The Princess And The Lord

"Thea" a voice suddenly broke their warmed moment.

Cavio was stunned by the sudden arrival of a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere, the man had a delicate physique, unlike any man he had ever seen who usually had a big build and muscular body covered in scars and such, however, even though his body was lean and slightly delicate but the coldness in the man's dark eyes was so obvious that all the hairs on his back suddenly raised like an alarm sending out a warning of impending danger even greater than Byroft's.

Cavio quickly pulled Arthea behind him in a protective manner, "Who are you?" he warily ask.

"Lazarus!" Arthea was surprised that Lazarus will come personally even though he usually said he didn't like visiting worlds that were still active where the existence of the first king had already been established because that meant the progress of the world was complete so there would be some sort of restriction stopping him from interfering in the affairs of that world.

Just like what happened in the world where his brother Emperor Lei Yu was, that was also one of the reasons why he didn't stop the tragedy that befell his brother, though he had no intention of helping, his brother either since it was deemed to be useless to help someone who had no will to live, and unlike other creatures, Lazarus never think death as a bad thing on contrary for certain people death can be their salvation.

Even so, it didn't change the fact that he didn't like coming to Arthea's world. Furthermore, he felt that the restriction in this world was far greater than those he had ever felt in other worlds.

"Thea, how do you know him?" Cavio asked suspiciously where Arthea had met this man since Arthea hardly even left their village.

"In a dream, isn't that right, Thea?" Lazarus interrupted with a haughty sinister smile that spread across his face as if trying to show off their closeness.

"What does it mean?" cavio frowned he didn't like to see Lazarus's possessive gaze at his younger sister, he felt something was not right with the way he looked at Arthea.

"He's right Cavi, Lazarus is my friend" Arthea stepped in front of Cavio while calming him "In the place where I can predict the future it turns out there is another dimension inside that place called oblivion, a place between future - past - life - death, the place where he lives, Lazarus is the master of that place and he also the one who taught me to make this doll in order to save you," explained Arthea with a radiant face she clearly didn't realize how dangerous this man is.

The more Arthea explained the more Cavio was worried he couldn't believe Lazarus was helping Arthea without expecting anything he was sure there must be something that man wanted from her and his gut feeling told him it wasn't a good thing, Cavio glanced at Lazarus who stood there motionless only his eyes fixed on Arthea every move.

Cavio felt that Arthea was too innocent despite being a seeress. perhaps because Arthea had no experience with any man so she did not understand the obvious possessiveness in Lazarus's eyes.

"I thank you for your help, so tell me what you want...you can't expect me to believe that you are helping me out of your kindness, right?" Cavio subtly pulled Arthea closer to him without releasing his grip on Arthea's wrist.

A distant chill gathered and filled his eyes when he saw Cavio holding Arthea's hand tightly as if to show his rightful right over Arthea, normal people would see him as normal but Lazarus wasn't human moreover he wasn't normal either so even though Cavio was Arthea's brother he could not accept that any man other than him has more right in Arthea's life and the longer he sees the siblings together, the deeper his jealousy for Cavio grows.

Meanwhile, Arthea had absolutely no idea what was going through Lazarus' head, she thought that the tension between them was due to Cavio and Lazarus not knowing each other well enough.

She had naively hoped that since they were both kinds and cared for her they might try to put away their differences or at least they would realize they weren't enemies, but Arthea didn't realize how wrong she was.

"What do I want...." Lazarus beams with excited anticipation, his gaze slowly landing on Arthea's beautiful face "I want her..."

Arthea tilted her head confused as to what he meant, while Cavio's muscles immediately tensed up.

"It's time to fulfill your promise, Thea," he said in a deep commanding tone.

Arthea still couldn't understand why Lazarus was so serious and why Cavio was so tense.

"Of course, I will visit you every day for the rest of my life," She thought this is what Lazarus wanted.

"No!" Lazarus refuted "What I want is for you to live with me from now on, I don't want only your spirit to visit me from time to time like it used to. I want you to accompany me forever in oblivion...forever and ever" Lazarus said.

Arthea stunned, she then stared blankly at Cavio, still unable to comprehend what Lazarus' words meant.

"But, my brother... my people?"

"You can't go back to your world anymore so you won't be affected by the time in your world so you will live forever with me in my... no, our world" a gentle smile graced his face but Arthea widen her eyes in horror as she looks at Lazarus' smile.

Did Lazarus not understand what he was asking from her?! wasn't that tantamount to ordering her to die, no! it even worse than that, she couldn't see her brother ever again, nor would she see Demian grow up, then what about the people in the village, her friends? did she have to part with them all?

"Lazarus... are you..are you serious?" she wish this is only one of his cynical jokes, this cannot be true!

"Yes!" Lazarus answered with a big grin as if it was nothing, he probably really thought it was nothing.

"NEVER!" Cavio enraged then summoned his God's sword while pulling Arthea behind his back.

Lazarus looked at Cavio and chuckled lightly "Oh but that has nothing to do with you" he said coldly then turned his eyes back to Arthea "Thea had promised that after I help her save you from your stupid death Thea  will fulfill her promise"

"Thea, did you promise you'll stay with this bastard*!" Cavio refused to believe she can be that stupid!

Still in shock, Arthea shook her head weakly "I promised to fulfill whatever was promised ... I don't know ..."

'That's even more STUPID!' Cavio clenched his jaw.

Cavio was disgruntled, but still, he couldn't let go of his stupid little sister, obviously, this man had made a fool of his little sister and he wouldn't let it.

"An old man like you dares to deceive a little girl like my sister, are you shameless!" Cavio threatened by pointing his sword at Lazarus.

"I'm not an old man, nor have I ever tricked him!" Lazarus argued vehemently he felt he had always been sincere to Arthea.

"Yet you never told him what you wanted clearly, you obviously tricked my sister by using me, just admit it!"

"NO!" his anger flared as he released his power like a wave of black smoke that charged toward Cavio and Arthea.

Surprised, Cavio raised his hand to create a barrier that blocked Lazarus' attack, unfortunately, Cavio was still injured from the fight with Byroft as a result the barrier started to crack, Arthea saw Cavio wince in pain she immediately created a barrier that blocked Lazarus' power.

Lazarus didn't expect Arthea to go against him for her brother. Just like molten lava anger seeped through him, "You attacked me, Thea? you...you betrayed me!" his voice trembled in shock and disappointment.

"You're the one who betrayed her trust!" Cavio swung his sword at Lazarus, and a second later the two of them engaged in a fierce battle.

"Stop fighting, we can talk about this! Lazarus - Cavi!" Arthea screamed trying to reason with them but Lazarus had been overcome with rage while Cavio was already in battle mode, and neither of them care to listen.

the explosion from their powers was like a violent storm that devoured anything causing dust and debris lifted to the air then mixed with the strong wind destroying everything nearby even the grass.

Arthea watched their fight helplessly, she didn't know what to do to stop them, Arthea really didn't expect them to fight like this, if this continued one of them would die, and it was all because of her!

In the end, there was only one way to stop them, Arthea ran towards them shouting frantically "Stop - Stop you two! I agree! I'll come with you - I'll come with you, you hear me, Lazarus!"