Raghav laid on his bed; Sage Amla held his wrist checking for pulses as The King and Aurelia stood by. "Is he okay?" "Yes, your grace Raghav is completely normal, it would appear that his body was unable to handle his power and the moment he stopped using it his body finally collapsed under the burden."
Sage Amla placed Raghav's hand on the bed and stood up from the stool. "Your grace. May I have a word with you?" King Belreid joined his hands and bowed down to Sage Amla. "Yes Sage. As you command."
"Follow me and you my child." Aurelia looked at Sage Amla as she bowed. "Yes Sage?" "I know you wish to know the nature of his powers and you are afraid if it is anything dangerous. What I tell you now is the single truth of our existence. The power he wields is the greatest in existence. Eventually his body will adapt and once that happens. None shall be his equal."
Aurelia shifted her gaze to the unconscious Raghav. She then heard the sound of the door closing as she looked up and found herself alone in the room.
She walked over to him placing a hand on his cheeks his head turned towards her hand. Aurelia smiled at this reaction. "Just like him. Sleep well Kanah."
She then left the room and looked at the empty corridor she walked over to her room and entered it. Sliding down behind the door as she rested her head on her knees. Small tears formed in her eyes as she finally closed them.
The King opened his eyes as Reinhardt knocked on the door; sound of careful steps came and it was opened by Mage Olda. "Your Grace." He bowed as he stepped out of the way. The King entered the room and found Asfan sitting in a chair. Asfan quickly stood up and got on his knees. "King Belreid. My actions are mine and mine alone, The Mortenia tribe had no hand in this. I accept all punishments."
King Belreid looked down at Asfan. "Rise warrior." Asfan stood up as he looked The King in the eyes. "You will receive no punishment. We all heard that you were asked to aid in the Prime Minister's nefarious goal; due to a life debt owed by your grandfather. We know the law of a life debt and you have been deemed innocent because of it. I came here to inform you, that you are a free man. You can leave whenever you wish. Until then you will be a guest of the crown."
Asfan got down on one knee and lowered his head. "Thank you for your mercy, your grace." King Belreid turned around to leave the room. "If you wish you thank anyone for the mercy it is Raghav."
Asfan looked up. "Can I meet him before I leave?" The King stopped at the door as he looked back. "It is for him to decide when he wakes up. He has been unconscious since he came back with Prime Minister Vaughn's corpse. You will be notified the moment he wakes up."
With the parting words King Belreid left the room followed by Olda and Reinhardt.
As they walked in the corridor. King Belreid looked at Reinhardt. "Speak your mind." Reinhardt lowered his head slightly. "Your grace, I was thinking, you should do a public appearance soon. The city folks are aware of the attack and the ensuing trial that took place; I am certain that the other Kingdoms have caught wind of these events. Your public appearance will put it out there that you remain healthy and well; if you could have Raghav by your side as the hero; it will cast aside all shadows of doubt that the Kingdom has lost its strength."
The King placed a hand on his chin. "It is indeed true. I need to put the Hero in the eyes of the world. Summon Galreid to my room; I have a proposition for him."
As the King lowed his hand and looked up; the door to Vonreid's room opened and the boy fell out onto the floor. "VONREID!" The King yelled running at the boy; falling on his knees beside the boy. Mage Olda rushed after him almost tripping on his beard as he embraced the child's thin body applying healing magic to him as it regained the mass.
"By the Will of The One. It is just as Raghav predicted." Olda lifted Vonreid in his arms and carried him back to his bed; followed by King Belreid who was struggling to breathe. "Is he okay?"
Olda stopped casting healing magic and looked at King Belreid as he smiled. "Yes, your grace."
The King let out a sigh of relief as he closed his eyes. "Father?" The King's eyes opened wide as he looked at his son and found him staring back at him. "Son?" "Father?"
"SON!" King Belreid hugged Vonreid as the boy looked at his father's right arm. "What happened to you?"
King Belreid broke the hug and looked down at his arm. "A lot, a lot. I will tell you everything in due time." "VONREID!" The King and Vonreid looked at the door as The Queen and Aurelia rushed forward.
