The news traveled to every city of the kingdom and all towns in their periphery. Before Runera opened its doors to the public, the surrounding kingdoms caught wind of the matter.

A land far away from the conflict of Freda and Alva, in a palace that lay quietly on a mountain, an old man and a young woman drank tea as they discussed the city of artifacts.

"A young man," repeated the young woman with furrowed brows. Her face was lined with piercings, three on each side of her face. Her hair was tied into dreadlocks, bright ginger. "I find it hard to believe that this young man can end the war."

"Wars always seek an end," smiled the old man as he placed down his cup of tea. "I believe that this young star will bring peace to our world. He reminds me of your father."

"Please don't mention that bastard," she huffed. "I heard that the young man is the Seika of Living Beings."

"That must be just a cover," the old man pondered. "However, his existence is abnormal, and that is the truth. I fear that he is the only person we could not foresee."

"Then we need to eliminate him," frowned the woman. "I can assassinate him myself," she volunteered. The old man sighed.

"I like this young man," the old man answered as he sipped from his cup. "I must say, you are terrible at brewing tea."

  "Shut up, old man," spat the young woman with no respect. The personal guards standing to the side looked at each other because this old man was none other than the emperor of their beloved Yozia Empire. "If you don't like it, then brew your tea."

"I am too old and weak," the emperor complained. "I wish I had a granddaughter that would take care of my sickly body, cough, cough," he pretended to cough.

"And how I wish I had a grandfather who didn't whine all the time," she grinned. The old man sighed before picking up his paper fan, striking her on the head. "Ouch!"

"You need to learn some manners. I will leave this world one day, and you have to meet the other nations. Are you going to be this rude to their rulers?"

"We are strong enough for them to shut up," muttered the young woman, and the old man froze. He placed the fan quietly beside his cup.

"Listen, Jasmine," the emperor opened his eyes for the first time. There were no irises, only white, and Jasmine knew they saw everything this world had to offer. "The Yozia Empire is not a land, nor is it us. This nation is the people. We are not allowed to believe this is our strength. It belongs to the people."

"I know as much," she pouted while looking down.

"I know that you know, but sometimes, we lose sight of our way. I need you to understand that the people do not serve us. We serve them, and this is a responsibility more than anything."

"My father," she began, "did he also lose the way?"

"Your father was never from here for him to lose the way. That man came uninvited when my empire was nothing but a kingdom. It is all thanks to him that we grew this much, but some people are destined to leave."

"I can accept anything you say, grandfather," she said. "However, I can never forgive him for leaving us after we gave him a home."

The emperor stared at his daughter with complex emotions. His eyes closed as if he did not wish to see the end of the matter. However, Jasmine felt like he was hiding something, and she did not stay quiet.

"I feel like there is something you are not telling me, grandfather," Jasmine inched closer to him. However, the emperor did not answer. Instead, his breathing grew deeper, and then came his snores. "You bastard, you are trying to avoid the subject by sleeping?"

"Your highness," the guard stepped forward to aid his emperor. "I fear that the emperor must be feeling unwell. His soul is still damaged, making him hibernate at inappropriate times. Please excuse him."

The guard was serious enough that Jasmine felt guilty and squinted her eyes at her grandfather. Then, feeling trapped, she rose and stomped on the ground before leaving.

"Thank you, Yosef," the emperor opened his eyes after his granddaughter left. "You are still my shield, even in times of peace."

"The Immortal Lord runs away from his granddaughter," the personal guard, Yosef, grinned. "Your enemies will roll in their graves from laughter."

"We pick our battles," huffed the emperor as he drank the rest of the tea. "My granddaughter needs to see the world more. Take her to Runera, and see into the Seika. I believe we might finally achieve peace through him."

"I feel like you are sending her away to avoid the questions," squinted Yosef, and the emperor choked on his tea. "Well, as you command. However, I thought you disliked the tea."

"There is no way I would dislike it, idiot," smiled the emperor. "It was created by my granddaughter, after all."

***

Amon was walking through the palace with a mind full of worry. Something changed about his friend, but he could not figure out what it was. Solomon has been growing more silent by the day, and he kept insisting on inviting the Seika of Living Beings.

However, Amon managed to push the matters until Runera opened to the public and the Seika proved his artifacts were not empty promises. It was a desperate attempt to push the issue back, but Amon had some plans of his own.

"Welcome, Hand of The King," Scholar Jermyn greeted Amon with a bow. Amon saluted as well, but he always felt uneasy near devoted worshipers. "How can I help you today?"

"I am here to meet Saint Ai," Amon smiled, and he could see the scholar's face darken for a brief second. "I come here carrying the wish of his majesty, and I hope you have no objections."

"I dare not have any," Jermyn shook his head. "However, Saint Ai is tired because of her studies. She is the gift of our god, and we need to make sure that she lives to her potentials."

"I understand, but this is an urgent matter. Please show latency and allow me to meet her. If that is not possible, I fear the king will be disappointed."

Amon pressured the scholar because he knew the church needed the king's support to spread their message and continue their research. Jermyn frowned and nodded with a sigh, calling for a priest to guide Amon.

The King's Hand followed the priest through the hallways, across the yard, crossing the gardens, and reaching a tower. The priest spoke a few words with the guards before they were allowed entry.

Amon glanced at the guards, who wore armor and carried massive weapons. Their eyes did not suggest they were here to protect but to imprison. A bad feeling appeared in his heart about this matter.

"Saint Ai," the priest knocked. "A guest is here to see you. I carry his wish to meet you, if you aren't that tired," The priest did not receive an answer, and he turned toward Amon with a smile. "I apologize, sir. However, the saint must be tired."

Amon was about to refute him before the door opened, and Saint Ai came out from her study. The two men turned toward her, and the priest carried a frown.

"Ah," she exclaimed, not hiding her disappointment. "You are..." she was confused about his identity.

"I am the Hand of The King, Amon," he introduced. "I received you when you visited the palace the other day. I am sorry for intruding on your day like this. However, I have an urgent matter to discuss."

"I remember you," she sweetly smiled and almost made his aged heart flutter. "I was confused because I expected someone else. Forgive me, Sir Amon. Please," she gestured him to enter.

"Thank you, Saint," Amon walked in and closed the door before the priest could intrude. "The matter I want to discuss is a secret of his majesty. You can listen, but I will have to kill you afterward."

The priest gulped down and did not dare to insist. Amon closed the door with a smile and turned to find the young saint pulling a chair for him.

"I apologize for the lack of furniture. This is the life of a scholar, it seems," she awkwardly said. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, Saint Ai," Amon walked forward and placed an artifact on the table. It was a small egg with a button on the top. After pressing it, a barrier was created around them. "Now, no one can hear us."

"How convenient," she clapped her hands after sitting down in front of him. "What brings you here today, Sir Amon?" she asked with interest.

"I am here to ask you something, but before that... who were you expecting to visit you?" Amon was curious about who won the saint's heart.

"I will tell you if you promise to deliver my message to him," she offered, and Amon nodded.. "I was waiting for the Seika of Living Beings."

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