"You'll be able to find him in the North, where the days are longer, and the weather is drearier. Once you've seen the snowy peak of the tallest mountain, you'll know you're there."
And those were the last words that were spoken to Ceremus before the scene before him drifted and everything faded to black.
Ceremus woke from his dream, and it was morning. The sun peeked through the sky, illuminating his room. It was not later than 6 AM and the king already knew what needed to be done. He was going to roam the open country.
He yanked on his robes, barely fastening the sash, fingers fumbling in his haste. His sandals slapped against the stone floor as he strode out, his heart hammering in the process. The king didn't have time to waste, not when Hael was slipping closer to death with each passing day.
He didn't even bother knocking on Anemone's door—not that he ever had the habit of doing so, and barged in like he owned the place—because he did.
The advisor looked up with wide eyes and immediately stood up upon seeing who had entered his study. He saw his king, hair messy, robes disheveled, and his golden eyes wild. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was seeing things correctly.
Is this a dream? Or more like a nightmare?
"Y-Your Majesty?" He tentatively asked, earning a scornful eye-roll from the king.
"Who else would it be?" He scoffed.
Anemone looked down at his appearance, still in shock. "So he's real…" he mumbled.
He quickly cleared his throat and stood upright. "What can I help you with, Your Majesty?"
Ceremus glanced around the room before stepping inside, closing the door behind him. Anemone watched as the king approached him and stopped when he was standing right in front of him.
His pulse quickened, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he let out an inaudible gulp.
"Anemone." He said in a calm voice which made the advisor even more nervous.
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty?" He gulped out.
"There is something important I must do, and unfortunately you get no say in the matter." Ceremus said.
Anemone raised his brows. "Something important? Whatever do you mean?"
Ceremus finally took a step back as he looked past the advisor, his gaze fixated on the window. It was a beautiful day outside with the sun shining brightly upon them, yet Ceremus couldn't bring himself to be happy with this sight. Usually, around this time, he would have Hael by his side as he prepared for the day. Not having him near struck him with unbearable loneliness. He couldn't go on a second longer without him.
"I'm going to roam in open country." He said.
Anemone blinked. He was unsure of whether he heard what Ceremus said.
"C-Come…come again, Your Majesty?"
The king turned his attention back to him. "I will be going away for a few months…actually, I'm uncertain of how long it'll take."
Anemone opened and closed his mouth. His eyes had grown wide, and if it wasn't for the current situation they were in, Ceremus would've found it comical.
"W-Why…what…why are you going to open country? You are a king, not a wanderer?!" He exclaimed.
Ceremus let out a sigh. He knew Anemone would react like this. "I have my reasons." He said flatly.
"What reasons?!"
Ceremus shot him a look, but Anemone didn't waver this time. No, this time he stood his ground. He found it ridiculous that Ceremus would just up and decide to leave the kingdom for no apparent reason. As a royal advisor, he would not let something like this slide.
The king pressed his lips into a thin line as he silently looked at the advisor. He realized it wouldn't be right for him to leave without giving his reasons. Whether he accepted them didn't matter, since he had no intention of listening to his protests, anyway.
"I'm going to go look for a cure."
Anemone raised a brow. "A cure? "For what purpose?"" His words stilled as realization hit him. "Oh. I see."
He understood without having to say anything. For the past few weeks, Anemone, as well as those in the palace, have avoided bringing the topic to their king. They worried that any mention of Hael's name would send Ceremus to a flying rage, and so they threaded carefully around him. Even Loki, who was always an energetic bird, had gone into seclusion, refusing to leave his room until his friend woke up.
Anemone was glad that Ceremus hadn't closed himself off like when he had been grieving his father's death.
"H-Have you found a solution?"
Ceremus nodded.
"I see," Anemone said, troubled. On one hand, he was glad that there was something out there that could get Hael to wake up.
The last time he visited the guard, a doctor told him that if Hael didn't wake up within three months, they would soon declare him dead. However, Ceremus had duties as a king, he couldn't just abandon them. But seeing the bit of light brought back in his eyes made it difficult for Anemone to refuse him but he had to try.
"Your Majesty, leaving the capital unguarded for months? Do you truly understand the risk?"
Ceremus' golden eyes burned. "Do you understand the risk of doing nothing?"
Anemone's words were caught in his throat, unable to retort his words. And so, with a heavy heart, the advisor nodded. It just so happened that there weren't any important meetings planned out for the next month or two, so they could make do without him for now.
"Do you know where you're going?" He asked.
"Up North." Ceremus said.
Anemone nodded. Then another thought came to his mind. "Will you be going alone? Shouldn't someone be accompanying you?"
Ceremus shook his head. Just the thought of bringing someone with him made him feel repulsed. He didn't want to have another person slowing him down. "I will go alone. It'll be quicker that way." He said.
"But Your Majesty, you've never been up north before! It is unfamiliar terrain for you. Wouldn't it be wise to have someone who is familiar with the area to accompany you?" Anemone exclaimed. "At least have a huntsman go with you."
Ceremus scoffed. "Have any of them even travelled that far out?"
Anemone paused. "Uh, I'm not sure…but they've been trained to hunt under any conditions. And I'm sure there's at least someone who—"
The king raised a hand to stop him. "Unless you can find me someone who has lived in the North for sometime, I shall venture off alone." Was all he said before leaving.
Anemone stared at the closed door, his eyes blinking. "Someone who's lived in the North?"
He wondered to himself. "Why do I have a feeling we have someone like that within our ranks?"