Hi and Sozin arrive in the town square to go up to the kings castle to have an audience. They walk through the bustling townsquare through the gates seperating the middle class town up the hills towards the church, bathhouse, castle and royalty houses. Going up there is only allowed for important figures, royalty, servants and students of the royal academy. As they go through the gates they are stopped by crossed spears and checked by guards. "State your Visit!" a guard says. The guards wear a uniform with armor, spears and a short sword. "An audience with the king!" Sozin tells him showing him a letter from the king. "Very well you may proceed!" he says putting his weapons aside for them to pass. "Thanks!" Sozin says leaving with Hi. As they go up the paved road leading up to higher grounds they see the church in the distance and the royal academy as well as the castle. The castle is at the top of the hill and is surrounded by a beatiful garden and small lake. On one side is the royal academy and on the other the castle and in the middle is a long bridge leading up to the castle made from white marmor with a slight arch. They approach the gates leading up to the bridge. They can see some carts going through and out the castle. There is a man and a woman standing at the gate waiting for someone. The man wearing a red robe with a hood covering his face looks at them and waves them closer to him. They approach the man. The man goes up to Hi putting his hood off to reveal his face, he has brown hair, brown eyes and short hair, he inspects Hi touching his face "So you are that Hi the king talked about. Yes the fire element is strong in you just as they said. You would be great to get some data on fire magic as yours is different from what i encountered!". "Uh. Nice to meet you!" Hi says uncomfortable. "Where are your manners, Master? He is a guest of the king! Treat him with respect. I apologise for my master he sometimes gets carried away when he meets people with a stron magic energy. My name is Sascha by the way" the woman standing next to him says. She is a woman with blond wavy hair and blue eyes. She wears a white tunica with some golden adornments and golden jewelry and a white scarf running down it it fits her skin tone and blond hair well. She also has a book hung on her belt. "My apologies it seems i got carried away there! Anyways my name is Magnus." he says shaking Hi´s hand. "Pleased to make your aquaitance! My name is Hi" Hi says to them. "Were is my greetings?" Sozin asks in a joking way. "Hahaha! Good one! It seems i overlooked you there Sozin! I´m sorry it´s just that he was something new for me to look at. I see you are doing fine yourself." Magnus says hitting Sozin on the back. "It seems you humans never change!" Sozin says. "Quit your dillydallying or we will be late to meet the king." Sascha says. "Oh, yeah. We are here to escort you there. I heard you were strong so i just couldn´t keep myself to escort you and talk on the way. There are always new things to discover!" Magnus says leading the way. "I must ask what is your connection to the king anyways?" Hi asks him. "Nothing much it´s just that i´m the smartest guy around when handling magic. I´m a teacher to the students, Master to Sascha and a minister for magic affairs!" Magnus says. "Is that so ? So what magic do you wield?" Hi asks. "I´m somewhat of an allrounder if i may say so myself. I can use any magic i want with diminishing returns unfortunetaly. I have mastered a lot of magic over the years studied it and teach it to others. I cannot measure to any specialist like you and Sozin but i can use my arsenal to my advantage!" Magnus explains. "I do sense a lot of different kinds of magic but it doesn´t seem chaotic. It´s in order. Impressive!" Hi says. "So you can tell!" I guess Sozin thaught you that. "And you propably use healing magic there is some nice wavelengths coming from you!" Hi tells Sascha "You guessed correct! she answers. "Did you know that anyone with magic can do that it´s not specialised of course there are exceptions that only allow specific magic to be detected. Magic as you know it exists in multiple different forms. Everyone has magic inside of them but most aren´t able to use it well either because they do not have enought for it to be useful or they haven´t learnt how. It can empower you serve as armor be transferred to weapons or in other useful ways like sensing living creatures with magic. We help those people at the royal academy. However through gemstones and magic items they can use any affinity as long as they have enough magic to keep it powered. You already expirienced that through your teleportation medal. And there´s ones born with special affinities or elements. Special affinities are not like elements but are different from that basic magic i told you about. Elements however are extremely powerful but just as rare. Sozin might´ve already told you but there are primeval forms of magic which are even more powerful but even rarer only passed down by specific families and clans. Like our king with primeval light magic awakened by the pope. Or the emperor of Nafud who posesses primeval lightening magic. Or the demons and those turned into it posess primeval darkness magic. As for the others i only heard