After Lady Aria left the room, she kept on smiling as she walked toward the dining room to meet up with the students. She got on the moving bridge, where a teacher and some students were already riding.
The male teacher looked at Lady Aria and saw something he couldn't explain. The bridge reached the dining room area, and Lady Aria stepped off. Just before the gates closed, he leaped onto the bridge.
"Lady Aria! May I have a moment with you?" he asked.
Lady Aria turned, smiling. "Hmm?"
He looked at her, worried and confused. He knew something was not right. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She tilted her head, confused. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Stop being silly."
"Stop lying to yourself, Lady Aria," he said with frustration. "There is definitely something wrong, and you know I don't like secrets being hidden from me."
"I understand your confusion, D.Mator," she said gently, "but I am being genuine. There is nothing wrong." Her eyes began to tear up a little, and her tears were pure white, mixed with the color of blue—the tears of a fallen angel.
The doctor was the first person to ever see this side of Lady Aria. He was shocked, filled with confusion, and couldn't accept the truth. "What changed you?" he asked. "These young folks, aren't they?"
Lady Aria kept smiling with her eyes closed. "Yes, they did," she said. "I myself don't understand it either... but for some reason, they reminded me of who I was... who I used to be."
"I... I can't believe it!" Dr. Mator said. "The so-called Heartless Queen is now smiling and talking like a normal human being. My God..."
Lady Aria raised her arm and put her finger on her lips, still smiling. "Promise me to keep this a secret from the others," she said gently, tilting her head.
Dr. Mator's view of her had changed. For the first time in his life, he saw the Heartless Queen being human. "Of course, Lady Aria," he said gently. "Your promise is forever hidden with me. So don't worry. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a class to attend to."
He walked briskly past her, looking at the ground with his hand on his heart. After a while of walking, he turned a corner and fell to the ground. He took a heavy breath. "I can't believe it," he said to himself. "These young lads did what experts couldn't do for centuries. Perhaps I owe those gentlemen a word of thanks."
He pulled himself together, got up, fixed his clothes, and walked to the hallway that led to his class. Meanwhile, Lady Aria watched him. She knew and heard everything he said.
"I also owe these young lords a word of thanks as well," she said to herself, looking at the stars on the roof. "What a beautiful day for humanity."
She then proceeded to the dining hall. She entered a giant room where hundreds of students and teachers were eating and enjoying their time. She looked around, whispering to herself, "If only you all knew... what greatness awaits you."
Someone at a table in the distance waved at her. It was the three students she had asked to meet. She walked toward them, and as she passed by the tables, everyone looked at her with respect and stopped eating. Approaching them, she noticed some gifts on the table. She slowly put her hand behind her back and opened a small portal to her room, retrieving three gifts of her own.
She walked to the table with a noticeable smile. Rayun and the two girls looked confused and genuinely surprised to see her smile. She stood beside the table, noticing the food was still hot; they hadn't taken a single bite.
"You know I have my own feasting chamber?" she said.
"Yes, my lady," Rayun replied, sweating a little. "But we thought maybe this time you would accept our offer." The other two girls were also sweating, looking prepared for rejection. The little one put a book on her face to hide.
Lady Aria gave a small chuckle. Everyone in the room's eyes widened. The three young students were the most confused of all. She noticed this but didn't care. She was finally able to express the true feelings she had kept hidden for centuries. She placed three gifts on the table. Rayun's jaw dropped, the other girl almost fainted, and Rollana was about to cry.
"How can I decline such an offer from my sweet students?" she said gently. She sat down beside Rollana and looked at her.
The little girl was really about to cry. Lady Aria hugged her tightly. "Loosen up a little. You act as if I am a monster..." But in reality, she was a monster beyond what humans could comprehend.
Rayun sat down. "It's... not like that, my lady. But... this was the first time we ever saw you smile like that."
Lucy said, "Seeing you like this tells me something really good happened."
Lady Aria was amused by the girl's observation. "Smarty little one." Her voice then turned serious as she stared at the table. "There is something that I wish to talk with you three about."
Rollana lowered her book. "Lady Aria, is something wrong?"
Lady Aria gave Rollana a gentle pat on her head. "No, sweetie. But it's something serious. Before I continue, I wish to hear your thoughts first."
"Our thoughts?" Lucy asked. "On what?"
"Whether you are willing to accept it... or not," Lady Aria replied.
Lucy gave a small nod and said with a confident smile, "If it's you who wishes for us to complete it, then on behalf of these two, we would love to hear your request, my lady."
Lady Aria smiled when she said that. "It's not a request. I am not requesting you to do anything. But since you have agreed to help and before I state anything further, I want to ask you about something."
"Yes, Lady Aria, what is it you want to ask?" Rayun said.
"Why did you join the old Guardians?" she asked. "Why are you studying the art of command? I have never asked these questions before, but now... I am rather curious."
