Dead Soul Exorcist

07 | The Blurred Distance Between Good and Wicked

Lotus Palace, two years ago.

"Kieran, don't embarrass me at a time like this," The reprimand was nothing more than a whisper, yet it felt like a slap to Kieran's feelings.

Kieran placed his fork beside the slice of strawberry roll cake he couldn't indulge in. The silent gesture oddly caught the attention of Princess Silvanna, seated at the edge of the table, causing her to pause from her meal and glance in his direction. "I told you I couldn't accompany you today, Pa," Kieran whispered to him. "Today is crucial for me."

"What activity could be more important than accompanying your father to learn the actual duties of a Duke?" his father retorted angrily.

Seated across from Kieran, William Zephyr wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking sour as if witnessing something inappropriate. This intensified Kieran's anger, prompting him to groan and push his chair back. He left the dining hall of the Lotus Palace abruptly, disregarding all the important figures present. Suddenly, Kieran just wanted to go home.

On the warm and vine-covered balcony, Kieran began to regret his impulsive decision. He must have truly embarrassed his father, and perhaps Princess Silvanna would forbid him from returning ever again. He might not be able to become a good Duke when he grows up.

Suddenly, someone opened the balcony door. "Kieran?" Her soft and gentle voice made Kieran turn, and he found himself face to face with Princess Silvanna, whose expression remained hidden under a white veil covering her face and hair.

"I apologize, Your Highness," Kieran said immediately. "I behaved rudely by leaving the dining hall like that."

"Ah, who said I came here to scold you?" Princess Silvanna approached the balcony and leaned forward. "I was just observing them at work."

Kieran followed Princess Silvanna's gaze. It seemed that some palace gardeners were trimming the grass in the courtyard and tending to the blooming flowers in the garden. Despite the distance between them, they occasionally exchanged jokes and laughter. It only intensified Kieran's desire to go home. "I shouldn't be here," Kieran mumbled unconsciously.

"Is there a place you should be visiting?"

"Well, there is," Kieran hid his face in the folds of his sleeves.

"In that case, go," the words were spoken so easily that Kieran turned in surprise. Princess Silvanna shrugged. "Your father will surely understand."

Kieran rolled his eyes. His hope vanished instantly. "My father won't understand," he grumbled. "He keeps going on about Duke duties and all that. That's all that matters to him."

Princess Silvanna gently squeezed his shoulder. "When the time comes for you to become Duke," she whispered softly. "You'll realize that the true duty of a leader is to protect those who matter to you and those who need your protection."

***

In the bustling train station, Kieran sat with a sulky expression in front of the ticket counter. Despite the crowd, he maintained a polished appearance, wearing a white shirt, a leather vest, and a comfortable long black coat. He carried Lunabelle, who was dressed in a cozy black jumpsuit that complemented her newly dyed hair. From an outsider's perspective, Kieran was well aware that he and Lunabelle looked strikingly similar, almost like brother and sister.

"Are you sure you're going to Umbravale alone without your parents, lad?" the ticket attendant asked, furrowing his brow with evident suspicion.

"I'm not alone," Kieran retorted, growing annoyed. "I'm with my sister, see?"

"That's precisely the problem!" The ticket attendant rubbed his brow. "Coming to Umbravale alone is very dangerous without adult supervision."

"No worries, I can handle myself," Kieran tried to appear calm. Handle what? He didn't even possess natural magical talents. As everyone said, he was a cursed child. "I'm already 19 years old."

"You seem too young for your age," he complained. "Do you have any relatives there?"

"I do," Kieran replied. "In some city in the Varidianth realm. I'm indeed planning to visit them." He lied. His father, the Duke of Umbravale, was a fortunate man born without siblings, never experiencing the competition for succession. And his grandfather, the former Duke, was an adopted child of a childless couple. It seemed 'loneliness' had been a middle name for the Nyxshade family for a long time.

The ticket attendant sighed deeply, filled with inner turmoil. The man promptly tore a ticket for Kieran. As usual, a child as small as Lunabelle didn't need to purchase a ticket. "Safe travels, you two," he said.

"Thank you." Kieran took out two silver coins and received his ticket, but the ticket attendant pushed one silver coin back to him.

"Save your money to take care of your sister, lad," he said. "Don't make me regret letting you two go."

"Thanks," Kieran didn't know what else to say. So, he shifted Lunabelle from his left shoulder to his right due to stiffness, then carried their luggage into the train.

"I feel sad that I can't go home with Mama," Lunabelle whispered on Kieran's shoulder. Her chubby hands hugged Kieran's neck even tighter. "I want to cry now."

Kieran managed to find a comfortable and inconspicuous seat for both of them, settling Lunabelle beside him. Her pale eyes glistened with tears.

"Go ahead and cry," Kieran muttered wearily. He summoned a food vendor who promptly arrived with his cart. After purchasing some fragrant ham sandwiches, a few bottles of water, and a bottle of milk for Lunabelle, Kieran stroked her hair. "I miss her a lot too," he admitted.

Lunabelle wiped her tears and the runny nose. "I want a sandwich," she said.

