Cetas studied the Prince.

Back then, when he was surrounded by a multitude of people, he looked kind and warm—waving his hands and greeting the commonfolk of the Port City Flag.

But now, his kindly nature turned into a cold and calculating look.

Beneath his golden eyes, Cetas knew that the Prince contemplated whether he could trust him and Elishia or not.

The moment of daze finally left Elishia as she raised her flintlock pistol once more, "What is a prince doing here?"

Cetas kept his aim steady, not letting his anxious state distract him.

The prince sighed.

"Same thing as you are doing.."

Elishia scoffed, "Oh? So you’ve come here to pray and ask for blessings then?"

"What a dumb statement, if you were actually going to pray inside the cathedral then why are your weapons drawn towards me?" The Prince shook his head.

Cetas stepped forward and urged Elishia to lower her flintlock pistol, "Elishia, wait."

He lowered the Ivory Flintlock too and asked the prince in a somber tone, "How can we make sure that you’re not our enemy?"

"If I am your foe, then wouldn’t I have attacked you by now?"

"That doesn’t clear your name, you could only be saying this so that we can lower our guards. That’s when you strike." Cetas warned.

The Prince then sighed and lowered his shoulders. In the next second, he lowered his body and appeared right in front of Cetas.

He grabbed the Ivory Flintlock and tossed it to the side.

Cetas flinched at this and his eyes grew even more wary of the Prince.

Now only a few inches closer, the Prince towered over Cetas’ small stature. He looked down at him, giving a frigid aura that can spike the nerves of many.

Within a moment’s notice, Elishia pointed her flintlock at the Prince. However, she was too slow as the Prince already grabbed her weapon without even looking.

Similar to what he did with the Ivory Flintlock, he tossed Elishia’s Flintlock Pistol to the side.

Now that the two of them had been rendered powerless, Cetas could only try and use Sands of History to fight back.

However, before he could even do so, the Prince turned around and walked towards the pews on the left.

Cetas remained wary of the Prince, glaring at him.

As the Prince sat down at the cushioned seat, he leaned back and crossed his arms. Then, he turned his head around and looked at the two.

"See? You are now powerless yet I didn’t attack you. Like I’ve said, I am not your enemy."

"You just did! You disarmed us!" Elishia protested.

The Prince then rested his arms at the back of the pews and opened his palms wide.

"No physical harm done, you’re safe."

The two of them turned sour. They raised suspicions around the Prince but upon seeing his vast speed, they could do nothing else but head towards the directions where their weapons were thrown.

After grabbing her respective guns, Elishia pointed her Flintlock pistol at the Prince and shot.

The bullet treaded through the air, making its way towards Aurus’ head. But before it could hit, he already tilted his head to the side.

Then, he coldly glared at Elishia, "How insolent, you dare make a mockery of the Prince of Helios?!"

Elishia felt terrified.

"I had to make sure!"

"Hmph!" The Prince huffed, "You’re lucky I am not one of my siblings. I’d have your blood painted on these walls if I was. Be grateful for my benevolence."

"How terrifying," Elishia said with a flat tone.

She stored her flintlock pistol back and walked towards him.

Cetas followed behind her but didn’t hide his weapon yet.

The Prince, who had a cold look in his face, stared at the two while he rested on the cushioned seats. Elishia returned his cold gaze but immediately let it go.

She then bowed in a mannered-fashion, unbefitting that of the usually cheerful Elishia.

"I apologize for any troubles my companion and I have caused.. We were simply cautious of the situation, your Highness."

The Prince raised his eyebrow.

"A Heliosian Noble, huh? Rare to see one turn to piracy. Why?"

Still in the same mannered position, Elishia casually said, "None of your business."

The Prince smirked.

Then, he faced Cetas, who still had a careful look.

"And you? Where are you from?"

Cetas was going to open his mouth but Elishia suddenly answered for him, "Like I’ve said, none of your business."

"Hmph, fine."

Elishia looked around at the cathedral, her eyes scanning every detail in the surroundings.

Then, she faced the Prince.

"So, what truly brings you here?"

"Like I’ve said, same thing as you are.."

Cetas stepped in their conversation, "So you’ve come here to investigate if a powerful insect lady has taken control of the cathedral and even the entire Port City itself?"

The Prince’s cold nature suddenly broke, his mouth turning agape, "What?"

Elishia shook her head, bringing her hand to her forehead, "You see, you can’t just assume that we are here for the same reason.."

"No, no, I am here to investigate but what is a powerful insect lady?"

Elishia and the Prince stared at Cetas blankly.

"You see.. That insect lady is-"

"Ah! Wait, wait!" Elishia cut him off, covering Cetas’ mouth, "Let me explain instead."

Cetas looked at Elishia, her eyes panicked as if Cetas was going to say something that they needed to keep secret.

So, she explained the situation to the Prince. Additionally, she introduced the Prophet of Perfection and the various coincidences that have been transpiring in the past day. She also added how they could not remember anything for the past 5 days.

Naturally, she left out the information about the Historian, the Aegir Pirates, and a couple of others.

"..And that’s all we figured out."

"I see.."

Aurus placed his palm on his cheek, tapping slowly with one finger.

"So? What is a low-level Acumen and an Unblemished doing in this ’dangerous situation’"

Elishia’s face went blank, she couldn’t come up with an answer. She can’t just tell the Prince that they were here because Cetas was impulsive.

"I have a question.." Cetas spoke, garnering the gaze of both Elishia and the Prince.

"Ask away, little one."

"Prince Aurus.. Were you perhaps in the cathedral exactly 5 days ago?"

"Oh? And if I was?"

