Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

Three days after the kidnapping incident, Abigail was finally allowed to leave the hospital. What surprised me the most—even more than the fact that we made it out alive—was how quickly she recovered. No scars. No signs of the gunshot wound that had seemed so severe. It was almost like a miracle. To be honest, I still don't fully understand it.

As we walked out of the hospital, I glanced at Abigail, who looked completely at ease, as if nothing had ever happened. She moved without hesitation, her steps light and free.

"So... you're really all healed?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Abigail smiled and nodded. "Yup! Not a single scar left," she said with a playful tone, and then exaggeratedly stepped forward, almost like she was showing off how perfectly fine she was now.

I shook my head in disbelief. "That's incredible. Even the gunshot wound on your leg is completely gone?"

She chuckled lightly. "Of course. I'm totally healed, Arche."

I stared at her, still amazed. "How is that even possible? Shouldn't it take longer? I mean, that wound... it should've—"

She cut me off with a louder laugh. "What? Are you curious? If you're that curious, you can check my body yourself."

Her words caught me off guard. Check her body? It wasn't the first time Abigail had teased me like this. Ever since we started this journey together, she always had this sharp sense of humor, often using flirtation as a way to throw me off balance. Usually, I'd brush it off, play it cool—something I'd learned to do so I didn't end up looking like some shy schoolboy in front of her.

But this time... something about the way she said it felt different. Was she serious?

I tried to play it off and responded casually, "Alright, I'll give you a thorough inspection later." I kept walking, trying hard to maintain a neutral expression.

Naturally, I expected her usual response. Abigail would laugh, maybe give me one of those teasing looks and say, "Oh, Arche, you're cheeky." That's how it always went. So, I waited for her to burst out laughing, feeling triumphant over making me say something so ridiculous.

But this time... she didn't.

I stopped walking and looked at her. Something was off. She wasn't laughing. In fact, her face had turned a little red, and for the first time in my memory, Abigail seemed... embarrassed? She turned her face away, almost like she was avoiding eye contact.

"Abigail?" I called her name, confused.

She didn't reply, just kept staring off to the side, nervously playing with the ends of her hair. I could see a faint blush spreading across her normally confident face.

Wait a second... did I just make her embarrassed?

I felt my heartbeat quicken. I... and Abigail... embarrassed? We'd never gotten to this point before. She was always the one teasing, and I was always the one on the receiving end of her jokes. But now... the tables had turned. And I had no idea what to do. The air between us grew awkward, painfully so, as if the conversation had come to a sudden stop for no apparent reason.

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, regretting my earlier words. "Uh... I didn't mean... I was just joking."

Abigail still didn't look at me, but I heard her whisper softly, "I know... but still..."

Still? Was she really...?

Before I could even form a coherent response, a sudden noise from above us interrupted the moment. I looked up and saw Lilith's drone hovering in the air. And worse, it was broadcasting Lilith's voice, and she sounded annoyed.

"Can you two stop making everything so awkward?" Lilith started, her tone sharp. "If you're going to act like this, you might as well get married!"

I felt my face heat up instantly. Married?! Lilith really had no filter. I expected Abigail to burst into laughter at that—she usually loved teasing both of us with comments like that. But when I glanced over at her... she was still frozen. Her face was even redder now, and she seemed genuinely at a loss for how to respond.

I tried my best not to let the situation get to me, but I could feel myself losing control. I wasn't used to seeing Abigail like this—shy, quiet, almost like she wasn't herself. And that made everything feel even more unpredictable.

"What? Why are you both so quiet? Oh, come on, if you really like each other, just say it! I'm tired of watching you two dance around each other like this!" Lilith continued, her voice sharp through the drone's speakers.

I sighed, finally unable to take the tension any longer. "Lilith, can you... not interrupt us for a moment?"

"I'm not interrupting, I'm just... offering advice," Lilith shot back quickly.

"Advice we didn't ask for, thanks," I said dryly, trying to shake off the awkward atmosphere. "Besides, we have more important things to worry about right now. It's not about... marriage."

