The Royal Court of Brandish was a hall of splendor, its vaulted ceilings painted with constellations that shimmered faintly in the torchlight, as if the stars themselves bowed to the crown. Sunlight poured through stained-glass windows, casting the marble floors in rivers of crimson, gold, and sapphire hues.
At the far end, upon a dais of polished obsidian, stood the Throne of Aurum-Guel, forged entirely of gold and set with runes that pulsed faintly with enchantment. Seated upon it was King Quinnson Guel, a towering figure draped in a mantle of deep scarlet trimmed with ermine. His crown—an intricate circlet of gold inlaid with shards of crystal—rested heavily upon his brow, yet his sharp, hawk-like gaze betrayed no weariness. In his presence, even silence seemed to stand at attention.
At his right side, perched upon a smaller, finely wrought chair of silver and ivory, sat Princess Elenya, his daughter. She was clad in flowing robes of azure silk, embroidered with golden lilies, the emblem of her house. Though young, her bearing was regal, her posture poised with a natural grace that drew the eye of every knight and courtier present. A faint smile played on her lips, as if she alone in the chamber carried a secret hope.
To the King's left stood High Priest Namor, the Golden son of the Light. He was clad in immaculate white robes that shimmered faintly, as though woven from threads of morning radiance. Around his neck hung a great sun-disc of polished crystal, and in his hand he bore a staff tipped with a flame that burned without smoke or fuel. His presence filled the hall not with fear but with solemn awe, and many present bowed their heads at his passing, whispering prayers to the Light.
Before the dais stretched a long carpet of crimson velvet, upon which nobles, knights, and envoys assembled—each awaiting their turn to bend the knee, pledge their loyalty, or beg for judgment. The air was thick with the weight of ceremony, of power, of expectation, as though the very walls bore witness to the fates being woven within.
Suddenly a messenger dressed completely in white his cloak even covering his face. Kneeling flat and slamming his head on the ground he roared.
"Your Majesty!! The messenger has arrived with news from our outpost in the Wanderlands of Waste—"
"Out with it!" Namor the high priest said causing the messenger to shiver at his spot.
"Yes Sire!" The messenger said and ran out of the court, a few minutes later he came back in followed by two men behind them Corinth Ransthrol came dressed in a white blazer lined with gold.
His fiery red hair was slicked back and tied into a bun. A small pole the length of a forearm was holstered at his hip.
"Your Majesty." Corinth greeted the king with a slight kneel, turning he nodded at the high priest, Namor.
"I see you're still as radiant as ever, Princess Elenya."
"Love you still have your wits to your Lord Corinth."
"Well if we don't have our humor we have lost everything"
"I don't believe that's the right saying—" Princess Elenya started.
"Let's get back to the matter at hand! Please" Namor said.
"What are the updates on the test rats we released into the wild?" King Quinnson asked.
"Your Majesty, even though what we do look as if we disregard lives I employ you to maintain even the least levels of humanity" Corinth said his face firm.
"You wretch!"
"Foul hypocrite!"
"How dare you speak to his highest as if you were equals!"
The nobles of court roared, tension rising fast.
"Quiet! Quiet! before the son of Light!!" Namor fumed his face red with anger. Princess Elenya giggled on her throne.
"And why do you insult me with such words?" King Quinnson asked unfazed by the unhidden insults.
"Is it because I called insects insects or is because you have been made aware the extent of your own hypocrisy?" King Quinnson asked.
The tension in the room seemed to tie an extra knot.
"If I may be heard. We all have a common enemy. Fighting within ourselves is against our better interests. We need to be discussing how to get the Legend Kime out of the way!!" The high priest Namor said.
***
A few days later.
Taltaba Federation...
Somewhere near the capital...
Logue City...
Itekan got off the carriage at the city gates alongside Korimer and the merchant they were escorting. They had come of to hand their academy identification cards to the guards and within minutes they were in.
Their destination, Mallronia was two cities after Logue City. They had to pass through Logue city to reach their destination.
"The merchant guy said at most thirty minutes" Itekan asked looking out the window. He was bored. They had been parked here for nearly two hours because their client suddenly said he wanted to pick up a parcel from a merchant somewhere in town.
"True, they have been gone for quite a while, what's keeping them?" Rose said a worried look on her face.
"Dunno, that's why I sent Avery and Kutote with him. As a guard we need to always have an eye on our bosses." Korimer told him.
"I'm still bored you know" Itekan said
Itoyea watched them interact. The same thing that had bothered him since they met him came back to him even now. He wasn't someone who fought everyone he felt that was stronger than him.
No, that role went to Itekan and Binturu. He however felt a need to test himself. He needed to see how strong he was compared to the strongest Trainee in Four Stars Academy.
He needed to know how much he still needed to attain before he could fulfill his goal of wiping out all the demonic beasts. So what happened to his village would never happen anywhere else.
"When we return, I want a duel!" Itoyea said cutting into their conversation.
"Itoyea! That's rude!" Rose fumed and turned to Korimer, "Sorry senior, Itoyea didn't mean that—"
"No leave him Rose. Sure you can handle me?"
"Probably not. But I still want to fight you!"
"Same here!! I've been wondering what the hype is about the strongest trainee at Four Stars Academy is all about!" Itekan said.
"You guys!!" Rose cried at them, smacking Itekan on the head.
Korimer smiled at them. These kids, they're reminded him of that guy. He only knew him for a short while but he remembered this was exactly how he acted when he was with him.
"Sure anytime!"
Just then Kutote, Avery and their merchant a small man with wide hands and an even wider purse. Behind them a servant dressed in grey overalls carried a small box.
"Master Laurence! How did it go?" Rose asked
"Why it went well Miss Rose, the craftsmanship of Terseer's is just as impeccable as you mentioned. My dear daughter would love it!"
"I'm glad you liked it" Rose smiled.
As they entered the carriage once more Kutote singled out Itekan and Itoyea, his facial expression told them the news even before he said it.
"They're here! The guys from the Lab!"
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)