227 He Had No Choice But To Let His Friend Go

Therius was silent when he heard Xion's words. For him, the young man was the closest person to him in this universe. Xion knew him inside out and loved him like a brother. Now, Xion even knew Therius' final secret as a sanomancer, something that absolutely no one else knew.

If Xion wanted anything in this world ... Therius would try to help his friend make it happen. However, why should Xion's desire be something that he could not possibly accept? Why should they love the same girl?

Therius really did not want to lose his best friend because of a woman. However, he also understood that it must be very painful for Xion to stay and see the woman he loved marrying his own friend. It was very human to feel that way.

Therius remembered how angry and jealous he was when he first met Emma on earth and realized the girl had married Haoran. He was only a little late ... but the girl had become someone else's wife. He was lucky that Haoran didn't live long. Had the man lived until today, Therius would never have his chance.

When he was reminded of his own experience, Therius understood how Xion felt. He started feeling deep sympathy for the man.

Finally, he patted Xion on the shoulder. Therius had no choice but to let his friend go.

"I will miss you very much," Therius said in a low voice. He knew he would lose a great friend.

The prince, who usually did not show his feelings on the surface, was finally filled with a sense of grief. He grabbed Xion's shoulders and hugged the man tightly.

Avato and Ran who were in the front seat of the travs with them just stared at each other in puzzlement. They could not hear the conversation between Therius and Xion earlier because it was done by telemancy. They only heard Therius' last words before he hugged his friend, that he would miss the young man very much.

What was happening between Prince Licht and Sir Xion? Will Sir Xion leave? Why? Wasn't this such a critical time to end a friendship?

However, the two guards could only keep their questions to themselves.

The travs arrived at Milestad's largest military base. They were immediately taken aboard a large spaceship that would take them to the border. The Dragonite and General Moria were already waiting for them there.

Therius left Avato and Ran in Milestad and asked them to return to the capital immediately and watch over Emma. Whatever happened, they have to make sure that the girl was safe.

"If there is any important news from the capital, you must inform me immediately. There should be no delay," Therius said firmly. "Remember, the most important priority is to make sure Emma is safe."

Therius knew that Avato had a younger sister who worked in the king's palace as a servant. After their spies were killed by Queen Ygrit, Therius did not want to take the risk of involving his men's relatives to spy on the royal palace.

However, he still asked Avato to constantly monitor the situation and report what happened to him. He did not specifically tell them that he was waiting for his grandfather to die, but he encouraged Avato to always keep his eyes and ears open on any small changes in the palace.

It was possible that the palace would cover the king's death to maintain order until Therius returned from his mission to Taeshi. However, small changes such as closing the palace gates could also be a sign that the king was dead to prevent outsiders from getting wind of the news.

After giving all the instructions and making sure his men understood everything, Therius immediately set off with Xion to The Dragonite. The Dragonite was Akkadia's largest warship, with 10,000 troops ready to be deployed to any battlefield.

According to an agreement signed by all governments in Planet Akkadia 500 years ago, they were not allowed to use weapons of mass destruction during wars to keep their planet from being destroyed.

But that did not mean that every kingdom now did not have such weapons. They just hid it and wait until other governments started using it, then they would get a reason to use it as well.

Today, humans in Akkadia were beginning to care less about their planet because the various space exploration teams had found new planets that could be used as a replacement if their own planet was destroyed. 

Humans started to take their home planet for granted and this was what Therius really hated. He did not want Akkadia to trigger the beginning of the nuclear war between the kingdoms on Planet Akkadia, just because of his grandmother's grudge. 

Destroying the capital of Taeshi to the ground was the same as giving an excuse to other kingdoms to also use the same weapons of mass destruction against the Akkadian empire. As he said, their kingdom wouldn't win against five if all the colonies decided to unite.

He could have imagined how many casualties and material losses they would suffer if such an open war broke out.

The ship carrying Therius and Xion took five hours to reach the border, where The Dragonite was hovering in space. As soon as the ship entered the hangar inside The Dragonite, Therius saw the great general standing by the bay and greet him.

"We must speak to Princess Arreya and bring her to Akkadia," Therius told General Moria without delay. "If she did not want to come, my grandmother has ordered us to destroy their capital."

General Moria took a deep breath. He had great respect for General Kaoshin and Princess Arreya, even though he could not justify their actions when they betrayed the royal family and eloped 21 years ago.

However, after all that had happened and how Kaoshin had been sentenced to death, General Moria felt it was time for the royal family to let go, especially now that the Crown Prince would marry Emma Stardust. Why not just make peace and forget the bad past?

Couldn't they just consider the marriage between Emma Stardust and Prince Therius as a replacement for the failed union between Arreya and Prince Darius 21 years ago?

However, as a mere general who had to obey all the king's orders, General Moria could not say anything. He could only keep his opinion to himself.

"Your Highness, I have contacted General Satoshi from Taeshi and asked to speak to Princess Arreya. Her Highness Princess Arreya is willing to meet you in person on the border of Aguilar Wilderness. I personally think it is very dangerous. We all know Princess Arreya is very powerful," said General Moria. He hurriedly added. "Not that I underestimated Your Highness' ability, but—"

Therius waved his hand and interrupted General Moria's words. "Then take me to Aguilar Wilderness. Princess Arreya is my mother-in-law. I will treat her with respect."

"Uhm ... but, at least, please bring some powerful mages to accompany you, Your Highness," General Moria looked worried. "Princess Arreya has five powers. Please, Your Highness... I cannot face the king if something happened to you under my watch."

"I am sure she will not hurt me, General Moria. I will bring the news about her daughter. I don't think Princess Arreya will risk her child being treated badly if she hurts me," said Therius again. "And she is a telemancer, she will know that I am not lying."

Xion grabbed his friend's arm and nodded. "I will go with you. I think it will be safer if we go together. You are the future king. After all, Princess Arreya might not trust you and needs a witness from a third party who is unbiased. Someone like me."

Therius frowned. He did not think Xion would want to interfere in such political affairs.

He knew how much Xion hated politics. 

Did he change because of Emma?

Or ... Xion was really worried about Therius' safety?

"I come with here with you because I want to help as much as I can before I withdraw from the world," Xion said again. He stared at Therius intently. Finally, the prince nodded.

"All right, we both go," Therius also thought bringing Xion would be a good idea.

General Moria, who did not know how tough the two young men were, was still worried. He knew Princess Arreya was a multiple-element mage who had five types of powers. The princess had trained her powers diligently that now she was at the highest level for all the elements that she controlled.

How could these two young men survive if she decided to kill them?