"Focus. Take a deep breath and clear your mind from any thoughts," Asher spoke, staring at Alina who is currently sitting on the ground. She had her legs crossed, her back straight, and her fingers except the thumbs are clasped together in front of her. She's closing her eyes as per Asher's previous teachings.
On the other hand, Eri sits on top of her head, doing her duty to control the overflowing mana of Alina.
"Free my mind..."
Alina did as Asher said, and did her best to clear her mind. Fortunately, she was able to do so.
Asher stared at her as he watches the mana particles within the magic training ground gathering towards the Princess.
"As you breathe, imagine a pulsing light starting to radiate from within your core," Asher said, he waited for the reaction of the mana particles around Alina. The glowing particles slowly convene in front of the Princess, as it starts to form a round shape.
"Maintain that focus, allow this radiating light to grow and expand," Alina keeps her eyes close, following the words of Asher
Behind her mind, she sees herself in front of a shining orb. This orb glows greatly that she cannot even see what the light is covering. She started walking towards it.
"Once you see your core glowing, touch it and fill your body with its warm and comforting energy"
Alina stopped in front of the glowing orb. She stared at it and smile as she raise both her arms to reach for it. When her hands reached the glow, she saw her hand permeating to it until she feels a soft and smooth texture of the round orb structure.
"Haha, you touched it. Now then, allow this light to enter your body, don't fight it and relax yourself. Let the radiance travel within you,"
Alina gulped as she blink her eyes.
[ Let the radiance travel within my body...? ]
She stared at it and tried to think of ways how to let the pulsing light to enter her body. She tried to freeze and keep her hand on the orb, however the light is not traveling towards her at all. It's staying still on the orb it covers.
She also tried to hold her breath but it only made it worst as the orb tries to push her hands away.
[ Relax myself? How I do that? I'm definitely relaxed? ]
"Hng..." Asher looks at Alina as he wait for the mana orb to be absorbed to Alina's body.
However...
"H-how do I relax my body?" Alina asked, opening her eyes.
All of a sudden, the mana particles that formed an orb in front of Alina scattered away, turning into tiny round shape as it fly away from Alina's direction.
Asher stared at Alina with disbelief all over his face. He stayed quiet, just looking at the Princess.
"A-Asher?" Alina called.
"Seriously? You were almost there," Asher sighed and slapped his forehead. Alina on the other hand scratched the back of her head and forced a laugh.
"Nevermind. It's already late anyway, we should go. Maybe you're tired and exhausted that you cannot relax your body," Asher said, snapping his finger. They teleported to Alina's room and even her clothes has changed into her nightgown.
"Rest well," Asher gestured his hand and all of the sudden, Alina was being pushed towards her bed. The Princess crawled to her bed and takes a seat.
"I was almost there?" She stared at her hands and smiled.
"Finally, I'll be able to learn magic..." She mumbled as she laugh quietly. Asher just watched her, causing him to smile a bit.
"Good night, Asher! Oh, and I'll be looking forward to our training tomorrow!" Alina cheerfully said, giving Asher a wide smile. The latter just nod his head and walk towards the couch.
"Good night and sleep well, Your Highness,"
***
"Alina..." Alina's eyes quickly opened up when she an unfamiliar voice calling to her. She was surprised to see that her surroundings is not familiar to her.
[ W-what? Where am I? ] She thought, roaming her eyes. The place is dark, but there are torches around that gives dim light to the area.
"Alina...I've finally see you..."
The voice is unfamiliar which confused Alina, it is also much closer that she felt nervous. She looked up to where she heard the voice.
"You may very well be affected...by my presence again...for that I apologize..."
The voice that's calling her is that of a man. It sounded docile and gentle, which gave Alina suspicions on who the person speaking to her. However, after listening to his words just now, she can guess who it is.
"Is...no, are you the dragon, Dearil?"
And right after she said those words, she felt her chest tightens, her eyes widens and she felt something coming out from her throat.
"Bleughh--*koff koff*" Alina covered her mouth as she taste rusty fluid on her mouth.
"Blood...again?" She mumbled.
"That name is cursed...don't ever mention it again..." The dragon, Dearil spoke.
"You're in your human form?" Alina asked. She faced ahead and saw a huge cage, a cage that have have very narrow metal bars.
"That's right..." Alina coughed once again, she feels her skin tingling and her chest getting even more tight.
"Wha--what did you...called me here...for?" Alina asked, covering her mouth. She looks at the cage and saw a silhouette of a tall man. His figure seems light and skinny, as if he hasn't been eating.
