"Junta! Junta! Are you alright?!" Junta could faintly hear the voice of Takato as he tried to save him. Junta coughed up the dirty water in his mouth, he vomited countless times before snapping back to reality. Takato squeezed his hand and asked, "Should I call the doctor ?"
Junta realised Takato pulled him out of the jacuzzi when he was drowning, looking around he saw his mask at the other side of the pool. Junta tried to cover his face, lying down beside him Takato said, "It is quite pitiful to hide such a handsome face, rest assured I never told anyone you weren't defective."
Takato held tightly onto his heart when he saw Junta's handsome smiling face, "It isn't safe to take a bath all alone in this pool especially when you are tired. You are lucky I was passing by." Junta kept recalling the faces of the man with blue eyes and the man in black.
Junta and Takato were instructed to accompany Zetia to the east for the "Harvest", it was the first event for Junta. Zetia rode in the same carriage with King Qin and Talin as they discussed further developments and expansion of the west kingdom.
Takato and Junta shared a carriage, after the previous night incident Junta loosened his guard around Takato. Junta looking at the beautiful scenery asked, "What is the harvest?" Takato flinched as he recalled faces of men screaming in fear and terror.
Takato squeezing his hands together said, "It is when Lord Zetia execute the sinners, as commanders we have to keep the situation under control." Junta figured the topic was uncomfortable for Takato as his finger was already bleeding from being scratched.
Wiping his blood with his napkin, Junta said, "Your fingers are delicate, don't scratch them. It is quite rare to see the Roses in forests, aren't they beautiful?" Junta smiled underneath his mask as he gazed at the beautiful flowers outside the carriage. He was relieved to see Takato smiling as his fingers lightly brushed the top of the flowers.
Junta plucked one rose and dusted the roots removing his masks he handed it over to Takato, "This is my first-time handing anyone a rose, it matches up with your clothes." Takato's heart skipped a beat responding to Junta's words. Their eyes were locked for a while, a guard ruined the moment as they had arrived at the palace.
They arrived at the dungeon and saw King Uriah along with other kings already waiting for them, the guards were dismissed during the Harvest. Zetia removed her cloak, her eyes were blood thirsty…she was breathing heavy and fighting her own demons to compress the dark powers.
Takato was trembling as they walked down the dungeon, the atmosphere got colder and colder. Three dragons were chained on their walls, King Uriah couldn't even face his subjects. Zetia drew the dark sword, she said, "For the crimes you committed, I hereby sentence you to death."
Everyone bowed their head as Zetia mercilessly fed on their cores and spirits, after consuming the last dragon her eyes didn't change. Zetia looking her colleagues said, "I need more!" With her sword pointed at her next prey, with full speed she charges forward.
Takato's feet froze on the ground at the sight of the dark spirits, King Qin along with other kings were immediately escorted out of the dungeon by King Uriah and Talin. Junta averted danger with his bare hands, his eyes changed all to black as he responded to the evil power.
Junta looked at the chains on the wall, he said, "Run and lock this dungeon." Takato ran upstairs to look for help, he saw the other kings standing from a distance from the dungeon, Uriah with a spell managed to seal the place.
Takato painting from exhaustion said, "Junta is still in there! We have to do…" "Only death awaits inside that dungeon, by now she has devoured him. We have to wait till she is back to her senses. Talin take your brother to rest." King Qin kept looking at the doors of the dungeon.
Takato's world was shattered to pieces, he moved a few steps away from his father, "So you left me to be another victim of the Harvest…nothing matters more to you than your throne. Everything you do is to secure the throne and save your own life!" King Qin didn't even spare a glance at his agonising son, "Take him to rest."
The doors of the dungeon were busted open, as the dust dispersed Takato caught a glimpse of Junta. After taking a few steps he fell on the ground, he was seriously hurt. King Uriah popped his eyes out, pointing a sword on Uriah's throat Takato said, "Remove the barrier!'
Takato rushed to embrace Junta in his arms, he tore his garments as he tried to stop the bleeding. Junta's mask was half broken exposing his lips, he smiled and muttered, "I am…happy...you aren't hurt."
