"I'm home..."
Matthius opened the door to a room where his mother usually was. However, this time he couldn't see her sitting in her chair knitting. Usually his mother would knit in front of the fireplace on her rocking chair. Where could she have gone this late in the day? His father was busy to death with work in his study and hadn't had time since returning from the magic tower that day.
Matthius stepped out, looking left and right for someone he could ask. The palace corridor was so quiet, only lit by candlelight. Training with Louis had apparently taken up a lot of his time, but the results were very satisfying. He could control light mana, even if just a little, to add light to the corridor.
"Your Highness?" A servant walking in the corridor approached when he saw Matthius looking confused.
"Do you know where Mother is?" Matthius asked.
"Her Majesty the Queen is accompanying Her Highness the Princess who had a high fever this afternoon." The palace servant informed him politely.
"What? Vivi has a fever? Why didn't anyone tell me?!"
"About that..." Before the servant could reply, Matthius had already dashed off with a worried face.
"Vivi..."
Matthius ran toward Violet's room as fast as he could. It was so hard to imagine his sweet little sister falling ill. His light dimmed if Violet's condition worsened. And, the anxious feeling surging inside him exploded when he saw Violet crying in pain wrapped in her blanket. When that pair of purple eyes glanced weakly at him, he didn't know what to say.
"Brother..." Violet called weakly.
"Vivi!" Matthius quickly approached Violet, gently gripping his sister's hand that felt so cold. "Does it hurt that much? Can you tell brother?" he asked.
"It's hot, brother. Vivi's body is hot. It feels like Vivi is burning."
Matthius looked toward his mother who was faithfully sitting beside Violet's bed. "What did the Doctor say? Will she be alright?"
Ermely shook her head slowly, "The Doctor doesn't know about her illness. I'm truly worried about her." She started crying again as if she could feel the pain Violet was feeling now.
"I've already asked Arneld to call Uncle Niel. He might arrive soon."
Matthius returned to Violet, then gently stroked his sister's head hoping his touch could help distract from her pain. "Everything will be alright."
Violet calmed her crying, feeling Matthius's soothing gentleness. "Can... Vivi play again tomorrow?"
Matthius quickly nodded, "Of course! Brother will do anything for Vivi."
"How is her condition?"
Niel burst in with Arneld. He had just arrived at the tower and planned to clean up, but rushed to the palace after hearing about Violet's condition from Arneld. His clothes looked messy because he wasn't given time to tidy up again. At that time, Arneld had come looking like a possessed man who could kill anyone.
"Ancestor Sir..." Violet whispered.
Niel slowly approached Violet after Matthius stepped back to give him space. "Do you feel anything else besides the burning heat?"
"Here... it feels like there's something." Violet pointed to her left chest, right where her heart was.
Niel glanced at Arneld before going any further. Arneld behind him said quietly, "Do whatever you think is best."
Niel directed his hand toward Violet's left chest where he indeed sensed something strange lodged there. His suspicion was further confirmed when the magic performed on Violet showed a reaction. Clearly, the color of the magic involving light mana grew darker, making Niel's eyes widen.
"What is this...? How can this be?"
"What's wrong, Grandpa Sir?" Arneld moved closer.
"This is the first time in a thousand years of Luminaria's history."
"Don't beat around the bush, Ancestor Sir!" Matthius cut in, his feelings in turmoil.
"Sir Niel... I beg you, save my daughter." This time Ermely spoke up with a weak voice.
Niel stood up. "Leave us." He asked for the servants and guards to leave the room.
Matthius watched the servants and two guards leave the room one by one, then the door closed. "What do you want to say?"
Niel first cast a sleep spell on Violet before answering Matthius. "I found a rumbling deposit of black mana in her heart."
"Is that bad?" asked Arthas.
"Every individual has their own magic element centered in the heart. That's where the mana core lies. If Matthius and I have a core of light mana, then Violet has black mana as her core."
"So you mean, Vivi has a darkness element?" Arneld still wanted to try to deny it. "How can that be? And why does it have to be my daughter?" He worried about Violet's future if anyone found out she had a magic element like most of the demon race that was considered vile.
"What's worse, the darkness mana isn't synchronized with Violet's body, so there's a possibility it could become a suicide bomb for her."
"No..." Ermely collapsed to her knees.
Arneld reached for Ermely below to embrace her. "Isn't there a way to save her?"
"No human has a darkness element or has even seen someone use it." Niel answered.
"No! There must be a way!" Matthius interjected.
"A large amount of darkness mana is needed to align the darkness in Violet's body so that a rampage doesn't occur and end in death. In this world, beings with darkness mana have never been seen because if they ever appeared in public, they would be marked as cursed beings like demons."
"Then, how...?" Matthius's voice grew fainter. It was hard for him to see Violet's fading smile.
"The Demon King." Arthas made them turn toward him. "Only the Demon King can do it. Didn't you see for yourself how devastating his power is?"
Hearing Arthas's words made Niel's memory replay that old event, where he was kneeling before an absolute, terrifying power. "Indeed, only he can do it."
"If that's the case, we have to meet him. I don't care if I have to kneel before him as long as my daughter can recover." Arneld said fervently.
"Meet him...? That's impossible." Niel's face turned grim. "With that power... he could destroy us even before we manage to say anything. The same thing as that day might happen." He was afraid.
"I'll take the bet." Matthius made Niel stare at him in horror. "Getting his help first or dying." He said with full conviction.
"Are you crazy?!" Niel asked in a high tone. "Do you know how terrifying that monster is?! Neither you nor I could fight him even with light mana."
"I don't care! I'll do anything for Vivi!" Matthius shot back just as loudly.
"Hah..." Niel exhaled roughly. "No matter what, you're still a child."
"Could you repeat that?" Matthius glared sharply at Niel. "How can that cowardly self-"
"-Stop!" Arneld cut in firmly. Then, he looked at Niel. "As a father... I'd rather lose my life than see my daughter die before me." He said, softly, with his gaze lowered while still tightly holding his wife.
Niel met his gaze bitterly. It would be a lie if he didn't feel the same as Arneld and Matthius. "We'll go tomorrow." He decided. "For now, rest. The sun is almost fully showing itself." He glanced at the open window facing the sunrise.
"Why not today?" Matthius asked.
"Your stamina has dropped quite a bit after that training, and Arneld is moving like the living dead. With bodies that weak, the chance of getting an opportunity to meet the Demon King will be even smaller. The journey there also has to pass through the demon forest filled with monsters."
"But, what if Violet..." Ermely left her words hanging.
"My sleep spell not only puts her to sleep, but also nullifies pain for a certain period of time."
Matthius stood right in front of Niel. "Take me with you."
"No!" Arneld stood up with Ermely. "I don't want to endanger you."
"I don't care what father says. This is what I want."
"You-"
"-I'll rest so tomorrow I can be a member who helps a lot. Rest well, Father." Matthius immediately walked off before Arneld could reply.
"You two should rest as well. Let me watch over Violet."
"Come, Ermely." Arneld helped Ermely to her room, leaving Niel who gradually disappeared from sight as the door closed.