Rayun looked at Lucy, confused, not knowing what to say. Rollana, who was sitting beside her, lowered her book and looked at Lady Aria.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said with a gentle voice. "It's for the Order Empire, of course... to ensure a better future for all humankind."
Rayun and Lucy looked amused by how well she answered with such confidence. Lady Aria was surprised as well.
"Now, where did that come from?" Rayun said, confused.
Lucy put her hand on her cheek with a sad look. "Oh, our cute Rollana, what did this cruel world do to you?"
"It's not like I'm planning to turn evil or something, hmmph," Rollana said, annoyed. She turned her head away with her arms crossed.
Lady Aria gave Rollana a gentle pat on her head and looked at Lucy. "Lucy, Rayun, and Rollana, this isn't just a task, but something more... beyond what anyone can imagine."
Lucy looked worried for a moment. "And you think we are the right people for this task?"
Lady Aria looked serious and nodded. "You are the only ones I believe can handle it."
"If Lady Aria thinks we are the right people, then so be it," Rayun said.
Rollana and Lucy both nodded.
Lady Aria stood up. "Then follow me. From this day forward, you three are bound to whatever is best for all of us."
Lucy stood up proudly. "I would fight gods if it were for the good of humanity!"
Rayun looked at Lucy with an amused expression. He then looked at Lady Aria. "Where are we going again, my lady?"
Lady Aria gave him a smug look. "You will see shortly."
After she said that, she walked toward the exit that led to the moving stairs. The three young teens got up and followed her. When they reached the top floor, they were amused to see a room like nothing they had ever seen. It was their first time in such a place.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Avon, Sara, Arcadius, and Vernara were sitting at a table, eating the food they had made. Lady Aria crouched down to not make any noise and signaled for the young teens to go up. As they did, they saw Avon and the others eating and laughing. They felt something strange about them. After a while, Lady Aria motioned for the young teens to leave without making a sound. The teens understood and left quietly.
After they left, Lady Aria took the young teens to another room and closed the door. They were excited to discuss the four.
"Who are they?" Lucy asked.
"They look different from us," Rayun said. "I'm not sure how, but I have a feeling about it."
"Did you see that girl, Sara?" Lucy said. "She was so cute. I wouldn't be surprised if she were a noble."
"They seem... friendly," Rollana said. "I like them."
"That blonde guy, Arcadius, looked tough as hell," Rayun said. "I wonder how strong he is."
"Not to mention that guy with the serious look, Avon, and that girl with the curly hair, Vernara," Lucy said. "They looked like they were built for war. I have a feeling that these four are special."
Rayun nodded. "I agree. They don't look like normal folk around here."
"Their aura... I can feel it," Rollana said. "They are magnificent."
Rayun turned to Lady Aria. "My lady, who are they?"
Lady Aria smiled. "Your task, that is."
The three students looked confused. "Our task?" Rayun asked.
"Indeed," she said. "They are the ones we talked about earlier. They are so special, and to be clear, they are the ones who will change our lives forever."
They were still confused, and probably more so now. Lady Aria noticed that.
"I... we... we don't think we quite understand, my lady," Lucy said.
Lady Aria leaned toward them. "I understand. Please... follow me."
She walked to the moving stairs, and the young teens followed her. They went down to the second floor, where the library was. She then led them to one of the important rooms—they called it the discussion room, but these days it was used as a war room since there was no official castle or place to discuss matters.
The young teens were surprised by how big the room was.
"Please rest," Lady Aria said.
They all sat down, and Lady Aria began to speak in a serious voice. "What we are going to discuss here shall never go outside. Do you understand?"
They all nodded.
"Have you ever heard of the Royal Village?" she asked.
"I heard one of the old Guardians talking about it, but anything else, no," Rollana said.
"Royal Village? No, never," Rayun said, confused.
"Never heard of it," Lucy said.
Lady Aria had expected them to say that. "Fifteen years ago, there used to be a place in the middle of human land called the Royal Village. It was where every noble from all across the world lived."
"Why?" Lucy asked. "Wouldn't it be a main target for all non-humans? And for what purpose was it built?"
"It was an agreement between all the lords of the human lands," Lady Aria explained. "They were the descendants of the Order Empire, and they were powerful. Surrounded by castles and fortresses, no one who wielded magic was allowed inside. And then... something happened that changed everything."
The young teens' expressions changed, and they were now completely focused on everything Lady Aria was saying. "Something happened?" Rayun asked. "What is it? We never heard of something happening 15 years ago."
"Because the events that happened that day weren't recorded," she said, looking at him seriously. "Nobody knows the exact details. And this is where the four you saw come in. But I won't spoil that. I will let them explain it to you. For now, let's continue the story."
"You said it wasn't recorded... why?" Lucy asked.