I glanced at Abigail, hoping she'd at least come back with some sarcastic or witty comment like she usually did. But no—she was still standing there, staring at the ground with that unfamiliar expression on her face. And, of course, that only made me more uneasy.

After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, Abigail finally lifted her head and looked at me. But this time, her gaze wasn't teasing or playful like I was used to. It was softer, deeper, like she was searching for something in me. And somehow, that made my pulse race even more.

"I... I'm sorry," she said quietly, her voice unusually gentle.

I was stunned. Abigail... apologizing? This was completely new.

"I just... I'm not used to you teasing me back," she added with a small smile, this one more natural, more like the Abigail I knew.

Suddenly, the tension between us seemed to lift a little. I scratched my head again, not sure what to say except, "Yeah, I'm not used to seeing you like this either."

We both let out a small laugh, and that laugh seemed to break the tension that had been hanging over us.

"So... we're not really getting married, right?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood again.

Abigail gave me a mischievous grin. "Are you sure? I hear you're into giving thorough body inspections."

I frowned, trying not to laugh. "That was a joke, Abigail."

"Well, I wouldn't mind," she replied casually, her smile now fully back to its usual playful self. And finally, we both laughed—still a bit awkward, but at least it felt more normal.

But beneath all of it, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. And I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

After the earlier awkwardness faded, we continued our journey toward the inn. Abigail walked beside me, while Lilith's drone hovered above us. I could hear the soft hum of the drone's engine, almost like a monotonous background song. We strolled casually, chatting about trivial things—like what food we should order later or how ridiculous the situation in the hospital had been. I felt a bit relieved that the atmosphere had returned to normal. At least, there was no more uncomfortable silence.

As we neared the main road, Lilith's voice suddenly broke through from the drone. "I have new information from Ophelia," she said, her tone serious. "About our next destination."

Abigail and I stopped in our tracks. Lilith rarely spoke in such a serious tone without a good reason. Usually, if she wanted to tease or joke with me, her voice had a hint of sarcasm. But this time, I could feel a tension in her voice.

"What is it, Lilith?" I asked, glancing at the drone above us.

"We're heading to Nexus Port City," she replied quickly.

I fell silent for a moment, trying to process that information. Nexus Port City? The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.

"Nexus Port City?" I repeated, slightly confused. "Is that a port city?"

Lilith sighed from behind the drone. "Yes, of course. What else could you conclude from the word 'port'? It's the largest port city in the area, a trade hub, and also a place full of trouble."

I frowned. "Trouble? What kind of trouble? Pirates?"

"Not just that," Lilith replied swiftly. "The city is known for organized crime, political conspiracies, and, of course, a haven for bounty hunters."

Hearing the term "bounty hunters" made me feel a bit uneasy, considering my current status—I was hardly in the safest position. "Wait a minute," I stopped walking. "If Nexus Port City is crawling with bounty hunters, isn't that the worst place we could go?"

Abigail smiled lightly beside me. "It's risky, Arche. But if we're careful, we can handle it."

I looked at her with some skepticism. "Have you been there before?"

Abigail nodded. "Yeah, a few times. Nexus is a very busy city, and because of its size, it's easy to blend in with the crowd as long as you know how."

Lilith then added, "Exactly. We can't avoid Nexus if we want to continue this mission. There's crucial information we can only get there. Plus, Abigail knows her way around, so we have an advantage."

I sighed. "But what about my status as a fugitive? We can't just wander around, can we?"

Abigail gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. "You don't need to worry. We'll make you a bit inconspicuous. Besides, you're not that important there, Arche. Nexus has bigger problems of its own."

I wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or offended by that. "Not that important, huh?"

Abigail chuckled softly. "Don't take it the wrong way. I mean, there are plenty of fugitives in Nexus. They won't immediately recognize your face. At least, not in the midst of a sea of other suspicious-looking people."

Lilith spoke again, her tone shifting to a more informative one. "To get to Nexus, we need to travel about two days by land. If we push ourselves, we could arrive sooner, but that would risk attracting attention."

