5 FERA 1500 EDENIAN

The wind swayed the leaves in the trees; the refreshing scent of the forest can be smell. The smell of the rain yesterday enhances the freshness of this forest up in the mountain.

The chirping of birds highlights the peaceful environment of the forest while the smell of leave hint a feeling of peace and tranquility

 Argius is right now, at this very moment kneeling on the ground, his jeans is sullied by the not yet hardened soil, thus dirtying his ripped jeans, looking at the wide back of this man in front of his view as the man look at the open sky and admiring the scene in front of him.

Argius have never felt the need to show any respect to anyone in his life other than the people who protect him and believe in him, thus giving him quite the reputation as a very mannerless person, but to this man Argius must show his respect.

He must and he knows he is obligated to.

 It has been a week since this fateful encounter. And every day Argius marvel his luck or maybe his misfortune.

Truthfully, he doesn’t know whether this meeting is fortunate or not. However it seems clear that the man is waiting for someone.

Then the bushes rustle behind Argius. And a man wearing a hood that cover his face appear. With his body emitting a very formidable aura.

‘Edward pay respect to the Exalted Grace’ the hooded man said quickly kneeling and bow his head to the ground, all pretense of pride and vanity is abandoned.

‘Hmm’ the man said not looking back still looking at the clouds. 

What does he see on those clouds? Rabbits? Argius mindlessly thinking. After all Argius is uncomfortable with this situation.

And it is true that the group of clouds do look like rabbit. Argius also look at the clouds. Ok, now that looks like a rabbit fucking? Is he seeing that?

And then Argius cease his playful thoughts because of what happens next.

Suddenly the clear blue sky, the calm winds suddenly change and the chirping of birds’ stops, like life itself and time itself stand still.

Argius could feel it that subtle change and the clouds turns gray, the wind begins showing their furious nature and then BOOM! A thunder can be heard thundering a few miles from here.

And then like the sky itself become an uproar, the thunder began playing their song, like a war in High Heaven above, like the Horned God furious hammering at the sky doling out punishment to the sinful souls.

‘Little Ed, it was you?’ The voice was cold and there is this hint of annoyance that could not be hidden.

Argius feel shiver down his spine hearing the man speak, like a fear he never felt before coursing through his vein.

‘I am sorry, Exalted Grace’ then suddenly like  a hammer came crashing down at the hooded man, Argius look in shock as suddenly the body of the hooded man drop to the ground and the sound of cracking can be heard.

It was the Exalted Grace pressure, descending down to the hooded man, a wave of pure power and proving the formidability of the reputation of the Exalted Grace prowess.

Gravity Magic! That crossed Argius mind.

‘F…orgive..me,Ex..alted Gra..ce’ the hooded man said pleading, his voice is constricted and restrained, like he find the effort to speak is the hardest chore.

Then suddenly the pressure around disappears. Almost like he want to teach the Hooded Man a lesson.

The man that does this punishment is as calm as a still lake.

Argius look at the man with renewed awe. To target only one person when employing gravity magic this means that this person have outstanding focus.

The person of course refers to the First Emperor Arial Vermont.

The day they met, Argius was attacked by a feeling of dread but the Emperor look at him and then he muttered ‘Little Ed’ he said and then he said to bring little Ed with him behind the Arial Mountain.

Of course Argius did not know who this little Ed was. But when he relay this story to the Hooded Man, the Hooded Man is not surprised.

It was almost like he expected that this occurrence would happen. Argius concluded one thing. The Hooded Man know the First Emperor.

‘Thank you, Your Exalted Grace.’

‘My lord is enough. Do not use that title. It has been so long since people call me Exalted Grace. Do not flatter me’

‘Yes my lord.’ The Hooded Man reply.

‘Heal yourself.’ The man speaks, almost like an order.

The hooded man took something out from his sleeve. A red potion. He drinks it and then the sound of bones creaking can be heard.

