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Chapter 23 The Gates Of Iasariel

The King watches the broad field as the hedges of blossom wither. None could ever interpret his utterance, for his heart brings out success and silence upon knowing that his youngest son, Prince Timothy Ambers went his way toward the kingdom of Iasariel. It gives him security that his other son isn't there to do the betrayal, it would make him worry less about his death.
"Father, what shall we do? My brother must have been lost out there," Prince Gohan spoke with an anxious countenance. He believes that his little brother is too weak to handle himself. He anyhow knows Timothy as someone who is quite soft and gentle, a very opposite personality of him.
"The messenger has spoke to me last night, Timothy is inside the castle. We could not attain to lose his life," the King asserted and comforted his eldest son. The other troops were inside the hall and as they gazed outside the terrace, they could not help but sigh in bitterness.
"What else must we do for now?" Gohan Ambers asked his Father and he waited for his response. He anyhow trusted the King because he always believes that he cannot betray his sons.
"I shall assign you to search for the prophetess Lorelei, we need to take her down. I assume that once we take her life, the prophecy shall be cut."
The Prince only nodded as he gradually lowered his head to bow down before the King. He exited his way and half of the soldiers followed him. The King was left alone on the terrace as a smirk was about to be displayed on his edges.
"Tell the messenger to send a letter to the Iasariel. I want to get rid of Timothy," he ordered and one of his men hastily went his way to speak to the messenger of the King.
He plotted evil to kill his son and he want it to happen as soon as possible. He could not afford to lose his life, for he believes that he would lose everything from him, especially the crown and all his possession.
T'was already the third hour of the day and the forest was enlightened by the sun's rays. They altogether walks about the woods until they finally got out of the place. Terra Elliot felt disturbed upon having a moment with Thrille Daven at the lake. She nearly thought of giving up, she feels so fragile before him and she almost gave herself.
"What has been bothering you, Terra? Are you alright?" Celeste asks as she momentarily throws gazes at her companion. She thought Terra probably was having a difficult moment of coping with the recent incident which transpired.
She simply responds with a smile and heavily shrugged her shoulders, "No, I am doing alright."
Yet they appear to be unsatisfied with her answer, "You took so long and we thought you are in danger, so I perceived something has gotten out while you had your bath?" Celeste retorted while glancing at the woman who was walking after her.
Once more, with her head low, she bit her lower lip and denied, "Nothing happened, I just feel so exhausted because of Ezekiel's death."
"Oh, I see." Sam on the other hand could not erase the smirks on his edges. He knows what exactly goes on, he knows it because he can absolutely read her thoughts.
He would laugh out loud upon discerning hundreds of thoughts running inside her head.
"I bet this journey has depleted your strength, how about we take a rest for a moment?" Sam suggested yet the three lasses only throw glares at him.
"We have been resting all the time," Celeste grumbled, getting tired of stopping by. She badly wants to get out of the wilderness due to an intense feeling that she could sense somebody watching them and she feels to be in danger.
Meanwhile, Cachet walks near the man and clung to his arm, she lowered her voice as she speaks with him. "We are almost there, Sam. The gate isn't too far from here."
"I haven't heard much of the territory where you belonged, Celeste," Terra asserted as she began to inhale deeply, averting her attention from the previous instant.
"Well, it is quite obvious that it is hell. I hate everybody from that place, it truly disturbs my inner peace upon realizing that we are now heading to that place," Celeste responded and rolled her eyes. She began to cross her arms and sighed as she tries to control her temper.
Terra Elliot simply brushes her damp hair and momentarily had a glimpse of the woman who was walking next to her. "Let not the hatred steers your heart, Celeste. We are all aware that it brings only devastation to you, don't be too affected by it," she muttered.
"What do you wish to clarify?" Celeste ask.
"How would you be able to face your foes if your heart is bothered? You cannot defeat them in one strike if you are too occupied by the discomfort and resentment you ever keep," Celeste was dumbfounded upon hearing the phrases which came out from Terra's lips, it feels so genuine. She knew she got rebuked and she deeply yearn to acknowledge it.
