Cypriox. But before they arrived, Wendzar had a visitor.

“Is that you, Hyushen?” Wendzar asked when he heard someone approaching.

“No! I am Marguel.”

“Who?” Why did you enter my chamber?”

“I am the son of the former high priest of Cypriox.”

“The priests of Cypriox have no right to have children; that is a violation! In that case, you must be the rumored fruit of the priest’s betrayal, that is…”

“And you are also the king who is greedy for money… aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The king of Thallerion is arriving today. If you help him, everything I know about you will come out, and you won’t be able to stop it.” Marguel left immediately after threatening Wendzar, exiting through another door.

“What does he know about me?”

Another door opened, and Wendzar was surprised, thinking it might be the stranger Marguel returning. However, it was a man with a pale face and a cold gaze.

“Hyushen!” King Wendzar called out, forcing his voice to sound normal. “You’ve returned from the mission I gave you. It seems you were there for a while.”

“Your Majesty, is there a problem?” Hyushen noticed the strange tension in Wendzar’s voice.

“No, none at all. It looks like you have some friends with you?” Wendzar pretended not to have expected Hyushen’s companions. “Why don’t you bring them into my chamber?”

Xerxez entered immediately, removed his hood, and formally greeted the king of Cypriox. Wendzar’s desk was a mess, a sign of the countless mental battles he had faced before their arrival. Ink had spilled over some of the papers, which smelled old.

“King Wendzar!” Xerxez greeted him, looking at his face with a gentle expression.

“Xerxez!” It was a political greeting. “Thallerion has come to visit my country!” Wendzar said. “It is you, indeed!”

“Your Majesty, I know that King Xerxez has something important to tell you. It is an honor for all of Sanctimum Oprys that King Xerxez chose to speak with you,” said Hyushen.

“Let’s sit over there in my small guest area.” King Wendzar pointed and made a slight effort to tidy up the scattered papers. “I apologize for the mess on my desk. It just so happens that this is the time I’m busy; because of Hyushen’s departure, I have no assistant in this difficult situation.” Dust on some papers indicated they had been there for days.

“King Xerxez, would you like something to drink?” Hyushen asked. Xerxez only nodded, indicating he wasn’t thirsty but then asked his companions if they were.

“It seems this is Thallerion’s first visit,” King Wendzar said, sitting on a soft chair that suited the dim but sufficiently lit chamber. The room was cool and blocked out the noise from outside.

“Please, have a seat, King Xerxez,” Hyushen said, offering the chair closest to King Wendzar.

“I know your purpose here is not ordinary, especially since you came secretly,” Wendzar said, looking directly and confidently into Xerxez’s eyes. “Whatever your purpose, I am ready to listen.”

“Do you know anything about a priest who performs forbidden rituals?” Xerxez began. Wendzar and Hyushen were surprised by Xerxez’s opening, certain he had a compelling reason for his question.

“A priest who performs forbidden rituals?” Wendzar’s composure was disturbed, and his body trembled upon hearing those words.

“Are you referring to the Shadow of the Crux?” Hyushen said. Hyushen seemed to have a deeper understanding or was just more blunt in his question, as if he felt no hesitation.

“Is there a priest who rebelled in Cypriox and became obsessed with the power of darkness?” Xerxez’s voice was polished, yet it trembled, especially as the memory of the monster’s appearance came to mind.

“Xerxez, why are you trying to uncover the main enemy of the Crux religion?” Wendzar’s voice became clearer. “And how do you know about this? It is a secret from Cypriox’s entire history.”

“My son is now suffering greatly because of the magic used by the monster, and the monster introduced the priest who created the ritual,” Xerxez sighed heavily, as if grasping at something intangible. “So, I thought that only Cypriox could help me find the source of the magic.”

“In that case, the Shadow of the Crux is publicly sowing chaos,” said Hyushen. Hyushen knew the Triangle sect had something to do with the appearance of these strange phenomena in the Barbarian city due to the rituals the group performed. He himself witnessed them creating magic when he went to the Barbarian city and pretended to be a traveling priest. “That monster, it’s possible it’s related to the ritual invented by the former priest, which is now being managed by the Shadow of the Crux.”

