Dark Moon Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 506. Trust III
Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 506. Trust III
Dark aura spiraled around Angel slowly, wrapping across his shoulders and arms like living smoke. The crystal inside him pulsed beneath his skin.
The room trembled softly.
Not violently.
Like reality itself disliked what he was doing.
Angel closed his eyes briefly.
Focused.
The shadows behind him deepened until they looked almost bottomless.
Jane gripped the edge of the chair unconsciously.
For one terrifying second, Angel no longer looked entirely human.
Then…
He vanished.
Not with light.
Not with sound.
Just absence.
The dark aura collapsed inward and disappeared with him instantly.
The room fell silent.
Jane stared at the empty space where he had stood.
“…Gods.”
Rose exhaled slowly and rubbed lightly at her temple.
“He’s overusing it again.”
But beneath the irritation in her voice was unmistakable concern.
Because long-distance teleportation was not supposed to exist anymore.
And every time Angel used it… The darkness inside him answered.
The world tore apart silently.
Space folded inward like crushed paper, darkness swallowing light for a heartbeat before releasing him again.
Angel appeared inside White Moon Castle.
His castle.
Euphorion.
The familiar scent hit him first. His private room remained exactly as he left it, curtains half-open, morning light spilling across polished floors, untouched tea set near the side table.
He exhaled slowly.
The pressure in his chest lingered faintly.
“I really need to slow down using it,” he muttered under his breath.
The long-distance teleportation had drained more magic than he liked admitting. Beneath his calm exterior, he could feel the crystal still pulsing sluggishly against his core, reacting from the strain.
Teleportation across kingdoms was not natural.
Not even for him.
Angel pressed two fingers briefly against the bridge of his nose before straightening again.
No time.
He stepped toward the chamber doors and opened them.
The guards outside nearly jumped out of their armor.
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
Their expressions alone almost amused him.
One of them visibly looked toward the windows first as if trying to understand how their king suddenly existed inside a chamber that had been empty moments ago.
Angel walked past them calmly.
“Summon Master Edwin to my study.”
The guards blinked.
Then one immediately bowed deeply.
“At once, Your Majesty!”
He practically ran down the corridor carrying the order.
Angel continued forward without slowing.
White Moon Castle felt different from Pontus immediately. Brighter. Cleaner. More alive. Servants moved quickly but without fear. Guards stood straighter. The halls carried confidence rather than tension.
His boots echoed softly against white marble floors lined with banners bearing Euphorion’s crest.
Home.
As he turned toward the western wing leading to his study, another voice suddenly called out.
“Your Majesty?”
Angel looked up.
Chancellor Allan stood near the archway holding several documents beneath one arm. Beside him stood Cley, who immediately narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Both men froze.
Because Angel was not supposed to be here.
Allan recovered first.
“Your Majesty,” he said carefully, “how—”
Angel pressed one finger lightly against his lips.
The Chancellor immediately stopped speaking.
Cley, meanwhile, stared at him with increasing disbelief before muttering flatly, “You teleported again.”
Angel smirked faintly.
Cley groaned softly and rubbed a hand over his face. “You really need hobbies that don’t involve terrifying ancient magic.”
Angel only made a small gesture with two fingers for them to follow him.
The three moved quickly toward the study room.
Servants bowed as they passed, though several looked visibly confused by the sudden appearance of their king.
Angel ignored it.
Once inside the study, he closed the door behind them.
The room smelled exactly the same as always. Ink. Leather. Paper. A faint lingering trace of Rose’s tea herbs near the windowside table.
Large shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Maps, reports, sealed letters, military records.
Order.
Structure.
Angel moved toward the massive desk and sat down heavily enough that Cley immediately noticed.
“You’re drained,” Cley said.
“Observant.”
“That wasn’t sarcasm.”
Angel glanced at him briefly before reaching for the nearest stack of reports. “If Rose hears you teleported from Pontus directly here, she’s going to lecture you for three days.”
“She already did.”
Cley sighed dramatically.
Chancellor Allan still looked deeply unsettled.
“With respect, Your Majesty… Pontus is several kingdoms away.”
“Yes.”
“And you crossed that distance…”
“Yes.”
“…alone.”