As they were about to reach the gates of Iasariel, Celeste could feel her heart thudding hastily and she barely loses her balance. She never assumes to come back to her own place, she knows her life is at risk and she could kill anyone at any time.
On the other point, Timothy sat on the sofa as he was about to soothe himself. He has been resting for hours yet he could not feel at ease, something in his heart has been bothering him.
"You seem to be troubled," Théodred retorted and glance at the man who was leaning his back on the seat.
"The softness of your couch could not provide any comfort to my inner peace," Timothy complained and tried another position as he rest his back on the seat.
"You should have taken your rest, the entire kingdom has become abruptly in haste, King Thanos calls for a conference." Prince Théodred gradually shrugs off before he could finally stand up and steer his way toward the exit.
He places his hands inside his pockets and he began to walk his way out of the room. "The clock is a running gold, I shall be back soon. I need to attend the immediate gathering," he asserted and vanished in the presence of the Prince.
Timothy upon knowing that the Prince of Iasariel went his way, took the chance to wander his sight and watches the view before him. "I guess these books were just collections, his brother was the one who likes books, I wonder what was he flipping through to."
All of a sudden, he sensed something about the bookshelves. His heart was troubled and hesitant he was, but he still decide to walk near the racks.
"This appears so odd yet I recalled how he once mentioned a certain book before. He was deeply absorbed by how it predicted the world's phenomenon," Prince Timothy whispered as he throw gazes at every book which was categorized on the shelves. All of a sudden, he was curious about it.
"I probably should have waited for his coming," he once more whispered and turned his back to lead his way toward the sundeck.
Yet before he could finally walk a distance from the bookshelves, he was startled when something fell from behind. Timothy has a glimpse of the book and he was dazed upon recognizing it.
Unwilling to pick it up, he was about to take his leave yet he could not move upon sensing the conviction within his heart. "What is in that book?" He got no other choice but to grab it up and headed his way toward the study compartment of Prince Théodred. He enters the door and positions himself to have his seat before a huge wooden table.
As he began to flip through the pages, he could not let go of it. He was devoured by every phrase composed in the book, and he was stunned by the sudden revelations he uncover. "Why is this happening? How can I distinguish the truth if my mind was filled with lies? All my life, I believed the devil."
His chest stung as if something sharp pierced down his heart. He barely gasps for air, yet his eyes could not cease from browsing every page of the book. His heart became hungry for the truth and his mind isn't working at the moment. He feels numb and even if he wanted to end everything, he could not.
The silence of the setting made his aura become so intense. Yet he was interrupted by a loud voice, calling for his name. As if something very crucial came up.
"Timothy!" Prince Théodred calls out as he hastily seeks his friend's existence.
He opened his study room and behold, their gazes met. "What is it, Théodred? You seem to be in a rush." Timothy strives to appear calm yet his mind were in chaos, no one could fathom how havoc plagued his thoughts.
"The King received a letter from your father, he requested us to assassinate you." Upon attending to his statement, Timothy could sense how hatred arose from a deep slumber within his heart.
"Get back to your senses, Timothy. Iasariel didn't know you were here, they supposed you trespassed against us. Your father wants you dead, he pleaded for your corpse." Timothy could not process every thought that came up in his head, he believes he was destined to kill his father yet failed to do so, for he was the one who was tailed and in danger.
"What must I do?" He whispered to himself yet Théodred recklessly pulled him and ran outside and lead themselves amidst the aisle.
"You must go back to the mountain where we usually assemble, hide there until I say so. I cannot permit them to steal your life, Tim." With a trembling voice, Théodred however speaks what was in his heart. He loves his pal, and he won't exchange their friendship over his unjust household. He wanted to display justice yet he failed to do it, he won't want to fail at this time again.
They eventually got out safely from the Palace and Timothy hid behind the mountains, assuming to be secured.
Meanwhile, a woman from afar watches the entire occurrence of the mortal realm. Her heart was grieving, for she could not do anything to help them. She thought she is a coward for not being able to fight for them.
