Chapter 9: The King's Favor
Li Gags may have arrived in King Vision's kingdom as a prisoner, but his treatment was far from that of an ordinary captive. Despite his chains and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his arrival, King Vision extended an unusual generosity toward the young man. Li Gags was given the same living quarters as General Tom, a trusted member of the White Clan. This decision surprised many in the court, but it only deepened the enigma surrounding Li Gags.
King Vision's household was vibrant, with two wives and three daughters who brought life to the palace. His eldest daughter, Princess Grace, was the same age as Li Gags—17. The second daughter was 12, a lively girl with a curious spirit, and the youngest, just six years old, was a sweet child who never strayed far from her mother.
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The morning sun bathed the palace in its golden light, and the sounds of chirping birds drifted through the windows. The air carried the aroma of freshly baked bread and spiced meats. A maid entered Li Gags's room, her voice gentle but firm.
"Wake up. The king invites you for breakfast."
Li Gags rose, prepared himself, and made his way to the dining hall. The room was grand yet warm, with long tables laden with a variety of dishes. King Vision sat at the head of the table, his family beside him. General Tom joined them, along with a handful of guards standing at attention along the walls.
Li Gags approached and bowed respectfully before taking a seat. Despite the meal before him, his gaze was drawn repeatedly to Princess Grace, who sat quietly, her posture graceful yet approachable. Her presence seemed to radiate a calming energy that Li Gags found both intriguing and distracting.
Noticing this, King Vision initiated a conversation, his tone conversational yet probing.
"So, Li Gags, how did you find yourself in the Hunters' Master's territory? The Green Clan Kingdom is far from that forest."
Li Gags paused, his expression momentarily shadowed by a flicker of sadness. But he quickly masked it with a faint smile. "King Emmanuel of the Green Clan granted me a few days of solitude," he began, carefully choosing his words.
He continued, "While exploring the forest, I traveled with ten warriors for protection. We thought we might find a safe place to rest, but we were ambushed by over seventy hunters. The battle was fierce. We managed to kill nearly half of them, but the odds were overwhelming. One by one, my companions fell." His voice faltered briefly before regaining its composure.
"I was the last to fall," Li Gags admitted. "Two arrows struck me, and darkness claimed me. When I woke, I found myself chained in a room, surrounded by strangers."
The room fell silent as he finished, his voice steady despite the weight of his tale.
King Vision leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. Internally, he was impressed by the young man's resilience and skill. "I didn't make a mistake buying him from the Hunters' Master," the king thought. He recalled the master's words: Li Gags possessed great power, capable of making his eyes glow green. However, beyond the striking hue of his eyes, the king had yet to witness the full extent of this power.
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After breakfast, Li Gags was sent to the training grounds, where he spent the entire day honing his skills. The trainers watched him closely, impressed by his natural ability and determination. However, an incident occurred that nearly altered everything.
During a sparring match, Li Gags's necklace was yanked from his neck. The seemingly ordinary ornament fell to the ground, but its absence triggered a shift in him. He froze, his green eyes glowing brighter than ever before. The other trainees noticed the change, but Li Gags quickly composed himself, picking up the necklace and putting it back on.
From a distance, Princess Grace had observed the incident. She hurried to her father later that day, requesting that Li Gags be called to assist her with something. The king, though slightly puzzled by her insistence, agreed.
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The following day, Li Gags returned to the training grounds, but this time he trained alone. The morning was quiet, the sky painted in soft hues of blue and gold. With no one around, Li Gags allowed himself to explore the power he had felt the previous day.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward. A faint hum began to vibrate through his body, and he felt an unfamiliar energy course through him. Slowly, his feet left the ground, and he hovered a few inches above the earth. His body pulsed with a steady rhythm, the energy within him growing stronger.
But Li Gags was not entirely alone. A guard from the White Clan, tasked with patrolling the area, stumbled upon the scene. Hidden behind a tree, the guard's eyes widened as he witnessed Li Gags levitating, his green eyes glowing like emerald fire.
Startled, Li Gags suddenly opened his eyes and fell to the ground, his concentration broken. He glanced around, sensing a presence, but the guard had already slipped away, running back to the palace to report what he had seen to King Vision.
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Back in the palace, the guard stood before the king, his face pale as he relayed the events of the morning. "Your Majesty, I saw Li Gags training alone. His powers… they are unlike anything I've ever seen. He was floating—his body glowing, his eyes brighter than I could describe."
King Vision listened intently, his expression unreadable. After dismissing the guard, he sat in silence, deep in thought.
"If what the guard says is true, then Li Gags is far more powerful than I imagined. But can this power be controlled? And can he be trusted?"
The king decided he needed to see this for himself. He would not act rashly but would observe Li Gags closely. For now, he would keep the boy close, continuing to offer kindness and opportunity. But beneath his generosity lay a shrewd mind, always calculating, always planning.
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Unbeknownst to the king, Princess Grace, too, had her thoughts. She had sensed something extraordinary about Li Gags from the moment she first saw him. The necklace she had sent to him was no ordinary trinket—it was enchanted, designed to suppress his powers until he could control them.
As she stared out her window that evening, watching the sun dip below the horizon, she whispered to herself, "Li Gags, who are you really? And why does it feel like our fates are intertwined?"
The answer to her question, however, remained hidden, shrouded in the mysteries of the young man with glowing green eyes.