In the wee hours of the night, an inconspicuous carriage made its way hastily to the temple located at the far end of the capital. It was a place where the sick, the poor and even the rich pray and spill their secrets to the Spirit God. It was also a place where unbreakable oaths were made, and if they were ever broken, one would have to pay an extremely hefty price.
“...”
“For someone who suggested making their way to the temple immediately, you seem uneasy.” Rael commented with an amused expression. “
Ever since she entered this carriage as Auriana and Nikulas were sent to rest in the palace which was under Rael’s jurisdiction, she wore a permanent frown on her face. She wasn’t swearing an oath to the Spirit God because she wanted to. It was her only choice to gain Rael’s trust, and she didn’t wish to be on the opposing side of the Crown Prince of the Grenyth Empire.
“If I have to be honest, Your Highness, the temple is unsettling.”
“That is understandable,” Rael said as he nodded in agreement. “The priests willingly blinded and deafened themselves to serve under the Spirit God. No average person would subject themselves to such treatment.”
“However, that is exactly the reason why everyone trusts the temples with their contracts,” Ida added, meeting Rael’s eyes with her amber eyes. “I hope you won’t doubt me too much, Your Highness.”
At her words, Rael began to laugh and Ida blinked in surprise. She didn’t think she said anything to amuse him. June, who was snoozing on Ida’s shoulder, jolted awake by that laughter.
“This tall one laughs weirdly!”
“What do you mean, June?”
“It’s blue!”
June narrowed her eyes at Rael, and through her aqua-coloured irises, she could see a trail of blue aura surrounding Rael at this moment. She harrumphed, closing her eyes and hiding behind Ida.
“When tall ones laugh in blue, it’s not fun! It’s supposed to be yellow!”
Ida recalled the common colours associated with emotions. If it was yellow, it usually meant happiness and if it was blue, it meant…
Sadness.
Ida gazed at Rael as he finished laughing, leaning in as he rested his elbow on his knee. He placed his chin on his palm, and his resplendent golden hair shined under the moonlight filtering in through the carriage window. He was dressed casually in black shirt and pants.
“The last person who told me that…”
There was a subtle glimmer in his golden eyes, and Ida couldn’t decipher the emotions in his eyes, but she knew it wasn’t a positive one.
“...is now imprisoned in the dungeon because of me.”
Ida didn’t know how to respond to those words. She didn’t know if they betrayed him or went to prison for Rael’s sake.
“There is also another person I came with to make an oath to the Spirit God, but…” Rael trailed off, letting out a scoff as he glanced out the window. “They are now dead.”
“Your Highness…”
“It’s fine. I just want to know if whatever you are saying is the truth or not.”
Just like that, the conversation came to an abrupt halt and two of them were unable to speak another word. Due to the stifling silence, Ida could only glance out the window and admire the scenery, contemplating on Rael’s words.
***
Seeing that their guest was of high status, they assigned the head priest to Ida and Rael. The head priest guided the two of them into the waiting room, and despite being blind and deaf, the two of them could communicate to the head priest telepathically. Rael expressed that he wanted to settle this matter quickly, and used the waiting room to make his oath.
“It seems no ordinary person could step foot inside here.” Ida mumbled to herself, observing the luxurious furnishing in the spotless room.
“Please speak of your oath. The Spirit God shall be your witness.”
The two of them felt goosebumps appearing on their arms as they heard the voice in their heads. Even for a fae, June found the head priest rather unnerving and constantly called them a “strange, tall one” as she kept her presence hidden this entire time. The head priest, who wore long, white robes with a blindfold around his eyes nodded at the two of them. At that moment, a barrier enclosed around the three of them in the waiting room. There was a bizarre unseen energy lingering around them, and the energy felt otherworldly that made chills run down their spine.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“I, Ida Wolfe, will make three oaths under the name of the Spirit God. If these oaths were to be a lie or broken, my limbs would be severed and my soul would be punished for an eternity.”
At those words, Rael widened his eyes in disbelief. He assumed that Ida would put her reputation, the lives of her family or the villagers on the line like the others have done. He never expected Ida to place herself as the hefty price to pay for breaking the oath.
“Firstly, the funeral being a trap to harm the imperial family and the people is the absolute truth.”
Ida felt herself being shrouded in that unknown energy and she gritted her teeth at the discomfort. It felt as if something was prying into her soul, poking and searching thoroughly. A few moments later, the energy dispersed from Ida’s body, and her expression began to relax.
“Secondly, the fact that I am not related to the preparators and regard them as my enemies is also the absolute truth.”
