RISE OF THE ORIGINAL

CHAPTER 3 THE STRANGE

Lord Azril's cautiously slid the curtains open, his grey brows furrowing as he peeps outside.

"Father, what's wrong?"

Princess Lirl asked alarmed.

"I don't know, let's hope we're not in for another bad day."

Lord Azril sighed and shook his head. About to unlock the carriage door, he paused hesitantly facing Princess Lirl again.

"Lock this door behind me and don't do anything stupid till you hear from me".

Lord Azril warned, gripping her slender shoulder.

Despite seeing his daughter's paled face underneath the white veil there's nothing he could do.

Princess Lirl bites her lower lips, fidgeting.

"I promise.......but..."

She started, but Lord Azril interrupted.

"What?"

Princess Lirl shook her head.

"Nothing. Be safe out there."

She muttered, caressing the ribbons attached to her gown nervously.

Lord Azril nodded and patted her shoulders gently.

"I will Lirl"

With that, he climbed down from the carriage. 

And asked for a briefing from one of his warriors.

In no time, he realized that the carriage was halted by his General, Bale, to scout the area.

Although he was relieved with what he had just heard from his warriors, he still went ahead to seek Bale out questioning him.

General Bale was first to see him, so he saddled his horse up to him in salutation.

"My Lord, corpses are obstructing our path to the east, sire. So we'll need to change our course."

Lord Azril frowned.

This was the same route they followed when they travelled months ago; how come there are now corpses there?

"Hmmm, that's strange. Get me the map"

Lord Azril ordered.

Instantly, Princess Lirl's maid, Jenny, dashed forward.

 Her footsteps quickened as she approached Lord Azril, her breath coming in hurried gasps. With trembling hands, she extended a delicate white seal to him.

 The seal was intricately laced with a fine white coating, each thread carefully woven to perfection. Adorning its edges were crimson-red beads, glinting like drops of blood against the pristine white background.

Hastely, he took it from her checking the content inside it.

" We're on the right course. Take me to the scene, let me take a look."

Lord Azril demanded, tossing the seal into the air behind him. 

Oblivious to the maid's presence, she lunged forward in a desperate attempt to intercept it before it could plummet to the ground and soil its pristine surface.

"Five men! With me."

General Bale commanded, handing the reins of the extra horses to Lord Azril hesitating.

Five skilled warriors saddled immediately alongside General Bale and Lord Azril.

Arriving there, they were graced by a swarm of buzzing flies and an overwhelming stench that assaulted their nostrils, triggering a nauseating sensation that threatened to make them retch.

Lord Azril spat, using his broad sleeves to cover his nose.

"This is a massacre !"

He groaned, muffling and instantly regretting his decision.

"Father"

Princess Lirl called her Father over.

"Huh!"

Lord Azril looked up in surprise.

"Over here."

Princess Lirl's voice, reminiscent of a bird's delicate song, echoed softly from somewhere amidst the ruins at the far end.

"When did you get there? Didn't I.....

Lord Azril's voice trailed off in anger and he smacked his face.

"I know, Father, but I just felt drawn here like there's some sort of spiritual energy or artefacts."

Princess Lirl answered.

"Besides, there happens to be no danger at 

all"

She added, chuckling nervously.

"Then what are you still doing there? Get the hell out of there now!"

Lord Azril yelled angrily almost breaking his vocal cords.

However, desperation and wrinkles are etched all over his face when he realizes that she isn't paying attention to what he's saying.

"Don't worry, you trained me to get myself familiar with situations like this. So I remain unfazed."

Princess Lirl fired back.

General Bale objected by coughing.

"What do you mean, is that a joke?."

Lord Azril said furiously.

"Careful, Princess, you will soil your robes if you go down into that crater. Hold on! Let me help."

Generate Bale said with a mixed expression on his face as he left Lord Azril's side, heading over to her.

" I don't need your help thank you."

Princess Lirl snapped back.

"Oh! Okay".

General Bale came to an abrupt halt, with a complicated expression on his face.

