It was strange when guards came at this time. After the meals, they didn't come to the cell again until midnight patrolling.

Oh. Evan. Eiden silently watched Evan walk to the other cell, and tell the guards to take that man. Then he stopped at Eiden's cell. He looked at Eiden for a long minute and turned to the tall guard behind him.

"Give him something more to eat. He looked starved. Father needs him healthy," he ordered the guards and left.

The guards brought him another meal, and a whole fried fish was with it, even though he felt like he was fattening up for the sacrifice, he was too hungry to care.

When he woke up the next morning, the first thing he did was to run to the window, to see Malan, who might have returned. But, there was only an empty cell. For two days, he saw none other than guards. On the third day, Uncle stood in front of his cell.

"Eiden, one wrong move, one life important to you is going to be lost. Understand?" Eiden nodded.

The door opened and two guards came to his side. Leg shackles were removed, and Eiden was taken outside. They walked for some time, Eiden felt they were outside of the wards. He looked back to see a ruined castle, where he was imprisoned underground. Uncle took his arm roughly and they teleported.

It was very early in the morning, dark and gloomy, the heavy overcast made it even darker. Eiden stumbled when Uncle landed among a group of people in a place that looked like a campsite.

"Give me your heir ring and Hadrian's bracelet," Uncle commanded.

"Bracelet is with my mother." Eiden removed his heir ring after Uncle forcefully checked his wrist to make sure he was not lying. He was pushed to the floor and ordered to remain there with guards.

Eiden hugged himself, his insides were frozen in fear of what Uncle was planning to do. There was no way he could escape. His magic was restricted and he couldn't even move without making a clunking sound with his chains.

The happy time with his friends was like a distant dream, it was sad he wouldn't get any more time with them. Eiden was very much scared for his friends, as Uncle had no use of them he wouldn't hesitate to discard them. However, Eiden couldn't find a shred of guilt in him for dragging them to this life-threatening situation, because he loved the time they spent together so much.

He was repulsed by that thinking how selfish he is. Not wanting to dwell in his increasingly disturbing thoughts anymore, he wished Uncle would carry out whatever the next in his agenda. He heard a few telltale swishing of teleports all around him. They were planning to leave, Uncle came out of the tent and walked towards Eiden.

"Get up," he ordered the guards to take him and follow.

They appeared in a small cave bounded by a rocky hill and masked by evergreens. There were two fishing boats anchored close to the beach. His heart sank when he saw his family and friends were all kneeling on the ground, next to Evan, who must have been in charge of the raid.

"Mother," he couldn't stop himself and, calling her loudly, he tried to run to her. Eiden was shocked when Uncle turned around, and an invisible whiplash graced his cheek, making him cry out loud.

"Don't hurt him." Mother cried and he saw Father was trying to escape from the chains. Everyone in his team looked furious, thank lord Azur, they were all alive.

"Silence,"

Uncle's cold voice boomed. He put his hand back on Eiden's neck and pushed him forward.

"What did I say, Eiden, before we left?" he asked, Eiden was trembling under Uncle's warm hand.

"No wrong move, Uncle," he said meekly and looked at Uncle with pleading eyes.

"I'm sorry, don't hurt anyone."

"Well, they have their uses." Uncle smiled cruelly and turned to Mother.

"So, my darling cousin, one wrong move, your precious boy is going to be strangled to death by his chains, and everyone else will be discarded to the sea. Understand?"

Eiden watched in horror as his mother nodded in defeat.

"Good. If you probably wonder how I knew your plans, my lovely daughter had planted a useful spy amongst yourselves, though he might not know his contributions. Captain Raki, my daughter offers her thanks for your service."

Eiden had never seen anyone change to ghastly white faster before. Raki hadn't known Esme's plans then. Some magical means?

"The promise ring you're wearing is a very well-protected and very subtle eavesdropping device. But, by all means, keep wearing it or my Esmeralda will be heartbroken." Uncle slapped the back of Eiden's head.

"The groom I chose had decided to run away like a coward, breaking her heart once? Didn't he, Eiden?"

Eiden almost fell on his face, by the force of Uncle's slap. But, quickly took his composure back. He glowered at the ground, but answered 'yes' to his psychopathic uncle and his laugh made Eiden want to throw up.

"Alright, so, we are going to a certain island, looking for the portal to an ancient city. I'm impressed that, Eiden figured out about the black dragons on his own. I was planning to do the cleansing together with Eiden after I learned the nature of his magic. For a while, I thought my little nephew was too weak to deal with a little dark magic, but he pulled through admirably.