"What's with such complexion, Lorelei? How could you become so cowardly?" A man beside her sarcastically questioned. His words stabs her chest and she was too numb to respond.
"Are you going to watch them caged by darkness?" He once more muttered.
"... It is not like that, Alcott. I could feel that I am now powerless, I betrayed the Truest and I can no longer have the same authority I once had," She responded with her words trembling in despair.
"That simply shows how weak you are, how lame."
Lorelei simply bit her lower lip out of annoyance, she could not believe she trusted her adversary. She doesn't want to admit that he is one of the reasons why she has fallen.
"So what now?" She uttered as she began to breathe heavily. Lorelei wanted to bring back the passion to downpour her grace yet she was too exhausted and discouraged of herself. After a decade of hiding in the mortal realm, dwelling among the sinners, she admitted that she was too weak. An angel like her has now fallen.
Alcott gently laid his hands on her shoulder as he caress her, giving her comfort and speaking, "Do whatever you have in your heart, only be careful."
She smiled at him before responding, "... I will," in a quick second, both of them disappeared into thin air.
The time is fast approaching and it is almost sunset, Terra Elliot and her pack are now hiking up to the mountain tops, for Celeste taught them the way. She hated the idea of leading them yet she also wanted to know what has gone on in their territory. Iasariel has been known to be a corrupt nation, they manipulate the poor townsmen to gain more silver and gold. Just like any other kingdoms, they are hiding their darkest secret as well and they assume nobody shall ever uncover them yet Celeste is brave enough to unravel the mysteries behind them, for it also pushes her to know who is behind the death of her family.
Heaving, gasping for air. They altogether hike their way up to the top as sweats were soaking their garments. Sam Williams was told to not use his skills to make it all fair, he can be fast and he can read minds.
"You know what? This is my life now, I have climbed this hill and now I will die upon it." Terra barely move her legs to step on the rocky path, she could feel her knees trembling and are loosen up. She almost fell to the ground yet good thing Sam caught her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Cachet Memphis felt envious of what she saw, she has been admiring Sam Williams secretly yet the fact that he could hear her thoughts makes it even funnier. She never knows about that, and right now, she was gritting her teeth in annoyance upon seeing that Sam was so close to Terra.
"Oh come on, Terra. You know we are all tired as well so would you mind to zip your mouth? We've only been hiking for thirty minutes," Cachet retorted and secretly rolled her eyes. Celeste saw her behavior and she slightly pulled the lady's hair to stop her.
"What now?" Cachet whispered with an irritated voice.
"Huminahon ka nga, babae. Anong klaseng pag iisip na naman ba iyan? Nag seselos ka ba?" Celeste firmly whispered.
"Ha! Bakit naman ako mag seselos, Celeste? Have you gone nuts? Syempre makakaramdam ako ng pagka-inis sa kanya. Nakakalimutan mo na bang muntikan na niya ako agawan ng buhay?" Memphis crosses her arms and frowned. She once more glanced at them and she frowned even more.
Celeste simply shook her head before walking ahead of her, she was being serious and she doesn't want to cause any trouble as well. They proceeded to hike yet, unfortunately, the lady behind her, passes through a bush and took a stick. She was scheming to poke Terra using it.
As what she was thinking, she carefully poked Terra's shoulder and before the lass could turn her back to see who did it, Cachet hurriedly hid the stick behind her. Celeste saw everything and she wanted to cuss.
"Why is she playing around?" Celeste whispered behind her head.
For the second time, Memphis draw out the twig on her grip and gradually reached for Terra's nape using the edge of it. She supposed her action was a success, yet the stick reaches for the woman's ear and Terra jumps off her location and screamed from the top of her lungs.
"What was that?!" She freaked out.
She almost slides on the rock, fortunately, Sam held her. Terra Elliot glared at the woman whom she found behind her, it was Celeste who eyed back at her with a piercing gaze.
"What?" She innocently asked. It was too late for her to realize what recently went on, and with a defensive complexion—her eyes widened in surprise, and defended herself.
"I didn't do it," she asserted.
"Then why do you appear to be someone who did something ridiculous?" Terra argued with her deadly glares. She almost had a heart attack and she doesn't want to let this pass.
