Fanies went to where their horses are being tied up which was near the entrance and took off his jacket and leave it on the ground, he then took two pair of clothes as per the Prince requested and went towards the waterfall as he too need to clean up. He walked pass the personnel whose doing their job as they brought down the heads that was hanging above onto the ground with the two guardsman while the two humans councilman are still scouting the area for some clues.
He continue walking towards the waterfall and sighs. 'That lunatic Dion was truly something. My jaw's still hurts.', he smirked and thought while touching his jaws and face.
He looked up the sky and think once more, 'That Dion! He's human and had no position on the council but only the former Arch-King knew him and his family, though even I didn't encountered any of his relatives and only him who would come and go.' He looked at the front, 'His Highness were quite found of that Dion even though his a human. His Highness would enjoy and even change his character around that man.', and he now heard the running water louder as he walked nearer.
Then Fanies heard a screams coming from where the waterfall and a loud laughed echos while he rushed there and when he got near, he was confused and lost at what he saw.
At the side of the fall was Chervil holding a snake in his hand while chuckling, and Dion was on the water naked looking frightened of what the Prince was holding.
"Why are you holding that, Your Highness?!", Dion asked while his whole body was submerged on the water and look at Chervil with a frightened expression.
Chervil smiled evilly as he looked at the snake that he's holding and playing with it, "Just playing. Why? Are you afraid of this big worm?"
"No. I'm not but that one ísn't normal.", Dion replied while he swam there.
"Ohh, and how can you say that?", Chervil asked curious then he heard footsteps coming near them from distance.
"You see, Chervil. There are these animals that is created by the likes of us but not alikes only to harm while there are animals that of normal ones.", Dion replied and says, "However, that you're holding right now isn't from the category of normal or nature ones.", while looking at the snake then swam back again.
"Sometimes, I wonder where your knowledge come from.", commented Chervil and chuckled as looking at the snake.
"Ohh... My knowledge isn't just mine alone but because of what happened in the past, I have to obtain this kind of knowledge.", said Dion and emerged from the water then got back to the side. "Thanks to a certain person I might say.", he said and saw Fanies walking towards them.
Hearing Dion's responded, Chervil couldn't help but wondered something. "I would like to meet with this certain person you're talking about.", he commented then looked back where Fanies were almost near.
"Someday maybe... ", said Dion as Chervil looked back at him. "That time when I left without informing you or your father four years ago and just came back three years after was because of someone from our family falling ill, and so we must need a full attention to these person's health. That's why I left without informing everyone."
Chervil nodded then tied the snake on its own body, stood up and threw the snake far from where they were then cocked his head to his right side and asked, "How come that person so important? What's kind of relationship do you have with?"
Dion replied as he look at the falls, "A family of ours.", he said softly with a smile. "This person considered me as the same as family, so abandoning my everything for a years wasn't a wasted time."
"I wonder when will I ever meet this person.", Prince Chervil laughed in wondered because he never know this story. "Just how did that person know such information?"
Dion looked at him and shook his head then put his index finger on his lips, "That person knows all. But... There's many things in this world that cannot be explained or said, that is best to keep and leave it behind for the betterment of the time being.", and he smiled at the Prince.
Prince Chervil looked at him confused and just let go of their conversations. Dion would definitely tell him about it if it weren't going to affect anyone, and he trusts Dion as his friend more than his aid Fanies.
Chervil have known Dion because of his grandfather who introduced Dion to him and told that his family tho humans has an influenced on the biggest society like theirs which was why his father now likes Dion family. However, only father and son who would appears in every gathering and sometimes only Dion when they were being invited which left a mystery about his mother and other sibling as he told him that he had one older sister who never shows up. Dion's father was also part of the council, and even though he knows him for more than fifteen years there are still many that he didn't know about his human friend, even his power bragging father which he doesn't like never knew more about Dion family other than his family was an influential human in their empire.
Fanies arrived there and throw one pair of clothes to Dion who was half naked without talking and walked pass them and went to the water.
Fanies was running when he heard a screams and laughing at the waterfall and when he got near and saw what was going on, he just started to walk towards the two man who's talking while the Prince was sitting on a stone and the other one was on the water; hence, he could not hear what the two man were talking about due the water sound that very audible when he got nearer and nearer to them.
Fanies saw the Prince holding a snake like he was just playing with it, and the human who choked him and punched him emerged from the water half naked while walking back on the edge.
