Chapter 25 - Segment 25

Everyone was kneeling on one knee respectfully as she ambled along steering at each and everyone as them was addressing her saying, "good evening, your royal highness", she eventually ambled around to Jinjuso's group one by one, each of them doing exactly what everyone else was doing, even Gazu. Then, she came planting her light pink heels firmly over to Jinjuso and glowered down at him with a grimace on her countenance, "Straighten your back child", she commanded, almost instantly and out of embarrassment he straightened his back, she almost bore her eyes into Jinjuso at this point, "tsk, tsk, raise, your head a little a bit", he raised his head a little, she walked further down the aisle of people, until she eventually got to Kaizeen she stopped and looked down at him noticeably angrier than how she looked when she was looking down at Jinjuso. Then with a quantum leap a look of contempt spread across her face, "rise" she said to Kaizeen, she then walked diligently other to Jinjuso despite wearing heels and said, "rise", to him awell, she then stood at the front and commanded both of them to come to the front, her face then changed to that of concern, and she looked at them saying. "Were you really not taught in the ways of addressing those in a higher position than you?", they both responded saying, "no your royal highness", "then why even try it's disgusting to look at such ugly form", she said with a look of disgust, her face changed again as she said, "you're not even commoners, just plain peasants I mean look at those rags". Jinjuso instantly bawled his fists as his eyes started glow a certain colour, before anything could happen Kaizeen nudged him and whispered, "calm don bro", Jinjuso un-bawled his fists and eyes stopped glowing, "sorry, my bad", he responded. Noticing the slight whispers she said, "hmm something the matter?", Kaizeen quickly responded, "were fine your royal highness", "no matter I shall hold a class on kneeling, and pleasantries and all the sort later, you are dismissed", she responded shooing them off, they both went back to their original places and knelt again not perfectly but trying their best. "Rise all!", Ylventine commanded, everyone rose to their feet and stood attentively eyeing her. "You have all done well to make it this far, but you still have not finished you still have a few more trials to undertake until you will be inaugurated as fully fledged adventurers", interrupted her speech someone in the crowd raised their hand and said, "If I may, your royal highness". She pointed her fan over to them and said, "you are permitted to speak", "so what exactly are we doing your liege, I don't really see this as a setting for a test", as the boy said this everyone looked around, the cave was small and now quite crowded it was like a boxed-up cage. Continuing from where she left off, she said, "well I was just about to get into that, the fact is you will not be doing a test you will simply be relaxing", before anyone could react, she clicked her fingers and falling from the ceiling like a pile of heavy rocks came tables and chairs and two Nanorum children also. The slight dust that formed began to clear to reveal a practised set of pink and white striped circular tables and chairs, dancing from behind the clearing dust came two identical Nanorum girls both dressed in well kept, small polo dresses one of them wearing full white and one wearing full pink, that being the only way you could tell them apart as they both had glossy blue eyes and had dyed their hair pink in the image of her royal highness. Ylventine gestured her hands down to her assistants and introduced them, "on my left is Tam, (the one dressed in pink), and on my right is Lam", (the one dressed in white), the two twin Nanorumians wore their hair in small pigtails and wore puffy hairbands to boot, they both did a small curtsy. (Nanorum are a race of small people that harbour The Tantum mountains to the far west of the continent, they range from 2 feet to 4'10, their race are a specialised group of miners as there is rare and bountiful amounts of ore and mineral deposits in the mountains they are a sociable race and have a prosperous and bountiful alliance with the humans often trading with them giving them things like ore and mineral in exchange for money. Their society is comprised of the goodwill and the hardwill, the goodwill are those who make money from selling minerals and ore and the hardwill are those who travel across the continent ridding the world of blighters, cursed monsters that have roamed the land for years. They are known to be an atheistic race not worshiping a god just sometimes asking for guidance from Torma Nan the highest mountain in the Tantum mountains, and they have a monument in their towns and cities of this mountain). Everyone's eyes widened in astonishment, she received a thundering ovation, and everyone said things like, "beautiful", "wonderful, your royal highness", she showered in the praise everyone threw at her for a bit before ceasing everything saying, "silence, you may be seated". Everyone skipped over to the tables feeling relieved about the fact that they would finally just have a session where they would be able to chill after the crazy hectic nature of the tests so far. Kaizeen walked up to Jinjuso and stopped him before he proceeded, "what happened back there bro, you alright?", he asked, "I'm fine, I just couldn't stand her trash talking our clothes, Inis spent hours to make these before we left", Jinjuso responded, "yeah I know, it pulled a nerve within me too but I made sure to not make it get to me, bro you know what happens when we awaken, good thing your restrictor held back your power