The Hacienda Pce. The continent''s highest and biggest infrastructure, which nearlypletely encircled the city of Hacien. It featured majestic Romanesque architectural architecture with threeyers of proud towering walls encircling it. Two lone persons could be observed speaking at each other in the midst of this massive fortress.


    "This lowly subject gives his greetings to the Empire''s Sun, Your Majesty, Eliazar Krazeri."


    "Emm." Emperor Eliazar Krazeri, perched on the empire''s highest throne, gazed at the young man with golden blond hair and sky blue eyes who was now bowing at him. The emperor''s entire presence screamed with power and respect. And while his countenance might intimidate anybody, the young man in front of him remained undisturbed.


    "So how is my son?" The Emperor asked. When he went back to the city, he could feel that something was amiss.


    Elred nced up, his eyes a little unsure about the news he had for the emperor. "Your Majesty, your son is doing his usual things, but a week ago..."


    "A week ago?"


    Elred stopped himself from releasing a deep sigh. "He denounced his engagement to the Marina''s youngestdy."


    "I see..." The Emperor kept his gaze fixed on Elred. "That''s a shame since I thought I''d finally get an opportunity to grab the control of the Marina Household." Though the emperor said that, his face remained cid. "Did Duke Marina do anything?"


    "On that, your Majesty..." Elred paused for a while. "His highness had condemned the Marina''s youngestdy to be banished in the empire and never return, and he had even stationed the Royal Knights to the duchy so she would have no opportunity of going there."


    "Ah..." As if suddenly realizing what Elred just said. "You say what?!" said Emperor Eliazar Krazeri as he rose on his throne. His face was hardening, and molten rage was coursing through him.


    "Yes. And he signed this with the Royal Seal you gave him." Elred said, adding more salt to the wound that his news caused.


    "Hah," the Emperor returned to his throne. "Was it due to the allegations that she was bullying the Saintess?" he inquired, managing to calm himself.


    "I believe that''s the case," Elred stated tly. "And his highness has this list of his proof of all the crimesmitted by the youngdy of Marina."


    Emperor Eliazar grasped the throne''s armrest with both hands. "I just finished all those diplomatic expenditures, and now this..." he drummed his fingers on the seat. "To offend the Marina Duchy to this extend. It appears I became too lenient with that foolish son of mine."


    A brief silence enveloped the room.


    "Elred, starting today, I''ll designate someone else to monitor the saintess and my son; your new mission now is to bring back the youngdy of Marina to our empire at whatever cost. Only return after you got her back." Emperor Eliazar finally stated after a period of contemtion.


    "As you wish, Your Majesty," Elred said, bowing with his right hand to his heart.


    "You are dismissed."


    "Ah, Elred. One more thing..." The Emperor''s piercing golden eyes bore right into his, making him feel threatened. Elred was fully aware of what the Emperor''s next remarks may be.


    When the Emperor called Elred again, he halted. "Always remember to keep your ce."


    There was a brief moment of stillness before Elred spoke. "I''m fully aware, Your Majesty. Have a pleasant day," Elred said as he bowed down one more to finally leave the Emperor.


    When Elred finally exited the Hacien Pce''s courtroom. Outside the room, he came face to face with a young guy with beautiful green hair and frozen golden eyes.


    ''The ck Knight, he was also summoned here now?'' Elred just gave a short bow before deciding to walk ahead but then...


    "White Knight, if you''re going to seek for her, go to Aravan," Oliver advised Elred. "Don''t wonder how I knew," he said, taking a step ahead of him. The guards entered the chamber after informing the Emperor of Oliver''s presence.


    Elred was left there with his thoughts. ''Aravan.''


    (A/N: The names they were calling at each other were the name of chess pieces.'')


    ---???---


    A weekter...


    "Everyone! Hurry! The ship to Aravan is now departing!" One of the merchants shouted. With his two henchmen carryingrge sacks, they hurried their way to the huge ship with a symbol of a two-colored g of white and gold on its every sail.


