Chapter 8:

Aftermath

Prophet of A Destroyer!


(As the festival ended for the capital and all the chaos was resolved in the Region of Magic's Royal Capital, Aoki was seen jogging in the quiet streets of the capital as morning was approaching but was then sweaty after the jog then takes a break by sitting on a bench.)
"Aoki: I.. I can't be that weak without Banri, I can't..!!"
(Aoki then forcefully kicks the bench and walks out of the Royal Capital to the dungeon. As Aoki arrived at the dungeon, he then notices a note on the gate that states all beasts are in mating season which Aoki decided to suck up his anxiety and stare the gate down.)
"I'll prove to them all, I'm powerful without Banri."
(As Aoki then storms into the dungeon while sucking up the fear and goes inside the dungeon. While time passes and it was morning, Arthur was going on a stroll with Roselyn as several stalls were opening in the capital square.)
"Roselyn: Seems like people are up early today."
"Arthur: Yes they are, princess."
"Roselyn: What's strange is we haven't seen Aoki at all this morning."
"Arthur: Maybe he's sleeping in, we could go check on Miss Reika and Vuella."
"Roselyn: Good idea!"
(As they both then took the walk to find Reika and Vuella, Arthur suddenly stopped as he sensed an unwelcome presence following them.)

"Arthur: Okay, whoever is following us, cut the foolishness now."
(As their presence was exposed, it was revealed to be a glasses-wearing businessman whom was generating impressive amounts of elemental energy which had them both on their guard.)
"???: Settle down, I wish the Royal Capital no harm. Please, I am here in regards to the Emperor of the Region of Elements."
"Roselyn: Oh. Can we help you with something?"
"Wesley Huffman (Nation Of Elements Interregional Negotiator): Allow me to introduce myself before anything else, I am Wesley K. Huffman. I represent the Region of Elements as the Interregional Negotiator. If it's at all possible, I would like to speak with the king and queen of the Magic Region, with you in the conversation as well, Princess Musili."
"Roselyn: If it's a serious issue, then I will return to the capital immediately. Arthur, will you inform my parents to prepare themselves for Mr. Huffman's arrival?"
"Arthur: As you wish my princess, I will meet you back at the palace."

(As Arthur then follows the command, he teleports himself back to the Royal Palace to inform the king and queen of Wesley's incoming arrival as Roselyn accompanied Wesley the way to the Royal Capital. As ten minutes has passed, the king and queen along several Royal Knights and Arthur was on guard for any suspicious activity as Ophiel, Venali, Fenius and Roselyn was with Wesley to begin the negotiation.)

"Ophiel: So Sir Huffman, what brings you to the Nation of Magic?"
"Wesley: I am here only on business. On behalf of the Nation of Elements, this is a treaty from the Emperor of Elements is actually here to apologize for how blood has been spilled among both nations and that the Emperor of Elements failed to keep his own people under control."
"Venali: Well its quite alright, we're not really known to hold a grudge over other nations. After all, we would not like to cause any trouble for any of the other regions as well."
"Wesley: Do not worry, the emperor wishes for the same thing too, peace among the nations."
"Roselyn: Well we can ensure you, it was within the Nation's law to protect the region, regardless of whomever attacks."
"Wesley: I cannot disagree with the laws of another nation for they are to be upheld until the warrior's final breath. I'm very grateful that we could come to an understanding, I will be sure to inform the emperor for his visit to the Nation of Magic within one week as a signing between us two regions. Is that an acceptable time for the royal family?"
"Ophiel: Of course!"
"Venali: And I assure you Sir Huffman, there will be no attempted attacks during such a grand event. We will have our grandest knights on the job to protect us during the signing."
(As the entire royal family then signs the treaty of acceptance for the Emperor of Elements to legally enter the Region of Magic, Wesley then packed his belongings and bowed out of gratitude to the royal family.)
"Wesley: This is all great news, I will gladly report this document back to the emperor. I look forward to see you all again in a week!"
(As they all waved bye and Wesley then travels safely back to the Nation of Elements, the royal family was then already preparing for the emperor's arrival within a week. Meanwhile as three days has gone by, Arthur was given the day off and notices Reika and Vuella chatting with one another while going for a stroll which Vuella then runs to greet herself to Arthur.)

