Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

The rain poured heavily, adding to the gloomy atmosphere among the ruins of the Evernoir Kingdom. My clothes were soaked, and my breath began to feel heavy after the long struggle with the pack of wolves. Still, I stood tall, trying to steady my breathing. But as I turned to leave, I suddenly heard someone speak.

"You... are Archemidas Evernoir, aren't you?"

The voice came from a girl standing not far from me. I eyed her warily. Where had she come from? I hadn't seen or heard her approach. Her presence felt mysterious, and although her tone was calm, her eyes were full of determination. Was she a bounty hunter? My breath caught in my throat as I focused on the weapon at her waist.

In an instant, another voice echoed in my head—my other self.

"Be careful, Arche," it said seriously. "Look at the weapon she's carrying. She might be a bounty hunter. We can't take the risk."

I clenched my fists, my heart racing. My body tensed, and my senses heightened.

"You're right. We have to get out of here," I whispered to myself. Without waiting any longer, I turned and ran as fast as I could away from the girl.

"Hey! Wait! Stop!" she shouted behind me, but I ignored her cries. I knew that if I stopped, it might be the end for me.

My footsteps echoed among the ruins as I leapt over scattered debris, dodging fallen pillars. The wind carried the sound of the rain and the echo of my hurried steps, but there was something else—another set of footsteps, quicker and lighter.

"She's chasing us," my other self chimed in again. "And she's getting closer. We can't run for much longer."

A chill crept down my spine. The girl was fast—too fast. Her speed was beyond that of an ordinary person. I began to feel anxious.

"Is she a trained killer?" I wondered, panic rising in my chest. "How can she move this quickly?"

"We don't have time to wonder, Arche!" my other self urged, its tone pressing. "We have to fight. Let me take control."

I knew it was right. I couldn't keep running, and fighting was the only option left. But I hated combat. I always hated hurting or killing, even though I knew that in this world, it was often the only way.

Reluctantly, I agreed.

"Alright," I replied inwardly, relinquishing control to the stronger, merciless side of myself. "Do what you need to do."

As soon as control shifted, my body felt lighter, more directed. The anxiety that had filled my mind transformed into a focused calm. My other self quickly called out to Neumann.

"Neumann, provide us support. Maximize enemy predictions and movements."

"Confirming orders," Neumann replied, her voice flat yet assured. Suddenly, my vision changed—statistics and holographic markers appeared around me. The girl's movements, her potential trajectories, and predictions of her actions in the next few seconds were all clearly laid out. Everything appeared so neat and structured.

But one thing Neumann had said earlier echoed in my mind: even though it could provide highly accurate information and predictions, it was all useless if my physical abilities couldn't keep up.

"We'll see how fast this girl really is," my other self muttered, pulling a dagger from my pocket. Without hesitation, it turned and attacked the girl, who was almost upon us.

The knife darted towards her quickly and accurately. My movements were guided by Neumann's predictions, targeting the weak points and gaps in her defense. For a moment, she seemed startled, but with agile reflexes, she dodged my attack. Her face looked wary, but not panicked.

"Stop!" she called out, her voice pleading yet her body remained poised. She deftly parried my strike, her movements fluid and practiced. I attacked again, this time with more speed, but she dodged once more—even faster than Neumann had predicted.

"Impressive," my other self thought, starting to feel the challenge from this girl. But I didn't stop. Strike after strike flew, the dagger slashing and stabbing, yet each time, she managed to evade. Her empty hands blocked and dodged with remarkable precision, and I began to sense something strange—this girl had no intention of fighting back.

After several failed attempts, she executed a brilliant maneuver. With an exceptionally precise block, she managed to deflect my attack and sent my dagger flying into the air. It spun above before landing a few meters away from me. I was stunned, while she remained calm, even though her breath was beginning to quicken.

"What the hell is this?" my other self began to feel frustrated. "With all the support from Neumann, why can't we defeat her?"

Neumann replied in her usual flat tone. "User lacks adequate physical abilities. Physical limitations hinder system support efficiency."

"Damn!" I cursed inwardly. "So it's not just about strategy and predictions?"

The girl continued to stare at me, her eyes glinting under the relentless rain. She didn't look tired, but neither did she show any signs of wanting to attack. "You have to stop. I don't want to fight you."

I snorted, still under the control of my other self. "Why? Do you think I'm just going to let you capture me? You're mistaken if you think that."

But the girl shook her head slowly. "I'm not a bounty hunter. I'm here to find you... to help you."

Her words hung in the air, leaving a mark in my mind. Help? I felt a sudden confusion wash over me, making my body weaken slightly. Yet my other self remained vigilant, not entirely trusting her words.

