Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

I found myself outside Evernoir Castle, in the open field where we usually trained. Standing before me was my sister, Ellora, as radiant as ever. Her face, always glowing with a smile, brought me the usual sense of calm and confidence that came from training together.

"Arche, focus is everything in magic," she said, holding her wand delicately. "If your mind wanders, even a little, magic can go wild."

I nodded, absorbing her advice seriously. "I understand, Ellora."

She gave me a gentle smile, then added, "Today, I want to introduce you to a new spell. It's more complicated, but I believe you can master it."

Under her gaze, my body relaxed. Ellora had always been an unmatched role model. But suddenly, something felt wrong. My body became heavy, as if an invisible weight was pressing down on me. My breath grew short, like the air around me had vanished. I tried to move, but I couldn't.

"Ellora?" I called out, panicking, but my voice didn't come out. Everything grew blurry until—

I jolted awake.

To my horror, Abigail was sprawled on top of me, fast asleep. Her body pressed against mine, her white hair spilling onto my face, carrying a faint, sweet scent that filled the air.

"Uh... what's going on?" I groaned quietly, feeling slightly suffocated. Not by her weight, but by the sheer weirdness of the situation. This time, I hadn't been kicked off the bed, but still, it was far from comfortable.

"She smells... nice..." My mind betrayed me with that stray thought, and a voice inside me laughed loudly, mocking. "Hahaha! Look at this! Lucky you, Arche! You didn't get kicked off the bed this time! Is this some kind of miracle?"

I sighed, unsettled, and carefully tried to shift Abigail off of me. But, of course, my clumsy movement only stirred her awake.

"Huh?" Abigail blinked, slowly coming to her senses, then her eyes widened in realization. Before I could say anything, she screamed.

"A-Arche! What are you doing?!"

And just like that, her signature kick sent me flying off the bed, landing hard on the floor with a loud thud.

"Again?" I winced, rubbing my back. By now, I should've been used to this, but it always hurt. Every. Single. Time.

The voice inside me laughed even louder. "Oh, poor Arche! Is this your morning routine now? Kicked out of your own bed? Or maybe Abigail has some strange sleeping habits? Who knows!"

I massaged my temples, trying to ignore the irritating voice in my head, while Abigail, now sitting on the bed, covered her face in embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she held the blanket tightly in one hand.

"I-I don't know how I ended up here! Honestly!" she stammered, her voice shaky.

Sighing, I stood up and dusted off my pants. "Abigail, I think we've had enough of these weird wake-up moments. Maybe it's time you start working on… whatever this sleepwalking issue is."

She glared at me, a mix of shame and frustration in her eyes. "Sleepwalking? I don't have any weird habits like that! Maybe you—somehow—did something that made this situation weird!"

Before we could argue further, Lilith's drone, which had been inactive in the corner, suddenly came to life. Usually calm and collected, this time her voice sounded a bit concerned.

"What's going on in there?!"

I glanced at the drone and sighed again. "Nothing serious, Lilith. I just… fell out of bed. Again."

The drone hovered closer, as if it wanted to check the situation. The screen displayed Lilith's face, looking confused. "Why does this always happen when I leave you two alone? Abigail, why are you sitting on Arche's bed like that?"

Abigail, now completely embarrassed, quickly defended herself. "I-It was an accident! I... I didn't mean to!"

Lilith stared at us both through the screen, then shook her head. "This isn't the first time something like this has happened, is it?"

I shrugged, while Abigail seemed even more flustered. "Lilith, relax. It's nothing serious. Just… a little sleep accident," I said as calmly as I could.

Lilith looked doubtful but eventually backed off a little, the drone pulling away. "Alright. But you two should be careful. Don't let these little 'accidents' turn into something awkward."

I chuckled lightly. "Awkwardness seems to be a regular part of our days now."

Abigail, still red-faced, shot me a sharp glance. "Arche, you should stop bringing this up!"

"Me?" I raised my hands in surrender. "I'm just suggesting you deal with your weird sleep habits."

Abigail huffed in frustration, throwing a pillow at me with surprising force. "You're the one who needs to stop saying weird things! This was just an accident!"

The voice inside me chuckled again. "An accident? Or maybe good luck for you, Arche?"

I shook my head, trying to ignore the internal teasing. My life was already strange enough without these random incidents, but what could I do? Somehow, Abigail always managed to turn a normal situation into a mini-chaos, and for some reason, I didn't entirely mind it.

As I looked at Abigail still sitting on the bed, her face flushed and avoiding my gaze, I let out a long sigh. "Alright, Abigail. I'll try to be more careful from now on... though I still don't know how."

She grumbled, but I noticed a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yeah, you'd better be careful. Or next time, you might get kicked even further off the bed."

I smiled back faintly. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Enough with the morning drama!" Lilith's voice echoed through her drone. "Both of you—especially you, Arche—get ready. We need to head to Nexus Port City, and we can't waste time."