When King Uriah and other guards tried to help Takato to carry Junta to the Physician he pointed his sword and yelled, "I will kill anyone who lays a finger on him! Stay away!!"
Henry heart tightened as he watched his boy hurt on the ground, surrounded by evil being he had to conceal his anger. Henry extending his hands said, "Prince Takato, I am Junta's father…can I help you take him to the doctor for treatment. I want him to get better too."
Takato looked at Junta and said, "You will be alright Junta, hang on." Henry riding on his hoarse cleared the path for Takato's carriage.
King Uriah and King Qin waited for an hour on guard, "What do you think happened in there?" Bravely but very much filled with fear King Qin followed behind King Uriah, the stench of blood grew stronger and stronger.
King Uriah's feet froze on the ground as he saw Zetia's arms, legs and head chained on the wall. King Qin whispered, "Should we loosen the chains? What if…" "Remove these chains from my body." Zetia's eyes had changed to normal, when the chains were loosened, she collapsed
Henry anxiously waited outside, Maria was cramped in a corner trying to calm her anger and holding herself from killing Zetia. Takato starring at Junta's blood on his hands said, "Why does he always get hurt in my place? This…is all...my fault…" Tears poured out of his eyes.
The doctor with blood stained clothes came out of the room, he said, "The wounds were fatal and he lost a lot of blood. His body is recovering quite fast for a human in a couple of days, he will gain consciousness." Henry looking at Takato said, "Would you like to see him?"
Takato bowed his head and replied, "I will wash my clothes first, please forgive me for hurting your son." Takato was escorted by a few guards to his room.
When Henry and Maria entered the room, they saw a man dressed in black holding Junta's hand, the song he was singing was familiar. With a wave of a hand the door was slammed closed, "Why is my son hurt again Henry?"
Henry and Maria immediately fell on the ground as they showed respect to Hwan, the atmosphere in the room was cold as ice. Henry replied, "Greeting my Lord…" "His identity has been exposed, take him to the mansion right now!" Henry looking closer noticed the one before him was a clone.
Maria wrapped Junta in blankets, Henry noticed that Takato was standing at the door. Takato wanted to take a glimpse of Junta to assure himself he was safe before taking a bath, "I shall go where Junta goes…"
Henry could hear the footsteps drawing closer and closer, he grabbed Takato and placed him on his shoulders, the clone was holding its sword standing before the door. The clone's eyes turned black, it cut its wrist to poison its blade.
One by one he killed the pheasant guards, the clone dodged a blade that came through the window. Zetia destroyed the wall using the hundred sword formation, the clone managed to dodge the attack, walking out of the dust unscratched it said, "Finally you are here, I was starting to get bored with your poor line of defence."
The other kings were standing watching the whole drama, Zetia drew her sword and said, "Do you think you can kill me?" The clone pointed its sword at her, "Anxiety and the fear of facing me are already killing you Zetia, to think a nobody… weakling spoilt brat dared to seat on my throne." King Uriah noticed that the one before Zetia was a clone.
Zetia infuriated with anger charged towards the clone, their fight escalated out of control as they destroyed half of the palace. Their martial arts skills were on another level, after a few minutes of beating the hell out of each other the clone was finally defeated.
As she lowered her sword down to finish the enemy the clone said, "Death shall triumph when I return." The clone dissolved down to blood, painting from exhaustion Zetia fainted her wounds had opened during the fight.
Takato was amazed when they entered the other side of the barrier, the flowers and mansion were beautiful. They saw a man watering the plants, he was dressed in white robes. The man placing the watering cane on the ground said, "This is the second time my son has been severely hurt."
Henry and Maria knelt on the ground, Takato knew the man before him was someone of higher importance, "Forgive me Lord Hwan." Hwan took his child in his hands, his eyes changed black and enchanted an unbinding spell Ji Lie placed to supress Junta's powers.
Junta coughed out black blood when the seal was losened, his wounds immediately healed. With his eyes halfway open, Junta said, "You saved me once again, please don't run away before telling me who you are." Hwan with a smile on his face replied, "Will you hate me knowing I am your father?"