"No, seriously, I did nothing. It is not me, believe me." Celeste was denying the blame and she was about to feel bitter about it. She could believe that someone would accuse her without her knowing any single thing.
"Stop defending yourself, I saw that smirks of yours." Terra asserted and nearly grabbed Celeste's dress out of frustration.
"I told you I didn't do anything, Cachet was the one who keeps on shoving you with a stick," Celeste retorted and sulked her face in the disturbance.
"Then why are you grinning from behind?" Terra once more stated.
Out of frustration, Celeste was disheartened. "Alright, fine as it is! I laughed because whoever did it is a genius. Are you now happy?" She insisted and sarcastically smiles at the woman before her.
Cachet Memphis tried so hard to avoid from giggling. She felt bad for the two women yet anyhow, she feels absurd about her ideas.
"Refrain from fighting, you are not kids for whoever's sake!" Sam Williams interfere and grabbed Terra's arm, they proceeded to move until they are about to arrive at the surface.
Cachet continued to giggle behind while Celeste feels so dismayed. "Damn it, what just went on?" She mumbled and proceeded to walk after them.
As they reach the cliff, they eyed the wonder of sceneries before them. The bitterness of their hearts gradually vanished and Terra lifted her gaze and behold the clear sky. She misses the thought of climbing in the mountains together with her best pal, Ezekiel.
She shifted her attention and fixed it on the woman who came from the territory, "Where shall we go next, Celeste?" She asked her as if they haven't gotten into a quarrel earlier.
"Whatever, Terra. It is quite difficult to go down to the city and meet the King, our situation is getting worse."
"What about the princes? I have heard one of them is approachable," Memphis suggested yet Celeste merely eyed her.
"No one's going to meet the three princes, they are as nastier as the monarch."
"Then what now? Are we going to stay here until midnight?" Terra demanded and once more, she wander her sight to the surrounding. At the end of the mountain, there remains a wilderness.
"Hold on, I bet we must go beyond this mountain, or at least explore this place." She suggested and everyone nevertheless agreed on her plan.
The four of them began to roam around the cliff and as they reached for the woods, their eyes rounded in shock when they saw a trace of human feet. "Someone's in here," Sam uttered and enter into the woods.
The ladies behind him stayed outside with their startled hearts. "I really hope it is not our adversary," Terra whispers as they altogether waited for the coming of their friend.
They heard a yell followed by a disturbing noise, Sam came back with a man hanging on his shoulder. Everybody was stunned upon seeing the appearance of the lad.
"Prince Timothy?" Terra mumbled and hastily assisted him to come down.
"What? You know him?" Memphis commented and examined the face of the man.
"What a coincidence, what are you doing here?" Celeste questioned.
"I thought you would permit me to suck his blood, I was assuming to have a delicious meal for tonight." Sam was dismayed and carelessly drop Timothy Ambers' body to the ground.
"Ouch, careful!" He grumbled in discomfort.
"... Timothy, why are you here? What has gone in the kingdom?" Terra asks and fear could be heard in her quavering voice.
"I am hiding, my father requested the king of Iasariel to murder me."
"What?" The ladies responded.
"Prince Théodred assisted me and told me to lurk here," Timothy replied, and once more he covers himself with the hood.
"Allow me to disguise myself to meet the prince, we have something to inquire about. And we are expecting for his assistance," Sam stated. The ladies consented to him in view of the fact that they are desperate to end the war between nations.
"Permit me to support you," Timothy responded and stood straight. He shakes off the dust from his coat and began to lead the way toward the city.
They altogether followed him yet they halted from walking near the entrance, the prince faced them and spoke, "I cannot enter the road anymore, the troops are looking for me."
"Allow me to come with you, Sam," Celeste enunciated and they rest consented to them. They disguised themselves and began to steer their way toward the city.
Celeste pondered in her heart that it is impossible for her to calm down yet she wanted to find out who are inside the Palace. Seeing the king would excite her, to the point of thrusting a knife to his forehead.
As they walked down the hamlet, they could see how the folks were hungry for wealth. Celeste knew their hearts, the magistrates are corrupt and what would the nation foresee?
It took them minutes to walk until they finally arrived at the palace. "I assume it is a bad idea to come with you," Celeste opened up and Sam simply chuckles.
