74 Tea Time and Storms of Change (1/2)

The East had been set aflame in the course of a single night, and none could stop the raging flames anymore. The human prince's heartfelt coronation speech had sparked a firestorm of discussion amongst those who heard what he had asked of the people of the East.

It was taken as a wake-up call for many, but there were some who still could not take what the prince had said to heart. They were beholden to their dead kin, unable to let go of their burden, their duty despite what they had heard that night.

They understood. But even so, they could not forsake everything that had been lost to the flow of time. These hard-boiled elders knew that the young prince had spoken truth, but it was not the truth they had sworn themselves to. To let go would mean letting go of everything that had defined their generation and that scared them.

In the end, they belonged to the past and had chosen to remain there.

Their truth was written with the blood of their loved ones and for many, that made it irrefutable. It was too late for them to change, but that didn't not make them depressed as one would have imagined.

But their children would not. They would venture forth to the future…

No, they celebrated in their hearts. The older generation of Avunians smiled. Their children had taken the prince's words to heart, just as they had done when their king had spoken to them in their time. It was the beginning of something new and different… the coming of a new era.

It was then and there that the older generation finally understood why their king had chosen to adopt that young boy into his family — no, their family.

To wipe the slate clean. To release the East from the chains of its past and guide it to a better, greener place.

As result, the people of the East would henceforth call its youngest prince, the Stainless Prince.

For he — a child of their enemy, born without the sins of his ancestors — would lead the younger generation to a better tomorrow...

And what was this pure-hearted prince doing at the moment? Well…

”Can you not act like that, please? You're a prince now; you can't just behave so...”

”Like what? Like myself? Is that what we're doing now; forcing me to become something fake?”

Unfortunately, Reed's argument did not really hold any sway because of he looked at the moment. Not that he cared. He was enjoying himself and that was all that mattered to him.

Here was the Stainless Prince, the heart of younger generation, in all his glory...…

In a princess dress, enjoying moonberry pie and tea without a care in the world.

”Can't you see I'm in the middle of something important? Tea time is not something to be trifled with, sweetcheeks,” said Reed.

”Yeah! Tea time is special thing! Do you want to join us, big sis Maya?” said Vestel.

”There's an entire pie left, so why did you take mine?! What's your deal, lady!” said Reed in frustration. He wondered why she always ate his food even when there was more than enough for her to get her own.

”Because it was your slice, that's why. Also, if you keeping eating like this, you're going to get fat. Don't think I haven't noticed…”

Reed nervously said, ”I-It was just a couple of slices, there's no need to get ahead of ourselves. I'll be fine...”

”Why don't you go step on a scale and put your money where your mouth is? Come on, prove me wrong and I'll take back what I said.”

”.........” He knew that he couldn't take on that wager, so Reed simply played the mute and drank his tea in silence.

”Don't worry though, I'll get you back into shape in due time… but that's not why I came here. I came to tell you that we'll be leaving soon, so you're going have to finish up tea time soon.”

Reed tilted his head in confusion and said, ”Where? Back to the North? I thought we already hashed things out with Violett and Haydn, though…”

After the Violett and Haydn had explained Reed's new circumstances and the implications it could have on world, they had made him swear to never venture out into the South and the East without their permission. They couldn't afford him entangling himself another empire. That, and his word that he would never interfere or involve himself in anything that might implicate the North.

He was now, whether he liked or not, an important figure that could determine the course of history for tens of millions of people, mortal and chosen alike. If Reed played his cards right, under the wise counsel, he could bring both empires an era of prosperity never before seen.

”Not the North. We— or rather you, have been invited to visit the Holy Church. His Holiness, the Grand Pope — Fernando Alsace, has called for your presence at the Sacred Cathedral…” said Lu'um in an interested and amused tone.