70 Prince Jambati

Sensing the depression his niece was spiraling into, the king broke the silence jovially. "Speaking of your sister, how is my favorite niece doing?"

Slowly, Ashesi came back to her senses. A small smile grew on her face when she heard what the king said. It was always just like him to rub it in her face about how Layeesi was his favorite and not her. It never bothered her though. Her sister was incredibly likable, cheerful, and a ray of sunshine. Sadly, the tragedy from eight years ago had permanently scarred her sister in both body and mind leaving her a shell of her former self.

"She is… fine. She actually sent you a gift." Ashesi said, standing up. She went to the table on which she had put the basket. "I also have a gift for you, though clearly, I am not your favorite niece, dear uncle."

King Ometu laughed, and in spite of how sickly he looked, one could tell he was quite the handsome man in his healthier years.

Ashesi smiled sweetly. One of the things she always remembered was her uncle's laughter. When Ashesi was younger, what she mostly heard from people was how imposing, powerful and intimidating the king was. All she remembered was a kind man who loved to laugh and give in to most, if not all, of her sister's whims. Her uncle was just like her father, which was not surprising since they were cousins.

"Here." Ashesi said, removing beautifully packaged wheat cakes from the basket. "I made them for you. I know they are your favorite."

"And this is from Layeesi." She finally removed a long cylindrical container. After opening it, she fished out a material rolled within the container. Ashesi carefully opened up the material then handed it over to her uncle once she was done.

"Wow…" The king muttered, his eyes welling with tears. "It's so beautiful."

Ashesi agreed with a nod. "She had been working on it for a while. Seeing her work on this painting was one of the few times I have seen her smile since…" She paused. "I'm sure she would have loved to come visit you too, but this place has too many bad memories for her."

"I understand." The king said, smiling bitterly at his niece. "I'm happy this brought her joy." His gaze was back at the painting. It was a lifelike painting of the palace garden where his children and nieces used to play when they were children. The incredible realism of the breathtaking painting instantly unlocked memories he had suppressed all this while. Memories of his two sons, his daughter, and of course, the love of his life, the queen. The tears he had been doing his best to hold in suddenly escaped and flooded his face. "It's perfect."

"I agree." Ashesi said, trying not to cry from seeing her uncle cry.

Satisfied with admiring the painting, the king carefully rolled it back into its container. "I'll have the maid put it up as soon as possible."

"So," he continued after he had wiped away the tears, "how are you really? I haven't seen you in a while. Is everything fine in the academy?"

"Everything is fine. And speaking of the academy, I need to go back by noon."

"Why? What's happening at noon."

"Tournament." Ashesi said like it was the most obvious thing. "Combat School is having the second phase of their trials."

"Oh… I didn't think you were interested in things like that in the academy. You did not even want to be captain until your great grand-uncle spoke some sense into you. Are you sure you are only returning because of the tournament?"

Ashesi smiled coyly as though she had been caught in a great conspiracy. Her hand played with her sun necklace as the face of a certain handsome girl with obsidian eyes appeared in her mind.

Ashesi knew her uncle was absolutely right about one thing.

She had no interest in the affairs of the academy. The only things she remotely cared about in the academy were her soul beasts, thus, it came even as a shock to her when she was appointed the Captain Of Haniki Hall. She had no interest in being captain, but she had thought that if the Academic Council wanted her as a captain, they would have been better off selecting her as the Captain of the School of Beast Studies instead since she was actually the most talented beast tamer in the entire school. But no… just because she was related to the Yugaki-Haniki Clan, she was selected as a Captain of Haniki Hall.

But of course, she could not complain. Royal Dream Higher Academy belonged to the Yugaki-Haniki Clan and thus, the Academic Council, overseen by the principal, Master Findes Yugaki, could do whatever they wanted.

The only reason she wanted to go and watch that tournament was because of Savyrran. Even after Baono had explained that Savyrran was a girl, she could not help but feel drawn to her. It was not just because Savyrran had this contagious energy around her that made people feel at ease, nor was it because she was easy on the eyes. It was also because Ashesi could not forget the extreme look of happiness on her sister���s face when she presented the wooden horse figurines to her. It was the happiest Ashesi had seen her sister in a very long time, and it was all because of Savyrran. But since Ashesi had still not spoken to Savyrran since they last met in Ahn Bayari, she decided not to bring this up to her uncle.

"Well, the captains would be there, and it would not look good if I didn't go. Some of them already don't like me, not that I care."

"There are people who don't like you? That sounds impossible."

Ashesi laughed at her uncle's flattery. "Well, it's not really their fault. I'm the youngest among them and I think Benu Mosha-Rim feels threatened about that since he used to be youngest."

