Chapter 31: King Malakor

The afternoon light spread across the palace as King Malakor turned toward a massive figure standing beside a soldier. His towering frame stood out among the normal soldiers, his arms crossed over his chest with his eyes fixed on the Sword Saint.

Rikka’s eyes widened as she muttered under her breath, “Zen... Jo? But what is he doing here...?”

“I am surprised as well,” Shawn murmured. “I knew he was from the Sandsreach Kingdom, but I had no idea he was one of their soldiers...”

On the other side, Shawn’s eyes remained focused on him while his hand rested casually on his sword hilt. Tension built for a few quiet moments until Aria broke the silence.

“I see...” Aria began, stepping forward until she stood directly in front of him. She tilted her head up to meet his eyes. “I don't think we've officially met yet. So, I will introduce myself first: I am Aria Seraphis, and you must be Zenjo. I was there when you had your match against my attendant. I must say, you really gave him a run for his money.” Her words were firm and direct.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Zenjo replied. “Well, I can’t be too proud of myself for that, seeing as I lost to him.”

“But you did well...”

“Huh?” Zenjo blinked, surprised by her reaction.

“I was impressed with your performance,” Aria said, a faint smile touching her lips. “If I had to rank you, I would actually place you above my attendant. Even though he won last time, I can tell that if he fought you again, he would lose.”

Zenjo stared at her for a moment before bursting into a hearty laugh. “Bwahaha... You really are a strange one, Sword Saint.”

“Hehe...” Aria giggled.

“Bwahaha!”

“Heheh...”

As Zenjo and Aria continued sharing their laughter, Celestia narrowed her eyes at the pair and leaned toward Shawn. “What are they doing?”

“How should I know?” Shawn whispered back, while Rikka offered a confused chuckle.

Malakor cleared his throat, interrupting the moment. “Aria-sama, I am sure you and your companions must be exhausted from your journey. Please allow my servants to show you to your rooms. You may join me in the audience chamber after you have rested.”

“That sounds good, Your Majesty... So,” Celestia turned to the group, “let’s go.”

Later that evening, after everyone had settled into their quarters, the group gathered in Aria’s room. The space was traditionally decorated in the style of the kingdom, featuring grand carved pillars and luxurious draped curtains.

Aria sat on her bed, Shawn leaned casually against the wall, Rikka nervously perched on a chair, and Celestia paced around the room.

“So,” Celestia began, stopping in her tracks. “What’s the plan? We’ve reached the palace, so we should figure out how to find our target. Does anyone have a suggestion?”

Rikka raised her hand tentatively. “What about the market...?” she suggested. “Didn't Kaelen say he bought the relic there? We could start by asking around.”

“We could... but the market in the Sandsreach Kingdom is massive and crowded,” Shawn countered. “I don’t think a person dealing in contraband like that would be selling out in the open.”

“If only I knew what his mana felt like...” Aria muttered softly.

“Well, if we're completely clueless, why don't we consult Malakor about this?” Celestia offered. “He's the king, so he should have a better understanding of where suspicious dealings take place. And besides...” Celestia paused, a shadow of hesitation crossing her face.

“What is it, Celestia-sama?” Rikka asked, noticing her uneasy expression.

“I’m curious about the border situation with Frosthold. We barely know anything about why they're in such dire straits. Since I’m here, I might be able to gather some intel on their conflict.” Her tone grew serious before Aria playfully poked her cheek to lighten the mood.

“Anyway... let’s get going,” Shawn said.

Walking toward the throne room, the guards bowed as Celestia, Aria, and the others approached. As the heavy doors swung open, King Malakor was deep in conversation with his commander. Observing their entrance, Malakor paused.

“Ahh... Princess Celestia, Aria-sama. Welcome.”

“Is something the matter, Your Majesty? You seem tensed,” Celestia noted.

“Ahh... it’s nothing. I was just discussing some matters with Azar...”

“Azar...? You mean...” Celestia’s eyes widened in realization.

Malakor finished her thought with a nod. “Yes, exactly who you’re thinking of. Just like Marvin in your kingdom, Azar is renowned as one of the strongest knights alongside Marvin, Valeloria from the Verdantis Kingdom, and Evelyn from the Frosthold Kingdom.”

Azar bowed respectfully to the visitors. “It is an honor to meet you, Princess Celestia...” He glanced over at Aria standing beside her. “And you must be the Sword Saint, the great Aria Seraphis.” He then turned his gaze toward Rikka and Shawn, who were unfamiliar to him. “And who might you two be...?”

“This is Shawn, the attendant to the Sword Saint,” Aria introduced. “And this is Rikka, who is currently assisting with my needs alongside Shawn.”

“Shawn...? Ah... so you’re the one who defeated one of my most trusted knights...” Azar looked Shawn up and down with a subtle frown. “Seeing you face to face... I still find it hard to believe a person of your stature could defeat a monster like Zenjo.”

“But he did, and that’s all that matters,” Aria interjected smoothly, stepping forward.

“Ahh... my apologies if I offended you, Aria-sama,” Azar quickly corrected, holding up a hand. “Of course, I shouldn't doubt your attendant’s capabilities... after all, he was chosen by you.” He turned away slightly. “Anyway... I must take my leave. Please excuse me.” With a respectful bow, he departed.

“So, what was it you wished to discuss, Princess Celestia?” Malakor inquired.

“Right. Your Majesty, have you heard anything about someone selling banned relics in the city? As you know, Kaelen used one during the Grand Star Tournament, and after interrogating him, we discovered he purchased it somewhere in your market.”

“I see... If someone is dealing in forbidden items, they are likely operating out of the slum area market.”

“The slum area?” Rikka repeated quietly.

“Yes. People there frequently trade in forbidden goods, so there is a high chance you will find a lead there.”

“I see...” Shawn nodded, stepping up. “Could you tell us where to find this slum? We should start looking there first thing.”

“Ahh... I know just the person.” Malakor clapped his hands together, and the doors opened as Zenjo entered the room.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Zenjo, since you are familiar with the slums, I want you to act as their guide tomorrow.”

“But I...” Zenjo started to protest, but quickly caught himself and bowed his head. “As you command...”

He turned toward the group with a gruff sigh. “We leave early tomorrow morning, so be prepared.”