*Clatter*
The dirt and rock on the ground vibrated. The sound of horse hooves echoed through the serene forest. The coachman increased his speed. The jingles of the harness rang through the air. The flag of Luxuria flapped above the carriage in the wind. The blue colour contrasted the green forest.
The chaos outside the carriage contrasted the silence inside. Serpens looked through the glass window. His arms crossed. Yet, his focus was on the reflection forming on the glass. The glass, reflecting the face of the crown prince.
Celyn sat, reading a book. His finger turned the pages one by one.
The sound of page flipping filling up the carriage. The light book he held in his palm. The infamous Nefaria. A book known as the 'theory of black magic.'
Serpens adjusted his posture. The pine and cedar trees outside were now replaced with denser and greener trees. They were close to the capital of Inferos. Serpens clasped his hand into a fist.
"Even if what you fear happens..." Celyn spoke out of nowhere, his eyes glued to the letters in the book. "The prime minister will take care of things."
Serpens flinched. Finally turning around to look at the prince. 'What was the prime minister going to take care of?' Serpens' thoughts written all over his face. He looked at the book the crown prince held. His anger cooling down.
"You know politics has never been my forte." Celyn closed the book. The hard cover on the book was covered with wrapping paper.
'So, becoming a political prisoner was somehow better?' Serpens suppressed his thoughts. But he couldn't watch his master being used again and again. "Was going to a war not enough?"
Serpens finally confronted his master. The words he spoke were sharp. But the question made the crown prince go silent. It hit a nerve. When the crown prince was thirteen a war broke out between the Kingdom of Malta and Luxuria.
Seeing the political opportunity. The queen called back the crown prince who was abroad at the academy. Serpens rested his head on the window. Ruminating over the time he spent with the young prince on the border. In an active conflict.
"I am one of the only few magicians. As the heir it was my duty." Celyn played with the cufflink on his coat. It was true, he was probably the strongest magician on the continent. With mana that felt never-ending. Getting him popularity among the masses.
His mother was right. The participation in the war skyrocketed his popularity in the border regions. Even the people who resented royalty started seeing hope in him.
Except the war hero wasn't a hero.
Celyn picked up Nefaria once again. His eyes dimming. He clearly understood where Serpens was coming from. But he couldn't run away from his duty.
"We are entering the capital." The coachman's voice echoed in the carriage.
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