rumors about where they live, primeval water magic in Kinto, primeval wood magic somewhere with elves, primeval metal magic in the badlands and primeval fire magic somewhere on an island in the east. And any primeval magic in any rare creatures, monsters or spirits. We speculate that primeval wind magic exists somewhere too. And as for other elements they don´t have a primeval form they just originated from it or are special to only some individuals like any other element catered to someone´s whole being." Magnus explains to Hi as they cross the long bridge. "I posess the primeval flame. Our family is known as the heirs of fire and our only second to our ruler." Hi says. "That would explain your strange fire magic and your red hair. Now i know why the king is interested in you!"Magnus says. "We have arrived at the castle!" Sascha says. Hi looks up to see a castle towering above the walls are huge and the towers as well it is decorated with nice mosaic glass and multiple family banners and the king´s in the middle just above the gate. "It is impressive!" Hi says. "I´ve seen better!" Sozin says. "I´m sure you have but this is one that is still standing and being used." Magnus tells him. "Whatever!" Sozin says turning away from Magnus. "We should enter now!" Sascha says raising her hand against the now glowing gate with a lot of runes. The massive gate opens on it´s own. "Whoa! A gate that opens with magic that is cool!" Hi says. "Just wait it gets better!" Sascha says. The go through the gate and Hi notices some lightly glowing barrier protecting the castle. "A barrier. This really is a fortress!" Hi says. "No one has claimed it from the outside yet!" Sascha says. They go through a lot of corridors and halls starting from the entrance hall and see a lot of strong guards.They go up a big tower up the spiraling steps. They arrive at the top and see a big door leading to the king´s office. In front there stand two strong guards with long swords and shield´s as big as doors. They rest on their shield. They wear white armor with lightly blue glowing accents. You can tell no difference between them except if you look closer you can notice that on is a woman and one is a man. "Who are you!" the man demands "We are the king´s guests!" Sozin says showing his letter. "Before you enter leave your weapons outside!" the woman says. "We´ll take them!" Sascha says taking the weapons from them and giving the rest to Magnus. "You can trust us with those i know what his weapon means to a hunter!" Magnus says. "Very well you may enter!" the man says. They open the doors to the king´s office. As they go through the woman touches Hi´s shoulder and says "You better behave yourself!". The door closes. The room is illuminated by light and you can see dust flying in the air some bookshelves and a lot of paperwork. In the back of the room by the desk there is a shadow hiding the king but not his assistant. The assistant is a young woman wearing formal clothes. "I have expected you!" the king says rising out the shadows showing himself. "Out with you i need to talk with them alone. When they leave come back!" he tells his assistant. She nods and leaves the room. "Now we can talk!" the king says looking out the window. The king is a man as big as Sozin he is visibly in his mid-fourties with dark blonde hair with some white hairs he wears a full beard and a crown on his head. He wears a a red coat with white fur on his shoulders. Underneath is a nice pair of red clothes which look expensive. The king´s hand rests on his blade adorned with gold. On his fingers he wears rings with multiple gems on it and on his ringfinger a nice golden ring signifying that he is a married man. "To what do we owe you the pleasure king?" Sozin asks sarcastically. " Your apprentice has caught my eye not only did he become an S-rank hunter in record time but he also of royal descent from the fabled kano country! Now then let´s sit down and have a nice talk over some wine, Hi!" the king says pouring them a drink and putting it in front of Hi and Sozin who have sat down now on two chairs in front of the desk. "It seems your taste for wine hasn´t changed awful as always!" Sozin tells him. "And your humor has remained unchanged!" the king says. "Hmph!" Sozin says drinking his wine. Hi sits at the table tensely with his hands on his lap taking a sip of the wine. In contrast to that Sozin is sitting very comfortably with his arm on the back of the chair. "Um. My name is Hi and i am an heir of fire. The clan that has inhereted the first flame from the dragons!" Hi says. "Why so tensed up? First time?" the king asks him. "Um!" Hi stutters. "You´re intimidating my lil guy, yet you tell him to ease up even though you excude a dangerous energy! Really now! Just to uphold your image of a strong king. Next thing i´ll know is that you strike some stupid deal only you profit from!" Sozin tells him. "I´m the king i only do what´s best for my nation." he answers. "You show off. You think you´re stronger than him because you´re king grow up!" Sozin tells him. "Silence!" the king tells Sozin intimidatingly. "OOps! It seems you are annoyed at me for some reason." Sozin says. The king now exudes a threatening aura towards Sozin. "Oh no ! Now i´m scared!" Sozin says not budging at all. "One