Meanwhile, that same night, on a grassy plain in the territory of Mirriad, just past the border of Eastern Vanadias after crossing the lands of Erador, held by House Yorna, a small camp had been set up. Dustin, Cyrill, and Casey, who sat next to Esme with Noah flanking them, were gathered around a campfire wrapped in blankets.
Cyrill glanced over at Dustin and noticed he was sitting perfectly upright, staring straight ahead. He was so still it looked as if he were watching something far away. Cyrill waved a hand in front of Dustin's face, but Dustin didn't blink or react at all.
"Hey, leave him alone, Cyrill," Casey scolded.
"I'm still curious. He says the King and the two Queens have already arrived in Hargar, and that lightning earlier was the sign," Cyrill replied.
"Yeah, well, let's just go with it. He's the one who's been protecting us all this time," Casey said, glancing toward Dustin.
"I get it... alright. We'll just wait for him to talk again. He rarely speaks, and I'm starting to feel a bit lonely," Cyrill said, lying back on the ground and resting his hands behind his head.
"We can't go to Hargar yet... we need to head to the Mirriad palace first, then loop around to the Toreno border and head for Toreno Castle," Dustin said suddenly.
"Huh?" Cyrill sat bolt upright and stared at Dustin. Even Casey and Noah spoke up in shock.
"Toreno? And the Mirriad palace on top of that? Get real. We can't just walk in there and say, Hey, how's it going? We've arrived," Cyrill argued.
"We have to go to the Mirriad palace and lead their soldiers to the Toreno border. And it won't even take two days," Dustin replied, answering without offering any further explanation.
"Hah... leading Mirriad's army to the Toreno border? That's even more impossible. If we head for Hargar, we could be there by tomorrow afternoon," Cyrill countered, clearly annoyed.
"If we go to Hargar now, we will be captured and killed," Dustin countered.
"Did you see this in a vision, Dustin?" Casey asked.
"Yes. Troops from Nortrom are gathering at the border of the Levent territory tomorrow. If we arrive there, our deaths will be guaranteed," Dustin replied.
"Hah... but aren't they at odds with Mirriad? To get to Hargar, they'd have to pass through Mirriad, wouldn't they?" Cyrill asked.
"That is true, but Nortrom is not in conflict with Mirriad. They can enter Mirriad and cross into Levent territory whenever they please. The ones who are actually at odds with Mirriad are the people of Toreno—even though they share the same Lord as Nortrom," Dustin explained.
"Hmm... tell us more about this vision," Cyrill prompted.
Dustin explained that war was coming to Hargar's doorstep. Forces from Nortrom would assault the gates, though the city's defenses would hold. Meanwhile, all of Toreno's troops—including the border guards who were usually locked in conflict with Mirriad—were being pulled back to the city of Farport. This would leave an opening for Mirriad to invade Toreno and strike directly at the castle.
"Hmm... so is that what you meant by us going to the Mirriad palace and heading to the Toreno palace with them?" Cyrill asked.
"Exactly. I have a new mission: to speak with Lord Malcolm Laython of House Laython, the ruler of the Mirriad region," Dustin answered.
"That... seems impossible," Noah chimed in.
"Don't worry. In my vision, we succeed," Dustin said confidently.
"Alright, so when do we leave for the Mirriad palace?" Casey asked.
"We'll rest for five hours, then we start walking. You all should sleep now," Dustin replied.
"Ok, ok, let's sleep," Cyrill muttered.
Eventually, Esme invited Casey to the tent, and Noah immediately picked Casey up to carry her there. Meanwhile, Cyrill lay down next to Dustin, who remained sitting upright with his arms crossed over his chest, his white eyes staring into the distance.
"Hey, Dustin," Cyrill whispered.
"What is it?" Dustin asked.
"How do you get these sudden visions like that?" Cyrill questioned.
"Because I am blind and my mind is, you could say, clean. That is why the gods can project their prophecies directly to me," Dustin answered casually.
"I see. I only ever had one dream that felt real. I saw a girl with black hair and blue eyes carrying two large axes. But since I was grieving for my missing sister at the time, I didn't think much of it," Cyrill said.
"The one who killed the cardinal so he wouldn't hold the Lady Saint back... that was you, wasn't it, Your Highness? And that's why you quit being a holy assassin, right?" Dustin asked.
Cyrill went silent. He simply closed his eyes and smiled. Then Dustin turned his head toward Cyrill, who was lying relaxed beside him.
"Forgive me for asking," Dustin said.
"It's fine. By staying silent, you already know the answer anyway. I don't need to explain anything. But I will say this... I didn't do it for the Lady Saint. I did it for my sister, Isabel," Cyrill replied casually.
"I understand. Then why are there still a few assassins following us even now if you've already quit?" Dustin asked.
"Hoo... so you noticed. They're just following me; don't worry about it," Cyrill replied.
"Alright. It's just that I can't stop thinking about my vision—if I hadn't stopped you in the city of Estican, you would have been killed inside that monastery," Dustin added.
"Hmm... since leaving the order, I've tried to live a normal life. I thought maybe by having a lover, I could manage it... turns out she actually accepted a proposal from House Marlow to become a third wife. That hurt," Cyrill admitted.
"Your lover didn't love you. She was just baiting you so you'd return to the monastery and be killed for your sin of murdering the cardinal. She accepted that proposal hoping you'd break in to save her," Dustin countered.
"Hmm... that makes sense. You really did see me in your vision, didn't you?" Cyrill murmured.
"Yes. And you will eventually stand beside one of our Queens, Your Highness," Dustin replied.
"Stop right there. Let's not talk about it. I don't want to hear about my future love life. Besides, me standing with a Queen? I'm just a blood-stained assassin. I'm completely unworthy of a Queen. Right now, I'm only following you because you said my sister would meet us in Castletown. And then, after seeing that lightning, you went quiet and said she was already in Hargar," Cyrill replied.
"Very well, I won't bring it up again. Please sleep and get some rest, Your Highness," Dustin said.
"One more thing: stop calling me Your Highness. I'm nobody, and my name is Cyrill," Cyrill said, rolling over to face away from Dustin.
***
Inside the tent, with Noah standing guard just outside, Esme helped Casey onto her sleeping bag and propped her head up with their travel bags.
"Thank you, Esme," Casey said.
"You're very welcome, Your Highness," Esme replied cheerfully with a wide grin.
"Why are you calling me Your Highness?" Casey asked.
"Based on what Master Dustin said, you're going to be the King's consort. I'm just getting used to calling you by your proper title," Esme answered.
"Please, let's not talk about that yet... I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around it," Casey sighed.
Esme looked at Casey's anxious face. Even though Casey was incredibly beautiful with stunning blonde hair, it was obvious she lacked confidence because she couldn't walk and had to rely on a wheelchair.
"Don't you worry, Your Highness. The King will surely accept you exactly as you are," Esme assured her.
"You knew exactly what I was thinking, didn't you?" Casey replied.
"Of course I did, Your Highness. I've known you since you were a little girl," Esme said.
Casey fell silent. In her mind, a vision flashed: she was standing on a balcony, looking at a powerful young King. He was handsome, wielding a blue trident, and standing right before her. Without thinking, she raised both hands and covered her face as it turned a deep shade of crimson.