"Ugh~..." Imuru tiredly looked up to the sky, glad for this to all be over.
In astonishment the guards and Urin o' observed this all. Completely taken aback by the display of fear that they just witnessed.
"He can control it now?" Urin o' mused, able to recall a brief part of conversation between Imuru and the consciousness of the Celestial Lake that was possessing his body.
Narrowing his eyes, Urin o' leapt down, and headed to Imuru. Looking back, Imuru pondered curiously as he approached.
Stopping a couple meters, Urin o' stared deep into Imuru's eyes. "I'll cut to chance. I have an idea how you did that, but my memories are fuzzy. So how? How exactly can you do that? Calm it?"
Imuru scratched the back of his, staring off casually, chuckling nervously. "We just talked."
"Just talked?" Urin o' mumbled a tingle of disbelief shivering in his spin, though his heart and mind said otherwise. "Sorry in advance…" He raised his hands briefly, before putting them down and resting one on his hip. "But I seem to remember you punching me in the face… Pretty vividly."
"Uck!" Imuru shivered. "I-I… I didn't mean to hurt you. It started off on the bad foot… but I promise I pleaded for a conversation first off."
"Nah." Urin o' raised his hand for a second. "Don't worry about it man." He crossed his arms. "Listen, I'm the champion warrior, the one responsible for ensuring the safety of my people… Yet pathetically I failed at that… The one thing I was meant to do."
"Well I can promise you this, it won't be an issue any longer," Imuru said confidently.
"I hope you know you all greatly appreciate you. Speaking of which, I never got your name? I'm Urin o'," Urin o' said.
"Uh. I'm Imuru. Nice to meet you Urin o'," Imuru said, stretching out a hand.
Stepping up, Urin accepted Imuru's hand. "Nice to meet you too. Uh. Another thing, did someone just send you here?"
"You can thank your princess," Imuru said.
"Princess Ori?" Urin o' thought surprised.
"What do you guys plan to do from now on? the Lake won't bother you anymore," Imuru said.
Urin o' stared at the Lake, not quite sure himself. "I'm unsure… That decision will be up to your majesties. I suppose we're all weary of this…"
"Yeah, he does have a point," Imuru thought, an anxious smile on his face.
"But, from what I can see, we don't have much to worry about…" Urin o' looked up at Imuru and smiled. "With you in charge of course."
The duo returned back to the top, the guards all observed Imuru with eyes of awe, but with suspicion.
Getting back to the castle, that's where Urin o' left him off. Where the King and Queen were awaiting his return. Guards stationed at each side.
"Please, we're dying to continue our conversation," King Alistaar remarked.
Imuru didn't wait for a moment, stepping up to the castle doors, giving two guards from each side a swift glance.
"Already lively," Imuru mused. "Glad it seemed to be going back to normal."
Walking together with the king and Queen for a few minutes, they came across a door. A man opened the door from the inside, bowing and inviting them in.
The grand dining hall, a cavernous space dominated by a long table, felt opulent and strangely tense. The king had his hands clamped firmly on Imuru's shoulder steering the bewildered young man towards a chair.
"Now, now, now we insist," The Alistaar said, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
"Please allow us to show you our appreciation," Queen Lara said, sneaking up on his left, her voice a melodic counterpoint. "We have much to discuss."
King Alistaar dropped his own throne-like chair. "Best to begin as soon as possible."
Queen Lara took her own seat with polite grace. She gestured for a servant to begin serving. "Now, Imuru, you simply must try the honey-glazed moon-root... It's from our own gardens. A delicate flavour, quite unlike the harsh seasoning my husband seems to prefer on everything." She shot a look at the king's plate, which was already piled high with fury-boar, dripping with a dark, pungent gravy.
Trapped between them, Imuru looked down at his own plate, rapidly becoming a contested borderland of clashing culinary philosophies. A slab of the king's boar on one side, a delicate arrangement of the Queens glazed vegetables.
"As they say, everyone has different tastes," Imuru thought looking up at them. "Some are very different."
King Alistaar sighed, and cleared his throat. "We've said it before, but I can't tell you enough how much we appreciate what you did. In fact, we're willing to comply with any request you may have, please, do not be afraid."
"Re-quest~..." Imuru managed to muffle out through chewing with the fork in his mouth. He put the fork down, and chewed as he contemplated Alistaar's words.
There wasn't anything in particular he wanted, with his objective more or less complete… Except… "Right… Of course, them," Imuru thought begrudgingly, recalling the fact he still had the High Council to deal with.
"Question. Are you familiar with the High Council?" Imuru inquired.
The King and Queen shot wide eyed glances at each other. "Hardly. I suspect you mean the ones from Collon's Village…" King Alistaar said.
"Oh, my, how far they've fallen," Queen Lara murmured, resting a hand over his mouth, a look of pity in her eyes. "If you're inquiring about them, then I suppose they've been causing you trouble?"
Imuru gave a swift simple nod. "Pretty much. But I assure you it won't be for long," He said confidently. "You know I used a transportation thingy to get here, could that be per say built in another village?"
"From scratch? Yes, quite easily. We've long built many such platforms for easier transportation and trade from location to another, though it has limited range. If this is your request we'll send some of our best to get this done," King Alistaar replied.
"Then, it's a done deal." Imuru thought for a few seconds. "Hm… I think that's about it." A small smile formed on his face.
"Really? That is all? Well, if you insist," King Alistaar finally accepted. "Remember if there is anything else we can do for you please do not hesitate to let us know."
Imuru got up from his chair, giving a respectable bow. The King and Queen stood up from their seats to do the same.
"In regards to the High Council issue, I'll be returning the Sacred Forest Capital. Once I'm there I want the transportation platform to shut down…" Imuru paused momentarily. "Give me about 10 minutes."
The King and Queen instinctively tensed up, sensing something might be afoot. "About our daughter and my father?" King Alistaar inquired.
"I'm sorry, please just bear with me for a bit longer. I promise you'll see them soon, but if this issue isn't solved, I have a feeling it's gonna come back to bite us," Imuru compassionately pleaded.
Locking eyes with Alistaar, the King sighed. "Very well. We'll ensure that all transportation platforms are offline. First take us to the one you used to get here."
With haste, the King and Queen, guarded by a few Inconspicuous men, were led by Imuru to the tower where he first arrived. Stopping in the street, everyone around gathered silently, observing Imuru.
"This one?" The King said aloud, realizing which it was. "The only connecting way to the Sacred Forest Capital. Wasn't used often from what I remember."
Going inside, Urin o' observed the surrounding area from a nearby roof. Another elf with snow white came beside him, a blue, golden lined patterned bow in hand. "So that's him?"
"Yeah," Urin o' replied.
"No one can believe it… The people are grateful but wary. Just what is he?" The elf asked, hoping for some answers.
"I don't know. But for him to possess such strength we can theorise," Urin o' replied, the final memories of Imuru punching him flashing before his very eyes, forcing him to shut them to calm and clear his mind of the memory even if for only a few minutes.
At the top, Imuru let out a breath, stepping back up onto the platform. Two lightly dressed, long snow white hair elves walked to the opposite sides of the platform, they stretched their arms out, as the transportation sigils came to life in a breathtaking glow.
"10 minutes. After you're gone, that's how long it'll take before this platform is usable again, be careful," King Alistaar said, giving him a farewell nod.
"We await your return," Queen Lara shouted, the platform releasing a power outwards air pressure, until Imuru vanished in the flash of light and final heavy push of air.