The words that came out of my dad's mouth made me panic. I hurriedly got out of bed and rushed to Alberu's room. I ignored everything and everyone that I passed on the way there. The only thing on my mind was panic as I mentally prayed that what I was told was all just a joke.
When I got to Alberu's room, it was empty. From the state of the room, I could already tell who the culprits of Alberu's kidnapping were. The room was messy; telling me that there were clearly sign of struggle. The floor was also wet and I could sense traces of a familiar mana.
First, it was Theodore who was kidnapped, and now it's Alberu. Alberu's kidnappers are none other than the fake king and his son too. Fuck the recommendation letter for the expedition to Corcean, I should've asked to execute the fake king and his bitchy son instead! What a regret!
Then, I suddenly remembered something. The third family head! He said that there was a curse where the reincarnations of his soul will die early. Maybe this is where Alberu was supposed to die, so he might not tell me where Alberu is since it's supposed to happen but, he's the only one who might have a clue where Alberu is. They have the same soul, so there's a chance that he could sense Alberu's soul and find his location!
"Felix," I turned around and saw Royce glaring at me. "Look what you've done! If you never said anything then the king and prince would've never kidnapped Alberu! They probably did this as revenge!"
"You want to serve some random people who aren't even the descendants of Esper? Have some fucking pride! Are you really mad about Alberu getting kidnapped or because Owen probably hates you right now?" I questioned. "I heard you were sucking up to Owen for a while now. You must be mad that all your effort has gone to waste." I lied. I didn't hear that from anyone however, I must be right since Royce showed a complicated expression on his face.
"I was only doing it for our family! If I could gain the prince's favour then we wouldn't have to work so hard anymore! I nearly had his favour until you revealed everything!" shouted Owen. "I was fine serving some fakes if we could live peacefully!"
"You 'did it for our family' but our family is Alberu, not Owen! Forget everything that you did for that asshole and focus on finding Alberu! Unlike you, I'm actually trying to find him. Aren't you ashamed that the only thing you're doing is complaining instead of trying to find him even though you're actually related to him by blood unlike an 'outsider' like me?" I walked away, heading to the attic.
When I reached the attic door, I was about to open it when someone grabbed my arm.
"Young master you can't! The attic is still getting fixed!" a maid said.
"Let go," I glared at her with killing intent. The maid shivered, letting go of my arm.
I couldn't help it. My mind was a complete mess and so was my self control. Alberu was my sunshine. He was my little brother and the one who protested my execution. He's bright like the sun and warm like one too. After the sun is gone, the moon takes over and shows itself in darkness. Anytime now, I could go completely insane and what scares me is that after I regain my senses, I might not be able to feel the warmth of the sun anymore.
Just when I was about to step into the attic, a voice stopped me, "wait! You'll fall right through there." I looked down and saw that they haven't added a floor board there yet.
"Thanks," I said to the transparent figure.
"No problem. What are you doing here?" the third family head asked.
"Did you not hear all the commotion?"
"I'm already dead. I don't know anything that happens outside this room, so I have no idea what the commotion is all about," replied the third family head.
"Alberu- your reincarnation was just kidnapped," I informed him.
"Is that so?" the third family head didn't seem that surprised. "I thought something was wrong. I couldn't feel my soul anywhere in the mansion and it's already dark." From what he just said, I now know that he can indeed sense his soul.
"Then can you tell where Alberu is?" I questioned.
"Hah, I can never get use to someone referring to another person while using my name," smiled the third head. "Like what I said about me not knowing anything outside this room, I can't tell where my soul is if my reincarnation is outside the mansion. I can't help you," he said, but what I thought was strange about him is how he didn't seem sad that his reincarnation might die.
"Aren't you a little sad or angered that someone might kill your reincarnation?" I asked.
"No," the third family head answered. "Anyone that my soul reincarnates into is pretty much destined to die early. This is normal. There's nothing for me to worry about." Right, I guess it is a normal thing to him.
"You talk as if you've witnessed your soul die many times when this should be the first time that your reincarnation might die," I pointed out.
"As I said, I don't know anything about my soul if the reincarnation is outside the mansion and Esper won't really tell me anything, so for all I know there could've been a few reincarnations before your brother, but they might've all died quite early," said the third family head. "Who kidnapped your brother anyways?"
"The king who's not actually the real descendant of Esper and his son. It might've been revenge because I revealed to the people of Kassiel that they're not Esper's descendants and got their position striped from them," I answered.
"Have you tried asking his majesty Alaric?" I was confused.
"Are you talking about 'Alaric Kascis?" I asked.
"Yes. He's the first one to bare the curse and his soul should be in the palace. You said the one who kidnapped your brother was the king and his son so they might've brought your brother somewhere near the palace. If you go find his majesty then he might be able to tell you," suggested the third family head.
"By the way, since you both have the same soul, isn't it weird for you to refer to him as 'his majesty'?"
"No. I call him that because I respect him. Everyone who had this soul all went through different things, but some have done greater things than others. He is smarter and had a bigger responsibility than me, so of course I have to respect him," explained the third family head.
"I see. I'll be going now," I said.
I leaped out the window and a pair of white wings appeared behind my back.
"Where are you going?" asked the white bird with red eyes.
"The palace," I answered.
"Mind if I come too?" he asked.
"I don't even know your name."
"Call me Kamin," the male said, turning to a small white hamster with red eyes. "Hope you don't mind. You're faster than me," he stood on my shoulder.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Get down here!" a knight yelled, pointing at me.
"Shut your mouth unless if you can find my brother!" I shouted back.
"Get him!" the knights crowded up, running beneath me. I created a cage made of fire and trapped them all inside.
"I'm sure you know what common sense is. Don't touch the fire or you'll burn yourself. Just stay there for now," I said, landing on the ground.
I entered the palace and was able to recall which way was to Theodore's room. I knocked on the door and Theodore opened it.
"I heard some people yelling, but I didn't think it had something to do with you," said Theodore.
"Do you have a portrait of 'Alaric Kascis'?" I asked. Theodore was confused, but he still showed me to a hall where the portraits of the previous rulers were.
I walked up to the portrait of Alaric Kascis and said, "I need help." Not only did I get no reply, Theodore was also looking at me like he was questioning his life decisions. "I know about your curse," I decided to try saying this. Still no reply.
"Felix, what are you-" Theodore was cut off when a transparent looking male appeared.
"Nice try, but my soul is kept in my book," said a male with light blue hair and glasses. "You're lucky that great grandson was carrying my book in his pocket."
"Are you able to sense your current reincarnation's soul?" I asked straight forwardly.
"Did you intend to ask me that with my great grandson present?" questioned Alaric.
"I don't care. Just answer my question please," I replied.
"I can't sense his soul here," answered Alaric. "Why? Is something going on?"
"My brother- the current reincarnation of your soul has been kidnapped. I thought that you might know where his soul is," I said.
"If you're trying to find someone, why not get a tracking device? All you need to do is get a bit of mana from the person who you're trying to find and the device will track them down. You can get their mana from their belongings that will have traces of their mana on it from being close to the person," explained Alaric.
"Where can I get one?" I asked.
"There's not a lot in Kassiel," said Theodore. "You might not be able to find one in a small amount of time however, if you can get me some materials and I can quickly make one for you."
"What materials do you need?"
"I already have all the materials needed except for tear glass." replied Theodore.
"Where are they found?" I asked.
"In Corcean."