CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE YOUNG IMPERIUM SCHOLAR
---*---
ETHERION REALM
-Tahomma Palace-
In Lady Kaira's previous knowledge of the four main realms, which were Humania Realm, Etherion Realm, Imperium Realm, and Ahdor Realm, that made up the universe with different timezones and beliefs—Imperium Realm, which was believed to be the center between the Humania Realm and the Etherion Realm, And the Ahdor Realm was equivalent to the Netherworld.
However, there's an important detail she forgot to mention. All four realms were related and connected to each other. If one of the realms were to crumble apart, the rest of them would.
But no one can blame the lady for her lack of knowledge since this information was still newly introduced by an Imperium Scholar of the Etherion Academy. How strange, isn't it? Shouldn't the student be called an Etherion Scholar and not an Imperium Scholar? Well, since the findings of the students and alumni of the said prestigious academy will also benefit the Imperium Realm, therefore, under the blessing and proclamation of the Emperor, they were proudly called the Imperium Scholars!
The long line of the main palace's servants does not await their young master. An eerie breeze welcomed the returning young master with his companions, carrying luggages of their belongings and a face of disbelief. It was such an odd sight, added to by the strange absence of people. Obviously, the returning young master was none other than the First Young Prince, Lee Anton Santos.
He scratched his temple while walking at an unhurried pace while his companions were raging at the thought that the butler or the housekeeping manager dared not welcome their First Young Prince. Rather than being angry with the servants behavior, Lee felt worried. He sent a letter about his arrival so he expected a warm welcome from his people, especially his family. Yet, none of these people were seen.
As he opened the main doors of their palace, the maids nearly dropped expensive ceramic plates.
"Y-Young Highness?" they screamed, which caused the entire manor to be shaken. Rushing through their First Young Prince was not a difficult task for them as for most of them learned teleportation tricks. But what's challenging for them was facing their First Young Prince.
"My, my," Lee merely sighed at the commotion he unknowingly created. Seeing their servants tremble in shame was not pleasing to him, so he told them to calm down and explain the situation. It was not his fault for coming unannounced because he wrote a letter weeks ago saying that he would be returning earlier than he expected. Yet, how come they did not know it?
"E-Er..." the butler glanced at the housekeeping manager as both of them broke an amount of sweat.
"On second thought," Lee stopped the butler, showing the palm of his hand as he turned around in the direction of his room. "I'm tired at the moment. Explain the details later."
They obediently bowed and went back to their perspective as Lee's companions decided to take a nap before having their meals.
A letter transporting from the Humania Realm will reach the Etherion Realm in only two days. Lee arrived a day after the expected arrival of the letter, so whose fault was it?
He couldn't also blame the heads of each manpower. Seeing their surprised faces, the letter must have been delayed. As he was staying in his room to rest, Lee still wondered why they were so shocked at his return. He understood them for being stunned for a moment, but causing a ruckus was too exaggerating. Only then did he fully grasp the situation when he 'accidentally' heard the cleaning maids outside his room gossiping about the incoming war.
Lee's ears adjusted the volume to hear clearly.
"I'm very worried." Even without seeing their faces, there were traces of fright in their tone.
"I am too," sighed another maid. There were three maids talking as they cleaned the area with a mop for the floor and a towel for the decorations in the halls.
"But negative thinking will only feed the King of the Dark Magi," grunted one, probably lifting an object from somewhere.
'King of the Dark Magi!' Lee immediately sprinted towards the gossiping maids, which eventually caused their hearts to escape their ribcages.
"First Young Prince!" they shouted simultaneously, straightening their posture while still holding their cleaning materials.
"War? King of the Dark Magi? What is seriously going on?" From the tone of his voice, he demanded answers, and the maids gave him the information he wanted as far as they knew. Hearing a detailed 'gossip' from the cleaning maids, he quickly sent himself in as the housekeeping manager of their palace, knowing that he holds their reports.
