From the black world that seared her vision, she saw the bright and warm light embracing her as she open her eye sluggishly. He sat up her body slowly but surely over the foam mattress.
“Good morning, Sasuna. You seems to have nice dream”
“Alicia…”with a soft voice. The female turned her neck to her surroundings, where the king, diligently fixing his bed and the usual worrywart Henry, trying to take his majesty`s paltry task as he said “let me fix your bed your Highness, the royal hand shouldn`t concern itself for a servant’s job” But the king didn`t let him take his task. “But I’m already half way done”. Clive is missing to the scene though. But after a few moment, he barge in to the room and said “your Highness, Haven-sama had given us a swimming gears and also our change of clothes” as he passed down those garments to everyone.
The sun light slipped down between the open curtains, illuminating the simple yet elegant interior of the room. Wide and clean wooden floors was sparking in the naked eye. There`s nothing so much stuff in the room except for the laid beddings and a recessed cabinet seemingly to be its storage.
Outside the room where supposed to be its living room, fixed with neat and orderly fixtures such as cabinet filled with variety of sorted books. A forty inches Television set in front of wooden black braced sofas laid in white foam pad together with the center tables and a beautiful interior plants rustling in the early morning breeze from the open walls in the second floor was really quite a feat. Just where did he get those stuffs? wondered by the adventurers coming out from the wide guest room.
From the side of the living room was the dining room, it had an open wall yet fenced by railings. The wood corner post had vines of plants with peculiar pick flowers slithering on it. From that dining room lies a sitting man clad in with white bath robe, sipping a cup of coffee as he set his gaze on the majestic sunrise.
Everyone already donned their garments which supposed to be a swimsuit and a bathrobe. Behind Haven was scenery of the sun struggling to rise over the horizon, as it died the sky in ochre together with the faint clouds at the background. Beneath the warming sky was the crystal clear water in the bed of white sand which still overlaid by the color of the cold night. The place they currently settled was the beach house made entirely of woods and thatches raised in that place, ‘Shore of Delight’ – 6th region.
“How are you feeling”? Asked by a man with a touch of mollification as he turn his eyes to them
“Care for a breakfast?”
“From the depths of our hearts, I thank you for thy hospitality” nodded by the King, no sooner than he sat across the table before him than the entire party followed suit.
“This is not much, but please enjoy yourselves” across the table, set a few breakfast dishes such as: breads and butter, soup, and a champorado (chocolate rice).
“What is this stuff? It look like a porridge mixed with mud” murmured by the assassin.
“Oy, were in front the food show some respect” grunted by their leader. “This food was made by Haven-sama himself... Im sure this will be good as last night’s dinner.
Last night dinner was a new cuisines that they do not recognize to their home land. At first they were hesitant to try, believing it were mixed with poison. But If Haven really has that kind of wicked intention, he should have killed everyone from the start. The King knows that the boy was genuinely offering kindness to them. Thus, he`s the one to become the guinea pig of the group.
“As it you said, Haven-dono will offered us anything but a poor-tasted foods. The explosive savor of last night`s dinner pork cubes dumped in soy sauce, was still remained in my tongue. I believe it was called ‘Adobo’”
The king sneaked a glace to the Master of the beach house whom wearing an unconcealed smile. Up to this moment since the time they started to take his kindness, not a single moment he forgot to discern the nature of this young man. What is he thinking right now I wonder?
Everyone start tasting the mud-colored porridge in their plates. No Sooner the fluid drip than their tongue than they close their eyes trying to savor more the exquisite flavor the food.
The Clive who was doubting the food earlier felt the satisfying taste that played inside his tongue.
“This mud porridge is amazing! The distinct flavor of sweetness of chocolate and milk is really pleasing to the tongue.”
“I`m glad that menu had pleased your palate” chortle by the Haven as he glace with everyone delighted in his dishes.
So he was capable of that kind of expression. The only visage they knew was cold and the usual calm and lethargic. The enchanters chuckle for this rare scene.
“How did you learn to cook Haven-dono? Your dishes was so delicious that embarrassing to say, it could brought shame to the best cooks in my kingdom”
“As it as you said your Majesty, I can’t help thinking what am I eating in my entire life” said by Henry with an apparent teary eyes.