Bone Mending potion. A rare potion and is claimed to fetch millions in the market. What is amazing is that the Hooded man did not even filched or utter any indication of pain as his bones is mending itself.

The sound of the bone creaking and breaking, restructuring, all this can be heard yet the Hooded Man utter not one noise, not one indication of pain.

Argius is convinced that the Hooded Man is a very powerful expert by himself.

‘Did you bring this boy to me?’ The Emperor speak boy like it was a disgusting thing.

‘I did.’

‘And what is you intention on bringing this boy to my attention?’

‘I…..hope that my lord would be able to teach him as you teach me once upon a time. To guide him, as you once guide me’

‘I did not teach you Little Ed. I just give you some guidance for a week.’ The man reply nonchalantly.

‘My lord have teaches me more that one week, more than I have learned from any other teacher I have encounter in my life. A teacher for a day is a teacher for a lifetime. There is no teacher in this world that could compare their technique to you.’

The First Emperor looks at Argius and he look at Argius with a pitiful look. And Argius doesn’t like that. Doesn’t like to be pitied or made light of.

‘And I tell you, this boy can’t do.’

‘Why?’ Argius suddenly chimed in. The First Emperor turn back his gaze looking at the clouds once again.

Then he speaks.

‘Your heart is full of darkness. Hate. There is no hope. No love. No….compassion. Only…darkness. It is clear to me you want to learn my technique to avenge someone, a vendetta. Someone like that….someone who has not a shred of light, of hope is not someone I would like to impart my skill towards.’

‘AND WHAT IS SO WRONG ABOUT THAT!’ Argius reply defiantly.

‘Argius!’ The hooded man warned Argius.

The First Emperor takes no heed of Argius outburst and resumes speaking like nothing happened. It was almost like Argius objection is inconsequential.

‘Teaching you my technique in a nutshell is short of releasing a monster in this world.’

‘I AM YOUR DESCENDANT’ Argius shouted back

‘So?’ The First Emperor said looking at Arial.

‘So what? I have thousands of descendants, maybe millions. I heard Argion my descendant conquer the continent of Asteros once and populated the northern region of Asteros with his descendant from his 1000 wives before being pushed back by the Black Knights. That is what I call my descendant. Not all of them are worthy to be mentioned. I am ashamed that I have such descendants. Tell me. Should I help them all? My descendant keeps disappointing me. I don’t know your personal circumstances but it seems you are trying to avenge your mother by killing your father. In my time that is called kinslaying. Will you not disappoint me too? With such darkness….with such malevolent intention you keep in your heart…..without light…what will await you at the end of the road? I know the answer. Loneliness. Utter and desolate loneliness. You will find yourselves…alone and without purpose…without light….without a reason to keep fighting the good fight’

‘My lord how did you kn-‘ The Hooded Man is shocked by how the First emperor knows the circumstances of Argius past.

‘The Enlightened Ones is still active. They still have their ways of getting information’ Like that sentence explains everything about how he knows about Argius past.

‘Ed, I teach you during your youth because I see something in you and also because your pleading was so heartrending, praying in front of my tomb, telling me of your predicament, until I in my pity, show myself in front of you. Did I not warn you telling of my existence to someone else? Did I not make you promise a sacred oath? Did you not promise to uphold that oath? You know how I dislike people breaking oath. I, once invade a Kingdom because of the breaking of oaths.’

And Argius realize there is some hint of anger in that tone, his back is facing both of them as he is talking, maybe in an act of annoyance at both of the people behind him.

Argius feeling miffed that the Hooded man is being blame instead of him so he tell the First Emperor his story.

Of how he found the Emperor and why he enter the tomb, telling in detail of how the Hooded Man never tell him about the Emperor existence in the tomb.

The Emperor just respond with a hmm and a nod.

‘SO that is how it is. A loophole.’ The First Emperor chuckle a bit. It seems clear to the First Emperor that the Hooded Man employed a loophole in his oath.

