Alexiese Morgann Ce' Vieze POV

Light. All I see is light around me. I wonder where's the pain I should be feeling right now.

The last time I remember, I was almost sliced into half by that Celestial Sword of the original Vessel of Solem. But why do I don't feel any pain? I looked around, I hardly can see what's around me because of the thick mist.

"Where am I?" I asked into nowhere. Hoping someone could emerge out-of-the-blue here and explain to me where the heck I am.

I walked directionless, looked around and try to see a clearer version of my surroundings. Then, someone grabbed my arm from the back. I froze, aware of the danger I might encounter here since I barely knew where I am. I slowly turned my head, waited for my cue whether to dodge or what, but it seems that the hand that holds me is somewhat familiar to my senses.

"Y-you?" I stuttered the moment I saw the owner of the hand, but the calmness of her face is what I registered. "Are you real now? Or this is another spell to outsmart me and caught me off-guard?"

"This time, I'm real, Lexis." She whispered, her voice as serene like the old times. Her hand reached out for me, and this time I knew why it was so familiar, because maybe this is really her.

"Mom?" I asked again, reassuring I am really seeing real things. "Where are we?"

"Not we, Lexis." She gave me a faint, small, smile. Her eyes become filled of sadness. "Only you, since I already had gone through here."

"What? I can't understand." My brows furrowed.

"Lexis, My Prince..." she said, purring sweetly. "Your currently on the middle of life and death." She added, my eyes widen. Then I remembered that I took the blow intended for Solem to finish her off. I smiled.

"So I succeeded." I said, my mom cupped my face using her soft hands. "I saved her Mom." I beamed a smile.

"I want to meet her someday." She smiled. "But it's still not your time to go, My Lexis." She added. I looked at her intently.

"I thought I'm already dead?" I scratched my head, I'm confused right now.

"No. Not yet, my prince." My mother smiled, she then gave me kisses on both cheeks before she stepped aback and waved.

"W-wait! Mom!" I called out but she slowly vanished and disappeared, my hand left hanging on her last place. "How can I come back then?" I heaved a deep sigh.

Johann Marionn Ce' Vieze

I looked at him again through the window, reminiscing the old times back when were both still children's unaware of how cruel this world was. He already had grown up, he's not the same Alexiese I left with Dad. He spared his life for Solem, and I knew that he can only do that because of love. Love. We barely knew that back then, since even before I discovered we don't share the same mother.

"No Merishya! That child is too stubborn that I slowly regret I kept him with us! I couldn't afford to give him the throne! He's far from deserving!" The King shouted at his wife, a beautiful woman who wears simple clothes but the elegance she showcases it's nothing to be compared of no matter what clothes she'll wear. I peeked through the slightly opened door of the King's elegant room.

"Alexandrov, he's just a little child. Anyone on his age would do the same. That's what normal children do." The woman pleaded, her serene voice was still calm despite of the roaring voice her husband was giving.

"But they aren't normal! Not only they were heirs! They're also Supernaturals! If they can't obey my simple rules, how could they soon obey the rules of nature? How could they soon control their selves?"

"Please, Alexandrov, patience. Luisa's child has still a lot to learn. I know Johann has the capabilities you wanted to see from him, but he's just a little child for now." Merishya said, as a revelation struck me.

I'm not Merishya's child. Alexiese was just my half-brother. They lied to me.

I ran away, not only away from that door, but away from everyone. I was only 7 years old that time, too young to understand everything, and too young to be forced of something I didn't wanted. I roamed around every dome, I look for someone who could help me, I never got tired to look for my Mother, Luisa. But the search only resulted into nothing. My journey brought me to the Library in dome 8. The librarian there decided to adopt me, despite of not telling her who really was I. Her husband died due to old age, and she has no child. She fed me, she gave me clothes and everything. I knew her as Mother Lou.

I spent another 5 years of my life on the Library, and everytime I see someone familiar from the Palace roaming around I quickly hide myself. Mother Lou knew what I was, and still she accepted me. When she died, she gave me all she had; properties, money, everything. She left me all she invested for the years.