"I have been reading your mind since earlier, woman. You seem so troubled, I did not know you have that resentment urging you to cut the King's throat?" Said Sam with a teasing tone of voice. They proceeded to walk down the aisle and as they were about to enter the entrance, the gatekeepers interrupted them.
"Pardon me, sir. How can we help you?" A troop questioned.
Celeste cleared her throat before speaking, "We would like to see Prince Théodred, we have something crucial to inquire about."
"By any chance, may I ask what place do you reside?"
Sam eyed at Celeste's direction, supposing her to answer the question. "We came from the coastal land of Moresis, it is a 20 days journey from here." The soldier doesn't seem to be convinced yet he still permitted them to pass by.
"You may now enter, folks."
They arrived at the hall and the servants assisted them toward the upper chamber where Prince Théodred dwell. There are bunches of doors side by side and they could not figure out where they must go.
Celeste seems to be occupied with some other things, the memory from the past was bothering her mind.
"We arrived at the chamber of Prince Théodred, have a wonderful time with him, visitors." The room opened and a huge space greeted their sight, the servants left them and they continued to walk inside.
"Oh, how I dislike the smell of his perfume," Celeste grumbled and roamed her sight about the place.
They were stunned by the beauty of his room, Sam Williams feels astounded because it reminds him of his past life. He was living in an elegant Palace as well yet a curse changed everything.
"What made you visit my abode?" They heard a piercing voice from the terrace and they gradually shifted their gazes to look in his direction.
He was standing on the balcony while his back facing in their direction. "Please, assist yourself," he once more uttered and turned his back to see his visitors.
Théodred examined them from head to toe as if he was suspecting his guests. Sam Williams spoke, as he tried his best to appear convincing before the prince. "Good day, Prince. Hear out our petition and judge us for yourself, we have walked for days just to inquire about the sudden tragic occurrence."
Théodred sarcastically smirks, "Do I seem knowledgeable enough to you? What transpires must take place, we cannot change what has already been written," he responded which cause the guests to feel in awe.
"We believe that you know the cure to this chaos, please consider our request."
"How come you knew about this? Who told you such a thing?" All of a sudden, Théodred feels bothered upon realizing of what they know.
"Thornsfrost was condemned and you know how competitive their king can be. He is greedy! I am begging you to consider us, they want war." Upon what he heard, he was stunned. He knew he cannot do something to satisfy their needs. Yet hearing the name of the territory where Timothy lives, he was convinced to assist the visitors.
Celeste on the other hand watches the prince, she knows he is unwilling to help. He never gave attention to her cry when her family was killed, he never show any concern and she knows he shall be a coward evermore.
"Alright, alright." The prince walks nearby and steers himself toward the bookshelves. His hands were seeking for the item yet he could not find the book, where he remembers that Timothy was reading it earlier.
"How can I become so foolish for allowing him to read that?" He whispered to himself and hastily went his way to his study room. He grabbed the book and flipped through its pages, he patiently seeks for the remedy and it took him seconds before he could finally browse it.
"What book is that?" Celeste questioned yet unfortunately, she was not entertained.
"... The only thing to stop the war is to tame the one who plotted it." Théodred read it allowed and momentarily paused, "You must pluck out the roots of the problem."
"How would we know who is behind all of these?" Sam questioned.
"You must steal the heart of one of the rulers of the underworld and tame him," He continued but the idea was too impossible for them.
"We, need it, please! How can we bring it? It is the only thing that can help this world," Sam retorted. Théodred stares at them with his cold glares, he wanted to help them yet it saddened his heart to know that he cannot go down to Hades and ask for the heart.
He cleared his throat before he speak once again, "As you wish, yet sadly, what you are seeking for rests in the realm of Hades."
Silence invaded the atmosphere and the visitors could not help but to overthink.
"What? Are you serious?" The two asked and they could not receive any response from the prince.

Book Comment (208)

  • avatar
    Nica Alferez

    hinde ko alam to

    1d

      0
  • avatar
    Lyrajane Quino

    good

    6d

      0
  • avatar
    PalamingMarlito

    impressive story, very nice

    9d

      0
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