(Not Continued Again)
9. Invitation

Sebastian walked down a long hallway. In his decapan there are many files.

"Dad. It's me, Sebastian."

It had been half a month since his return from dropping off his two younger siblings. Sebastian who does have a lot of busyness, unceasingly helps the father in handling his work. No exception to this unexpected job. In order to gain the father's trust fully, Sebastian accepts the challenge given by the father without the slightest hesitation.

"Please, young master."

The busy door to the study by Zale, the trusted butler of the Lucretia family, was enough to prove that what they were going to handle was not as easy as it seemed. The father's gaze focused towards the beam with a frowning face held back the upset of being the center of Sebastian's attention once he was already standing in front of the figure.

"Is there something going on?"

Because the father is a figure who used to control his expression very well, Sebastian became curious about what can provoke his father's emotions.

"Put the file on the table."

The orders of Sebastian's father follow. Dutifully, Sebastian placed each stacked sheet of paper on his father's table. As for his mouth, explaining everything without needing to be given orders twice.

"As Elthia said. The moves made by uncle Aeneas lately are indeed suspicious."

Sebastian's two green netra occasionally glanced at the father. It seemed, he had only once seen his father take him very seriously. Well. Sebastian admits that his father is serious every day. But, especially today, for some reason the atmosphere around feels three times more gripping than usual.

"I still don't know what he's planning. However, if you look at it from just anyone he cleans the evidence. I'm sure, there's something threatening him that makes him have to rush out of his original plan."

"So, the dream Elthia got was true?"

Sebastian nodded. "Yes, dad. That's right."

"What kind of evidence did he carelessly leave behind?"

Sebastian was silent, he was a little hesitant about this. At first, Sebastian only considered that what was told by his sister was only the fear of his anxiety because of nightmares too often. However, after intervening and investigating it directly. Sebastian realized, the request made by Elthia could not be underestimated. What his sister feared was actually happening. And Sebastian, even to the point of shaking when he saw the evidence himself.

"I found this around the scene."

Sebastian handed over a pin with a silver tree motif in the center of the circle. The pure silver material used for the pin looks shiny when exposed to the reflection of sunlight entering through the window.

"This thing I found is not too far from where we're practicing."

"So, the monster that attacked you that day..."

Sighing his breath to neutralize his anxiety. Sebastian confirmed the father's guess. "As you might expect. That strange creature is indeed a creature of darkness."

Sebastian looked at his father. The silence of the father and the file he has now released, indicates that his father is now listening to what he is saying carefully.

"Is the curtain open in that place?"

"Not too big. However, if humans without magic power were nearby, the curtain would be very threatening."

The incident where Sebastian witnessed directly where the creatures of darkness can cross is still stored clearly in memory. Honestly speaking, when he saw how terrifying the pitch black behind the open curtain was, Sebastian always shuddered. His body was naturally goosebumps and felt a stinging and stifling feeling. At times, Sebastian could even feel his breath feel heavy by itself when he accidentally remembered the three of them were also almost killed in that place.

"Because you came back without getting hurt. Can you tell me that something happened to the curtain?"

"I'm not too sure about this, but, I think, the curtain was immediately purified along with the emergence of the power of Elthia and Evander that day."

Even though the curtains are not closed. The white light around him caught his attention. Other than the three of them, the figure of the teacher was not a magician. And since Sebastian's powers are much weaker than his younger siblings, Sebastian doesn't have enough ability to purify them. Other than his two younger siblings, there were no more powerful witches around them that day.

"Thanks to the strength of Elthia and Evander, the curtain could be held up for a while. Other than one strange creature that attacked us, no other dark creature made it out of there" Sebastian said, staring confidently at his father. The thin smile that his father showed, managed to reduce a little from the tension that Sebastian felt.

"good job. Thank you for working so hard."

Sebastian closed his eyes. The light pat the father gave him on his head left him shocked.

"Dad knows there's still something you want to say. Let's say. As long as it's harmless, I'll consider it."

"really?" Sebastian stared in disbelief at his father. "Did you dare promise to fulfill it?" tanyanya while taking distance from the father. Sebastian stood alert with a watchful look as a smile was seen on his father's lips.

"Dad promise."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Seriously."

Once again, Sebastian looked at the expression of the father. The honesty reflected from the father's two blue netra made him sigh. "There was someone who broke the curtain. And that person, wants to meet dad face to face."

"Destroying curtains? So, you met other people too?"

The no-nonsense words Sebastian spoke attracted little attention. Master Arys couldn't help but ask.

Sebastian avoided his father's gaze. "A silver-haired man. When viewed from his face, our age is not too far away."