Cetas’ tone grew serious, "Please don’t joke around at this time."

"Apologies, little one. But.."

Aurus’ lips curled up.

"I believe you already know the answer. After all, those eyes of yours. They’re not just of innocence, I know that you’re hiding something. The very first time that I saw you in that crowd, I knew that you were someone special."

He then waved his hand.

"So go on, tell me the answer to your own question."

Elishia looked at Cetas, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Cetas raised his arm and let out a deep breath. He combed his sea-like blue hair with his fingers.

"Alright.. Indeed, you were at this cathedral. But you weren’t inside, praying like the other commonfolk. I didn’t see anyone inside when we entered. Moreover, if you didn’t go to the cathedral five days ago, why would you even come here today?"

"Exactly, wasn’t that hard to figure out.." The Prince scoffed.

"Nevertheless, I have another question for you."

The Prince raised his eyebrows, curious.

"Before we were on the way to the cathedral, we saw you in that crowd, waving and greeting the citizens of Flag. However, if you were going in the same direction, then how come we never saw you or any signs of you?"

"That’s simple." The Prince’s cold gaze permeated the air between him and Cetas.

"I never left the cathedral in the first place.."

"What?" Elishia questioned, "But that doesn’t make any sense.. We saw you and you saw us! You even addressed it earlier on!"

"Little lady, shouldn’t this be common sense to you by now?"

He looked at Cetas, then to the Ivory Flintlock.

"Since you are both Pathbearers, it should already be commonplace that various unique abilities can be procured from Zeal. That.. ’me’ or rather, my double.. is my very own Unique Zeal."

Elishia’s eyes turned wide in terror, "But that’s.. that’s forbidden Zeal! Anyone capable of manipulating flesh and blood is considered an enemy of Zealots and the Laity!"

The Prince’s gaze turned even colder.

Elishia slowly reached out to her flintlock pistol and held it firmly.

"A follower of the Laity and a Prince of Helios wouldn’t dare violate such rules!"

"How dare you accuse me of blasphemy? We wouldn’t dare to even touch such a treacherous act!"

Cetas’ eyes twitched.

We?

Cetas pointed his weapon towards the Prince, and so did Elishia too.

By now they realized that their weapons were probably useless, however, they remained resolute.

Another thing that didn’t make sense to Cetas is the Prince’s abilities.

If he were several ranks of strength ahead of Cetas and Elishia, say a Mid to High Level Acumen, it still wouldn’t make sense how the Prince could gain imperceptible speed and the ability to create a clone out of themselves.

The investment of Flourish simply wouldn’t be enough!

Even Skadi didn’t seem as fast as the Prince!

So why?

Cetas’ mind raced, his thoughts flooding his brain like it always did before.

There was only one possibility in this matter.

The Prince is significantly stronger than Skadi, reaching the rank of Sage—a Pathfinder rank—or even higher!

But.. something bugged Cetas’ mind.

He was missing something..

A Prince, based on the knowledge that the Historian gave him, is a knightly figure that held the greatest of honor.

Even a benevolent and kindly Prince would not let themselves be disrespected.

Even more so, by pirates!

Why was this Prince so casual with Elishia and Cetas? 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Perhaps that was his true personality but still, questions arose regarding why he would act so casually around Cetas and Elishia.

They were complete strangers!

Unless, they’ve already met before..

A Prince wouldn’t let a bunch of pirates investigate what he’d already been investigating prior. Additionally, his normal course would be to turn them back and go to safety.

After all, Cetas and Elishia were only kids!

This.. Prince.. No, this individual. Could it be?!

Before Cetas could pry any further, the Prince was already upon him, aiming his hands towards his head.

However, an illusory force stopped his pristine smooth hands from coming into contact with Cetas.

Cetas reacted too late, he fell back on his rear as he gazed at the large Prince above him.

Elishia, too, seemed shocked—frozen in place as she pointed her weapon at him.

Then, like wax, the Prince’s face drooped down to the floor. His golden hair changing to a lightless black that seemed to suck the little light in the cathedral.

"Aw.. We slipped." The ’Prince’ said, his voice slowly turning feminine.

"Too bad.. We were willing to strike a partnership with you.. Alas, it’s such a shame.."

The Prince’s grand tunic turned into a dark regal dress. Her face switched into something that exceeds humanity’s beauty standards.

Her eyes were pitch-black, directed straight at Cetas.

Suddenly, moths flew from the walls of the cathedral, their unified fluttering wings making a pattern of eerie noises.

"You.. The lady from before!"

"T-that’s her?!" Elishia looked shocked.

Suddenly, the eyes of both Cetas and Elishia cried out blood. Elishia’s knees weakened upon the sight of the beautiful lady in front of them.

"A pity. You shouldn’t pry too much into knowledge, little one.." The beautiful woman said, Her voice tempting and seductive.

She leaned down and reached Her fingers to Cetas’ head. However, an illusory barrier stopped Her once again.

Her lips curled upward, turning ear-to-ear.

"Cato.. You’re still meddling with us.."

She looked up as if addressing the Historian directly.

"No matter.. We have all the time that we need.."

She walked towards the altar, her steps silent as if She had never existed before.

Then, the flying moths headed towards Elishia and Cetas. They covered the two one by one.

Cetas and Elishia tried to struggle from this, their voices erupting in struggle as they did.

But an unknown pressure kept them from moving or even raising their weapons.

Seconds after seconds passed and their voices became suppressed.

Inside the cathedral, darkness permeated the light seeping out from the crevices outside.

It was silent, so silent that one can almost hear their blood vessels transporting blood.

As if nothing had existed inside.

Nothing.

No one.