Chapter 13: Chapter Twelve: Emperor Linus

Whether Kai liked it or not, he will have to go to the capital under the king's order in a few days. Every year, the Duke of Zein has to go to the capital to give their yearly report. Moreover, in the following days, the whole capital will be celebrating the anniversary of the kingdom. Although Kai is unpopular and not so well known, he still holds one of the highest positions in the kingdom. After all, he is the only duke among the aristocrats.

With a solemn look on his face, Kai's hands are working busily to pack things up while his mind is occupied with other things, more specifically, the owner of the beautiful purple eyes he lived with for a few days three months ago, the one that taught him magic and languages.

'I wanted to wait for him… But there's still no sign of him coming back.'

But who knows, maybe it's for the better. He didn't even know if Helix wanted to go with him to the capital. And it's not like he wanted to leave Helix alone in the castle for who knows how many days while he is in the capital.

But he still has a few days to think about that person. For now, Kai wants to go to the nearest village. He wants to see Hirona village for once. The last time he tried, he failed when he was surrounded by magic beasts on the way. It was fortunate that he was saved. Otherwise, he would've been their food. But now that he has ways to protect himself, Kai could now go to the village. Although it would be a long walk, with no other means of transportation, there's no other way.

With a small shoulder bag, Kai was ready to set out. But before leaving, he first wrote a note just in case Helix comes while he was not home. He was not worried about the castle being robbed either, who would come here in the first place? There's also the formation Helix cast around the castle. So Kai just let the castle be and went on his merry way to the village. Like before, Kai only followed the river east.

The water is crystal clear and there were even fresh green leaves floating around. This must have come from the Lunos empire. Kai stopped his walk and faced the shallow river. He crouched down and was careful about his bag. He reached out a hand to grab a fresh green leaf and stood up. "Spring is coming after all. Unlike this place, Lunos is a prospering empire with a balanced season all year."

The spring of this world was described by the author using two paragraphs. It was not even enough to describe its beauty, apparently. Because during another scene that involved the romance between the two main characters, under the beautiful spring trees, the author uses another three paragraphs. Even at least once, Kai wanted to see every season in this world. Of course, there must be someone by his side.

Otherwise, it would be a lonely sight, wouldn't it?

After getting enough observation of the leaf, Kai tossed the leaf away and continued walking. He can go tour the whole continent once he finishes the things has to do first. Who knows, by that time he really might have someone by his side, no?

Just like that, Kai's wish to go back to his own world slowly starts to get muddied by his attachments to this world.

After an hour of walking, even Kai felt tired and worried. Although back in his original world he was athletic and an hour of walk was nothing to him, also the body he possesses now is much a bit more muscular than his former one, after being cooped up for more than three months inside the castle, doing nothing but reading and concocting will really affect one's physical fitness.

Because of this, Kai reminded himself to work out more inside the castle every day with a time limit once he goes home.

Since Kai needed a quick rest, he found a comfortable place to sit and settled there. He took out a bottle of water, the water that was pre-heated a few hours ago had already cooled down and gone cold. Kai sighed with disappointment as he drank the water and replenished his energy. He knew that if he stayed here for more than a minute, the magic beasts would catch his smell and would come running in order to feed on him. But it's fine. He has no reason to be afraid. Kai took out a piece of bread from his bag and ate silently.

This forest is cold but Kai has long gotten used to it and he was wearing multiple layers of clothes. Even if magic beasts come, wanting to tear his flesh, there's no way that their fangs will easily tear this much of clothes at once. If considered, this might as well be called reliable armor.

Kai's expectation was fulfilled when he heard low growls from a distance and crunchy footsteps. Kai hurriedly finished the rest of the bread and prepared himself. He stood up, bag in hand as his eyes followed the sound of the footsteps. It was just like that until he heard screeches coming from above. Kai lifted his head and found three hawks magic beasts soaring in the sky. "Well." He chuckled dryly. "This is a bit dangerous."

Magic beasts that stay on the ground are easy to deal with. But magic beasts that fly?

Kai just immediately knew that this would be troublesome.

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While standing before the emperor, Helix's eyes narrowed and the words that the other was speaking never reached Helix's ears anymore.

'He left the castle…'

Helix was aware that Kai could now protect himself, he made sure that Kai would at least learn the first level of magic before he left after all. Kai could learn the rest on his own. Although the second level might become a bottleneck for him who just started learning magic, three months should've been enough. He was sure that Kai could already enhance things by now.

As for the third level, casting spells is relatively easy because of the first level. Besides, Helix knows of Kai's capabilities. Although he won't be able to reach the last level of magic, his learning speed is fast, beyond normal even.

There's a possibility that once Kai gets in danger, he would self-teach himself how to cast magic. Helix realized that when he gave him hints on how to cast first-level classification magics.

He didn't need to know why Kai left the castle in the first place. That person's curiosity and courage even amaze him. It's not like being cooped up in the castle for a long time is good either.

Seeing the person in front of him was not responding, Emperor Linus furrowed his eyebrows.

Helix's attire this time was still a black robe with golden linings and a silver belt. It was neatly and properly worn as this was a formal meeting with the emperor. On top of the black robe was another black cloak. This person had always worn black, the cold emperor had long gotten used to it. The black hair that had a single braid on the left smoothly flowed from Helix's shoulder and reached up to his waist.

The gloomy and deadly aura emitted by the deep purple eyes was something that rightfully belongs to the notorious killing machine of the empire, the dark mage.

It was his predecessor who brought him and found a way to tie him down in this place. In other words, it was the former emperor, his father who had stepped down from the throne. Emperor Linus originally thought that this person was just convenient as a pawn to be used. But this person was just about the same age as him and was royalty as well. To be a royal yet still be a slave to an empire that you don't even have a feeling for, Emperor Linus found this man quite pitiful so he was more lenient to him.

Emperor Linus sighed quietly and called out, "Helix."

The other finally snapped out of his thoughts and the emperor continued. "If you're tired, then you may leave. When there's something important that is needed to be reported, come back immediately." Helix didn't hesitate to turn around immediately but the emperor still have not finished yet. Emperor Linus grabbed a bottle containing a violet liquid from his magic space before calling out yet again to the leaving Helix.

"Do you not need to take the antidote? Come back first."

Helix glanced over his shoulder with a look of indifference before really going back and taking the bottle from the emperor and leaving. Looking at this person, the emperor had no words. Showing no respect towards the emperor, there's only one person that can do that. The ministers on the sidelines could only glare and bare their fangs in a not-so-obvious manner, all because of Helix's prowess and position.

Yet again, Emperor Linus could only sigh from defeat as he thought. It was an unacceptable thing that shouldn't be said despite being an emperor but he still had his own opinion about matters.

'Someone like Helix shouldn't be kept with a dagger in his throat.'

There's nothing in this world that never ends. Who knows, that person might someday find a way to break his curse. When the time comes, will that person take his revenge? Emperor Linus only knows that it will not end well.