"Here," Kieran handed a ham sandwich to Lunabelle. "Be careful, it's still a bit hot."

For a while, they simply stayed silent, munching on ham sandwiches. Kieran observed people entering the train carriage, while Lunabelle ate her breakfast with occasional sniffles by her side.

Memories of yesterday's events flowed through his mind. Pondering how General Griffin could summon his weapon like that. If Kieran's memory served him right, General Griffin referred to his weapon as the "General's bow." But it seemed Eliora didn't say anything when summoning her weapon.

Kieran thought about the two hiltless swords bestowed upon him by the Highest Priest. He took a bite of his sandwich, then raised both palms. "Revenant's dual swords."

Still, nothing happened.

"Revenant's double swords."

Yet, nothing occurred.

"Kieran's dual or double swords!"

For a few seemingly futile seconds, nothing happened. Kieran sighed in disappointment.

He then recalled how the swords were so dusty and worn, as if they had aged considerably. "I wonder who the previous owner of these swords was," he lamented.

***

Kieran didn't know how long he had been asleep. He jolted awake as the train came to a sudden halt, and a moment later, there were brisk footsteps heard inside the carriage. When someone shouted, "Find that child!" Kieran immediately scooped up the still sleeping Lunabelle and hurriedly walked towards the back of the train, passing through carriages in a panic.

"What's happening, Ky?" Lunabelle mumbled sleepily.

"Nothing. We're just hiding from a lot of bad people," Kieran whispered. They reached the end of the last carriage of the train. As Kieran opened the door, the wind blew their hair so fiercely. The train was moving so fast that Kieran felt disoriented.

"Attention! If you see a 17-year-old with raven-blue hair carrying a young girl around 3 years old..."

Kieran's heart raced. He gauged the distance between the train and the grassy ground beside the tracks. If he jumped now, his body would slam and get hurt, not to mention the potential danger it could pose to Lunabelle. And there was no guarantee he could escape the pursuit of the knights after landing. The risks were truly not worth taking.

"We can hide temporarily on the carriage roof," Lunabelle suggested.

"Huh?" Kieran blinked in confusion. "We can't do that, Lunabelle. Standing up there is very dangerous due to the train's vibrations and jolts, strong winds, not to mention the train moving too fast. Not everything seen in action movies is safe to imitate."

"I'm blind, so I can't watch action movies," Lunabelle said gloomily. "I thought we could hide on the roof, maybe it's shaped like an attic."

"Um, not at all. It's more like the shape of the vitamin capsules we used to take at the orphanage," Kieran quickly explained. "Okay, forget about that. We'll hide in the bathroom."

Kieran opened the carriage door again and was startled. Before him stood Dravon, equally surprised.

"Woah," Dravon, who first recovered from his surprise, exclaimed. "Prince's sword." A diamond-hilted sword materialized in Dravon's grasp. "Set the child down so we can fight here, Nyxshade."

Kieran tightened his grip on Lunabelle. "I don't have to do that, Dravon," he muttered. He wasn't willing to admit to Dravon that he currently had no weapon.

However, Lunabelle exclaimed, "Queen's bow and arrow!" Initially, Kieran didn't understand what Lunabelle was doing. When comprehension struck, he murmured the same two words. A beautiful and intricate diamond bow appeared in Kieran's hands. However, arrows were not useful in close combat against a sword user.

"So, it's true," Dravon grinned maliciously. His gaze was piercing and cold. "That you stole Princess Silvanna's magical talent."

"I won't discuss it further with someone who refuses to even listen to the truth," Kieran replied just as coldly. He then whispered to Lunabelle, "Hold on to me for a moment." However, the little girl didn't react.

"Lunabelle," Kieran urged her.

"You won't hurt Uncle Dravon, will you, Ky?"

Kieran and Dravon stared at Lunabelle simultaneously, both surprised and fascinated. Dravon lowered his sword.

"Indeed, Lunabelle, this is Uncle. Come here, into Uncle's embrace," Dravon said gently.

Lunabelle reached out her hand. For a moment, Kieran thought the child wanted to be carried by Dravon, so he stayed silent as Dravon approached them. Once Dravon was close enough for Kieran to see the claw scars on his neck, Lunabelle gently stroked Dravon's face with her small palm.

"Lunabelle wants to stay with Uncle longer, but Lunabelle wants to go home," Lunabelle said. Her sudden sweet and polite tone made Kieran feel somewhat alienated. "Don't fight with Ky."

"But, Lunabelle..." Dravon's voice became softer, yet his face turned more ferocious and cunning as he stared at Kieran. That's when Kieran saw a glint and stepped backward until his back slammed against the carriage door, creating a loud clang of metal. His waist felt hot and stinging where Dravon sliced it sharply.

"But, Lunabelle..." Dravon wiped the blood on his dagger and smeared it across his lips with a satisfied smile. "... Uncle can't let the wicked roam our world, right?" The demon prince stepped back a few paces, arrogantly stretching out his arms, allowing his knights to surround and corner Kieran and Lunabelle.