Volume 6 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Edited by Her Grace Jiem
Characters in this chapter:
Cohen Kheda: The main character
Fischer Summers: Cohen's friend and the prince of the Swabia Empire
Venina & Eve: Protoss maidens
LeToux: A prince of Tansey Empire
Fischer and I were led by a white-robed priest each into two different rooms
The one I followed appeared to be in his thirties He pointed towards each and every bathroom item and explained the procedures of the bath
”…Your Excellency should be clear on what to do now!” He said, ”So then, I will not take up more of your time”
My head was already spinning from the extensive rules laid out for a et him to leave quickly
”There is one an to take his leave, only to turn his head back again, ”Your Excellency, you are a civil servant as well as a military officer; hoould you like your outfit to be prepared?”
”I…” He was right Indeed, as I supposed to wear?
”I suppose a suit of armor would be best” He pondered for a moment and said, ”I believe it would suit your disposition aptly Would that be sufficient?”
”Fine!” I could care less as to what I wore
”Then, I shall do as you command” He went out of the room briefly and returned with asuit of armor and set it aside on the stone table
”Why aren't you leaving?” I couldn't see the slightest intentions of leaving fro at me!”
”I ask for your tolerance, Viceroy” He htly, ”As it is your first ti in the bath of holy water, I am required to stay by your side should there be a need for further instructions”
”It's just a bath I can do such a simple feat onafter considering that I was in the Holy Temple, ”Get out, you!”
”I a so, Your Excellency Cohen! It's my responsibility to…” Perhaps it was because of the look on htly, ”If I were to leave noill be punished”
”So, it seems that you must stay in this room with me no matter what?”
”Positive”
I mused on what to do with hiain, it seemed like that wouldn't solve the issue, either
”Come” I hinted, ”I've made up my mind”
After adorning an to watch the back of aabout With a bitter expression on his face, he tidied up the room I made a complete mess out of and put away my previous attire into the cupboard neatly
”Res like I said”
”I understand” He leeful, lest they see through the act… ”
”Attaboy! Very attentive” I patted his shoulder and said, ”Be at ease, the ht you is extremely useful If your actions are more nimble, it is inevitable that you will raise in ranks quickly…”
Exiting the room, I put on an expression of displeasure while secretly basking in delight at heart Hidden underneath the armor I wore stored dozens of prohibited articles that fell into three categories: a black steel dagger and an enchanted one, apowder for various unknown purposes
”Are you ready, Viceroy Cohen Kheda?”A higher ranked white-robed priest aiting outside, and while he inquiredthe bath
”Viceroy Cohen Kheda is ready, my lord” The fellow by my side replied calressions”
With great struggle, I refrained frouy before placing hi my clothes over his headHis vision was completely obstructed by my clothes draped over him Nevertheless, to think he could reested the path ahead of hi
”Then, may I ask of Viceroy Cohen Kheda come this way, please”
Slowly, people of the three e to eleven people: three fro five were all fro, but it seeether and sending us hostile gazes… didn't they say the Protoss Alliance was a tightly knit community, akin to a family?
As alked, I voiced out ant hair was tied with a hair band His blue eyes that expressed worry seemed to make his face emit a faint radiance Hoished to beat him up and paint his face black
”It's not so After all, even families have conflicts fro ourselves during the audience with the Protoss will earn us reatly ease his burdens when he rises to the throne”
”I see” I thought, ”Since it's about our future well-being, I needed to figure out a way to make Fischer stand out as a finer speci any His good points paled in comparison to mine, anyways”
We were led to the side of a smaller plaza where the floor was covered in a dense layer of flower petals, erance that pervaded the entire area The three cardinals then proceeded to draw a emstone at the very center
They chanted while drawing a large and ss interlocked and were less than two inches apart A faint light shone wherever their fingers touched before slowly growing in intensity and finally elow
After drawing the circles, a few of thes, while the others filled the outer and inner parts of the two circles with other drawings Not long after, this tiny ic field was completed All the priests who took part in this process were dripping in sweat as if the creation of this y
The three Cardinals nodded at each other
”The ruler of all worldly and living beings, creator of all orders, the ht Majesty!” The three Cardinals chanted together with their wands in hands, ”Please allow your hu your way, to open a path that leads to you and your ht!”
