Chereads / The King And Exile / Chapter 8 - Chapter 7: Aftermath

Chapter 8 - Chapter 7: Aftermath

Huff Huff Puff

"999... 1,000" Said Bruise, fininishing his pushups.

"King... How much longer do I have to keep doing physical excersize for?" 

"Hmmm... Till I say so."

"What!? Come one, im plenty strong enough now!"

"...Alright, then answer this. If you wer to fight that Greshin again, could you beat it by yourself?" Asked king.

"Thats not fa-"

"EXCUSE ME! Im looking for a Brusie Armen." Shouted a messanger.

"Uhh. Thats me." 

"The Lord of Aljeni has requested you're visit to the royal manor."

Taking his leave, Bruise looked at King wondering if he had any idea why the Lord of Aljeni wanted him. After a walk, Bruise finally arived. About to knock on the door, a stern voice seeped from the cracks.

"Come in."

The hall was spacious, holding fine weapons and relics of Aljeni.

Managing to find a guide, the two took a brief tour of the manor. 

"Aljeni was one of the first every citys to ally themselfs with Sellen. Due to this, Aljeni grw in favor with Sellen and their lord."

"And this----" The tour guide rambled on.

Finally being guided to the Lords chambers, Bruise opened the door to find the Lord who was waiting.

Sitting down in a chair, Bruise looked at the quiet Lord of Aljeni, who took a sip of tea.

He wore a huge scar on his left eye and was quite old for an aura user. 

"Bruise was it?" spoke the Lord.

"Y-Yes my lord."

"Have you recovered well?"

"Yes."

Looking happy with his answer, the Lord and Bruise began disscussing the attack of Aljeni and what happened. Relaying everything he went through, Bruise finished up his story.

"So everything you spoke of is true, correct?"

"Yes my lord.

The lord takes a sip of his tea once more, as a wave of pressure hits Bruise.

"Do you take me for a fool?" Spoke the lord, his piercing eyes causing Bruise to sweat.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Do you expect me to believe that the Hero of Aljeni is some child with a barely built aura core?"

Standing above Bruise, the Lord grabbed and hoisted him off the floor by the throat.

The pressure that surrounded Bruise began to feel crushing as his body began to pop and crack.

"Who are you really and tell me what you're planning."

"M-My lord! I'm not lying! Please!" Pleaded Bruise to no avail.

"So you refuse to answer."

Tightening his grip, the Lord stared at Bruise as his life began to drain from his body.

An explosion of aura erupted from the Lord's hand as he was sent backwards, looking at his hand which was nearly blown off.

"So you've shown your rea-"

"Shut the fuck up." Spoke bruise.

"A Lowly child dare speak to-"

Looking up, the lord's eyes shook with fear as Bruise was floating above him.

"Didn't I just tell you to shut the fuck up?" Bruise said as killing intent seeped out of his body.

BOOM! CRASH!

Civilians began surrounding the lord's manor as his body lied limp outside.

Bruise walked towards his body and lifted him by his hair.

"We still got 48 seconds left," Bruise said.

Bruise repeatedly hit the lord again and again, quickly glaring at the warriors who were ready to attack.

"If anyone intervenes, I will kill you." Spoke bruise.

"P-please. Please spare me." Barely said the lord, his face riddled with bruises and blood.

"It- It was my mistake!"

Readying his fist once more, Bruise noticed his arm which began to break and snap.

Taking a deep breath, Bruise closed his eyes as he jolted up.

Feeling something in his hand, bruise looked at the battered Lord.

"What the fuck is happening!" Bruise screamed in his head.

"P-please spare me. It was my mistake. I'll do anything." Said the lord.

Releasing his grip, the lord profusely thanked Bruise.

"King! What the fuck did you do!" said Bruise.

"I got sick of his shit."

With an expression of fear and shock, Bruise sighed taking a look once more at the lord who was groveling at his feet.

"So what's the plan now?" said Bruise.

"We make some money!" Said King with a wide grin and his eyes shining.

Back inside, Bruise sat in front of the trembling lord.

