"You're saying...the Western Dukedom are catching monsters to sell?" Dad asked. All of us are here right now, with Brother Heli, Brother Aeli, and Ziel. I wonder if the nobles knew about this?
"And the Princess guessed that they are sending it to the kingdom to be for sale?" Ziel asked, the three of us, Asher and Brother Dae nod our head.
"They are purchasing expensive magic scrolls from Heazure, and sells monsters...huh?" Dad mumbled, and he looks really angry.
Does he actually care about the monsters?
"It looks like we really need to investigate the kingdom soon," Brother Aeli spoke. He's right, we really need to know what's going on in the kingdom. If they are colluding with the dukedom or not, we need to find out about it.
"Your Highness, this is Morias," Eh? Morias?
Morias!? The chef that I've never seen ever since I got conscious in this world!?
"Come in," I turned to the door right away and gulped, this will be the first time that I see his face. I heard from his sister that he never wander around the palace and the only place he goes to are the kitchen and their house within this estate.
He finally opened the door and--
What?
He's wearing a mask on his face, a fox mask, and he's got an unsual color of hair...the base color is black, but there are many highlights. Are those actually his normal hair? There's a white, blonde, green, and red highlights all over his hair. What the...
And why is he wearing a mask?
"Blessings to the Sun and Stars of the Ciera Empire," Is it the first time I heard such greeting? That sounds really cool.
And why does it feels like he's looking at me even though he's wearing a mask?
And what's the need to wear a mask!? You're literally inside a palace! Why are you hiding your face!?
"Wow...you've got unusual taste, Mister," I spoke, staring at him. He's keeping his head low.
'You're insensitive,' The heck? I turned to Asher and tilt my head. What does he mean by that?
"I...uhh, thanks, Your Highness," Wow, he thanked me. But why is it that his voice sounds really familiar? Do I know this guy? Hmm...I don't really remember. But, it just feels like his voice is familiar. No way, this is my first time meeting and hearing his voice, of that I'm sure.
But...no, how is it so familiar that it feels like my heart is hurting...
'Morias had an accident when he was young, he lost his right eye,' What? Eh...
"Oh, I'm sorry..." I spoke, which made Morias turn his head to me.
That was wrong of me, to say something like that without knowing the story behind it. I feel guilty...
"Why have you come here?" Brother Heli asked.
"Right, it's rare to see you outside the kitchen, Mori," Wow, Brother Aeli even have a nickname for him? That's so cool! I want to call him Mori too!
"I--I received a letter from the Baron Florian...he wants to meet me," Huh? The hell? What is he planning to do with our precious chef?!
"Hmm, wow ~" Asher chuckled, placed his hands on his nape and lean on the chair, crossing his legs.
"I say that you go," he added, smirking at Morias. What the heck is he saying?
"That's not something for you to decide," Brother Dae glared at him. Asher scoffed and closed his eyes.
"A chef, being approached by the enemy. They'll probably ask him to put something on your food. But of course, this Morias is the Imperial Family's loyal servant," Asher started, I think he's trying to point out something here.
"You're suggesting that we catch the Baron through Mister?" Asher opened his right eye and smiled at me.
"The Princess really understands me well," Asher stretched his arms and put his elbow on the table, leaning his cheek on his left palm.
"We can interrogate the Baron once we caught him," he said, and we all stayed quiet. He's right though, but if Morias go there alone he might be in danger.
"B-but...it might be dangerous for Mister if he go there alone," I said, glancing at the chef who is wearing a fox mask. Maybe he felt insecure after losing his eyes, so he decided to just wear a mask?
"Shall I go with the chef, Your Highness?" Ziel suggested. Hmm, I know Ziel is strong, but I have no idea if he'll be able to take out all the knights of the Baron.
Wait, why am I thinking like this? It's not like they're going there to fight!
"I'll be fine, Young Master, Your Highness," He'll be fine?