They grabbed the King and threw him to the side as Reinhardt caught him. "Your grace!" The King looked forward and found Queen Anessa and Aurelia grabbing Vonreid's face moving it left and right as they bombarded him with questions.
Vonreid looked at his father with horror filled eyes. King Belreid just closed his eyes and looked away. Vonreid looked at his father in shock. 'I shall never forget this.'
Vonreid then looked at his mother and sister as he broke away from them. "Can you two stop? I am okay. Can someone tell me what is happening?"
Queen Anessa held her confused son as Aurelia stood there holding back the tears in her eyes. As soon as the Queen broke the Hug Aurelia rushed in holding Vonreid as the tears escaped her eyes. "I am sorry, I left you alone all those years ago. I am sorry, it was all my fault. Please forgive me."
Vonreid held his sister back. "I do not understand what is happening but whatever it was, it was not your fault elder sister."
Aurelia kept on crying as her mother and father comforted the children. Vonreid looked at the corridor as he frowned. "Was that Kanah?"
Everyone looked at the door finding no one there. Aurelia stood up wiping her tears away as she ran out of the room heading for Raghav's; she opened the door and found the room empty. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she yelled out. "FATHER HE IS GONE AGAIN!"
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Sage Amla stood at the gates of the castle's outer walls looking at the night sky; he then heard footsteps approaching. "I was just waiting for you." He turned around as Raghav approached him.
Raghav looked at the guards. "Please give us some space." The Guards nodded walking outside leaving the two at the gates. Raghav looked at Sage Amla his straw mat over his shoulder and a ewer in his hands as well as a small needle and a ball of grey thread.
"Going on the next steps of your journey." Sage Amla nodded. "Another Sage has made it to this city and I intend to travel east now. I talked it with the King this afternoon while you were asleep."
Sage Amla then looked at the sky as he smiled. "When I first saw you I felt an attraction towards you, I was drawn in by that warmth and light I felt inside you. At first it scared me. I who had left all attachment to this world of lies and dreams was beginning to feel attached once more."
Sage Amla looked back at Raghav. "But after you showed your powers; all my fears were eradicated, because in you I saw the truth. I have been blessed to witness your arrival. Now that I look at you I see that warmth and light I had only felt."
Sage Amla walked towards Raghav; getting on his knees as he joined his hands and placed his head on the ground. "Thank you."
Raghav quickly got on his knees holding Sage Amla by the shoulders as he guided him back up. "You are older than me. Don't bow down to me."
Sage Amla laughed as he said. "This body may be older than yours but your soul is far more ancient compared to my own. I have been blessed by your touch and now I can go." He then looked Raghav in the eye. "You are aware of what your powers are yes? What they are capable of? Where they come from?"
Raghav nodded as Sage Amla slowly backed off still looking at Raghav. "I will see you at the end yes?" Raghav nodded. "You will."
Sage Amla a few feet away bowed slightly. "Can you tell me your name once again?" Raghav gently smiled as he placed a hand on his hip. "Raghav. Raghav Suryanshi."
Sage Amla then bowed one last time before walking away. Raghav watched for a few moments as Sage Amla walked through the central road before calling out to the guards as they returned to their positions.
"Thank you. For giving us privacy." The guards silently nodded as Raghav walked back towards the castle.
As he was walking up the stairs to enter it. Aurelia was walking down the stairs with a platoon of soldiers; worry written all over her face. They looked at one another as they smiled at one another. Raghav waved at her as she waved at him and the two went their separate ways.
Aurelia walked forward until she reached the bottom of the stairs fixing her gloves when she suddenly looked forward as the realization drew on her she quickly turned around looking at Raghav on top of the stairs. "STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Raghav stopped walking as he turned to look back finding Aurelia in his face. Raghav stared at her unfazed. "I apologise for not coming to see you first thing when I woke up, I just had to come and say farewell to Sage Amla."
Aurelia sighed as she backed off slightly before looking at the soldiers. "You can return to your posts." The soldiers in unison saluted her and went back.
