The Sun cast its morning glow over the Purple Petals Magic Academy, where students strolled about in the gardens or were lounging in the pavillion outside the main building during recess.
Kanito sat alone on the ledge of the fountain, his lunch spread before him, lost in his own thoughts, his mood was as still as the sky above, only when Fiona joined him did his mood change to an extent as his lips curled into a subtle smile and brightened his face
Suddenly, the academy's giant main gates opened slowly, and the jarring sound filled the air, spreading through the grounds and making everyone stand still in place. Some students caught off guard, continued their activities, but most stood still, their attention was drawn to the commotion.
A golden carriage with red curtains stood outside the gates, surrounded by royal guards.
Sarstin Eurashio, the King of this nation, stepped down from his royal carriage, his strides were uncertain and slow. The guards unfurled a royal red carpet for the King to walk on.
As the King passed, students and faculty bowed respectfully. Kanito bowed, remembering Yuriel's words about not making any more enemies, though his reluctance to bow was palpable; his past encounter with the King in the marketplace still etched in his memory. The King slowly ambled towards the Principal's office
Sarstin stood outside the office of Principal Pears. Inside, Pears sat on a revolving chair, stroking his long pale green hair as he went through a few documents. His steel grey eyes slowly raised and he saw Sarstin standing at the doorstep, he let go of his stoic face and stood, he cast a big smile and maintained an open body posture.
"If it isn't My Majesty!" Pears took off his green overcloth and wrapped it around his waist, laying bare his black suit below. "Please honor the room with your presence"
"Sir Pears, I have come here for an important discussion" anxiety and unease crept into his face
The magnitude of Pears' smile decreased, he sat on his revolving chair and pointed to a chair kept on the other side of the desk, asking the King to sit, Sarstin sat and looked at Pears sitting infront of him, behind Pear's revolving chair were big windows tainted white from sunlight, it made Pear's eyes partly visible.
Resting his elbows on the desk and supporting his chin on both of his wrists, Pears gained back his previous smile.
"Yes, My Majesty? What brought such urgency that you left your palace and came to me?"
"My son Kuruth left for Emirage's coronation ceremony, and ever since he did, they're threatening me," replied Sarstin , his voice quavered in discomfort
"By 'they,' who are you referring to?" asked Pears.
"The...The Royal Bureau."
Pears' eyes narrowed slightly, and he tilted his head "Over what? Over the fact that Lord Kuruth went to Emirage?" Pears looked down at the scattered papers on his desk and assembled a few of them into a pile
"Partly...and partly because I allowed it."
"So, they're just centered about him going to Emirage, right?" Pears asked.
"Y-Yeah."
Pears leaned back on his chair and adopted a neutral face. His revolving chair turned by small degrees towards the windows and he looked outside, the nape of his neck leaned on the headrest and the side of his face was covered by his long pale green hair. The glowing light of the ceiling lamp cast his reflection on the glass of the window, and for a moment, Sarstin noticed the reflection's lips slightly twitch upwards.
"The Royal Bureau is always a hindrance I must say, King," said Pears, staying in his posture.
"They are, they're all so thirsty to sit on my throne," said Sarstin loudly.
"Emirage is a great country, Land of the Future or Land of Wonders as many call it. They have made staggering progress in the past decade, incorporating advanced scientific elements while not disrupting their cultural heritage at all, The Bureau is sure jealous" Pears remarked with varying tones in his voice as he observed students out in the garden, specifically Fiona and Kanito chatting
"Emirage is a country even I want to make Ashfelt like; our once prosperous archipelago is ruining day by day" replied Sarstin.
"But King, I heard Lord Kuruth has gained a new title?" Pears asked curiously.
"Red Slayer," proudly said Sarstin.
"Also gaining a new sword from the Royal Priest Arin, Claymore is the name" said Pears in a tone of confirmation.
"Yes."
"What threats did they give?" Pears asked, returning to the main context.
"Of dethroning me, also of handing over the Royal representation in the Anti-Demon group and ISF to them."
"Oh, My Majesty, don't give into their threats; they're just underestimating you. Let the prince come back; I'm sure he'll teach them a lesson," Pears said
"But Sir Pears, you don't know their malice"
"I may not, but you are the King, use your army and clean sweep them if required"
"What should I do now?"
"Delay their plans, give them false assurances that they will receive what they want while waiting for Lord Kuruth to return, once he does, inform him, the Red Slayer will swing his Claymore and chop their heads off" Pear's voice was empowering and had gravity.