"Because there wasn't anyone alive to record it," Lady Aria replied.
"Weren't anyone alive? Impossible," Rayun said.
"Like I said, I won't spoil that," Lady Aria said. "Even I don't know the details. But what you all must know is that these four are the only ones left from that village—the last of the nobility, the last descendants of the original Order Empire. These four are our final hope. Do you understand? And you three, your task begins today, right now, at this moment."
The three young teens looked at each other in disbelief. Lucy had the courage to speak. "What is... ahem... our task?"
Lady Aria noticed they were scared. "To serve these four lords and to make sure they are safe. You must do this task for your entire life."
The young teens were shocked. Rayun's jaw dropped. "This... this is too much for us, Lady Aria. Are you sure we are the best choice for this?"
"I know this is a lot to ask," Lady Aria said. "But trust me when I say that these four lords will change our history forever. They will save our race, the human race. Even Tempestas (fallen goddess) will tremble in fear when she sees our armies marching toward her. I will also support them for as long as I breathe, but I can't be in three places at once. It's up to you three to handle it. I am sorry for asking this much of you, but... please... help them."
Rayun looked at the girls. Lucy and Rollana both nodded. Rayun stood up. "If you think we are up to this task, then so be it. We will do the impossible for these lords, our future kings."
Lucy stood up, picked up a cup, and said, "Don't worry, Lady Aria, you can count on me for this task. As long as I am alive, they will be safe. Now, cheers!"
"That's water," Rollana whispered to Lucy.
Rollana stood up. "I will do my best," she said.
Lady Aria knew they would accept. She smiled. "Thank you, dears. I am truly thankful for your courage. Now, let me introduce you to them, and the choice is yours to pick whoever you want to serve."
They all nodded and walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Avon and the others were talking about something important.
"Never in my life did I think I would be sitting here eating this fancy food," Arcadius said.
"Oh, just you wait until we have our own palace and our own fancy baths," Sara said.
"Oh, that would be a dream, haha," Vernara said.
"That can wait for now," Avon said. "I want to ask you something."
"What is it, dear brother?" Arcadius asked.
Avon hesitated but then asked, "What do you think happened to Minerva?"
"Nothing good, I assume," Sara said.
"You think so, Sara?" Arcadius asked.
"She's right, Arcadius," Vernara said. "In the end, she's a succubus. You saw the cave... the bodies... and right before we reached the village, she said goodbye."
"That's right," Sara said. "We were bathing in the river when she said that. You can't ever trust anyone that is non-human, remember that, brothers."
"And you're telling us this now?" Arcadius said.
Avon grew angry. "Why tell us now? We could have confronted her on the spot!"
"Damn right," Arcadius said.
"That's exactly why we didn't tell you," Vernara said. "I know what you're going to do. You'd ask why we didn't execute her, why we allowed her to leave, and why we kept this from you. We did it because that's what Minerva, the human, asked us to do before she changed. It was her final wish as a human."
Avon and Arcadius were shocked that Vernara would keep a promise to a non-human.
"We won't disgrace her very last wish," Sara said. "Even though she isn't human anymore, I hope you understand, dear brothers."
Avon's hands began to shake as he held a cup. He got up and threw the cup at a picture on the wall. The glass shattered, and the picture—of an angel holding a human's hand—fell to the ground, splitting in half right where the angel was about to touch the human.
Avon breathed heavily. He looked at Sara and said in an angry voice, "Understand? Me? You want me to understand what exactly? Did you forget who she is? What she is? She might bear the name of our big sister, and she might even look like her, but she isn't her! She isn't a person anymore!"
Vernara stood up. "Don't you dare fucking scream at us! If you were there, you would have let her go! Put yourselves in our shoes! What would you both have done to her?"
"We would have showed her mercy by executing her on the spot," Avon said, looking at Sara. "Minerva would have said this if she was in her shoes."
"I did what seemed like the right thing at that moment," Sara said. "If you were there, you would have said something else."
"That's not the point, Avon," Vernara said. "Even if we did that, we wouldn't be any better than them. Please, just listen..."
Arcadius interrupted her in a serious voice. "No, you're the one who isn't getting it, sis. Have you ever thought of how many innocents will die because of her little wish? Have you forgotten what the damn succubus did to our homeland? To our families? Get a fucking grip and grow the fuck up. You're not a child anymore, neither of you."
"You said it yourself," Avon said. "She's a succubus in the end. And once I find her... I swear to every god that exists that I will kill her... with the rest of her entire race. That's not a promise, that's what will happen."
Avon turned and stormed into the room, slamming the door. He had looked at Sara and Vernara in a very disappointed way.
"I am not in a place to tell you this," Arcadius said calmly, "but you could have done better than that, dear sisters. But alas, no harm was done. You did what you thought was right, and Avon will understand. Just give him some time. Next time, don't listen... just execute."