"I'm sorry, I can't do anything...but, I need you, I'm tired, Alina...tell...tell His Divine Highness...I need your help, Alina..."
"H-how should I help...?" Alina asked.
"Call..."
[ Call? ] Alina thought. Confused, she spoke.
"Call what?"
"Call...my name..." Alina's forehead creased and gulped.
"Right now...? But, I thought it's... dangerous to say your name?" Alina stood straight and held her chest, nervous for the dragon's request.
"No...not that name...my..."
"W-what?"
"My real na..me..."
"Bleughh--*koff koff*" Alina immediately lift her body from her bed and coughs intensely. She saw blood all over her hand and the plain white nightgown with some of her blood on it.
"Princess...again?" Asher clicked his tongue and walk towards Alina, Eri who was awoken by the sound of Alina's cough was surprised to see her master.
"M-Master!? Why are you bleeding?!" Eri asked, panicking.
"I'm okay, Eri," Alina replied, wiping the blood on her mouth. Asher sighed as he shook his head.
"Fortunately, there's not much damage to your mana flow and internals. What happened?" Asher asked, his eyes glowed and the blood that's on Alina's nightgown and mouth disappeared.
"The dragon, it called out to me again," Asher sat at the edge of Alina's bed and look directly into her dumbfounded and worried eyes.
"What did it say?"
"He asked for my help...and told me to call his name," Asher's jaw clenched, but he took a deep breath.
"I already told you about his name, it takes a toll on your body. I won't allow you to say his name even once--"
"His real name," Alina turned to Asher, and the guy was surprised.
"He asked you to call his real name? And that will save him?" Alina nod her head.
"Do you know the dragon's real name, Asher?" Asher stayed quiet for a moment. He tried to recall a memory about the evil dragon and its real name, but he couldn't remember anything at all.
"Unfortunately, I don't know his real name. When we were born, he is already an underling of the Demon King. Only Raini knew his name, as he was born right after the Essence Tree is planted for him to guard it," Asher explained. Alina did not respond and clenched her fist, she placed it on her throbbing chest. The Astra stared at her, worried.
'Abel, are you awake? Do you know the real name of Dearil? Or maybe heard something from Deo? Or read it in a book?' Using telepathy, Asher questioned Abel.
'Dearil's real name? Hmm...is it not his real name?' Asher sighed.
'Would I ask you if it is?'
'Calm down, Brother. I don't remember ever hearing another name of Dearil so I just assumed that is his name,' Abel replied. Asher turned his head to Alina.
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out. For now, just sleep," Asher held Alina's hand as he tap her forehead with his index finger.
Alina, without a fail slowly close her eyes and was about to fall back on her bed, but Asher caught her and carefully lay her down.
"A lot has been happening lately..."
His face turned serious, turning his head towards the balcony and staring at the sky outside.
"I wonder..." He faced Alina again.
"Would you be able to save this world?" He spoke, running his fingers through Alina's hair.
***
"Master, how are you?" Eri asked, looking at me with worried face. Earlier at dawn, I was awoken from the dream of a dragon. Dearil, that dragon. He's in his human form, but I only saw a silhouette of his.
Currently, I'm at the Imperial Library, reading some books. I want to get more information about the evil dragon but none of the books I found mentions about it at all.
"I'm fine now, Eri," I replied and pat her head using my index finger.
Dearil's real name, how would I call his real name if only Raini knew what it was? It's not like I can call and then talk with Raini. Dang it. Additionally, Asher and Sir Abel have no idea what his name either, and we have no way to communicate with my Godmother. I don't know how she talked to me before when I got sleep paralyzed after drinking something weird.
Seriously...
If even the Astra doesn't know it, there's no way it'll be in the books either. So, why am I in the Imperial Library?
"Your Highness, greetings," Hmm? I turned my head to someone who spoke between the book shelves. Who's this? He's got a hazel brown hair and dull brown eyes.
Based on the way he dressed, this person is a noble. He looks like a rich noble too, a Count in one of our dukedoms perhaps? Because his face is in not familiar to me at all.
"Greetings, Sir. Is there anything you need?"
'He's an enemy, Master,' An enemy?
I smiled widely at the man and closed the book I am reading.
"I would like to ask you something, please pardon me," I don't know how Eri can tell that he's an enemy, but I trust Eri. She's a guardian born from the holy flower, and technically she's sacred as well.
"It's no problem," I replied.
"If given a chance, would you visit the Western Dukedom?" Wow ~
His question is veeery random. Who the heck would wander inside the library and then ask someone about visiting that dukedom?
Of course, him!