or else that wouldn't have ended so well, just try not to let petty comments like those get to you", followed up Kaizeen in an understanding tone. Jinjuso nodded and said, "yeah your right, lets go", they both followed on, they saw Lillian calling them over to a table on the left side of the cave, as small as the cave was almost every table and chair just about filled half of it, "OVER HERE GENTLEMEN!", she called out already sitting around the table were, Gazu, Curzon and Timothy, there were about four other chairs the other tables were organized the same way. Jinjuso and Kaizeen walked over to them and took a seat, the others looked at both of them with curious expressions, then breaking the silence Lillian asked, "where exactly do you gentlemen come from?", Kaizeen and Jinjuso looked at each other and said, "oh boy", there was some more silence, Lillian broke the silence again saying, "look if you don't want to tell us you don't have to, I understand keeping secrets". Kaizeen replied saying, "no its fine, were just wanderers we were wanderers since birth", "It's just weeee haveent seen anybody faiilll at addressing nobility properly, most of us are taught froom birth, only peaaasants don't always know how to address nobility, but even so most of them doooo", added Curzon. "Y-your n-not a-actually p-p-peasants are you?", asked Timothy, Lillian replied saying "no, they couldn't be, I mean look at their clothes, there well kept and look nice, her royal highness Ylventine was just being a little harsh", the others accept for Gazu did a pseudo stare down at Jinjuso and Kaizeen. They were beginning to become uncomfortable and so averted their eyes, Gazu finally looked up angrily at the others and replied saying, "LOOK IT DOSENT MATTER IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO, ITS BEST IF THEY DON'T, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WHO LIKES THOSE SNOBLIKE UPTIGHT PIECES OF TRASH!", "GAZU!", screamed Lillian as she promptly covered his mouth with one hand some people heard the remark and looked over shocked, but thankfully Ylventine didn't. With a shocking slight change of heart Gazu removed Lillian's hand from his mouth and said, "sorry, but just please drop it", seemingly bewildered Jinjuso and Kaizeen looked at each other and Gazu and started thanking him with relieved adulation, "you da man", said Jinjuso heartily, "man didn't know you were capable of standing up for others", said Kaizeen happily, "maybe you aren't so bad after all", continued Jinjuso. "Yeah, yeah", replied Gazu, he looked at Lillian and the other two expectantly, all three of them blushed in extreme embarrassment, Lillian got up and bowed to both of them saying, "I am very sorry for my undignified impertinence, I beg you please forgive me", she said clasping her hands and looking directly at Jinjuso and Kaizeen with puppy dog eyes, "don't worry we forgive you", said Kaizeen, "y-yeah", responded Jinjuso blushing, immediately after Timothy got up copied Lillians motions and said, "s-sorry p-p-please forgive me", "ugh not forgiven", responded Jinjuso, not too surprised timothy sat back down and said, "I g-guess I-I'm s-s-still pitiful even when asking for forgiveness", "nah its alright I forgive you and don't worry Jinjuso forgives you his just being petty", reassured Kaizeen. Curzon began crying, his crying grew louder, "sworry", he said, his face buried under his own flow of tears, "stop crying then your forgiven", stated Jinjuso, "nah your forgiven, he just doesn't like to show his compassion", "shudup man", said Jinjuso darting his eyes at Kaizeen. After a few minutes of consoling and chatter three familiar faces including a new one darted through the cave entrance, Kariya, Cheryl and Lend along with a pink fluffy dog, "oh this is just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L, yeah it's a B then an E then an A an U then an T I F U L, B to the E to the A to the U to the T I F U L beautiful", chanted Cheryl happily, "yeah pinks, ya favorit colour enit Cheryl", added Lend, "yeahyu", replied Cheryl. "I don't know if we passed it seems like everything is already set up", "there iz n-o no way wee would lose", stated Cheryl confidently, "lez go fin out enit", suggested Lend, "wait guys lets approach with reverence, that's 1st princess Ylventine", "oh shite, were done in", replied Lend, they all walked over in a procession like way whilst everyone else watched them intently, they eventually made their way over to the grand table in table in the middle with an umbrella stand on it. They kneeled down accordingly and said, "good evening your royal highness Ylventine of Elezzion", she looked them over then said, "rise", "It seems you are very late", she said with a stern look on her face, "Sorry your liege but we got quite lost if we have failed I understand", "I could fail you but, I won't", shocked Kariya replied saying, "why?", Ylventines eyes brightened as she looked over to Cheryl, she replied saying, "I couldn't fail you on the basis that this young lady has such beautiful style, I can not have that on my conscience", she looked down to see the small poodle, she squealed, "oh I just love dogs and especially when their pink, what is its name?", she asked, Cheryl stepped forward did a curtsy and said, "Its name is Mary", "oh do come sit with me I would like too hear more about this dog, Cheryl's face brightened as she said, "what an honour of course your royal H-I-G-H-N-E-S-S , H to the I to the G to the H to the N E S S", she skipped over and sat on a chair next to one of the Nanorums. Kariya and Lend began to walk over and were about to take a seat, until they were stopped by Ylvent ine she stretched out her palm and shooed them