He did not once mentioned The First Emperor whereabouts or existence so in a way he did not  break his oath.

‘I..I..’The Hooded man stutters.

‘It is okay. I understand. He must be that girl child, if not I can see no reason why you will risk my wrath.’

Okay? His First Emperor seems to have adapted scary fast. I thought he died during the Enlightenment Period.

Then suddenly he turned his body towards us and Argius look again at that face. It is a face that anyone at least sees one time either in famous paintings or statue.

There is even a gigantic statue of him in the Pantheon, majestically enshrined. And that girl child? What did he mean by that?

‘You look surprised.’ The First Emperor said to Argius.

‘Ancestor adapt really fast in these modern cultures.’ Then the first Emperor look at that baffled expression of Argius and laughed.

‘You couldn’t possibly…you couldn’t possibly think I live in that tomb year long?

‘You didn’t?’

‘HAHAHAA. Explain to him Ed.’ The hooded man nodded.

‘The First Emperor did not stay in that tomb other than when he needs to sleep. He usually wanders around the world and return when he wanted to. The sarcophagus was built by the Fifth Emperor as a bed for his his great ancestor. But for all intent and purposes, the First Emperor died during the Fifth Emperor reign.’ The hooded Man explained.

‘Then why Venerable Ancestor is in the tomb?’ Then the First Emperor answers.

‘I left something. I was about to journey to Vorthy this time, but then I remembered I left something. When I return I see that this young and insolent kid is engaging in indecent activities in my tomb with a woman. Indecent activities I can forgive but doing it in my tomb. Seeing his white hair I could conclude he is of my descent. It is then obligatory for him to show his respect towards me. In my anger I crush him into a puddle of blood and the rest of the stubborn guard is also the same.’

Hearing the First emperor recounting his story, crushing his own descendant like nothing, sends shivers down Argius spine.

‘But he is your descendant?’

‘Like I said before, So? I have thousands of them. Maybe all the royalty in this world, have a bit of Vermont blood in them. Notice the silver hair of most of the royalty? Only true Vermont’s, have that quality, that white hair that look like the first snow of winter. I have lived very long, child, very long. If I have to help every singe of my descendant, when will they ever grow?’

He said while sighing and showing a look that shows a very old man hiding beneath that exterior of youthful appearance.

‘Protectiveness has its limit. Desecrating a funeral place, a cave made for the dead is a sacrilegious act and it is better having no descendant like him rather than having a descendant like him.’

Argius grins.

‘What are you grinning about? Do you think you are any better?’ he scolded

‘Darkness …will take a hold of you, child. Maybe not now. But someday, if vengeance is the only thing you see, you cannot see anything else.

‘Will you protect the Imperial Family then?’ Argius said seeing this indifferent attitude of the first emperor about killing his descendant

‘No. It is their problem to handle created by their own hands. If they have the guts to create a problem, they should also have the wisdom to resolve it.’

‘Good. Then can I take it you will not interfere in my plans?’ Then suddenly the surrounding humidity turns cold.

Argius noticed that his breath produce vapors of cold.

‘Are you presuming about me child? I do what I please! If i want to help, I help! If i don’t then I don’t! It depends on my whims at the time.’

‘Kneel’ Hooded man said to Argius and quickly Argius kneeled. The First Emperor calm himself.

‘Ed, come with me. Get up.’ Ed then come and approached the First Emperor. And then with one flash of thunders suddenly they disappeared.

‘Teleportation Magic’ Argius exclaimed to himself. That is such a rare magic! Argius knows about the story of The First Emperor.

He is the only person in history who has both Qi and Magic. Since him, or before him, there was no one else like him.

Argius sit in the area, looking at the distance. Where did that First Emperor go? But Argius is also contemplating his brashness and ego.

He knows how influential and how powerful the existence of such person in the world is. And who would have thought he have lived almost a millennium.

Judging only by that he is formidable enough. And he is also a certified God level. In history only a few people has been recognized to enter the God level.

