of relief and apprehension coursing through him. He had used his void magic, but he knew it came with a price. The dark energy that he had unleashed had left its mark on the battlefield, leaving behind a sense of foreboding.

Reijy, who had been busy defending us from Diana and Zena's attacks, turned to Shinku with a concerned expression. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Shinku nodded, his mind still reeling from the surge of power he had just experienced. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice tinged with awe. "I didn't expect my void magic to be so powerful."

Iris, Arthur, and Pia, who had been catching their breath after the intense battle, looked at Shinku with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. "That was incredible," Iris said, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen anything like it."

Shinku smiled gratefully at his friends, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty. Void magic was unpredictable, and he knew he had to be careful not to let it consume him. He made a silent vow to himself to learn more about his unique magic and how to control it.

As we regrouped and assessed the aftermath of the battle, Shinku couldn't help but wonder what Zena had meant by her cryptic words. He had a feeling that their paths would cross again, and he knew he had to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. The taste of victory was bittersweet, as he realized that his journey was far from over, and the mysteries surrounding his void magic were just beginning to unravel.

As we moved through the ruins, our senses heightened, anticipating another encounter with Diana and Zena. Suddenly, they appeared, emerging from the shadows with wicked grins on their faces.

Diana's eyes glowed with a fiery intensity as she chanted an incantation, and flames erupted from her outstretched hand. "Inferno Blast!" she shouted, unleashing a wave of fire that roared towards us. We quickly spread out, dodging the flames as they licked at our heels, scorching the ancient ruins.

Zena, on the other hand, moved with uncanny speed, her daggers slicing through the air with deadly precision. "Shadow Step!" she exclaimed, disappearing into the darkness and reappearing behind us in a blur. Her daggers struck out, aiming for our vulnerable spots. We countered her attacks with our own, parrying her strikes and trying to keep her at bay.

During the intense battle, we exchanged words amidst the clashes of steel and bursts of fire. "You won't get away with this!" I shouted at Diana, blocking her fire with a shield spell that crackled with energy.

Diana sneered, her eyes ablaze with determination. "Oh, I think we will," she retorted, sending another Inferno Blast towards us, the flames reaching higher, threatening to engulf us.

Zena darted around us, her daggers slashing with deadly precision. "You fools!" she taunted, her voice dripping with malice. "You're just pawns in Shinku's game. You have no idea what you're dealing with."

I gritted my teeth, summoning my own magic. "We'll stop you, no matter what it takes!" I declared, casting a freezing spell that coated the ground around Diana and Zena with ice, causing them to slip and lose their footing.

Diana and Zena's attacks faltered, giving us an opening. We pressed our advantage, launching a coordinated assault, using spells and weapons in tandem to drive them back. Diana's fire was quenched by our water spells, and Zena's elusive movements were countered by our strategic positioning.

As the battle raged on, the ruins trembled, the ancient stones groaning under the strain of the magic being unleashed. We knew we had to end this quickly before the entire place collapsed.

With one final, desperate push, we unleashed our most powerful spells. I cast a blinding light spell that temporarily blinded Diana and Zena, while my allies followed up with a barrage of attacks that left them staggering.

"Enough!" Diana gasped, her flames smoking into another smokescreen blinding us as well. Reluctantly pulling back as the danger of chasing them and the crumbling ruin was too risky in following after them. As the dust settled, we stood victorious, breathing heavily but triumphant. We had managed to defeat Diana and Zena, but the mystery surrounding Shinku and the prophecy still remained.

Looking around, trying to figure out what to do next, Reijy's sharp eyes spotted something amidst the rubble.

"Reijy, what do you see?" I asked, squinting at the rubble ahead of us.

"I think I've found something," Reijy replied, his sharp eyes scanning the area. He carefully moved closer and began to uncover a hidden chamber.

"What is it?" Iris asked, her curiosity piqued.

Reijy pulled out an ancient scroll from the chamber and handed it to me. "It looks like a prophecy or history about a god being sent down to the world."

We gathered around the scroll, deciphering the ancient text as best as we could. The words revealed Shinku's true nature and the prophecy that foretold his purpose in the mortal realm.

"So, Shinku is a celestial being descended from a powerful god," Diana said, her voice dripping with malice as she and Zena appeared behind us, smirking. "You've finally figured it out."

"We won't let you use Shinku for your selfish goals!" Zena taunted, her sword at the ready.

"We'll see about that!" I retorted, unsheathing my own sword and taking a defensive stance.

The battle began, and the clash of steel against steel filled the air. Shinku used his newfound powers, unleashing bursts of energy that sent Diana and Zena reeling. Iris used her healing magic to keep us all in top shape, while Reijy used his agility and accuracy to land precise strikes on our enemies.

"Is that all you've got?" Diana sneered, dodging one of Shinku's energy blasts. "You can't escape your destiny, Shinku!"

Shinku gritted his teeth, his determination shining in his eyes. "I won't be a pawn in your game!"

Zena lunged at me with ferocity, her sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. I parried her attacks, trying to find an opening to strike back.

"You're no match for me!" Zena taunted, her eyes gleaming with confidence.

"We'll see about that!" I replied, pushing back with all my strength, my sword clashing against hers in a shower of sparks.

Meanwhile, Reijy and Diana were engaged in an intense duel, their swords flashing in a deadly dance. Diana's dark magic crackled around her, but Reijy remained focused, using his speed and agility to dodge her attacks and retaliate with swift strikes.

"You can't stop us!" Diana hissed, her eyes glowing with rage. "The power of the prophecy is on our side!"

Reijy smirked, his eyes glittering with determination. "We'll see about that!"

As the battle raged on, we fought with everything we had, using our skills and abilities to overcome Diana and Zena's relentless assault. The ruins echoed with the sounds of clashing weapons, grunts of effort, and shouts of determination.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we managed to gain the upper hand. Diana and Zena were forced to retreat, defeated and captured, their plans foiled once again.

We stood victorious, but the mystery of Shinku's origins and the prophecy still hung in the air. We knew our journey was far from over, but we were more determined than ever to uncover the truth and fulfill Shinku's destiny.

"We did it!" Iris exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.

Shinku looked at us with gratitude, his eyes glowing with his celestial powers. "Thank you all. I couldn't have done it without you."

Reijy grinned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Well, it's not over yet. We've got a world to save, after all."

“You’re right Reijy.” Looking on at the others. “For now, how about we head back and report what happened.”