ARC: THE ENTER MAGICAL STEEL
7 YEARS LATER
Now Kharim has been living in the palace with Shion for 7 years. During these 7 years, they have shared many memories together. In Shion's room, photos of Shion with Kharim are clearly displayed in frames throughout the room. Over these 7 years, both Shion and Kharim have also changed. Starting with Kharim, his blond hair has grown slightly long, reaching his shoulders, and his body posture is larger than it was 7 years ago. As for Shion, his body posture is almost at the level of an adult, but slightly smaller compared to Kharim, and his black hair is longer than it was when he was a child.
And now, at night in Shion's room, Kharim and Shion are fast asleep. During their growth in 7 years, they become teenagers. Then on the wall of their room there was writing;
"PREPARING TO ENTER MAGICAL STEEL."
Morning arrived by showing the brightness of their bedroom window. Kharim woke up, he was on the top bed, while Shion was on the bottom. Kharim then looked down at the bed and Shion was still sleeping. Half-conscious, Kharim looked toward the window.
Kharim:"(yawning) Hhoaahh... It's morning already..."
*Kharim got up from his bed and immediately opened the window in the morning. Not long after Kharim opened the window, Shion also woke up, still sleepy seeing Kharim walking out of the room*
Shion:"Hey... Where are you going, brother?"
Kharim:"(turning to look at Shion) Did you forget what day it is huh?"
Shion:"(thinking while still sleepy) Eeee? Uuhh... Monday?, or Sunday?"
Kharim:"It's Monday, idiot."
Shion:"(surprised) Then?"
Kharim:"(sighing) This is the first day of orientation to enter Magical Steel, did you forget something this important? So you have to wake up early now, otherwise you will always be late. Remember, your childhood will end, so get used to discipline."
Shion, who heard Kharim's words, was immediately shocked until his eyes opened wide. Then his eyes opened again seeing Kharim while saying:
"What...!!, Magical Steel school orientation...!! Why didn't you say?!"
*Shion immediately got up from his bed and immediately took a towel to the bathroom. Kharim, seeing Shion, was also shocked, and he immediately ran to stop Shion. Shion then stopped running*
Kharim:"Hey, where are you going?"
Shion:"(panicking) Watch out, brother!, I want to shower. Later I will be late."
Kharim:"Not that easy, I will shower first."
Shion:"Hhaah?!, how can that be! I took the towel first, so I will shower first."
Kharim:"(taking the towel from Shion) Now I hold the towel!"
*Shion was shocked, the towel she was holding had been taken by Kharim*
Kharim: "(while running to the bathroom) Then, see you."
Shion:"Hey, that's not possible!!"
Shion ran after Kharim. Then Shion immediately took back her towel. After succeeding, Shion laughed mischievously and posed teasingly while saying:
"Hhahaha... Now who holds the towel?"
*Kharim did not accept it. Then Kharim took back the towel that Shion held. Shion also did not accept it and held onto her towel. And they both fought over the towel to enter the bathroom first*
Shion:"EEeaeghh...!! I will be the one who gets the towel first...!!"
Kharim:"I woke up first, idiot!, so I have the right to shower first!"
Shion:"(pulling harder) I don't care about that!, the point is who gets it first!"
Kharim:"(pulling harder too) Then fine, I won't open the window!"
While they continued to fight over the towel while muttering. Outside their room, the figure of an assistant or palace servant heard the noise from their room. The woman dressed as a servant, hearing that, spoke from outside the room.
The servant:"Mr. Shion, Mr. Kharim. Quickly get ready and do not be too noisy."
*However, they kept being noisy, fighting over the towel until their chatter reached the servant*
Shion:"Come on, idiot!, later we'll be late. Give me the towel!"
Kharim:"Nooo…!!"
Shion:"Why are you giving in, brother?!"
Kharim:"I'm tired of giving in to you!"
*The servant kept saying the same thing, again, they did not heed the assistant's words*
Shion:"You are cheating, brother!, I got the towel first!!"