more word and you´re done!" he tells Sozin angrily. The guards outside are concerned but the female guard tells her male counterpart that. "Only Sozin can get our majesty so ticked off!" she says laughing it off. "You done now? It seems you are compensating for something!" Sozin tells him. The king now attacks Sozin with his sword. "Tell me one reason i shouldn´t have you executed right now!" the king tells Sozin. "Enough!" Hi tells the king grabbing his blade showing off his burning aura. The people outside are surprised by that show of strength."Hmph! Lucky guy!" he tells Sozin sheathing his sword. Sozin makes a grimace at the king. "And enough from you too master! I am here representing my clan i cannot afford to show any weakness. I am my own man too!" Hi tells Sozin. Sozin puts his hand in the air. "Alright it seems you have shown me your resolve! But please don´t show off it´s a bad habit that will get you killed. Like him!" Sozin says pointing at the king. "I said enough!" Hi says visibly angry smashing his fist on the desk the angry energy gets to Sozin. "Your look has changed boy! Calm yourself first! I´ll leave you and the king alone for a while. And don´t kill him!" Sozin says getting up leaving the room. "I apologise for my childish master. We can talk now!" Hi tells the king sitting down with a judgemental look on his face. The king got scared for a short while there he reminds him of his father he lost. "It seems i have underestimated you! Now you are talking the way royalty does! So let´s strike a deal Hi." the king tells him. "I didn´t expect such strength from a boy your age!" the king says. "Age has nothing to do with this! I demand you establish political relations and free trade between our countries. And peace as well. You have nothing to lose from trade and peaceful relations with another country especially one that posesses a bearer of primeval fire magic." Hi tells him. "You demand? That is a change of heart. Very well I shall do that. But what has your country to offer especially one that doesn't have it's borders open and doesn't accept foreigners." The king asks. "More than you can imagine. Quality goods local to our country, like quality magic swords and powerful families that will make you look even better!" Hi answers. "Well then I have written down our contract and signed it. All that's left is yours!" The king says. "I'll sign it! And give me some paper and a pen to write a letter back home. I'm sure our countries will get along fine." Hi tells him. The king passes him the paper and pen. Hi writes down that kano country will prosper with trade and will secure more power and wealth. He sends it back home in his magic box and teleports it to his family. "I've sent it! They'll answer quickly and give me my position as family head." Hi tells him. "So I helped you become family head. Could you sell that box for others to use it looks quite useful!" The king says. "Leave me and my Master alone and uphold your contract and it'll all be yours and give me something in return taking is too easy sharing is caring! I have no more business here today!" Hi says standing up. "Wait! I have a quest for you and your party. You don't wanna miss it. It's an archdemon sitting in his own little castle playing king. Kill it for me will ya Hunter?" The king says. "Consider it done and get back to work. You have lot more paperwork to do." Hi says to the king leaving the through the door. "I heard you back there you've grown. I have nothing left to teach you anymore, ,Lil genius! But please always stay the way you are!" Sozin tells Hi with his hand on his shoulder. "Im done traveling with you then. It's been real, Master! Thank you for being my Master. Now we are nothing more than ol hunting pals. We are equals now! I have accepted my heritage and will continue to hunt to make the world a more peaceful place! Because now I am strong and can do as I please!" Hi says leaving the place. "For Pete's sake he's grown preconceited. He is just like that king once they leave your care they start to show their true colors. I sure hope he will just keep being a hunter and the heirs of fire family head no more no less! If he goes waging wars with the other nations I won't be able to stop his battle thirst. Humans never change do they! And I hoped he would stay the boy I used to know. Power is a terrible thing if used incorrectly! " Sozin says a little sad. "Surely you believe in miracles, Sozin!" Magnus tells Sozin with his hand on his shoulder. "I'll never stop believing I miracles. I've seen it change people close to death time and time again!"Sascha tells him laying her hand on his shoulder with a nice calming energy. " I guess I'll better start believing or he'll become the version of me I swore to leave behind!" Sozin says. Thinking back to when he used to hunt kill anyone or anything standing in his path. "You sure have lived along time! Remember to always stay the way you are! That's what you've said yourself, so believe in your own words!" Magnus says. "Thanks! We'll be hunting an archdemon you with us?" Sozin asks him. "Whenever you need me!" Magnus says. "I'll be there too making sure you stay alive! " Sascha says. To be continued.... Will Hi succumb to his power or will he control it to keep everyone safe?