THE PRINCE'S SERVANT

A luxurious brown carriage, adorned with golden details and bearing the crest of the Solarion royal family, slowly passed through the colossal gates of the kingdom of Solaria, heading toward the great corridor that connects five of the six kingdoms of the nation of Niray. Inside the carriage, pulled by knights mounted on white horses serving as the king's guards, sat Haru, impressed to be crossing the Solarion gate for the first time. Beside him was Kota, entertained by his young servant's excitement at every sight along the way. The crown prince admired Haru's lack of flattery. Seated farther ahead, Hayato and King Itoku were speaking in low tones:

"At the very moment they prepare a weapon against our kingdom's barrier, the allied kingdom that generates our barrier undergoes a change of ruler,"

The king said with concern, He was quickly answered by his advisor and military commander:

"I believe the Spiritual Goddess herself chose the moment of Shen's death. No mortal could have hastened it. Therefore, my king, I think it's merely a coincidence. The kingdom of Traven does not stain its hands with murder. However, since we kidnapped one of their scientists, you must tread cautiously—they surely already know it was us."

Haru noticed the carriage passing a gate bearing the symbol of a lightning bolt. The young man was certain that if carried on his father's back, they would have arrived sooner, but he understood the man couldn't carry three people over such a long distance. Traveling by carriage gave the young healer the opportunity to see the path between kingdoms, known as the Frontier. Upon reaching a massive metallic gate bearing the moon symbol, Haru felt sure they had arrived at the right place.

Thousands of people from all corners of Niray were entering Luna's great gate. The guards wore white ritualistic robes, long garments that covered their entire bodies, leaving only their faces visible. Upon spotting the Solarion royal crest, the guards halted the flow of people, giving priority to the carriage. Kota wished he could continue his usual training but understood it was his duty as a prince to attend events like this. Despite the strangeness of it all, the heir turned to his father and asked:

"Have you ever witnessed a ritual like this before?"

"Of course not. The last exchange was sixty years ago,"

Replied Itoku, sounding impatient, After the previous day's argument between Kota and the king, the elder seemed resentful. He couldn't stop thinking about how foolish his son was for not using Haru as an object. Speaking sharply, Itoku ordered:

"Hayato, check the situation. I want to know if old Shen has died and if all the kingdoms are present."

The advisor quickly transformed into a small bird, flying out the carriage window and disappearing. Shortly after, the horses came to a halt. The king instructed two of his soldiers to accompany Haru and Kota while he awaited Hayato's return:

"It's important for the future king of Solaria to be seen praying in the sacred shrines of our allies. At least go and pretend,"

said the impatient monarch.

Kota gently took Haru by the wrist and led him out of the carriage. The prince hated how his father treated those around him with ignorance. As they walked through the crowd, they conversed:

"My father isn't always a jerk; he's just worried about something. I'm sorry for the things he said to you yesterday,"

The heir said, haru looked at him in surprise, responding with an innocent smile:

"Everything your father said is true, but I know you'll be a better king than him someday, Kota."

The young servant's words deeply moved the prince, who stopped amidst the crowd, slowly turning his face toward the younger boy. Haru felt his cheeks burn as the prince leaned closer. Suddenly, Kota resumed leading the healer toward a shrine. Both seemed embarrassed, with Haru staring at his feet to hide his flushed cheeks.

The shrine was a tranquil place where speaking was forbidden. White fabric veils separated the outer area from the inner one. The dim lighting came from a strange rock emitting a soft blue glow. The young healer and his master knelt before a small statue of the Spiritual Goddess. A group of youths was already there—two men and a woman—whispering softly:

"I'm sure I'll be chosen. I'm by far the strongest in the kingdom,"

said the tallest man, his confidence evident. Lean but muscular, he had a shaved head, following a tradition of the kingdom.

The shorter man, who was chubbier and wore transparent glasses, was more modest. Staring at Kota, he remarked:

"He's wearing a crown. He must be the prince of Solaria."

The trio turned to look at Kota and Haru, who pretended not to notice, embarrassed. The short-haired blonde girl spoke:

"I think we should try to say goodbye to Shen."

The other two felt ashamed for clinging to trivialities instead of thinking about bidding farewell to the man who had taught them so much.

The prince and the healer rose and headed for the exit. As the two young men hurried past them, likely to say their goodbyes, the girl followed more slowly, giving a genuine and innocent smile. Outside the shrine, Kota and Haru saw the long line at the gate completely halted, giving way to Itoku and a group of Solarion soldiers. A green bird landed beside the prince, quickly transforming into Hayato, who told them to join the king:

"The rulers of the other kingdoms will arrive shortly. Stay close to the Solar King to receive them. It's important for the Solarion court to be seen alongside Shen by Luna's people."

Following Hayato's signal, they made their way to a ceremonial platform, spotting the three youths from before speaking to an elderly man. Haru and Kota hurried through the crowd, receiving bows and reverences directed at the prince.

Approaching the platform, Hayato informed them that the elderly man now speaking to King Itoku was Shen, the priest of the kingdom of Luna. Shen greeted them:

"The last time I saw you, you were just a baby. Now you're a grown man,"

the old Shen said, lightly tapping the prince's head with his cane. Kota laughed at the situation.

Haru, however, was astonished by the priest's cheerful demeanor, even in the face of his impending death. Nothing about the situation seemed normal. Thousands of people entered Luna's gates to witness a man's death, yet most acted as though it were ordinary. The servant positioned himself near Kota on the platform, unsure whether to express his pleasure at meeting Shen or his sorrow for his death.

Surrounded by Solarion royal guards, Hayato, Haru, Kota, and the king watched as the line of people at the gate paused once more. This time, they made way for a group of soldiers led by a young man in a white cape, who locked eyes with Itoku as he positioned himself at the gate.

Dressed in white armor bearing a lightning symbol on their chests and light gray helmets, the soldiers formed two rows, with five men on each side, leaving a long space in the center. Their organization was flawless, likely the result of extensive training and effort. The first to walk between the rows was Counselor Kilua. The young man, with brown skin and snow-white hair, approached the end of the soldiers' formation and announced:

"Ladies and gentlemen, make way for the King of Traven and the Tempest, Kazuki."

The young man's courteous tone was met with enthusiastic cheers from the gathered civilians, watching from the ceremonial platform, Itoku felt overshadowed, the angry look on his face grew more apparent as the second figure crossed the rows.