“Gentlemen … Ladies … I beg of you all to please take your seats. It’s time for the show to begin,” announced the representative of the Kingdom of Inara. Basically, the kingdoms would be taking turns to display their power in the form of entertainment.
The City of Everlasting Light, with the Central Square peak as the main section, was the host city of the Kingdom of Inara. Inarians cultivated magical stones and minerals, which they embedded into assisting objects called charms. These charms were jewellery, ornaments, and even aesthetic swords – all of which answered for the abundant wealth and beauty of the kingdom. Even among commoners, one could easily find a gemstone. Although higher class Inarians often considered the commoners’ stones to be of low-quality magic and not fit to be used in charms, it enabled commoners to live away from the stench of poverty.
One of the notable charms was owned by the Inarian Royalty. The Sword of a Million Suns was the sword of King Sorin of Inara. The translucent blade was made from golden diamonds that would slice through flesh without breaking the skin. The hilt contained a mixture of lava stone and tiger eye wrapped in pyrite symbols distinctively designed by the king himself. The king had the unfathomable desire to pour the magic of several stones into one charm to become the Master of Light Sword, a feat only ever dreamed of because it was nearly impossible to blend different stones.
“And yet, there’s a charm of blended magic,” said Ryuu as he gestured at the exquisite sword in the Inarian King’s unwavering grip.
“It’s impossible for Inarians to blend stone magic. We excel at wielding the magic and doing so with elegance. But regardless of our ownership over it, we simply do not have the depth of knowledge required to achieve what’s impossible with our own strength,” explained Viggo patiently. This information was common knowledge to all but Ryuu. “Stone magic within a charm acts as an independent force and like a married woman jealous of her husband’s mistress. We have the power to entice a charm into submission to its wielder, but we are pitiable when it comes to combining different powers into one charm without it self-destructing, demanding a life as payment.”
Central Square was transformed into a theatre-house with the shiny floor, cleaned spotlessly, acting as the stage. The nobles had taken their seats at their appointed pavilions according to kingdom and rank. Viggo had prepared a table for Ryuu on Kingdom Inara’s pavilion under the ruse of an important friend joining him. The Kingdom of Kaan hasn’t been allocated a pavilion ever since their demise, reason being that the Kaanian nobles could not attend – they were dead – nor were their attendance particularly desired by the other kingdoms.
For the first act, King Sorin of Inara took central stage. His sword was an awesome sight to behold, a rarity that inspired mystery. Many admired the gracious movements of the king as he danced with his sword, perfect for an opening act. The sword emitted a glow that brightened with each pierce of the air. The lanterns dimmed as brilliant waves of light spilled around the dancing man, thirsting for his death. The unclouded king shielded against these sharp waves, floating as if betwixt heaven and earth. All of this was created by the sword at the command of its master and fought by both in a perilous war of suns. And yet, this was but a peek at the true power of the Sword of a Million Suns.
Viggo continued with his explanation as the crowd hushed in awe, “Senior Music Master of the Kingdom of Hyr is, as far as I know, the only person who knows how to blend the magic of the stones together. He is a close friend of my brother and created the sword as a gift but has refused to blend stone magic for anyone else, nor will he ever do it again. It matters not. He has been in seclusion for about 80 years – even if he would be willing to do it, no one knows where to find him …”
Ryuu gazed lazily at the pavilion representing the Kingdom of Hyr. “Did he go into seclusion because of the sword?” he asked as he mused over the beauty who appeared to not possess any emotion. Ryuu bit a crisp grape in half, swallowing its sweetness. Mohan, the subject of beauty, flinched at the action as they made eye contact that very moment. Ryuu grinned as he returned his attention to the sword dance – he had made a crack, albeit tiny, in the marble sculpture.
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“There are some speculations, but I dare not make assumptions regarding this matter. Master Mohan of Hyr is his disciple. He might know. Maybe his master even taught him how to blend the stone magic,” mentioned Viggo as he noticed the interaction between the men. Strange, he thought, Master Mohan rarely acknowledges another’s existence, never mind reacting to a thing such as eye contact. True, his usual attitude and actions are considered discourteous, but Master Mohan was the only person who petrified the Kingdom of Daemis, and all kingdoms could only be grateful that there was at least one person who had the power to wage war against Daemis. What a pair the two makes, he snickered – the apathetic and the rude.
Meanwhile, Mohan was surprised at his thoughts during this festival. All the previous festivals he attended had been dull in their offerings of nothing but empty entertainment. Due to his honoured acquaintance with his master’s friend, he had witnessed the true glory of the Sword of a Million Suns on previous occasions – this act did not merit his surprising thoughts. No, it was but the King of Kaan that has been laughing at him since they met. Those laughing eyes fazed and worried him for a reason he could not yet determine. He felt like both an oddity and a marvel to the gentleman tainting the pavilion of Inara with his dark existence alone, and yet, he felt inclined to revere him regardless.
“Ryuu? I’ve never heard of him. How did he become king?”
“Could he be the mad king’s descendent who remained dormant all these years?”
“More like he was cowering in shame!”
“The madness diseases killed off the old king and his family. He can’t be of royal blood.”
“So, anyone can become king now?”
Mohan listened attentively to the gossip mixing around him and suppressed a sigh of concern towards the gossipers’ target. Usually, he would pay it no mind and chastised his fellow disciples and noblemen if they blabbered in his vicinity. He received a few careful glances from the younger men that trembled around him as if they were expecting him to scold the gossip-mongers any second. They were confused, frowning at one another when he quietly closed his eyes and regulated his breathing to disassociate from his physical environment.
Masters of the Kingdom of Hyr practised Disassociation Breathing to gain absolute control over themselves. Mohan calmed the unease with musical spells played repeatedly in his inner mind. He guided this music into the blood circulating through his organs to empower his body with the strength of resistance and to arrange his thoughts rationally.
The display of the Sword of a Million Suns came to an applauded end. The representative of the Kingdom of Inara stepped onto the stage for another announcement, “For the second act of tonight’s festival our honoured guest, Music Master Mohan of the Kingdom of Hyr, will be performing the famous melody he composed, Devil’s Death!”
This was the first time the song would be performed in public without the intent to kill. Mohan was disgusted that he had to perform his sacred work as entertainment for a crowd he deemed ridiculous, but he was responsible for an accurate representation of Hyr’s skill as the substitute for the senior master. Considering that the Kingdom of Daemis has been banished from ever attending the Kings’ Festival, he hadn’t adapted the murderous want of his song to detect and slaughter demonic beings. This song was one of the reasons for the Kingdom of Daemis’ fear of Music Master Mohan.
However, Mohan could not predict the attendance of the new King of Kaan. Though the Kingdom of Kaan wasn’t viewed as demonic, the kingdom’s dragons were classified as dark beings and the practise of dragon mastery was termed Dark Domination accordingly. His song could detect both the dark master and dragon, but could kill only the dark being, which would be the dragon. The death of the master would inevitably follow, but not due to his musical spell. Mohan had entered Disassociation Breathing to contemplate this unforeseen situation and resolved to perform his music as planned – the King of Kaan could not be a Dragon Master of Dark Domination because dragons were extinct. If, on the slight chance that he mastered over a dragon, the dragon would have to hear the tune of Devil’s Death before it could be slaughtered by the notes. But Mohan doubted that a dragon was present – the King of Kaan may appear carefree but cunning stormed in those dark, ever-laughing eyes.
Finally, with an unfazed spirit and a decision based on careful contemplation, he changed his breathing and rose from his seat.