26 Reeking sense of urgency. (Ezekiel)

"We talked about this!"

A voice echoes within the hallway of Kaharian Perlas. The smooth polished floor covered in a long red carpet, immeasurably soft that one could sleep on it muffled the forceful footsteps of a raging man. The air amidst complete cleanliness throughout the four walls of carved and polished diorite walls of the building. The halls were elegantly decorated with furniture and jars made of expensive components. Fully armored guards stood upon every corner, carrying either a sword or spear in their hands, prepared for whatever disaster is to come. Walking agitatedly and swift, Noah caught up to Hudas.

"You need to talk to the king! There are lives in Magbato as well Hudas! Putting a couple of magic users, there is no big deal for this kingdom." He cynically said to the mage, with a sense of urgency and panic.

Hudas kept on moving, staring ahead, his back sweats with anxiety as he gets closer and closer to the destination. A soft sound of liquid mellowed as he gulped down, and a rich sound of stretching friction emitted in the air as he clenched his fist whilst equipped with his expensive-looking leather gloves.

"Are you even listening?" Noah asked. "Hudas have a little mer-" His complaint pauses. A steep stair made of precious gems hits his foot. Hudas raised his arm and signaled Noah to stop from his tracks. The eyes of the past village leader glistened as he saw the lingering fear upon the eyes of the greatest mage of the world for the first time. Hudas struggled to keep his breathing normal, his legs uncontrollably shiver upon the fur-covered floor.

He looks at Noah dead in the eyes, shedding utter worrisomeness. Hudas ceased to do any action for a few seconds, the striking tension made the seconds feel like hours of entrapment. He clapped both palms together and let out a long exhalation. "Once you decide to step up there- knowing you, you can't help but try. You will get no help from me, you will get no help from anybody. You are a deer inside a lion's territory." He affirmed, gripping tightly on Noah's shoulder. He then lets go of his grip and steps up to the shining and overly-luxurious stairs.

Noah takes his cautionary advice seriously. His legs start to wiggle as well, he felt his strength deteriorate with every single second ticking from the metallic watch he has in his pockets. "What kind of monsters is that king?" He thought to himself as he looks at Hudas going up the stairs. He takes a deep breath and proceeds to go up as well.

The sun glimmered into the colored paned windows. Noah fights both his greed and envy as the gems entice him. He reached atop of the stair to a hallway. At the end of it were two dark oak doors, finely polished, with carvings all around. Aside it was two guards who reeked with magical prowess. Noah rolled up the cloth in his jacket a bit and proceeded. He reached to his arms to the door, unwillingly to do so he stops for a moment. The light from the windows reflects from the shiny knob of the door. Noah gritted his teeth, the two guards looks at him with suspicion, he held on to the silver knob enveloping the heat it stored due to the light. He opened the door.

"Wow..." He couldn't find the words to describe his explain his experience. The room was as he thought- even succeeding his expectations by a landslide. The walls composed of polished marble, engraved with precious gems that were polished as well. The floor was made of smoothened Agarwood, its dark color contrasted the other designs in the room. There were Bronze stands of fabulous candles emitting a pleasant odor. A straight aligned carpet made of bear fur pathed towards the most attention-catching part of the place. Two-step stairs led to a throne made completely of gold. A ring of flowers surrounds the behind of the golden chair. On it sat the pronounced king of the kingdom of Perlas, Moses Gilbert. Next to him stood the most powerful mage to ever exist, Hudas, he stood stiffly with terror leaking out of his heart. The Crown noticed the presence of the past chief. Materializing his dark blue eyes, the king stared at Noah with utter sharpness, ceasing to blink for even a second. He stood up from his throne, flipping his cape made of expensive bright red colored wool, and with elegance, the ruler stepped down the stairs.

He rested his aggressive look and smiled calmly with a short chuckle. "What may be of your need my child?" King Moses takes his hand and gently touches Noah's chin, his palm slowly slithering from the chin to cheek to Noah's neck as he asked.

Unable to take immediate response, The past leader of Village Magbato went over his head and thought of possible replies. "Damn it... I hate to admit it. Hudas is right, this guy is insanely scary without even trying." He shambled inside his mind, gritting his jaw and breathing through the small openings between his teeth. He then remembered. "Quick, I need to say something! I can't let my ground down against this guy!" Noah closed his eyes for a whole second to regain his confidence. He exhaled his warm breath and smiled. "Kind of funny to call me a child considering we are almost aged the same." He snickered using a relaxed tone.

Moses laughs hysterically, dropping his jaw and wasting all his breath to the point where it was painful. He then abruptly stops. For all individuals in the room, the few seconds felt like weeks, trapped inside a purgatory of nothingness as one begs for mercy. "You're a very funny boy... Very funny indeed."

A thick drop of blood suddenly drip and stain the carpet. Noah blinked. For a second he felt absolute nothingness, the next a stinging pain under his chin. He rolled his eyes under him and saw a thin blade. Moses positions himself in a stabbing stance in less than the time it takes for some to react. The king takes a white handkerchief from his pocket, proactively wiping the blood from the tip of the blade. He looks at Noah dead in the eye, manifesting a blank expression with his look. "But I never hired a jester nor a clown now, did I?" Moses then flips his red luxurious cape and sheaths his sword back in its case. With his cape dragging from his back, he climbs back up the stairs. "So what do you have to say for yourself? A man isn't going to barge within a castle without any needs."

"I want something for the betterment of Magbato," Noah stated. "I want something for the people."

"That's what they all say. Betterment of others, yet deep inside the only thing they long for is self-benefit. So what do you want? Money? Magical powers? Trickery? You name it and I'll decide. Quick, I don't have all day."

"I want you to give me magical knights to defend Magbato." Noah proposed. "I don't care how much it is just give them..." He begged willingly.

Moses lets out a smile of utter smugness. "Oh, sure let me just weaken my forces so ic ould be killed at any moment cause I am a such a kind king." He sarcastically teased. "You have nothing to offer my friend. I don't need money. Nor anything else. You are powerless to conduct a proposal here whatsoever."

Noah chuckled a bit. "But I have something that you definitely value."

"Don't push my time, kid..." Moses grunts impatiently.

"Power."

"What? What do you mean 'power'?" The king asked curiously, moving from the seat of his throne.

A guard suddenly barges in.

"Sir, You need to see this!"