“That news appeared a long time ago. The priest who violated the religious rules was already punished in a quiet way, and the public was silenced from reporting such an event,” said Wendzar. “So, I think only the heir to the ritual is now performing it in secret,” Wendzar said seriously to Xerxez.

“King Wendzar,” Xerxez spoke with all his heart to get the attention of the king of Cypriox. “I, as the king of Thallerion, want you to help me heal my son through the miracle workers of your country.”

King Wendzar sighed. Hyushen also looked at him, waiting for his answer.

“It’s difficult for me to admit this to you, Xerxez, but I cannot help you… what would the other kings say if I acted alone without their permission? It would be like destroying our alliance.”

“But King Wendzar!” Hyushen was shocked by Wendzar’s answer.

“I can’t just take miracle workers without them knowing. And I understand Xerxez’s purpose; that’s why he came to me personally to secretly ask for help,” he continued. “The other kings don’t want to help without the public knowing. And more than anything, they asked for a huge price in return.”

“Isn’t the purpose of Cypriox to restore Thallerion’s good relationship with the Crux religion? If all they care about is a good show for the people, what is the point of being kings of our countries!?” Hyushen’s brow furrowed, and his lips pursed in great disappointment.

“I know what you want to happen, Hyushen. I know that now that Xerxez is here asking for help, it’s a chance to fix their relationship with our religion. It’s not as easy as you think.”

“I understand your personal reasons, King Wendzar,” Xerxez said. “But even if I owe you a debt of gratitude, just help me find a cure for my son.” Xerxez pleaded.

“For the secret sake of Thallerion and Cypriox, I will help, but not in the same way you want it to happen,” King Wendzar said.

“Anything, as long as it can help my son,” Xerxez said.

“Hyushen, as my representative, accompany Xerxez to your ship’s harbor in Fercelle, and you will approach a man with a scar on his forehead. Tell the man to take you to an island called Scarlet Mist Island,” Wendzar said. “On that island, you will meet a man. He is an expert in curses and magic. Please convince that man to help Xerxez.” He sighed. “He is difficult to get along with.”

Hyushen agreed, but in his mind, he was suspicious that something was preventing King Wendzar from helping Thallerion, but even so, Hyushen knew that Wendzar was not the kind of king who would not find a way. Hyushen also wore a cloak so he wouldn’t be recognized by the people, but at this point, he no longer looked like a priest but a missionary with no identifiable country. Hyushen’s cloak was brown, and a pouch of powder was tied to his waist. A small dagger was there for his personal defense. King Wendzar gave Xerxez a sturdy bow for added weaponry for their journey to the island. This indicated that the sea they were about to cross was not easy or safe. Hyushen was given a small book to study the location of Scarlet Mist Island. This is how Hyushen found out that the island was truly covered in fog and that there might be savage animals.

Part 2: The Harbor at Fercelle

Hyushen and Xerxez stood at the ship’s harbor, watching the large ship anchored there, with people moving inside. Bells were ringing in other parts of the area, and people were noisy with their businesses. The sea brought a salty wind and a foul smell from the rust on the ship’s metal rails. A white flag with the emblem of Fercelle was waving at the top of the ship. It was already afternoon, so the sun’s rays were not too hot.

“Sirs, would you like to buy some amulets?” a skinny child who approached them asked. The child was a bit dirty and his clothes were not tidy since they were no longer in Cypriox. “These are strong against evil spirits!” the child said enthusiastically. The stones attached to the small string rattled.

“Amulets?” Hyushen was surprised and quickly folded the book, which he immediately hid in his cloak. He stared seriously at what the child was holding and saw that there were engraved symbols on each stone. They were smooth and rough when he touched them.

“Yes, sir!” the child said. “These are good protection when you sail on the Fercelle sea.”

“Igren, are you interested in those amulets?” Xerxez said, unable to believe it, since he knew Hyushen was religious and wondered why he was interested in things outside the context of the Crux religion. The name Igren was a cover-up for Hyushen’s real name so they wouldn’t be recognized or seen by the people in Fercelle.

