Parting Gift Part 1

“Mister Flaemis I assure you this is necessary, the king is very particular about filth in his abode”

“Yeah, but why do you have to watch me bathe!”

“It’s just an inspection”

“An Inspection of what? My asscrack?!” I shot splashing water around. “I’m fully capable of washing my own ass”

“Oh yeah with those wounds definitely”

“You know what!!”

After a few minutes, I was dry in fresh clothing. A brand spanking new robe and boom good as new. Man I felt like a million len

In the hallway I waited, guards stood on endless watch their eyes shifting from corner to corner. Weapons are held and ready to be used at a moment’s notice. At the end of the long opulent hallway was a door. Well, two doors actually; conjoined to form a larger golden door. Decorated with golden vines and ivory pillars the door was one that screamed.

“Enter if you are worthy” With a loud ominous sigh the door swung open. The Guards instinctively bowed.

“Lord Archfienz Thank you for gracing us with your Presence!” they thundered. “We bring you Mr. Flaemis Shingumi as you requested Your Eminence!”

“My Thanks Be with you!” The voice, young yet rugged and mature but with an underlying childish naivety. Walking through the door, I absorbed as much information on the king as I could. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the literal king I wasn’t about to pass up. His long uncharacteristically disheveled hair tousled side to side as he stepped into the hallway. The large crown didn’t fare much better forcing him to stop every few seconds and adjust it. His face beautiful and refined nearly feminine with his elegance. His eyes however beguiled this esteem. Tired, heavy, and unbecoming of a prosperous king.

“Your Eminence thank you for hosting me!”

“Lift your head Mr. Shingumi no need to grovel….please come with me” The king beckoned with his hand as he turned around on his heel walking back inside the royal chamber. I followed, but it was odd. It was as if I couldn’t control my legs, they moved independently of my conscious thought of where I needed to be. Left foot, followed by right. I was moving that much was true can’t dispute the truth. But it was like I didn’t want to move. Before I knew it I was inside the Throne room. Two men stood on either side of the Throne. The man I met earlier with the carved-on smile and a new man. With indigo hair sharp snake-like eyes. There was something about him that screamed

“Untrustworthy” Maybe it’s just my brain being an ass but I’d hope someone this close to the king was trustworthy. He eyed me, shooting me a glare so icy I swore Hell froze over at just a glance.

“Name and Occupation!” The snake-eyed man demanded.

“Flaemis Scorpius Shingumi! Current Headmaster of Yggdrasil Academy”

“Who said you could stand before the king!” KNEEL! He uttered like a loud but all the while silent sultry whisper. My body moved beyond my control, Knees bending and head lowering. I was forced to kneel as If I was nothing more than a puppet on a string.

“Restate!” He demanded again.

“That’s quite enough Paladin Drix….Let Mister Shingumi breathe he is our guest after all”

The snake-eyed man Drix bowed apologetically.

“My Apologizes Your Eminence!” Drix said before standing straight up and giving me a sinister glare.

“Now I do believe despite what some people have tried to hide” He gripped his tie and loosened it. “That you are the current Headmaster of Yggdrasil Academy is this the whole truth?”

“Yes sir!”

“OI Watch your tongue when speaking to his Eminence”

“Er I mean Your Eminence”

“Have you been made aware as to why Hanagaki suddenly vanished?”

“No si-- Your Eminence”

“Luminosa Reports now!!” The king snapped his fingers and within seconds the smiling man handed him a folder filled with parchment. “Well before I reveal why I summoned you, I have dire news”

“What kind?”

“Well bad obviously weren’t you listening?” The king craned his neck as a smirk grew on his lips. However opened the folder his smirk quickly faded, a frown growing where his smile had once been.

“An ancient wyvern dreadnought class from magical output….had been spotted in the jungles of the Wisteria capital”

“I….I’m sorry your eminence but Dreadnought?” I fell backward from my knees and landed on my butt as the information swirled in my head. “This is what Simon was hiding? Wasn’t it”

“I wouldn’t know I’m not Simon I’m myself….we had sent Dragoon level mages over to exterminate the Wyvern but…..” tears….actual tears ran down his face. His face breaking into inconsolable sorrow. “None of them have returned least, not alive”

“I’m sorry did I hear you correctly….None of them?.....” I couldn’t begin to wrap my head around it. Laying on the floor, I brought my knees to my chest and held my head.

“It is the unfortunate truth” The king muttered softly. “But the worst is yet to come”

With rough hands, the Snake-eyed man sat me up. Grumbling as he did so saying something about showing respect. The king took a deep breath and tapped the folder on his lap as his eyes drifted from end to end. His hands fiddled and couldn’t sit still. He suddenly spoke with a soft broken tone.

“But the news gets worse My friend”

“Worse?? How?”

