Helial was standing before the thoughtful gaze of Caesar. “After what happened with Medusa, I was hoping you’d had enough of the Orman female population…” the King sighed. The boy began to blush. He had indeed figured what the meeting was about at his very step inside the Royal Hall.
“Master, I…” Helial tried to justify. But whatever he said, a flush of embarrassment would come at his cheeks.
Caesar shrugged and nodded that he stayed silent. “Circe loves making a fool of young men. You know that?” the King asked in utter concern for his disciple.
“What’s the dramatic tone for,” a voice suddenly bickered him out of nowhere.
Suddenly, Helial glanced up in mid-air and caught sight of the regal bearing of Nelia, who gave him the sweetest look as she said: “You don’t need to worry, dear. Circe won’t eat you. And by the way, your achievements are amazing. I’m so happy my husband found such a talented pupil. If your relationship with Circe should become problematic, I will hunt down Big personally to claim damages!” At least Nelia would reassure him.
However, neither Helial nor Caesar knew whether she was serious or not. Would Nelia seriously turn the wealthiest Guild in Orma upside down to mend the broken heart of a teenager?
Caesar shortly shook his head. Nelia was still furious for a conversation the two of them just finished having. They had argued on the future of Orma as well as that of Helial. A number of Seniors from their Clan were still opposed to having Helial as a member. They didn’t like the idea of dealing with a Human. It was unconceivable that despite his promising son, Caesar went for a freak like Helial. They didn’t want a tiger in their home. Helial was too talented indeed, and risked becoming a threat. If someday his ambitions were to be too fierce, he might become a real problem. This was why the majority was opposed to Helial.
However, someone supported him too. One was Binius, the Major Senior of the Royal Academy. The Senior had understood that the guy didn’t aim at politics. And he wasn’t wicked either. After the Mana Oath, the boy could not but fulfil his pledge to protect the Goblin population. This was something no Orman would swear as easily.
How could most of the Clan turn a blind eye on Helial’s demonstrations of loyalty? On what basis did they doubt the sincerity of a guy who had only did good to their hometown? This got on Nelia’s nerves. Especially after this engagement thing.. Since the flighty little Circe was involved, the game of the two teenagers was a matter of political interest.
Helial cupped his hands as he bowed. “I thank you for your support. I hope I’ll get by smoothly enough.”
“Chill out! This is no war. Your Circe already announced your engagement, so I guess now it’s official. We’ll need to arrange a banquet,” Nelia smiled. Helial always put her in a better mood.
Caesar knitted his brow. “Helial isn’t yet a member of this Clan. The Seniors won’t let us banquet through the Royal Palace for his engagement.”
“They won’t? And who is going to stop me, exactly?” Nelia suddenly turned purple. “You know what? I made up my mind. We’ll have a banquet tomorrow night. Tomorrow night, you heard me? In a couple days, the boy will be busy following the group training. He and his friends will have a little fun now so they won’t die of boredom.” Having said this, Nelia raised her voice so that every servant in the palace could hear her: “Tomorrow night we’ll give a banquet to celebrate the engagement between Helial and Circe. I want the Main Hall of the Clan of the Heavenly Eagle to be prepared to host up to hundreds of guests. Prepare every kind of wine and dine, call dancers and fire jugglers to perform! We’ll have a hell of a party to celebrate our disciple!”
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These words triggered a number of raging Auras, which she promptly calmed down by adding: “If you have something to object, just don’t!”
Helial actually wanted to tell her there was no need to set up all this. It was two days now he was trying to avoid Lumia. He was procrastinating the moment when he would inform her about what was happening. His sister really seemed mad at him. She would never get over this engagement. In her eyes, no woman was worth being by Helial’s side but her herself.
Nelia had just made things a great deal more difficult for both Helial and Caesar. Before either of them could speak, however, she went on to say: “My husband once was a brave man who feared none of those he believed to be lacking in value. Now he’s the puppet of four old idiots. My husband is the strongest Immortal in Orma, and he’s no tyrant. The thing is, he allows those who envy his power to lord over him. He’d rather oppose his disciple for mere fear than look after himself and his interest.”
Nelia touched Caesar’s sore spot. His expression grew darker. The King ran his eyes over Helial, then on Nelia, who had so politely put him in an awkward position towards the little Human. “Politics is no easy task,” was Caesar’s laconic remark as he casually waved a hand. “But you win this time. Let’s celebrate! We do need some carefree time, things have been tense lately. Send out an invitation for the young generations of the Sect of the Worthy. Let’s call whoever can’t stand our disciple. They all need to come to terms with Helial being here, sooner or later.”
Having said this, the King dissolved into thin air before Nelia could stir up any more trouble.
The Queen winked at Helial and disappeared as well, leaving Helial puzzled by such irrational behavior.
What should he do now? The banquet was set. There was no way he could cancel it. Nelia could have gotten offended, since she had bothered arranging it for him. It would have been like spitting over Nelia’s good heart.
Helial gave a sigh. “Where will I find peace?”
“FINALLY A FUCKING BANQUET IN THIS SHIT-HOLE OF A VILLAGE. THIS EMPEROR FEELS AN UNHEARD OF HUNGER.”
Clearly, elsewhere.
Before looking for somewhere peaceful though, Helial should try to make up with his sister… So he thought it best to head to Lumia’s room in the hope to talk some sense into her.
After getting in the Queen’s good graces, his sister received an even better accommodation that he had. Helial’s room was palatial. He could rely on many servants. The walls were covered in cloths and precious fabrics. The heralds were symbols of the Clan of the Heavenly Eagle peeking out at every edge of the blankets. Some of them gracefully embellished the walls. Lumia though was assigned an entire district of chambers, like a true princess.
As he stood in front of her doors, Helial reassured himself by saying that the maturity he had caught sight of in his sister would surely help her get more reasonable. She wouldn’t make a scene, would she?
The grievous tortures experienced during Iblis’ training made her a different person. She would put aside those childish outbursts for sure. She couldn’t really have it in for his engagement. After all, she knew this would happened someday. Despite what she wished for, Helial wouldn’t marry his little sister.
Helial built up some nerve and put his hand on the doorknob, saying: “Lumia, it’s me!”
Our hero had a light heart, now. He had a feeling things would work out smoothly enough. Everything was going to be alright.
Al-right.
As soon as he opened the door, he caught a glimpse of a pot flying at breakneck speed towards his face. He dodged it with a slight move. The pot hit against the wall and shattered to pieces.
“ASSHOLE!”