    Many other merchants, as well as other people, were rushing to get on the ship at the same time as him, making it impossible for him to catch up with them. Since this was only the time of the day a ship of Aravan stopped at the shores of Taleba.


    Donned with a grey cloak, Elred made his way up to the ship and gave his ticket to one of the sailors. When he was on board he went to one of the corners in the deck and took a seat there. Though the sky was free of dark clouds, there were mild waves hitting the ship due to strong wind. The ship continued to rock and forth along with the waves.


    "Raise the anchors! We are now departing!" One of the sailors started to shout.


    The ship started to move away from the shore.


    To reach the country of Aravan, it would take fourteen hours to reach there. And it had been two hours since they departed from Taleba.


    Elred closed his eyes and became entirely absorbed in his thoughts. ''Why does the emperor still require the Marina Lady''s return when his son has already degraded her to this extent?'' ''An image from the Academy''s Foundation Ball shed across his thoughts. "We already had the Saintess; what more does the emperor want from her? Is he really so infatuated to have the Marina Duchy in his hands? Hah."


    Elred simply restrained augh for himself. "However, that man''s greed has no boundaries," he said, pulling out a chain. On itsce was a single clear bead containing a single reddish leaf inside. "It''s no longer my concern; I''ll aplish this task as quickly as possible and return home."


    "Look!"


    "What in the world is that?"


    Elred grew aware of the ruckus on the ship. When he opened his eyes, he spotted arge crowd on one side of the ship. People began yelling and panicked as he rose up to see what they were looking at.


    "We''re going to crash!" the crowd eximed, as several of them jumped into the ocean. The sailors stationed on the ship prepared their own guns and canons to protect the ship from the imminent disaster. A ship was approaching them at a very high speed. If both the ship collide it would truly cause a great ident.


    Elred nced at the ce where all the people had been before. A ship, moving at a fast pace was heading in their direction. "This is not good. I couldn''t let this ship get crashed."


    He nced around and saw that the sailors were doing their best to rotate the ship from the st by pulling the sails in a different direction. Eldred insisted the ship wouldn''t break down no matter what.''If they can''t make away then I will make a way'' he thought.


    ''They are not going to make it!'' abruptly Eldred altered his perspective when he saw the condition of the circumstance. A violet hue started to glow in Elred''s hand. But then as he was going to strike, the ship that was heading to them didn''t crash into them. However, it flew over them. With his quick and sharp vision, he saw a lone man with bandages covering him at the top of the mast of the boat. He controlled the wind to carry the ship and itnded on the opposite side of them.


    Then it just went ahead without stopping at anything. Elred gazed at the ship that was moving away quickly from them. ''To have that precise control of the wind...''


    ''But it seems he was running away from something?''


    After just half an hour, just when everyone believed everything was back to normal, they were startled once more by the sight of a massive sea monster rushing straight for the ship at a pace simr to that of thest ship.


    All of the sailors readied their weapons in preparation for the approaching sea monster. As the sea monster moved closer to them, the outline of its body became more evident to them.


    It was a huge ck whale. However, their line of sight caught something strange. A ship was tied above the whale?!


    "Open fire!" Someone shouted and the canons from the ship began shooting one after another. Even the sailors were now firing their guns and rifles. But it seemed to have no effect on the approaching sea monster. It was now inching closer to them, as the huge ck whale move nearer to their location the wave be to make a huge wave that made their boat move sideways.


    "We will crash!" The sailors began shouting enough to let everybody know. And the people who just climbed up the ship jumped once again due to fear.


    To everyone''s astonishment, the same thing happened from the ship that had arrived before it. Instead of crashing, it jumped over them.


    Upon seeing this marine creature, Elred, who had be a mere spectator the entire time, was taken aback. His sky-blue eyes reflected the main figure of his mission.


    He couldn''t be mistaken even if she was at a far distance. People who had that ocean dark blue hair fluttering in the air could only belong to a few individuals. Especially to someone like her...


    "How lucky for me," a grin escape from Elred''s face.