The Devil's On Me

008. Traitor take action

            Edgar washed his face with river water, putting his sword beside his feet by making a boulder as a sword backrest. He sighed for a moment, feeling refreshed after exhaustion down the path trying to find Prince Yatara's whereabouts.

Edgar often visited this Taho River together with the prince, either because they deliberately came to play there. Or just to hide from the chasing royal army and search for the whereabouts of the two of them.

He was self-inflicted for not being able to keep his promise to the prince not to betray and leave the Crown Prince alone.

A few weeks ago, Edgar was forced to return to his house without first talking to Yatara. It does not explain why he chose to return to his village instead of accompanying Yatara to meet King Samuel who was heavily guarded by royal troops.

So, Yatara had to swallow the bitterness of his fruitless desire. Because afterwards, the royal army under Virga's control accused Yatara of treason and did something against King Samuel—Yatara's biological father.

King Samuel now has a strange disease that is difficult to cure, said one of the healers who caused it was the presence of a foreign power in Eternal Ice. A force that can slowly destroy the kingdom of Eternal Ice that has been painstakingly built by the previous kings.

The healer said that all the misfortunes that happened to the king and the people were due to the actions of the fearful power that came from -- Yatara.

Virga quickly seeks an opportunity to punish and exterminate Yatara. So that there is no longer a real heir to the throne.

That way, he will get the opportunity to become the next king of Eternal Ice. Surely the plan was unknown to King Samuel who was lying sick, and for days unconscious.

"Tsk, I should be able to read the situation when Virga told me to go back to the village," the young man lamented his actions. "So I have to lose the prince for the umpteenth time. I don't know where I have to look for it now, which is obviously... the prince is not in the palace." He continued muttering to himself as he looked at the reflection of himself on the clear river water.

Edgar again washed his face repeatedly hoping that his guilt collapsed with dust sticking to his handsome face.

He turned his head in shock when he felt the presence of someone behind him, a reflex he grabbed his sword and pointed at the petite figure who was now looking at him in fear.

Edgar came to his senses, he immediately retracted his sword when he knew that in front of him was just a child.

"Brother Edgar, there is a strange person who came to visit Aidan and Anna's house." Said the child taking a faint sip. "That guy was wearing weird clothes and also carried something big behind his back," he said making Edgar raise his eyebrows high.

"So where is he now?"

"Still inside Aidan and Anna's house, haven't come out since. The door of their house was also not opened as usual, and there was something strange smell from inside Aidan's house." Obviously the little boy again made Edgar harden his jaw.

"Well, you go first. I'll catch up soon," Edgar said shaking hands telling the boys to leave immediately.

A few minutes after the child disappeared from his sight, Edgar immediately rushed to take a shortcut. Running as fast as lightning made her long silver hair twist with the gust of wind.

Edgar, too, reached the village of Haba. The village where the commoners are like himself. The young man stepped slowly, sharpening his gaze as he approached Aidan and Anna's house. Vaguely, he could hear the voice of a man in there making him directly break the door with his arm. Then pointed his sword at the neck of the young man who was now widening his eyes in shock looking at him in shock.

Edgar frowned feeling familiar with the figure beside the door. He also sees a figure that he usually sees when hiding with Yatara in the human world. By opening the door of a secret portal that takes them all the way to a world where the greedy people are located.

"You... Why is it here? How could it be... humans are in this place?" Edgar asked still not pulling out his sharp sword.

Aidan and Anna wanted to open their mouths to explain, but Edgar's sharp gaze made the two little ones couldn't help but pursed their lips tightly.

"Quickly explain, before this sword slices your neck." Edgar's threat again suppressed his sentence.

"Can't help but... you put away your sword first, how can I explain that swo—"

"I don't want to hear your nonsense, quickly explain!" Cut Edgar by hardening the jaw, not giving the young man a gap to breathe.

"I... Theodoric, I am indeed from the human world." Obviously the young man clicked faintly, "I also actually don't want to come to this kind of place. But, it all got worse because Yatara's sword was trapped in my body." Hearing Theodoric's strange-sounding narration in his ears, Edgar suddenly drew his sword and then put it back into the scabbard.

"You are familiar with Prince Yatara?"

Theodoric suddenly let out a rough screech, inexplicably suddenly emotional to hear the name Yatara called the prince's appendage.

"Know, it is the person you call the prince who has forced me to come to this place. To the point of having to risk his life, getting here instead of being welcomed because he was willing to help Yatara... instead of being threatened and willing to be killed." Says Theodoric didn't think well.

Edgar still completely disbelieved what the young man had just said. The figure in front of him was dressed in modern clothes— Theodoric his name -- the most chatty human being Edgar had ever met.

"How can you get to know the prince?"

Theodoric clicked faintly, stepping out pulling on his heavy backpack then putting it on quickly. "Can't you discuss it in front of the children, what you did just now... has scared them." Upset Theodoric stepped first, though took the time to turn to Aidan and Anna to say goodbye.

