In the palace, Maximus strode through the grand corridor, his regal presence commanding attention. A few advisors followed closely behind, engaged in a serious discussion about a recent issue with the neighboring empire. “These diplomatic matters are becoming more complicated by the day,” Maximus thought, his mind weighed down by the intricacies of governance.
Just then, Ornlarf, the commander of the imperial knights, appeared from the opposite direction. Seeing Maximus, he called out, "Your Majesty," his voice firm and respectful. Kneeling and bowing deeply, he demonstrated the utmost reverence.
Maximus paused mid-step, looking at Ornlarf with a curious expression. "Ornlarf? Did something happen that you came to me this early?"
Ornlarf stood up, his face grave. "Lady Anastasia has asked for your audience. She mentioned that there's something very important she needs to discuss with you."
Maximus paused for a moment, contemplating the urgency of the message. “What could be so important at this hour?” he wondered. He then turned to the people behind him. "We'll reschedule our meeting to discuss the empire's affairs on another date," he instructed, his tone decisive.
With that, Maximus walked past Ornlarf, a sense of purpose in his stride. "Come along," he said, signaling Ornlarf to follow as they made their way to meet Anastasia.
Around the same time, the journey to the duchy was underway, the carriages rolling steadily along the path. In the leading carriage, Hiro and Sakura were seated with Elysia and Ana. The two girls were chattering excitedly about the duchy, Ana's curiosity piqued as Elysia described the beauty and magnificence of the Moon Festival.
Hiro and Sakura exchanged amused glances, chuckling softly. “Their excitement is contagious,” Hiro mused, enjoying the lively atmosphere. As the conversation continued, Sakura joined in, sharing her own experiences of past festival, making the atmosphere even more vibrant and lively.
In the following carriage, Karina, and Lala were seated together with Ray and Kai across them. Lala and Karina were deep in conversation, marveling at their luck and excitement about witnessing the start of the festival in person. Ray, however, was quieter, gazing out of the window with a contemplative sigh. “I can't help but think of Nino... I hope she's doing alright,” Ray thought, sighing slowly looking outside the window.
Kai, noticing Ray's demeanor, looked at him with a straight face. Through the comms, Kai's voice broke the silence. “Lemme guess, you're thinking of Nino, right?”
Ray nodded, still looking out at the passing scenery with a sigh. “Will I ever get to see her again?” He asked, his gaze not leaving the outside scenery. Kai rubbed his forehead, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Kai glanced at Karina and Lala, who were chatting animatedly. He moved his right hand behind him as he called out, "Eva, get me the cube." Instantly, the Rubik's Cube materialized in his hand. He brought it out and held it in front of Ray, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you're really smart, try matching all the colors back together," he said through the comms.
Ray looked at Kai, noticing the smirk, and then shifted his gaze to the cube. "What is this?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
Kai replied, "It's something that will help you distract your mind."
Ray examined the cube, slowly taking it from Kai's hand. As he started moving the pieces around, he was initially surprised but gradually began to understand its mechanism. “This isn't as simple as it looks,” he thought, frowning in concentration. “But it's a good distraction from my thoughts of Nino.”
Kai watched him with a smile, thinking to himself, “Let's see how long it takes him.” He then looked out of the window, listening to music as the journey continued.
After sometime, the carriage stopped for a rest. Everyone started to get out and stretch their legs. Kai too turned to Ray, about to ask him to get some rest outside, when he noticed Ray holding a perfectly solved cube, but he looked exhausted. Surprised, Kai’s voice came through the comms.
"How long did it take you?" Kai asked, intrigued.
Ray replied, "Just before the carriage pulled over. This is a bit complicated..." He sighed. “But I did it. And it was a good distraction.”
Kai gave a small nod. "You're better than average, Ray. Solving it in 51 minutes on your first try is impressive."
Ray smiled slightly, saying, "Thanks for helping me distract my mind." He paused, then asked, "How long does it take you to solve it?"
