<< King Daniil's Mansion >>
"The oldest member of the phoenix clan has returned from her promotional trial in the mortal realm, and has come to see you as you ordered. She is waiting in the courtroom" Aleksandr reported.
"I will be there shortly" King Daniil said.
Aleksandr nodded, instead of leaving after delivery his message, he faced Kira with a smile, as though he's intending on starting a small conversation with her. This irked King Daniil further, and he released a low, warning growl.
"Leave!"
Aleksandr flinched slightly upon hearing King Daniil's angry voice. "Yes, your Majesty" with that he exited the room as fast as his legs could go.
On the other hand, Kira, who was munching away on an apple she had seen on a tray on the table, gave King Daniil a surprise look.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Yes" King Daniil cleared his throat and got on his feet. "I have something to attend to urgently, I'll have someone come keep you company until I get back"
Kira pouted her lips cutely, shrugged her shoulders and simply nodded in response. King Daniil stared at her for a moment, stared at her cutely pouted lips for a moment, since he felt a strange urge to bite them. He blinked as he quickly pushed that strange thought aside, and exited the living room rushing.
It wasn't up to a minute since King Daniil left, when the door pushed open and a lady walked in. She wore a bright smile as she approached Kira, although, she looked as though she's Kira's age mate, her expression showed that she's happy or privileged to meet Kira.
"Hello" she greeted Kira who still haven't felt her presence since she's fixed her focus on the apples on the table.
"Oh, hello" Kira finally raised her head, and her mouth dropped open when she saw the woman's face. "You're beautiful" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
"Thank you, Miss." the woman replied with a shy smile. "I'm Isa, and I've been assigned by his Royal Majesty to keep you company"
"Nice meeting you, Isa" Kira welcomed her with a warm smile. "I'm Kira by the way" she introduced herself.
Then an awkward silence took over, none of them seem to have anything to say, or it's best to say, they don't know what to talk about because this is their first time seeing each other.
Just when the silence was becoming overwhelming, Kira's stomach growled loudly, and she burst into an awkward laugh.
"I guess the apple wasn't what my hungry stomach needed" she said.
"Of course" Isa agreed. Then another silence fell on them, but it was interrupted by Isa. "I heard you're from the mortal realm"
"Yeah, I'm human"
"I can make some human foods, how about I make you something nice to eat?" she asked suggestively.
Kira's eyes grew wide as excitement filled her up. "That would be wonderful" she agreed quickly, her mind racing as she remembered all the delicious foods back home.
"Great. Do you want to come with me to the kitchen, or you'd rather wait for the food here in the living room?"
"Of course, I'm coming with you" Kira replied and sprang up on her feet.
"Okay, let's go" Isa said, and let the way.
<< Immortal realm—Court room >>
An old woman stood alone in front of the king's throne, patiently waiting for the king's arrival. Even though she's old, her beautiful doesn't fade and she doesn't look unkempt. Although, her hair was completely grey, but long and nicely done.
"Welcome, Arata." King Daniil said as he appeared on the throne.
Arata (previously described as 'an old woman') quickly went on her knees, and bowed before her King. "Your Majesty" she greeted, respect coated in her words.
"I have told you plenty of times, Arata, you don't have to bow to me. You watch me grow, and you are like a grandmother to me." King Daniil said, signalling Aleksandr to raise her up. "I'm not allowed to show my emotions in front of others, but you're the only one who has seen me cry or laugh. You know when I'm happy or sad, doesn't that make you my family, Arata?"
Arata smiled. "Daniil, even though I watch you grow, you are still my king and I mustn't dispute that fact" she argued, refusing to let Aleksandr raise her up.
King Daniil sighed deeply, he knew he can never win an argument with her. "Fine. I have accepted your greetings, can you at least stand up while talking to me?"
Arata still refused to get up. King Daniil couldn't take it anymore, he got up from his throne, approached Arata and raised her up even though she was trying to resist.
"Stop being stubborn, Arata" he said. "How was your trip to the mortal realm this time?"
He held her shoulders gently, and escorted her to a smaller throne next to his and tried to make her sit on it, but she refused.
"You don't want to sit down?"
"I would sit down, but not your queen's throne" she replied. "Bring me a stool, son" she instructed Aleksandr.
King Daniil released another sigh, let Arata be, and sat on his throne. He waited until she had made herself comfortable on the stool Aleksandr brought, then repeated his question. "How was your trip to the mortal realm?"
"It was nothing new. I just had to live a miserable life, can you believe the god of fate made me a beggar this time?"
"Really?"
"Yes, and I remembered telling him to write a nice story and make me the mother of a man, but no, he just had to make me a beggar. And to make things worse, he had to make me have a bad body odor… "
Her words were left unfinished as King Daniil and Aleksandr roared into uncontrollable laughter, they found her ranting cute and funny. Arata smiled proudly.
"I'm glad that my misery brings you boys joy" she commented.
"Is that true? Did the god of fate really made you go through such an ordeal?" Aleksandr asked amidst laughter.
Arata shook her head negatively. "No, he wouldn't dare" she answered. "I came up with that story just to make Daniil laugh because I heard he's been moody recently and punishing immortals for the slightest mistakes, is that right?" it's obvious she's asking King Daniil this question.
"Who said I have been moody?"
Arata tilted her head, her eyebrows raised with an expression that reads 'really?' on her face.
"Some immortal maids were stripped off their duties and banished to the mortal realm to be reborn as deaf and blind beggars, who did that?" she asked sarcastically.
King Daniil shrugged nonchalantly. "They had that coming when they gossiped about me, Arata"
His words earned him a scolding glare from Arata, which he quickly looked away from.
"I just came back from my trial, I am tired and don't have the time to discipline you right now…"
A sigh of relief left King Daniil's mouth, he sounded as if he's been worried Arata is going to give him an earful for his decision on banishing the maids.
"... why did you ask to see me?" she asked, finally stating the reason she came to the courtroom.
"Anatoly escaped from the dungeon" King Daniil said.
"I heard"
"I tracked him to the human world, and while I was battling with him, I saw a human girl and I found the phoenix queen's immortal light and bone in her…"
"A human girl?" Arata interrupted the King with a shocked expression.
"Yes"
"That is strange" she muttered quietly, but King Daniil's sensitive ears heard her clearly.
"Arata, I'm confused. I don't understand why or how a human girl would have the phoenix queen's immortal bone, how is that even possible?"
They sat in silence as Arata was deeply in thought, while King Daniil was patiently waiting for her take on the issue.
"Where is the girl?" she finally spoke. "I want to see her"
King Daniil nodded, then ordered Aleksandr. "Go get her"