The Beeping King

Magic has many uses.

It can create fire, lightning and even new lands.

It was used by Fishy to recreate things from his old world that this world lacked the technology to make. But whilst Fishy could easily create such things with his knowledge, for most in this world they would need to study and stumble across the struggles the original inventors faced.

Even still, after all the challenges it made sense that someone would recreate similar technology.

The Tanban Empire was one nation that tried to create this advanced technology. Magic relied on strength and so long as the citizens were trapped in a blizzard, it was impossible for a talented mage to appear to create fire for the kingdom, so, just like Fishy, they turned to magic stones. They used the same methods and infused magical stones with powerful magic to generate heaters and rifles. Of course, only the king's castle had access to this equipment.

But heaters weren't the only tools they created.

In an attempt to extend the king's life, advanced medical tools and equipment were made by the brightest minds Tanba could offer. This equipment strongly resembled ones from Fishy's world. Large machines pumped oxygen into the king's lungs as his heart was constantly monitored. Ditor's life should have ended long ago, but he currently rests at the top of his castle, unable to move from his bed. His every meal was fed to him through a machine and nutrients were being pumped directly into his bloodstream. His arms were that of a skeleton as his ribs were sticking out of his chest. If one looked close enough, they'd even be able to see his beating heart through his thin, frail skin.

And it was because of this noisy, constantly beeping equipment that the guards had come up with a name for him.

The Beeping King.

But to call him that meant instant death. Only those in the castle understood the king's condition, and various rumours spread around. Anyone discussing such rumours was tied to the flag pole atop the castle and left to freeze to death.

"Your majesty." Ditor's trusted advisor, a man in a highbrow suit with sleek black hair bowed to the floor as he couldn't bear to see the king's current state. "The next one has arrived."

But Ditor never responded.

And after seconds of beeping, his advisor walked back towards the grand door. He pulled it open as several shackling chains walked in. A man with his legs tightly bound as guards pointed their rifles at him.

"Can you help him?" The advisor asked the scared middle-aged man who stood before the decaying corpse.

A large gulp went down his mouth as he saw the state the king was in. He knew that if he said no or failed then he would die.

"I'll do what I can." He said with a shaky breath.

Tanba had been kidnapping anyone with potential healing magic. They needed anything they could to remove the king. So far, 39 people have tried. All failed and all lost their lives.

The guards all watched him intensely. They checked his every move as they all kept their rifles ready to fire.

And then, as soon as the doctor started speaking.

"I'm sorry…"

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Another failure…" The advisor said as the bleeding corpse quickly stained the floor. "Guards, clear it up…"

The guards all hurried to the body that was folded by the king's bed, slowly dragging it away as they left behind a trail of blood, only for another group to quickly come to deal with that. This time, it was a small group of girls all dressed in frilly maid outfits. Each one came with a bucket and a cloth to clean every last drop on the floor.

All whilst they dared not look at the advisor who looked desperately into the king's eyes.

"We'll do all we can to help you…" He took the king's hand that was delicate enough to snap at a breath. "I promise I'll do all I can to save you…"

And in his moment of infatuation, a small bump crashed against his leg as one of the maids tried to clear away the spills beside his feet.

"Sorry…" The maid muttered as the advisor looked down to her, noticing her long blue hair that took him by surprise.

"Who are you?" The advisor asked.

"Sorry. I'm new. The name is Ena."

"Ena?" The advisor said as his eyes grew mischievous with thought, looking up and down her body. "Can you wait for me in my room tonight?"

"..." Ena hesitated, "Of course. If you'll excuse me…"

Ena picked up the bucket beside her leg, along with a tiny little brush that was inside. She walked over to the large door, the only exit and shut the door behind her as the advisor's brain was already running wild with ideas.

But what he didn't know was that Ena was never going to show up at his room. As she had already left the castle.

With her power, all she had to do was throw the brush out the window to teleport to it. From there, she could repeat the action until over the walls. Constantly throwing the brush and warping to it, all the way until she reached the far outside of the blizzard, in the flat snow where her team and allies waited for her.

"How was it?" Her partner, Olive, a young girl with short hair said as she handed her a warm blanket around her shoulders.

"It's just as Fishy thought," Ena said. "The Tanba king will soon be meeting his natural end."