Kai grinned. "Five to eight seconds."
Silence fell over the two for a while. Ray looked at Kai in disbelief, slowly asking again what he said, as Kai repeated again.
Ray, this time clear to hear it, only had one respond to it.
“…WHAT!?!?!”
Ray's eyes widened as he stared at Kai. "Eight seconds? That's impossible!" he exclaimed; his voice tinged with frustration.
Kai remained calm, placing a reassuring hand on Ray's shoulder. "Just breathe, Ray. It's all about practice and muscle memory. You did great for your first try."
Ray, however, was not soothed. "It's still too fast! How am I supposed to keep up?" he retorted, even as he helped Kai down from the carriage, carefully maneuvering his wheelchair.
As they stepped out, their argument was momentarily forgotten as their attention was captured by the view ahead. They were drawn to Karina, Lala, Ana, and Elysia, who stood by a cliff, entranced by the breathtaking scenery of the duchy. Rolling hills carpeted with lush, emerald-green grass stretched out as far as the eye could see, dotted with vibrant wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. A river wound its way through the landscape, glistening like a ribbon of silver under the midday sun. In the distance, majestic mountains loomed, their snow-capped peaks touching the sky, creating a picturesque backdrop.
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"Look at that," Karina breathed, her voice filled with awe.
Lala nodded enthusiastically. "It's absolutely stunning!"
Ray wheeled Kai closer, his initial frustration dissipating as he took in the sight. "This is the outskirt of the duchy. Isn't it beautiful, the duchy?" he remarked softly. “Maybe Nino would love this place too...”
Elysia turned to Kai, her eyes shining. "This is our home, brother," she said, a warm smile spreading across her face.
Kai looked from Elysia to the vast expanse of the duchy before them, a profound sense of peace washing over him. “The Archduchy… My home…,” he thought, sharing a serene moment with his family and friends.
“The view is great, right?” Hiro's voice came from behind, drawing their attention. Hiro and Sakura walked up to the group, together admiring the vast landscape before them.
“This will be your first time here, Kai. Aren't you excited?” Sakura asked cheerfully, a bright smile lighting up her face. Her excitement was contagious, and Kai couldn't help but nod, his response appearing in the projection.
“I'm a bit nervous, but excited at the same time.” The words read, and Hiro patted Kai on the shoulder. They all gazed ahead, the wind flowing by as if welcoming them to the duchy.
As they savored the serene view, a sudden rustling from the nearby forest caught their attention. Sakura instinctively stepped in front of the girls, while Ray assumed a defensive stance, positioning himself protectively in front of Kai. Hiro stepped forward, his voice commanding, “Who’s there?”
Birds erupted from the trees, their wings flapping wildly as a figure stumbled out of the shadows, tripping and falling to the ground. As the figure came into the light, Hiro's eyes widened in surprise.
His skin fair, with hairs of brilliant cascade of orange, reminiscent of a fiery sunset, while his eyes sparkled with the depth and clarity of the finest sapphires, drawing you into their enchanting depths. Wearing a blue shirt with tight-fitting sleeves, along with black trousers, he sat up, as he started dusting off his clothes.
“Man… That hurt a bit,” he said, rubbing his forehead a bit until he heard a voice.
“Ferio!?” Hiro exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and recognition. Sakura, following closely behind, echoed his surprise.
Kai and the rest looked from behind, curious about the man that just came out from the bushes. As the man came to view, Ray and Elysia too recognized the man slowly, as their voice rang. “Uncle Ferio!!”
Ferio looked at the group, his face initially stern and serious. Slowly, his expression softened into a joyful smile. "Hiro! Sakura!" he called out, his voice filled with warmth. He reached out to hug the two, but Hiro quickly stepped forward, stopping him midway. "Stay away from my wife!" Hiro said firmly, his eyes narrowing.
