Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

Breakfast was over, and I could feel the morning breeze coming through the inn's lobby window. The sun was beginning to warm the streets of Lilac, signaling the start of a new day. I stood near the reception desk, waiting for Abigail as she packed up her things. After spending the evening with her, I could still sense a bit of tension in the air, though she seemed completely unaffected by it.

"Ready?" Abigail asked, flashing a wide smile as she casually slung her bag over her shoulder.

I nodded, though my mind was still wandering, thinking about our upcoming trip to Arcadia Point. The city was rumored to be busier and more bustling than Lilac. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

As we stepped out of the inn, my eyes were immediately drawn to Abigail's motorcycle parked near the door. It looked sleek and intimidating, with its glossy black body seemingly ready to conquer any road ahead. I'd never ridden a motorcycle before, and a wave of nervousness washed over me.

"Abigail, I never asked before, but where did you get that bike?" I asked, hoping some casual conversation would ease my nerves.

She grinned mischievously and patted the motorcycle's tank. "Oh, this? It's a relic from an old mission. Pretty neat, huh? It can cover a lot of ground without drawing too much attention." She then turned toward me, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Why? Are you scared of riding a motorcycle?"

Another part of me, the one that always seemed to have something to say, chimed in. "She's totally going to tease you the whole trip, better brace yourself."

A little flustered by the thought, I tried to keep it cool. "Not scared," I said, sounding more defensive than I intended. "Just... not used to it."

Abigail chuckled, making me feel even more like a kid in her eyes. "Alright, hop on behind me. But hold on tight, okay? You don't want to fall off, do you?" she added with a teasing glance that only made me more nervous.

I approached the bike hesitantly. Abigail was already seated, waiting—maybe even enjoying watching me squirm. I hesitated for a moment before climbing on, settling in behind her.

"Hold on tight, Arche," she said, turning her head slightly with a playful smile.

I knew she was joking, but for some reason, it made me even more awkward. My hands hovered in the air, unsure where to place them. That same inner voice snickered again. "She's totally going to laugh at you if you stay this stiff."

I took a deep breath and finally placed my hands around her waist, barely touching. Abigail laughed softly, her amusement clear. "Hey, you act like you're scared to touch me. Relax, I don't bite."

My face heated up, and I could feel how stiff I was holding myself. Why am I being so awkward? I thought, frustrated with myself. Irritated at being laughed at, I hugged her a little tighter, which only made her laugh harder.

"Aw, you're so cute," she teased, still giggling. "See? Not so hard, right?"

I groaned inwardly. "That's not the issue..." I muttered, though it seemed she didn't hear me.

As the bike roared to life and we started moving, my anxiety eased slightly. The vibrations of the motorcycle and the wind against my face were a distraction from the awkwardness. Abigail rode smoothly, even as the streets got busier.

But halfway through the ride, something felt off. Abigail, who had been teasing and laughing just moments ago, had suddenly gone quiet. I tilted my head slightly to the side, catching a glimpse of her face from the corner of my eye.

To my surprise, her ears were red.

I frowned, confused. "Abigail, are you okay?" I asked hesitantly, half-hoping she wouldn't hear me over the noise of the engine.

She didn't answer right away, and I could feel her body tense under my hold. "Uh, yeah, yeah... I'm fine," she replied quickly, but her voice was different. Less sure, more... flustered?

That inner voice spoke up again, "Look at that. Her ears are red. Could she be embarrassed too? Maybe you're making her nervous!"

I blinked, surprised. Really? I thought, trying to process the idea. Abigail, of all people, being embarrassed? Especially over something as small as me hugging her tighter? It didn't seem possible.

I tried to shake off the thought and focused on the changing scenery as we sped along the road. "So, what's Arcadia Point like?" I asked, hoping to restart the conversation.

Abigail furrowed her brow slightly before answering, her voice returning to its usual tone. "Arcadia Point? It's bigger than Lilac, busier, and a lot of important people come and go there. The market's huge—it's a trading hub."

That inner voice chimed in again, "Sounds like we'll need to be extra cautious there. Lots of eyes might be on us."

I nodded to myself, agreeing. "Sounds a bit dangerous," I commented.

Abigail smiled faintly, still looking ahead. "Don't worry, Arche. I told you, as long as you're with me, you'll be fine. I won't let anyone get close to you without my say."

Her words made me feel better, though there was a slight unease in how protective she sounded. "I'm not weak," I muttered under my breath.

"I know that," she replied calmly. "But there are things out there that go beyond just physical strength, Arche."

That inner voice spoke up again, "She's right. A big city like Arcadia Point can be tricky. We should rely on her this time."

I fell silent, unable to argue. This trip wasn't going to be easy, especially with so many people seemingly interested in who I really was. The Einzvil family might be protecting me for now, but I couldn't rely on them forever.

