After a few moments, the guard returned with Draven. He had been practicing the blade forms he learned from Silas, and by now he was already proficient in them. His Nine Blade of Life and Nine Blade of Death had become so proficient that he could easily kill anyone ten levels above himself easily...
Draven walked alongside the guard. He was confused why the principal had asked for him. He came to the door and announced his presence. "May I come in?"
Principal Darius said unhurriedly, "Come in, Draven."
Draven entered the room and saw an old man about as old as the principal. His face was clean, with no mustache or beard, but his long gray hair could be seen clearly. He was wearing a priest's uniform, holding a staff in his hand, and wearing a high priest's cap on his head.
He immediately looked at Draven, then stood up from his chair....
Then the priest came toward Draven and suddenly grabbed both his shoulders. Darius also rose from his seat to stop him, but the High Priest kept his eyes on Draven and said, "Did you see her! Did you meet my goddess?"
Draven frowned. "What are you talking about? Who is your goddess? Who are you?"
High Priest Rokan was almost fanatic. It was a huge commotion for their Holy Kingdom when, suddenly, their goddess announced a dream she had bestowed upon someone, and she recognized him as the only person who could solve the problems of their church.
Rokan said frantically, "Did you see my goddess Luminus?"
Darius froze in place. In this world every human respects Luminus. She was the one who protected humanity for countless years on this planet... and whenever demons tried to invade the human race, the Luminus Church took action themselves. Even the Emperor gave them land to erect a kingdom, known as the Holy Kingdom. The Holy Kingdom is outside the jurisdiction of the Luminus Imperium, and the Emperor knows deep in his heart that the Holy Kingdom is protected by the goddess Luminus. So no Emperor has ever tried to attack that kingdom. And Luminus became the sole religion of the whole Imperium.
A god is a being no human could fight. Only a god could fight a god. And they all knew it.
Draven's frown deepened. He was about to tell the man to stop. "If you are here to ask these stupid questions then let me leave... I didn't see your goddess or anyone..."
Draven removed the hands from his shoulders and tried to leave the room, giving a simple nod to the principal.
From behind him, the High Priest said again, "Did you not see a beautiful girl wearing all white, with long black hair, in your dreams?"
Draven froze. He remembered that nightmare he had that night, and even a few days ago.
He turned back and asked, "What did you say?"
The High Priest repeated the details, and the more Draven heard, the more confused he became. It was the same terrifying girl the High Priest was describing now.
He said, still confused, "You are telling me she is your goddess Luminus?"
The High Priest regained his composure. His face lit up immediately. "So you really saw her!"
Principal Darius immediately came to Draven and grabbed his hand. "Draven! Tell me seriously, did you see her in your dreams?"
Draven thought about it, then nodded. "If what this person is saying is true, then she should be the goddess Luminus."
But then he frowned again. "But if she is really the goddess Luminus, then why did she contact me? I'm not even her follower."
The High Priest laughed out loud. "Hahahaha! I found him... I found him..."
Everyone looked at him for an answer, and Rokan continued, "Just a day ago the Pope received an oracle from the goddess Luminus. She said to find His Highness Draven. Only he can solve the problem we are facing right now!"
Draven and Darius both frowned together. "Problem? What problem are you talking about?"
The High Priest sighed. "The demons have started attacking the borders of the Luminus Imperium using those black-clothed people again... We did our best, but with our power we can't stop them completely. Our main forces are still away on missions of our own... and at this time, the Valerius family withdrew their troops from the borders. We tried to contact them, but they refused to see any of our members from the church..."
Darius frowned instantly. "Emperor Caelum was the one who made this happen. Why don't you go ask him to beg forgiveness from the Valerius Archduchy... or is the great Luminus Church afraid of the Emperor?"
The High Priest's face immediately darkened. "We already talked to him, but he wants the three ancient families to submit to him... but—"
Draven cut in this time. "But those ancient families won't submit to anyone, right? What do you think of yourself? Just because you want them to send their troops to the border, they'll send them?"
The High Priest shook his head. "I don't know, Your Highness... but the goddess said if anyone can move those three families, it is only you..."
Draven frowned. "I can't do it. Tell that to your goddess... and I don't even know these three families. They are like stars to me, a commoner..."