I nodded. "So, we should take the safer and slower route, right?"

"Exactly," Lilith replied. "But don't worry too much, Arche. We have enough time to plan our moves when we get there. Fortunately, Abigail has some connections in that city that might help us."

I glanced at Abigail, feeling a bit more at ease with that information. "Connections, huh? You always have surprises, don't you?"

Abigail flashed a secretive smile. "I can't reveal all my cards right now, can I?"

We continued walking, and the conversation started flowing more easily again. I was curious about Nexus Port City, so I decided to ask more. "So, what should I expect from Nexus, besides bounty hunters and organized crime?"

Abigail thought for a moment before answering. "The city is like... a giant maze. There are different districts, each with their own personality. On one side, you can find colorful markets with vendors from all over the world, but just a few blocks away, you could easily get lost in dark alleys filled with people you wouldn't want to meet in the daylight."

Lilith added, "And don't forget the port. It's the heart of the city. All the big transactions happen there, including some very shady ones. We need to be careful about who we deal with there."

I nodded again, trying to imagine what the city would be like. "Sounds very... intriguing yet dangerous."

Abigail grinned. "Isn't that the perfect combination for our adventure?"

I sighed. "Yeah, maybe for you. But for me, it just means more trouble to avoid."

We shared a laugh, and the previously tense atmosphere slowly melted away again. But beneath our lighthearted banter, I knew that the journey to Nexus Port City would present significant challenges. Not just because the city was filled with threats, but also because my status as a fugitive could draw unwanted attention at any moment.

Suddenly, Lilith spoke up again, "Oh, and one more thing. There are rumors about someone looking for us in Nexus."

I instantly felt alert. "Someone? Who?"

"It's still unclear," Lilith replied. "But my source mentioned that this person has connections with a very powerful group in the city. We need to be extra careful."

Abigail gave me another enthusiastic pat on the back. "Don't worry, Arche. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone touch you."

I looked at her, slightly comforted by her overconfidence. "I hope you're right."

"Trust me," she said with a confident smile. "We'll be fine."

I nodded, even though deep down, I knew this journey wouldn't be easy. But at least with Abigail and Lilith by my side, I felt we had a chance to face whatever awaited us in Nexus Port City.

***

After we finished lunch, our bellies full and the atmosphere starting to relax, we walked back to the inn, chatting lightly, occasionally accompanied by Abigail's jokes. Lilith, still controlling her drone, flew low around us, keeping watch as if she were always alert, even in this relaxed situation.

As soon as we reached our room, I felt relieved to finally have a moment to rest. The place was quite cozy, albeit simple. The walls were made of wood with minimalist decor, and the afternoon sunlight filtered through the thin curtains at the window, creating a warm ambiance. However, before I could fully unwind, Lilith spoke again through her drone.

"Arche," she said, her tone suddenly serious, "You remember your promise to me, right?"

I paused for a moment, thinking. "Promise? Which one?" I asked, trying to recall what I had promised her.

Lilith sighed. "You promised to show me your AI. Remember?"

"Oh..." I nodded, suddenly recalling. "Right. Neumann, right?"

Abigail, overhearing our conversation, looked confused. "AI?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at me. "What AI are you talking about?"

Lilith quickly jumped in before I could say anything. "Arche has a digital girl AI who helps him in battles and other things. Her name is Neumann."

Abigail frowned, clearly having never heard of this before. "Neumann? A digital girl? Why have I never seen her?"

I smiled faintly, realizing this was going to be a somewhat complicated explanation. "Neumann can only be seen by me, Abigail. That's because... well, Neumann is directly connected to me, personally."

"But," Abigail turned her gaze to Lilith's drone, "if that's the case, how can Lilith see her?"

Lilith chuckled softly. "Did you forget? Ophelia and I have magic sight. Our eyes can see things that are usually invisible to others."

I looked at Lilith with a hint of curiosity. "So that's why you can see Neumann? Because of your magic sight?"