Ferio laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the forest like a melody of long-lost camaraderie. As his laughter subsided, he glanced behind Hiro and Sakura, his gaze falling on Ray and Elysia, along with Kai and the rest of the group. "Ray! Elysia! Look how much you've grown!" he exclaimed happily. "It’s been so long since I last saw you."
As he noticed Kai and the others standing behind them, Ferio's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "And who are these friends you’ve brought along this year?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Sakura took a step back, gently placing a hand on Kai's left shoulder. "You should say friends and family," she corrected, her voice gentle but firm, her touch on Kai's shoulder radiating warmth.
Ferio blinked in confusion, his mind processing her words. "Family?" he repeated, turning to look at Kai with a puzzled expression. Elysia stepped closer, holding Kai's hand with pride shining in her eyes. "He’s, my brother!" she declared, her voice unwavering.
Ferio's eyes widened in shock. He turned to Hiro, seeking confirmation. "Wait, so the rumours were true!?" he asked, his voice filled with astonishment.
Hiro nodded; his expression serious. "Yes, he's my lost son," he replied, his tone solemn, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air.
Ferio stood there, petrified for a moment, trying to process the information. "You never cared for the news regarding the nobles, did you?" Hiro sighed, shaking his head slightly.
Kai, noticing Ferio's confusion, used his projection to ask, "Who is he?"
Ray stepped up, leaning on to Kai's right shoulder. "He's the strongest knight in the archduchy, Ferio Lancer," Ray explained, his voice filled with admiration.
Sakura nodded in agreement. "It's thanks to him that we can live in the capital city without worrying about the safety of the duchy," she added, her voice filled with gratitude and respect.
Kai watched as Ferio and Hiro continued their conversation. Ferio's questions about why he hadn't been informed about Kai gnawed at him. “Someone who's the strongest in the duchy... he seems to be around the same age as Dad,” Kai thought, his curiosity piqued.
Just then, Eva's screen materialized before him, displaying Ferio's details. As Kai skimmed through the information, realization dawned on him. “Ahh, I see,” he thought, his mind piecing together the reasons behind Ferio's reputation. “No wonder he's the strongest. After all, he's an-”
But before he could finish his thought, the ground beneath them began to shake violently. A deafening roar echoed through the forest, causing everyone to look towards the source of the sound. Two glowing eyes appeared, emerging from the depths of the forest.
Ana ran behind Lala, fear evident in her eyes. Elysia clung tightly to Sakura, who held her warmly, offering a reassuring smile despite the impending danger.
"Ah right," Ferio spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension. "Meeting you guys, I totally forgot why I came here." As he spoke, the glowing eyes from deep within the forest moved closer, revealing a massive figure. "The people near here said a minotaur came out of the labyrinth, so I came to see if it was true or not."
"What!?!?" Karina and Lala screamed in unison as the minotaur burst from the trees, its roar shattering the silence. Trees splintered and flew into the sky as the beast charged, raising its enormous axe and aiming it towards the group.
As the minotaur aimed its massive axe, Hiro leaped into the air, his powerful kick sending the weapon flying several miles away. The minotaur stood stunned, staring at its now empty hand. Hiro landed gracefully, dusting himself off. Slowly, he began to remove his coat. "Guess it's finally time my kids see how strong their dad is," he declared confidently.
But before he could fully take off his coat, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He flinched slightly and turned to see Sakura smiling at him, though a dark aura seemed to emanate from behind her. "No, it's not," she said firmly. "You do remember you have to greet the citizens of the duchy when we enter, right? Do you want to greet them covered in dirt?"
Hiro tried to argue, "I won't get dirty. I'll finish it quick," but his words trailed off as he realized he couldn't win against her. With a resigned sigh, he put his coat back on and stepped back, lowering his head. "Ferio, finish it quick," he muttered.
Kai, along with the rest, looked on in surprise. They all thought in unison, “What just happened?”
The minotaur roared again, snapping the group back to reality. They watched in horror as the beast pulled a tree from its roots, preparing to hurl it at them.
-To be Continued