"Silver hair?"

"Did you want to see him?"

Sebastian asked back. He patiently waited for his father to give an answer.

"What's that guy's name?"

"Tristan."

"No surname?"

Sebastian nodded. "Yes. Neither does the name of blessing have it."

Silence enveloped them both. Sebastian who understood the confusion of his father sighed. "I know he's suspicious. But, dad. Isn't Tristan's hair color worth investigating?"

Because silver mane is very rare. Sebastian thinks there's no harm in finding out the truth about Tristan. Especially about this, somehow Sebastian felt a premonition. If indeed Tristan also inherited the same blood as him, does that mean that there is a figure of Lucretia's descent hidden? And if so, what is the reason for its existence to be shown today?

The blur of history about the Lucretia family, honestly a little disturbing Sebastian. Although they were the oldest high-ranking nobles. The helplessness they had towards the kingdom was astonishing.

A little risky indeed. However, if the pieces that look missing can be rearranged. Sebastian, that's not a bad bet.

"Dad wants to see him. But, it doesn't seem like it could be anytime soon."

Sebastian looked at the letter in his father's hand. The seal with the familiar crown-shaped flame pattern caught by the green net, managed to ruin his good mood in an instant.

"Prepare. Because we have to fulfill this invitation as soon as possible."

Sebastian cannot argue. Although he was already feeling tired, what the father ordered could not be rejected at all. Overwhelmed with objection Sebastian walked out of the father's room. That damn invitation received by his father was really annoying to see.

"I miss my little brother." murmured Sebastian with a laughing expression. Being far away from her two beloved sisters was excruciating. Sebastian really needs the warm embrace of his two younger siblings. The funny face of both of them was already the most efficacious tired antidote he had.

...°·°·°·°·°·°...

In front of the tallest man in the Pyralis country, Sebastian and lord Arys bowed their heads respectfully. They both saluted King Taddeus, the ruler of the 5th kingdom of Istvan.

"You must know why I called you here, right?"

The no-nonsense words that the king put forward, were taken obediently by lord Arys. As a trusted head of the family, of course, lord Arys understood very well the intention behind the king's invitation to him.

"I apologize for hiding it from you, Your Majesty."

Behind Mr. Arys, Sebastian stood silently watching. The conversation between his father and the king, he listened carefully.

"I can understand your reason." The expression of understanding given by the king was a bit of a relief. Sebastian who was previously a little tense, made his expression look as calm as possible.

"It's hard to have a lot of enemies watching. Just a little off your guard, they'll no-nonsensely pounce on you."

"That's right, Your Majesty."

"How are the two of them?"

"The news of my two twins is good, Your Majesty. Elthia and Evander studied hard to become great magicians for the sake of this kingdom."

What Mr. Arys said was not wrong. The two twin brothers were very passionate about learning. The determination of the two had, arguably even far exceeded Sebastian who was the legitimate successor to the position of the head of the family.

"As the head of the family as well as the father of both of them, I guarantee our loyalty to the kingdom."

Getting an oath of allegiance was the thing their king wanted most at this time. Without even asking his father, Sebastian knew it.

Frightened king.

Sure oes. Even if it doesn't seem obvious. Fear of a more powerful figure than himself, is common for some members of the kingdom. They don't like it if there are other people who have more power than them.

No exception, this prince.

Next to the king stood the Crown Prince of Pyralis. His expression, which was as calm as water, was extremely difficult to read. Sebastian admitted, this one prince is quite good at regulating his expression. However, behind his fiery red eyes, the visible turmoil could never be hidden. Although it was only a glimpse, Sebastian who had mastered all the learning about the mind-reading technique of the opponent, not once fooled by the flat expression of the prince.

There was a little jealousy there.

How unsettling. Had Sebastian not been in front of the highest position of the Pyralis, Sebastian would have been happy to warn the one prince. Clarify that he does not like if anyone intends to threaten his two precious siblings. But, honey. It can only be based on its reliability. Sebastian could not have done such a threatening thing blatantly. Because if Sebastian makes a mistake. Other family members can be sure also will feel the impact.

"I'm grateful for your generosity, Your Majesty."

Allowing her twin sisters to learn magic, became the most relieving news that Sebastian has heard today. Ignoring the prince's jealousy. Sebastian is grateful that his two younger siblings are still allowed to study magic, which, everyone in this country would want.

So, what must now be considered is how Sebastian canceled the possible engagement between the prince and Elthia.

Although a little unwilling, Sebastian hopes Elthia gets a more amazing figure than the prince. Before the election of the crown princess held, Sebastian hopes his sister has found the figure of the protector who has been told.