Raghav looked at them march away. "Thank you." Aurelia looked at him as she tilted her head. "What for?" "For coming to look for me. I know you must have been worried since the trial ended yesterday. I will answer any and all questions that you have, but first can I talk with Asfan and Galreid."
Aurelia looked at him as they began walking inside the castle. "Are you angry at me?" Aurelia looked at Raghav as she shook her head looking away. "It's nothing."
Raghav looked away from her. "I never knew a royal family can be so normal, I always envisioned, people that were cold and distant than the rest of the world. So the history books were all a lie."
Aurelia looked at Raghav. "Are there no Royal families in your world?" Raghav shook his head. "There were Kingdoms and Kings in the past now days a few places have them but they hold no power they are there in just name. The real power is with the people selected by the people or with dictators who take control from the people and rule over them."
Aurelia smiled as she looked forward. "So what did you think of me? I am the first princess you have ever met."
Raghav smiled looking at her. "You are everything I had dreamt of in a princess."
Aurelia remained silent as she looked at Raghav. His smile slowly faded out as the seriousness took hold. "It is Kanah, Yes?"
"What?" Raghav looked at her. "Your boyfriend, it is Kanah, is it not?"
Aurelia nodded as she looked at the floor. "I understand, it has been difficult for you, me being here."
He felt a hand land on his back as Aurelia shook her head. "It is indeed strange but nothing difficult. Let's just not discuss it any further. I will return to Vonreid and you can go and have your talk with Asfan and Uncle Galreid. We will talk tomorrow."
Without waiting for a response Aurelia walked away as Raghav watched her with narrow eyes.
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Asfan sat on the edge of his bed drinking wine. He held the bottle to his forehead as he sighed. The cold glass bottle tempering his burning head.
He was looking at the floor, eyes blood red; he slowly closed his eyes until the sound of knocking at his door caused them to shoot open.
He looked at the door. "Coming." He then stood up walking over to the door and opened it. He stared at Raghav who stood there. "May I come in?"
Asfan blinked a few times before he moved out of the way gesturing to the chair in his room. "Please come in. I actually wanted to talk to you as well. Would you like some wine."
Raghav shook his head. "I don't drink alcohol." He then took a chair and placed it in front of the bed and sat down. "So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Asfan came and sat on the edge of the bed. "I wanted to thank you for sparing my life."
Raghav waved his hand. "I simply did it because I realised you were nothing but a pawn in this game and hence were innocent of this crime at least. I did what was right. Do not thank me for it."
Asfan took a sip of his wine as he hummed in response. Raghav looked at Asfan with narrow eyes. "Are you okay?" Asfan shook his head. "Just have a lot on my mind. I apologise for attempting to kill you."
Raghav leaned back in the chair; crossing his legs and placing his hand on his knee. "You don't have to apologise but if it makes you feel any better, you have been forgiven. After the trial I researched about your tribe and learnt a lot about your people. Such as your tribe's war cry. 'Live to fight; fight to live.' It made me look at possible reasons why a person from that tribe be willing to be captured and executed."
Asfan stood up walking over to the window as he opened it letting the cold air inside. He leaned on it closing his eyes. "He asked one of our lives for this plan of his to settle the life debt we owed him. The plan was either I was killed alongside Galreid or if things fell apart and Vaughn was placed on trial instead; I would represent him in a trial by combat and kill the person for him."
He then turned around looking at Raghav. "I hope you believe me. I had no intention of harming anyone here. I was bound by the life debt."
Raghav nodded as he stood up. "I see. I am glad I was right about you."
Raghav walked over to the door as he looked back. "Stop blaming yourself over it, you upheld your grandfather's honour and his oath. Keep your head high."
Raghav turned around. "Will you stay?" Asfan shook his head. "I just wanted to see you once before leaving." Raghav nodded as he gave Asfan a small smile. "Stay until morning. I will see you off."
Asfan nodded as he bowed towards Raghav. "Good night Asfan." "Good night Raghav."
With that Raghav left the room.
As Asfan closed the windows and extinguished the candles as he laid on the bed. "By the will of The One. Thank you."