ALMOST TIME

"Crown Prince Amon, the preparations are done. We await your orders."

Amon nodded. "Papa, do you want to add some more?"

King Vasillia laughed. "Nah, son. You're better in handling these things. Whatever you decide, I'll go with it."

"But Papa, you are still the King!"

"And you will be King. So now, I decree that my son take over me. That's that!" He clapped his hands in delight while the people around him were dumbfounded.

Seriously, was this man their King?

"Papa! You just can't issue a decree out of the blue!"

King Vasillia whirled around to face his son and spoke in a fierce voice, "I am the King! I can do whatever I want. And you do not have the right to correct me!"

"Hah! Caught you! You are still the King Papa. So blah blah blah!" Amon laughed at his own trick, his hands waving mockingly in the air.

King Vasillia's face was growing red in anger. "Oh you -!"

"Love," the Queen interceded then. "Stop it. Your son is right. You are still King; you have to decide on major events like this."

King Vasillia sighed, defeated. "Oh well I suppose you're right honey. But I was just training our son to do whatever must be done."

"I know. So, tell him what else should be done. Don't let him decide on his own for he still lacks in training."

The King sighed again and glared at his son, who was silently laughing at him. He rolled his eyes and thought of why he had a son like Amon.

"Oh well come here, you brat. I'll discuss some things to you."

And together they went to the venue of the annual Magoria with the soldiers in tow.

Samarra laughed at the side. "Mama, the two of them are so alike."

"I know darling. Amon is really the younger version of Vasillia."

"Mama, is it really alright to hold this Magoria even if, even if we still have friends on the enemy's side?"

Queen Iris' face looked sad in a beat. "I know you feel it's not right. But there are so many kids here; they deserve a chance to know what power they have and to be trained properly. A mage not properly trained would be a danger to his community. And maybe they would add to our forces once we could establish the right time to fight back and take back our lands."

Samarra nodded. "I just wish Denaire was here."

"She is, baby. She is always here," she touched her hand above her heart. "In our hearts."

Samarra smiled, and offered a silent prayer to the wind – praying that Denaire would find her way back to them.

***

Denaire wiped the sweat dripping down her face. She looked at her work with her fingers holding her chin up.

"Hmmmm, it looks definitely life-like now. Some more touches here and there and it would be ready to go."

"Denaire!" a man called for her from the outside of her hot workshop. She removed her personal protective equipment and walked hurriedly outside.

"Hiro! I didn't know you'd come home early." She beamed at the man who was standing at the entrance.

He walked closer to her and hugged her tenderly. "I missed you already."

Denaire blushed and hugged Hiro back. "Well, you were gone for how many weeks already. That's understandable." She patted his back like a mother does to her child.

"So, what were you doing while I was away?"

"Some tinkering here and there you know."

Hiro laughed. "Of course, my tinkerbell. Now, you have to go take a bath because you definitely stink."

Denaire whacked Hiro's arm. "You! You are so bad!" And she grumpily went inside her bedroom and banged the door shut. Hiro just laughed it all off.

Just then, he sensed his soldier lurking in the corner. "Report," he said.

The soldier went out from the shadows and bowed, "General, the troops sent by the King who went to the island has returned here empty-handed. The King would probably summon Emong."

Hiro's face turned grim. Emong is now under his care, and if he is summoned, he is required to be with him. And the King would probably task him the torture for Emong. They are running out of time.

He faced the soldier once again. "Is the training done?"

"Yes General. Our ranks have gotten better. There are more assassins, and you didn't know I am not alone."

Hiro had a shocked face after that statement. "You aren't?"

"Because I let my self be detected. But there are others who have concealed themselves so efficiently." And as if on cue, three people emerged from the shadows. Hiro was definitely in shock at this time.

"Wow, I can't – Just wow!"

The four subordinates knelt down and said in unison, "To protect our only Lord and Master, we must train really hard and eliminate everyone who is on your way."

Hiro smiled devilishly. "Very good. Train more, when the King summons Emong, you must be with me and please guard Denaire too. I don't want her to get harmed. Our fight has yet to begin."

"Yes General."

When the four were gone, Denaire emerged from her room feeling fresh and fragrant.

"Now Hiro, I do not smell so bad anymore."

Hiro smiled. "You are always fragrant to me." Then his face turned serious. "I have something to tell you. The men sent to search the island came back."

Denaire covered her mouth, unable to speak. So quick, she hasn't finished yet her work. "And?"

"They came back empty-handed. We have to speed up our plans then."

"But Emong?"

"Yes I know. But you have to trust me okay? I promise I won't hurt him. I promise."

Hiro hugged Denaire, who was trembling in fear and anger and revenge.