Kharim:"But I was first to wake up, I also woke you up. I should be first to shower! Don't you realize HAH?!"
*The servant's expression became unhappy as she continued hearing their commotion*
Kharim:"Just give it, Shion!!"
Shion:"No…! Later I will fall asleep again!!"
Kharim:"Then what about me?!"
Shion:"Aaahhggh…!!! Anyway, whoever gets the towel first showers first!"
Kharim:"No! Whoever wakes up first showers first!"
Because she ran out of patience, the servant became angry and opened their bedroom door by kicking it so hard. That made Shion and Kharim, who were pulling the towel from each other, now shocked and hugging each other. Moreover, they started to be afraid seeing the servant angry. Then the female servant entered their room with an angry face and spoke in an angry tone.
The servant:"How many times have I said?! DO NOT BE NOISY IN THE MORNING!!! Why are you so noisy this time?!"
Shion:"(releasing the hug from Kharim) B…Brother snatched my towel!"
Kharim:"(looking at Shion) Because you grabbed the towel right away, even though I was first to wake up, even though I wanted to get it first."
Shion:"But in the end I also got the towel."
Kharim:"What did you say?!"
Shion: "What?! It is true! So I should shower first…!"
Shion said, continuing to pull back his towel strongly. Kharim, surprised, also pulled back his towel. And the two of them started pulling the towel from each other again in a comical way. The assistant watched them, her anger rising. Then the assistant firmly said:
"ENOUGH…!!"
*Annoyed, the assistant pinched both of their ears so hard. Kharim and Shion felt pain from the pinching, even standing on tiptoe because their ears were pulled as well*
The servant:"CAN YOU STOP FIGHTING LIKE THIS NOW?!"
Shion:"Ouchh… It hurts…! Y-Yes, I will stop!"
Kharim:"Y-Yeah…! Me too…!"
*As the servant continued pinching their ears, her anger slowly subsided. Finally, the servant released her grip from Shion and Kharim's ears. They immediately rubbed their red ears*
Shion:"Euugh… Aunty VIRA, pinching hurts so much…!"
Vira: "That's why you shouldn't make a fuss! You're so noisy over just a towel. Now, if you don't want to get pinched again, go shower immediately. (shouting) NOW!!"
*Shion & Kharim: "(surprised and scared) O-okay!"*
Shion grabbed his towel and immediately went to the bathroom. Kharim was surprised and could only shake his head at Vira while giving a small smile. Vira, still angry, seeing Kharim standing there, said:
"(still annoyed) Why aren't you showering too?!"
Kharim:"(surprised and looking at Vira) Eeh, me? Isn't Shion using the towel to shower?"
Vira:"(handing a towel to Kharim) Here's a towel. SO HURRY UP AND SHOWER!! (firmly)"
Kharim:"(surprised) Y-Yes."
Quickly, Kharim headed to the bathroom, saying:
"Hey, open the door quickly!"
Shion:"Huh?! What now!"
Kharim:"Just open the door already!"
*Seeing the two of them enter the bathroom, Vira, who had been angry at first, began smiling happily*
In short, the day grew brighter. After finishing their bath and getting dressed, they headed to the dining table to eat. Orion, Shion, and Kharim sat at the table while the royal servants prepared their food. Then they ate their meals very deliciously. In between their eating, King Orion watched them eat. Smiling, King Orion spoke to them.
Orion: "Soon you will enter Magical Stell. So you must become better fighters in order to protect the weak people."
Shion:"(smiling happily) Hihihihi… Of course I will be like Dad."
Kharim:"You act like a child."
King Orion:"(silent again, watching them eat) Magical Steel is located in the city of SHAHRAD, so you will likely take longer to get there."
Kharim:"Shahrad isn't the capital of R.O.E, right, Dad?"
King Orion:"Yes, correct. You and Shion will go there. But don't worry, from the city of AIRSTELEC to the city of Shahrad isn't too far. It will take about 10-13 days at most."
Shion:"(surprised) Hah?! That's far!"
King Orion:"What can you do? The location of Magical Steel is indeed there."
