The morning sun poured its fresh ray through the window of the eastern chamber. Vivan opened his eyes slowly with a yawn.
The fresh wind of the day passed grazing his hair but the tension of tomorrow lingered inside his soul.
He tucked his tunic and came off the bed to stand by the window facing the flower garden below.
Elara was already there sitting by the tea pavilion in the garden. She looked up to the window of Vivan's chamber and a smile occurred on her pink lips as she saw him.
Vivan smiled back. Then he dressed up properly and headed toward the flower garden the thought of system chime of last knight returned in his mind.
"What are you looking for your highness?"
He muttered and the gate of flower garden opened revealing the beautiful garden sparkling under the new sun.
And at its center under a sparkling white pavilion Elara Sylven Novarim was waiting in a gorgeous blue gown as her silver hair and blue eyes complimented the beauty.
"Have you rested well GhostWalker?"
She asked with a polite and caring tone.
"Well Elara, with that kind of hospitality it's really impossible to not have a good sleep."
Elara giggled a little.
"So what is your plan for the day?"
"Nothing much. Just want to know Novarim better."
"I can help you to start with the basics." – Elara smiled as her blue eyes sparked with enthusiasm.
Then she started from the beginning of the time as she held his arm while sitting by him in the pavilion and enjoyed the time with tea and snacks.
"So King Arathen took the crown from his father after his death and married your mother?"
"Yeah! Me , my brother Kaelric and…" her voice trembled before she could say it further.
Vivan was curious.
"And?"
"My Elder sister, Selvaria Luthien Novarim. The First born of Arathen Novarim and Serenya Wolfred Novarim."
Her eyes were wet, voice burdened with sadness.
"What happened that all of you are so secretive about your sister?"
Vivan held her arm tight as his gaze met her.
Elara mustered her courage.
"She was the pinnacle of beauty. Her silver hair and emerald eyes captivated many noble's heart and Prince Augustus Von Kendrick was one of them."
Vivan raised a brow.
"Kendrick?"
"Yes! As I told you, after the apocalyptic war between the 9 god and goddesses the world was split into 5 continents leaving a small sacred land at their center called Caelistra the heaven's pillar."
"Yeah! Then?" – Vivan asked impatiently.
"Our continent Solarys has eight great nations and Novarim is governed by the nation called Ignis, that has 12 towns in it. Kendrick family is one of the four strongest royalties of Ignis along with us. They own our neighboring town Almadus. "
Vivan did not interrupt her as she continued.
"Both towns were going through multiple internal conflicts but prince Kendrick's attention to Selvaria gave an opportunity to both of the town to forget their enmity."
Vivan raised an eye to that.
"That's Really good but what about her? Was the princess ready for it?"
Elara giggled opening her heart. For the first time Vivan saw Elara laughing without any kind of worry or doubt.
"Well! My sister was not easy to be earned with her level of skills and merit at first but Prince Kendrick's effort melted the ice slowly. Then came the day of the wedding, when everyone celebrated the day as the dawn of new era the night determined that it will be the beginning of a long war of decades."
Vivan's eyes narrowed as his voice vibrated in low hum.
"What happened?"
"When every royal blood dreamt of having grandchildren at that night, the next morning revealed the damaged and brutally murdered body of prince Kendrick on their wedding bed. A sharp dagger was plunged in his chest that had a sigil of Amionisa carved in its hilt."
Her voice broke, each word sounded heavy and dragged out of her chest.
"A letter was found by the body mentioning – Corruption ends today. Both the letter and the dagger had Selvaria's mana signature on them and my sister was gone. I lost a sibling that day but Novarim lost its brightest star."
Vivan sat in silence for a long moment as the weight of her words pressing down like a chain across his chest.
He could see the grief in her eyes, a wound too deep to be healed. But the main important thing was the silence from the system. Not a single morality implication notice was provided.
Once he got assurance of her story's authenticity his brain started working.
"Too neat. A dagger marked with same sigil as the pendant of Paul, A letter of revolution, both the dagger and the letter had Selvaria's mana signature."
It felt like the evidence were placed perfectly to put the blame on the first princess and to hide the actual mastermind.
"I'm sorry" – he spoke at last, his voice was low as he tightened the grip slightly over Elara's arm for her to feel it.
"I'll find the truth, Elara. Even if no one dares to look for it."
Elara's voice trembled at his words. For a heartbeat, she looked as if she might lean into his comfort.
But then her gaze shifted as her blue eyes were hesitant and troubled.
"GhostWalker.."- she whispered.
"I know your heart seek truth but promise me you will be careful because if you look deeper in the abyss, the abyss looks back at you."
Her finger tightened around his hand as if she was afraid to let him go.
[System Chime]
Morality Implications Detected. Subject: Elara Sylven Novarim Spoken intent does not align with true motive.
Vivan smirked inside.
"From your description even I, a total newbie in town, can understand last night's assassin was your sister. But you won't mention it after venting out all that grief. So what are your intentions, highness?"
The thought was spiraling in his head as a messenger from king interrupted.
"Greetings, your highness."
The messenger bowed his head infront of Elara. Then turned towards Vivan.
"Lord GhostWalker! The King is expecting an emergency visit from you by his court."
Vivan's eyes narrowed as Elara bed farewell to the messenger with a graceful reply.
"Alright! Inform father I will be guiding him to the court myself."
As the messenger vanished from their view Elara stood up holding Vivan's arm and a gentle smile guided a warm voice.