In the time before the Second Emperor Alaric, the idea that internal energy and magic power can be ranked and determined is an impossibility.

One can only know when they clash and compare it among themselves. Argius himself knows the story of the people in these God categories.

From what historian knows the only one known to reach God level after researching their deeds is only 8 and that is the recorded one whose deeds resound around the world, whose achievement can only be explained by their power and prowess.

The Great Hero of Humanity, Father of the Caelum, Revered Light of Eden, the ancestors of the Vermont’s, Levitia, then the Four Brothers, the Great Dragonslayer of the Great Purge, then King Karlman of Magnificence, Rayniss the Mad Queen, and Great Elven Dowager Queen Velamina, the Celestial Fairy Mu Xiyun and of course her teacher, The First Emperor, The Great Conqueror, The Emperor of Davarus, Novus Gaia, Protector of the Realm, Emperor of the Edenian people, Arial Vermont.

His title is a mouthful to be spoken loudly so most people only either referred him as the First emperor, Conquering Emperor or as he is posthumously known, The Exalted Grace as the Fifth Emperor always call him.

The exploits of others are all magnificent but from the stories that people have verified, the First Emperor might be a being that surpasses all of them.

From the stories, the First Emperor could summon lightning, tornados, his stomp could induce earthquake of such level that it almost destroy one of the country of the past.

Argius is Junior level rank 3.

In another word, for his age he is average. Since he couldn’t practice magic, he could only learned internal energy.

People with magic on the other hand can learn internal energy but the most they can reach is Expert level.

While their magic could at least reach until Saint level not many reach that level. Most highest rank ever recorded since the First Emperor is Deity level rank 5, by the fifth emperor.

Deity level itself is hard to attain and even the fifth emperor reach it when he was 300 hundreds years old and die a few years later.

This is why the fact that the first emperor lives to span a millennium amazed Argius. The longest any human ever live is 500 years.

There is no more than that and there are probably only a few could boast they could live hundreds of years.

Even now in the continent around the world if there is anyone reaches the level of deity they would be recruited.

Their power alone could decimate an army but for hundreds of years the world has not produced such experts.

And God level? Just as the name implies. God-like powers. In all of the continent history since Arial Vermont, the First Emperor, there has never been such existence ever again.

For him who is a Junior level if the First Emperor decide to kill him that day he meet at that tomb, there is no possible way he could escape.

And the God level he achieved was hundreds of years ago, maybe even a millennium ago, one could only wonder how much he achieved all those years.

Argius still waits for the Hooded Man.

He was too stunned to talk before but now his mind has begun analyzing the conversation between the Hooded Man and the First Emperor.

It seems the First Emperor knows the Hooded Man.

Edward. Huh. So that is his name. Which means from the very beginning the Hooded man knows that the culprit of the assassination is the First emperor.

But the first emperor said he is travelling? How the Hooded Man could knew for certain it was the first emperor and not anybody else in that tomb.

Then something clicked into Argius mind, like a puzzle rearranging itself to fit the missing clues. He must have deduced it by the Dragonguard demise and the report of their death.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Something so powerful that it does not fear incurring the wrath of the Imperial family and have enough power to take the Dragonguard without leaving any trace.

Since the Hooded man seems to have previous encounter with the First Emperor, he must have assumed that the First Emperor has regained consciousness.

If Argius follow the line of thought of the Hooded Man it will be something like this. Since probably likely that the Hooded Man know that the First emperor need to sleep he might have believed awakening that First emperor is not such an unwise decision.

After all Argius could see the fear reflected in the Hooded man behaviour of in front of the first emperor.

Then when he heard about the death of the Crown Prince and the demise of his dragonguard, his thought must have deduced that the first emperor has awaken.

But he could not send me by telling me the whole story. They must be some promise that they have with each other.

The First Emperor must have found out about the Hooded Man when the hooded Man was little. Since the first Emperor call him Little Ed, it’s not such an absurd idea.