I regarded the girl warily; her words were clear, but I couldn't just take them at face value.

My other self hissed in my mind, "Don't trust her. It could be a trap. We don't know who she is."

I clenched my fists tighter. "I can't just stand by," I thought before launching an attack with my bare hands, trying to take her down before she could make a move. My strike was quick, but the girl was quicker. She deflected it effortlessly, grasping my wrist and spinning me around with a fluid motion, and in an instant, I was pushed to the ground. My body hit the wet earth, and I found myself lying there, face down, as she held my hand firmly. My gaze was lifted to the dark sky, rain drenching my face, and I could see her looking down at me. Her grip completely restrained me.

"I told you I don't want to fight," she said, exhaling slightly as if speaking to a stubborn child.

I struggled to free myself, but it was useless. Her hold was too strong, and I couldn't move. Damn. How could she be so powerful?

Before I could say anything, I heard a voice that seemed entirely out of place in this situation—Neumann's voice. I turned my head, and somehow, she was there, casually standing beside me.

"Wow," Neumann said in her characteristic flat tone, as if this whole situation was just an ordinary occurrence that barely caught her attention. There was no emotion behind her words, just a strange, eerie calmness that only added to my confusion.

I stared at Neumann, bewildered, while the girl above me chuckled softly.

"Why are you so stubborn?" she asked gently, her face still close to mine. So close that I could feel her warm breath, despite the rain pouring down. My face heated up. There was no distance between us, and it felt awkward—very awkward.

"O-Okay, I give up," I stammered, embarrassed by my current position. "Let me go. I won't fight anymore."

She smiled at me, a sincere smile with a hint of victory. "Alright," she said, releasing her grip on my hand. She immediately stood up, giving me space to rise.

I quickly sat up, brushing the dirt off my clothes. Even though I could feel my posture straightening, my mind was still in chaos. The girl watched my every move, but this time she didn't seem threatening. I regulated my breathing, trying to calm myself, though my mind continued to swirl with questions.

"Who are you, really?" I finally asked, breaking the silence. My voice still sounded tense, but I knew I needed answers.

The girl looked at me for a moment before smiling again. "I'm Abigail Einzvil," she said, her tone softer now. "I was sent to find you, Archemidas Evernoir."

Hearing my name come from her lips made the sense of unease within me grow stronger. What did she mean by "sent to find me"? What did she want from a fugitive like me?

"What do you mean 'sent'?" I asked suspiciously.

She sighed, as if she had expected that question. "My father sent me. He wants to ensure your safety... and deliver news about your family."

I fell silent. News about my family? It felt strange to hear that from someone I'd never met before, especially in this situation.

"Your father?" I asked hesitantly. "Who is your father, and why does he care about me?"

Abigail looked at me seriously this time. "My father is Eliphas Einzvil. His name may sound familiar to you."

I frowned. The name did sound familiar, but I couldn't recall where I had heard it before. "And why does he care?"

"Because," Abigail continued, "he has a long-standing connection with your family. He knows what happened after the fall of Evernoir. He believes there's still hope for your kingdom. That's why I'm here—to ensure your safety and maybe provide you with the answers you're looking for."

I stared at her, wide-eyed. "Answers?"

"Yes. About your family. About your missing siblings."

Her words hit me hard, as if the rain pouring down had turned icy. My thoughts immediately shifted to my siblings, especially Ellora and Lily. For so long, I had no idea if they were alive or dead. If Abigail was telling the truth, then perhaps... there was hope?

Still, suspicion lingered. "And what makes you think I would just believe you?"

Abigail regarded me, this time without a smile. "I'm not asking you to trust me right now. But at least come with me. My father can explain more. We just want to help you, Arche."

Before I could say anything else, Neumann's calm voice interrupted once again. "Analysis indicates that the truthfulness of subject Abigail Einzvil's statements is 97%. No lies detected."

I looked at Neumann, confused. 97%? How could she be so sure? Yet, despite that, it made me think twice. If Neumann was confident, there might be something worth considering behind this.

I glanced at Abigail, who stood there quietly. She didn't appear rushed or pushy about me following her. She was just waiting, giving me space to decide. Although I couldn't fully trust her yet, there was something about her that made me feel like she wasn't lying. Or at least, she wasn't a threat... for now.

I sighed deeply, wiping the rainwater that kept dripping down my face. "Alright," I finally said. "I'll go with you."

Abigail smiled, this time with a look of relief. "Thank you, Arche."

Even though I agreed to go with her, I still couldn't shake off the feeling of caution. This might just be the beginning of more trouble, but if there was a chance to learn more about my family, I couldn't ignore it. I had to take this risk.