Shion: "(silent for a moment, looking at the remaining food). (smiling broadly) It doesn't matter! As long as Shion can become King, that is not a difficult challenge. (standing with determination) Shion will learn the meaning of power to lead this country!!"
Kharim:"Hhhaa… you (Shion looks at him). Big dreams are not always beautiful when you pursue them. Even if it weren't for your strong goal, you wouldn't be able to become a King. (taking his last bite)"
Shion: "(looking at Kharim unhappily) Heh, what's wrong with that? Is it wrong? It's okay to want to become anyone, as long as that dream does not lead to something bad. Why are you provoking me?!"
Kharim:"There is nothing wrong with your goal, in fact, it is a good goal. But I just need to tell someone like you, who cannot yet see the world from more than one perspective. This world has many dynamics. If you want to achieve your dream, you just need to go through dynamics whose success is uncertain. Inside there, you will face doubt, despair, weakness, helplessness, and most terrifying of all, giving up."
Shion:"(silent for a moment, reflecting) You are right, Brother. I cannot yet see this world from more than one perspective. But no matter how this world is, it will never kill my dream!"
King Orion:"Good, Shion! That spirit is what I want to see from you!"
Shion:"(looking at Kharim) Now I ask you, Brother, what do you want to pursue in your life?"
Kharim:"(looking ahead) Nothing. There is nothing I want to pursue in life except to be your companion when you become King. So my dream depends on how successful you are. When that time comes, I want to be with you; that is my promise to you for 7 years."
*After that, Kharim took his plate, which was finished, and went to place it in the sink. Meanwhile, Shion remained silent, stunned by Kharim's words. After Kharim washed his plate, he saw Shion still standing*
Kharim:"You're still standing? Hurry, school won't wait for us if we're late."
Shion:"(realizing and looking at Kharim) Just a little patience."
With the last bite of food on his plate, Shion took his plate to the kitchen and washed it. Then Kharim took a drink for a moment. After that, Shion spoke to his father. King Orion had been smiling while watching them both until Shion finished washing his plate and returned to the dining table to drink. Then Shion looked at King Orion.
Shion: "Hurry, Dad…"
King Orion: "You two go ahead. I am still eating. I will wait in front."
Kharim: "Alright. Let's go, Shion."
Shion: "(smiles happily) Yes...!"
*The two of them left King Orion, who was still eating*
In short, all the palace servants had gathered in the front yard of the palace, including Vira. Shion and Kharim were ready to go to Magical Steel. Their father watched the moments before they left happily as the coachman carried Shion and Kharim's belongings to the carriage. After finishing, the coachman approached King Orion and the others.
Coachman: "Everything is ready, Prince Shion, Mr. Kharim."
After that, Kharim looked at the palace, which was big and so bright with orange colors in the cool and calm morning. Vira, standing in front of him, asked Kharim:
Vira:"Why, Kharim?"
Kharim:"(slightly bowing while slightly smiling too) It's okay. I just didn't expect to be here for so many years. And now I have to go to a new life with Shion. This is very… thrilling."
Vira and King Orion looked at each other before they both looked back at Kharim with a faint smile. Meanwhile, Shion nudged Kharim's shoulder with his arm, smiling, and said:
"Overreacting, aren't you, Brother, as if you'll never return."
*King Orion just observed them*
King Orion:"It's time for you to go now…"
*With that farewell, Shion cried with a funny expression*
Shion: "HWaaahh… Finally, parting…!"
Kharim:"Stop that, it's ticklish, Shion. You're overreacting too!"
*After Shion finished crying jokingly, King Orion held both of their shoulders. They both looked at King Orion*
King Orion: "Listen carefully, Shion, Kharim."
*They both now appeared more serious as they listened to King Orion's advice*
King Orion:"Kharim, please always take care of Shion. Please be close to each other, no matter how the world tests you. Because whatever happens, you two are brothers for 7 years here. And for me, I already consider you truly as family for Sibalih."