“It’s nothing especial. I learn cooked because I`m hungry. That`s all there is to it” Haven said in a calm voice with a hint of gratification “A person who doesn’t cooked shouldn’t eat. That`s why I`m making my own food even though my maids were there to cook for me”
Maids? By the neatness and orders of things around the house, and the cloud nine taste of foods, one can`t be blame if he or she assumes there`s a maid in the house. But not even a shadow or a figure of another person except for the owner was present. That`s why the maid he was talking about is definitely not here on the island; but in another place. Maybe his life before he got here.
“Haven-sama, are you by any chance a son of noble” inquired by the sorcerer with a look of curiosity.
The question stop everybody in the middle of the meal. It seems everyone pique their interest on the sudden question. There was a long pause before he gave a response.
“So it comes to this huh” he sipped the remaining liquid left on his cup before he continued “not just any noble, I was the crowned price of the Encaria”
Everyone was taken aback by the unexpected answer. Not just the fact he was the crowned prince but also the fact that the kingdom of Encaria doesn’t declared they have a prince. Only just a princess. But they knew they don’t have sufficient knowledge to discern much of the unknowns shrouding in the boy`s existence. Thus, they push their further questions.
“Please do forgive me if I do offend you in my sentiment but, Haven-dono, the royal family of Encaria only contains three members; and there`s no prince in that family”
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The kingdom of Encaria that lies at the former borders of the [Strangers] and [Earthlings] was famous from being the only country that stayed neutral. The county was open to both sides without discrimination. Thus, giving the adventurers form the neighboring countries to visit the small yet prosperous nation. The country`s important news were very much concealed and only exclusive to the nobles and other higher-ups; and the information gained by the adventurers was only from hearsays and rumors.
“Of course… I was never showed on the public. Not even once” haven said with a touch of a little bit sadness as he reminiscent the past.
“When I was a kid, I order my father to crown me secretly when I reach the age of 12. Aside from my family, only the nobles and few people knows my face but for the common people the only thing they knew was that the kingdom have a crown prince and as the time passed they treated it like a myth”
“O-Order?” yelp by the sorcerer who seems can`t indulge that fact.
Just where can you find a son ordering his father like his servant? What`s more, A king who held all the power within a nation? Even in the average kingdom, not even once a prince had manage to raise his hand against his king. But this young man named Haven had successfully defied the common law. Is this really a normal circumstances between the members of the family in their kingdom? Their curiosity was getting stronger and stronger per questions he answered keeps producing another question.
“But H-Haven-sama, why did you order the king, excuse me, your dear father to do such secret coronation?”
There was a long pause before she get her answer.
“It’s because I hate people” his slips slightly parted, and a thin smile crept on his face.
“People who only cares about power. Mingling with those buffoons was really nauseous.”
“is that so?”
“Yes it is”
The whole group dropped silent before the young man whom staring at his empty cup. The empty cup he fixed his gaze on was shallow, yet the people before him knew he was clearly thinking something deep. Deep as the bottomless abyss. He was like an unknown entity they truly cannot fathom. Amid in the silent moment, this time, he asked his own question in a mollified tone.
“King Zagrus isn’t it? Just what are you doing in the eight region? Judging by pathetic display of your talent, I can safely assured that the summation of you all of your forces is not enough to disable my strongest guardian. If anything, all of you will die in less than one hour if you happened to be pitted with him”
The words “pathetic”and “summation of forces” put a grim expression in their faces with concealed feeling of safeness that they didn’t challenge that beast head-on. If they do, they would probably resting by now on the cold dark earth of that place. They dashed out here with a tidbit of information knowing it’s enough to capture the Black Dragon. But the Supreme Being itself knew already the outcome beforehand.
“Our mission was supposedly to capture that “black dragon”; but because of many happenings” he said with a hint of regret, hang his head limply and didn`t continue.
“But if you already knew that from the start, why did you even bothered coming out from your comfort zone anyway?” said by the enchanter.
“I didn`t say I already knew… When I saw Drakogo-chi inside the [divine’s cage] after the volley of [black phoenix], I assume the possibility of defeat, granted you have a very skilled demon lord. But-”he turned his eye from enchanter to the king who perk his head after he mention his entity.
“After our battle which only lasted less than a minute… I`m sorry if I’ll be blunt but, King Zagrus, your sword skills doesn’t give justice to your enormous power, in other words, you’re a complete novice.”