“Well before their untimely goring….one of our dragoons One Ithnan Numerous made a most despairing discovery” The king stifled his cries and whimpered softly. “T-The Body of Hanagaki Aurabos was discovered in the Wyvern grounds, missing limbs and in beginning stages of decay”

“Hana….gaki? Dead? No no no this can’t be….He just skipped town he can’t be”

“I have the records transmitted by Inthan’s gift of Sight”

“No….I….I would want him to rest in peace”

“Drix, Luminosa lock the door now!!” The king ordered and within seconds the two paladins slammed the door shut and barred it. “Mister Shingumi! What I tell you can not leave this room do you understand?....” He drew breath slowly in a calculated fashion he was hiding something painful and he didn’t want to believe it. Poor kid.

“Yes Your Eminence!” I bowed bringing my head to the floor. “I understand completely”

“There is one major peculiarity with his body…..his body had numerous cuts and stab wounds….the shape and grouping indicated that this was the handiwork of a master bladesman”

“You….You don’t mean”

“I had my Brother use his magic and sure enough what type of Magic was found in traces….none other than Saberius, the way of the Demon Sword”

“Belthazar!!”

“However due to the state of the corpse we were unable to determine who the owner was….this doesn’t confirm nor rule out Belthazar”

“No! It has to be him there’s no way it isn’t”

“....” the king stayed silent watching me flare with anger as foam built in my mouth.

“That….That demon!”

“And what will you do….you’re much too weak now to take on Belthazar” The king folded his arms and placed them under his chin. “Unless you were able to get complete mastery over your magic that is”

“Pfft like that will ever Happen….I can’t control the wheel of fate it gives me what it gives me”

“You think too unilaterally”

“Come again, your Eminence?”

“Present your magic to me”

“...Right now?”

“Yes yes if that is alright?”

“I mean I can try”

“Plenty good now please if you be so kind”
Pulling out my wand I felt the king’s eyes burn a hole into me. He leaned forward excited and stared at me with lit-up eyes. He smiled and bounced in his seat.

A small tingling burning feeling welled inside of me like Satan had decided to build a bonfire in my soul and was slowly adding logs to the pyre.

DEPLOYMENT SPELL: WHEEL OF FORTUNA!! Like before the large golden wheel appeared. The King pointed once at the top and once at the bottom. He recoiled his hand. stroking his chin he closed his eyes losing himself to a sea of thoughts and ponderings. Side to side and back again His head rocked as more of his thoughts raced and dashed.

“Would you mind giving it a spin Mr. Shingumi?”

“But I don’t want to end up destroying the castle or worse hurting you!” leaving my lips the words were only a second spent in the air before the King began a hoarse chuckle. He suddenly stopped and his body went limp. His head was slowly and uncannily raised by some transient force and his eyes found themselves upon me. His mouth opened slowly.

“Your magic can’t hurt me Flaemis” He gave a hearty chuckle as the words escaped his lips.

“I….I see” Begrudgingly I tapped my wand against the golden wheel. A million different thoughts bubbled and popped inside my head. That same warm feeling rose to the surface, I couldn’t fully describe nor comprehend how it felt but It was warm and it spoke to me. Whispered thoughts of a soulful fire I imagine.

ASTROGIUS: HOUSES OF ATHENA!! The King lurched forward, his hands cupping his chin, his eyes lazily cocked open as an asymmetrical smirk graced his lips. As the wheel spun he tapped his chin watching me with intensity. He fell still as the spinner began to slow down. Landing on the symbol of a fish-bearing its fangs. The king nodded and smirked.

“Pisces I assume?”

Scales, green in color, pale and cold became my new skin. Like wearing a suit of cold grey leather completed with a long main of flowing aquamarine hair.

ASTROGIUS: PISCES MORDERE I announced. The King tilted his head and looked at me with a confused and quite possibly nervous grin.

“You have got to have taken leave of your senses” The king shot off his throne and the next thing I knew Whap! His hand connected against my face. Drip….Drip His blood fell to the ground spilling onto the blameless white carpet. First one drop then another. Before a small ball-sized stain colored the carpet. The King recoiled and held his hand.

“You….You are touted as strong and this is what you give me a simple closet change….you must have something more?”

“And What if I don’t?”

“YOU ARE A FAILURE!!!”

“A FAILURE ME!!!??? I WORKED HARD EVERY DAY AFTER MY FATHER DIED? GOT A SHITTY JOB AT THAT ACADEMY AND MY MENTOR DIES AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO CALL ME A FAILURE!!!”

“Blessed with strong magic and this is how you use it….to play dress up? You need to be beaten into shape!” The King Snapped his fingers. “Drix! Take him away and train him….do not let him leave until he shows improvement” And without a second word the Snake-eyed man took me dragging me away and out of the royal chamber all the while the Young king stood clutching his hand and scowling with a disapproving disappointed shake of his head.