Lilith nodded through her drone's screen. "Exactly. My magic sight is always active, 24/7. So I can see Neumann anytime."

I paused for a moment, then turned to Abigail, curious. "What about you, Abigail? Do you have magic sight too? Since you're Ophelia's and Lilith's sister."

Abigail smiled slightly, seemingly enjoying my curiosity. "Of course I do," she replied. "But unlike Lilith and Ophelia, I rarely use it. My magic sight consumes too much energy, so I only activate it briefly in crucial moments."

I nodded, feeling impressed. "So Ophelia and Lilith can use their magic sight all day without a break, but you can't?"

"Right," Abigail confirmed, nodding. "Their magic sight is indeed more stable than mine."

I looked at Lilith with even more admiration. "So you really can see Neumann anytime, huh?"

Lilith smiled, clearly pleased. "Absolutely."

Feeling it was the right time to introduce Neumann, I called for her. "All right, Neumann. Show yourself."

Before long, a digital girl with long black hair and a futuristic uniform appeared beside me. Neumann floated in the air, her expression as neutral as ever. "Is there an order, Arche?" Her voice was soft yet firm, as if ready to take instructions.

I shook my head. "No orders this time. I just wanted you to show up."

Neumann looked a bit puzzled but nodded. "Okay, then."

Abigail, who initially didn't seem very interested, was suddenly taken aback by the digital girl. Her eyes widened, and she almost screamed, "Wait, what? You really have an AI assistant?!"

I chuckled at Abigail's reaction. "You're just realizing this now?"

Abigail gazed at Neumann with curiosity. "I never expected you had a digital assistant like her."

"Neumann can only be seen if you use magic sight," Lilith reminded Abigail. "So, activate your magic sight if you want to see her more clearly."

Abigail sighed softly. "All right, I'll activate it for a bit." Her eyes changed, the pupils shimmering with a strange light indicating her magic sight was activated. As soon as she did that, she stared at Neumann again with an expression of awe.

"Wow... So this is Neumann?" Abigail said softly, as if in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm only seeing this now."

Lilith, still controlling her drone, decided to throw in a more technical question. "So, where does this AI come from, Arche?"

I felt it was the right moment to open up a bit. "Okay, I'll show you." I began to lift my shirt, revealing my back. A series of metal structures that looked like a mechanical spine were neatly embedded in my back, gleaming under the room's light.

Even though she was watching through the drone, Lilith looked amazed. "So this is the source, huh? Your AI system is directly connected to your cybernetic spine."

But before I could continue explaining, I heard Abigail let out a soft yell. "Arche, what are you doing?!" Her voice sounded shocked, and she quickly covered her eyes with her hands, her face turning bright red.

I stood there, confused. "Uh, why are you reacting like that?" I asked, a bit surprised.

Lilith also looked puzzled, although her voice sounded amused. "Abigail, why are you reacting like this? Don't you often see Arche fighting and getting injured?"

Abigail kept turning her face away, refusing to look at me. "That's different! In a fight, it's an emergency; this... this is different! It's... too sudden!" She mumbled softly, her voice laced with embarrassment.

I stood there in silence, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Uh, I was just showing my cybernetic spine, you know."

Abigail took a long breath, still blushing. "Yeah, I know... but still, you can't just take off your shirt like that..."

Lilith laughed softly. "Arche, it seems Abigail is more modest than we thought."

I scratched my head, bewildered by the situation. "Yeah, I didn't expect her reaction to be like this."

Meanwhile, Neumann continued to hover beside me, her expression still flat. "Is there a problem, Arche?" she asked in her calm voice.

I could only sigh, unsure whether to laugh or feel awkward. "No problem, Neumann. Just... a strange situation."

Neumann nodded slightly, as if it were all normal. "Okay, if there are no further orders, I will remain on standby."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself from this weirdness. Abigail was still looking away, Lilith seemed to be having fun, and Neumann remained as cool as ever. Maybe... my life was never going to be normal.

***