Giant City was one of the three major cities of the Celestial Empire. Of the three major cities, it was the one with the largest influence on the empire's army. For it was more like an army headquarters than it was a city. Because of its position, the three God Roots had been installed there. And the Lord of the City, known as the Lord of the Giants, The Kaiser Reich Lord, was more than happy to welcome them.
The presence of the God Academies had attracted a lot of outsiders to Giant City. And it was in this city that Maia resided. However, Giant City wasn't largely worried about the newer members of their city. At least the nobles here weren't worried. The city was divided into two – the Outer City and the Inner City. The Outer City was for the commoners, and the Inner city for the nobles. To accommodate the influx of outsiders, the Outer City was expanded, and the stretch of land it covered increased by a few times. Massive walls were built around the new borders, and the old wall was quickly torn down.
The heir to the Kaiser Reich House, a boy called Max, was currently outside the confines of his home. Yet he was in no true danger, for he was in the home of an ally, or rather, his best friend. He was in the Romano House, one of the three great families of Giant City who were in the running to be Lords when the time of the current Lord's tenure of service elapsed. The Romano House and the Kaiser Reich House were allies by virtue of friendship, for Max's father was friends with the head of the Romano House. And that friendship had seemingly extended to their children, who seemed to have an even stronger bond than their fathers. Although the Kaiser Reich Lord was the Lord of the Giants, he didn't dare underestimate his friend and ally, who was a close confidant of the Celestial Emperor. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that Flagstaff City was in charge of handing out appointments, the Kaiser Reich Lord knew that he wouldn't be the Lord of Giant City. For if it was up to the Celestial Emperor, his friend would be Lord.
Max and Kahn were both heirs to their families. Although Kahn was second among only two children, he was the only male, and Rosa was not at all interested in the position of Lord. Honestly, Kahn wasn't all too interested in the position either, for the option of being fettered by laws and the Celestial Emperor didn't appeal to him. But he had to do it. His father didn't want to do it either when he was younger, but that had ended up being a mantle he had to carry, and he carried it with pride now.
"I have to admit that the food here is a tad better than back at home" Max was lying lazily on Kahn's bed. His eyes were half closed and his expression serene. He looked like a cat stuffed with fish and cheese, too full to take a single step forward. And that was because he was immensely full. He had just finished eating a meal meant for three people, Kahn didn't doubt that Max would still indulge himself if he was to be given another serving.
"Just a tad? Says the guy who ate like a pig and had to be shamelessly dragged away from the dining hall just so that his eating spree could be stopped." Kahn's eyelids twitched in annoyance as he spoke. Since his unruly friend had his bed, Kahn had to settle for the couch. His eyes were on his friend's bulging stomach the entire time. Even through the thick layers of Max's military uniform, one could see his puffed up tummy.
Kahn was right. If not for his pro-activeness to interfere and drag his friend away, Max would have still been stuffing himself with food, even though he was full! This same person who actually shed a tear as he ate; this same person who cried out in countless emotions as he filled himself; this very same boy who groaned and moaned and spoke in weird tongues that none but himself understood as he ate; now had the audacity to say that the meal was 'just a tad better' than it was back at his home. If it was only a tad bit better; if it was but a slice better; if only a notch above what Max was used to; then this notch must surely be as high as the sky was from the earth.
"I didn't eat like a pig," Max waved his finger before him in protest. Yet even this trivial task proved too much for the boy who would one day be the Kaiser Reich Lord. Kahn's face was scrunched up in a wry smile, yet before he could say something, Max spoke up once again. It seemed his friend wasn't done with his statement.
"I ate like the king of pigs," Max guffawed shamelessly, prompting Kahn to helplessly hold his head in his hands. Even in such a situation his silly friend wanted to be the best out of the lot. However, Kahn couldn't help but smile slightly whenever he was with his friend. For it was only around him that Max could act this way: unbridled, relaxed and like a child. For the responsibilities and expectations on his shoulders were great, and even smiling was a task ever so laborious under the weighty fate that befell his friend. Kahn didn't even have to look far to find a way to relate to his friend. For although his sister Rosa had taken up much responsibility, it didn't reduce Kahn's either. In Noble Houses, the number of heirs didn't reduce the burden of responsibility, but multiplied it.