The same thing happened once more, and this time, Ida couldn’t help but let out a groan. She heaved a sigh after the oath was made, and finally, she moved to the final oath.
“Lastly, the fact that I do not harbor malicious intentions towards Rael Grenyth Liant is the absolute truth. Even in death, I will not say a word about your contracted spirit or your healing powers to anyone.”
A few moments passed, and the mysterious energy trailing around Ida has completely dispersed. There was a drop of sweat rolling down her face which was still twisted in discomfort. Even though she braced herself for it, the feeling of something pricking and gazing right into your soul was unpleasant beyond words. Just then, the head priest took a step forward and bowed his head towards the two of them.
“The oath has been sealed and completed. The eyes of the Spirit God will be watching over you, and may your tainted yet pure spirits be forever balanced.”
“Thank you for your service, head priest.” Rael said politely as he smiled.
“...”
“...”
The head priest remained in his position, not hearing what Rael had said and neither could see the smile on Rael’s face. Ida gave Rael a bewildered look, and Rael widened his eyes in realization.
“Ah–ahem…” Rael cleared his throat awkwardly, scratching at his cheek. “I-I forgot they couldn’t hear me.”
The head priest simply walked towards the door without another word, opening it and gesturing to them to leave whenever.
“Hmm. It’s a known fact that the imperial family comes to the temple every three months for prayers. There has been no news of Your Highness not attending the prayers.” Ida observed Rael for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
“Oh, those prayers? They always bore me to death, and so I always just–” Rael muttered out without thinking, closing his mouth as he blinked rapidly, meeting Ida’s curious eyes.
“Your Highness, did you perhaps always…”
“...what?”
“Play truant?” Ida questioned with a hint of amusement.
Rael avoided her eyes, clearing his throat again and walking briskly to the door. She had heard that Rael was the perfect role model that every child should follow. Extremely polite, well-behaved with a kind heart ever since young, he is the prime example of a model student and the flawless prince.
“You never heard anything.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
“Please.”
There was a red tint around Rael’s ears as she watched him leave. Ida estimated that his current age shouldn’t be more than twenty-three years old. His tall and broad back reminded her of a certain young man in her previous life.
He is still a brat, just like him.
They give off the same atmosphere.
She was twenty years older than him, and that young man always regarded Ida as a strict leader. She caught him breaking his model student reputation in a similar way to Rael, and she found herself chuckling as the fond memories overlapped with Rael’s current embarrassed visage.
“...let’s make another oath, Ida Wolfe.”
“What?”
“That you won’t talk about this to Auri and Nik–or to anyone else.”
At those words, Ida couldn’t help but cover her mouth as she snickered. Her shoulders were shaking with mirth.
“I should just stop talking.” Rael closed his eyes in defeat, letting out a sigh.
“Don’t worry, I won’t speak a single word about this incident to anyone.”
“...you are still laughing.”
“It’s alright, Your Highness. Playing truant is what every kid does.”
“I’m not some brat!”
This time, Ida couldn’t hold back and let out a short, light-hearted laughter at his defensive retort. His behaviour really reminded her of that brat. Meanwhile, her amused response only made Rael more embarrassed as he scratched his cheek.
“I have never seen a tall one grow so red like a tomato!”
The remark that June gave made her smile grow wider.
Just like that, the two of them returned to the inconspicuous carriage and rode back to the Crown Prince’s palace. Unlike the previous atmosphere which was full of distrust and tension, this time, it was cordial and pleasant.
***
After getting a good rest in the palace, the four of them stood in the office belonging to the Crown Prince. It was time for Ida to lay out the plans to prevent the devastating destruction that would occur during the funeral of the Emperor, who is also Rael’s father.
“Who is the perpetrator behind this attack?” Nikulas asked.
“You have met him before, Auriana and Nikulas.”
“Is it that…?” Auriana frowned.
“Indeed,” Ida replied with a nod. “It is that spirit mage you fought on that day, and the same one who wanted to destroy the village.”
“What?” Rael spat out in disbelief. “Is that spirit mage planning to destroy the entire Grenyth Empire?”
“I do not know, but I do know of their aim in this attack,” Ida said with a solemn expression, looking at Rael. “It’s your uncle.”
“My uncle? He is a useless regent, killing him will only–” Rael scoffed and stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening in recognition.
“That’s right. They want to exacerbate the war for the throne, and in the process, they will be able to create what they want from the Grenyth Empire.” Ida finished the dreadful thoughts in Rael’s mind.
If possible, the future written in the novel was something she didn’t want to see come true. It wasn’t only due to the lives lost here in the funeral, but also the miserable future that would befall upon Rael.