Edgar sharpened his gaze, scourging Theodoric who stepped in the lead without looking back at Edgar. Busy shuddering by clutching his neck the mark of Edgar's sword that almost hurt him.

After walking the streets for about twenty minutes and followed by the bewildered gazes of the village folks. Finally, the two young men reached the Taho River, Theodoric immediately ducked and washed his face in the clear water. His tiredness just disappeared when the cool cold water touched his face.

"I didn't know exactly what your relationship with Yatara was, until you were seen to be emotional and almost killed me just now." Theodoric said standing up, his black hair still half wet from the river water. "But, it would be nice if you asked carefully first. It's not to point a sword at someone who is willing to help that prince of yours." Theodoric satirized with a faint squeal, rubbing the water marks that were still on his chin split in half.

"There is no such thing as asking a stranger who casually broke into the kingdom of Eternal Ice, even sneaked into the house of one of the residents." Edgar retorted still cold.

"Tsk, it turns out that the people in this kingdom are equally annoying. If it weren't for my own survival, I wouldn't be possible to take such a big risk." Theodoric growl grumbled himself.

"So, what is your relationship with Prince Yatara?" Edgar asked again still not stopping.

"You know right, Yatara has a flame sword?"

Edgar nodded affirmatively. "I accidentally found that sword of his while on the way home." Theodoric's story tried to be patient, because the expression of the tall figure in front of him was completely unfriendly—like an executioner alone.

"Out of curiosity I picked up, because it was strange to see a sword among the piles of dry leaves on the side of the road." Theodoric said thrashingly, fixing his backpack behind his back for a moment.

"I don't know what happened, the sword seeped into my hand and turned into a small beam that instantly vanished into my body. Until my body was thrown firmly into the air and slammed violently into the streets, after which I don't remember... because I fainted." Thedoric said explaining at length that Edgar was silent for a while, "and I don't know if there's an owner who's trapped into my body." The young man continued to be tired himself.

"It is said that his name is Yatara, a crown prince of the kingdom of Eternal Ice." Edgar blinked his eyes feeling strange about what happened. "After that sword and also Yatara entered my body, there were some strange things that happened to my body." Theodoric said seriously, he lifted his hoodie slowly revealing his abs making Edgar's eyebrows rise high. "I've come to have this, something that makes men even sexier."

Edgar closed his eyes for a moment, not understanding what the figure in front of him had just said.

"Isn't all men used to having that, huh?"

Theodoric gawked incredulously, "maybe people here are, but in the world I... not all of them have." Edgar nodded his head just understanding.

"Besides, is there any other strange thing going on?"

Thedoric was silent for a while, then said yes.

"My body has become lighter, stronger than usual. In fact, to the point of making the door of my room collapse and split into two. Besides, I can beat the bikers who used to ride on the streets." Theodoric's story is passionate. "It's not just that, there is a power like a blaze coming out of my palm."

Edgar suddenly rounded his eyes in shock at the sound of Theodoric's narration that he hadn't imagined at all before.

"And also, the moment before deciding to come here... It was Yatara who told me to open the portal door just now. Yes, indeed it is the truth... I didn't expect it myself." The word Theodoric explained at length.

"You said... It was Prince Yatara who explained everything to you. Isn't it, the Prince is trapped in your body?"

"That's right, he can still take me to talk and chat. Until I can control my body casually,"

"So what, now why can't the Prince speak like you said?"

"Don't know, obviously he said... He wants to burn my body. Because the temperature here is not the same as the temperature in the place where I am."

Edgar nodded his head in understanding now, "it means that Prince Yatara has already sacrificed himself for you."

"For me?" Theodoric asked in confusion.

"For a while the Prince will not appear as usual." Obviously Edgar now exhales faintly, "he deliberately exerted his strength to keep your body accustomed to the cold temperature in Eternal Ice. Otherwise, you're just going to be an ice bar when you set foot here." Edgar continued to explain making Theodoric nod his head in understanding, as well as feeling guilty as well.

"He said I had to see someone who could help me and Yatara so that I could go back to normal. I've wanted to go back to my world, it's too scary here it seems," said the young man turning for a moment to Edgar.

"Get ready, we still have a long way to go. We will meet Queen Shaniell to help us find someone who can get Prince Yatara out of your body," Edgar said standing firmly now, looking at the darkening sky.

"We're leaving now?"

Edgar nodded his head justifying, "hm, there's no time to be in trouble. As the kingdom is now on the verge of collapse, Virga has already begun to execute his plans. So, Prince Yatara should be back soon." Edgar said by sharpening his gaze.

"Virga... who?"

Edgar turned momentarily to Theo, "he was his cousin Prince Yatara, but his ambition and greed made Virga do everything possible to become the next heir to the royal throne."

Theodoric scratched his cheek at a glance, "don't you guys have a king who is still alive? Why need another heir? Is the king that old?"