He was still irritated at the thought but what could he do, he got near and threw the pair of clothes and went passed them without talking to go near the water and put the other pair of clothes on the stone and striped himself then submerged himself on the cold water.
Other two looked at each other and just shrugged then Dion changed his cloths and sat on the stone with the Prince.
"Your father was part of the council, right?", asked Prince Chervil as he took a stone then threw it on the rever. "What was his position there? I saw him on some gathering and even talked with him but I don't know his position.", he said.
Dion looked at Chervil and chuckled then says, "What with the sudden interest, Your Highness?", he then turned to looked at the running water that was falling from the top. "My father's name is Eram, he's the leader of the investigating group.", he said and stood up while he added, "He isn't known, though."
"However, though your father isn't known, your family's still influential from the past until now."
Chervil stood up and walked towards the falls as Dion following behind while Fanies was emerging from the rever and was about to change to a dried clothes.
Dion looked around and said, "My mother's family and our works gave way to it."
"What was the name of your older sister, again?", asked Prince Chervil.
"Thessalunica Lathirus."
"What a weird name? However, it sounds familiar.", Chervil topped his chin with his four-finger as if trying to recall the name.
"Yeah, it does but she doesn't want everyone to know, for our family's good."
"You know what, your life and your family is full of mystery and here our Prince so attached to you.", Fanies said to Dion and walk towards them after he finished wearing his clothes.
"My life, my self isn't really a mystery though so does my family, and that is what I am, what you see in me... but there's one who holds our lifes.", Dion replied on the statement Fanies said as he stretched both his arms up the sky.
"You know, when you said something like that, I think it has another meanings.", Chervil commented while looking at Dion on the side of his eyes.
"Maybe it has, Your Highness.", Dion grinned at the Prince.
The two could only shook their head at Dion's vagueness and they went silent for a moment as if they are trying to feel the peacefulness of the place while listening to the sound of running water whist a faint sound was being barely heard by the two vampires.
Fanies heard the sound and turn his head to looked at Chervil, "Your Highness, did you hear it?"
"I think we're not the only ones here.", Chervil stated and walk towards the falls where the sound he heard just now came from.
He walked nearer and saw that the waterfalls has a cave behind the running waters that was flowing down like as if the cave is a secret place.
Chervil then pointed the waterfalls and says to Dion and Fanies, "I think there's a cave behind the waterfalls."
Dion went there faster to see if it's true or not and when he saw there's indeed a cave, he turn around and smile at the two man who looks confused at why he's smiling.
"What?! Is there's a cave over there or none?", asked Fanies while looking irritates and confused as why Dion was smiling. "You, human really love and wants to face the dangers, don't you, Sir Dion?", he said and followed Dion's trails with the Prince in tow.
Dion chuckled. "What can I say, we humans love challenges!", he shrugged and said.
Chervil was the one who inspected it as he went near the water and saw a pathway then went inside to see what's in there. He went and looked then saw a small cave with only four people could fit in and there on the ground was a person laying on the cold floor and was breathing heavily whist the person's cloths were tored and drenched due to the water impact on the ground.
Dion went inside after a while and saw the person, he then went fast and crunched on the ground to check the pulse. "She's fine but she had a high fever now.", said Dion as he looked up to inform the Prince who went near and crunched as well.
"She must be part of the villagers here who did survived. She might be the only survivor here.", Chervil said while he looked at the young girl who's breathing heavily with a pale complexion. 'If the massacre happened three to five days ago then that means she's been here all these time without anything.', he thought while observing the girl on Dion's arms.
"Let's take her out here!", suggested Dion.
"Yeah!", Chervil nodded in agreement and helped Dion on carrying the young girl out of the cave.
When Fanies saw them while carrying the young girl out of the cave, he then went and helped by arranging the ground for the girl with their clothes and put the young girl on it.
They observed the girl lying on the ground while her complexion becoming worse as time pass by.
"What should we do, Your Highness?", Fanies asked. He turn his head looking around the area.
"Should we inform the council about this, Chervil?", asked Dion looking at the girl. 'This girl needs a change of clothes and foods to eat before her health could turn to worse.', he thought while retrieving his hand on the girl forehead that was burning.
"If we inform the council, they'll just going to take her without concerning her health. Specially that elder.", concluded Chervil. He looked up and notice the sky becoming darker while he could hear the night animals nearby as the cold night wind were breezing.
