Chapter 23: 22: CONCEALED IV
"Well then, send my regards to the future duchess of Winterspring, Rafael." Frendel smiled at him and stood up and went to the door. He was surprised that his comrades are eavesdropping.
"We... we were just passing by!"
"Bryce, please accompany sir Rafael on his trip back to Vally Forest. And all of you, kindly follow what Zeus instructed you to do; get back to your posts and report in tooupe what interest might be caught."
The Divine Knights flew to their respective quests. Rafael went outside the room and met with Bryce. He shook his hand and they went on to their journey back to Vally Forest.
Their travel went in a blur or has Rafael was just too busy with his train of thought? They were given 2 separate cabins for them to enjoy their privacy. Rafael found himself comfortable sitting in a wooden veranda chair outside his room. He massaged his temples since he has been thinking of a good excuse on how he will tell Elani that she needs to accompany him in Laeros when in the first place, he already told her that she needed to be a royal blood to enter that kingdom! I'm having bad migraines since the day I left my house! He said.
He stood up and went to change into his uniform. He needed to inform Bryce of the plan first before landing. He went outside and knock on the front room of his room. It didn't take him long enough for Bryce to open the door. He smiled and led him inside his room.
"I apologize if I came so suddenly. I have to ask you to not speak a word to my child, Elani." Rafael looked at him while he walks his way to his chair.
"No worries, sir Rafael. I wouldn't mind the business that is not mine." He smiles assuring him that he won't speak of Rafael's secret.
"Thank you, Bryce."
"I suppose we are nearing the dock?"
"Yes, I find this travel rather quick." Bryce chortled. After the meeting, he realized that Rafael has been uneasy all throughout their travel. It must be hard for him to be surreptitious and more importantly, this isn't what he should be doing. He is the Divine Knight of winterspring! He should be protecting the city against the rapidly growing enemies not babysitting a child that's not his. Bryce couldn't understand why Rafael had to carry the burden that Ryleia and duke Montenour had left.
"Let's prepare our things sire. You have to relax!" Bryce stood up and placed his hands on Rafael's shoulders to shake him off from his thoughts. "Let's cross the bridge when we get there." Rafael shrugged his hands off him and laughed with Bryce. He walks his way to his room and packed his things.
He must be right. I stressed too much about something that I can worry about later. Rafael had thought. He let out a heavy sigh as he finishes packing up his things. He met with Bryce outside their cabin rooms and they walk outside the ship together. Bryce pointed out that their travel was quite normal--there were no leviathans that attacked them while they were at the sea.
"Perhaps we were just lucky," Rafael commented.
As soon as they arrived in the forest, Rafael had realized that he cannot use his glide enchantments. If he does, he will be leaving Bryce behind which will be kind of rude since he is not familiar with the city. That is why they are just walking. Not that they needed to hurry up.
A day has finally passed, they've reached Malaya's tree house and once again, Rafael whistled to call her. But this time, he whistled twice. Maybe Malaya didn't hear her? They should be down here by now. He had thought. He looked around to check for any traces of Elani and Malaya but there were none.
"They are not on the ground, Rafael. They are gliding." Bryce said as he meditates to follow the connections of the two. After Bryce notices their connections, Malaya and Elani landed on the ground with one knee. Elani looked at her father smiling as she reached for him to hug.
"Father! It's been so long!" She squeezed him and looked up to him. Rafael smiled back to her and all of his negative thoughts have been washed away.
"Don't be so dramatic. It didn't take me that long." He kneeled on the ground to hug his daughter and stood up to introduce Elani to Bryce. "Elani, this is sir Bryce Walterquinn Bagi Divine 9." Bryce waved his hand and smiled at her. Elani bowed her head and went to him to shake his hands, "I'm Elani. My father must've introduced me to you even before you get here." She laughed.
"I see that Malaya has taught you how to glide through the forest," Rafael commented. He was happy that Elani has made progress even though it is little. Progress is still progress, he would say. What he noticed more was that Elani became acquainted with her teacher. Olivia won't believe this news if Rafael tells her about this.
Elani looked at Malaya and giggled with her.
"Thanks for taking care of my child, Malaya."
"You owe me one, Rafael. You know I don't take 'thank you's."
"Of course! Now," Rafael looked back at her daughter who was still clinging to him. "Shall we go continue our journey?" Elani smiled and nodded back to him.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone