CHAPTER 11: BLACK ROBED MEN
1517 Words
They went straight to the dining area and proceeded to the second floor. They occupied the bigger table with six chairs. "It's crowded now unlike before the class started." Kev sat right next to Maple, Yin and Czarina sat on the other side. "It's noisy, too."
"The ground floor is more crowded, you even need to share a table with a total stranger." Yin scrolled the entire second floor. "So instructors and the faculty staff also take their meals here."
"The palace funds Zariste Masters Academy generously to produce the best Spirit Beast Masters, hence the academy needs the finest instructors. We make sure they are paid and pampered so well," Kev explained. "Like what our instructor said, we are the future of our kingdom. We are responsible for maintaining the peace and order of Fantazija. We once lost this freedom and safety during the war centuries ago, we wouldn't want that to happen again. We need to learn everything we could to protect what we are enjoying at present."
"Are you sure you don't want to be the king?" Czarina asked. "Your mindset is way beyond a fifteen-year old kid, and you always consider the kingdom and the people."
"I would love to do my part as a member of the royal family and the citizens of Fantazija, but I don't want to rule the kingdom. I'll leave it to my siblings and other relatives. Let them compete for the throne." Kev shrugged his shoulders and called the lady server to order their food. "It's tiring to have feud between family members because of the stupid throne."
"You still have a lot of time to think about it, Kev, the kingdom probably needs someone like you," Maple said in agreement with Czarina's observation.
"We will support you if you decide to be the king," Yin said. "Right, ladies?"
"Yes!" The two ladies did a high five.
"I don't want to think about it. I want to enjoy my youth and freedom as a laid back prince." He grinned. "I don't think I am fit as a king."
"What's your order, Your Highness?" said the lady who serves them all the time they dine here.
"Everything on your menu, good for four." Kev smiled at her.
"Give us ten to fifteen minutes to prepare your order, Your Highness." She turned around and left the table.
"Excuse me," a voice said. They looked at him, Valk, the lightning element controller, and his sister Sirie.
"Yes?" Czarina replied.
"Is it okay if we share your table? The whole floor is occupied," Sirie asked. "They wouldn't allow us to use that table for six, because they said it is reserved for the Duke's daughter."
She looked at Kev. "Your cousin..." Czarina whispered. She pleaded using her puppy eyes. "Please."
"You can share with us." He smiled at Czarina, then glanced back at the siblings. "We belong to the same class, anyway."
"Thank you!" Valk sat beside Yin and Sirie sat beside Maple.
"Maple, where are you from?" Yin asked. "You dress differently from the townspeople, but you still look like you're from the elite."
"I am from Mire, where immortal god Tigar came from." She smiled.
"Mire? Your surname is also familiar," Kev said. "Hao... are you related to General Vinz Hao?"
"He's my father," she shyly replied. "I'm the youngest among five siblings."
"Your father is General Vinz?!" Czarina shockingly asked. "He is the best swordsman I know! He often goes to our village to ask my father to forge swords for him and his men."
"Yeah, he's the most acknowledged legendary swordsman in the entire kingdom." Maple sighed. "But I didn't acquire his skills. I inherited my mother's spiritual power. All my brothers inherited his spiritual power and sword skills."
Czarina looked at Valk and Sirie. They are both quiet and just listening to them. "Where are you from?"
"We're from an orphanage in the mountainous region of Vitri," Serie said. "Mister Monk saw our potential as cultivators. They sent us here and supported our studies. Glad they paid for better accommodation and food for us. It will not be that difficult for us to adjust here."
Sirie is petite, but she seems to have a stronger personality than her brother Valk. She's lively and optimistic. They both have big round blue eyes and oval shaped faces. Their noses are tiny and their lips are a little thicker at the bottom. You can immediately determine they're siblings.
"Your power is awesome," Yin said to Valk. "Lightning is powerful!"
"Right," Sirie was the one who agreed. "But he can't control it yet, that's why he rarely uses it when there are people around. He accidentally hits some orphans back home whenever he practices his power. That's also one of the reasons why they sent us here."
Valk awkwardly smiled. "I need to learn a lot."
The meals were served. They started eating while chatting when the emergency alarm started. It was so loud that it made everyone panic.
"What was that?" Czarina asked. She covered her ears because of the annoying sound.
"It means there's a ruckus in the capital. I wonder what happened," Kev replied. "Let's check what's happening."
They all stood up and stormed out of the dining hall to see what was going on in the capital.
Students, including Czarina's group, ran outside the school to see what's going on. Everyone is curious about what's happening. They heard a loud explosion nearby. It's rare to have crimes in the capital, where cultivators and masters are all over the town to capture criminals.
Czarina's jaw dropped when she saw three men in black robes running away from a man in gold armor and some soldiers with him. "General Hao?" He couldn't see their faces because of their robes.
"Papa!" Maple called his father.
"Who's the man they are chasing?" Yin asked.
"I can feel their dark powers. They are probably from Nedostojan," a man beside him said. It was Master Fujin. "Stay here kids, this is adults' job." He disappeared beside Yin, and appeared in front of the three black robe men, blocking their way. Master Fujin raised his arm, and a red sword appeared in his hand.
"Move away or I'll kill civilians around here!" one of the men who seemed to be their leader shouted. He looks nervous because behind him is General Hao and in front is a swordsman. He lifted his arm and formed a black energy ball in his hand.
- Writer