I sighed and leaned back against the wall. Lilith's nagging wasn't new, but today it felt sharper than usual. Abigail, still sitting on the bed with a faint blush after the earlier incident, looked down, seeming a little drained.

"Come on, Abigail. You too," Lilith continued. "Don't take too long in the bathroom. We need to move quickly."

Abigail gave a quiet nod, grabbed a towel, and headed into the bathroom. The door closed softly behind her, leaving just me and Lilith in the room.

Once Abigail was gone, Lilith's focus shifted to me. "Arche, don't forget your camouflage mask. You're still a fugitive, remember? We can't afford to be this careless."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I remember the mask."

"Don't just 'yeah-yeah' me!" Lilith snapped, her tone sharper. "The kidnapping incident yesterday should be proof enough that we can't afford to relax. We've got a long way to go, and you can't be reckless anymore."

I took a deep breath. Lilith's frustration was usually grounded in something serious, but her endless lecturing could get exhausting.

"So, are we taking the land route?" I asked. "Why not go by air? It's faster, isn't it?"

There was a pause before Lilith responded, and I could hear the frustration in her voice. "Arche, did you forget you're a fugitive?"

I blinked, confused. "What does that have to do with it? Air travel is faster. We could avoid dangerous roads and get there sooner."

Lilith let out an exasperated sigh, clearly holding back her irritation. "Are you really that dense sometimes? If we travel by air, your face will be scanned and flagged by airport security systems. You think they don't have facial recognition? The moment your face is caught on camera, we're finished."

I fell silent, feeling a bit stupid. "Oh… right."

"And if we're caught, security won't just chase you. If we're lucky. Worst-case scenario, they'll send bounty hunters or assassins after us. Do you really want to fight in mid-air, with the risk of falling from thousands of feet up?"

I swallowed hard. The thought of battling in the sky, with the risk of plummeting to my death, was not exactly appealing.

"That's why we're taking the land route," Lilith continued. "My Father has already thought this through. On the ground, we have more options to evade and fight on familiar terrain. Plus, if bounty hunters follow us, we'll be more prepared to handle them on land."

I nodded slowly, feeling more than a little anxious. "Okay, I get it now. The land route is safer because we can avoid detection easier."

Lilith sighed, relieved, as if she finally got through to me. "Thank you. At least you're starting to understand. And don't forget your mask. This isn't a joke, Arche. Once your face is seen in public, it could end badly for all of us."

I stood up and began packing my things. The mention of the mask reminded me just how serious our situation was. "I'll wear it. Don't worry about that."

Lilith's voice softened, showing a bit more calm now. "Good. Oh, and one more thing. Don't get overconfident. You might be strong, but there's always someone stronger. Remember that."

Her words made me pause for a moment. Even though Lilith could be harsh, she always meant well. She had saved my life more than once, so I knew her warnings weren't empty.

A few minutes later, Abigail emerged from the bathroom, her hair still damp and her face looking refreshed. But there was a weariness in her eyes, either from the long journey ahead or the odd start to our morning.

"I'm ready," she said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed and starting to fix her hair.

I watched her for a moment before asking, "Are you okay?"

She gave a small nod. "I'm fine. Just… a little tired." Her voice was soft, and I could tell she didn't want to dwell on it, so I let it go.

Lilith's voice cut through the quiet again from her drone. "Alright, if you're both ready, we'll leave in an hour. Don't be late. Make sure you have all your supplies, and remember, we're taking the land route, so this won't be a short trip."

Abigail stood up, looking at Lilith's drone. "I know, Lilith. I'm ready."

I nodded too. "Same here. Camouflage mask is set. Nothing's been forgotten."

Lilith let out a long sigh, seemingly satisfied with our preparations. "Good. I'll start mapping out our route. And please, no more ridiculous incidents like this morning. We need full focus."

I could only give a sheepish smile. "Don't worry. That won't happen again."

Abigail glanced at me, a faint smile on her face, though traces of embarrassment from earlier still lingered. "Let's hope not," she said softly.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. "Yeah, we're all hoping for that."

After that, the room fell silent, with only the sound of Abigail packing her things and me checking over our equipment and weapons. The thought of the long journey ahead weighed heavily on my mind. Even though the land route was safer, it didn't mean we were free from danger.

As a wanted fugitive, with bounty hunters potentially tracking our every move, this journey was bound to be far from easy. But with Lilith's sharp eye and Abigail's unwavering support, I felt… we had a chance.

I glanced over at Abigail, who was still looking a bit weary but determined.

"Ready for the long haul?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

She looked at me, a small but firm smile on her lips. "Ready. Always ready."

I returned her smile, though deep down, I knew this would be one of the hardest journeys we'd ever face. But at least, we'd face it together.

***

The journey to Nexus Port City was something I'd been anticipating, despite the risks that awaited us along the road. With Abigail's rugged motorbike roaring ahead of me, I felt more confident, though being a fugitive kept my senses sharp. We had spent the morning packing and getting ready at the inn, and now, under the clear sky, we were back on the road.