And one day, I discovered something accidentally when the papers and documents of her properties was given to me. Mother Lou's real name was Luisa. And it was then when I felt why there's a strong connection between us, it's because she was my Mother. My real mother. But it was too late when I knew the truth because she was already dead, as her lifespan already reached the maximum.

I used up her money to maintain the library, hired a new Librarian as I decided to became a lone explorer. I spent the remaining 5 years of my life like that. One day, I decided to sneak through the Palace and see how Alexiese was doing. I expected to see him around, or atleast chasing the tail of our father because that's what he needed to do. Because that's the only choice left for him as he will be the new heir of the throne. But I didn't see him.

Uniformed like the Palace warrior's, I gathered information about him. And my question was answered on why he wasn't around the Palace; He also ran away. He ran away without any word, just days before I came, and the King didn't mind doing anything to look for his son nor me. I spent another two year's looking for Alexiese.

I found him roaming around the Central Library, and he didn't recognize me fast. He was 18 and I was 20, 13 years already passed. I took him with me, as we go back to dome 8. But soon he discovered I was his brother who ran away years ago, and he loathed me for that. He left my house, and days after I found out he entered the Legion.

After those years, I never stopped watching his back, but I never go near him since I knew how angry he was to me for leaving him alone. Merishya died days after I ran away from the Palace, Alexiese was forced into the things that was likely my responsibility as the original heir. And only added up to his hate to me. He thought the Legion would be his escape from the grasps of responsibility father was giving to him. Then this day came. The mark showed up on me.

I scanned every library, every book, I search for answers all by myself. And I found it, I found the answers on a chest hidden by Mother Lou under her old bedroom. A book almost rotten, but it's inside was still clear. Penta-Theory of SignAl. I read every page of it, and soon I slowly understood everything. The King found out about the book I was keeping, and so he summoned Royal Guards to get it back to him, as he claimed it was his possession.

I was brought to the Palace. I was twenty-two that time, as the King and I faced each other again.

"How did you behold this book?" he said, his eyes held recognition, but he didn't say even a single word about me.

"T'was my Mother's possession." And his eyes widen, then he summoned everyone to leave us.

"So you found your mother huh." He sarcastically said, he wears a smug look that irritates me. "So it was why you ran away?" he said while shaking his head. I remained silent, I never wanted to talk to him, he lied to me. Merishya was a good mother to me, but I deserve to know everything about my own self, and he neglected me to do.

"Give me back the book, Your Highness. For that was something significantly important to me." I stated in a formal tone. He shook his head again, disappointment and disapproval is evident on his face.

"So is this really what you wanted, Marionn?" he asked. I only look straight to his eyes, as we both show up our bloodshot irises. "Do you really—"

"All I want is to disconnect myself from you. That's all. Like how you did to my Mother." I blurted, as rage slowly built up inside me. "Isn't that what you also did? You didn't look for my mom nor me, even though you have all the power to do. So why still command your warrior's to bring me if all you want is to get the book from me?"

"You're still my heir." He pointed out, but I shook my head and walk my way out of the Palace. He didn't stop me, nor anyone as I head towards the exit.

It was only now that I realized that we wasted too many years, looking at Alexiese now, regrets pour over me. What if I didn't ran away? What if I looked for my mother without leaving Alexiese? All those what if's flood my mind.

Solem holds Alexiese's hand tightly, ever since she walked inside she barely turn her eyes away from him. Love, hope, fear. Its mixture is overflowing into the depths of her eyes as she waited for Alexiese to wake up.

Hours. Days. Night's. She didn't leave Alexiese's side. The other Guardian's visit him everyday day, along with Solem's sister, Amethyst and her friends, the wolves and the kid named Ara. Peter and his Alchemist's students constantly checks Alexiese's condition. But through those days I never had the courage to step inside his room.

"Someone should take up the throne the moment we rehabilitate the domes again." Simon stated as he walks towards me on the doorway. I threw him a glance before returning my eyes back to Alexiese.