***

THREE WEEKS EARLIER!

The old chair underneath me creaked and sighed as I leaned back watching the sunlight slowly flutter in. Shoving my pipe in my mouth I returned my attention to a large stack of paperwork. Then came a knocks subtle at first but slowly grew louder and louder before ultimately the door was flung open and Belthazar stepped in. His fists clenched and his breathing loud exaggerated huffing. From the way he carried himself it was clear there was something that was pissing him off and dangerously at that.

“My what has you in knots this week Gywnivere reject you for the sixth time?” I joked taking a short drag from my pipe I gazed at him like one would spy a crazed animal from a distance.
“Look at me and tell me it’s a joking matter?”

“I’m simply giving you a hard time no need to be so uppity dear boy!” I tapped my quill on my desk and buried my nose once again in my paperwork.

“You liar!”

“Liar? Me? Sonny, I do beg your pardon” I chuckled heartily stroking my beard. Belthazar slammed his hands on my desk and eyed me with a sinister smirk showing on his face.

“You know exactly what I mean Hanagaki-San?” Belthazar’s hands crept up my desk closer and closer towards me. “Your magic…..you did a no no Hanagaki you hid it from me!”

“And? It’s my gift, not yours!”

“That’s where your wrong Hanagaki! I own you!”

“Own me? Get real lad I’m nearing seven hundred you don’t own a single follicle of hair on my head”

“You work for me and me alone I own you; you are my property and as such I demand information”

“Well then I quit”

“You can’t quit if you’re dead” Belthazar snapped his fingers and a rapier appeared in his hand. Bending his knees his readied his blade fueled with nothing but pure hate and conviction.

“Belthazar stop throwing a fit and put that toy away!”

“Playing? This isn’t some game Hanagaki! I was born to be the avatar and you are preventing me from my birthright and I intend to get it with or without clean hands”

“Birthright? Don’t make me laugh you’re but a snot nosed brat playing swordsman” I said audible oomph and bite to my words. Belthazar staggered backwards and Growled.

“You fiend! I was chosen by Shemyaza to lead….you simply got lucky!”

“So? When you’re gifted a Deva you’re chosen but I’m just lucky!”

“You don’t understand I have goals larger than you would imagine! Goals that will better this world!”

“Yeah Emperor Nazarick said the same thing and I killed him with my own two hands”

“Why must you defy my wishes...I simply want to better this world”

“Tell that to the memories in my head….Zap Targain a boy tormented by you”

“The hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the inheritance cycle you of all people should have realized that you have memories not entirely yours”

“It matters not!”

“Come to think of it” Standing up I stroked my beard as a I glared down at the pink haired mongrel before me. “King Nazarick had magic similar to you!”

“Lets settle this Hanagaki!”

“Yes lets!”

SABERIUS

LA--

“Not here….I don’t wish to harm the students or destroy the academy”

“Oh how Sentimental! This school is temporary”

“Maybe to you but not to those to come….the ones of hope!”

“Hope? The only hope you need is the one right in carried in my very blade”

“Enough talk Belthazar”

Chilling air broke into the office filling the space with a tangible spintingling dread. Blackness opened a tiny door a rift if you wll in the air juts a few feet off the air. Like someone had taken a knife and cut away at the space and popped into iut like a jigsaw puzzle. The unformed void wriggled and writhed with a pulsating unnatural rhythm. As if it was alive. Motioning to the wormhole Belthazar went in first. I soon followed after him sealing the void behind me like closing a door. Thunk the space fit back into place as if it was never missing.

Pushing ahead of Belthazar I lead the way towards our final destination. All the while the wriggling sensual “breathing” of the world inside the world only grew more frequent.

“What is this place?” Balthazar asked taking in the breathing purple tunnel and all the accompanying stimuli.

“Well when you have mastery you use it”

“Mastery of what? I’ve done research I know what you’re lance magic can and can’t do!”

“Who said it was mastery of My gift”

“I...I well”

“You think too uniformly….Devas break the laws of the natural inheritance cycle we are the masters….and it's our job to protect”

“If we’re so different we must crush all those that oppose us and build this world better!’

“You misunderstand why you were given magic….and your gift,” I said punctuating my sentence with a strong push at the space in front of me. It popped away and I step out and into the other side of the writhing tunnel.

“The Wyvern grounds….here nobody will be in danger and we can go as you youth say All out!”

“I like the way you think old man!!”

SABERIUS: ROCHINANTE!!!

LANCEIUS: KALI YUGA!!!

Face to Face weapon to weapon. No one else around but the lush jungle and the sound o the howling wind. One will stand and one shall fall.