'My twin is not here because he is training with the other Young Princes and Young Princesses,' he huffed in his thoughts. 'The Princess, Princesses, and their consorts were investigating the cause of the Dark Magi King's awakening. And the Kings, Queens, and their consorts were beside the Emperor for an endless discussion!'
'I've only been in the Humania Realm for less than a month, so Etherion Realm should barely hit a year,' he groaned upon entering the office of the housekeeper manager, whom had jolted from his seat as he saw the unpredicted entrance of the First Young Prince.
"Young Highness! What can I do for you?" he quickly retorted, fixing his eyeglasses while adjusting his sitting posture. There was only a gap of silence when Lee intensely stared at the housekeeper manager, who's now sweating buckets from the pressure he received.
"Alright," Lee finally ended the quiet mood, which relieved the tension. "Can you still manage the palace for... um, more unknown months?"
The housekeeper manager wanted to bulge his eyes and cry eternally. But he only did that within himself, wiping the non-existent tears from his eyes while calculating the equivalent days for his vacation request. "Worry not, Young Highness!" he smiled with a bittersweet remark, raising a reassuring voice that hid his crying face. "I've been only managing the palace for three months now, so I don't mind handling the affairs for a year."
Lee was truly delighted after hearing the housekeeper manager's words. After a talk with him, he ordered his personal servants to help him pack pairs of clothes and combat attire, for he will be joining the training camp at the Imperium Realm, unannounced. He wanted to surprise his younger twin, whom he thought was a newlywed. He even prepared his gifts for them with Kaira's commission of a scarf.
"Ugh, isn't the weather hot?" he wondered, brushing his sleeve on his cheek. He glanced at the window and saw the bright sky with no clouds. Lee could only blink his eyes in confusion, for he couldn't comprehend the events that occurred. Another reason for him to be hasty joining the training camp will finally answer his questions.
Without anyone as his companion, he marched out of the castle walls while leaving with a summer outfit and a bag on his back. He then lifted his chin to double-check the number of the sun. 'Why do I feel like I'm experiencing a Therito summer?'
Sighed.
"First Young Prince, must you really leave today?"
"That's right, you've only returned awhile ago too."
A chorus of concerned voices entered Lee's ear. He was touched that these servants of their palace were feeling worried for not only the realm's state but for his well-being as well.
He only nodded and left a smile to assure them not to worry about him. Instead, they should focus on keeping the palace in shape while their masters are away.
With a leap into the air, Lee floated and gradually disappeared. He spawned on a ray of green light emitted from the sky with a purple tint. As he approached the light, it stretched and formed like a door in shape for Lee to fit through.
"The First Young Prince of Tahomma," a distorted voice, made his nerves jerk up. Being startled by a voice popping out of nowhere was indeed terrifying. But that voice belonged to the Gatekeeper of the Imperium Realm. So, having a conversation with one of the gatekeepers was already an achievement to boast about.
"History is bound to repeat itself.
Seek beyond the library's archives,
Will they save dozens of lives?
Seek beyond the memory's reach,
Will recall the forgotten piece! "
---*---
IMPERIUM REALM
-
Imperium Woods-
Lee's eardrums rang in a painful manner. He cupped his left ear while his other hand was being pressed on a tree that supports half of his weight. 'What a piece of advice.'
Grunt.
When he regained his senses and strength, he only walked through the enchanted woods, which made him feel like he was truly forgetting something. Albiet, rather, he shrugged his shoulders with his nonsensical thoughts.
His arrival was welcomed by a surprising situation where he heard screams of "The Young Imperial Scholar?!"
---*---
Author's Note
Gosh, another chapter! End is near and I can't wait to finally finish this! Anyway, thank you for reading Chapter Twenty-Five: The Young Imperium Scholar!
-SagittarianJoy-
( September 21, 2023 )
YOU ARE READING
ENCHANTED: Guardian Series #1 {COMPLETED, UNDER REVISION}
FantasyENCHANTED: Guardian Series #1 In a vast land called Etherion Realm, passing the borders of the horizon, there lies various creatures of good and evil. And the good ones are divided as the strong and the weak-the strong protects the weak, the weak se...