away, "off with you", she said, with a slight grunt they obediently walked away. There was discourse amongst the wannabe adventurers as they began to talk amongst themselves, "why does she get to sit on the same table as them its not fair", "must be great being a pinkist like her royal highness", "I might need to start dressing in all pink", even on Jinjuso's table there were discussions, "that woman is oh so lucky", said Lillian, "someones gotta suck up to the royals, if anything let it be her" added Gazu, "so is dressing in pink more respectful", asked Jinjuso, "go ahead bro I would love to see that", Jeered Kaizeen, "p-promise y-you'll do it", asked Timothy, "don't do that silly", said Lillian trying to erase the thought, "Jeese, ok, ok I won't," replied Jinjuso trying to calm every one down. "But you never know it might look good on you", stated Kaizeen, "perish the thought", said Lillian pouting, Kaizeen started chuckling everyone soon followed, then it became a loud Guffaw piercing through the chatter around the cave, after a while they calmed down. Footsteps soon approached from behind Jinjuso, everyone looked as a moderately sized girl with golden brown beige coloured skin wearing light blue and yellow Nishkam belly dancer clothes approached. She wore golden bangles on each of her wrists, and crystals dangled off of her outfit, she wore light blue moccasins on her feet, her eyes were of a bright mahogany colour and she wore her ankle length Indigo coloured hair in a high ponytail held together with a gold bangle, she wore tikka jewellery on her forehead and wore glistening ear studs, she was gaudy to say the least. "Oh I-It's you", said Timothy looking up at her, "o-on b-behalf of G-Gazu, Curzon and I, thank you", "don't mention it, cutie pie", she said with a coy smile, blinded by her beauty Kaizeen said, "please take a seat", "ohh your quite handsome, and thank you". But before she sat down she looked back and said, "Richie, its fine now you can come out darling", the conjurer boy peered from behind one of the cave columns and said, "are you sure?", "yeah they are friendly, and anyway you were the one that said we should scout them out", "okay fine", a boy wearing a long sleeve button up white shirt and black sleeveless vest approached, he wore long ironed school trousers and black laced steel toe shoes, he was dressed quite simply, his peanut brown coloured extremely curly centre parted bob hair lay to the side muffling his ears. "Um hi please don't roast me in a fire", everyone looked at him confused, "and why would we do that?", asked Jinjuso, "I don't know, just don't do it", he responded, with a slight giggle the dancer said, "don't mind him, his just a bit shy is all", everyone nodded, they both sat down on the last two vacant seats. "Hiya my name is Shantara, this shy boy is Richard, call him Richie he likes that better, don't you Richie", she said looking at him, he nodded, realising something Lillian looked at Shantara and asked, "correct me if I am mistaken, but you are a Nishkam dancer are you not?", "correct how did you know sweet", "my father went on an excursion over there once and watched a performance, he told me for hours how beautiful the dancers were, and how rhythmic and captivating their each and every movement was, he even told me what they wore, that's how I noticed you were one", with a pleasant smile spread across her lips she said, "its so nice to know that the dance of Nishkam touches the hearts of many people far beyond our city and country". "C-can I a-ask you something?", asked Timothy looking at Shantara, "yeah sure", Shantara responded, "what exactly is your I.C.O power?", "Its called Keratin manipulation I can manipulate anything with Keratin in it, for example hair", she stretched her hair out and pulled out another chair, "WOAH", shouted Jinjuso, "want me to do it to you too darling", asked Shantara, "sure", replied Jinjuso. "Rise", chanted Shantara, with the slight raise of her fingertips Jinjuso's hair rose extremely high and pinned him to the roof, "yooo, this is sick", everyone marvelled at the sight of Jinjuso floating up near the sealing, "and lower", she slowly moved her fingers down until Jinjuso was on his seat again and removed her grip. In excitement Timothy called out, "m-me next", she adhered to Timothy's wish and pulled him off his chair slightly, Curzon asked but because she could not lift him she chanted the phrase, "extend", Curzons hair stretched across the table. She eventually got to Gazu and swung him around like a turbine at the request of everyone on the table. "Well, that was fun, so what can you do Richie?", asked Jinjuso, Richie looked up as if he was never spoken to before and said, "UH nothing", "come on show them, its quite cool", said Shantara egging him on, "fine, come out shamroof", out came a grey furred wolf it howled and danced around the table, "m-man I a-always wanted a pet wolf but a-all I h-h-have is a wind spirrian", said Timothy jealous, "wait you're a conjurer too?, asked Richie, "not exactly", responded Timothy, "hey you should summon that totem as well", suggested Shantara. "I don't think that's any better but fine", responded Richard, "stand tall totem", a wood totem rose from the ground and said. "Master are these enemies of yours?", "no these are acquaintances", answered Richie, "so enemies right", responded the Totem, "NO", he shouted, "commencing attack in 3,2", the totem was stopped dead in his tracks by what seemed to be a quick whip from Shantara's hair, it shattered into a million wooden splinters. "Oh yeah, I forgot you couldn't control the wind totem properly", Said Shantara with a wry smile, "then why ask me?". They all mess around a while longer until.