***

The lush green forest stretched on both sides of the road we were traveling, creating a peaceful yet mysterious atmosphere for our journey. Tall trees lined up neatly, casting a bit of shade as we cruised along this busy highway. The road was busier than I had imagined, with a mix of modern cars and large trucks occasionally passing by, reinforcing the notion that this route was a vital link for intercity transportation.

I gazed around, lost in thought. This road… could it have once been part of the Evernoir Kingdom? My inner voice chimed in.

"The Evernoir Kingdom used to cover a vast area, but you don't really delve into diplomatic matters, do you? That's usually your sister Ellora's territory. The genius who can memorize political maps after just one glance."

I smiled slightly, recalling my sister who was always wrapped up in diplomatic affairs and military strategy. "Ellora… she's always the one handling the kingdom's political issues. I prefer to focus on other things. But is it possible this road was part of the kingdom?"

I continued my internal conversation, trying to unearth some memories of the past, until a familiar digital voice broke the silence. Neumann, the digital avatar only I could see, appeared floating next to the motorcycle we were riding.

"Arche, we have a problem," Neumann said, her tone serious despite her calm digital face. "There's a car following us, about 900 meters behind. They're keeping pace and seem to be trying not to attract attention."

I was startled by the report. Of course, only I could hear and see Neumann. Although she appeared as a hologram hovering next to the bike, I knew her presence existed only in my consciousness.

"Nine hundred meters?" I whispered, not wanting Abigail to hear. "Are you sure?"

Neumann nodded, her gaze focused behind us. "Yes, they're maintaining a careful distance. But I can detect an unusual speed pattern. They're watching us."

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Should I tell Abigail? I didn't want to worry her if this was just paranoia. But Neumann was usually never wrong. I decided to take the plunge and call out to Abigail.

"Abigail," I began, hesitating a bit.

She didn't turn immediately, but I could feel her listening. "What is it, Arche?"

"There's a car behind us… they might be following us," I said quietly.

To my surprise, Abigail didn't seem startled or worried at all. She just nodded slightly and increased the motorcycle's speed. "I already knew," she replied flatly, catching me off guard. "They've been following us since we left Lilac. I'm looking for a safe place to deal with this."

I fell silent for a moment, staring at Abigail's back. She had sensed this? I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern. Abigail was always one step ahead.

"How did you know?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Since they started maintaining a consistent distance. That's too suspicious," she said, not bothering to turn her face. "But how did you know? Can you feel them from that far away?"

I was at a loss for words. Abigail was asking something difficult to explain. I couldn't tell her I knew from Neumann, an invisible AI. Instead, I tried to give a more rational answer.

"Um, intuition," I said, trying to sound confident. "Maybe I'm becoming more attuned to things like that after everything that's happened."

Abigail glanced slightly in my direction, and I caught a glimpse of a faint smile on her face. "Good intuition. But don't push yourself too hard."

I nodded, even though deep down, I knew this wasn't about my intuition. It was about Neumann. But Abigail seemed satisfied with my answer and returned her focus to the road ahead. Meanwhile, I tried to communicate with Neumann in my mind.

"Neumann, what can you analyze about that car?" I asked internally.

Neumann turned toward me, her expression still calm. "It's not an ordinary car. It appears to be equipped with monitoring tools. I also detected weapons inside the vehicle. They're not just followers."

My heart raced a bit at that revelation. "Weapons? Does that mean they intend to attack?"

"Not necessarily," Neumann replied. "But they're prepared if needed. You need to be careful, Arche."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep calm despite the rising anxiety inside me. Abigail seemed unfazed, her demeanor unchanged as if she had anticipated this from the beginning.

We sped up, and soon Abigail pulled the motorcycle onto a small, hidden road nestled among the trees. She turned off the engine and dismounted.

"This is a good spot," she said softly, as if talking to herself.

I carefully got off the bike, still feeling a bit tense. "What are we going to do?" I asked, trying to stay composed.

Abigail didn't answer right away. She stood facing the main road, seemingly waiting for something. Her hand slowly moved toward her pocket, and I caught a glint of something that looked like a small knife hidden beneath her clothing.

"We don't need to look for them," Abigail said while scanning the area. "They'll come to us. And when they do, we'll know who we're dealing with."

I could sense the tension in the air around us building. My inner voice whispered softly, "This won't end well if we're not careful. Abigail is tough, but we don't know who we're up against."

I nodded in agreement, though only in my mind. "Are we going to wait for them here?" I asked, trying to remain alert.

Abigail shot me a quick glance, her eyes sharp. "Yes. Sometimes, it's better to face problems than to run from them. Don't worry; I'm ready."

I took a deep breath. I wasn't sure if this was a wise decision, but I had no choice but to trust her. The other part of me whispered in my mind, "You're not alone. We'll get through this together."

I clenched my fists tightly, trying to calm myself. No matter what happened, I knew I had to be prepared. And this time, I wouldn't just rely on Abigail to face the enemy. I had to stand strong beside her too.