The Hooded Man want me to learn something from the First emperor but I was rash and spout some pouty like reaction to the First Emperor.

Argius might be waiting but his mind is hard at work deciphering the things he see and heard.

While he is no genius in Qi training or have any magic he has an analytical mind, and he has learn many language.

In a way he is suited to be a scientist or a researcher.

Usually people who learn at a school but showing no obvious aptitude for magic or qi will usually change their course.

If they have great minds enter the profession of researcher and scientist. Both have their own prestige and dignity.

Of course they are other jobs in this world. 

Not to mention they are not that many Saint. In the Empire there are only ten saints but deploying them with an army could destroy nation easily.

But experts are a lot in this empire and they are treated with respect. Argius with his mind could become a resourceful scientist but that is not his goal.

It is not his goal to research or to train to be the strongest. He wanted his revenge. That is his goal. Then suddenly a flash of light come from the sky and the Hooded Ma is lying on the ground.

Argius rushed to him.

‘Are you-‘

‘I’m okay’ he replied a hint of excitement in his tone.

‘Really? You don’t look like you are fine.’ Seeing the blood in his arms and his tattered robes.

‘It is okay. The First Emperor punishes me a little. But at least he understands my intention.’ Then from his sleeve the Hooded Man produce something.

‘We must guard this with our life.’ Then Argius carried the Hooded Man down the mountain. While climbing down Argius took the opportunity to ask.

‘What is that book?’

‘Something for you. A technique book that the Exalted Grace has bestowed upon you’

‘Why do we need to protect it? Is that really a technique? Can’t the First Emperor teach me himself?’

‘Insolent child.’ The Hooded man reprimanded.

‘What level is the First Emperor to babysit you? How self-important you think you are?’

‘But I am his descendant. I might even become Em-‘

‘And? What is your point? That man is the First Emperor of the Empire you so desire. If he can create it couldn’t he also destroy it?’

‘Then why doesn’t he? The Imperial family is corrupt, ostentatious and a rotten core in this world.’

‘Because now it is time for humanity to be the judge’

‘WHAT!’

‘That is what he said. Before he shoulders the fate of the world in and he stopped the wars by waging wars.’

‘If you want peace prepare for war’ Argius said, a very well known proverb of the empire.

‘Yes.’ The Hooded man said.

‘He said maybe it was right, maybe it was wrong. Or maybe it was right then and wrong now. Either way, you must not forget that in the Glorious Years, war is almost nonexistent other than the skirmishes and a few small battle. I will not talk about the world but at least countries within the Empire and those that is under the Empire influence, there is no major war and we can progress this much by the constant peace. The Edenian Peace. A millennium of peace as was imagined by the First Emperor. There are many things that can be levied against the first emperor but one must not forget for all his faults and blunders, we are blessed with hindsight while he does not. And if not for him, will this peace even realized? So, don’t be an ungrateful person.’

‘That is a long defense.’

‘Only because you are so determined to vilify him.’

‘If the Imperial family is so good why does my mother end up like that?’

‘That is not the First Emperor fault. That is the current Imperial family fault. And the First Emperor has promise he would not interfere.’

‘Words are winds. They are his family after all.’

‘Even in the Dragon War he did not participate when brothers kill brothers, fathers kill sons, mothers kill daughter, cousin kills cousin, and what makes you think your vengeance would move him?’

‘It seems he is confident of himself.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘What if I become the Emperor and I attack him?’

‘HAHAHA’ the hooded man laugh.

‘And who would equal him? He is of God level. Is there anyone in this whole wide world compared to him? Even if you summoned every soldier you have, could that even stop him? Do not attack powers you don’t understand. And don’t forget the level god is achieved a millennium ago. By now, maybe he has stepped into a realm no one even understands.’

Argius frowned and he understands that what the Hooded Man tell him is true.

‘Let cease this conversation’ Argius said as they reached the monorail car.