Well, as someone who's only seven years old, this guy probably thought I have no idea about the dispute between them and us. But, well...
Let's play along ~
"Wow! I've never been to other dukedoms! Of course, I will!" I answered cheerfully, I even clasped my hands together and looks at him with hopeful eyes. He smiled, hm more like a smirk.
"Really? Would you tell your father the Emperor to visit the dukedom?" I don't know what this guy is plotting, but this encounter will reach my father. As of now, Themis and Ryna are outside the library because the only ones who can enter this place are those of Imperial blood or the people they allow to enter.
So I have no idea how this man entered this place. Now that I remember, I saw someone before in this library as well. He thought that I am from the Odilia Duchy. Who was that kid, I wonder?
"I would like to! But, my brother, the Third Prince hates the West," I responded, acting as if I am sad of the fact that my brother hates them.
"The Third Prince, huh? It's alright, Your Highness. You can have a vacation in the West with just you and a few servants, don't you think that's fine?" Hmm...this guy is scheming something.
"Oh, that's a good idea, isn't it? However, my Dad will surely bring the Astra with me. Is that alright? There will be one more mouth to feed," I placed my elbows on the table in front of me and leaned my chin on my palms while swaying my legs under the table.
"The Astra..." he mumbled.
"Oh, come to think of it, Sir. This place is exclusive to only the Imperial Family, are you one of my uncles too? Strange, your appearance looks average though," I turned to him with confusion all over my face and the man was surprised. But, quickly he smiled.
Of course, any other people can enter this too. But they will need a permit from my Dad.
"I am not, Your Highness. I am your Uncle's friend," Hmm, uncle's friend, huh?
"Oh, you mean Uncle Ran? The ruler of the Southern Dukedom? I can't believe it! Maybe you can come and visit with him next time? I already miss my uncle!" Until now I'm still amazed by how I can act properly, maybe I should've really become an artist back in my previous world?
"Hahaha, I'll try to convince him," Hmph, good luck.
"That means you're Duke Clovis' friend too?" I asked, because I also know that Uncle Clovis despise the Acacius family. And he's quite close with my Uncle. I almost ship the two of them before.
"Haha, of course," I pretended to be surprised by the information.
"That's so cool! Then, you must be the Duke of the West if that's the case! You're friends with the two Dukes after all!" There's no way that the Duke of the West will come here just to converse with a kid, this guy is probably one of the Duke's vassals. And dang, he's a good liar. If the kid he's talking to is literally a seven year old, they'll believe him right away.
"Th-that...Your Highness--"
"Then, I shall let my Dad see you! You must be here because you want to talk to my Dad, right?" I asked, jumping down to the floor.
'Eri, please bring back the book to its respective shelf,' Eri nod her head and made the book float. The noble in front of me looks nervous, he even followed the book floating back to the shelf.
"Y-Your Highness can use magic? Al--al...ready at this age?" Hmm, he looks surprised and nervous by the thought that I can use magic at this age. I can though, but only telepathy and teleporting. I have yet to control my mana properly, so even if I knew the formula of teleportation, I still can't physically do it. I only did it once.
"Yes! Asher is my friend after all! He taught me everything!"
One more thing, can't he see Eri?
'Eri, are you invisible in that man's eye?' I asked. Because, why else would he thought that I can use magic if he can see Eri? That means he saw the book floating towards the shelf, right?
'I have no idea, Master. But I didn't make myself invisible,' Eri answered. I see, there must be certain differences between us and this man. But, what could it be? Why can't he see a mana guardian?
"Is that so...that's great to know, Your Highness, I should go now then--"
"Wait, let's visit my Dad first!" I spoke and smiled at him widely.
'Eri, is there a way for us track this man's route?' The man in front of me gulped and forced a smile at me.
"It's fine, Your Highness. I'm quite busy today, I just went to see the Princess for a visit--"
"You could've visited me in my palace. We could've had a tea," I cut off his words again and he seemed to be annoyed by that. Arrogant people will hate it if you speak between their words, hehe. It's disrespectful after all. But, my status is higher than him, and this is our library.
"Haha--I will certainly do that next time, Princess," And then he placed his right hand across his chest as he bow.
"For now, I shall go and stop bothering Her Highness," Next time, huh? I bet you won't.
'I planted an invisible petal on his nape, Master. We should be able to see his trails,' Nice one, Eri!
"Alright then, take care, Sir..." I forced a smile as I follow him walking away from my direction towards the door.
"Asher can follow him as well, right?" Eri nod her head.
Alright, I'll leave it to Asher then.
***