"I'm sure Alexiese would wake up before that day comes." I said, making sure he gets the message that I didn't want to sit on the throne.

"I summoned the wolves aboveground together with the other Supernaturals. Demon's continue to plague and try to penetrate our location here. The other Guardians are still at rest to heal their wounds." He said, leaning on the wall beside the door. "The people are in panic when the news about King Alexandrov's death spread. They need someone to lead them, Johann. And we can't stay for long hiding below here. We need to fight."

"It's not me who'll decide, Simon. It's Solem, the Alpha Cardinal." I retorted.

"It's already been weeks, and still she's stuck beside Alexiese. No one even has the courage to ask her to lead the Guardians to face the remaining demon's." Simon lowered his head.

"I'll try to make a way about that." I said, glancing back to the inside of the room again.

LATE NIGHT that day, Solem walked out of the room maybe to grab some food, and it was my chance to talk to her about what Simon and I talked about. I told her everything the Prophet also told me.

"I can't leave Alexiese, Johann." She answered. "I'm afraid that when I come back, Alexiese was gone. I... I..." she stopped, her voice raspy.

"I'll look after him. The Guardians and the people needed you more, Solem. Don't forget about your responsibilities. And I'm sure Alexiese would understand why--if ever—you weren't beside him the moment he wakes up." I said, convincing her to head back to her responsibilities as Alpha Cardinal and Guardian. She stayed silent, weighing things on her own perspective. She lifts her head and looked at me, as she slowly nodded. She told me that she'll be staying until the night ends, and tomorrow she'll call off all the other Guardian's to get back Fighting off the demon's aboveground.

As I promised, when the next day comes and Solem with the other Guardian's get back to the domes, I looked after Alexiese and barely turn my eyes away from him for long.

Solem Zekiah Dutritz's POV

We get back aboveground, I along with the other Guardians were currently heading our way to the battleground. Armed with our own gifts, bravery, courage, steel-armor plates, and swords. We emerged out of the Undercity entrance who's now heavily Guarded by Two wolves and two Angels. We nodded to them as we walk past and to the war.

I called out the wolves, ordering the injured to retreat, as we come back to the frontline. We already had enough rest, and we have one job to do, clear them all.

I freed off my gift, and I charge off our enemies. The other Guardian's followed, all armed by their own gifts, as we clear the demon's wave by wave.

In the middle of the battle, after day's, I observed why the pack's weren't successful on clearing them off. It's because the enemy troops seem endless. Even after clearing each wave, they have still remaining demons to send against us. So I decided to call everyone off, retreating for a while to talk and brainstorm for an alternate plan or solution.

"Anyone?" I asked them once more, as our meeting was filled with silence and mere exchange of glances. "No one?" I desperately asked. But no one speaks.

"Even the most absurd idea, c'mon speak up." I told them, until finally Vultair speaks.

"Maybe let's send some spy into their base? To figure out how could we clear them permanently? But I know that would be too risky." He said, unsure of what he in the earth was he suggests. But his idea seems to spark some more ideas that finally started our brainstorming. We came up with the idea of internal penetration, in which we'll destroy them from inside while the other's continue to clear the wave of demon's sent to enter the undercity.

We sent team of spies to trace the location of Seth's nest, as the attacking wave stopped for a while. I took the chance to get back to the Undercity and see if Alexiese already gained back his consciousness.

Walking to the silent roadways of the stair-archetype City, eerie feeling bugs me. Something was wrong. That was what's running on my mind. I hurriedly ran to the Hospital where Alexiese is confined, and when I confirmed Johann was still there watching him I decided not to head more. I searched the Undercity for something my senses were telling, until my foot brought me back to the Library where Simon and I first got a conversation, and him revealing me a lot of things back then.

I felt something pulling me, like a force that reverberates with my mark, grasping my senses to a direction until it's all wall I was facing. I touch the hard surface, until I recognize bulges that weren't normally should be there. I traced those strange things on the wall, then I realize the bulges were tracing a door, completely hidden in sight.

