Chapter 2: Youth (Part 2)

My body feels heavy. Yet I'm unexpectedly lightweight. I cant move my legs. But I'm not paralyzed more like hypnotized.

"Huh?" I opened my eyes and it widened at the sight.

Two mounds of love showed themselves to me as I looked up at them, a set of eyes above them glared at me coldly. My head rested on a set of thigh's and my hand which was on the floor limply laying was now attached to one of these hills.

'Ahn-..." She squealed?

Wait this wasn't a dream? This feeling. I began to move my hand but before I could do so I felt the eyes as cold as a tundra pierce me.

"Pervert!" She balled up a fist and smashed into my stomach, she took another fist and began ravaging my abdomen.

"Ack!" I cacked saliva.

Ahh I see...I see what's happening...This wasn't a dream... This was a nightmare... The devil taunted me with lust and I fell for it... I guess I'll just die here then... My limbs fell to the floor and my soul was about to leave me.

"Illia! Don't hurt our patients for the umpteenth time!" A man's voice echoed through the room.

"B-but he woke up and then just groped me! He's a good-for-nothing pervert!" These words stabbed through me.

I laid on the floor on my side as I drooled blood and my eyes are rolled to the back of my head. 'You made me do it you know.' that was what I wanted to say right now but the pain was too strong that I couldn't get my arm's off my chest.

"Look. You still saved him! If you had the patience then you'd still forgive him right?!... Actually aren't you the one who has to apologize?" He sighed before leaving he added.

"If you don't apologize for your actions I'll tell your father what you did." He scolded her

"No! Okay fine I'll do it!" She hisses at the door.

"Ugh being so pushy as alwa- wha!" She turned my body on my back.

My face bore a pained expression with tears falling down my cheeks, I had my arm's clasped together on my chest as if I'm ready to be put in a coffin and buried. I coughed blood again the moment she touched my shoulder.

"H-hey! Are you okay?... L-look I'm sorry. You know for beating you like that. And for the incident the other day." She consulted me.

Looking at her again, her hair was the same as the girl who ran up to me, I guess she was hunting for food and thought I was a bear or something since I had a fur like hood.

'You... Looked like a bear at the time... Your cow licks looked like bear ears. So I got worried and brought you to our infirmary...Again... I'm sorry." Looking a bit flustered, she put the tips of her index fingers and bumped them to each other.

Bingo. Since I don't have a hole in my head at the moment I guess she didn't fire off an arrow, she was unsure if I was dinner or a last resort, so she fired a dud and I fell over proving her hypothesis. I looked around me and I found myself in a humble abode. The fireplace was cackling and I'm alone at night with a girl in the same room.

"W-well I think you should get some rest!, I'll carry you over to the bed." She opened her arms. The hospitality was great but I am a man, I can handle myself. I stood up with my own two feet.

"See? I can handle myself just fi- bleehhh~..." Blood left my mouth like a waterfall while I held onto the wall.

"No you're not!" She pulled my lifeless body and sat me on the edge of the bed. She left the room and came back with bandages.

"I'll wrap your torso...Uh... Can you take your shirt off?" She blushed a bit after saying that and looking away.

I began to take off my shirt and used it to absorb the leftover sweat. Before putting it aside I felt a stinging on my side, there wasn't anything in particular causing it, but when I looked at the girl who I didn't even notice because her presence was so hidden, her eyes were darkened and staring over my lower body. I felt so attacked and vulnerable so I covered my lower abdomen.

"My eyes are up here... Lady." I chided

Her expression turned into something horrifying and she reached to me with her hand's, clearly having an ulterior motive.

"Hey! Don't come any closer!" I warned her and stayed cautious.

After that encounter I didn't remember what happened, It was more like a vague memory or something, all I knew is that the next day my torso was wrapped with bandages and she acted all shy around me. Apparently I asked for her name and I asked for it again since I seriously didn't remember anything else, she scolded me for being so forgetful and that I got her very worked up last night.

Her name was Illia Togari, she lived here in this secluded village all her life. She didn't have much experience with boy's since this village was occupied by mostly women so her first time encountering one was me and the way we met was like prey and predator specifically me being the prey and she hunted me down like a true apex predator. She also prescribed me with some 'medicine' in truth it was just a bunch of herbal leaves and I guessed you just make some hot leaf juice with it. Comparing it to the medicine you get at the palace whenever I got sick I realized it took only one of their medications to work super well.

But I guess there's no point to comparing this to a mere village, since healthcare in the kingdom was very advanced and effective.