Edgar shook his head quickly, "his majesty King Samuel is now very ill. The king suffered from a strange disease that could not be cured until now, they all said this disease existed because of the actions of Prince Yatara." Edgar said hardening the jaws strongly.

"Prince Yatara has always had to live a hard life, exiled from the royal court because he is different from the people in the kingdom."

"Different?"

"Hm, the fire eyeballs belonging to Prince Yatara are different from the eye beads belonging to the natives of Eternal Ice. We're all synonymous with ice elements and silver hair with a power that can make around freeze." Edgar's pause for a moment, "inversely proportional to Prince Yatara, as the prince pulled out his two flame swords. All the surrounding temperatures became hot, the frozen places slowly melted and disintegrated. Therefore, people hate the prince." Edgar continued to tell everything to Theodoric who now seemed shocked to hear the heartbreaking story about Yatara.

"Therefore... Yatara escaped into the human world?"

"That's right,"

Theodoric sighed for a moment, inexplicably feeling more and more into the troubles of Yatara and his kingdom. He felt that he had to take responsibility, and did something for Yatara as well as his kingdom.

***

A gust of cold wind gently hit the leaves of the trees that were still holding on to the branches. The trunks of the tree move faintly, shedding the dried leaves of the tree.

The dried leaves were blown floating in the air, flying down the air until they lost and touched the tall tower that was now shrouded in snow around it. A tower whose pillars are high with rancing tips made of eternal ice mixed with royal flower powder. What makes the royal palace will shine beautifully even without the light of lights.

The outside of the palace, there is a high gate, in the courtyard there is a fountain that still exists despite the cold temperature. On the side, there is a military barracks where the royal army is located, and also some horses preparing in case a war occurs.

Unlike the outside, inside the palace, it is undeniable that everyone who sees will fall in love with its beauty. There is a living room located beside the altar, there is a room there that is indeed exclusively for royal guests.

There is also a royal room which is used for meetings of kings and royal members during certain moments. The other is the throne room, this room is the center of the palace. Above it was a lamp hanging 48 feet high that hung from the ceiling. It is shaped like a 60-foot pagoda and is supported by concrete poles surrounded by ice depicting perennial flowers typical of the Eternal ice kingdom.

Last but not least is the king's private room, where Virga currently stands.

The young man pulled both corners of his lips smiling faintly at the sight of the king sleeping unsettled with the sweat that appeared on his temples. Some parts of his body seemed to have blistered burns and did not dry out until now.

Surprisingly, the burn is like a bite mark of people, even though no one will dare to touch the king, not even the tip of the fingernail. Otherwise, they would have received the death penalty of being hung headlessly in front of their homes.

"How is your majesty the king?" Virga asked a healer who was now ducking his head in fear.

"Until now there has been no development, master. The wound also has no signs of drying up, I can't carelessly give him medicine because it can threaten the safety of his majesty the king." Obviously the healer was still with his head down.

Virga clucked faintly, standing next to the healer who looked trembling at the sight of Virga's cloak now touching his left leg.

"Do anything for the king to get better soon, otherwise... you will I slaughter in front of your family." The threat of the handsome-faced figure made the healer nod his head quickly.

"O-okay, master."

Virga, too, pulled up one of the chairs and sat down on the side of the king's bed. The young man grabbed one of King Samuel's hands, then patted it lightly.

"Your Majesty— ah, no... Uncle, now you can rest in peace. The kingdom and the palace just entrust it to me." He said muttering vaguely, smiling slightly looking at King Samuel who was slowly opening his eyes.

"Don't expect Yatara to be your successor, there is me here. You don't have to look for Yatara anymore,"

"What... you mean, Virga?"

Virga shook her head slowly, sharpened her gaze then stuck out a hand gripping the rough king's face.

"Uncle shouldn't stare at me like that, uncle's task is only one now." He paused by reaching for one of the glasses beside the bed, "uncle just needs to sleep a little longer, if necessary, don't get up again." Virga continued while pouring a drink into the king's mouth, making King Samuel choke but still forced to drink the strange liquid given by Virga.

Slowly King Samuel's body weakened, both hands suddenly stiffened with his eye beads focused on one point.

Virga nodded hIS head happily, finally able to continue hIS plan that he had compiled so far. Plan to become the king of Eternal Ice and make new changes for all the people of Eternal Ice.

The young man turned his head, called one of the royal members and told about something.

"Gather all the royal members, tomorrow... We have to do the handover ceremony. My uncle ... has already passed his throne to me, because his body... can't feel anything else." Virga explained with his somber expression.

"What about Prince Yatara?" The figure asked making Virga harden his jaw.

"Yatara is now no longer the Crown Prince but a betrayer, deploy some troops to search for his whereabouts now. After that, kill Yatara in that place too, if anyone tries to help... consider them all to be royal betrayers." Virga said by sharpening his gaze, momentarily turning to King Samuel who was now asleep with his eyes open.