"Where is Rosa? Is she out on another mission?" Max asked. His speech was slurred and his voice very hazy. Even talking was now proving too difficult a tax for the genius Celestial.
"She went out. Luis came back today so she went looking for him." Kahn smiled brightly when he spoke of his sister – and her intentions. There was a sinister gleam in his eyes, like a child who had just tricked an adult into buying her a brand new doll.
"So she fell for your schemes huh," Max shook his head with a small smile on his face. As close as they were, there was no way Max didn't know what Kahn and the Romano Lord's intentions were. And it seemed that their plans were hatching quite wonderfully, yielding bountiful results.
"Yes. You should have seen how her face lit up when she heard that Luis was back." Kahn laughed heartily, yet that only brought a chill to Max's heart. For he understood that he wasn't outside his friend's range of scheming.
"How do you think she would react when she sees him? Do you think she will honestly tell him how she feels now?" Max wondered. Rosa was a prideful Celestial. Would she really be able to admit to someone she rejected over and over again that she now liked him?
"She wouldn't get to meet him," Kahn smiled sinisterly and said.
"What did you do?" Max's heart chilled slightly when he saw that smile. He knew instantly that Kahn was up to something again.
"I only sent Luis a message to leave as soon as possible. Rosa's pride has to be broken into countless fragile pieces for it to work. This plan cannot have any holes." Kahn's answer scared Max so much. For now he knew how far his friend was willing to go to achieve his goals. Although this was for Rosa's own good, the process sure was brutal. Max was very eager to change the topic, and he regretted bringing Rosa's name up in the first place.
"Do you think that kid will come?" Max suddenly asked. His tired eyes were suddenly filled with life, and his expression was full of excitement.
"I don't know," Kahn of course knew exactly who Max was speaking of.
"And you shouldn't be calling him that kid. You know his name already." Kahn berated his friend.
"Fine," Max grumbled.
In the past 6 or 7 months since the time they had met 'that boy', Max brought him up constantly. Their loss to the one they suspected was Asgardian was what drove them. And the fact that both had grown so powerful in the past half a year was proof of just how much drive that meeting had given them. Their fathers were stunned by their progress, and knew that something must have happened to spur the two on so. Yet no matter what they did, neither of their sons told them exactly what happened.
The most they heard of the incident was, 'we lost to someone more talented than ourselves'. All their probing into who this person was had failed. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that they had seen their children transform into mad men who sought nothing but war to improve their strength, they wouldn't have believed them. After all, who could be more talented than the children proclaimed by the Celestial Emperor himself to be the most talented Celestials to have ever been born? In fact, their whole generation was talented, prompting most to call them the 'Celestial Generation'. Yet the fact that both pushed themselves so far was proof enough. And whomever this person was, he/she had also affected Kahn's squadron, for they too had improved massively.
"It would be pretty cool if we ended up meeting again at God King's," Max smirked.
"That is unlikely. There are several God Academies in the Universe. And though there aren't many that could be counted in the same vein as God King in terms of prestige and power, there are enough to go around. If he is really Asgardian, Mane would have many options. And that means the chances of meeting him at God King are less than 2%." Kahn was not as optimistic as his friend. For he believed in numbers and facts better than he did in fate and luck.
"I'm sure he will attend God King's. How much stronger do you think he has gotten?" Max wondered whilst ignoring Kahn. Kahn's lengthy speech about Mane's presence in God King's being highly improbable deterred Max in no way. To him, they were fated to meet the blue-eyed Asgardian. And that very fate may be explored in God King's.
"I don't know," Kahn shook his head. How was he to know the answer to such a question? "However, he cannot possibly be weaker than us," Kahn did believe in that one fact. Even if the boy's wielding level was not quite on the same level as theirs, his monstrous fighting ability was more than enough to make up for it. Who would have thought that one day, they, Celestials – beings renowned for their prowess in battle – would envy the battle ability of another?
"Good point," Max agreed with his best friend's statement, yet the fire in his eyes didn't die. For they burned even brighter.
"And that is why I want to fight him even more," Max exclaimed as his lazy countenance was completely washed away. The might of his aura filled the room as his yearning for battle infected his childhood friend, causing Kahn's aura to also burst forth. The power of two 8th Stage Earth Realmers filled the place as Kahn's eyes flashed brightly,
"I wonder how far we could go this time."