"Yeah, in fact they will be the one in danger if they try to harm Mori," Brother Heli also calls him by that? Wait, is it actually his nickname?
And what did he just say? Does that mean Morias is actually strong? Dang, that's cool. Even our chef knows how to fight, huh?
"Entertain them, Morias. And while you're at it, get some information about their relationship with the Western Dukedom," Dad spoke, the chef bowed again before he replied.
"Understood, Your Majesty,"
•
"Now that we're done with your mana flow, spread your hand," Alina did as Asher said and spread her hand in front of Asher, she waits for him to give her something but he just stayed still.
"Visualize a small ball of mana on your palm, and--ohh, wow your mana follows your mind very well," Asher spoke when an orb quickly appeared on Alina's hand right after he said those words.
"Then, practice shaping this mana into any shape," Alina nod her head, she then stared at the mana on her hand and imagine it turning into a certain shape which is a cube. She focused on it and the orb started to slowly move and form into a cube, however just when it was about to form the shape she wants, it turned back to its original shape.
Alina once again tried to form it into a cube, but no matter what she does it turns back to its original shape just when it was about to form a cube.
Alina grits her teeth and clicked her tongue, but she chose to continue doing what Asher had asked her, on the other hand, Asher watches her and guard the flow of her mana.
"It's great that her mana is finally flowing properly...but it's strange," Asher thought, peeking at Alina's mana flow.
"It's very strange...I thought that this body contains some divine mana, but there's nothing..." Asher crossed his arms and levitated himself, sitting on the air with his legs crossed.
"I thought I'll see it once she's able to control her mana flow...but, how come there's nothing at all?" Asher creased his forehead and stared at Alina's mana flow, only to be disappointed that she has no divine mana at all.
"Did Ley made a mistake when this kid was born? She told me Alina's going to be the second human that will carry a divine mana after Fel..."
While Asher try to figure out what his sister told him years ago, Alina had finally able to turn the mana into a cube, she smiled widely and show it to Asher, but the latter was surprised to see the cube that she formed.
"Huh..."
"It's definitely blue, a normal color of a mana...but there's a glint of gold inside, which is a hint of a divine," Asher looks surprised, while Alina is facing him with a cheerful and bright expression, feeling happy that she turned the orb into a cube.
"What does this mean?" Asher thought, confused.
"Asher? What's with that face?" Alina asked when she noticed the expression on Asher's face.
"Beauty. Now, how about you make that cube bigger?" Alina smirked and made a smug expression.
"Of course," she replied, facing the mana cube on her hand.
"If it's a divine mana, it should be pure gold...why is it within the cube?"
Asher raised his arm and his palm face the Princess' direction. A golden trail appeared from his palm and it flows towards the Princess. The Astra closed his eyes and enters the realm of Alina's core, he then roamed his eyes and found the mana core of the Princess.
He walked towards it and stared at it for a moment.
The mana core is transparent white, but within is a red hue. A normal mana core color for direct descendants of a Ciera and Odilia.
"The color is normal but..."
Asher creased his forehead and carefully checks the mana core, and he was surprised to see another strange orb within the Princess' mana core.
"A golden orb---within a mana core?" He was confused and couldn't believe what he was seeing. He raised his arm and was about to touch Alina's mana core but hold back his urge to touch it in order not to mess with the mana flow that Alina made.
"Asher, what are you doing?"
The Astra opened his eyes and came back to reality, his eyes that was glowing gold whe he opened it turned back to its normal red color.
"What were you doing? I can see trail of gold magic connected to me just now," Alina asked, with her right brow raised.
"Alina..."
"What?"
"You--you have a divine core within your mana core," Alina blinked for a couple of tims and tilt her head.
"Huh? Is that even possible?" Alina asked, confused. She creased her forehead and lowered her arm, causing the cube to disappear.
"Yes, your divine core is sealed within your mana core,"
Alina placed her hand on her chest and lower down her head, staring at the floor. Feeling surprised and amused.
"Sealed...?"
***