CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125 - KIDNAPPED IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT (1)

The night sky howled. A rush of cool air bit at Luca’s cheeks as he soared high above the clouds, seated behind a woman who hadn’t spoken a word since they took off.

The Vermillion Phoenix’s crimson feathers shimmered with faint golden trails, flaring as it cut through the wind with majestic grace. Below them, the vast stretch of wilderness passed in blurs—forests, lakes, and distant lights of sleeping cities. Above them, the stars blinked quietly, like curious gods watching their flight.

Luca clung tightly to the saddle, his hair whipping back wildly. The woman in front of him remained still, poised. Long blonde hair fluttered behind her like a royal banner, glinting faintly in the moonlight. Her back was to him, but her posture was rigid, focused, as if the very act of flying through the night was a divine ritual.

Luca’s face twisted in a confused grimace, part bewilderment, part embarrassment.

How the hell did I end up here? he thought, his eyes twitching. What part of a peaceful night’s sleep led to me flying behind the Empress of Astravia on a mythical flaming bird?!

His mind spiraled back to the beginning of this insanity—

Flashback:

"Y-You’re not Master!" Luca shrieked, his finger trembling as he pointed at the intruder standing motionless in the center of his dorm room.

The woman didn’t react. She simply stood there, eyes unreadable.

Her body gleamed in the soft moonlight—golden armor sculpted like flowing silk, black tights hugging her legs, obsidian boots, and a jagged crown resting atop her head like it owned the air around it. Her very presence weighed down the room.

She blinked once, slowly. "Hmm? Of course I am not Charlotte."

Luca’s brain scrambled as he registered the cold, noble voice.

"G-Greetings, Your Highness," he muttered, hastily standing up and bowing so fast he almost tipped forward.

Oh fuck me—

Why the hell is the Empress of Astravia in my room?!

Did she find out I talked about the baby dragon? And is here to kill me? Wait no—I didn’t even mention her to anyone!

As he realized one thing,

Oh no. That scream just now...

His eyes widened.

Without thinking, he bolted to the door. "I-I should go explain the scream before the others get suspicious—"

"You don’t need to," Celestia said without looking. "I’ve already cast a barrier. No one can hear or sense what happens here."

Luca paused, halfway to freedom. Slowly, he turned back to her, his face pale.

She made sure no one could hear? That means—she’s really gonna kill me, isn’t she?

He threw himself to his knees with a dramatic bow. "I sincerely apologize for anything I may have done unknowingly, Your Majesty. Please don’t kill me!"

Celestia tilted her head slightly, one elegant eyebrow raised. "...Why would I kill you?"

"...You wouldn’t?" he asked, peeking up.

"No."

A sigh of relief escaped him like air from a deflating balloon. But confusion immediately filled the void. "Then... may I ask Your Majesty’s reason for visiting me at this hour?"

She simply folded her arms and turned slightly. "Hmph. Come with me."

Luca waited for a follow-up. A destination, a reason, something.

That’s it?

"...W-Where to, Your Majesty?" he asked hesitantly.

"You don’t need to know."

No. Nope. Absolutely not.

That’s a giant red flag waving in my face.

There is no good reason a monarch shows up in your room at night, seals the space from the world, and tells you to come with her.

I DEFINITELY can’t go.

Luca began blurting, "How can I come in the middle of the semester, Your Majesty? I’m a very sincere student—I need to study, to train, to prepare—"

He was promptly cut off.

"It’s already being taken care of. Let’s go," Celestia said flatly.

Desperate, Luca scrambled for more excuses. "But what about my attendance! My training regimen! My daily affirmations!"

Celestia sighed, visibly annoyed. With a glance and a single raised finger, she lifted him into the air with magic. Luca flailed helplessly—arms and legs kicking as he floated midair—and in the process, the one thing protecting his modesty, his towel, slipped off.

The atmosphere froze—like even the air was too embarrassed to move.The already quiet night turned deathly silent.

Then—

"AAAAHAAHAHAHHAAA!" Luca screamed, flailing even harder as he tried to cover himself midair.

With a flick, Celestia let him drop to the ground.

Red-faced, Luca scrambled to grab his towel. "L-Look away!" he shouted, barely managing to shield himself.

Celestia stood still, staring blankly as if nothing happened. Only after a few more seconds of unblinking silence did she finally turn her face, muttering, "Hmph. Nothing worth looking at anyway. Get ready faster. We’re leaving."

Luca, thoroughly humiliated, looked down. It’s... not that bad, he thought, trying to salvage his dignity.

Then came her voice again, bone-dry.

"Are you getting ready, or do you prefer to travel like this?"

Back to the Present:

The Vermillion Phoenix let out a deep, resonating cry as it soared above a vast mountain range.

Luca stared ahead at Celestia’s back, her hair still fluttering in that ethereal way. No tension. No concern. Just unwavering confidence, like she was merely riding a horse to a tea party rather than kidnapping a student in the middle of the night.

He gulped.

"...I should’ve just played dead," he muttered under his breath.

Two hours had passed since they had left Arcadia.

The world below had changed.

Jagged cliffs gave way to blackened forests, warped trees clawing toward the sky like petrified skeletons. The air felt different—thinner, colder, but charged with something ancient. Luca’s skin tingled under his cloak, a subtle warning from the mana in his blood.

His eyes narrowed as he leaned over slightly to glance at the land below.

"...Why are we in this place?" he muttered.

But apparently, he wasn’t quiet enough.

Celestia’s voice carried back through the wind, almost surprised.

"You seem to know this place?"

Luca stiffened. Sweat beaded on his brow.

Shit.

Of course I know this place. Who wouldn’t? In the game, it was one of the five Forbidden Zones—’The Hollow Vale of Atrales.’ No one could enter, not even with endgame keys. Just some side quests in the town nearby that hinted at its history, and then... nothing. Like the game itself refused to let you step inside. But now I’m flying right into it. What the hell am I supposed to say? ’Oh yeah, I remember this area from a game I played in another world?’ Yeah, right.

He opened his mouth to make up something—but before he could speak, Celestia said with a plain voice.

"It seems Darian told you everything."

Luca blinked.

Darian? Oh right, my father.

So he’s involved in this?

He didn’t respond—better to stay silent than dig his own grave deeper. And as expected, Her Majesty answered herself.

"As you know," Celestia continued, her voice more serious now, "this is one of the forbidden places... connected to the past heroes from seven thousand years ago."

Luca’s thoughts spun.

Connected to the past heroes?

So is this place related to those heroes, that’s why it was ’A no entry zone’ in the game?

In the game, those "heroes" were little more than background fluff—barely a few lines in the lore codex. But now? Now they were shaping the present. Shaping him.

He clenched his jaw.

I am really getting a lot involved with those heroes now, as I am a descendant of one of them. That much I know. But that still doesn’t explain why she brought me here. Just being someone’s descendant can’t be reason enough, right? Right?

The wind howled around them, the Phoenix descending into the shadow of the forbidden vale.

Luca swallowed hard.

He had a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling.

As they landed in the forest outside the village, Celestia said "Follow me, we have to pass through this town walking ,to reach our destination?"

Luca followed her but he couldn’t help but ask , "I think I’ve earned at least some answers by now. Why am I here, your majesty?"