I held my sword out of its sheath and used it to push the invisible differences in the stone wall, after minutes of trying I successful managed to separate the sliding secret stone door on about 2-3 inches far from each other. I put back my sword to its home, as I used my hand to pull the door sideways and open it widely. Dark brick hallway welcomed me, its depth covered with darkness, making it difficult to figure out what's inside.

<Lexxus take charge aboveground. I have something to do down here.> I relayed to them, since the Nano transmitter on us Guardians are still working.

<Copy that, Alpha. The team of spies are currently on their way chasing one demon retreating to their nest.> Lexxus reported. I summoned a fire on my hand, making a light through the darkness as I shoved my way inside the hidden hallway, unsure of what surprise awaits me to uncover inside.

Johann Marionn Ce' Vieze's POV

After several days of gathering courage to step inside Alexiese room, I finally did. I sat beside him, looking intently to his face.

"It's been years, Brother." I said, addressing to him, hoping he could hear me despite of his current condition. "I hope you could still forgive me for leaving you. Father's dead now, only us is left for each other to depend on." I lowered my head as all the pent up emotions wanted to burst from my chest.

Memories of our childhood together reminisce on my mind.

"Johann! Look!" the 3-year-old Alexiese called me out, on his hand a pair of apple.

"Where did you got that?" I asked him as he handed me the other piece of apple on his hand.

"I sneaked out of the gate after chasing a bird, then I got lost but a lovely old woman brought me back to the Palace and gave me this pair of apple's!" He threw his hands on the air. "Luckily no one saw me, so I wouldn't get scolded for sneaking." He chuckled. Only he didn't know that Vampires could hear on long distances, so probably our Father already heard him saying this. I shook my head as I heard the footstep of the King getting nearer, sounding more of danger.

"F-Father..." Lexis and I lowered our heads, nervous spreading to my entire body as we saw him walk to our place.

"I heard one of you sneak out of the Palace..." He said, voice cold and Sinister. "Who among the two of you did?" I glanced at Alexiese who's sweating bullets and shuddering with fear, and so seeing my younger brother like this gave me the urge of catching the punishment intended for him.

"M-me..." I said, eyes closed. "S-sorry fa-father."

"Why?" He asked again, lifting my chin to face him, his eyes bloodshot red.

"I-I just w-wanted to see w-what's outside t-the walls of P-Palace, Fa-Father. Forgive me please." I plead, eyes closing as I shudder in fear. I waited to hear what will be his punishment for me, since I always knew I am not his favorite son, I know this punishment will be heavy.

"Your Highness!" Mama Merishya called out to Father, abruptly stopping him from giving his punishment to me.

I always envied Alexiese back then for having more favor from father than me, then I discovered my true identity, so questions on my mind were answered. Despite of all those things, my childhood was fun and memorable because of him. Although we can't live forever that way, as growing up forced us to separate our journey of life.

Merishya always defended me even though she wasn't my real mother, and the thought of she and my mother being friends is most likely beyond that. I thank her for everything she did for me, and I regret not being able to tell her my gratitude before she dies.

Alexiese's hand twitch, and this small movement weren't enough for me to just ignore.

Solem Zekiah Dutritz's POV

I continue to wander in the dark hallway, trying to figure out whether there is a dead end infront. By the another 5 minutes I just walk, walk and walk. After then, I saw a wall and thought it was dead end. Walking towards it, I discovered it was two alleys, left and right. I glance at each again and again, undecided of which alley to take.

The experience of facing danger several times gives you that careful instinct not to 'dug too much too fast and you might get in danger' feeling. So cautiously, I weight things up, and left a mark barely noticeable except to myself in the wall so I can trace my way back if ever I get lost here. I took the left alley. My finger drew faint ashes through the wall while I walk myself towards somewhere this hallway will bring me.

The hallway seems endless, as I continued to walk onwards, darkness surrounded portions of the hallway that the fire I summon on my hand wasn't enough to light up.

You've already gone too far. There's no turning back now. I told myself.

I continued to