"What?" Lia asked, noticing Azekiel gazing at her weirdly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing." Azekiel didn't answer her instantly. He stepped out of the blood pond and placed the book on the ground before wiping his feet. He got dressed before picking up the Book once again.
He opened the Golden Book in his hands and started going through it.
Azekiel kept going through the book, but for some reason, the entire book was empty. There was only one page in the book that had anything. It was the page at the end of the book which seemed to have something akin to a nap. On the end cover, some numbers were written, which made no sense for now.
"The Map, what could it be?"
None of them had any idea what this map could be. It could be anything, and it could be nothing. Without more context, this map and these numbers meant nothing.
Azekiel rubbed the back of his head, gazing at Raphael. "Any ideas?"
Raphael shook his head. "This book seems to be useless."
"Not really." Azekiel didn't agree with Raphael on this. "Osiris said that this book could help me in the coming time. As for what he meant by that, even I'm not sure. This book is anything but useless."
"Osiris? You mean the man in the statue?" Raphael inquired, stunned. "You talked to him?"
"Yeah. It was as if my conscience was pulled as soon as I touched the book. I met Osiris and even talked to him. He said this book would help me in my journey and something about there being a second part," Azekiel explained.
"You must be hallucinating," Lia chimed in. "Either that or you went through an illusion. Probably some spell that was cast on the status to fool the people that came here. Don't think too much about it."
"No, it wasn't an illusion."
"And how can you be so sure of that?"
"Because he told me a bit more about you. If he wasn't real, he wouldn't have known that much about you," Azekiel answered as he closed the book.
"What did he say?" Lia asked, seemingly curious.
"He told me to give you a message," Azekiel answered. "He said he was sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Lia tilted her head.
"He was sorry for not helping you on time. He was sorry that you had to take things into your own hands. He was sorry that you didn't get justice for your sister. Even though he disagrees with your method of taking revenge, he believes part of the blame lies on his shoulder. He has always regretted the decision of not helping you on time."
"Does that sound accurate?" Azekiel inquired. "You now believe he was real? Well, at least as real as you two. I don't know if he was alive or just a heroic spirit like you, but at least he existed."
He glanced one last time at the statue of the majestic man before he left the room. There was nothing else in this place for him except that one book, and even that book didn't give him any answers as to what it was.
Raphael also stayed with Azekiel while Lia stood dazed back in the Temple, staring at the Statue. After a long time, she turned her back on the statue before she departed as well.
Azekiel closed the door and left it the way it was, without locking it. There was nothing of significance there anymore.
In another part of the Castle, all the Ministers had dispersed after handing the control of the Empire to Azekiel. They went through so much in the last few hours that they decided to take rest for the day and go back to their families while the Royal Hall was being cleaned of the dead bodies.
Amongst the Ministers who had died, there was one who left the castle itself in haste. Instead of leaving, the Minister went into a bathroom and locked the door from inside after making sure he was all alone here.
He brought a red crystal out of his pocket and closed his eyes. "Master... Master... Please respond."
After a long time, a response came from the stone. "What?"
"Master, I have important news for you. There have been some changes in the Empire's workings."
"What changes?" Came the surprised voice.
"A new King has appeared in the Castle!" The Minister declared.
"A new King? Does he have blue hair?"
"Y-yes."
"That bastard! What is he doing there now? For what purpose did he come?" The gruff voice responded.
"H-he came to take over the Empire!"
"Nonsense. It's not allowed to take over any Existing Empires for any King. It's only possible after making a new Empire of your own and defeating the other Empire in a War. Tell me everything!'
The Minister had never heard the person on the other side so frustrated. It was as if the King who had just arrived was actually somewhat threatening to him.
He started telling everything that took place from the moment of Azekiel's arrival to his exit.
The information seemed to have stunned the person on the other side. "T-this... Is this even legal? Damn that bastard! He used a loophole! Arghhh! So he decided to jump into my war! And that's what the challenge was about! He does intend to stand in my path!"
"What should I do now, Master?"
"Do you know the plans of his? His army formations? If he is joining the war? Any war strategy gives me all the information you can!"
"I-i don't know yet. He probably only told the strategy to our Army General after he took him outside. I have no idea what he plans."
"You idiot! Then find out the plan! Go talk to that General! I want to know everything that Azekiel is planning! And while you're at it, try to stay with him. Get close to him. I want every piece of information related to him!"
"Y-yes, Master. But I have a question."
"What question?"
"When you killed King Michael, why did you leave his body outside? Why didn't you bury it? That Azekiel found the body, and that's what he used to get the support of all the Ministers to hand over the Empire. If you had buried or destroyed the body, we would've been able to keep the Empire from falling into his hands," the Minister let out after slight hesitation.
He didn't mind that Michael was killed, but he thought it was really stupid to leave his body outside. That spoiled the perfectly crafted plan.
As soon as the person on the other end heard the question, he went into complete silence before he exploded in rage.
