The prince laughed an evil one after what he said, as if expecting the shocked reaction of the crowd. “What? There’s not a rule in Gairoshi that prohibits someone who just invaded a village,” he mocked. Carysse might not know him personally but she knew that he was one heartless and insensitive man, whether he was drunk or not. Carysse’s hand was already on the hilt of Chaos’ sword but Chaos knew her well enough to stop her immediately. Chaos’ hand was on top of hers, his fingers struggling against Carysse’s trembling hand, itching with the intent to kill. Her blood was boiling at the mere sound of his voice. Any more mention of Thalisse and she will let herself loose. “Breathe,” Chaos whispered as he looked slightly at her, still gripping her hand that was ready to draw the blade. Only then did she notice she was breathing hard like she just ran a thousand miles. He then turned his attention to Prince Saizen. “Looks like we’ll see each other in the arena, then. For that, you have
For the second time around, Carysse woke up in a good bed, only that it was larger this time.Carysse had her own room full of the necessities that any lady would appreciate. She even had a tall window that faced the direction of the rising of the sun. There were chests filled with clothes, a couch, a wide table, two stools, and a huge shelf stacked with books and clean papers.The sun was not yet up but she was already wide awake. This was her first official day as Chaos’ escort. Last night was just a bummer. Chaos said he had already arranged one of his chamberlains to teach her the right way. Although it annoyed Carysse that even here she had to learn, she didn’t deny that she was excited to see the way of the nobles. Carysse pushed open her window. She stood on its ledge and saw that even while standing, her head didn’t even touch the frame. She wondered if the other windows of the castle were like these. She hoped not because if the enemy suddenly decided to attack Sapphirus, th
“I see that you have already met Master Saber,” Chaos said as they ate at the table.They were gobbling on lobsters, river fish, and strange fruits that Carysse had never seen before. One was called dragon scales because of its fin-like skin and another one was called Vargo’s berry. It is said that when the legendary first king named Vargo was about to die in a cave because of hunger from being pursued by the enemies, the heavens took pity and made a plant grow in the darkness of the cave. The plant bore fruit that brought Vargo back to life and was able to defeat the forces that were trying to conquer Apharothia. Whether or not the story was true, the fruit was definitely heavenly. Its pulp tasted of fresh milk and had the most pleasant fruit smell Carysse had ever encountered. One thing that Carysse noticed that was different in the dining hall of Chaos was that everyone was supping together. Based on the stories from the travelers that she had heard, lords and servants do not eat
In Carysse’s vocabulary, training meant pulling a stack of logs, chopping them, and then carrying them again. It could also mean hiking the mountains without food or water. And worse, the one that Carysse hated the most, jumping from the waterfall where your feet should land on a specific part of the water determined by a circular rope that Elder Shimar floated. Not only was it dangerous but it always left her head spinning and her ears filled with water for hours. These were her version of training, the one that she was used to, and not merely walking up and down beside a brook at the back of the castle that flowed outside the walls. “Master, what can I hope to achieve from this?” Carysse asked as she counted her 30th complete round from the hole that spewed the water up to the part of the wall that cut it short. “You will soon appreciate it, young lady. Follow my instructions for now and you will soon see,” he assured. But the way her master just toured around touching the plants
Chaos saw Carysse and Master Saber outside. She was working hard. He also had to.He sent for his horse.“Do you want me to call for the Captain or your men?” his servant asked. The prince shook his head.“No, it’s all right. I’ll just be quick,” he said.The boy didn’t reply but Chaos noticed the trouble forming in his head.“Is something bothering you, Joras?”“I do not wish to offend you, my prince, but you are alone. They might scold me if they find out that you went outside by yourself without telling anyone,” the boy whimpered.Chaos patted the boy’s head. He found Joras in the streets of Apharothia a year ago. He was discarded by his parents because his skin was burnt that covered half of his body. His skin made him ‘hideous’, as his parents called him, making them unable to sell him to the slavers. When they saw that no one would buy him, they just left him in the market. Now, that hideous boy is his most trusted squire.“Just tell them it's my special order. They’ll understan
Just as Chaos expected, His Majesty was also not pleased with the news.“You mean to say that they just barged right through the security of Apharothia with the guards not noticing it in broad daylight?”Chaos nodded. “It is what the reports say, Your Majesty. I checked it myself.”He wanted the memory of that dungeon out of his mind. Even in his imagination, he could still smell the slick bloody atmosphere as well as the gruesome display like a painter who only had red paint had gone crazy inside.Dasran sighed at the corner of the room. “After shamelessly making the noble women as their hostages to extort money from the king, now they would kill all their men without warning? Are they afraid that their men might sell their secrets?”“If I were Mahan, that’s exactly what I would do," Chaos said. The king and the chancellor suddenly looked at him. “We know them. They are willing to do anything just to protect their organization. It's the reason why no matter our efforts, they simply c
It had been three days since Carysse received her first assignment from her master.It was just a simple task– to create her own technique that will help her to remain calm. If she couldn’t master the art of tranquility, she wouldn’t be able to learn magic–the one that will make her stronger.Carysse knew that if she is able to acquire such trembling power, she can have the power to crush her enemies and avenge the village if she is given the chance to meet the Mahan once more. They were really getting into her nerves. They were already too much. They deserved to be wiped out.And to do that, she had to acquire the power of the mages. But how could she, when she couldn’t even prepare her own body to get it?“Give yourself time. You will soon get it, maybe in just a few days more,” Chaos said to her this morning. Was she stupid to believe him?Day seven of searching for an answer and still, there was no progress. Today was the First Meeting for the Gairoshi. And tomorrow, the games at
Just as Chaos thought, Carysse was at the rooftop again.Her room was just beside him so when he didn't hear any sound of her door opening or closing when he already passed by Master Saber entering into his own room earlier, he assumed that she was still outside.''It's already past midnight,'' he said. Carysse was staring at the stars with her arms resting on the spikes of the battlement like she was taking a nap while standing.''I know,'' she answered.''Tomorrow is already the start of the Gairoshi. It will do you good if you can get enough sleep. We don't know what the enemy has in store for us. We can't show any sign of weakness, especially that the people already know that you are my escort.''Chaos expected her to retaliate at his words. Surprisingly, she was in a good mood. Chaos went near her. Could it be that she had already fulfilled her first task to Master Saber?''You're awfully calm,'' he said. Carysse chuckled.''Relax, I'm still irritated by the fact that you are he