The group went outside, leaving Zachariel alone in his room. `Who the hell were they anyway?`
He definitely knew that something was wrong with his memories.
He got up from his bed and staggered when he tried to walk. `I’m so dizzy, what’s going on now?`
Parts of his memory slowly came back to him. He groaned and held his head. The memories contained what had happened in the last few days.
`Amelia? Hal? Senior Cody? Prospect candidate? And a lot of other more information.`
The pain receded after a while. He stood back up again and went out of the room. He supported his staggering body by putting his hand on the wall. `Damn it, this is getting out of hand.`
He made his way to the door and entered the hallway. `The way to the lounge should be on the right.`
He walked slowly and reached the door. He turned the knob and gently pulled it towards him. However, he stopped his movement when he heard the commotion on the other side.
…
“Senior Cody, what do you mean by he lost his memories?”
“Exactly as it is, Amelia. However, I don’t have any definite explanation regarding that.” Cody guessed how Zachariel lost his memories.
`It must be at that time when he suddenly lost consciousness just like what Edward said.`
“Senior Cody, just tell me already!” Amelia shouted at Cody out of nowhere.
Cody was surprised. `What’s she on to now?`
Everybody looked over. “Amelia, stop that. Don’t shout at senior Cody!” Helena tried to calm down her friend.
“Why shouldn’t I? For the days that I have been in here, Zachariel was always the center of all the events that had happened! Sir Matthias intentionally failed Zachariel, but you wouldn’t tell me the reason why!”
“And now you’re overly concerned about him all of a sudden! I don’t think you’re just concerned about him failing the test!“
“You’re even bent on trying to change his behavior and personality! I tried to ask what’s wrong with him but you wouldn’t give me a clear answer! Was it his talent? Or his history? Or his personality? Tell me!”
Amelia shouted at the top of her lungs.
“When my brother died, you just told me that the killers were found but you didn’t give me a reason why they killed him! They wouldn’t kill my brother unless there’s a reason for them too!”
“Earlier, my classmates in our classroom said that several students were missing in their room! I felt like the world is playing on me and my brother! People don’t know that I have lost him, and yet here we are! Don’t you think this is going too far? You’re just thinking for yourself and I don’t know why!”
“You’re definitely hiding something from me and I can’t stand it anymore! If you won’t tell me, then I’ll leave this building with Zachariel and never return!”
She let out the pent-up frustration in her heart. Her seniors wouldn’t tell her a thing about what was happening. All she had received were vague answers that didn’t satisfy her curiosity.
What was with Zachariel that they were so interested in him?
She cried and knelt on the floor.
Cody was dumbstruck. `Damn it, we forgot that the public announcement was different!”
If he keeps on deceiving Amelia, they might lose two Prospects on their side. Amelia may not care whether they lived or die, but the rest of them does.
Edward did not reprimand Amelia. After all, she really had the right to know everything regarding her brother’s death and their interests regarding Zachariel. Also, they disagreed on the way the Imperium have dealt regarding Hal’s incident.
They might have notified the Strom Household regarding the incident, but the Imperium warned them on keeping their mouth shut. Those who had seen the incident were also bribed by the Imperium guards to silence them.
Although it might’ve saved the Great Schools from public discrimination, Amelia didn’t think that way.
He had a downcast look in his eyes. “Jockey, just tell them about it already.”
Cody massaged his temples. `This had gone worse than what I have expected.`
“Fine, I guess we have no choice in this then.”
Helena comforted Amelia. She was feeling sorry for this friend of hers. `Should I’ve told her about it?`
`I don’t think it would’ve changed the outcome either way.`
The rest prepared to listen to Cody’s explanation.
“The Imperium is on the verge of a revolution. It would’ve taken a few more years for it to commence but, on the day when Zachariel’s talent was measured and it overwhelmed that of Prince Kane’s, it became inevitable for us to move the plan ahead by months.”
“So, what of it? How does this have to do with anything that had happened in the past days?!” Amelia impatiently retorted.
“Emperor Marcus has planned that Prince Kane, as the alleged Child of Destiny, would lead the advance in the future for the glory of the Imperium nonsense. But when Zachariel appeared with his immense talent, Emperor Marcus felt threatened.”
“If Zachariel is left to grow unbounded by the chains of the Imperium, it would be very disastrous for the loyalists and the Royal Family. The Emperor would think that us, the revolutionists, would bring Zachariel in and use him against the Imperium.”
“Zachariel and Prince Kane would then be the focus of the battle between the two parties, but obviously, Prince Kane is bound to lose no matter what. The loss of Prince Kane would demoralize the loyalists and the Royal Family that would soon lead to the crumbling of the Imperium and the emergence of a new government. Emperor Marcus would not let that happen or else his ambition of conquering the Imperium continent and the entire Pandragea would be laid to waste.”
“Also, if the public knows of the presence of Zachariel and his talent, they would start to question the Emperor’s declaration that Prince Kane is the Child of Destiny. Someone appearing to be more talented than Prince Kane would lead to him being scrutinized by the public. It may even reach to the point that Zachariel would be recognized as the true Child of Destiny instead, and the public would then side with the revolutionary faction.”
“Prince Kane also doesn’t like Zachariel just like his father. Your brother’s death was one way of Prince Kane expressing his anger and rejection concerning Zachariel. Sooner or later, you and the Strom Household will be implicated, and after that, the entire revolutionary faction itself.”
“Think about it, Amelia. If we let Zachariel remain indifferent and unattached to the world, do you think he would care if we all die and the Imperium remains standing while he goes around and not bear the responsibility that he should bear? That is unbecoming of a Prospect, much more with someone who bears the life of many people in the Imperium. If Zachariel wasn’t as talented as he is right now, we could’ve just let go of his indifference, your brother should still be alive, and we wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now.”
“Whether he likes it or not, he will have to do and side with the revolutionary faction. The Emperor’s sight is upon him and will kill him and everybody around him soon. Call it being selfish on our part, but this is the best way to proceed. Otherwise, all will be lost.”
Amelia understood now. She stopped crying and was left dumbfounded as her eyes stared forward.
“With regards to the test, Sir Matthias would always fail Zachariel regardless of his behavior or personality. The only possible reason for him to pass is that Prince Kane would also be a part of the representatives for the upcoming skirmish event, which, unfortunately, is not.”
…
Zachariel heard senior Cody’s explanation and could not believe it.
`I actually bore such responsibility while I lost myself in my own world of detachment. What a f*cking joke.`
When he recovered a part of his memories, he thought that Hal died because he wasn’t there to protect him. Now that he knew that he was also the reason why Hal was killed, it brought greater guilt in him and he was severely disappointed in himself.
He didn’t know whether it was right for senior Cody to interfere with his personal matters. All he just understood was that Hal died and the Emperor is bent on killing everybody, including him, that was an adversary to the Imperium’s plans.
The door was opened. Amelia appeared and Zachariel looked at her with downcast eyes.
`That look in her eyes, I’ve seen it before. Yes, she must really hate me now.`
Everybody else gulped their throats, anticipating that a disaster would occur soon.
`Oh no! She must be blaming Zachariel for the death of her brother!`
Cody didn’t know which option was the worst.
Losing two Prospects at a go, or having two Prospects hate one another.
`Damn it! This day is getting worse by the minute! We need to do something to stop this at once!`