The Image of Haven wearing a faint smile but no hint of pompousness was reflected on the trembling glaze eyes of the king.
“That gives me a conclusion that Drakogo-chi let himself be cage-in. No- judging by his nature, there a possibility he was in cahoots by his captors just to force me out in my home for his own satisfaction.”
A moment of silence with a touch of guilt had swept down across the room. They had been saw through and through. Everything he said was spot on. He truly is a man with both intellect and power. The party was silent, but deep inside them was a blooming admiration to the young man.
But if he really is that smart, surely there must be a meaning behind his kindness to them. A person will never take something so little from the greater, if there`s an option to take all of it. Which means there must be another reason why he spare them. A Single enchanted sword was way too light form the scale that holds the weight of five heads of powerful people. There has to be. Is what the leader of the group had in mind.
“In behalf, of my comrades, we ask for your forgiveness in our folly”
“It`s already on the past now… it’s not like I was badly injured. All the damages within the black forest had already restored its former beauty. And that enchanted swords was the compensation for your sins.
“That was the royal family`s heirloom” Dejectedly murmured by the Sorcerer. She spare a glance at their leader who seemingly have something on his mind
“Haven-sama, do forgive me for my unbecoming behavior but I can`t keep myself still. I can`t helped to noticed that there`s more reason why you spared our lives. And I think it’s the most important of all” Henry slid the chair and prostrate himself before the young man. He pay no heed to his frozen comrades glancing at him with perplexity. If my assumption was wrong, I’ll gladly pay the mistake with my head. But if there is, I plead your Excellency, to enlighten us”
Haven observe him silently without a trace of haughtiness. After a long moments, a sigh escaped under his breath.
“I see… you`re smarter than your looks, It is as you say indeed” Haven said, pouring another cup of coffee from the pitcher “In a normal circumstances, death is the deserving punishment from your sins just like the adventurers who had already given their second chances, yet they still want for more” from the man before him, he spare a glance to the entire party. Their peaceful moment had already long gone and swallowed by evident fear, except for the king whom seems still composed. Perhaps he already knew it was coming –or maybe there`s something else he had in mind. Whatever it is, god only knows.
“But you have a king in your team. Maybe this time…” he closed his eyes to meditate, after a few moments he opened it directly to the king before he continued. “He will make the wish I`ve been yearning for”
A wish something their only king could give. Just what is it? Another question puzzled the adventurers who`s seems already long forgotten to finished their meals.
“Haven-dono, I already gave you the most treasured weapon of the country. I don`t think I can provide anything that has more value than that. Said by the king with a touch of regret.
“Mr. Henry lift your head; that pathetic posture will get you nowhere” Haven said. From his prostration Henry rose briskly with a curt nod “yes sir”
He take another sip from the cup before his chair slides as he stand facing everyone.
“King Zagrus, I don`t desire any enchanted items nor any invaluable treasures” there`s a long paused before he continued.
“All I want is peace”
“P-peace?”
“I want all the adventurer to stop intruding my Island” he said with a sincerity “I don’t want this Island to be covered by a sea of blood. I`m already tired of it. I even spare one adventurer from her death 3 days earlier to be the messenger, but your presence spoke that she failed”
Three days earlier was the day Alicia`s father and the party were wiped out at the 3rd region. Not even a word they heard that there`s a survivor from that exploration. Reminding her that incident warps her face in grim.
“I want you to ask the adventurers from your country and also from the neighboring countries to quell their curiosity on this Island. In exchange I’ll give your sword back” Sooner before the King to voice out his thoughts, Haven bowed his body making everyone in the room flustered as he pleaded “Please help me”
Sweat of regret flow down the king`s cheek. Haven is asking something that he clearly can`t grant. But he can’t ignore this pleading young man before him. What`s more, he`s ready to give back treasured weapon of the country for just a small request. No one could blame the king as he grimaced on this helpless situation. He so powerful yet he can`t do anything. This thoughts put a twinge of frustration on his heart. Just what can I do? He can`t helped to notice that they seem to have a similar predicament. Which gave him all more the reason to help him.
The gears inside his head continued to turn until—
He found it. If he can’t provide the solution, then he can still help him to find his answer. There`s a slight smile of contentment pasted on his face. It’s because the brilliant yet absurd suggestion was—
“Haven-dono, Become an adventurer” he say it with determination.