"Benu Mosha-Rim? Son of Deyanu Benu-Rim."

"Yes, that's him. He's never liked me."

Now it was the king's turn to laugh, and for a moment, Ashesi wondered why her uncle was happy to hear that someone disliked her.

"Well, I don't see why he should dislike you. You two are practically family, though I'm not sure how you are related. His mother is a member of the Yugaki-Haniki Clan just like you."

"Honestly, I don't think he cares about that. But it doesn't matter anyway because I don't care either. I care about what great grand-uncle would think if I don't show up to the tournament." Ashesi reasoned.

"I doubt your great grand-uncle cares what you do. He doesn't even take things seriously most of the time. Speaking of the old hag, is he still alive?"

Ashesi laughed heartily, secretly enjoying the faux animosity between the king and his grand uncle. "He is healthier and younger than you."

"Of course he is." King Ometu said. Although it was common knowledge that the king had been crippled both in body and soul, no one dared to try anything foolish to jeopardize the political stability of the kingdom. All those people he knew who were secretly plotting against him were being extremely cautious, and this was all because of his dear grand-uncle who he did not even know much. But one thing was for sure, the day Inifa Haniki returned to Dream Kingdom from his decades of soul searching, a semblance of sanity returned to the kingdom.

In the last eight years, his grand-uncle had only stepped in the palace twice. The first time was to see how the king was recovering and the second time to be given the title of Royal Adviser; a title he vehemently rejected. But in spite of his invisible presence, the old master struck a deep sense of fear in the hearts of the king's enemies.

Although Master Haniki acted like he had no interest in the affairs of the kingdom, the king knew he did. After all, why else would he have resurfaced after all those years the moment the news about his attempted assassination became public knowledge. Besides, while King Ometu was still a young crown prince, his grandmother had revealed to him that she had asked Inifa Haniki, her cousin and most trusted confidant, to watch over the kingdom as soon as he returned from his soul-searching pilgrimage.

Unfortunately, it took an assassination attempt on the royal family to cut short Master Haniki's decades long pilgrimage, bringing him back to Dream Kingdom as soon as possible. But when Master Inifa Haniki did return, he returned with the terrifying force of fury of the indigo essence. And with him were some of the most powerful and loyal followers of the Yugaki-Haniki Clan. That alone was enough to calm the storm that had shaken the very foundation of the royal family. And soon enough, the assassin was apprehended and executed.

King Ometu knew his grand-uncle was the main reason why his enemies had not made any move against him in the last eight years. Else, why would a crippled king with no heirs, no wife, and basically surrounded by enemies in his own home, still be king? Had his grand-uncle not shown up at that perfect time, wouldn't his enemies have taken advantage of his current weakness and taken control of the kingdom?

As King Ometu stared at his niece, he knew deep within him that the decree he would give soon might be the last straw that breaks this sham of a stability in the kingdom. It had taken him eight years of playing along, and he was getting incredibly tired from it all. His grand-uncle may be powerful and fearsome, but King Ometu had always felt that in all those eight years of seeming peace, his enemies were probably gaining more power. Eventually, they would have amassed enough power to topple his reign. Thus, he too had to prepare. Even his damaged soul could not be healed by the most powerful soul recovery doctor in the world, he would never give up without a fight.

"Before you go back to the academy, you should go see Rojorn. He misses you and Farah… and Layeesi." King Ometu said.

"I will." Ashesi said. "Maybe one day, Layeesi will come back to the palace again."

The king nodded hopefully. Maybe one day, they would all experience true peace.

…...

"Your Highness." Commander Wamin bowed respectfully before the man casually sitting in his luxurious chair. The commander was taller than most men, but Prince Jambati was one of the few men who towered over him. Even as the prince's height was reduced while seated, Commander Wamin still felt intimidated.

"What." Prince Jambati asked in boredom. What was so urgent that his head of security would just budge into his residence like that?

"Forgive me your highness. But you have a visitor."

"Who?"

"He only introduced himself as Verrin."

As soon as Prince Jambati heard the name, he suddenly shot out of the chair as though it had suddenly grown hot. That arrogant bastard. Why would he show his face in public like that?

"Did anyone see him enter the residence?"

"No, your highness. Actually, he just came out of nowhere."

Prince Jambati breathed a sigh of relief. "Show him in."

Commander Wamin bowed and then left the room. A few seconds later, a young man probably in his mid-twenties entered the room.

Prince Jambati only stared at the stranger with deep suspicion, then in his deep voice, he said. "You are not Verrin."

"Obviously not," said the stranger. Though he was young and knew exactly whose presence he stood, he spoke with unwavering pride. It was like none of this was worth his time."I am Madoy, and I come in Verrin's name."