As they chanted, dihts appeared on the tip of their wands then extended to becoeic field earlier The gemstone instantly turned scarlet red
The runes that were drawn outside the circles reacted to this change and sieht of three emstone The runes looked like reflections cast in water as they eht and floated upwards one by one In the space totaling to the height of three men, the runes danced about livelily
When the two rings and all the other lines and patterns began to float, the red stone located at the center ehts that enclosed the entire emstone had awoken
The field was alive
Watching the iridescent field taking shape, I had to give credit to the capabilities of those priests Though I had never seen Uncle Webster perfor so
A light of great intensity shone and stopped ht, I discovered the appearance of two shadows However, due to the overexposure froet a clearer look
They slowly approached us, and their ivory white and delicate feet could be seen stepping onto the square covered in petals barefooted Their gaze fell over everyone present before stopping on the three Cardinals' faces
The three Cardinals genuflected while eulogizing loudly and showed their courtesy
I have already seen the statues in the Protoss Square Thus, I knew that the Protoss have wings, as well as how they generally looked like I ought to not be surprised even if I saw the real ones with my own eyes
Nevertheless, I was stupefied when the two female Protoss members stood in front of my eyes
The thite robes that were so ie piece of cloth onto their bodies and was pinned together with only one silver pin on their left shoulder A thin silver sash rapped around their waists and the place where it was tied into a knot dropped down slightly
Hair bands were not used Instead, a branch from an unknown plant was olden blonde hair extended all the way below their waist The color of their skin was fair white in a coentle radiance as if a irls' facial features were extreht eyes; their noses were slender and straight; lips were sh they looked not entirely si that their appearances came out of certain rules, or maybe patterns
To summarize these two female Protosses, they looked rather sis on their backs I could even conclude that my four wives were all more attractive than them
What was important was their expression of utter indifference to all worldly things and the look in their eyes which seemed deeper than even the sea It made me not able to look theaze onto their bodies… da at their bare feet or smooth shoulders, and it would be so much better if their lips were a bit fuller, and their breasts…
”Cohen!” Soed me by my armor I turned towards the person and realized it was Fischer
”What the hell?” I asked unhappily, then immediately rehness?”
”Bow!” Fischer glared atexcept me
”Ah? Bow? Oh, I'ht away!” This was not an ordinary occasion I joked in hopes that lared at azes
”Your Highnesses!” The Pope said in a lowered voice, ”Please excuse Viceroy Cohen for his carelessness He must have been too awed by your esteemed presence to remember any remnants of proper mannerisms”
”Leave it, Cardinal” The Protoss girl on the left looked at me and said, ”Rise, everyone!”
”I'rateful for your leniency However, please rest assured,” the Pope bastard continued, ”I will make Viceroy Cohen remain here to be coached by me until he conforms to the necessary mannerisms”
Though the men from the other two ehted over my predicament As for Fischer and my three friends, they looked at me anxiously
The Protoss girl on the left did not answer the Pope but turned away to face me and asked, ”What do you think, Viceroy Cohen?”
I sive me the permission to do so I will remain should you so desire
”I do not have the power to determine your stay or leave Our sole purpose is to receive all of you” She threwover at her coht, Venina?”
”There are eleven on the list” The Protoss girl na unnecessary, Cardinal”
”Ah! I wouldn't dare” The Pope shook his head and said, ”I was just concerned that Viceroy Cohen would continue to show disrespect to Your Highness if he follows”
”Even if he does, I will inform him personally” Venina said, ”Drop your needless concern You're diso”