Enya, darling, do you know how much we should be thankful for my aunt, for pairing you up with Hadrian." Uncle turned to Eiden's grandfather.

"Oh, Lord Raymond, I'm grateful for you keeping your line pure. I'd have liked to test my hypothesis with dear Hadrian, however, he was a bit too big and stubborn for my liking. Shall we move on to our plans then?"

Eiden thought he would prefer to kiss a snake than listen any more to his uncle's plans. He mentally kicked his backside for not realizing the depth of Uncle's planning. How Uncle Elvin changed like this was beyond his comprehension. Uncle's hand tightened to the back of his neck, as he ordered the people around him. The guards holding Simon and his team came dragging them to kneel in front of Uncle and Eiden.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"I don't appreciate the fact we have all our strong boys in the same place. Commander Simon, sliding with fugitives and planning against the current monarch are written as treason in the constitution, isn't it?" Uncle asked them in his harsh authoritative voice.

Eiden looked around to see Marcus, Mashu, Ravik, Gorga, and Raki.

"Even Eiden, with his abysmal knowledge in legal affairs, knows what is the punishment for such an offense." Eiden felt his uncle look down to see him.

Eiden wanted to scream in anguish. All he could think of was the beautiful little child Mashu held in his arms on that fateful night. As the current heir, even displaced, Eiden was not allowed to justify such action performed by the military. Perhaps Uncle wanted him to justify so he could twist his words and eliminate them.

"Uncle, may I speak?" he asked desperately, trying to keep his voice confident.

"Are you going to justify the treason, Eiden?" Eiden wished he had his armor on. This thin shirt betrayed even a little body movement, and Uncle exactly knew how to make him tense enough to break.

"No, Uncle. Treason is treason even if they did that to help me. I can't justify the offense, nor can I ask for mercy." He took a deep breath.

"Yet, the death sentence seems to be a waste when it comes to strong and magically capable men like them. After all, they didn't commit active harm to the property or the personnel belonging to the monarchy. I would consider sending them to the mines of Fairwitch. Also, the error of gathering and organizing them to aid my course is mine and mine only." He looked up to see Uncle's face lit up with a twisted sneer.

"It's good to see my lessons have an effect on you. Enya, I don't know, what have you been doing with him? I had to start his lessons from scratch." Uncle gestured for the guards to take Eiden's team.

"Luckily, I require quite a lot of magical blood for my work. If these traitors survive, I may consider Eiden's suggestion.” Uncle chuckled to himself. Eiden's heart sank, as he struggled to hide his distress.

"What are we going to do with your half-animal pets, Eiden? If you've asked me for a cat, do you think I wouldn't have given one? Did I deny you anything? No. But, had to run away to find it by yourself."

Eiden felt a magical shock through his body. He bit back a cry. Uncle was using his cuffs as a torturous device to weaken his magic, he realized. The pain wore off and Eiden almost gasped for a breath. But, he was determined not to show its effect on him and didn't move a muscle.

"Pardon me, Uncle. They have nothing to do with my quest.

The Sangona and its inhabitants are independent from our law, as long as they don't actively kill or maim a human, or steal their property. These guys just wanted to come North for sightseeing. I think they are here for the sea voyage."

Eiden just finished his argument, looking hard at Clade, trying to converse the message "shut up" with his eyes, when another magical shock went through his body, making his whole body vibrate. Eiden wanted to curl up screaming, but Uncle's hand on the back of his neck prevented that. Eiden bit hard his lower lip, he felt his body getting sweaty, and taste of iron in blood from his lip.

"Is that so, some innocent tourists? I don't buy into that story, Eiden. If there's no use of them here, then disposing of them is much easier." Uncle was toying with his emotions, Eiden knew. Making him weak was the only way to break his mother's will. Eiden guessed Uncle wanted complete submission from Eiden's mother because she was the key to finding the ancient city.

"Clade.." Eiden gulped.

"has reptilian ancestry. Their magic is weak but in tune with nature magic. so, wards don't find them threatening, they might be useful." Eiden was crying inside, he didn't know what to do. Is he betraying them? On the other hand, Downplaying their strength might cause the guards to lower their defense around weak animal-like creatures, and they might be able to escape.

