Redmont, Serisis.
3:30 p.m. 19 th Banem 1092.
King Chu and the Serians’ outburst shook the hall, leaving Kashi and the other guests visibly stunned and at a loss for words. For a good minute, everyone was frozen in place, unable to process the unbelievable sight.
Fortunately, King Parissius snapped out of his shock and immediately ran over to King Chu and pulled the older man up to his feet. “Please, stand!” he pleaded, and then added with a joking tone, “My ancestors would curse me into the ground if they found out I allowed my father-in-law lower his head in my presence.”
King Chu, eyes red with tears, snorted and then said as he patted King Parissius’ shoulders, “Cheeky brat. Who’s your father-in-law?”
“Of course, there’s only one man worthy enough of that honor,” joked King Parissius with a wink. The young king’s attempt to lighten the mood paid off as the room erupted into laughter as the Serians rose to their feet.
“Hoho…Sis, This King sure sounds full of himself.”
King Parissius swallowed hard as he looked over to Chu Ling, who regarded him with a teasing grin. The fiery princess tapped the table, her gaze lovingly harsh as she said, “You’re already calling dad father-in-law. Seems like you’re quite excited for this marriage.”
If it were anyone else, the young king would have ceded, but ever since they were children, Chu Ling was the one person he hated losing to. So, King Parissius replied with a level gaze. “I get to marry two willing, gorgeous, intelligent, and incredibly strong women. Most men would kill to get my position. You can be certain I will take the necessary steps to secure that future.” Turning to King Chu, he said with a wink, “Is that not right… Father.”
“Oh-ho-ho,” Chu Ling let out a sinister laugh, but luckily, Chu Ming grabbed her hand, preventing her from carrying out her first instinct. Thanks to her sister’s calming touch, Chu Ling managed to collect herself and say instead, “Ah. I cannot wait for the wedding.” She then cracked her fingers and threatened, “See how I fix you then.”
King Parissius inwardly chuckled. Royal marriages were no small matter. Even with prior arrangements, it could take years until the formal wedding. The more likely scenario was that the princesses were sent as envoys to Rosendun. Only after a few years would the marriage proceed. As a result, King Parissius was quite confident he could use that time to dig out Chu Ling’s weaknesses… “Well, that will take a wh—”
“Ah, regarding the topic of marriage,” Leila suddenly interjected, causing the young king to panic. The speaker caused a bad feeling to rise in the pit of his stomach. Unfortunately, Leila seemed not to notice his signals as she continued, “I believe we should hold it as soon as possible.”
“Wha— *cough*” King Parissius nearly choked on his spit, overwhelmed by the shock.
Surprisingly, however, he was not alone in this. King Chu likewise found himself overcome by a coughing fit as he glared at the wisben. “What? Why hold the wedding so soon? These things take time!”
Leila did not take the king’s criticism to heart. She understood that right now, Chu Tianjo was no king but an ordinary father unwilling to let go of his precious daughters. The sight dredged up memories of her father lecturing her on the importance of ‘marrying right’ and political alliances. For the first time that night, a slight wrinkle appeared on the wisben’s forehead. But half a second later, she regained herself and maintained her neutral expression.
Only one person in the room caught the brief crack—saw the vulnerable girl hidden behind the powerful persona. Kashi sighed as he squeezed his arm in anger. This was one thing he would never be able to help Leila with. Her father’s shadow was just too massive – Not that he was one to help anyone deal with their parents’ baggage.
“During normal circumstances, yes,” Leila said to King Chu, “but these are not normal circumstances. We are about to give birth to the continent’s first empire. This glorious event certainly requires an equally glorious ceremony for its announcement.” She looked at King Parissius and then the twin princesses as she said, “What better occasion to announce this to the world than the Emperor’s wedding?”
“Uh…” King Parissius muttered, unable to come up with a counter-rebuttal. Damn this woman! Having her on your side was the best thing in the world. But she immediately became the devil incarnate upon playing for the other team. How could you beat someone whose arguments you cannot help but agree with?
“Oh, What’s the matter, Your Majesty?” teased Chu Ling with a very sinister smile. “You seem mighty pale.”
“Haha, no worries, Princess,” replied King Parissius with a forced smile. “I must not be used to the heat.” Eager to escape Chu Ling’s gaze, he instead looked at Leila and asked, “When do you propose we hold this wedding?”