"Thank you for your hospitality and for taking care of my little brother." We bowed near the gate of the village. When big brother found me we didn't stay for long.

"No it's nothing you helped us greatly in stocking up food for the winter. So, please come back anytime." The old lady rubbed her hands together and made a warm smile.

"Hey! Are you leaving already?" She crossed her arms and pouted.

"Oh... Y-yeah..." I waved at her.

"What? Did you forget already?"

I smiled and held my hand to my chest.

"No, Thank you Illia." And I bowed to her as well.

"H-huh? what are you doing? U-uh... T-thank you as well." She looked away and fixed her hair behind her ear.

"For what?" I grinned and brought my head up.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Nothing! Just...go already!" She burst in a fluster and pushed me just outside the outside the gate.

"Well if you eventually miss me don't worry we'll probably hop between towns near this one." I said with utter confidence before getting punched in the face.

"Ow! was that a punch of affection or something?" I rubbed my swollen cheek.

"Oh shut up..." She put her arms to her chest and watched us walk away.

Waving back I saw her say something but since we were way's away I couldn't decipher it properly. Probably just a bunch-a-nonsense.

'I'm glad I met you.'

"Oi, oi. What? were you lovestruck or something?" He tugged on one of my cow licks.

"You would like to know don't you, big brother?" I took his hand off my hair.

"Nah save it." He groaned.

"Oh? are you love-depraved my dear brother?" I put my hand to my mouth before chuckling.

"Zip it... I've been through that already... about time I moved on." He walked briskly while carrying a backpack.

"Haa... He never learns does he." I caught up to him and we talked more on the path.

We were the best of sibling's, when I'm down in the dumps he offered his hand to me and picked me up. He taught me lesson's in life I've never even touched upon, yes, even love. He once had a love of his life as well, they got together like destiny wanted them to, but in the end they didn't have mutual feelings for each other, they walked different paths in life, and it should've stayed that way. It only broke his heart at the end.

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"20!" I stood up and drank from a pouch.

I wiped my lips and sat on a bed. 3 year's had passed already and I was training my body. For what purpose you say?. Kingship. Yes you heard me right. Wait wait wait, this is all too fast you say? What happened in those 3 years? Hold on, let's calm down ourselves and back track just 2 years ago, nothing much changed before that.

Ok first of all, our expenses, trust me this is related. We had no issues with our flow of income for a while now and still stand's to this day, we'd hop village's and do their deed, repeat. A simple life right?,

exactly, now I want you to take this opportunity to think bigger and higher, really dig deep. Now if were really thinking the same thing I want you to speak what you're thinking at loud and read the next few text with your mind.

We need more money. Did we get it at the same time? Come on it's natural human instinct at this point to always own more/ have more than others and some people are just objective.

Second of all, the letter, A letter from the father himself was sent to elder brother's address, he had a villa in an outskirt village near the kingdom, he always had access to it. We occasionally went there to sell goods and check the mail. Opening the letter that even had a golden lining to it, it had a paper folded up neatly. This has got to be pretty recent because it's in tip top condition. And so the letter read:

"My son, Jigard.

I have no longer contacted you for the past 8 year's.

I hope you find it in your heart to forgive my impertinence.

Have you made Fugard your underling?

I am rather expectant to see him in action.

Unfortunately. I have contracted a disease.

Yes. The one your mother had.

There is no cure to it, only temporary medicine.

I need a heir for the throne before I am bedridden.

You and me know that only our family has been the continuous king for centuries.

I want to keep it that way.

Now, Fugard.

If you so happen to read this.

Please visit Kimiyu, your little sister.

She's grown up to be a proper lady.

She wishes everyday that you'll come home. But you never do.

But if you do accept this offer.

I promise that everything I own will be passed onto you.

Even if you're in it only for the money.

It will keep you content for decade's to come.

So for one last time let me truly spoil you.

Sincerely - Your father."

That's it. Hearing the words 'spoil' sends shivers down my spine. Well I can't lie, being the king of the kingdom does have huge benefits and fortune to come, I'm afraid the power's going to get to my head and become a dull bastard. As much as I wanted to reject it, the money and power can last for multiple lifetimes. It's practically guaranteed that you'll have a smooth life as the king.

I had a pretty rough discussion with my big brother but it didn't get physical, he was always calm under pressure and always thought it out tactically. We eventually decided to come back the palace when I've conditioned my body, he said that king's always have to be capable in leading and in combat warfare themselves, relying on their troops is a death wish.

