Chapter 22:
Doppolia: A New Magical World
My words stopped the King in his tracks. We stood in silence as my question lingered in the air. A couple of seconds later, Endo replied without turning around to face me, “The Tri-Carver, you say?”
“Yes, I would like my weapon back.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Satori. Your weapon is now my property. You gifted it to the former king before you died.”
Why did Mr. Satori give away his weapon? It would have been great to know that before asking for it back. Unfortunately, I couldn’t back down. I needed to double down.
“Well, sorry, but I would like it back. Where is it?”
My persistence in the Tri-Carver piqued King Endo’s interest. The air around us increased in weight once again. Endo deliberately shifted his body around, facing me with an intense gaze. “Are you threatening to take the throne?”
“What?! No, I’m never said that!” I clarified, nervously waving my hands. “I’m just looking for my sword. That’s all.”
“You told my father when you handed the sword to us, you declared the only way you would take your gift back is if you wanted to take the throne. I was young, but I remembered your face as clear as day.” Endo clenched his fist as he recalled his past interaction with Mr. Satori.
“That repulsive laugh of yours... thinking you're better than everyone. Father didn’t think much of it and laughed with you. However, I took that as a threat! A threat to my rightful position as king!”
Oh, brother. I didn’t need to know Mr. Satori to understand that he was joking with the former king. They both laughed after you made that. Learn to read the room!
“I refused to allow someone without royal blood to steal my position!”
…
Everyone inside the dining hall overheard the commotion. They stopped their conversations to listen. Garlan remembered Kaito leaving the room with me.
“Is the prince alright?” He hesitated for a moment before opening the double doors.
While he expected to see only Kaito and me, he was greeted by the backside of King Endo and his two bodyguards blocking his path. Behind the king, he saw me standing in front of him. Kaito and Anojin watched on from the side, out of the way.
I realized the king’s anger was building up from my determination. I carefully tried to reason with him. “But I don’t want-”
The king stomped his left foot on the ground. The stomp echoed through the hallway, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “Enough!” he shouted.
Amada and the others spectated from inside the dining hall, sitting near each other. Their mouths widened as they recognized the participants who were causing an uproar.
“Big Brother?!” blurted Princess Kiriko.
“Takumi?!” blurted Amada and Hinabe.
“I must skip dinner for now since this requires my fullest attention.” Endo takes a step closer to me, lifting his head high, with his eyes glaring at my soul. “Very well, Mr. Satori. Let’s settle this back at the training grounds.”
Even with the new source of strength I’d discovered to ask for the weapon, his presence dissipated it. My knees felt weak. I did not know how to respond. I subtly averted my eyes to Kaito, who stood there with nervous sweat glands dripping from his face.
His worry wasn’t aimed at his brother. Instead, his softened eyes were aimed at me. He lifted his hand slightly in the air, as if sending me a sign. However, my resolve was still firm.
I secretly nodded my head towards Kaito to comfort his emotions. I refocused on the king and gradually raised my head, matching his energy. “I agree to your stupid challenge.”
King Endo calmly observed my behavior and couldn’t help but release a slight smirk. “Mhmm… I see you have not changed. Very well, follow me.”
The king slowly strolled past me. He headed back to the beginning of the hallway.
…
With every step the king took away from us, the more the tension eased. Once the tension eased, Garlan hurried to help Kaito.
“My Prince! Are you alright?” Garlan shouted.
“I’m alright. I’m just worried about Takumi.”
“You mean, Mr. Satori. Rest assured, prince. That man is a capable fighter.”
I quickly walked towards Anojin and Kaito. “Well, that was something.”
“Great job, wannabe hero!” exclaimed Anojin, sarcastically clapping his hands. “That was your marvelous plan of taking back the Tri-Carver?”
He chuckled, teasing me for my actions. “Ha, looks like you have a death wish. You’re useless without me. How are you going to fight against him?”
“Ha, maybe I got a little overconfident.” I bantered, rubbing the back of my head. “It’s probably going to be hard without having a shield. But, this could be a good way to train.”
Kaito curiously asked, “Are you going to be okay, Takumi?”
“I don’t know. Hopefully, Mr. Satori’s powers can help me.”
Garlan pondered what I said. “He’s talking as if he isn’t Mr. Satori.”
Kaito noticed Garlan's curiosity and replied to him with a calm nod. Though he never spoke a word, Garlan realized Kaito read his thoughts. Not literally, but as a wavelength of knowing someone close.
Garlan's eyes popped out of their sockets. “Is this Takumi just like you?”
The prince continuously nodded with a slight smile, confirming Garlan’s suspicions.
“I see…” Garlan observed. “And judging from your expression, it looks like you also told him the truth.” He exhaled deeply, relieved to see his prince happy.
“Takumi, I suppose you don’t have any intention of overthrowing the king?” wondered Garlan.
“Not at all. I simply want my weapon back. And I’ll get it any way possible.”
“Even if you walk into a one-sided fight?”
“To be honest, I don’t want to. But I have a duty that I need to fulfil, whether I want to or not. Maybe it's Mr. Satori’s strength that’s motivating me.”
I inspected my arms, remembering the power that these hands exerted. “Regardless, to fulfil my duty, I need to understand my power. Retrieving the Tri-Carver will help me do that.”
“I understand... Even though this young man may not be Mr. Satori, he does have his selflessness.” A subtle grin escaped Garlan’s lips. “Very well, Takumi. I am willing to help you retrieve the Tri-Carver.”
Kaito joined his bodyguard in offering a hand. “I also want to help out as much as I can. I feel bad betraying my brother. But, I don’t want him to kill you.”
I understood Kaito’s feelings. I was the first to share a similar experience with him, so he would hate to lose me so soon.
“Oh, really?” Their kindness brightened my mood, boosting my confidence. I quickly bowed my head, gesturing my gratitude. “Thanks, I’d appreciate the help.”
“Don’t expect me to help you out,” commented Anojin.
“I don’t need your help,” I explained, retaliating from his reminder. “You’ll just be in the way.”
“What did you say?!”
I was sidetracked from speaking with Kaito, and I failed to realize King Endo and his bodyguards had gained a great distance away from us. He had no sign of waiting for me. So, I hurried to King Endo.
Kaito and everyone in the dining hall, curious about the altercation, followed shortly behind as we made our way to the training grounds.
Judging from King Endo’s strong physique, he would easily defeat me with physicality alone. Once again, I spluttered out words without thinking about the consequences of my actions.
Defeating Astra was only possible because I had help. This time, there was no Amada… No Hinabe… No Anojin… I was alone. I had no information on the king’s abilities, so forming a plan was nearly impossible.
Luckily, Prince Kaito and his bodyguard Garlan offered to help. So, before we arrived at the designated area, I needed to devise a plan… and fast!
…
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