Leila nodded and then answered, “We have a pressing issue which requires the joint forces of all three nations to conquer. This battle will be the first gong, announcing our alliance to the rest of the world. We will host the wedding shortly after the battle, regardless of the outcome.”
“Regardless of the outcome?” King Chu repeated with a slight frown. “Those words do not exactly inspire confidence.”
“I would speak differently if it were the populace,” said Leila. “But this is a room of the highest-ranking leaders of our nations. Of all people, those in this room must understand the gravity of the situation.”
King Chu sighed and stroked his beard as he muttered, “I understand that. I was not criticizing your statement. It just struck me as odd. You do not seem the type to engage in something you are not confident in. Is the danger that great?”
Leila’s gaze hardened. “Worst-case scenario, we might be drawn into a fight with Razznik the Destroyer.”
CRASH!
A maid tripped at the mention of Razznik’s name, sending the tray of metal jugs and cups crashing to the ground. However, no one reprimanded her as the crash was synonymous with the shock they too suffered. Razznik? That Razznik? The Destroyer of Worlds? He was coming back!?
King Chu quickly turned to King Parissius and King Xafier, hoping to see some doubt. But their grave expressions washed away any doubt. The old king stumbled into his chair and then cradled his head in grief. “Why do the gods hate us so?” lamented King Chu. “My people, after centuries of clambering in the dark, struggling to survive barely, finally found a way out, and now they wish to finish us off once and for all?”
The hall was severely by the king’s grief as several Serians began to shed silent, resentful tears. Why? Why did this have to happen now? Razznik had been locked away for several centuries. Why did they have to face him? This was a man who had slaughtered gods. What chance did they have?
At this time, when the Serians were at their lowest, Kashi’s voice suddenly rang through the room. “Do not lower your heads. All hope is not lost.” The Serians looked up at the daeben, who likewise regarded them with a burning gaze. “All hope is not lost, I said. Facing Razznik is only the worst-case scenario. There is still a big chance to turn this around.”
“And how do you know this?” questioned King Chu.
Kashi swiped his finger through the air, and his menu opened in ‘visible’ mode. “Because we Summoned are blessed with a cheat called quests.” The daeben’s eyes narrowed as he stated, “You can see quests as divine messages from the gods if you will. The important thing about quests is that, though they might be challenging, they are all doable.” Kashi saw the light slowly return to King Chu and confirmed the king’s guess, “Yes. Every Summoned received a quest regarding this battle, so you can be certain it is doable. But the fact that every Summoned received the quest means it will be incredibly difficult and can’t be accomplished by a small party.”
Leila nodded and then continued, “Which is why we sought to combine the military might of our three nations for this particular endeavor.” The wisben looked around the room and then, to the shock of everyone present, broke into a small smile. The transformation left many speechless, but her next words pulled their attention back to the critical conversation. “I know I said, ‘regardless of the outcome,’ but to be honest with you all, I genuinely believe we will emerge victoriously.” Leila paused and then stated, “Creating miracles is what we do. Countless miracles led to this moment right here, with us gathered here in this room. What’s one more miracle added to that list?”
The room paused as each person took in Leila’s words. After a few moments, King Chu laughed and declared, “Well said, Ms. Lightwood! Indeed, what is one more miracle to add to that list? Let me know what you need. Serisis’ army is at your disposal.”
“Serisis is at your disposal,” Chu Ling affirmed with a nod as she rose to her feet, “As will I.”
Leila hesitated, “Your Highness—”
“None of this nonsense, Chu Ling!” rebuked King Chu, his gaze blazing. “You are the princess of this country and soon to be the wife of the Emperor. You cannot afford to put your life in danger at this time.”
“And our soldiers can?” Chu Ling fiercely spat, causing King Chu to choke on his words. “My life is not more important than those of the men and women who fight every day for our country. I do not wish to stand on some podium and wish them ‘good luck.’ I am a warrior!” The princess’s hot gaze scanned the room as if daring anyone to challenge her. “I will fight alongside my brothers and sisters, live, or die. That is my way of proving to our people that the royal family cares about them. That we do not see them as mere chess pieces to achieve our desires.”
King Chu Tianjo’s eyes widened as, for a brief moment, he saw his late wife superimposed over Chu Ling. The same fierce gaze, the endless drive to risk her own life for the people’s sake. That drive had eventually made him lose his Yao’er to the ocean. He did not know what he would do if he had to lose his daughter too.