Abigail's bike, which I had once crashed into a wall to save her, looked brand new—no scratches, no signs of damage. I had no idea what material this bike was made from, but it was impressive. I couldn't help but admire it.

"This bike is really something else," I murmured, adjusting the helmet on my head. Sitting behind her, my hands rested lightly around her waist.

"Only now you notice?" Abigail chuckled. She glanced back at me slightly, though her helmet blocked her expression. "It's built for extreme situations. Even a wall is no match for it."

I couldn't help but smile. Like many things about Abigail, her bike always managed to impress me. The engine's hum was smooth but powerful, vibrating through my body—a sign of the strength hidden beneath its sleek, futuristic design.

This time, the awkwardness I once felt when I had to hold on to Abigail during rides didn't bother me. It felt… natural. My hands circled her waist casually, and though my heart still raced a bit, I wasn't embarrassed or shy like before. Maybe I'd gotten used to her, or maybe being close to her made me feel safe.

What surprised me, though, was how Abigail reacted. Usually, she'd tease me, make a joke, or comment on how "brave" I was for holding her. But this time, she stayed quiet. I could feel her tense up slightly, perhaps caught off guard by my relaxed demeanor. But after a moment, the tension melted away, and she focused back on the road.

"No teasing this time?" I asked, trying to prod her.

Abigail didn't answer right away. I could hear her breathing a little heavier through the helmet, maybe feeling a bit flustered. "You're used to holding on to me now," she finally said, her voice softer than usual. "So, I guess there's no need to tease you."

I paused, surprised by her response. "Huh. Usually, you wouldn't miss a chance to mess with me."

"Usually," she replied, her tone a little shy. "But maybe this time I feel… different."

A small smile crept onto my face beneath my helmet. It was strange, but kind of nice, seeing her get a bit flustered. A change I hadn't expected.

As we rode on, the scenery shifted from crowded small towns with asphalt roads to futuristic countryside dotted with towering buildings of glass and metal, glowing with holographic lights that illuminated the skies. In the distance, mountains rose, seemingly coated with advanced technology. Hover vehicles quietly drifted along the air lanes above us, but we stuck to the ground, riding Abigail's bike.

What gave me an extra layer of confidence was the sight of Lilith's drone hovering close by. Small and sleek, with a soft blue light blinking every few seconds, it trailed above us, keeping watch from a safe distance. Lilith's voice periodically came through the small speaker in my helmet.

"All clear for now," her voice crackled through. "No signs of bounty hunters or pursuers. But stay alert, Arche. It's too quiet."

I rolled my eyes, even though Lilith couldn't see it. "I know. But it's been two days with no sign of anyone. I hope they keep their distance."

Abigail chimed in, her focus still on the road. "You know Lilith's right. If it's this quiet, they're probably watching from afar, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Don't let your guard down."

"You worry too much, Abigail," I said, patting her shoulder lightly. "Sometimes peace is just… peace."

"Suspicious peace," Lilith muttered from her drone. "We might be safe for now, but Nexus Port City is a huge hub. If there are bounty hunters, they'll be waiting there."

The thought of that nagged at me, but I tried not to dwell on it. Nexus Port City was known as the largest port city in the region, teeming with life and technological advancements. It was the perfect place to hide… or be hunted. But for now, I preferred to enjoy the calm.

The sky began to shift from bright blue to a golden orange as time passed. These two days of travel had given us plenty of time to reflect, talk, and—surprisingly—avoid any conflict. The long, winding roads felt like a labyrinth, but without any real danger, I found myself relaxing a little. Abigail seemed to enjoy the ride too, though she remained mostly quiet. I could sense she was more at ease now.

"You know, Arche?" Abigail's voice broke the silence from her helmet. "I thought this trip would be more dangerous. But so far… it feels like we're doing okay."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see it. "Maybe we got lucky. Or maybe they're just waiting for the right time."

"Maybe," she said with a soft laugh. "But for now, I'm enjoying the view without any interruptions."

Lilith, of course, wouldn't let the moment pass without chiming in. "It's nice to enjoy the scenery, but don't forget the mission. Nexus Port City might look beautiful from a distance, but don't be fooled. It's a place where the law can be bought, and people there will pay a lot for the head of a fugitive."

"You really know how to ruin the mood, Lilith," I joked, though I knew she was just trying to keep us sharp.

Finally, in the distance, the towering structures of Nexus Port City came into view, shrouded in a soft mist illuminated by neon lights and holograms. The city looked like something straight out of a far future, with buildings standing tall like monuments to modern technology. Blue and purple lights painted the sky, giving it an alluring, mysterious glow.

"There's our destination," Abigail said, her voice filled with confidence. "Nexus Port City. Get ready, Arche. Our adventure is just beginning."

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and caution bubble up inside me. The city was magnificent, filled with both possibilities and dangers. But with Abigail in front of me and Lilith keeping watch from above, I felt a little more certain that we could handle whatever came next.

Still, in our world, things could change in an instant.

***