A shattered glass sound took the Cadre by surprise when Nathan suddenly lost his grip on his drinking glass. The Cadre stopped training and their attention went to Nathan who was in a state of shock too.
“What’s the matter, Bud?” Natsuki asked full of concern and swiftly walked towards Nathan whose eyebrows frowned deeply. Nathan gulped as he felt his heart pound wildly. What’s wrong?
“I don’t know. I just… I feel something odd.” He breathed out heavily and flinched when another shattered glass sounded.
“S-Sorry, I lost my grip,” Venice said and slowly picked the shards until one of them pricked her. Only then did she come back to her senses. John quickly left Leon on the ring and ran to her.
“You too, twin?” Natsuki walked towards Venice to help her pick the shards, but he bumped into the tray of glasses beside the table, and they all fell on the floor, shattering into endless pieces. Natsuki’s eyes widened, and everyone felt the odd feeling Nathan felt. They all felt uneasy about something they don’t even know what. Suddenly, Nathan remembered Ashriel.
“Xieaniel, can’t you really track Ash?” Nathan asked with a hint of panic present in his voice. Xieaniel shook his head helplessly.
“I really can’t, General. I would love to, but Her Highness strictly commanded me not to do it since it will be dangerous for them.” Xieaniel said frustratedly. “I-I can’t sacrifice their safety.” He added. Nathan nodded, biting his lower lip and ruffled his hair. He knew something happened. He had a hunch about it, but what frustrates him is that he does not know if what happened was good or bad. Venice stood up and looked at her bleeding finger. Why does it hurt so much? It’s just a small cut.
“Wife, are you okay?” John asked with his deep voice and took Venice’s hand. He wiped the blood, but it bleed again as fast as the blink of an eye. Venice did not respond and looked at Natsuki who felt the same. They knew it. Something really happened. Venice felt her heart pound loudly when her phone rang. She looked at Natsuki and Nathan who were looking at her. She hesitated. What if it is bad news? No, what if it is a good one?
Venice sighed deeply before answering the call. “D-Dad?”
Natsuki and the Cadre anxiously waited for the purpose of that call.
“N-No, nothing bad happened to us. We are in the middle of the training.” Venice explained while looking at Natsuki who gulped a couple of times. “Yes, you too.”
“What did he say?” Natsuki asked as soon as Venice hung the phone.
“Dad said that mom suddenly dropped her glasses and they felt worried sick they don’t even know why. They called to ask if we are okay.” Venice explained thoroughly. Her lips started to lose their blood as her heart palpitates.
“Aarghh!”
Everyone looked at Nathan who shouted in distress. “Where on earth are they?!” He shouted again. Venice looked at the sky, silently praying for her sister’s protection. That’s the only thing they can do for now.
***
After buying a ceramic jar, it took them a couple of minutes before finding Ashriel’s burned body whose face was unable to be recognized. Since the body was not fully burned, Siel decided to burn it to ashes. Siel’s tears never ceased to fall as she put the ashes inside. She wiped her cheeks with her sleeves and silently sobbed. Nile, Jared, and Yuria were sobbing loudly as they help Siel put Ashriel’s ashes on the jar. Ashes that they were not even sure if it is purely Ashriel’s because of the intensity of the explosion.
Siel looked at the three little children and back to Ashriel’s ash. What will happen now? How can she report this to Valor and Olive? How can she report this to the Cadre that’s waiting for Ashriel’s comeback? How can she say to the Elders that the master she was serving died? How can she announce that the Ruler is back… in the form of ashes? Siel bit her lower lip as she swallowed the lump on her throat. It was already dusk and they needed to find a place to stay as soon as possible.
“S-Siel, what’s that?” Yuria asked, pointing the shiny object beside the jar. Siel looked at it and felt her heart sink. It was Nathan’s gift to Ashriel on her birthday. Another tear escaped Siel’s eyes as her last hope disappeared.
“I-It’s… It’s the Young Master’s possession…” Siel replied as her voice faltered. Nile crumpled his fist in agony. If only he did not ask Ashriel to help them. If only Nile was not there and Ashriel ran out of the house faster, will she be alive by now? Nile’s tears betrayed him again as he blamed himself. Seeing his face, Siel held his hand.
“Don’t blame yourself, Nile. Young Master hates that.” She said with a cracked voice. Nile slowly nodded his head but deep inside him, he was not convinced. Siel hugged him as he sobbed loudly. Siel felt her heart aches, but she cannot do anything about it.
It was a long day but none of them were hungry. Jared and Yuria tired themselves out crying then eventually fell asleep, and Nile sobbed silently while hugging Ashriel’s jar on the corner of the room. The jar was almost his size, but he does not care at all. Siel looked at him full of pity.
“Sleep now, Nile.” Siel whispered and gently patted his head. Nile did not respond and only looked at the jar with an expressionless face. “Young Master hates being suffocated, so release her jar now and rest.” Siel added, trying to make her voice cheerful, but failed. Her voice was shaky and Nile’s eyes trembled.
“W-What will happen now?” Nile whispered with a hoarse voice. “Now that Zil is dead… What will happen to us now?”
Siel observed him for a moment. She knows that behind his expressionless face is a sorrowful child. He just found hope and now, that hope left him. Siel gently cupped his cheeks and made him look directly at her.
“Young Master wants you to go back to Kauis Kingdom, right? So we will go back there tomorrow. After that…” Siel hesitated, unable to find the right words to say. Nile waited for her next words patiently. “Let’s wait for what will happen.”

~ Not all the time, we are beside the people we love to protect them. The only way to protect them is to cover them with our prayers. ~