“Father,” Chu Ming softly called as she grasped the king’s right hand. King Chu looked down, tears in his eyes as he regarded his eldest daughter. “I understand your fears; even I too do not wish for Ling’er to enter the battlefield.” Chu Ming paused, steeled herself, and then said, “But Ling’er has her path to walk. We should not chain her down to make us feel better about ourselves. We must believe in her, especially in times like these when it is hardest.”
“Excellently said, sis,” Chu Ling complimented with a thumbs-up. She then looked at her father and asked, “As Ming’er said, this is my fight, my road. I will walk it now and always, until the day I die or can no longer lift a sword.”
King Chu still hesitated, but then Kashi spoke, “Do not fret, Your Majesty. We will ensure no harm comes to your daughter on the battlefield.”
“What? No!” protested Chu Ling. “I do not seek prefe—”
“Do not misunderstand, Princess!” Kashi interrupted before she could finish. The daeben rose to his feet, burning red eyes glaring at her. “By your birth alone, you are already the recipient of preferential treatment. You are exposed to the best teachers and warriors from a young age, training you to be much stronger and smarter than the average soldier, which increases your chances of survival. You already received preferential treatment before you stepped onto the battlefield.”
The daeben’s eyes narrowed. “Your life, indeed, is not more important than anyone else’s, but the weight of your life is much heavier than the average soldier. When a ruler dies, it’s not just a single family, but hundreds, maybe thousands, that will be destabilized and affected. So, before you take any action or decision regarding your life, keep in mind the weight it bears. Your life, unfortunately, is no longer just yours. Such is the responsibility that comes with power.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Chu Ling fell silent, unable to come up with a convincing counterargument. Eventually, she took her seat and hung her head, pondering on her selfishness and ego.
King Parissius felt uncomfortable seeing Chu Ling so reticent, so he shot a disconcerted glare at Kashi and wistfully berated, “If you wanted to scold me, do it directly. Fine, I won’t bother you about going to war again. Happy?”
Kashi, unfortunately slow on the uptake, stared at the young king in incredulity. “…You wanted to go to the battlefield?”
“Uh… Yes,” confirmed King Parissius. Initially, he had said that to lighten the mood, but upon being asked, he could not help but air his grievances. “I want to fight alongside the warriors on the battlefield. That’s the kind of ruler I always envisioned myself being.”
Kashi’s incredulous stare only deepened upon hearing this. He glanced at Leila, and upon receiving a confirmation nod, looked at the king and accidentally let out his true feelings, “…Are You Crazy!?”
Not for the first time that night, the entire hall fell silent, akin to a graveyard as several eyes turned to stare at Kashi in disbelief. Panic, fear, incredulity, humor, and anger flittered through the onlookers’ eyes in quicks succession as they struggled to decide what emotion to settle on. However, regardless of what they thought, only one man’s reaction really mattered. The eyes turned to the Rosen King.
King Parissius, oblivious to the thoughts around him, stared at Kashi in abject silence as the daeben’s words replayed in his head. Are you crazy… Are you crazy… Are you cra—BAM! “Maybe I am!” yelled the king as he slammed his hand against the table. Unconsciously, he switched to informal speech as he defended himself, “Is it so weird to fight alongside my warriors? I would not be the first king to do so!”
“Haa?” Perhaps it was because King Parissius reverted to informal speech, but Kashi lost all decorum as he berated, “Are you really crazy?” He pointed at Chu Ling as he said, “Remember what I just said about the weight of her life? Well, if she’s carrying a pebble, you’re carrying a freaking mountain on your life!”
Kashi’s rebuke seemed to echo throughout the hall, leaving King Parissius stunned and slightly embarrassed. The daeben, realizing the gravity of what he just did, immediately softened his tone, “My apologies, Your Majesty. I do not know what came over me.”
To his credit, the young king smiled and then said with a shake of his head, “No. It’s fine.” He sighed as he sat down and then said, “My father once told me a great ruler surrounds himself with people unafraid to let him know when he’s making a wrong choice.” Sending a playful glare Kashi’s way, he added, “Even if they be insufferable at times.”
“Your Majesty,” Leila interjected. “What Kashi was trying to say, in not so eloquent terms, is that this Empire right now can only survive with you as the Emperor. Any infighting caused by your absence or death will destroy this fledgling empire before it even begins.” The wisben paused and then added with an evil aura about her, “Of course, if you were to quickly produce an heir or two, then you could return to the battlefield with the Empire in safe hands.”