Speaking of power, managing the entire kingdom and the legion's needs for new recruits can get pretty tiring, father has gotten burnt out multiple times but thanks to mother he always got back on his feet, I can handle large tasks pretty well,

multitasking wasn't difficult either but big brother insisted to always have a partner by my side, since he was over the age of an assistant he bought a slave instead. Yes a slave. Big brother called out to him and he showed himself from behind the door. He was rugged to say the least, his clothes were tattered and had messy black hair. His age was probably around 8 or 9.

"He's a 12 year old boy from the Huyal village." He spoke with a smile.

"Wha-? I cant have a 12 year old manage me! , Is he even capable of speech?" I scratched the back of my head.

"Of course!" He patted the kid's shoulder.

"...F-food...Food!" The kid begged and glared at me.

"Hey, hey. Why didn't you feed him?" I stared at the scandalous rat with death eyes.

"U-uh I was tight on time a-and I thought I should introduce h-him to you first you know?!" Sweat was beaming down his face and put two of his hands in front of his chest while shaking his head.

"Ugh... Fine we'll eat some roast meat in a nearby tavern then." I took a pouch from a drawer and we headed out.

The kid didn't have a name yet. We had few idea's like Christopher, Arthur and stuff but when big brother joked about a name called 'Targun' the kid's eyes brightened, I guess he thought it was pretty kick-ass, Targun and big brother agreed so I eventually went with it as well. We ate at the tavern and left when the moon was still in its early phase. Targun slept in the tavern so we had to carry him all the way back to the inn. He was a kid that had a complex thought process, he could very well surpass me in intelligence if we could cultivate his talents successfully. Lucky for me I had a big brother who had a pretty natural talent in bringing out the greatness in others, for an entire year, we did the best in our abilities to give him freedom and at the same time discovering his latent skills, the boy had far better recognition and analytical prowess than the average people, he was tactically gifted as well, to be honest he was kind of a jack of all trades.

Besides his physical talent which we can always drill into him, what bothered me the most is the way he acts around us, we have a more of a master-servant relationship than a subordinate-boss one, he's pretty submissive and almost never assertive. Obedient and talented, these two qualities are pretty rare to say the least.

Now for the next year nothing much but the same occurred, training, teaching, sleep, of course we didn't forget our health. And soon enough Targun surpassed me in smarts, to be honest he was more fitting for the title of 'king' more than I was, I didn't admit that though since my pride wouldn't allow it, also I'm pretty sure I asked him once before if I passed the throne to him would he accept? any person in their right mind would say yes, but this is Targun were talking about, he thought about it clearly and with the perfect poker face he rebuffed me.

After getting the go ahead. I packed a heavy load and put on a pair of boots, Targun and big brother also went ahead of me. I opened the door and inhaled a number of air before sighing. Today was the day I head back to the kingdom's capital, I've decided to take on the mantle of king.

It was no easy task of course, I had to train profusely every-day, I honed my skills, practiced my swordsmanship, and trained my mind. King-like qualities are only acceptable of course, I had to think about the people and their needs, I don't want there just to be a life-less connection to me and my civilians but I want an acceptable relationship that where I can listen to their problems and I offer my assistance. I have to place myself in their boots and walk the dirty path for them.

Thinking of this on the way there, we headed out at dawn and walked at daytime, arriving there at night we'd sleep at an inn before coming to the capital and consoling father. That was the plan and it was as smooth as you thought it was. We'd arrived there at night, walked a bit near the wall before heading in an Inn to get some rest.

The next day, I woke up before anyone else, I got up from my bed and stared at the sleeping goons before going to the bathroom, I looked at myself on the mirror which had a wooden frame, I tilted my head to the side and to the left, my features were pretty sharp, the Zxaron blood in me was probably doing all the work though, my cow licks had grown and drooped all the way to my cheek, my red hair was especially eye-catching I guess, now that I thought about it the more late children born in our family had redder and redder hair, my big brother has dark red hair, I had red hair, and my little sister had bright red hair.

My late mother had black hair and my father had red hair. I guess my father had the dominant gene at the end. As I was drowning myself in these thoughts I was pulled out of it by the door creaking behind me, it was Targun, he had woken up, He went to the well and drank some water before staring at me devoid of emotions, and then leaving, I just don't know what happens in that kid's head.

We prepared again for our leave for the capital. The people at the inn said their good luck's before we went on our way. I'd come a long way since that day.

I guess it's also time I moved on.