"Vuella: Arthur!!! Hello!"
"Reika: Lord Arthur, its nice to see you today."
"Arthur: Its also nice to see the two of you as well. How's your day been so far?"
"Reika: Pretty relaxing for some strange reason..."
"Vuella: Is it because we haven't seen Aoki all day?"
"Reika & Arthur: Ohh..... Shit."
"Vuella: Come to think of it, he hasn't been seen for three days."
"Arthur: Last I remember, he went directly to the capital in his room, after finishing his drink at the tavern after the festival ended."
"Reika: Let's talk to Roselyn. She has to have seen him."
"Vuella: Uh, I think that's easier said than done. Roselyn's putting out posters of Aoki's whereabouts.."
(She'd point behind them as several Royal Knights was placing posters of Aoki's disappearance as Roselyn was putting several posters up herself.)
"Reika: Princess Roselyn, we were just about to ask you about Aoki's whereabouts too."
"Roselyn: Its very strange, how could he vanish like that in three days?"
"Arthur: Not sure... WAIT! Its possible Aoki could be at the dungeon!"
(The party gasped in surprised as they remembered it was mating season for monsters.)
"Reika: But it's mating season in the dungeons! If Aoki went down there, he'd be..."
"Vuella: I know what you're saying Reika and it's not pretty if Aoki becomes a victim."
"Arthur: Then let's get to the dungeon quickly and find him!"

(The party then ventures for the monster dungeon for Aoki. Minutes later, they'd arrive at the dungeon and noticed a powerful presence coming from inside. As Arthur then blasts open the gates to get inside, a stream of elemental energy escapes the dungeon as the same hydra Reika and Aoki had to fight before was defeated right at the front door. The party then sees a figure with the presence of an A+ Rank adventurer carrying a child-like creature which was revealed to be a brown-bearded Aoki with both of his eyes reaching a cosmic color in which they are permanent while carrying a dragon/humanoid child on his shoulder. Reika decides to calculate Aoki's power levels which suddenly caused her ears to create a constant ringing and forces her to stop before her ears would be damaged.)

"???: Papa..! Who are these people?"
"Aoki: Friends, my dear child."
"All: CHILD?!"
"Aoki: I'd like you all to meet my daughter, Hyma."
(As the search was called off and Aoki returned to the Royal Capital with Hyma whom was eating a bowl of freshly picked fruits, Aoki was sitting with Hyma with a smile on his face as he watched her eat with a smile on her face as Arthur, Vuella, Reika and Roselyn could not believe what they are witnessing.)
"Roselyn: Um.. Aoki... How.. did you come across.. H-Hyma...?"
"Aoki: She was a lost hybrid in the dungeon, I'd hate for her to be alone so she's with me. But Hyma's a lot stronger than I thought."
"Vuella: Really??"
"Hyma: I destroyed enemies of hatred!"
(Everyone was suddenly quiet as they took what she said quickly the wrong way.)
"Aoki: Hyma means that her own power is strong enough to level an entire continent or maybe three... She may be half mortal, half dracaena but she's very powerful and now her mother entrusted Hyma to me in case she died after meeting her."
"Reika: Aoki, would you mind if I calculated Hyma's stats?"
"Aoki: I don't see why not."
(As Reika did so, she then realized that Hyma was strong enough to defeat an entire fleet of Royal Knights in her normal form right now which gave her a bit of a shock.)
"Reika: This makes absolutely... How...-"
"Roselyn: Aoki, as much as you two have a... father and daughter bond... It would be a good idea to have Hyma evaluated and tested for anything before...-"
"Aoki: I would have to ask for you to not touch my daughter."
"Arthur: Aoki, its not wise to bring home a creature from the dungeon home without sanitation, evaluation of the creature and has to be eligible to live in the Nation of Magic."
(Aoki sighed and said nothing towards them until Roselyn was then a little peeved.)

"Roselyn: Sir Toshiharu, if you do not give her the evaluation she is needed, Hyma will be forcefully removed from the Royal Capital by me or the Royal Knights. But in one week, the Emperor of Elements will be in the Magic of Region. If you get your daughter the evaluation before then, under no circumstances will you have your "daughter" with us during the peace treaty signing, is that understood?"