"Hmm..Fairly reasonable answer." Uncle pretended to think. Eiden thought even though Uncle recognized their strength, he might underestimate their full capacity because Uncle had never seen them in action. It was Evan, dangerous because Evan knew what Clade could do. Eiden didn't look at Evan all the time he was standing there.

"Father, may I ask something?" But, Eiden had to as Evan interrupted. Uncle nodded.

"Yes Evan. What's the matter?"

"Since they were found here with the fugitives, I think they had earned a court appearance. I'd like to take the girl into my custody until that." Evan requested. What. Did he say...Nub. Eiden wanted to murder Evan.

"Well, I have no objections, Evan," Uncle smiled.

Eiden saw that Ivar was so agitated and going to shout. Both Ierma and Mother sent him signals not to. Nub looked so scared and Cissa was enraged. It was Clade holding back Cissa, and Eiden looked squarely at Cissa giving him a 'don't do anything' look. Eiden thought Uncle was a bit angry, probably because everyone was trying to keep themselves calm so he couldn't find reasons to hurt someone.

"Shall we proceed on the journey now? That prisoner, what's the name, Ivar, keep him in this boat. The man has experience sailing in the North Sea. I need master Alfred to discuss some of my findings. It's a pity that you chose the wrong side, Master. But, you better have answers to my questions. Eiden will remain with me." Uncle sent Ierma with the guards to remain under house arrest with Sage and Guru.

Uncle must be interested in the bleeding heart flowers they were growing, that was why he doesn't want to take them to prison right now. Simon and his team including Ravik were sent to Uncle's ship, to keep them under heavy guard.

After some time, Evan returned with a group of guards, and... Eiden couldn't believe his eyes when Esme came with him. He went red recalling his illusion with Esme. It was all a lie, she didn't like him and they were in this mess because of her, he glared at her.

They decided that Uncle with Esme, and the rest of Eiden's group would take Ivar's boat. The smaller one would be taken by a set of guards. Eiden felt so angry and had to helplessly watch when Evan left with scared and tearful Nub, to take command of Uncle's ship, which would follow theirs.

They boarded Ivar's boat and Uncle took a seat on deck, with Esme. Eiden prayed to Azur that Uncle would send him to sit with his parents, but instead, he was told to sit on the deck by Uncle's side.

Even though the boat was designed to move by magical means, due to the hazardous nature of the North Sea with its sea ice formations, it was advisable to have a manual operator to guide the boat. Therefore, the guards and the captain took the wheel and kept Ivar with them. Eiden saw his parents and others taken to the back of the ship except master Alfred.

"Master Alfred, please take a seat,“ Uncle asked him like a gracious host.

"We missed you at the Palace. Eiden often told you were the best teacher back then. Right, Eiden," Uncle set his hand on Eiden's shoulder, a silent 'you better answer my questions' move directed at the master. Master gave a pained look at Eiden, who was on the floor sitting cross-legged beside Uncle's chair.

"Yes, Uncle,"

Eiden answered without hesitation because it wasn't a lie and he truly wished the master was there. Eiden knew both Grandmother and Mother trusted him and revered him as a great scholar, and Eiden himself knew the master from birth.

The Palace always had master's visiting lessons in kindergarten, in which he used to make elaborate illusions on the animals, plants, the ocean, etc and every child loved that. Ierma said that she had a lot of lessons from the master, and he never belittled her Craig heritage. Now looking at him, Eiden wondered how old the master was, because he looked old and frail, mostly because of the last few months staying in the dark dimension.

"Master, I want your genuine opinion on this." Uncle showed the master a silver goblet. Master touched it and looked very much disturbed.

"My lord, this is highly magical." Master brushed his fingers along the rim of the goblet.

"I know. That's why I prepared this ritual. Can you check this for me?" Uncle spread a rolled parchment and gave it to the master. Eiden was really interested now, a little peek, Uncle won't notice. He lifted his body a little to glance at the parchment.

"Stay still," Uncle slapped his head, and a magical shock went through him, making him double in pain.

Stupid parchment, Eiden took a gasping breath and settled into his original position gloomily. He was more interested in the master's reactions to the parchment. The old man looked near to cry, what the hell was in there?

"My lord, please, the tree is very precious, this kind of magic can taint it," master replied.

"I never thought to harm the tree, master. The ritual is only to strengthen the tree. I only wish to know its power."

Master looked helpless. Then, they started a lengthy discussion about certain runes and Eiden lost interest in their conversation. He stared at the endless blue sea.