"Are you seriously planning to go to the barbarian kingdom?"
Abelion harshly whispered. I was waiting for mother to come down for our farewells before we could leave.
"Yes, I was planning on visiting it at first."
Abelion paled. It was understandable, the place was filled with savages and most people in the kingdom did not like the thought of visiting it.
"We’re going to have to go through the troll forest, people die there a lot. Let’s just go to the Emerald Kingdom, there are teleportation spots there."
He tried to convince me, but I was having none of that. Abelion was a coward at his core. I regretted telling him about our destination earlier.
"You can stay behind if you want. You’re the one who wanted to come."
I said nonchalantly, trying to wave him off, but he didn’t get the cue. Abelion shook his head.
"Master is going to the barbarians because of the flaming ruins."
Luna told Abelion who was about to complain again.
"Isn’t that just a rumour. I heard people die in those ruins. You’re not even sure if it exists!"
Abelion was practically shouting right now. Ignored him and walked away with Luna by my side.
I felt like I would lose some of my brain cells if I stayed near him.
"It irks me that there is no teleportation portal in that stupid country, just how backwards are they?"
I said in frustration as we walked back into the house. I was tired of waiting for mother outside. It was better to bring her and Seraph out than wait with the chatty Abeloin.
"Lucian."
Seraph’s silky voice came. I looked up the stairs to see her running down. She was dressed in combat clothes. A black pair of trousers and a red shirt.
I opened my arms and she jumped into them. She laughed as I twirled both of us around, she always liked that.
"Good morning."
I greeted her. She buried her head on my chest and chuckled softly before looking up at me.
"Good morning. Mother already came down but I don’t see her. She said, " I will find her downstairs."
"Really?"
I cupped her cheek and caressed it softly. She leaned into my touch and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the heat being transmitted between us.
"Have you prepared everything you need?"
I broke the comfortable silence between us. She smiled and nodded her eyes still closed.
"Are you two ready to leave?"
Mother’s voice came from our left. I turned to see her coming from her downstairs office. I had thought we had missed her by the way Seraph spoke earlier.
I released Seraph from my embrace and we both bowed towards her.
"Yes mother, everything is ready."
She nodded and pulled me into her embrace the moment she got near. I hugged her back, enjoying the feeling of her embrace.
"Take care of your sister. "
She whispered into my ear, and I nodded. Mother had allowed Seraph to come with us since she won’t be inheriting the estate in fifty years or so.
She wanted her to gain experience and know how the world operates. Mother’s exact words, not mine.
"I will."
She released me from her embrace and hugged Seraph. Seraph smiled and glanced at me after Mother whispered something I couldn’t hear to her.
"Don’t forget about home, both of you," she turned fully to me," I have something for you. It’s what you got as your inheritance. "
That surprised me a little, I thought the increase in power was the final prize. Mother had really kept it hidden for this long.
"What is it?"
I asked curiously. Mothers’ advisor came from her office carrying what looked like a small stone tablet on a tray.
"Young master, it has been cleaned thoroughly. "
He said and held out the tray to me. I picked up the small stone and looked at it.
It was white in color with little to no damage. There were scribbles on the tablet.
"Emerald tablet?"
I read the name in confusion. The stone seemed to be broken, and whatever was below was missing.
"Is that what it says?"
Mother asked curiously. I nodded.
"Am I the only one who can see the writings?"
I asked in confusion. Mother nodded.
"To all of us its just a normal stone tablet."
Hearing her words, something came to mind, the book I had bought in Essex. I was the only one who could see the title.
"Could you bring that book I found in Essex?"
I turned to Luna. She bowed and left hurriedly. A few moments later, she came back carrying the overly large book.
I placed it on the table and turned to mother.
"Can you see the title?"
I asked in excitement. Mother touched the book her brows frowning, then she shook her head.
"Nothing."
If the first time might have been coincidental with Luna, then this time it was real. An impulsive thought flashed through my brain.
’What if I brought them together? What could happen?’
I did just that. I placed the broken tablet on top of the book.
"I don’t think anything is...."
Seraph started to say after a few moments had passed with no reaction when both the book and the tablet started to glow.
A golden light shot out from the book and enveloped the stone before it sank into the book. I almost laughed, but I was too fascinated by the process in front of me.
The smell of sulphur and mercury started to spread in the air, and it was clear that the source was the book. Everyone choked and started to cough since the smell wasn’t pleasant.
It didn’t last long. After the tablet disappeared, the book opened by itself.
I had only been able to read the first page but now the second page opened itself.
"It’s the tablet."
I said in fascinating. On that page was the broken emerald tablet. It looked real and even the small scratch on the stone was present.
I chuckled to myself.
"How does it look?"
Seraph asked curiously. Since they couldn’t see it, she wanted a full description.
"It looks exactly like the broken table, but it’s the full unbroken tablet in the book."
I said excitedly. My fingers touched the book adoringly.
"Is there something written, stop cutting your explanations in the middle and continue. "
Seraph said urgently.
"Haa... I can’t see anything beyond the title. The words are blurred. I think I need to find all the pieces before I can read."
"What a let down. My hopes had gone up."
Seraph said childishly as she pouted. She had been the most excited among us.
"You should get going, you don’t want to sleep on the road right?"
Mother said, it got me out of my reverie. I closed the book before turning to mother.
I placed my left hand on my chest and bowed deeply. Mother rubbed my hair softly before letting me straighten. Seraph did the same.
"If you get into trouble, just find a way to reach me. I’ll come find both of you."
The advisor gave mother a small pouch, which she passed to Luna.
"This is a teleportation spell, if they ever fall into anything, just tear it. It contains some of my power. It should be able to save your master."
Luna nodded and took the pouch. Both Seraph and I didn’t have a problem with that, Mother seems to trust Luna better on this.
"Yes duchess."
Luna bowed before stepping back.
"I hope you can find what you are looking for."
Mother turned to me and said. I smiled and pulled her into my arms again. I didn’t like the thought of leaving, but I had to.
"I’ll miss you mother."
I said. She nodded.
"Be careful in that country, if you have to use my name use it. Your mother is more well-known than you think."
She said a small chuckle escaping her.
"Yes, I’ll make sure to use it."
I kissed her forehead and stepped back.
"Okay, let’s go. We’ll be late."
Seraph broke through the moment and started to walk away. I followed behind her, occasionally glancing back at mother as we walked out of the door.
Mother never moved. She smiled at me everytime i would glance back.
"Goodbye for now."
I glanced back at the closed door and entered the carriage. The other girls had taken the same carriage, something about wanting to bond.
And also, the carriage was too small to house all of them together.
Kianah had complained but a promised kiss had calmed her down.
I just hoped the journey would be fruitful. The carriage started to move leaving the bloodmoor city behind.
"How long will it take to reach the Barbarian kingdom?"
Seraph asked me. She was leaning against the window, looking back at the disappearing city walls.
"Two weeks on a good day, I hope we won’t encounter any problem."
I said absentmindedly. The thought of being in a carriage for this long already filled me with dread. I just hoped we never slept outside.