“H-heir!?” King Parissius nearly choked on his drink. He rapidly coughed to clear his throat and then sent Leila a pleading look. ‘Why are you doing this to me?’
Leila, however, ignored the king’s gaze as she confirmed, “Yes. An heir. It would be great for the Empire’s stability if you produced one as soon as possible.”
“Hm. An heir?” King Chu’s eyes went wide at the prospect of a grandchild. With longing in his eyes, he looked at King Parissius and said, “I will be praying for you. Twin pairs of twins will be the best.”
“Father!” Both Chu Ming and Chu Ling shouted, mortified by their father’s words. The hall burst into laughter as the women turned bright red from embarrassment.
Meanwhile, King Chu burst out laughing as he reached out and patted his children’s back. “Haha. I raised you two excellently.” Glancing at Chu Ling, he teased, “I never thought I would get to hold your child in my lifetime. This old man can die happy now.”
“You’re not going anywhere, old man,” Chu Ling stuck out her tongue as she retorted.
Chu Ming nodded and then said, “We still have so much to learn from you.”
King Chu laughed with pride as he looked at his daughters and declared, “What greater joy is it than to have excellent children such as these?”
“Marrying them?” Syèl said to Shokō, but his voice was so loud that everyone in the room heard him. As a result, King Chu glared at King Parissius, who almost choked on his drink. The poor young king wanted to cry as the room once again broke into raucous laughter. What the hell? Had someone declared open season on him?
It took a while for the commotion to die down. Leila waited patiently until the noise stopped and then said, “Congratulations to everyone gathered here. Thanks to your efforts, we have successfully ratified the issues concerning our merger. If there are any concerns at this point, please speak now.”
The wisben waited, but there were no forth comers. Seeing this, her expression softened as she said, “In the absence of objections, I hereby formally call this meeting to a close.” Glancing at the Kings, she said, “Now, the kings and their ministers will remain behind to sign a series of contracts that will bind the nations together.” She then looked at the crowd and said, “As for the rest of you, thank you all for coming. There will be a ball tonight to celebrate this momentous occasion. We hope to see you there.”
Leila ended the conference with a formal bow in each direction. “Once again, thank you all for attending this event.”
*clap* *clap* *clap*
King Chu erupted in animated applause as he rose to his feet, eyes brimming with tears as he nodded his gratitude toward Leila. Following his lead, Kashi, King Parissius, and King Xafier rose to their feet, thunderous applause ringing from their collective hands. The crowd soon followed suit, some whistling and shouting praises to the beautiful, intelligent woman who had orchestrated a feat once thought impossible.
Leila, or rather, Adachi Ayumi, closed her eyes and forced down the tears that threatened to emerge. This was not the first time people had clapped for her. Not to be callous, but this would certainly not be the last. But, of all the applause she had received in her life, this was the first that actually mattered. This time, she had worked for something she believed in, not something her father or her peers wanted for her.
Pa!
Suddenly, Leila flinched as she felt a pat on her back. The weight, location, and force were exactly as she remembered. She immediately turned to her side but was shocked to see Kashi standing there. “Oh…” she muttered, briefly unable to hide her disappointment. However, moments later, her eyes went wide as she stared into Kashi’s eyes.
Those were not Kashi’s deep yet playful eyes. Those eyes were dark, foreboding, like a gateway to hell. Just looking into them made one feel like the grim reaper had his hands on their shoulder.
“You did good,” Suzuki said.
“Suzu—” Leila started, but then stopped when she realized Kashi’s gaze had mellowed to a playful but regretful look. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
Kashi winced as he replied, “Sorry. I would let him stay longer, but he has no intention of ‘crossing boundaries.’ He’s still hung up on the past.”
“Mm,” murmured Leila in agreement. But then her gaze steeled as she promised, “It will take some time, but I will find him.”
“Good luck with that,” Kashi blessed with a light grin. He then pointed towards the exit as he said, “So, I suppose I can leave the contracts to you and Miote? I have important guildmaster stuff to attend to.”
Leila raised a brow as she teased, “Important guildmaster stuff, eh? Pray tell, what are this so-called stuff that needs attending?”
“Oh, you know…” Kashi spluttered as his eyes swiveled all around the room. “Uh… classified! Yes, it is classified. Real top-secret stuff.”
“Oooh, that sounds dangerous,” Miote, who was within earshot, suddenly said. “Why don’t you wait till we’re done, and we can all go together. Ample reinforcements.”
