The Two Empresses
Puzzles

"Why indeed?" cerlina asked with her head tilted slightly, making Nero almost nosebleed.

"Look, Cerlina. What Daniel showed you was something that only his descendants could do. You know how, the magic doesn't take you for granted" Nero said. Cerlina pouted hearing that.

"Then what should I do?" the question is half sulking. Nero could only shrug, while Kezia shook her head.

"Maybe we can ask Layla?" chirps Nero. "He's his wife, but I doubt Layla knows about this."

"But she's grieving, I don't feel good asking her for help" Cerlina said.

"True, too. If we have to use rough methods. Forced breaking into," he said.

"Forced break!" sahut Kezia girang's.

"If you must, Kezia. Not really," said Nero.

"Nii, can't Undine open the way?"

"Come, Kezia. It's a matter of inherited sacred treasures, not belonging to the royal family. So it's not polite to carry out the demolition without permission" Nero said as he stroked his head gently.

"Enterrifying. It should be broken," said Kezia.

"That's if his whole family is gone, Kezia," said Nero. "Did Vatra hurt you, Cerlina. Is your hair short?"

"I dodged his sword and well, my hair was the victim" he answered briefly. Nero was annoyed and stroked his hair gently.

"Oh, he's challenging me, isn't he? I killed him."

"Can't! I'll kill him first!" sahut Kezia's. "He's my opponent!"

"Yes, yeah. Stupid," muttered Nero. Cerlina just laughed a little at their behavior, but petrified when Layla entered with a haggard face, as did Kezia and Nero.

"Hello, Mistress. We apologize for our reluctance to come unannounced and are sorry for the passing of Mr. Mostroes" Nero said. Layla simply nodded and sat down, making a gesture for them to sit down.

"The palace must have been busy because of the attack" Lalya said as she sipped the cold tea blankly.

"Nearly all areas are affected, Madam. Especially with the many casualties, the palace does need a lot of help from various parties" replied Nero. Layla turned to the confused Cerlina.

"Did you find what you were looking for, Miss Grand Priest?" ask Layla.

"Before I had time to search, this region had been attacked. Now I can't go into that place anymore" Cerlina replied. Layla sighed hearing that.

"Dearly enough. I'm sorry, but I can't help you guys get into that room. Only Daniel has the right and his descendants."

"If you allow it, we want to forcibly open the place. But still the choice in your hands," said Nero firmly.

"Open it up, Grand Duke. That place no longer has its master. I don't think Daniel would mind either" Layla replied. "Well the heir is no more, why keep that thing? The war's gonna be over soon, isn't it?"

"The kingdom will keep it until there is a successor. Doesn't Lord Mostroes still have brothers?"

"Ah, that kid huh? I haven't heard from him since he's been traveling, I don't even know if he's alive or dead" Layla said.

"Is that so? Alright, since the permission has already come down we should hurry away. Rest, Mistress. I'll arrange for some soldiers to take care of this territory until..."

"I can still take care of it, Grand Duke. Do not think about our problems and solve immediately what is your obligation. And as for the Great Priestess, can you pray for my husband, even if he's been disrespectful to you?" pinta Layla's.

"of course. I will pray for her" said Cerlina softly, her hands squeezing Layla's hands while smiling. "God will definitely put him in heaven quietly."

The female minotaur shed tears, her voice beginning to roar with the twilight age plus the screams of tears at the tragic death of her husband. Cerlina got up and walked outside, followed by Kezia with her small steps.

"Yes, Kezia. I'm fine" Cerlina said as she pulled out her wand. He cast a spell until his wand glowed softly. He lifted it high until the light shone on the whole region. A warm feeling slowly enveloped the hearts of all the beings in the beam, even Kezia felt it.

"Nee, what is this?"

"Magic.no, this is a blessing from the gods," said Cerlina kalem. "I use this to calm down everyone who's down."

"Wow, that's really cool" said Kezia. Cerlina swung her staff and although faint, it was seen hundreds of glowing balls flying into the sky. "Eh? What'sthat?"

"The souls of those who were not at the time of the attack" Cerlina replied. After all her balls flew, Cerlina clenched her hands together and prayed in her heart.

"Kezia, let's go.ah, sorry," said Nero clumsily, scratching his back at the sight of Cerlina praying. The purple-haired girl turned her head and smiled.

"It's okay, it's done. Let's go," Cerlina replied.

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

Undine stood beside Nero with a focused gaze on the lake, while Kezia and Cerlina prepared near them.

"Please, Undine, please" said Nero. Undine immediately raised her finger and split the lake water quickly until the bottom was visible.

"Nii, I didn't see the room" Kezia said. Nero stared fixedly at the bottom of the lake and sighed.

"Not here it turns out. But we can go down the stairs," Nero said, pointing to a mound down the bottom of the lake. "Dismantle it, Kezia."

"okay!" sahut Kezia while jumping and slashing the mound until the stairs began to be seen from behind it. It slashes back until the cracks grow and are quite passed by adults. "Done!"

"Smart kid," praised Nero. He turned to Cerlina and extended his hand, but Cerlina shook her head.

"I can walk on my own, thanks Nero," Cerlina declined as subtly as possible. Nero gave a smile and retracted his hand, the bitter taste slowly biting his feelings. They rushed in through the hole and descended it carefully.

"Nee, why isn't Saciel nee coming?" ask Kezia.

"Saciel was queen, so had to take care of the empire in order to survive" Cerlina said. They continued walking until they arrived at the room they were looking for. Cerlina swung her staff and made a holy trail of her axes visible in the eyes of the two brothers.

"Ah, so this is what you can see? Cool too," said Nero.

"Woah, the trail is sparkling. But..why just around here?" ask Kezia. Cerlina.

"That's him that I don't understand, even Daniel doesn't remember how he lost it, either" Cerlina lamented.

"Is the ax transparent?" ask Kezia.

"That's impossible, Kezia," replied Nero keki.

"Is there another secret room?" chirps Cerlina.

"Can be. Let's look for something that might be a clue" Nero said. The three scatter around the 4x5-sized room carefully, trying to find the awkwardness that helps them.

"Nothing," complained Kezia.

"I didn't find it either," retorted Cerlina in surprise. "Obviously the trail is here, but how can you not see it?"

"...is there active magic here?" ask Nero. Cerlina looked at him, then stomped her wand until she saw a magic sparkle that was still active.

"How come? Daniel says this place only his descendants know" asked Cerlina.

"If that is.maybe we can ask this minotaur," said Nero as he turned and pointed his sword at the incoming foreign minotaur with a hood covering his head. "You who?"