The Rose Of The South
Chapter 18: Flamme internet

Anna slowly remembered it. She recalled the beautiful girl who wore a dress made of leaves and flowers, red-eyed and honey-blond who taught her archery for the first time. That girl is the Earth Dragon, Earithear. Anna recalls passing her knowledge also to one of her maids, who later married the Orient Emperor and produced her descendants who were the best archers of the next generation. She was the first woman to learn archery and the only student of Earithear. He was also the one who made Orient known to his main archers. He had almost forgotten the fact that he was one of the most important parts of history.

"I might be able to spit fire out of my mouth one day. Or maybe even fly." Anna said as they finished setting up the tent near the meadow.

"I want to see it. It must be interesting." Comment Leon.

"I can't spit fire out of my mouth." Xavier. His eyes were fixed on the pile of firewood in front of him that had not been lit yet, looking like he was daydreaming.

It was still bright, they did not need a bonfire yet, but they would immediately burn the beef they bought this morning in the market near the inn, which was located in the morning, so Leon prepared two sticks of wood to make a bonfire. Suddenly, the firewood brought up small sparks of fire by itself. Then it became a bigger fire, big enough to burn flesh.

"For the Goddess! What'sthat?" Louis squealed in shock as the flames suddenly appeared while he and Leon were still trying to make fire.

"I can only do that." Xavier said lightly, pointing at the fire that had miraculously appeared on the firewood.

Anna was surprised, almost forgetting the fact that Xavier was indeed the Great Fire Dragon. He almost forgot that he used to see it. "You never said..."

Xavier shrugged, "Nobody ever asked me to do it. As I recall, no one has ever asked either."

"You only like to see us these mortal beings put in a lot of effort, right? At least you should be able to ease our work if you say early." Leon Protest.

"Alright, sorry. It's just that I don't like it very much. It feels weird." Xavier. Anna understood that feeling. When suddenly he can do things beyond reason that he does not understand at all. Like when Anna suddenly can shoot a red apple or when she easily beats Leon and Xavier. "I also haven't really been able to use it properly. Sometimes the flames that appear are too large and difficult to control. Too risky. I was about to burn down an entire forest while being emotionally charged as a child. It was a snowy forest in my kingdom."

"So the Great Fire Dragon really ever burned down a continent? The legend of the northern origin is true?" Ask Louis. His eyes widened with interest. "I've read it in one of the books sold in the Nordhalbinsel market."

"Oh, that legend is famous. I think the whole world knows that. And there is also the story where he is said to have destroyed countries that stopped worshiping the Gods." Said Queen Isabella.

Leon spoke, "I heard that Nordhalbinsel was once a fertile, snowless land like Schiereiland. The Great Fire Dragon burned all over. The fire did not extinguish for hundreds of years until the Water Dragon and Wind Dragon intervened to extinguish the fire and make the land covered with snow and ice forever."

Louis again added, "There is also a story about the Great Fire Dragon that burned the entire—“

Xavier hurriedly raised his hand, "Right. Everything's true. Can't we not discuss my sins in the past one by one? I feel like a popular creepy monster."

Anna just kept listening. He knows it all. He even knew what they had not mentioned, which was not recorded in any history and did not want Xavier to tell anyone. About anything or anyone that has ever been burned by that fire.

...****************...

They rested early that night because they had to continue the journey before the sun really rose. They had already arranged a plan and were about to begin their plan after meeting Duke Francis, the only noble in Schiereiland who still remained in his position due to befriending Xavier. Anna initially hesitated to ask for help from her former fiance, but they had no other choice. They don't know what happened at Schiereiland and don't know who can still be trusted. Xavier is pretty sure Nicholas Francis still hasn't given up his loyalty to Selena.

The night wind in the forest in the territory of the kingdom of Schiereiland is indeed friendlier than the snowy wind in any forest in the Nordhalbinsel region, but they still let the flame of the bonfire, the fire of Xavier. Actually, the other reason was because the fire was apparently not extinguished. Louis accidentally dropped water on the embers this afternoon and the fire was still burning not in the slightest. Leon then deliberately doused a bucket full of water on the fire, and the fire remained unquenchable. Looking at all those fire fighting attempts, Xavier simply said, "The last time I did, Elle had to ask Lilithier Grimoire for help to extinguish it with ancient magic." So in the end they agreed to let the fire keep burning and will think of a way to put it out tomorrow.

At midnight, when everyone was asleep, Leon and Xavier stood guard as usual. But that time, they were not just the two of them. Elias Winterthur was there, too.

"Elle decided to allow Prince Yi's ship to enter our waters. You have to understand that he can't take the risk of refusing such a good request. Allowed or not, Prince Yi will still come to him." Elias gave his regular report as usual. His eyes were busy watching Leon who was sitting leisurely in front of the campfire, as if he could attack at any moment. Xavier sat beside him, looking equally relaxed, while Elias was still unwilling to sit down with them and decided to remain standing with the sword in his hand, ready to be swung at any moment.

"I knew. But you have to keep the troops ready." Xavier said, to which he was immediately responded with an obedient nod from Elias. "What about Princess Seo-Hwa?"

This time Elias shook his head, "It looks like it's going to be hard."

"Miss Welsh refuses to help you?"

"He even avoided me. I've asked Elle to make him one of her bodyguards. He's in the palace now, but he keeps avoiding me until I don't have time to talk to him anymore."

"Then, that means he knows something about the missing princess."

"The missing daughter?" Asked Leon who suddenly spoke up after a long time just silently while listening to the two of them discuss state affairs that should be held in the palace meeting room and not in the middle of the forest. He averted his gaze from the eternal flames before them and began to look at Xavier and Elias alternately as if asking for an explanation.

"Princess Seo-Hwa of the Orient who disappeared about twenty years ago." Xavier. "He is the rightful heir to the Orient throne. The Emperor's and the Orient's previous biological son who died was killed by the current Emperor."

"I thought all of the previous Emperor's children were dead."

"All the people of Schiereiland must also think Princess Anastasia is dead. The princesses usually have their own way of survival." Xavier said, pointing the last sentence specifically at Leon. "Although of course, not all princesses have a Lion from the South who will always protect her."

Leon looked pondering as he looked back at the fire, "God of Lightning." he muttered softly.

"Who?" Ask Elias.

But Xavier seemed to understand what Leon meant. He nodded in agreement, "The supreme commander of the Orient empire, Wu Yi-Xing. It's a lot harder to find." Xavier then turned to Elias who was still confused and explained, "A nightmare for all the kingdoms trying to fight against the Orient emperor. Long before the Lion of the South was born and was as famous as it is today, Schiereiland had General Irene the Slaughterer, our kingdom had your father the Wolf King, and his father, the Wolf King, was a powerful warrior, Westeria doesn't like to fight but they have swordsmen who are my teachers and Leon, as well as people from the Navarro Clan. Orient was superior to the three kingdoms for having Wu Yi-Xing the Lightning God."

"It's not really a god, is it?" Elias.

"No. Sure oes. But it cannot be considered as a trivial opponent. That's why I believe that Princess Seo-Hwa is still alive. The Lightning God must have secured it somewhere." As he said so, Xavier searched for answers from Leon's expression.

Leon raised his eyebrows, "You asked for my opinion?"

"You are experienced in securing a daughter whose life is threatened.”

“And you are experienced in tracking down a daughter whose life is threatened.”

“Let me be clear, I never tracked Princess Anastasia. I tracked you.” Xavier sighed, knowing that this time was not right for a debate. “If you were in the position of Lightning God, where would you take Princess Seo-Hwa away?"

"We're really going to discuss this matter with him?" Elias asked Xavier. But Xavier hints at him to remain silent while Leon ponders the question.

"Orient will attack. Prince Yi would not be satisfied with just obtaining Nordhalbinsel. He must have thought having Nordhalbinsel meant having Schiereiland too. Think of the fate of the people of Schiereiland. My father was still much more generous than Emperor Qin or Prince Yi. We have the same enemy, General Leon."

Leon turned around, facing Elias and Xavier who were now both standing. "Princess Anastasia and Princess Seo-Hwa are different people. Me and the Lightning God must also have different paths of mind and solve problems in different ways. I heard it from my seniors. What happened in Orient twenty years ago was far more severe than what happened to Schiereiland. Qin is more brutal than your father."

Xavier remained silent, waiting for Leon to answer his question.

"Westerw." Leon finally answered. "If I had been in her position by then, I might have taken the Princess to Westeria. It was the safest place among the three kingdoms. And Westeria hates conflict with any country."

"I guessed that too." Xavier agrees. He looked towards Elias. Elias did not wait for Xavier to say anything, he nodded in obedience to the unspoken command. The order to find both Princess Seo-Hwa and the Lightning God to Westeria.

Leon watched them. Observing how Xavier could command only through his gaze and how Elias who had a strong disposition could he control easily and obey his orders. He did not really want to know what could make that Mad Wolf from the North obey and obey like a tame dog. "So when should I leave?" Ask Leon at last.

"You sure?" Xavier asked Leon.

Leon had already cleaned up the things he had to carry. King Zuidlijk's sword was draped around his waist. His eyes were still fixed on one of their tents in the distance, where Anna was asleep inside.