“You’re right, Hegoriuz!” Hyushen feigned, but he signaled to Xerxez that he was just playing along with the child. Then he shook his head at the boy. “Child, do you understand the meaning of the engravings on these stones?” Hyushen asked. “We’ll buy some if you can answer their meaning.”

“Really, sir?” the child said, his eyes sparkling and his breath coming out in a happy gasp. “How should I begin…?” he said.

“How much is one of them? I’ll double it if you answer correctly.” The truth was, Hyushen knew nothing about those symbols.

“Okay, sir, you said it, so just prepare 50 silver coins for each necklace. How many will you buy?”

“There are five of us,” Hyushen said. The child smiled.

“Are you serious, Igren?” Xerxez said.

“Of course,” he answered Xerxez. “Go on, we’re in a hurry, child.” He then commanded the child vendor.

“To be honest, my fisherman friend on the Fercelle sea told me about it… He said there’s an island that contains magical magic that cures illnesses, but he said many fishermen get lost when it starts to get foggy in the middle of the sea. Some never return, and others just vanish into thin air,” the child said and sighed. “My friend also said he got lost in the middle of the sea, and luckily someone helped him get back to Fercelle. He was given an amulet, and because of this, he never gets lost even if he’s in the middle of the water at midnight…”

“You’re not answering the meaning of the symbols engraved on these stones,” Hyushen said.

“Sorry, sir!” the child said. “He copied those symbols from the original amulet, and he proved that each symbol has a corresponding force. Fire, this word says: ‘light in the darkness, whoever is in the darkness will tremble’…”

Hyushen just listened to what the child was saying; he indeed knew a lot. He realized that the child’s knowledge and eloquence could surpass his own, even at such a young age. A child like that shouldn’t be living at the harbor.

“Hehe, the payment, sir!” the child said. “I’m sure of my story.” Hyushen had no choice because the child’s story was indeed convincing. He didn’t argue or debate with the child about the matter. He also noticed a man standing ahead with a small boat.

“Here!” Two hundred and fifty silver coins rattled in the child’s hand, who was delighted to see them. Xerxez ordered his soldier to get the necklaces.

“Thank you, sir!” the child said. “Be careful on the sea!”

“Yes,” Hyushen said.

“Study hard,” Xerxez said. The child left, and they noticed his happiness as he walked away. “I think the child just conned you,” Xerxez said jokingly.

“Your Majesty and respected Hyushen, what shall we do with these necklaces?” said Xerxez’s soldier.

“Don’t throw them away. I still have to study their symbols,” Hyushen replied. “Let’s go. I’m sure that’s the man King Wendzar mentioned.”

Hyushen pretended to cough and got the man’s attention. Hyushen looked at the man and saw the scar on his forehead. His hair was thin, and his clothes were suitable for sea activities. And his boat was old and used to sailing.

“The light of the Crux is the way to the path of truth,” Hyushen uttered the line, which the man immediately understood, realizing they were emissaries of King Wendzar of Cypriox.

“To which island does King Wendzar wish to send you?” the man said.

“To Scarlet Mist Island,” Hyushen said.

“In that case, prepare yourselves for a cold and sleepy sea voyage,” the man said. “I am Maladon, by the way, and please don’t use diplomatic conversations during our time together. I hate serious conversations; people who are used to wealth and formality are boring.”

“No problem for us, right, my friend Xerxez?” Hyushen said, his tone different, more “cool” and friendly.

“Of course,” Xerxez said. “I don’t like boring trips either.”

“Good, you understand my point,” Maladon said. He immediately pushed the boat and started humming a familiar tune that fit the mood. Hyushen opened the book again and continued to study. Hyushen saw some symbols in the book and borrowed one of the necklaces, which Maladon noticed.

“Hey! That looks like an amulet!” Maladon said. “Don’t tell me you’re also getting interested in the works of sorcerers?” He laughed sarcastically. “Haha, that child conned you!”

“You know that child?” Xerxez said.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep