"I, King Amos, one hundredth sixteenth king of Amane, would like to pass my throne to my son, Zoi."
Everything went silent for awhile. The citizens expected Prince Adlai to be the next king. The expectations of the Divine Circle were divided. Some of them didn't even care who will be the next king.
"I DON'T ACCEPT THIS!" out of the blue, the prince shouted. But that's not what the people noticed. But someone who shouted with him. The voice is so huge that they overpowered the prince's. It was Councillor Zaman.
He was red with rage and his eyes looked like they'll gonna popped out from his eyes. He had always been fond of the prince and despised the other and no one knows the reason why. They all looked at him with disgust, confusion, and a look that is waiting for an answer.
Thanks to that, the prince was able to clear his mind. If he were to proclaim his opposition in that place, he will be at disadvantage.
"Signed by blood with the presence of the court leader and the priest. It is absolute." General Rupert continued despite getting a mad look from Zaman. He closed the scroll and turned to face Zaman.
"This will was signed by the king through his blood and that's what makes it absolute. Should any one find this unreasonable shall be discussed in the court. For now however, the king's will is absolute. No one has the power to change what is written." General Rupert told Zaman.
General Zaman's face turned even redder. He stood there with humiliation on his shoulder and disgust from the crowd. Although some of the people questioned the king's will, they stayed silent.
Faia on the other hand stood there in shock. She couldn't believe that Zoi is the next king. She can't be sure anymore if what she did was right. If Zoi is the next king, then Adlai could not hurt him. But things as they are now, it could lead Adlai to kill Zoi just to be on the throne.
"Before that happens, I'm gonna kill him." She told herself after the announcement had been adjourned.
*************
Zoi found himself in his room when he opened his eyes. But instead of his usual cheerful morning, he's feeling down. His brother took away Faia and he can't even stopped her from leaving.
"Could you not show me that kind of face? It makes me want to die." Somebody spoke beside him that made him leapt.
"Granma Fey?" he whispered.
"Who else? On our end, I am the only person who is capable of healing deep wounds. And I am getting older. You lots should refrain from acquiring injuries." She said.
"It seems that you can heal any wound so we'll be fine. So as long as you're around." Grinned Zoi.
"You really are a kid." She replied that made Zoi annoyed. "There are wounds that I cannot heal. Such as wounds in here and there." She added and pointed at his heart then to his head. She made her leave and Zoi was left dumbfounded.
"Wounds that can't be healed, huh?" he whispered to himself with a faint sad smile. Images from last night's purge cross his mind.
Forget about me! Don't ever think about me! And….. Don't go after me!'
Faia's words echoed in his head. Suddenly, a little girl stormed into his room crying. It was the same girl who was hostaged and almost killed by Adlai.
Tears streaming down her eyes and said,
"Zoi! Faia is… Faia…. Faia is not here anymore!" she screamed and rushed towards him and hugged him.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! You're hitting my wound!" Zoi exclaimed in pain.
"Shut up! It's because you're weak! You always told me that you're the strongest but look at you! You looked so awfully weak! You let Faia go!" she nagged as if she is his mother.
"If you're going to nag like that, you won't get married 'till death." Zoi jokingly said and pats her head.
"What?!" she shouted at him.
"But, you're right. I was weak. I wasn't able to protect anyone." He said sadly. The girl stopped crying and looked at him seriously.
She suddenly slapped her small hands into Zoi's injured shoulder but it was painful that made him yelped again.
"Then what? You're just going to sit here and be miserable?! Hmp! That's why I hate men!" she said while crossing her arms in her chest.
"Of course not, old lady. I'm gonna bring her back and give my brother a piece of me!" Zoi replied and clenched his fist. His eyes full of determination.
" I don't understand. Why are you so desperate in chasing that girl?" suddenly someone spoke from outside the room. He went inside to take a good look at his injured fellow. He is a tall, well-built man that wears a sleeveless open torso that shows a large scar in his chest down to his stomach.
"I would understand if you'll gonna go berserk because your brother defeated you. But a girl that is a nobody---."
"She's not a mere nobody! She's Faia." He said and looked down.
"Okay, okay. I get it." The guy replied.
"And besides…" Zoi whispered.
"You two are the same. Okay fine! I told you I get it already. Tch!" the guy said with irritation on his voice.
"By the way Larkin, where have you been this whole time? I haven't seen you during the battle." Zoi asked him.
"I'm on a venture with Kazuki." Larkin said and put out a cigarette to smoke.
"Hey! Don't smoke, Rina is here!" Zoi exclaimed and covers the little girl's nose.
"Tch! Rina get out so I could smoke." Larkin snarled at the little girl.
"Could you be a little bit nicer to everyone?" ask Zoi. Instead of being afraid, the little girl just laughed.
"Rina! It's not a laughing matter!" said Zoi.
"Come on, Zoi! Get used to it! Well, I'mma take my leave I need to go to the study!" Rina, the little girl said and left the room merrily.
"Tch! You don't have to drive her away!" Zoi snarled at Larkin but the latter just puffed the smoke.
"I need to do that. There's something I need to tell you." Larkin said seriously and sat on the floor.
"What is it? And be careful not to drop ashes on the floor!" he snarled again as Larkin tried to take off the ash from the cigarette.
"Oh, my bad." Larkin apologized even though he didn't sound like it.
"So, what are you gonna tell me?" Zoi asked and went to get Larkin an ashtray.
"As I've said earlier, I went on a venture with Kazuki---."
"You could've brought me with you!" Zoi said angrily.
"Shut up and just listen to me!" Larkin replied back. Zoi replied with a pout.
"Tch! Could you stop being childish?!" Larkin added and punched the wooden floor.
"I'm not childish! You're just acting like an old man!" said Zoi. The both stood up face to face as if they are ready for a sparring.
"I knew it. I knew it would end up like this. I should've came here with you, Larkin." Someone said and sat on the bed.
"Kazuki?" Zoi said surprised. He rarely see Kazuki talk to other people nor go out from her room.
The three of them have been friends since childhood times. They knew each other like the back their hands. Zoi, is a high-spirited boy and have a friendly demeanor. Larkin is a lazy, blunt, and poker faced person. Lastly, Kazuki, the only girl. She's a shy, silent and frail girl, but to compensate with that, she's the smartest among the three. Despite of their differences in personalities, they remained friends until now. They have no choice.
"Could you stop this rubbish? We have no time for this." Kazuki said.
"Why don't you tell that to this old man?" Zoi said but he's facing with Larkin.
"Do you have any problem with me?! Just so you know, this mustache had been enslaving every woman I met." Larkin said mocking Zoi.
"Ha! Did you really think that women like those?!" Zoi smirked.
"What would a virgin know about women?" replied Zoi and his hands are on his waist.
"I don't think any woman would like either of you." Kazuki told them sounded bored.
"What do you know about that?!" Larkin and Zoi said in unison.
"I'm a woman you know? And besides, if you won't stop that, Adlai will be now crowned as the new king." Kazuki said.
"What?!" Zoi yelled and turned to face Kazuki. Kazuki stood up and faced the two.
"Could you lower your voice? We're not a mile away from you." Larkin said.
"You heard me. We went to the capital of Amane. The king, your father, had died." Kazuki said with a hint of hesitation. Zoi froze in surprised. Kazuki snapped her fingers I front of Zoi's face.
"You don't have time to be lost in thought. On the other hand, the king wants you to become the king. So, I guess there would be men looking for you." she explained.
"Let's go to Amane then." Zoi said.
"Not a good move meat-brain. We went further and spied on them. Adlai suddenly held a meeting. In the meeting, he accused you of using that girl, Faia and attacked Amane." Larkin said.
"That is when Zaman, decided to suggest that Adlai would be the next king. He seems so fond of Adlai." Kazuki added.
"Of course he is. I held his deepest secret so he wants me gone. Tch! How about Faia? What did they do to her?" he asked worried.
"She's fine. We weren't able to listen further so we decided to back away a bit. We observed that she's been given the best treatment." Larkin replied.
"I'm glad but, isn't that strange? I thought they'll gonna punish her" Zoi asked.
"Hmm… Maybe Adlai had taken a liking to her already? I guess that would be interesting." Larkin said with a malicious tone.
"Tch! He's not you!" Zoi snapped.
"I guess, they'll gonna use her against you. She's willing to be captured just for you to live. They're thinking maybe you would do the same for her." Kazuki explained.
"Of course I would!" Zoi exclaimed.
"The problem is… what do we do? It's really hard to go against Amane. Not to mention we are outnumbered and our equipment are far far far primitive than theirs." Larkin pointed out and sat again.
"That's right. I am thinking but I still think that we need forces from inside of Amane as well. That would give us the upperhand in terms of men, equipment, and information." Kazuki said.
"Way to go smartass!" Larkin said and Kazuki blushed. She's used to Larkin talking like that but being complimented is another different thing.
"I know! General Balthasar!" Zoi suddenly exclaimed.
"Huh? Why are you saying that now?" asked Larkin.
"The Divine Councillor? That's right! He's known to be loyal to the king! That means that he would follow the king's desire!" Kazuki exclaimed too.
"What you guys getting at?" asked Larkin.
"We can ask for his help!" Zoi said. "It's been awhile since I've been there to the capital. I'm going to meet him!" he added.
"Don't be so reckless! Their eyes are on you! I know you're a mostre but still…" Larkin shouted.
"I agree. I guess it would be best to lie low for now. We'll be watching Faia if you're worried about her." Kazuki said.
"No! I thought you said there's no time! I'm going there!" Zoi stubbornly.
"When the ground is on smoke, fly and you could see a clearer view." The three of them stopped and looked at the door and their eyes widened.
"General Balthasar…." The three said in unison.