"Xavier!" Elias glared at him, warning in a whisper that looked more like a hiss so that Xavier would not make Leon change his mind. They all whispered softly despite being quite far away from their tents.

Leon now turned to look at Xavier who looked very guilty as if he had committed a big sin. He raised next to his eyebrows. "Why? Now you want to change your mind?" Ask.

Xavier. "I'm asking for your help. Not force. And you're leaving because you agreed to help me, not because you had to."

"Forced or not, do you have another way out?"

"Nothing." Xavier. "But... Princess Anastasia knows. He knows. I can't lie to her anymore."

"How did he know? What say?" Leon asked, not surprised at all.

"You don't need to know the details. He will surely hate me forever. No. gabe. He'll probably kill me if he finds out you're really gone."

"Well, too bad I can't see him killing you. Don't worry, Her Highness the Princess doesn't like bloodshed. If he's angry, he might just take revenge on you and make you suffer forever."

Elias shuddered in horror at hearing that, "Are southern girls usually that cruel?"

"Shut Up, Crazy Dog." Leon said as he cast a sharp glare at Elias.

"Not polite." Elias was about to draw his sword, but was immediately restrained by Xavier.

"Elias! Please lah. We need General Leon." Xavier. "Be good. Please."

Leon seemed unperturbed by Elias ready to draw the sword, only to stare at Xavier who still looked regretful, "I did this because I know you, no matter how subtle you are, will not hurt Her Highness the Princess. And I'm doing this, because I don't like being in debt."

"You can repay your debt another way."

"What's? Take Schiereiland for example? I knew I could always pay my debt another way. But you have no other way to defeat Selena. And if in this way I can free Schiereiland from Selena, secure the Princess, spy on your kingdom and your queen, then I will."

Xavier nodded, agreeing. Even to the part where Leon said he would spy on his kingdom and Eleanor. His kingdom was not to be suspected, while Eleanor could not have betrayed him by the covenant. There was actually nothing for Leon to suspect, but he would still let Leon do anything. It wasn't a big deal to him than what Leon could do to save his mother and his kingdom.

"If Anna asks—“

"If Her Highness the Princess asks, you may say that I forbid you to tell her where I am going." Cut Leon. "He'll be angry, of course. Not just you, but me too. But you can't tell him and make sure he doesn't go to Nordhalbinsel."

Reluctantly, Xavier again nodded obediently. He hates himself who must always keep a secret from Anna. But he knows it's for the good of everyone. "All right." He said, accompanied by heavy breathing. Another secret he had to keep. Xavier then faces Elias. His friend was still watching Leon closely. "Elias, remember, he's an honored guest."

"I know." Answer with laziness.

Xavier went back to Leon, "I'm asking you one more thing." Said. "You're going to meet the female version of Elias, who you probably won't like. And more than Elias, Eleanor hated the Southerners though she would not show it blatantly. Please be patient and be nice to him. Don't be so hard on Eleanor. He's having a hard time in a lot of ways right now."

Leon responded lightly, "Depending on how he behaves to me."

"And Elias, please give this to Elle." Xavier handed over a small bundle of leaves.

Elias accepted it and opened it. Some of the leaves whose shape he did not recognize because in Nordhalbinsel there were not many such plants, as well as some grains that he also did not recognize. Elias frowned, puzzled. "What's this?" Ask.

"If the leaves are boiled and the boiled water is drunk, it will help overcome nausea, it does not taste too bad either. The seeds are for planting. Elle can grow it with magic. It does not require much maintenance and is resistant to cold weather. The fruit can satiate him all day and provide the nutrients he needs. The fruit was guaranteed no poison and he didn't have to bother cooking." Xavier. "Don't let him endure it all alone. Pick a few people you trust to help him with administrative work. Choose a girl who can help him and be his interlocutor. He should stay healthy both physically and mentally."

"When did you become a plant expert?" Ask Elias. But he closed the parcel back and kept it in one of his pockets. "Thank you for taking a little care of my sister."

"Go away, you." Xavier. He turned to Leon who still seemed to be saying something, "Don't worry about Princess Anastasia. I swear I will take care of her. You can trust me."

Leon simply nodded without saying anything even though there was actually still a lot he wanted to say. There was a lot he hadn't told Anna. But he also did not want to say goodbye because of his impression as if he would not return.

Elias watched Xavier and Leon take turns. The faces of both are the same. They looked uncertain, as if their plan would not work. Like they're going to die. "Don't tense up so. Everything will go well." Said.

"I know." Xavier said, which he did not fully believe in. He himself did not know if everything would really go smoothly or not.

When Xavier turned his head back towards them, Elias and Leon had already disappeared, melting with the night air.

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