At that moment the whole room turned golden in an instant, and a command came through the High Priest. The High Priest stood frozen as if possessed. It was a technique of the goddess. Using this technique she could talk directly with people.
It was the same girl's voice Draven had heard many times in his dreams. "Draven! Please help me. If the Valerius family doesn't send help soon, the Imperium is going to be infiltrated by demons... and then, the dream will come true..."
Draven froze in place. "You... you are lying..."
The voice said again, "No! I'm telling you the truth... only you can do it... please help us, at least go there and ask them once..."
Draven froze when he remembered that devastating moment, and a thought suddenly hit him... Silas. What would happen to him if those monsters invaded human territory soon? He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists hard. "I'll do it this time... but if they refuse to help, I can't do anything about it..."
The voice sighed, then let out a gentle chuckle. "They'll definitely agree if you go there..."
And the golden light vanished, and everything became normal again. When she came, everything froze — even the Principal froze in place, and the High Priest too... only the High Priest knew he had just been possessed by the goddess.
He asked worriedly, "Your Highness Draven! Can you help us just this one time?"
Draven nodded his head. "I already told your goddess I'll help you this time..."
Darius was confused, but after hearing
everything from the High Priest, he understood.
High Priest Rokan left the room a few minutes later after giving Draven the real address of the Valerius castle. The Valerius castle can't be seen by just anyone except those who live in the nearest city or people with the exact location... it is covered by a terrifying magic.
Darius was already sitting in his chair again, while Draven sat opposite him. He sighed then said to Draven, "Draven! Why did you choose to go there?"
Draven shook his head and said, "I have my reasons, Principal. Silas ,he is my boyfriend. I can't watch him get into trouble if those demons invade human territory..."
Darius's blood turned cold at that name. He already knew from the Vice Principal who Silas really was... his hand shook in fear. "What! What did you just say..." Just saying this, he stood up from his seat.
Draven got more confused by the Principal's reaction. "I said, I can't see Silas..."
Darius shook his head. "No, no! What did you say? What is your relationship with him?"
Draven frowned but said it straight, "Silas is my boyfriend."
Darius thumped back into his chair. "Now I know why those people from the Luminus Church wanted to send you there... Draven, think it through... please don't go there..."
Draven shook his head. "I already promised them I would go. I'll go there just this one time..."
Darius shook his head, worry showing on his face. "Draven! You don't know what I'm talking about... the Valerius family is not simple... even I don't think Silas would want you to go there."
Draven's face turned grim. "What do you mean by that, Principal? Why would Silas..."
Darius shook his head. "I can't reveal anything to you, Draven. But as someone who has known you for many years, and as I see you as my son... please don't go there..."
Draven said again, "It's not possible, Principal. I need to go this time..." He stood up from his seat and left the room, saying his last words, "I'm doing it for Silas only..."
After he left, Darius murmured, "You fool! He doesn't need your protection at all, he is the sole ruler of the Valerius family now... who are you trying to protect?"
He sighed and looked out the window.
Draven went to his apartment, then packed his things into his space pouch and informed his friends.
They all came to the academy's gate to say goodbye.
Kael said, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Be careful, Draven! I once met Archduke Cassian himself. He is a terrifying being... don't show any disrespect to him..."
Theon and Jacob also nodded their heads. Although they are commoners, they are still from a barony under the Valerius Archduchy, so they know how terrifying that family is.
Just then a low chuckle broke the silence. Everyone looked at Rhys, who was standing beside Kael. He said, "Don't worry, Kael! Your friend is going to be okay... he's going to get surprised if he goes there..."
Kael and Draven both frowned instantly. Draven even asked, "What do you mean?"
Rhys shook his head. "If I tell you right now, how would it be a surprise..."
Theon and Jacob looked at each other and felt like cursing Rhys in their heads. While Kael was confused and wanted to ask his boyfriend, Rhys didn't say anything more.
At last Draven left. Rhys commented, "Don't stay there for too long, return to the academy soon..." He chuckled again while saying that.
Draven didn't take his words seriously. He just started walking toward the distance...
After Draven left, the other three cornered Rhys for an answer. Kael even tried his best puppy eyes on his boyfriend, but none of them could get anything out of him.
He just grinned, watching the distant figure of Draven blur into the road, and said slowly,
"He's not coming back soon. You'll understand when he returns to the academy... until then, wait."