"Fanies, inform the elder council that we'll come back tomorrow afternoon or the day after, and let them just continue the investigation.", commended Chervil then he covered the young lad with his leather jacket, turn his gaze at Dion who's eyes closed and ask, "Are you hungry now?"
Dion open his eyes and smile, "Not quite. I'm just thinking something.", he answered looking down at the girl then back at the Prince. "Chervil, there's an estate on the town before here that's owned by my sister. We can bring her there and call for a doctor, and as well as to change her cloths because if we don't she'll end up dying here. That's if we're not going to turn her over to the council.", he suggested.
Chervil thought and nodded then turn to Fanies who hasn't gone to inform the council members yet. "Go, inform them now then tell the guards to went back to the palace as we'll be going at Dion estate for days or weeks, and probably take the horses with you when you got back here.", he said with stirn voice.
Fanies quickly nod and stood up, "Yes, Sir. I shall be off and inform them." He bowed and left.
After awhile, Fanies came back with their horses and rode down the village to the town where the estate Dion said they would be staying to help the girl, and Dion carried the girl with him in his horse.
* * * * * * * * * *
"How far is it?!", asked Fanies as they rode faster.
"We're almost there!", Dion replied then look down at the girl in his arms.
After an hour of riding, they stop infront a tall wall and a huge gate at the edge of the town where there are less people, less crowds and less houses.
"Ahhh, Dion, what's this place?", asked Chervil as he found the place unusual.
"My sister's estate, Your Highness.", said Dion smile and look up at the sky that's turned dark while the lanterns on the wall and streets that were burning brightly.
Chervil looked at the gate that has an unusual designs carved on it. He frown looking at it as he saw a person-like-woman facing the left side, thus it carved on the right while stretching both arms at the left lifting up high that seems holding something, while on the other side is like a symbols of the four councils on each empires, and at the lower part was also a person-like-woman, but this one wasn't holding something and it's more like releasing something. Chervil also see four person at the most lower part, that has a symbols of the four great empires and symbols of its underling Kingdoms which under its ruling subjects, as though like their were kneeling while facing the person-like-woman at the side.
"What's with the weird carved?", asked Chervil pointing at the tall gate.
"Who knows.", Dion replied and shrugged. "Let's just say it holds the long lost forgotten myths." His horse went first followed by the two behind.
"And what's that means this time?", Fanies asked looking at Dion suspicious.
"Don't look like that, Fanies. You're making me uncomfortable.", Dion commented as if he saw him upon hearing Fanies words. He then touch the center of the gate and pulled his horse to step back a little.
When the gate sounded like its about to open, the two man seems like they sees a treasure when they saw what's behind the gate, and had their mouth open at what was inside.
"Umm, Am I dreaming? Your Highness, what's this place?", asked Fanies lost at what he saw then narrowed his eyes looking at Dion's back. 'To think that there's a place like this here. Just who are your family?', he thought and looked back on the inside again.
Chervil look inside his eyes wide open. 'This place was like what grandmother always telling me and my siblings when we were kids about her adventures. A place with so many flowers and trees inside an unusual gate.', he thought whist he heard what Fanies said he just didn't bothered.
He knew Fanies was having a suspicious on Dion for long, and it deepened when his friend left without a trace four years ago and just came back after three years; Fanies even told him that Dion isnt to be trusted, nevertheless, Chervil knows what kind of a person his friend is, though Dion's words and actions sometimes are weird and had another deep meanings on it, Chervil couldn't bring himself to suspect him for anything, adding on, his grandfather told him that Dion's family was acquainted with them for a long time thus he should trust him even if his words and actions weren't and isn't appropriate most of the times.
Dion look back on them, "Welcome to our fairytale estate, Your Highness.", he said with a smile and enter inside riding his horse. "Let's go inside. This girl needs to change cloths and rest. And as for me, I need to eat. I'm famish."
The two vampires whose behind him looked at one another then followed inside.
Inside the wide open gate, there's a narrow pathway that leads to each cottages while on the left side they could see a variety of flowers, and a small fountain at the middle, a tea table with five chairs; whist at the right side could be seen the three small cottages and herbs then lanterns that leads the way, thus there's also a lanterns that leads the pathway to the far end where a big cottage was there.
"How come this place here, hidden from people?", asked Chervil to no one in particular looking around the place which similar to what his grandmother stories.
