The King's Beloved

The team returned back to Anguis after conquering the Third Gate. Like usual, Elliot went to the Forbidden Forest to test out what new powers the Zweihänder had. Everyone accompanied him and Caligo manifested himself to teach his powers to Elliot.

"Master! You called for me!" Caligo enthusiastically greeted him after he manifested outside the crystal. 

"You're awfully cheerful," Elliot teased him.

"Of course! My master is so kind to someone like me~ I'm so blessed!"

"Hmf!" Rania snorted, trying to scare him a bit.

"Ack! Don't' be angry with me anymore, o Favoured One," Caligo pleaded. 

"Maybe I won't if you stop looking down on women,' Rania teased him further.

Caligo averted his eyes. 

"Could your disagreement be more obvious?" Rania sighed.

"She's right. Men, women, they're both equal. No one is superior than the other," Elliot added.

Caligo bawled his eyes, "B-but master ..."

"If you utterly hated a woman for something she did, then hate her alone. Don't group everyone else in the same category. Each person is different and unique," Elliot lectured him.

"Yes, that's right!" Rania nodded and patted Elliot's head. "Amazing, my son is growing up so nicely!"

Elliot pulled her hands. "I'm not your son," he replied, stressing on the "not" part.

Caligo pouted, "Alright, I'll try not to. I don't hate the Favoured One at least. She's scary".

"Oh, I'm scary. That's new," Rania chuckled.

Elliot chuckled as well. "How I hope I could have seen what actually happened back there. Mind showing me, Caligo? You can create illusions right?"

Caligo looked smug, "Yes I can! I can also do mind control, spiritual energy steal, shadow magic, darkness manipulation, black hole attack, blind, mist, charms like the aphrodisiac … there's a LOT I can do! I can even do telepathy so you can communicate with the others in case you get separated. Like how I talked to you inside the hotel suite". 

"Wow, that's convenient," Elliot nodded his head.

"Good thing you have many uses," Rania teased again. "At least it would compensate a bit for all the trouble you caused us".

"Ack! Y-yes, use me as you please," Caligo whimpered.

While they were busy discussing the depths of Caligo's powers, Luna had been fidgeting all along and kept on glancing at Ducis. When she couldn't take it anymore, she stepped backward, away from everyone. 

"Hey dragon," Luna called out to Ducis in a whisper, with her hands waving, asking him to come over. It seemed like she wanted to get some distance from Rania and Elliot.

Ducis squinted and raised his eyebrows as he walked towards her. 

"What is it midget?"

"I told you not to call me that!" Luna pouted.

"Maybe I will if you learn to call me by my name," Ducis crossed his arms.

"Tsk! Fine, Du-cis!" Luna crossed her arms as well. "Anyway, I have a question. Actually, lots of questions so make sure you answer them okay?"

Ducis raised his eyebrows even further. "And why should I answer you?"

"Come on! You're the Guardian of Wisdom!"

"I didn't say it like that -," Ducis wanted to argue but decided not to press on more, he'll just lose his wits to this fairy. "Whatever, what is it?"

"Tell me," Luna raised her hands to cover her mouth like what people who gossip do. "Is Elliot … a prince or something?"

Ducis' eyes widened. He DID NOT expect her to say such things.

"W-what do you mean?" Ducis snorted. 

"Well, going through all these doors … the 12 trials of the guardians … Isn't that the 'Rite of Passage'?" 

Ducis' face turned serious. "You … how do you know about the "Rite of Passage'?" He grabbed Luna's arm and unconsciously gripped them tight.

"Aw! That hurts stupid dragon!"

Ducis turned back to his senses and removed his hands away. "Ah, sorry".

"Don't everyone know about it?"

"No! Nobody knows about it, except guardians and all the previous Anointed. Where did you learn about this?" Ducis' eyes begged for answers. Given all the wisdom he had, he could not fathom how a mere fairy would know of such things … the secret of a thousand generations.

Luna bawled her eyes, "I really don't know how I know it. I just do. Kinda like how I got mixed up with the sprites, I don't know how I ended up there, but I just was". She covered her head, preparing for another scolding, "Please don't be angry with me. I didn't do anything bad".

Ducis sighed. "I don't know how you know that but … I'm warning you. DO NOT ever tell that to anyone - anyone at all. Especially Elliot, it is not time yet for him to know. He's too smart for his own good. Once he knows, he'll figure it all out … and he's not ready for the truth yet".

"Okay, I understand," Luna energetically nodded. "I promise, I won't tell!"

"Good".

"Ahm, another question -"

Ducis squinted his eyes again. "What?"

"When we were in that illusion city, remember when we saw that beautiful statue?"

"This midget … dropping bombs after another," Ducis thought in his mind.

"Why did you stare at it for so long? And you looked so gloomy too when you saw it. Is it someone you know?"

Indeed, Ducis and Luna came across a very magnificent statue inside the mall where they got separated from Rania and Elliot. Though it was a statue, its colors were very vibrant and the whole sculpture was done flawlessly making it look so alive and realistic.

The statue was that of a goddess. The plaque beneath it said "Guardian of Grace" but her beauty was so divine and celestial that you'd mistake her for an actual goddess. She had long and silky, pinkish white hair, like the color of a light blush. Her eyes were very gentle and her irises, golden. She wore white goddess robes with gradient pink ends. On her small waist was a belt made of different beautiful flowers and vines. She stood tall and magnificent, and in her hands, she held a planet - Gaia. And her luscious lips were curved into a gentle and warm smile towards the planet she held. 

  "You looked like you're missing her, or longing for her," Luna pondered with the little brain she had. "Well, if she's a guardian, then we'll meet her someday right?"

At these words, Ducis turned his back on Luna. He balled his fist and gritted his teeth. With deep sorrow on his face, he answered her.

"No. She's a guardian … we will no longer meet".

Luna gasped and covered her mouth. Alas, she had asked something she never should have.