I looked at Abigail, still unsure about everything. After she offered to help take me to what she called her home, I felt something strange. I wasn't fully trusting her, even though Neumann assured me she wasn't lying. Of course, I had to remain cautious.

"How do we get to your place?" I finally asked.

Abigail let out a long sigh, her eyes scanning me from head to toe as if she was assessing something she just noticed. I raised an eyebrow, a little unsettled by her gaze.

"What?" I asked, a bit nervously.

"Your appearance," she mumbled quietly, then sighed again, longer than before. "You really look like... well, like a homeless person."

I frowned, absorbing her words with a hint of annoyance. But I couldn't argue with her. My clothes were torn and filthy, soaked from the relentless rain. I knew I looked terrible, but hearing it from someone else always made me feel... strange.

"I know," I replied defensively, "but that's not important right now, is it?"

Abigail continued to stare at me, this time longer. She then nodded uncertainly and said, "You're right, but we need new clothes. And we need a place to dry off. Come with me to Lilac City, the nearest town. There's an inn there where we can rest before continuing our journey."

I sighed and nodded, agreeing without much protest. What choice did I have? I was soaked and obviously suspicious-looking. Besides, I needed a place to think things through.

Abigail led the way, and I followed behind her, our feet splashing through the puddles in the ruins of the fallen Evernoir kingdom. After walking for a few minutes, we reached the edge of the ruins where Abigail's motorcycle was parked. The vehicle looked advanced, covered in shiny black metal, as if it came from technology far beyond what I was used to seeing.

"Get on," she said, sitting on the bike and starting it up. The deep roar of the engine filled the damp, chilly air while Abigail looked at me, waiting.

I felt awkward, but I had no other choice. Cautiously, I climbed on behind her, trying to keep my distance. The motorcycle took off swiftly, leaving the ruins behind us. The wet, slippery roads didn't hinder Abigail's speed; she maneuvered the vehicle smoothly and confidently. Throughout the ride, not a word was spoken.

I took advantage of the silence to talk to my other self.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" I asked inwardly, trying to calm myself. "What if this is a trap?"

"We've already decided," came the firm reply. "If Neumann believes she isn't lying, we have to trust her—at least for now. Besides, you don't have a better plan, do you?"

I fell silent. My other self was right. So far, I didn't have any other options except to follow Abigail. At least I was still alive, and if this could lead me closer to answers about my family, I had to take this risk.

After what felt like a long journey, we finally arrived in Lilac City. The town appeared simple, with a few old buildings and mostly deserted streets, thanks to the ongoing rain. When we stopped, I realized something important.

"I'm a fugitive here," I said warily, glancing at Abigail.

She looked at me for a moment, then pulled something from her pocket. "Use this," she said, handing me a simple black mask.

"A mask?" I frowned, feeling confused.

"This is more than just an ordinary mask," she explained. "It's equipped with advanced technology that will make it hard for others to clearly see your face. Visually, they'll just see a blur, enough to disguise your identity."

I stared at the mask, feeling somewhat skeptical, but then I put it on. Once it was in place, it fit snugly on my face, and I felt a little more at ease. At least it would buy me some time before anyone recognized me.

Abigail booked a room at one of the small inns along the road. As we stood in front of the door to the room she had reserved, I felt a bit confused.

"Just one room?" I asked, my voice sounding a little awkward.

Abigail looked at me for a moment before answering, "Yes. I need to stay close to you to make sure you don't run away."

I fell silent, feeling a bit cornered by her answer. Of course, she wouldn't let me slip out of her sight, but the situation made me uncomfortable.

"Fine..." I mumbled finally, though I knew I had no way to protest.

Once inside the room, Abigail immediately locked the door and took off her wet jacket. "I'm going to take a shower first. Don't even think about running away," she said firmly.

I stared at her, a bit confused and nervous. She walked toward the bathroom, but before entering, she turned to me with a sly smile. "Oh, and don't peek."

I could feel my face flush at her words. "I wouldn't do something like that!" I quickly shot back, feeling offended.

She chuckled softly before closing the bathroom door behind her. I could hear the sound of water starting to flow inside.

I sighed, trying to calm my racing mind. This whole situation felt so strange. My other self chuckled softly in my head.

"Are you nervous?" he teased. "Don't worry; she won't bite."

I rolled my eyes, irritated by the voice in my head. "I'm not nervous," I weakly protested. "I just feel... odd."

"Sure, sure," he replied sarcastically. "You need to focus, Arche. This may seem relaxed, but don't forget you're still a fugitive. We still need to find out who Abigail really is and what her intentions are."

I sighed heavily, staring at the closed bathroom door. How could I focus when everything was happening so fast? Maybe I should trust her for now, but I wouldn't let my guard down.

***