"S-so what is it you want?" asked the lord.

"I want a ride." Said Bruise bluntly

"Huh?"

"To be more specific, I need a ride to this academy." Said bruise, sliding a letter of recommendation.

"Lionheart Academy?" Asked the lord, bruise replying with a nod.

"With construction from the attack still being done, we have no spare carriages nor griffins." Explained the lord as Bruise raised his fist.

"B-But there are students who were already going tomorrow!"

"Perfect! I mean, that will suffice," said Bruise.

About to walk away bruise suddenly stopped in his tracks and nervously turned around.

"I-I also want a high-quality elixir by tonight!" 

"It will be done." Responded the lord.

Walking outside, bruise collapsed onto the floor, taking a deep breath as he wiped the sweat off his face.

"How the hell do you do that all the time?!" asked Bruise, staring at a smiling king.

"Because I'm the best, and look, we now get an elixir!"

"Y-yea. Do you think he bought it?"

"Really only one way to find out," said King.

Back inside the lord's palace.

"Was it really the right choice to let them be?" asked one of the Lord's hidden guards.

"Yes."

"Lord Ferji! If we-"

"Don't you think I know! Don't worry, he'll soon regret messing with Aljeni."

As night came, Bruise sat in the room he had been in for months since the attack.

Looking at the bottle in front of him, Bruise looked back at King who was reading.

"Are you sure this ain't poisoned?" asked Bruise.

"Try it."

"That's not helpful!"

Cooling off, Bruise gulped as he lifted the bottle to his mouth and began to drink.

Bruise picked up his sword and began to focus on his core. 

Tensing up, the elixir's energy began to seep into his semi-formed core.

A wave of pain exploded within his body, as his body began to circulate the elixir. 

"GAAAAAH!" Screamed Bruise, dropping his sword.

"Bruise! FOCUS!" Shouted king.

"AAAAAAAH!"

Bruise's body began to catch flame, as his eyes rolled in the back of his head.

Placing his hands onto Bruise's back, King helped circulate the energy through his body.

After a few hours, King exhaled as he looked back at Bruise.

His body was circulating with energy and his body was gleaming. 

"That's odd." Said King, inspecting Bruise's body.

"What's wrong?"

"It looks like you're dying."

"WHAT!?"

"Kidding. But seriously, what's up with you're body?"

Slightly mad about King's joke, Bruise once again asked what was wrong with his body.

"In order to circulate your energy, you need to be extremely concentrated. But for you, it seems to be doing it automatically."

Looking at his body, Bruise felt his veins circulating without him having to try.

Wearing a smile, Bruise looked at King and flaunted his body.

While flexing his muscles, the door swung open.

A girl with white wolf ears and a tail stood in the doorstep staring at a Bruise flexing.

"I apologize for intruding. The ride is waiting for you." Spoke the girl, closing the door.

"Thank you! I'll be there soo-" 

Pausing mid-sentence, Bruise's face turned pale as he finally noticed a breeze. 

"Wow, exposing yourself to a girl you just met is brave," commented King.

"FUUUUUUUUUCK!"

The peaceful sound of the birds chirping in the trees, along with the carriage rolling forwards gave Bruise a feeling of home he hadn't felt in awhile.

He turned back towards the four passengers and listened in on their yammering.

"Aint no way you expect me to believe you stayed in Aljeni during the attack." Spoke one of the passengers, leaning over a small bit in disbelief.

"It's true. I even saved people with an instructor." Spoke the other passenger, tilting his head high.

Looking closer, Bruise suddenly recognized the two

The one in disbelief was the son of the Elven Queen of Liurnida, while the other was the guy he bumped into briefly at the calling.

Lastly, there was that wolf girl from the morning who was keeping quiet in the corner.

Looking back and forth Bruise pondered if they saw him on that day.

"You're overthinking." Said King, slowly descending from the sky.

Suddenly in front of his face crouched down, the Elven prince stared into Bruise's fear-filled eyes.

"Hey! It's been a while." Said the boy.

"You're fucked." King said.