Chapter 167 - Progress

In the end, Zaos didn't feel that presence again during the day. Although Zaos treated the kids around him like blockheads, they weren't insane enough to try anything that might put Ameria in danger. Dalyor seemed like a good king, but he probably would execute anyone and their entire family if something were to ever happen to his daughter. 

Despite the fact that they only brought food for breakfast, the kids managed to keep going even without lunch until around the middle of the afternoon. Around that time, they decided to return. Otherwise, they might cross the capital gates after sunset.

"I guess I underestimated their better judgement," Zaos thought.

Once everyone entered the carriage, Zaos and the others who still had some energy left began to drive. As for the others inside the carriages, they began to sleep using each other's shoulders to offer some support to their heads.

"Thanks for coming today, Zaos," Drannor suddenly left the carriage and then approached while it was in motion. "I really appreciate it."

"Whatever," Zaos said.

"Did you feel something out of place today after that time?" Drannor asked.

"No," Zaos replied. "Whoever appeared behind me, also noticed when I noticed their presence. Either that person left after their presence was noticed, or my skills weren't good enough to find them again."

Drannor knew that Zaos had some fantastic tracking skills. He could even feel the presence and tell how many people were inside the room, even when a thick wall was between them. Due to that, he doubted that someone managed to hide from Zaos's tracking skills. However, whoever approached him from behind, just decided to move away from him.

"Let's report this to the king once we bring Ameria to the castle," Drannor said. "Even if you were wrong, His Majesty will want to hear that."

Zaos had already planned to do that from the very beginning, so it didn't change anything. Regardless… Around the time they crossed the capital gates, the kids began to wake up, and then they said their farewells to Ameria since they lived in different parts of the capital. Unlike the times they met her at the parties, they felt much closer to her.

After half an hour, Zaos, Drannor, and a sleepy Ameria crossed the gates of the castle. She quickly went to her room, but the two boys headed to the throne room. As if they spent the entire day working like that, those two found sole guards, Laiex, Drian, and Dalyor, working and talking about certain subjects.

"You two returned much sooner than I expected," Dalyor said. "Knowing my daughter, I thought she would find a way to stay in the lake for another day. Thanks for the help today, boys."

"It was nothing, Your Majesty," Drannor said. "We would like to discuss something unexpected that happened today. Zaos felt an unexpected presence approaching us, but when he turned around, he didn't see anything."

"Is that true? Zaos?" Dalyor asked while looking at Laiex. "Can you explain in detail what happened?"

"I just felt a presence and then the presence disappeared when I moved," Zaos replied.

"How exactly did you find this presence?" Dalyor asked, visibly interested.

"I can just feel everyone's presence since everyone has mana," Zaos said.

"May I ask where you learned that?" Dalyor asked.

The conversation was turning in a weird direction… Was it really that important? Zaos thought fast and realized that he copied something that followers of the demon god could do, so maybe that could be some type of crime.

"Where I learned that…" Zaos faked some slight confusion. "Probably while I was traveling to the northern base. I suddenly felt my senses getting sharper in the wild while I collected some herbs."

"Is that so… well, you two don't have to worry about their presence," Dalyor said. "The one who you felt was a certain mercenary that I hired. They had some unusual skills and I decided to use them on special occasions."

"Well, if that is the case, I am sorry for bothering Your Majesty with this," Zaos said.

"No problem, if you notice anything weird again, talk with your father or with me," Dalyor said.

After that, Zaos left the throne room, trying really hard to hide his annoyance. Why did he have to go on that stupid trip if the king had hired some sort of assassin to keep an eye on Ameria?

"This sure was unexpected, right Zaos"? Drannor asked.

"I don't care," Zaos said.

"As usual, you are quick to get into a bad mood," Drannor shrugged. "Anyway, thanks for the help again."

Zaos ignored these words because he was just too pissed. He lost several hours where he could have done some research and even spent time with his little sister, but only because the king has to keep some secrets, he lost a full day.

"I don't really care all that much about that voice… but Ameria were to become a ruler who acts like this, I won't serve this county for long," Zaos thought.

Zaos knew that he was getting too angry over a single lost day, but that was just the culmination of the recent events. Fortunately, his mother was at home and gave the present to Nyana. Despite the mess that was their relationship, she didn't blame the girl for anything. Before entering the mansion and having dinner with his mother, Zaos took several deep breaths to calm down, and fortunately, that worked much sooner than expected. His mother asked if he had fun, but since he had been on guard duty, it was obvious that he didn't have any.

After a while, Zaos headed to his room and decided to use the few hours remaining of the day to do his research. Fortunately, something good finally happened that day… Zaos managed to decipher the meaning behind all the symbols of Lesser Heal, but when he read it out loud. It didn't make any sense.