Princess Lirl turns to her Father instead.

"Father, I have found a treasure!"

Princess Lirl boomed excitedly again.

Lord Azril had chosen to remain indifferent, knowing fully well that General Bale may have a soft spot for his daughter. 

Who wouldn't adore his immensely beautiful daughter? 

General Bale, a man in his twenties, young, promising.

If not because he was the one who raised Bale as a kid who grew up into a skilful warrior with immense potential to lead his armies and serve under him, he would have supported him in courting his daughter.

"Today must be our lucky day then. Bale, why are you standing there? Come up here now!"

Lord Azril boomed in humourless laughter, urging him to come along.

General Bale nodded and followed him.

However, when General Bale and Lord Azril arrived at the place where Princess Lirl was, an overbearing silence ensued amongst the three as they continued gaping at the dust-covered body clad in tattered, rusted armour in the crater.

Lord Azril and General Bale exchange glances.

Princess Lirl couldn't be possibly pranking them, could she?

"Oh come on! You must be kidding."

Lord Azril growled, massaging his brows disappointed.

Princess Lirl looked at her Father, knowing fully well that he was going to start criticizing her again.

"Father, let me explain. You know quite well, that my eyes have never...

Lord Azril cuts in impatiently.

" Hell yes! Your eyes have never deceived us, right? Your eyes led us to this expedition, and we've come back with nothing. That's no problem.

And now, you led us here only to discover a rotten body covered in a broken rusten armour as a treasure !? You know what! I'm beginning to think those eyes of yours are fast becoming ordinary...."

Lord Azril barked.

Princess Lirl cowered away from her Father, and her shoulders slumped in sadness.

Tears sting in her eyes, and anger and irritation begin to seethe in her mind.

"Father! You've only criticised my gift when it isn't working in your favour. My intuitions have always been right.

You never see me as your daughter without my gifts, the only time you ever treated me as one is when I use my gift to get you treasures.

" Without my gifted eyes, you would never have amassed this level of riches. So don't start criticising them now because they didn't give you what you need. I wish Mom was here!"

She fired back outrageously at her Father falling on her knees sobbing.

Lord Azril looked at his daughter speechless.

He sighed heavily, walking away.

Embarrassed by the outburst between Father and daughter, General Bale chose to go the opposite direction instead.

"Wait!"

Princess Lirl stopped him amidst her tears.

"What is it,  Princess?"

General Bale asked coldly.

"There's something mysterious about this body buried in ruins, I need your help to bring it body out."

Princess Lirl said wiping her tears.

"Your Father won't agree to something like this, why should I help you?"

General Bale narrowed his gaze at her, crossing his arms over his breastplate.

"I am begging you, please help me out on this."

Princess Lirl pleaded with him.

Although General Bale was willing to help, her giving it a second thought wasn't worth it.

"I refuse."

He whispered closing his eyes and turning his back against her to walk away.

"Bale!."

She called out his name, sniffing back tears.

General Bale froze, struck by the realization that this was the first time she had ever addressed him by his name.

 Her voice was soft, tinged with a pleading tone.

"What?"

 He asked, turning to look at her when he felt a sudden lightness collide against him.

 Princess Lirl?

The same lady who had always been distant from him, now embraced him as though they were lovers.

 

He growled inwardly, amazed at the softness of her slender body as she trembled against him, crying. 

Unlike her, he remained impassive, a wall of steel.

"Ahem"

The five men who had come along with them cleared their throats. Shifting on their horses uncomfortably.

General Bale swallowed hard.

"Princess Lirl, we shouldn't..." he stammered.

"I know Bale, Please!" 

She sniffed, looking into his eyes.

And that was all he needed.

After a moment's contemplation, he agreed, gazing into her dilating eyes.

Together, they returned to the crash site.

 She watched General Bale leapt and soar into the sky, landing inside the crater.

 With great effort, he carried the body from the crater.

"Geez this guy weighs a ton."

He grunted to himself.