***

Four armed men sat quietly inside a black vehicle, cruising steadily along the highway that connected the city of Lilac to the eastern region. Each of them wore tactical black combat uniforms adorned with various advanced gear. The SUV they were riding in was a modified military model, equipped with state-of-the-art communication devices and sensors.

At the wheel was a man codenamed Seirra Two, an experienced and calm figure focused on the road ahead. Beside him, Seirra Three, a muscular man, was busy checking a small screen on his wrist linked to a tracking device they had installed around Lilac earlier. In the back seat, Seirra Four and Seirra Five were inspecting their weapons, ensuring everything was in working order.

"The target is still ahead of us," Seirra Three said, his voice low but clear in the quiet vehicle. "Distance is 900 meters; they haven't realized we're here."

Seirra Two nodded slightly without taking his eyes off the road. "Maintain distance. Don't get too close. They might suspect us, but we need to make sure they can't detect us directly."

Seirra Five leaned forward slightly from the back seat. "This is really a tough target. Who exactly is that girl? There's no data on her."

Seirra Four nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I've checked all the files from HQ. No records, no photos, not even a fake identity. It seems like this girl is truly untraceable."

Seirra Two glanced at the rearview mirror, observing his teammates in the back seat. "It doesn't matter who she is. Our primary focus is the main target, Prince Archemidas Evernoir. The girl is just a coincidence. We finish the mission, grab the prince, and head back. Don't let any other factors distract you."

Seirra Five sighed softly, placing his weapon in his lap. "I'm just curious, that's all. With all the data we have, we know exactly who the prince is. But this girl? She's like a shadow. If we mishandle this, it could get messy."

Seirra Three fiddled with his tracking equipment again, zooming in on the location of the motorcycle they were following. "Their bike is off the highway now. Looks like they turned onto a more secluded path."

"Keep an eye on them," Seirra Two ordered. "Report their movements every second. We'll wait until they stop somewhere safer for the execution."

The tension in the vehicle grew. They all understood that this mission was anything but ordinary. Prince Archemidas Evernoir, the last heir of the kingdom that had collapsed three years ago, had vanished and become a target for various factions. Their mission was to capture him alive and hand him over to their superiors. However, many details of the mission remained shrouded in mystery.

As they continued driving, a voice crackled through the communication device on the dashboard. Everyone inside the vehicle fell silent, ready to hear new instructions.

"Seirra Two, this is Command. What's the current situation?" The voice from the radio was firm and cold.

Seirra Two grabbed the microphone and replied in a professional tone. "The target is still under surveillance, Command. They're heading out of Lilac, turning onto a more secluded road. We're keeping a safe distance."

"Good," came the response from the radio. "Continue monitoring them, and make sure you don't lose track. We've detected that the girl with Prince Evernoir has abilities beyond our expectations. We haven't been able to identify her, but she is dangerous. You must be cautious."

Seirra Two stared ahead, absorbing the information. "Are there any additional instructions regarding the girl?"

"If possible, avoid direct confrontation with her. Your focus should be on capturing the prince alive. If the girl becomes a threat, you have permission to neutralize her."

The voice was cold, devoid of emotion. After a moment, the communication cut off, leaving the four men in silence.

"I suspected as much," Seirra Three muttered. "That girl is indeed suspicious. If Command itself doesn't know who she is, then something bigger is at play here."

Seirra Five, sitting in the back, gazed out the window, thinking for a moment. "If she is dangerous, why don't we just get rid of her now? Wouldn't that make things easier?"

Seirra Four shook his head slightly, his expression serious. "Not so fast. That girl might have something we don't know about. If we act recklessly, we could jeopardize our mission."

Seirra Two interrupted their discussion. "Enough. Focus on your tasks. We capture the prince first, then we'll consider our next steps. No one acts without orders."

Everyone in the vehicle fell silent again, understanding that this was not a mission they could approach lightly. They were a professional intel team, trained for situations like this. Yet the fact that the girl they were following had no identity made everything feel much more complicated.

Minutes passed, and their vehicle slowly entered a narrower road, following the motorcycle ahead, which was now nearly out of sight in the distance.

"Their motorcycle has stopped," Seirra Three reported, his gaze still fixed on the screen in his hand. "They've left the main road and headed into a more secluded area on the edge of the forest."

Seirra Two furrowed his brow. "Stopping in the middle of a secluded road? Do they know we're following them?"

Seirra Four replied in a low voice. "Most likely. If they know we're tailing them, it means they're getting ready."

"What's the plan now?" Seirra Five asked, looking more tense this time. "Should we strike now or wait for them to move again?"

Seirra Two pondered for a moment before making a decision. "We wait. Don't take risks. Let them show their next move."

They continued to monitor from a distance, their eyes glued to the surveillance equipment and monitors tracking the motorcycle's movements. The roar of the vehicle's engine became the only sound amidst the tension inside.

"Get ready," Seirra Two finally said, his voice firm and full of conviction. "This mission isn't over yet, but we won't let them slip away."

***