"Shall we?"
Vivan stood up nodding as they moved towards the hall.
The king's court hummed in vibrant hue of the morning sun. King Arathen Percival Novarim was sitting on his throne and his minister Veldrick was by his left, standing in the same green robe.
Seven armed soldiers lined each side of the red carpet stretching from the door to throne.
As Vivan and Elara entered the hall the lined up soldiers bent their knees to welcome their princess.
Veldrick greeted Elara in royal manner as they stood in front of the throne.
"You are looking gorgeous Elara." – king Arathen complimented.
"Thank you father. I wanted to be at my best by him." – Elara's gaze turned towards Vivan.
"HAHAHA! You two are already looking like a happy couple." – Arathen opened his heart.
Vivan bent his head in grace.
"Thank you, your highness." His voice was humble but firm. Then he followed it up with a simple question.
"May I know the urgency for which I have been called?"
Arathen glanced at Veldrick and the minister began with a crisp yet heavy voice dipped in formality.
"Lord GhostWalker! We have an urgent situation that requires your expertise."
He cleared his throat and continued.
"The son of house Clevon, heir to one of the oldest noble houses of Novarim, has gone missing."
Vivan raised a brow.
Veldrick continued, after taking pause for emphasis.
"The young lord in a display of bravado, sought to slay monsters near the Greypeak Mountains to prove his worth to his father. None have seen him since then."
King Arathen's lips twitched slightly.
"I suspect he poked the wrong hole again" he muttered, just loud enough for Vivan to catch.
Vivan nodded slowly as he was suppressing a smirk.
"I see and I assume it is not a simple missing person case, given the summons?"
Veldrick's expression grew heavier.
"Indeed, Many S and S+ rank adventurer refused to take the task. The guild of the town deem noble requests…" he paused for a moment then a glance exchange took place with the king.
And again he continued after getting king's approval.
"Well the guild deems noble requests politically delicate and our royal army has scoured the mountain for days without any results."
[System Chime]
Morality Implication Detected Subject: Veldrick Hollowart Spoken reason is not aligned with true reason.
Vivan's eyes narrowed and jaw tightened as he glanced deeper in Veldrick's eyes.
"Just how many of you are wearing false faces in this hall?" – he muttered to himself in low voice. Even Elara who stood by him, arm to arm, could not hear it.
A cold sweat shivered down through Veldrick's spine as if he felt that deep gaze. His brows wrinkled for a second then the natural composure came back.
Vivan's gaze flicked between the king and the minister.
"How many guards were sent? Any anomalies reported in the region?"
Veldrick pulled out a scroll from his robe's pocket and shuffled through it.
"A small contingent accompanied him initially but they got overwhelmed by.." he paused for a moment then completed his sentence, "unforeseen circumstances.".
Vivan was surfing deep in his thought. The young lord's recklessness, the political tension between the town guild and nobles, the system's chime were forming clouds of tension in his mind.
His train of thought got paused as king Arathen leaned forward slightly as his piercing gaze met Vivan's.
"This quest seems simple but it requires skill, wit and discretion. I trust your skills are beyond ordinary."
Vivan smirked at the king.
"A simple rescue yet impossible for the rest. I'm already intrigued."
Vivan nodded while settling the weight of the challenge. He was already analyzing the possibilities. A perfect stage was gifted to him to test his skill and insight.
"Very well." He said at last, voice calm but tinged with amusement.
"I will see your young heir safely returned."
Elara tightened her grip on Vivan's arm her worried gaze fell upon Vivan's face. But Vivan was holding a confident expression.
King Arathen inclined his head. A shadow of a smile flickered across his face.
"Then I await your success, GhostWalker. The fate of house Clevon.. and much more.. rests in your hands. "
[System Chime]
Special Quest generated: The rescue of Uncanny Objective: Locate and return the heir of house Clevon alive. Difficulty: Insane Failure condition: death of the player Notes: some destinies are best left uncovered
Vivan's lips curved in faint smirk, though his eyes sharpened with resolve.
"Insane difficulty, Huh?"
He muttered under his breath as the flicker of thrill betrayed the calm mask he wore.
His chest tightened, not from fear but from the unsettling thought that the system never exaggerated so far.
As they left the king's court the clamor of the court faded behind them. Elara walked silently beside Vivan, her hold tightened on his arm.
"What is it Elara?" a calm and gentle voice soothed Elara's fear a little.
Her hesitant fingers brushed his sleeve then tightened as their footsteps echoed along the corridor.
"Be careful in the Greypeak mountain." Her worried face embraced Vivan's arm.
"Why? That's just another nest of beast right?" Vivan tilted his head.
Her eyes lowered.
"It was there… where everything changed for Selvaria."
Vivan's steps slowed as the name carried weight.
"Your sister?"
"Yes! Just one month before the wedding day she left on a journey to the Greypeak Mountain for a rare herb. When she returned she was a different person."
Vivan's brow wrinkled again.
"Different? How?"
Elara released a sigh.
"She started looking at everything from a different angle as if the mountain changed her view on the world itself."
Her voice cracked, but she steadied herself.
"The mountain does not just take lives GhostWalker. It changes them."
Vivan studied her in silence, the system was quiet, no chime this time. Only the weight of her words was lingering across the corridor like a shadow.
When he closed the door of his chamber after bidding farewell to Elara to prepare for the quest, he knew the mountains would not just be a rescue mission anymore.
They would be the graveyard of secrets.
… To be continued