Garry casts a spell.
The pillars that stand tall start to shake to their roots.
Seka can feel the tremble on the ground. She knows something is not right. She takes a step.
Bam!
The whole pillars close in, wrapping her inside like a hand has just moved. The hand made of earth rises from the ground, slowly swaying her inside.
Garry looks at her. "Now, how do you like that? You thought you could beat me, didn't you?"
Swish.
Garry sways his arms, controlling the hand. As he commands, the giant hand made of earth launches her. She gets sent flying through the arena's battleground. As the ground gets close, she starts to think:
"Am I really going to give up now? why did I come here? There was a reason I lost everything back then. Even if it was not my fault—it was my fault, wasn't it? I wasn't strong enough then... Then? I am still not strong enough."
Bam.
She hits the ground. The impact with the inertia pushes her into the air, spinning and still moving. Her body rolls on the ground, finally hitting the wall of the arena.
Bukish! The impact shakes up the whole area into a small tremor.
"Look, my dear daughter, run from here far away. Never talk about your mother and hide your identity as much as you can. And also, don't forget to protect your brother," her father gasps for a breath of air. The loose wooden pieces start falling. "Honey, go away from here! Take your brother!"
...
"How... did this happen?" Seka closes her eyes, looking up at the sky as her vision starts to flood with tears. "It's the magic kingdom, isn't it? Kryak.
You did this all. I swear—"
Kryak, the kingdom of magic, a small homestead in the east of the country.
We hear the wind.
"Haha, look, it's moving," a voice...
Of a child. A paper plane glides through the air with a bit of wind on its wings, guiding it into the blue sky with sunny weather and some clouds. "Hey, that's not fair at all! Give it to me too."
Another voice—a boy. A girl with her hands in the air is running in the field of a beautiful house, not too huge, neither too small.
"I don't know how you do this, sister. I want to learn to do it too."
The small child starts pouting his face, looking down. The wind guides the plane, slowly descending onto the boy's head.
"Here, Mizuno, you can play with it too. Try it, I will help you with it." His sister puts her tiny hand on his chubby cheeks and lifts it slowly.
"It's just magic. You will learn when you get older," she says.
They hear a faint noise in the distance. It seems as if something is coming their way, grinding the dirt road. It stops.
The gate slowly opens. A golden carriage with a golden logo and blue gems on it.
A beautiful adult lady comes running out of the house. "Seka, Mizuno, what are you doing? Come with me. The king of the mage kingdom is here. Let's welcome him in." A man comes out of the house as well, together with the woman.
They slowly walk toward the gate with their children. They bow to the king. "We are really happy to see you, Lord." Seka's father takes a glance at her. She is just standing straight with nothing but confusion.
Her father puts his hand on her and her brother's heads and guides them down into a bow. "There," he says.
"Honey, he is the king of the country we live in, so do respect him." Her mother looks at Seka as her left eye sparkles—same gold, pure eyes. Seka gets butterflies just watching the eyes.
The king speaks, "Now, now, no need for the formality. I don't think I deserve it. I hate formality anyway."
Her father speaks, "Right, my lord, then what should I call you?"
"Just call me Kira," the king replies.
"Okay, then from now on I will call you Kira, but not in the palace. So now, shall we go in?" Her father guides him inside the house.
"Wait!" the king shouts. They stop to look back at him to understand the sudden reaction.
"I actually have a guest today. I hope you don't mind." A cute, handsome boy comes out. His eyes sparkle, similar to a gem known as sapphire—pure blue eyes similar to Seka's mothers golden eye. His hair has a brown tint, covering his forehead with a slight push to the left.
"This is my son. Sorry, I forgot I brought him with me." The king pats the small boy on the back.
"Oh my, look honey, the boy is such a cutie." Her mother sits down in front of the boy. "I might even take him with me forever."
"Haha... Oh yeah, he is quite cute, isn't he? Right, handsome boy? Anyway, this is my son, Kara."
"It's really nice to meet you, Miss..."
"Velmorine," Seka's mother corrects him.
"Well, it's also our honor to meet such an elegant prince." She gives a sweet smile, looking at him.
He starts to fill his face with redness. "Aw, you look even cuter now." She teases him more.
"That said, why don't you play with our daughter? I am sure you will get along, I already see the connection," says Seka's mom.
"Umm, sure," Kara looks around and sees Seka with her father and brother.
She clenches her shirt around her tiny finger fists.
"Wait, that's their daughter? She looks exactly like her mother," he starts to think to himself.
He goes near her, looking her in the eyes. Seka gets nervous. Kara gently bows down.
"Hello, I am Kara Maltheira, the prince of the country of Kryak." Seka gets butterflies in her stomach because of his elegance. She has a slight blush and hesitates.
"Umm, I am Seka Velmorine. I am the son—I mean, I am the daughter of my father, Daelion Velmorine and mother Saejima Velmorine."
"You look absolutely stunning, Miss Seka." Kara gives a gentle, formal compliment to Seka.
"Oh my," Seka's mom giggles.
"So, Kira, why don't we go inside to talk about business? Let's let the children be by themselves." Seka's parents walk inside the house, leaving Kara, Seka, and her brother outside to play.
The king and Seka's parents start to talk. They take a seat and begin the conversation. Seka's mom brings some tea and biscuits. Kira tells them, "Actually, I have heard some things about your family. Is it true that your wife has the Golden Eye of Creators that has been passed down through the bloodline? I am sorry; this is a selfish request by a king such as me, but the truth is, I want to start a proper relationship between our countries. If she has the eye, that means she is from the country Umino."
Saejima sits down with Daelion. "What do you exactly mean by 'start a relationship'?" Saejima asks the king.
Kira replies, "I was thinking of starting a marital relationship between our countries."
Saejima tries to speak, "It's actually no—"
Daelion stops her. "I am sorry, but it's just not possible to make a relationship because she has already left her family there and will only be taken as part of a family, not the head. So, the methods might not work as you expected. I am really sorry."
Kira sadly speaks, "It seems that this proposal is very selfish. I am real—"
Seka's father interrupts, "No, that's not the case. I think it would really be an honor, but the problem is not only that. I want Seka to choose her partner. We cannot force her to do things because of our selfishness. But even if she rejects, it would be an honor to work for the kingdom. It has brought us peace, and we would love to protect the kingdom's peace."
Kira laughs, "Ho ho, so if that's the case, I am actually relieved. Then I shall also not force my dear son to do things because of my selfishness.
I was just taking my chance, you know. Also, if your bloodline stays in our country, then of course we will have great people who will learn to love the country too." He lays his back down.
The king and Seka's parents continue to talk about the kingdom.
Kara tries to talk to Seka. "Thank you for your kindness."
Seka looks at him with a confused face. Mizuno comes to Seka and grabs her hand.
"I don't think I really have shown you that much kindness?" Seka tilts her head even more, thinking.
Kara starts to explain, "You see, all the people in the castle talk to me as royalty. Only a few talk to me normally. I don't even have proper friends there. They all seem like they only talk to me to gain the power for their family. So, it's kind of awkward to make friends at all."
Mizuno leaves Seka and goes toward Kara and grabs his coat. "Is this your brother??" Kara asks.
Seka replies, "Yup, this is Mizuno. Say hi."
"Hiii," Mizuno replies. Kara gently gives a smile returning the 'hi'.