"This isn't hidden, Chervil.", Dion said when he heard the Prince. He chuckled at his thoughts.
They got near the big cottage and saw two girls wearing an off shoulder long sleeves dress: one who wore pink while the other is black that has a gold lining as they stood there with an elderly woman who wore a black dress with white apron then a young man wearing all white suits with gold lining.
As they got down their horses, the girls walk to them and took the horses without speaking, that made the two vampires to look at the girls then back on their front; thus, Chervil and his aid looked confuse by their cloth and the place they were in.
"Can someone prepare food? I'm famish. And please give them whose behind me some blood before they could think of drinking from me."
The two vampires heard the human while still carrying the young lad in his arms.
"Then, fetch a doctor for me to attend this one and change her cloths as I put her on the room, its wet."
The elderly woman bowed and open the door while the young man walk pass them and went out without a words.
"That was weird. Just what is this place, really?", Fanies asked he couldn't explained the ambiance of the place.
"A fairytale estate. Well, that's what an acquaintances of ours called this place. Come on and let's rest inside.", Dion nonchalantly said entering inside the cottage while chuckling, and as if thinking something he added, "Don't worry, there's no such thing as what you two were thinking right now."
Prince Chervil and his aid glanced at each other and looked around the place then following Dion inside.
Inside of the cottage were simple. A small kitchen, a small table for dining that has five chairs, a small waiting area with fireplace at side and a stairway that lead up to where the rooms, there are three rooms and some portraits on the wall.
"This place is so... so much... for a word cottage.", commented Chervil as he looked and walked around the place.
"Just feel free, Your Highness.", Dion said while he went up the stairs. "I'll just put this girl in one of the rooms, and ask them to change her dress. I'll come down in a moment."
The aid was scanning the place. "More like a little manor to me... Of how wide this place.", he also commented and walked up the stairs following Dion.
Fanies went up followed by the Prince, and they heard the conversations between Dion and the elderly woman on one the room where they put the young lad.
"Dion, you okay?", the elderly woman asked in almost a whisper.
"Of course, I am. I'm just thinking if this is the right choice to bring His Highness and that aid along."
"Dion, I see that you did a right choice on bringing them here cause if you didn't then this girl won't live even a minute later."
"Really!", Dion exclaimed in a low pitch and sighs, "That's a relief. Then I can just explain it to her when that woman decides to drag me to death."
"Yeah, that should be wise.", said the elderly woman and chuckled after, "Shouldn't say something like that about your sister."
"Anyway, how was the girl doing?", after awhile Dion asked with a worried voice.
"She's okay, I guess... She just need a rest and change of dress for now, then food when she feels a bit better. Ohh, by the way Dion, she can't fits with the girls dresses here, they were much bigger than her."
"Then ,what should we do?"
The Prince and Fanies heard the conversation as they went near to the door that was slightly open.
"You can just give this girl the dresses that your older sister brought here. I think it fits since its small and this girl has the same figure as the dresses does so-"
"We brought those dresses here because its a
treasures that our grandparents asked us to keep!", they heard Dion exclaimed at what the elderly woman suggested, "And beside those dresses are uniquely made, and shouldn't be worn by anyone if it isn't that person."
The elderly woman sighs, "Then, what's the plan? You knew if that person were here... then that person would gladly give a things just to help this one."
"And because of that kindness and selflessness... That person was suffering all this time!", they heard Dion said angrily in a low voice that's full of pain.
"Sir, I don't know what happened in the past but I think that she would love to help this one here, not of kindness but because this one needs it now.", said the elderly woman slowly to make Dion calm.
Chervil and his aid got closer to a slightly open door and peeked, then they heard another voice coming from within like a young child voice as they saw a gray cat on the far side where they could see the window that was opened.
"Idiot. Stop arguing with her already and give that little girl the dress, you won't win on my judgments. And besides some of those dresses won't be used anymore. Such an idiot.", the voice was stirn and yet playful with an authority.
Chervil saw Dion turn around to face the gray cat while the elderly woman looked so confuse as why his expression turned to annoyance.
They heard the voice again but this time it sound like amused, "Idiot. What's with the glares? Ordinary sun line-age aren't able to hear me, Idiot."
And the cat snap its head on the door that is ajarly open. Suspiciously. It also made Dion to look at the door. "What?", he asked
"Nothing. Must be my imagination.", the cat said.