Voyage Of The Villainess

However, before they completely got teleported, Kayden stepped out of the circle. Iris also seemed alarmed even Hyun Jae and Dorris.

"It seems one of your pursuers has arrived here," Iris said with a grin on her face. "That is one nasty lifa, that can't be easily spotted. But when one does, it gives a menacing feeling." This horrified both Dandras and Lamar.

*Bang!*

The door swung open revealing a man with a red mask.

"I'll take care of this," Kayden said. 

The teleportation circle glowed even more brightly. And within a matter of seconds, everyone disappeared aside from Kayden and the masked man.

"What an interesting teleportation spell that is." The red masked man, Ivor spoke.

Without waiting for the masked man to do something, Kayden began to attack first.

---⚓⚓⚓---

Meanwhile...

The sounds of the waves were what Dandras heard once they teleported. When he was able to take a proper look at the place he was now, they were now in some ship.

"Captain! Everyone!" Dandras' attention shifted towards a man wearing glasses and now running towards them.

"Rhyme," Malaya greeted. "The ship has been back to its former glory now." She said as she walked around.

"Yes, just a few more things, and the Bituins will be as good as to sail now."

"I see. That's great to hear." Malaya said with a smile. "When it comes to the ship, we can always rely on you."

"It's alright." Rhyme said as he scratched the back of his head. "This is my job."

"Um excuse me?" Lamar interrupted them. "Are you not worried at the very least about Sir Kayden?" His eyes held worry.

"He will be fine," Iris said as she walked towards the cabin. "He is one of the strongest among us."

Both Lamar and Dandras looked at each other. It seemed true that these people believe in Kayden's strength. 

"Speaking of that, how's the capital?" Malaya asked.

Rhyme sighed. "The people who have gone crazy have not yet woken up. Oliver, Rein, and Seth have been lending a hand to the officials."

"They sure are very busy right now."

"Yes, indeed we are so busy. And where did all of you go?" Everyone turned around only to see Oliver and behind him was Rein.

"Lady Malaya, I'm glad to see you safe." Rein bowed briefly.

"It's been a while, Rein. I'm glad to see you again as well." 

"Where is that Siren following you like a puppy?" It was Seth this time who appeared next to Oliver.

"Ah right, I almost forgot about him," Malaya said as she let out a sigh. "We have a lot of things to talk about that's for sure."

"Prince Kija wants to have a word with you as soon as you return," Oliver said. 

"Yep. I also need to tell him something. And these two will be coming with me as well." Malaya gestured to Dandras and Lamar who seemed startled for some reason.

"We will come with you?" Lamar was completely taken aback. "To see the prince?"

"Yes," Malaya said. "It is better if both of you tell the authorities yourself the real thing happening behind the war and people going crazy."

The two gulped. In their entire life, it was never in their wildest dreams they would have a chance to face the royalties.

"I've been meaning to ask, who are these two gentlemen?" Rhyme asked, interrupting the three.

"Ah, these are Dandras and Lamar," Malaya said, introducing the two to the rest of the crew. "I save them from the possible perpetrators of the beastmen attacks and the self-destruction incident." 

"This is Rhyme, our reliable navigator and ship caretaker. Then these are Oliver, Rein, and Seth."

After the introductions, without wasting much time, Malaya together with Oliver, Dandras, and Lamar went to see the prince. This time when they teleported through the capital using talismans, Malaya's expression was not that great seeing the capital.

Houses were broken and many people were running back and forth fixing the damages.

"Where is the prince?" Malaya asked Oliver.

"We need to head to the palace," Oliver said. 

"The palace?" 

"Yes, if you haven't heard. The crown prince has been inflicted with the curse and still not waking up. A carriage is already waiting for us in the inn we met with the prince before. It will escort us to the palace." Oliver explained.

"To think that the crown prince of this kingdom got inflicted. Hah. It seems things become more troublesome." Malaya said.

Hearing this Lamar and Dandras started to get nervous. 

'Even the crown prince got inflicted? What will happen to us, when we tell everything that we are the ones who created that Miracle powder? Our heads might be sent straight to the guillotine.' Dandras was completely worried.

"You are victims," Malaya said. "They will not punish you, probably?"

"Probably?" Both the gentlemen sank deeper hearing Malaya's uncertainties. 

"Well, who knows, I haven't asked you both. Since you are the ones who develop that medicine you are talking about. Then perhaps there is also some cure for it. And besides, I am wondering, if it is a powder and whoever inhales it will become crazy, why does it affect everyone?" Malaya asked.

"We don't know either about that." Dandras sighed. "And if we are given a chance, we want to help make a cure for it."

"Yes," Lamar agreed with Dandras' words. "We really don't mean to harm anyone. If we need to dedicate our lives to creating a cure for those who become victims of the Miracle Powder, we will do so."

"We've arrived," Oliver said, interrupting their talks. They were finally on the other side of the road that was in front of the inn. And just like Oliver said, there was indeed a fancy carriage in front of the inn. It has the insignia of the royal family of Baslon. 

"You are forced. Just tell everything to them and they will understand that." Malaya said. "Let's go now."

---⚓⚓⚓---

In one of the luxurious rooms in the Baslon Palace, maids and butlers could be seen running back and forth inside and outside a certain room. It was no other than the room of the crown prince of the kingdom of Baslon.

Though it has been days since the incident, many doctors and mages were trying to wake up the prince. But they could only be held in despair. Whatever caused the prince to fall into self-destruction like the others, they were still not sure about it. 

The third prince, Kija, looked at his brother with a sullen expression, 'If I paid all my attention to him. None of this will happen.' He clenched his fist as he watched the doctors and mages, doing everything they could to wake up the crown prince.

However, after a few more hours, they could only sigh in frustration and defeat. They told the third prince the same thing since they told him since the first day the crown prince was brought back here. 

"There is nothing wrong with his highness, physically. However, the flow of his lifa is still unstable. We are a failure as doctors and healers!" Everyone said in unison.

The third prince held his head out of frustration. "Go back tomorrow again." He said as dismissed them out of the room. 

"Brother," Prince Kija didn't bother to turn around when someone entered the room. Since he already knew who it was. It was no other than his second elder brother and the second prince of the kingdom, Prince Yuu. He had short silver hair and mesmerizing ashen eyes. He was wearing a long black robe.

"The doctors and the healers still can't find the cause of my brother's sickness." Prince Kija said.

"It is the same case with the people in the hospital and towers." Prince Yuu, released a deep sigh. "We can't just do anything aside from monitoring them."

"Your highness," Both the prince turned around when one of their knights called out to them.

He gave a brief bow waiting for the princes to acknowledge him. 

"What is it?" Prince Kija asked.

"Lady Malaya, Sir Oliver, and her companions have arrived in the palace." The knight reported.

This made both the princes look at each other. "Is she the one you mentioned, you are meeting frequently in the inn. And Sir Oliver's and Sir Rein's companions as well? They said she disappeared a few days ago."

"Yes, she is." Prince Kija. "I'll go see her now. Please look after the first brother for now."

"I will." Prince Yuu said.

Prince Kija immediately strode out of the room and threaded through the hallways of the palace. The palace walls were decorated with different portraits of royalties in the past three centuries. And the knights and maids who saw the prince bowed their heads as soon as the prince walked past them.

The prince stopped in front of a room where two guards were stationed. They give a brief salute and opened the door.. Inside the room, was the guests that was waiting for him.