Kharim:"Don't worry, Father. I will protect Shion even if we are separated. Because I have a life goal, which is to be Shion's companion when Shion becomes King of this country!"
King Orion:"(smiling more) After this, I will truly let you two go. If you say that, Kharim, then I trust you."
When Kharim and King Orion spoke seriously, it made Shion restless, saying:
"Hhhaahh… How long is this farewell speech going to be?"
King Orion:"(looking at Shion) Now it's your turn, Shion."
Shion:"Eh? Shion?"
King Orion:"Listen, Shion. No matter what, never give up on becoming King. If you both can face this world, fight and rise, both of you. Because if you are together, this annoying world will be in your hands, and you will create a new order, and something different. No one can defeat you two if you are united. Maybe this sounds excessive, but… don't let the world separate you."
*Hearing King Orion's words, they both were amazed. Shion nodded slightly, then smiled at King Orion. But Shion also spoke with his strong determination*
Shion:"Heeh…? Dad, your words are very profound. Don't worry, we will both be fine. And perhaps someday, we will definitely lead R.O.E together, for the influence on the world."
King Orion:"(silent again with a wide smile). Then I consider you both understand."
*In short, Shion and Kharim left the palace while waving their hands to everyone. And the others waved back. After Shion and Kharim had gone, King Orion spoke to Vira*
King Orion:"You have taken care of them for 7 years. Do you think they will become good and strong Fighters?"
Vira:"(silent, smiling briefly). Of course. I have regarded them as my own children because I always took care of them. Especially Prince Shion has a brother. Even though not a biological brother, it makes me feel relieved because there is someone looking after Shion, who is somewhat careless.
Judging from Shion's behavior, his thinking is still childish, and it is still difficult for him to be calm because he is very active. So with Kharim's presence, I think Shion will be better."
Orion, hearing Vira's words, chuckled briefly, then said:
"You really are just like his mother. I don't even know the details of Shion's character and personality."
Vira:"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty, I am only doing my duty."
King Orion:"Yes. And I thank you for taking care of them like your own children."
Vira remained silent, continuing to smile at King Orion. Now, after 7 years of Kharim living with Shion in the palace, he had gone through many memories living with Shion. And now Shion was leaving for Magical Steel together with Kharim to start a new journey.
Time was approaching noon. After Kharim and Shion had left the palace, King Orion sat in his quiet room. At that moment, King Orion gazed out the window with a relaxed smile. Then, King Orion turned his chair to face the window. He was still smiling as he looked at a photo of a woman whose appearance was unclear. While continuing to smile, King Orion picked up the photo to look at it closely.
King Orion:"It's been seven years… yes. I'm sure she's doing fine, no need to worry about her. Besides, Shion has an ace that can protect him. Hhhaahh… Shion is quite lucky."
Not long after, a man knocked on his door, and someone outside said:
"Excuse me, Your Majesty."
King Orion: "Come in."
Shortly after, a man, whose face was not shown, appeared. He walked toward King Orion. King Orion placed the photo back on his desk and said:
"What is the matter?"
The man:"I was waiting for your orders last night, Your Majesty."
King Orion:"Oh, last night. (smiling cheerfully) Hahahah… I thought there was some problem. Don't act too quickly, it's still too soon. You only move when I give the order. Understood?"
The man:"Understood. Then I should return. Excuse me."
*Just as the man turned around and walked a few steps, King Orion's words were heard*
King Orion:"Wait."
The man:"(stops and turns around) Yes, Your Majesty?"
King Orion:"When will they return to the palace? They love making diplomacy, but act as they please without my consent. I don't like it."
*King Orion said with a serious and rather sharp expression*
The man:"(silent for a moment) The entire Sibalih family is heading here, Your Majesty. They will return to the palace."
King Orion:"I see, alright… (smiling cheerfully) Very well, you may go. Chahaha… I don't really care about that."
The man:"Ahh… Y-Yes. Then I take my leave."
*The man truly left, leaving King Orion alone in his room. After the man departed, his expression returned to being serious and rather sharp*