Sarstin smiled with newfound courage and motivation
Pears silenced for a while, his eyes went around the room in a random motion. "But why did you share it all with me, King?"
"Sir Pears, I deem you to be the most reliable in the Anti Demon group. Others will just share it all over, conspire against me" Sarstin adjusted his bluish brown cloak and rubbed his wrinkled ringed fingers
"Well you can rest assured, I am not a tell tale" said Pears
Sarstin got up from his chair and smiled in a glad manner
"I'll be leaving now, I heard what I wanted to hear"
"And I got what I wanted too" said Pears looking up to the King with a calm smile.
Sarstin bid farewell to Pears and exited Pears's office, Pears escorted him on his walk outside the academy, Sarstin ascended to his carriage and Pears watched the carraige drive away.
He noticed one of his assistants outside in the lush greenery of the garden strolling
"Listen" Pears called him in a low, measured voice
The assistant hastened towards him and waited for command
"Bring Fiona to my office after the day ends"
Pears instructed in a firm and controlled tone
The assistant nodded and left while Pear's
visage turned rock hard, the smile left his face and was replaced by a stoic neutrality.
He stared at the blue sky above
"Olheim, what mess are you creating now?"
Pears said to himself, his gaze lowered and fell on the rosy flowers of the garden and then to the students far away, finally it settled over the fountain's ledge on Fiona's charming visage
Later that day, Kuruth who sailed to Emirage one day ago is now attending the Coronation party of Emirage in it's new capital city Sloyren
Kuruth sat on a green and golden chair in a long hall on the ground floor adorned in his usual deep red attire, his long cloak touching the ground and his barechested robe adding more grandeur to his look. He tilted his face sidewise, adjusted his robe and styled his hair as he watched more important guests enter the Royal premises
Kuruth's eyes went around the long widespread garden, golden tables were arranged everywhere and people sat around it in circles.
He saw the monolithic royal palace infront of him made of copper, gold and jade stand proudly, deep green creepers and branches were coiled all around it. The walls were carefully designed with carvings of different symbols, creatures and celestial bodies which were lit up with by the yellow sun of afternoon.
Numerous probes made of steel and titanium scanned the sky overlooking the Royal Palace, hundreds of people from media filled the site, large spacecrafts landed nearby and various guests and dignitaries wearing traditional clothing and accesories entered the scene while mixed noises of victory, hate speech, rumours, awe and wonder were audible to him
"Look, look"
"Is it the time?"
"Has he arrived?"
"Should we stand?"
Various questions rippled through the enviroment but the murmuring slowed down, everyone stood up and looked at the raised platform infront of the Royal Palace, up the flight of enormous concrete steps
A tall slender man having short orange hair and blue eyes stood infront of the noble multitude of guests with the sun shining behind his head like a halo. He was the leader of the Sloye dynasty and also the new King of Emirage, Equis Sloye.
Everyone standing below casted a dazzling smile upon their face, some rejoicing while some forcing a smile, Kuruth was slightly nervous, but he suppressed it inside him by flashing a bright smile, he quickly looked away from the King and the stage, as he was insecure about the status of his own nation.
A priest holding a sceptre horizontally in his hand, came forward towards the King and handed it over to King while another priest placed a golden shimmering crown on the King's bowed head. The King rose and pointed the spectre towards the sky
"With this staff, beneath my authority I bring, the land, the seas and the sky !" he announced in a deep voice heard loud and clear, his voice echoed from the back multiple times
The crowd's applause highlighted the words, sending more gravity and meaning into them as they acknowledge the new King's authority. Soon flourish of cornets shookthe air and radiated his way as he walked down the concrete steps, holding hands with his daughter, greeting guests from different kingdoms of Emirage.
Kuruth approached the King and his daughter and stood infront of them with a noble slow smile, his aristocratic look and clothing hinted at his royal lineage.
He sees Princess Michelle stand infront of him with a proud and joyous smile, the blue colour of her eyes dazzled with elegance, her long orange hair fluttered as a gush of wind passed, loosening a few brown petals from the floral circlet around her head, as they sway and land on the steps slowly.
