The Scarlet Phoenix and the Prince of Winter

Chapter Sixty Seven

Artholdt Encore was a well-known teacher back in the day, so I was able to recognize him when the Crown prince mentioned his name. I have also seen him for a couple of times already through Calyx. There was even this one time where I was able to join their dinner at their home. I think it was back when I was still at school, and Calyx and I had to do some homework together. We did it in his house up until dinner. I remember his father being a jolly person, and who loves sharing a lot of stories. He used to be a history teacher, so I guess this is why he knows about the map on the shield.

Prince Kao told me that Artholdt used to be his private tutor back when he was younger (which shocked me because what a small world right) and according to him, Artholdt was the only one from the academe who was able to understand the code-like calligraphy of the Snow Gypsies. I did not know this, even though Calyx used to boast about his father's job when we were younger. I guess Calyx did not know everything that his father did so he never talked about it to me. It would have been a huge deal for Calyx if he knew that, since he himself was a history geek--- which made him a teacher too years later.

So when we arrived at Aurville, the Crown Prince had to disguise himself again in order to keep his identity safe from others. This time he wore a classy mask that only covers half of his face. It was a black mask with some small gleaming jewels on the side. He told me that he only wore that once, in a masquerade-themed party that he attended here at Aurville when he was younger. It looked good in him though. It made him look more mysterious and elegant. Plus, it also gives him the intimidating aura--- but in a good way. A scene-stealer, if I have to call him something that would describe him perfectly.

However, I have some questions for him with this choice of disguise. "Are you sure that Artholdt would not recognize you? You said that he used to be your tutor. He might recognize your voice once we go to him."

The Crown Prince nodded at that. "He will surely recognize me, and I hope that he does, because he needs to. Besides, I am not concerned about him. I am more wary at the other people at the Fire Academy. You know that Artholdt and his family lives there, right?"

I nodded. "Unluckily for us, we have to go inside the school campus to get to their house. The houses of the faculty are on the right side of the campus, while the school buildings are on the left side. Don't worry Prince Kao, I can take you there as I know the way to get there too well." I was confident in offering him my help because I had studied for ten years at Fire Academy. I know every place and every building there, even the other places that students used to frequent. It is a big place as several people live there permanently. The staff and the teachers all live inside Fire Academy as it would be too much of an inconvenience if they live outside of the school. Also, a lot of students live in the school too, so it became a semi-boarding school. Students from far towns needed to stay inside the campus so that they could study at the academy, so a little community inside was made. There are even shops and stores there, and even an underground greenhouse for their food. It is like a town inside a town there.

"Thank you for accompanying me, Rainha. But before we go to Artholdt, we have to go to the Aurville Health Pub where Harvey is. The man is already conscious now and they are just waiting for us to come. Some of my Royal Guards have secured the place, but we can't be too complacent."

"Oh, okay. So we have to go to the Health Pub first. Then to the academy." I was excited about this because we are now having an adventure again. But I can't help but feel nervous too. Going back at Aurville where those goons tried to attack us always made me feel scared. My hands were even shaking when I saw from outside the window that we were now here at Aurville. It was nighttime again so everywhere was quiet. I don't know if this was good or bad. All I know is that I have a bad feeling about going back here at this place.

"Once that man tells us who he is and who is behind your Aunt's disappearance, we will have the answer to your questions, Rainha. We would know what really happened to your Aunt."

I nodded. "I know. And it is making me so nervous. I feel like I am going to throw up."

Prince Kao suddenly touched my shoulders with both of his hands and rubbed them gently while smiling. But because his face became closer to mine while he was doing this, I had to look away to stop myself from falling harder. And even if he was wearing a mask right now, his effect on me still has not changed. I was still speechless and helpless as he kind of caressed me while he tried to comfort me. "Don't worry, Rainha. Everything will be alright. I will see to it that he will tell us everything that he knows."

I was able to nod at what he said but to be honest, my mind was in limbo because he was still so close to me physically, so this moment felt like intimate. I had to reprimand myself that this is not what I think it is, so I just said that I will be fine since I already accepted what I will be hearing from that man. All I wanted now is to know what happened to my poor Aunt. If she is still alive, I want to know where did they kept her. And if she is already dead, I want to know where her remains are. I know that I am just trying to be brave but I have to, otherwise I will breakdown again and that would be just give us disadvantages. If Garreth managed to be tough so that he could go on with his daily life, then I can too if I just put all of me into it.

But as I was just saying to the Crown Prince how I was prepared for what was going to happen next, something happened that surely exposed our unpreparedness. Frist, we heard a loud explosion outside, and then there was a loud thud as if something hit the left wall of this snow carriage that we were in, and then everything was spinning...

I was yelling my head off because the snow carriage that we were in was literally spinning fast like a ball. Both the Crown Prince and I fell to the floor because of this. And there was another loud bang and this time the noise came from above...in the ceiling, and the spinning stopped and the snow carriage toppled over, causing us to topple with it too. I hit my head on one of the seats which caused me to limp on the floor and I can hear the Crown Prince yell and call me by my name. He clutched me in his arm and I can see his extremely worried eyes behind his fancy mask. His expression was intense... I think he was scared that something might have happened to me...

And then I felt my head spinning. I could not tell exactly if this was just me, or if everything around me was spinning too, but I felt so dizzy that I had to close my eyes...

And then I woke up with a jolt.

With my heart pounding, I stood up and looked around.

I was still inside the snow carriage. I think I passed out and I just realized that the Crown Prince was not here anymore. The snow carriage was now lying on one of its sides, an indication that it fell off from the road. Panicking, I went out the door and walked out of the carriage. It was then that I saw what was happening.

Men were fighting outside, in the dark and snow. I could hear the clashing of steel weapons and the grunts and shouts of the people warring. A lot of them were battling a little far away from where I was, so I have to move out from the snow carriage entirely and look for the Crown Prince in the mess. I saw some of the Royal Guards that were part of the snow carriage convoy, including Steffan, fighting some men in black suits. Some bodies were now lying on the snow, and most of these bodies were bloodied or severely wounded.

And then I saw the Crown Prince. Three men were simultaneously fighting with him. And all of them were attacking him with their swords at the moment. I wanted to shout at them to stop what they were doing, but I couldn't muster the strength to even use my voice. I was so scared. We were attacked. We were ambushed. Someone knew that we were coming, and they wanted to stop us.