“No, no, no, no.” Kashi sweated bullets as he rejected the offer. “It’s real time-sensitive stuff.” Without waiting for a reply, he immediately dashed out of the room before anyone could react. The daeben’s exit was so fast that many people who were in the middle of a blink completely missed it.
Kashi’s swift exit left both the onlookers and the kings stunned and at a complete loss for words. None of them had ever witnessed a man run away so confidently from his responsibilities.
Pfft!
No one knew who laughed first, but soon the entire hall was snickering and sniveling as the audience failed to hide their amusement. It was quite the poignant scene, seeing the reserved Leila actually appear embarrassed for once.
“My condolences, Ms. Lightwood,” said King Xafier through twinkling eyes. “It must not be easy working for Kashi-kun.”
Leila shook her head and uncharacteristically let out a sigh. “I suppose this is my cross to bear.” With a shrug, she added, “But, I suppose that’s why I’ve enjoyed this role so much.”
King Parissius winked and then flashed a thumbs-up. “Just give the word, and I’ll have him tossed in jail for a few days.”
“I shall be sure to let you know when I need that,” Leila replied.
While Leila and the ministers worked on ratifying the details of their new deal, Kashi admired the city’s unique architecture as he sat atop a townhouse. The daeben took out an easel and hummed a slow tune as he painted the beautiful view.
“Setting some teleportation locations?”
Kashi looked over his shoulder and spotted Syèl standing next to him with a large grin. The daeben then turned back to his painting as he answered, “Something like that. I’m trying to level up my Dimension Painter Skill. I figured I’d use the opportunity to lock down some locations here, so I don’t have to travel far next time.”
“Frigging cheat code.” Syèl shook his head as he sat next to the daeben.
The two men sat in silence as Kashi’s brush slid across the canvas. Several minutes later, Kashi finally spoke, “Are you going to speak or what?”
“Heh, you caught me,” Syèl laughed as he sprawled on the rooftop and then released a sigh. “You’re the only one I can talk to about this, so sorry in advance.”
“No worries,” Kashi evenly replied. “It’s good to know you only came here because I was your last choice. I wouldn’t want you making this a habit.”
“How cold.” Syèl fell silent as he gazed at the clouds floating freely above the world’s dirt and grime. He then closed his eyes, allowing his world to descend into the all too familiar and pleasant darkness.
Minutes passed with both men deep within their own thoughts, mulling over issues only they knew. Eventually, Kashi finished the first painting and placed the next canvas on the easel. “Are you going to remain silent all day, or are you going to spit it out?”
Syèl cracked open an eye as he observed, “Wow. You really are not Suzuki, are you? You actually give a shit.” Kashi refused to answer, so Syèl shrugged and then said, “Truth be told, it’s not anything big. Just wanted to ask a question.”
This time, Kashi responded, “Why me?”
“Because you smell like me,” Syèl answered, but then after further thought, clarified. “Well, not you exactly. Suzuki, I mean. He has the same smell as me: the smell of loss, self-loathing, and rage you do not know what to do with.” Syèl paused, and then added in a low tone, “…The smell of someone with blood on his hands.”
Schzt!
Kashi’s brush overshot its mark. The daeben paused, took a breath to reset his mental state, and then resumed painting. However, his gaze was undoubtedly dark as he asked, “What’s your question?”
Syèl expected this reaction, so he was nonplussed by the daeben’s hostile tone. Instead, he sighed as he asked, “If, by chance, you found out that a friend of yours, through no fault of their own, was indirectly responsible for the death of someone you loved, how would you react? Would you be able to treat them the same?”
Kashi’s gaze dropped as he thought of the people Suzuki had lost. “I don’t think you’re asking how I’d react, are you?” He turned to Syèl and clarified, “You want to know what Suzuki would do.” Syèl’s guilty smile confirmed the daeben’s suspicion. As a result, Kashi shook his head as he looked at the painting. “The truth is, I do not know how he would react. I’m not sure he even understands what love is, to begin with.”
“Is that so…” Contrary to expectations, Syèl actually revealed a relieved smile. “Dunno, huh? I suppose that is indeed an accepted reaction. Thanks, Kash.” With those words, he stood up and then jumped down from the roof. Within moments, he had disappeared within the crowds.
Kashi’s gaze faltered for a moment as he thought back to Syèl’s words. “The smell of a murderer, huh…”