‘Leave me here Argius. You return back to your home. Today is an eventful day. I will discuss this with your uncle. Of course I would not mention him about the First Emperor and you should also remember not to spill anything you have seen or heard from the First Emperor. Understand?’

‘Yes.’Argius said while nodding. So, then they part at the monorail car. An hour later, Argius reaches home.

‘An eventful day indeed’ he said as he throws himself to his bed. Then he heard the sound of the door open.

‘Will! Will!’ Argius went to the front door and he could see Leia…wasted.

She drinks again?

Sighing he moved to the front door as he once again have to clean up her mess. Sometimes he wonders why he kept her here.

*************************************************************************

AT THE HOUSE

IN THE MORNING

The morning came. The sound of chopping can be heard from the kitchen. The vegetables are being chopped, the meat being slice with perfect precision.

On the bed of the opposite room, a woman just slightly moved her eyelashes beginning to rouse from her sleep.

Her blonde hair is messy and her cheeks have traces of dried saliva. Her throat is parched and she is thirsty.

The moment she wake up her eyes pick up the scent, an aromatic scent from the kitchen. Her head feels like splitting apart.

Last night she partied too hard and today she reaps the price.

‘Hmmmph’ she complained as she got up from the bed, tracing her fingers to try to straighten out her messy hair.

She got up and in that half-awake state walk to the kitchen and she could see, a handsome man is cooking, handling the ingredient like a chef, his hand is fast and with his speed, it is clear he knows what he is doing.

His back view is certainly a view to die for. If they were not friends then maybe Leia would have try to date him.

Many think that the first time they met was their first meeting at the school but Leia knew….knew that she meets him once before….and she knows that he is her friends though she doesn’t know if he remembers.

Leia went over behind Argius and look at what he is cooking.

‘Whoa. That looks delicious.’ There is meat, some vegetables, some fruits a variety of everything.

‘Will , can I have a tast-‘

Argius look at Leia. Then he notices the dry saliva, the messy hair and god….the strong smell of liquor.

Argius shakes his head. If only those fan clubs of hers could see her appearance right now, they would certainly revoke their own membership.

‘Leia, do you not even look at the mirror? Go wash yourself up. I’ll give it to you after you wash up. Sheesh. This is why I oppose to your partying lifestyle.’

Leia just ignored his lecture.

‘Fine.’ She said happily.

‘I’ll go wash up.’ She said that and she began walking towards the bathroom. Argius yelled.

‘WASH CLEANLY!’

‘I KNOW! YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE’ She yelled back

******************************************************************************

A FEW MINUTES LATER

‘Whoa!’ she said as the bowl is open and the aroma fill the dining room. Leia marvel on Argius ability to cook such food.

She takes a sip of the chicken soup and she exclaimed in happiness. Argius also put some herbs into the soup to help Leia with the hangover.

So the moment she sipped the soup her body feel refreshed and energetic, her vitality return and she knows that Argius cares for her, in that kind of small gesture.

‘Oh, you can cook’ she said in a mocking, compliment tone at the same time.

Argius just shrugged it off. Quickly Leia began taking one of everything since Argius cook many side dishes.

And so it turns messy. There are vegetables drop into the table, some droplets of the soup, some curry stain the table which irritates Argius to no end.

And then like something expected, she choked on the soup.

‘Give me some water.’ Argius who is already annoyed seeing her eating replied.

‘Do you not have hands? Take it yourself.’

‘Sheesh. Such an inconsiderate person.’ Leia said pouting.

‘You should have been grateful I even feed you.’ Argius said rolling his eyes.

‘Yeah.Yeah. Nagging again.’

‘I could never understand you.’  Argius said looking at this messy appearance of the Queen of the School.

‘Never told you to.’

‘Fine, it was my fault to try to understand such a weird specimen’ Argius said while Leia just chuckle a bit looking at the annoyed face of Argius.

