United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 50 - Ruby

To Ruby, it seemed as if her brain had overloaded and shut down. The victory over the Darks was owed to Shintaro, the humble guardian who had pledged his loyalty to Ariel. The man who had protected the kingdom for three years, the man who was selfless and quiet in everything he did, was the same teenaged boy that had given the world victory over the symbol of evil. Guardian Shintaro Carter, one of Ruby's closest friends, was responsible for the lives of so many people, the humans that wouldn't have existed had the war been lost. Shintaro was the reason that the kingdoms were still thriving. Ruby could hardly comprehend it. 

Why had he not told anyone? Ruby understood that the guardian didn't care much for popularity or attention, but it was very worth mentioning that the young teenager who had saved the world didn't die in the act. She knew that Shintaro was a humble and selfless man, but the fact that he had hidden the truth had resulted in misguided history books. Apparently, even Caynen had thought the guardian had died until recently; but it had turned out to be wrong the whole time. 

Most of the others - including Shintaro's own kids - looked just as utterly shocked as Ruby felt. Chase and Abby were staring at Caynen as if he'd grown three more heads, their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open in surprised confusion. Rachel's free hand was over her mouth, her brown eyes wider than Ruby had ever seen them. Beside her, Gabriel was clutching her hand tightly with a deep, confused frown creasing between his eyebrows. Marcus, who seemed to have guessed it before Caynen had explained, was looking down at the floor with an open mouth and a frown, as if working through the pieces in his head that fit together. Amy was staring down at Caynen with raised eyebrows and a tilted head, her arms still crossed over her chest. Caspian, who was standing beside her, was blinking at Caynen with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, his eyebrows raised high. Falte and Kai were a few paces to their right - Kai was watching Caynen narrowly, his mouth pinched into a slight frown and his eyes narrowed. Falte's eyes were wide behind his glasses, his mouth parted slightly and his hands still at his sides. Linda was frowning harshly at Caynen as if he'd told her that he wasn't really a human, her eyes narrowed and her mouth parted only slightly. Artemis had leaned back a bit, blinking at Caynen with wide eyes and a shocked expression. Aaron looked surprised and confused, as if someone had just ran by and taken something he'd been holding his hands. Emily's mouth was open the widest, her eyes huge and twinkling with wonder and curiosity. Zeke's gaze was level, as usual, but his eyebrows were raised to show his shock. Luke, Ruby noticed, didn't look as surprised as everyone else; though, he did looked shaken and confused. Nanami, who probably didn't understand much, was watching Caynen with a tilted head. Ozai was looking at Caynen with a knowing, solemn face that told Ruby that he'd already known. 

Ruby realized that she'd been holding her breath, and she quickly inhaled sharply. She couldn't tell what her emotions were trying to tell her - if she was relieved, confused, or angry. Everything was all over the place, drowned out mostly by shock and bewilderment. The queen could only sit there and stare at Caynen in dumbfounded surprise. 

Now everything had really changed. Shintaro was the boy that had saved the world, and he hadn't died during the task. The world wasn't saved anymore, and the future didn't look promising. The world had been fine only a few months ago. Why did this fate have to befall Earth?

Ruby's heart felt like it was pounding a million miles per hour. There was so much to comprehend, so much to question Caynen about; yet The Dark Lord himself was here in her castle. Anxiety and confusion and terror were twisting around in Ruby's chest, almost to the point of pain. Her stomach was in a knot that only seemed to grow tighter with each passing moment, and she felt sick. 

"Why didn't he tell us?!" Falte suddenly burst out, startling Ruby out of her reverie. The librarian wasn't frowning, but his hands were raised in a gesture of impatient confusion. It didn't seem like he was talking to anyone in particular, but his eyes were still on Caynen.