Meanwhile, the elder brother jumped onto the ring to stop Kiru. He didn't want Armad to be injured for as long as he was their guest. But would he be there in time?

Bihanzin just smiled. He was convinced Kiru wasn't trying to hurt Armad, instead, he just wanted to push him to the wall and force him to use his sword.

Nostalgia didn't move but her heart was pounding. She wondered why she wouldn't just close the window and look away.

Inara, too, wasn't left behind in running toward Armad. He wanted to save his teacher.

Piles of dust surrounded the ring and Armad was buried in it. The flying sword launched by Kiru a few seconds earlier had already made contact. To Kiru's surprise, Armad didn't avoid it and when it slashed through him, he didn't scream. The only way Armad could have escaped the attack was to use his sword to block it, which he said he wouldn't use. And yet there was no blood. No explosions.

Hasanu and Inara didn't make it in time. They stared at a bright beam of light through the dust. It could be the remaining energy of the flying sword degrading Armad's mortal body, or maybe something else. As they waited with bated breath, Armad appeared from within the beam. He wasn't the Armad they knew, however. Armad was flesh and blood and skin, but he was lightning. His arms, his torso, his entire body had been turned to lightning.

Terrified, Kiru tore away the handkerchief covering his eyes, jumping back and panting. Hasanu, on the other hand, raised his hand to point at Armad, trembling. He'd temporarily lost his ability to speak. Inara knelt on the ground in submission. There were many mentions of the Sikai in the old scriptures. Some even believed it signified the 'return' of King Eyrion II. Armad was purposely denied any knowledge related to the fallen empire by his parents so he knew close to nothing about it.

Back in her room, Nostalgia widened her eyes in amazement. Armad was a Wilberforce, that much she knew from reading his thoughts when they first met, but she didn't expect this. Not even in her dreams. Even Ururu would want to have this power.

Somewhere in the palace, Bihanzin dropped the mirror in his hands and stood up in amazement. If others had read it in history, he had seen it being used during his prime. It was indeed the Bend of King Eyrion the second.

Back on the ring, Armad was just realizing how many questions he was going to have to answer. He saw how Inara was kneeling. And he looked at Hasanu and saw the awe in his eyes. If princes were to react like this after seeing the Bend, then what about the common man? If he let it be seen, he would soon be in the spotlight and everything would go back to Ururu. It was too soon for that. He decided to avoid using it until it was necessary.

Smiling, Armad turned to Kiru. "I won."

Kiru shook his head in defiance. "Yes, you might have won but it wasn't a fair fight. I was stunned by your... ability. Besides, I want to see you fight with a sword. We will continue the match in the future. Now go and rest."

Armad smiled and shook his head, convinced that Kiru wouldn't take defeat lightly.

Hasanu laughed at the duo. "Rules are rules, little bro," he said. "You'll forfeit the match if you open your eyes, isn't that what you said? And now that you do, you have lost."

Kiru had no option but to give up and Armad was announced as the winner by the elder brother.

He and Inara headed back to their room. On their way, Armad patted the obedient boy on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I will start training you very soon."

"You have already started, teacher. Every day I spend with you is another day I learn useful things."

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Armad was pleased with the boy's answer and he wondered if it was because of that that he enjoyed having him around.

When they reached the door, Inara asked for permission to go to the bathroom and allowed Armad to enter the room alone. Armad was busy thinking about how to deal with Nostalgia he only nodded. The princess didn't seem like she would come to see him if he didn't go to her first. But why would he care about any of it? He'd already gotten what he wanted. But then again, he wanted something more now. Bihanzin could still serve another purpose.

He took off his shoes and slipped into the massive bed, watching the fish swimming through the glass floor. An hour later, someone knocked on the door. Armad thought it was Inara coming back from the bathroom, instead, he was greeted by another man wearing a black blazer that stretched to his ankles.

He walked into the room without asking for permission. Armad had the urge to push him back but he held back. The man's massive gait weighed on the glass floor as he walked. Armad feared the glass might give in and collapse under the man's weight. But it didn't.

He nodded at Armad. "Do not be afraid. I'm Damjinu Djinn, the 1st division commander of the army. I want to ask you some questions. I hope you don't mind."

Armad reflexively put his hand on his sword, wondering why the King would send him a commander in the middle of the night.

Damjinu ignored the gesture and went on, "apart from those who saw you today, is there anyone who knows you have Eyrion's Bending?"

So the King knew. "Yes, but they are all in the wall prison."

The commander was silent as he studied the floor and probably the fish beneath it. Armad noticed the man's eyes narrowed further as he stared.

"Well," the commander said with a sigh. "Be advised not to let anyone see it again. And warn your student not to tell anyone about it. You can use it as a hidden weapon to defeat an enemy far stronger than you. But you'll lose that chance once you expose it."

The commander turned to the door. Armad watched him in silence. When he was at the door, he turned around and locked eyes with Armad. "So is the black raven you saw and the name Nostalgia Nára, no one in the kingdom knows about them. Everyone calls her Nostalgia Sisiyu. I don't need to remind you about the need to keep the secret that can destroy the world a secret." Then he opened the door and walked through it.

The secret that could destroy the world... That was how Nostalgia and her siblings kept calling it. Armad couldn't agree more. If what he heard from the board was made known to the world, the peace everyone enjoyed for so long would be gone. There would be war and countless would die. Armad still didn't tell anyone about it because he didn't want to be responsible for any death.

"Hey, commander," Armad said. "I also have a few questions for you. I don't know why you change the princess name and I honestly don't care. I won't lie about having some interest in the ravens but I can keep it a secret, don't worry. But why the secret that can destroy the world? What do you want to use it for? I can't imagine turning it into a weapon."

"You didn't ask the princes?" The commander asked, surprised.

"I didn't get the chance," Armad said.

"It's simple," the commander said. "We intend to use it as a weapon but only to keep our enemies away. We aren't ready to fight either Ururu or the Kings. If push comes to shove, we'll use it to keep Ururu away."

To have a weapon that could destroy the world as insurance and back up... It made sense. It was too dangerous but still made sense. Besides, Ururu wouldn't just let slavery go without war. If the Ashura descended, any and everything would be useful.

"I understand." Armad nodded. "But are you sure you are a Djinn?"

The man frowned slightly before he smiled. "I am."

There was some pause as both parties considered.

"A friend of mine told me all Djinns are black like me," Armad said. "She said I'll blend in just right."

"I see," the commander said thoughtfully. "So that's why you choose the name Djinn to replace your real name? A wise decision. Anyway, you are right. I'm the only white in the tribe. Every Djinn in Shadeniza is black. I often got ostracized because of it when I was a child. Albino, they called me."

"Sorry about that," Armad said.

"Oh, don't be. Anyone who has ever said the word is dead already." Perhaps, Armad had some disgusting expression on his face because the man chose to explain himself. "I didn't kill them."

"If you say so." Armad said. "Anyway, are you also trying to open the city borders, like my friend was?"

"I may be," the man said. "By the way, who's this your friend? I haven't met my tribesmen in a while."

"It's been too long since I last met her, commander. I don't think I remember her name now."

The commander chuckled. It was an obvious lie and Armad wasn't even trying to hide it.

"Thanks for your time then," the commander said, and he left.

Armad let go of his sword and with a sigh of relief fell onto the bed again. The name Damjinu Djinn was on his mind.