Michelle adjusted the circlet, making its grip firm around her head and slowly raised her sleeveless rhenish white gown and curtsied infront of him while replacing her glad smile with a playful and informal one
"Fair prince, it is the relentless devotion and charity of my ancestors which impressed the Gods and urged them to write an inflorescence of lucky events in my life and one of them must be, setting my gaze upon your mighty self, hallow our kingdom with your footprints" She said in a cheeky and unrealistic tone while laughing at her own words. Kuruth's sophisticated smile disrupted as an embarrassed and playful smile spread in his face, he rubbed the edges of his nose and looked down.
"Your shenanigans have no end ! Hope you find an angel as no man can put up with you" said Kuruth, his smile shrunk again into a slow regal one, complimenting his attire
"Well what took you so much time, others arrived here a week ago" Michelle's grin changed into a light hearted frown, she crossed her arms and blew air upwards from the corner of her lips making a few front curly locks
"Well, things happened...Huh, nothing happened, forget that and focus on the present and the future" Kuruth's voice hesitated but he soon avoided the question with a subtle smile, furrowing his eyebrows
Michelle still was left in doubt, she wasn't convinced so easily but still she decided to talk about it later and "focus on the present and the future" as Kuruth said earlier
"Well, lets go to the grand feast, lets wait no more"
"That sounds better, I heard stories that no celebration in Emirage is complete without that fried swan's neck"
"Seasoned with raznan pepper produced in Cordel, you heard an incomplete story honey" Michelle again smiled mischievously
While Michelle and Kuruth begin to walk away from the Gardens, King Equis who attended guests walked closer towards them, leaving behind a whole lot of unattended guests, he gave orders to his subordinates to stay at their service while he himself scurried towards the more sparse side of the garden from where his daughter and Kuruth were leaving
"My oh my, other than my daughter, all I see is a fine and well groomed young man !"
Kuruth's lips twitched wide, he gently held his red, golden trimmed cloak and lifted it sidewise while gently kneeling, it was a common gesture of respect in Emirage.
The King was impressed by Kuruth's knowledge of their culture, he too bent a little and then raised his head.
"All glories be to the Sloye dynasty, I'm happy that the crown went to a person who is worthy" said Kuruth trying to flatter the King.
"Glories to the Eurashios, welcome to Emirage Red Slayer, where will you be lodging tonight?" Asked the King.
Michelle interrupted the conversation and said "Father, he will ofcourse lodge in Solar haze resort, where every other guests will stay"
King Equis's voiced quavered, he said in sheer hesitation "Oh..yeah, I forgot that, pardon my rudeness prince"
"I'm sorry that I didn't inform you before, I'll be staying in Sloyren main, in a hotel named Everly's, I'll leave for my nation tomorrow"
"Why Kuruth?" Asked Michelle
"There are some guests I need to attend too, can't help" said Kuruth as he shrugged.
Kuruth then in a serious tone asked the King
"Your Majesty, lets come to a question which even my father was asking about, what is up with the Diluvians? What about Hector dynasty"
"Syruse Hector, their main commander is imprisoned, we cannot say we totally defeated them, but they seem to be hiding somewhere and are unwilling to fight" the King's voice became deeper and more serious
"Our army eradicated Diluvians, if the soldiers of Hector are being honest, they formed an agreement to wipe us away from Emirage but then, the recent Gold Plaza destruction was a bad move" Michelle's serious annotations to her father's words came as a surprise for Kuruth
Kuruth held his waist and asked "Well how do you know that the Gold Plaza was destroyed by Diluvians?"
"They use unseen technologies or items, it's not like it gives them a huge edge but still, who else can do it? Even if there's more to this case, who cares? We maneuvered that event politically to remove our enemies, what's wrong?" Michelle said, her eyebrows furrowed and arms crossed
"Everyone has the right to get rid of their enemies" Michelle's said in a confident manner, her eyes raised and were straightened.
"What about their technologies?" Asked Kuruth in confusion
"We got hold of a few of them, they are still under analysis phase by the joint effort of the Technology advancement and the Analysis wing of our nation. However the images we got show that they use very small metallic arrow like items, the arrowhead is quiet blunt and it has wierd symbols written on it" said Michelle
"Well let's go to our palace for now and wait for the night for the dinner feast, political talks will go on forever, lets not indulge in it everytime" King Equis said as a way to end the sudden seriousness of their conversation and began to walk out of the garden as guests started leaving as well
A slow comforted smile crept into both Kuruth and Michelle's face
Michelle followed her father and left the garden
"Let's go"
she turned behind and said with a warm expression
"Hmm" muttered Kuruth in a calm yet doubt laced voice