‘Remember I will deduct this from your pay’ hearing this Leia spurted out the meat form her mouth staining the table even more.

‘Uishh. Dirty’ Argius said

‘Uhhm? WHAT!’

‘WHAT?’ Argius reply.

‘Do you think I feed you for nothing?’ he said while calmly taking a spoonful of soup. Smiling and grinning in the inside as he got one point of from Leia.

‘Wahh….You are really shameless.’

Then silence.

‘I guess today is not the day for me’ Will said.

‘Didn’t our banter usually last a bit long? At least right before we go to school?’ She asked, her hand is still scooping the soup as she keep slurping the soup

‘Banter? Is that what you call this is?’

‘Oh, come on. I know you didn’t really mean anything you said, Will’

‘Didn’t mean anything I said!’ Argius nearly become angry.

How many times Argius have to clean up her messes. When she got home drunk? Or when she crashed his car? Or how about the time when she almost burn the house down?

Thinking about it Argius wanted to sigh.

‘What about the last time when you broke ten plates while washing after dinner. I didn’t think anyone could possibly do that. Did you think it was banter between us?’

‘It’s not?’

‘You’re joking right? I was scolding you, princess.’

‘Really? Doesn’t feel like it’ she replied sheepishly.

‘I thought that was kind of our thing.’

Argius didn’t miss the word.

‘Our thing? We have a thing?’

‘No…you know, I mean, I make this tiny mistake-‘

Argius interjected ‘you mean huge mistakes, clumsy mis-‘ Though Leia continued speaking without even hearing what Argius has to say.

‘And you scold me for it though I know you don’t mean anything’ Leia said trying to force her opinion down Argius throats.

But thinking back at their interaction and their relationship, Argius had to admit they argue a lot…a kind of friendly banter.

It is weirdly comfortable, a sense of normalcy and peaceful everyday life routine…that somehow makes sense.

Sure. Argius get irritated, exasperated, annoyed and a bunch of time he thought that “I’m really done with your shit”

But he never get angry at her…not truly angry, one that could not be fixed with a cup of coffee or a coaxing words.

They both find this kind of friendship between both of them, a secret friendship, between the two of them exhilarating and truthful because both of them know that both of them have secrets.

They do not know what the secret that each other possess but the fact that they know that the other party have a secret to protect, created this sense of weird camaraderie between them and before Argius knows  it, he has become comfortable being beside her and the same can be said for Leia.

They both hurt each other, both console each other. They have become…..friends. And thinking about it for some reason Argius become squeamish.

I…friends with her….Now I know I hit the bottom. Me, friends with royalty?

‘Then we need to stop doing that’ Argius reply

‘Then stop nagging at me’

‘Let see how well you do’ Argius reply.

‘Then I don’t think we can stop.’ Leia shot back.

 A standoff. Argius almost chuckle.

He always finds, that being home, in this home shared with her…..talking with her….that there is some normal in his life, a world of his own separated from the politics and the hatred he felt for the Imperial family.

‘Anyway if you are done scolding me, I need a ride today.’

‘Why? Can’t afford to carpool with Cecelia?’

‘She is getting suspicious and I would like it if my family matter is not known.’

‘Fine. You can take my car.’ Argius get up from the kitchen table and grab his car key and toss it to Leia. She caught it.

‘Thanks.’

‘Bring it in one piece.’

‘What do you think of my driving skills? I drive pretty well, you know?’

‘Is that why my last car had a dent on the right side?’

‘Crash a tree once and you never heard the end of it.’ She said smiling a mischievous smile while Argius is shaking his head.

‘Just….drive slowly and carefully. Got that?’

‘I understand already.’

‘Ok, I’m going to go first.’

‘Go already’ Leia said.

‘Here, take this’ as Leia tossed Argius bag to him.

‘Thanks.’

‘No problem.’

Then sharing a smile, Argius went out from his house and once again, a new day is beginning.

*************************************************************************

There is major spoiler in this for AOH...