"Aoki: And if I refuse?"
"Roselyn: I will be rid of Hyma myself before the Peace Treaty signing."
(Hyma was suddenly terrified of Roselyn's threat which Aoki forces himself from his feet and almost attack Roselyn but was then stopped by Arthur's sword which was aiming his neck.)
"Arthur: Land one strike on the princess... I will make this sword taste your blood, disciple."
"Reika: Human! You will cease right now!"
(As Aoki realized he was alone in defending his daughter, he then sighs and gave up.)
"Hyma: Papa? Are you okay?"
"Aoki: You'll need to be examined for a while, can you be a strong girl for me?"
"Hyma: Hmm... Okay papa... Will you be there with me?"
"Aoki: I'm afraid I can't. I.. have something to take care of. I will be back when I am told to get you, okay Hyma?"
"Hyma: Okay..!"
(As Hyma then finished her fruits and Aoki leaves the Royal Knights in Hyma's hands, Aoki then went back to his room to shave his beard and calm down but did not leave his room for the entire day. Aoki suddenly hears a knock on the door which he answered and sees Fenius.)
"Aoki: Oh. Fenius, can I help you?"
"Fenius: I wanted to check on you, Aoki... I heard you got into a fight with my sister."
"Aoki: Oh... Well.."
"Fenius: Its okay. I'm not mad at you, big bro. My sister may be tough to handle, but she's really trying to look after the capital."
(As Fenius sat down in Aoki's room, Aoki then asked Fenius questions.)
"Aoki: So do you feel my pain?"
"Fenius: Well, I had a little baby lizard from the dungeon, it was an ice lizard though. When my father and mother found out I took it home with me, they immediately threw it out because failed to be eligible for shelter in the Royal Capital."
"Aoki: I'm sorry that happened."
(Fenius was then patted on the head by Aoki which he smiled but frowned again.)
"Fenius: Honestly, I don't like the fact I have to live in this house as a "Musili". Its not my last name anyway... You remember my last name is Pierceman, right big bro?"
"Aoki: Yeah... What's the deal with that?"
"Fenius: To tell the truth, I'm... an orphan."
"Aoki: ...I'm listening."

"Fenius: The name "Pierceman" comes from my father, who was a legendary adventurer. But when it was found out that he was executed for treason against the Nation of Spirits, my father's funeral was an endless mourn day. Ever since he passed, no one in the family knew what to do with me and my brothers as there was no one in the family left to care for us so.. We was sent to an orphanage as children. I was founded by the Musili royal family and to this day, was known as a Musili to the family. As I call myself Pierceman outside of the capital, I'm doomed to take the Musili name until I am married to a partner."

"Aoki: That's quite a story..."
"Fenius: I never told anyone else what happened. Except mother, father and my big sister knows. No one except the royal family knows what happened to me."
"Aoki: I see. I also wondered, why do you call me big brother?"
"Fenius: I never saw my big brothers again after I was taken by the family and when you saved my sister from being kidnapped, I looked at you as my brother."
"Aoki: I'm... honored you even see me as a sibling."
"Fenius: Well, its the truth!"
(Aoki then smiled with a chuckle as Fenius was smiling.)
"Aoki: Well, its getting late. May wanna get some sleep soon Fenius."
"Fenius: Yeah... You're right. Hope you sleep well, big bro. Goodnight!"
(As Fenius then leaves Aoki's room, he noticed Roselyn on the wall whom heard everything while leaning on the wall and wanted to talk with Fenius.)
"Roselyn: Little brother, did you tell Toshiharu about your family's past?"
"Fenius: I did, dear sis."
"Roselyn: I see. You do understand that you've entrusted him into your circle right?"
"Fenius: I know, I trust big brother Aoki. He's not one to abandon someone..."
"Roselyn: Tch. That's what you thought of your ex-bestfriend."
(He then stopped as Roselyn brought up a triggering topic.)
"Fenius: He is GONE, sister. He lied to me and used me for his selfishness in becoming more popular among the entire capital! Never bring him up again!"
(As Fenius stormed off, Roselyn realized she was becoming a jerk after today then goes to her room to try and forget about the entire night before things became any worse.)