Chapter 1 – Adventure
Radiant Province.
The blue sky was bright, a calm breeze flowed through the Imperial Palace and it's surroundings. The trees were tall and grand, arranged to give an imposing and rich feeling, as the wind caress the leaves, sounds of rustling could be heard, the birds chirping on the braches. It was the harmony and wonder of nature.
The hustle and bustle of the people in and around the Palace somehow created a soft symphony of sounds and liveliness. Messengers, couriers, servants walking in and out of the Palace, flying was forbidden around the Imperial Palace's area so they walked moderately and it seemed like every one was in a hurry. The Palace's inner staff displayed the same 'busyness' the workers outside had yet from all the activities going, it was soft and sound did not surpass a certain level of frequency.
The Imperial Palace itself was magnificent, and that was an understatement. The people were like specks of dust compared to a huge person. Even the mid part of the Palace far exceeded the level of the clouds, the land mass it occupied was the size of half a country, the whole Palace had glowing artistic lines around it, they were beautiful like they were carved by an artist all over the Palace – they were the affinity array lines that served countless purposes ranging from defense, offense, surveillance, communication, teleportation to smaller effects like modifying environments, assisting cultivation, lighting, etc.
Sir Frank, the head of the royal guards, was heading towards the Inner Palace to give a report to his superiors took a moment to observe and admire the affinity array lines surrounding the Palace, they were like drawings, inscriptions as some liked to call it, beautiful but very complex to create.
"Sigh… amazing." Sir Frank sighed. He knew how the affinity array came about and the person that made it. This person was the King.
He remembered five years ago, he was going about his usual routine when suddenly the strongest powerhouses in the empire gathered themselves in the front of the Palace as though something ominous was to come, he quickly informed the guards and soldiers to be ready, not that they would be able to stop whatever could fill the Royal Family of that time with apprehension and fear but at least sacrificing themselves might be able to give whatever it was some trouble or so he thought.
Only to see a young man who seemed to be in his early 20s walk calmly to the Palace. The elders of the empire floating high up in the sky looked down at the young man with trepidation and uncertainty. He could tell their hearts were beating quickly.
Their auras combined darkened the skies, made winds howl and howl, almost like the Imperial Palace area and far off into its surroundings was sick and it seemed to be getting sicker. The young man however might as well have been in a garden, it was like he didn't notice it. He was calm and aloof but Sir Frank as a veteran military officer knew that it was these kind of people that were the most dangerous.
The young man's age could be a disguise. There were several ten thousand year old monsters that liked to don such appearances, but his experience told him it was not so. The unexpected 'guest' had a deep seated vitality that seemed pure, so even if he was not 23 as he looked he seemed a few hundred years old which was just as shocking.
That day, the throne and authority of Radiant Light Empire changed hands and fell into who was beyond doubt the most talented individual on this plane.
Sir Frank shook his head lightly both in amazement and in trying to focus on his present work. Entering the Inner Palace area, he looked upwards apparently trying to peer through the clouds and other obstructions and get a sight of the interior of the King's quarter but he could not, the very array he was admiring was stopping him from doing so. Shaking his head lightly one last time to refocus on his work he headed deeper into the inner area and met with the head of the security division.
He entered the office without knocking, the office was large, there was a long conference table in the middle of the office room with ten seats on each side of the table and one seat each on the two ends of the table. Both the seats and the table were regal. However, on the other end of the room was a simple, organized office desk. The desk chair was occupied by a beautiful woman who looked like she was in her 50s, she continued her work ignoring the bald, thick bearded, muscular old man who just entered her office abruptly.
"Sometimes I wonder what the use of training soldiers to guard the already powerful royal family especially the King, just the number of people coming in and out of here is enough to deter anyone looking for trouble."
"In fact, if anyone or any group dares to find trouble here after knowing the kind of powerful people staying here they should very well be a force the whole bloody plane needs to pay attention to." Sir Frank immediately said upon sitting down
"You of all people know why soldiers like the royal guards are important." The woman, Alma replied
"Sigh….. Five years ago really had an impact on me as a top security personnel, that's all." Sir Frank admitted
"Really?!!, wow, if you're feeling like this I can only imagine what the Head of Security must be feeling, tut, tut I sure hate to be that unlucky fellow." Alma responded with a shocked and pitiful tone. Since he walked into the office it was the first she looked at him
Giving her a stare of disdain for her childish and sarcastic mannerisms, he continued "What I'm saying is being the head of such an integral part of the Palace's security, I felt small, unable to affect anything at all. It was too fast and powerf…"
"Oh my, how sad you are, you must have really been devastated, perhaps you need a hug, a drink or maybe a vacation." Alma couldn't be bothered to hear him complete his words as she interrupted him with faked sympathy, something that didn't last halfway through her words.
"Actually I think I'll take you up on that last offer." Sir Frank suddenly showed a wide smile
Alma glared at him for a while and returned to her work, then she said with some melancholy "Someone once said 'some people can't be regarded with common sense'. I understand what you mean."
"That day it was like nothing concerned us, we were merely too weak to be a involved and the higher-ups thought it to be normal. Spending so many years taking care of the Palace only to see it change hands so fast. It was truly upsetting."
After saying this she seemed to have recovered herself, there was now clarity in her eyes and face "Besides the King has hidden himself for a long while so get back to training your guards"
Sir Frank displayed an incredulous expression. A bad feeling started to rise in Alma's heart as she saw his expression.
"Whatever do you mean boss? I've been handed a vacation" he said with a sly and innocent smile. Before she could speak he was far from the desk and set up a 10m diameter force field around himself, she knew this force field, it was a defensive force field but it could also prevent sound.
"Stop!!" Alma shouted, but it was in vain
A greyish-black circle suddenly appeared in front of him, it was like an open door connecting a faraway space with the space in front of him. He swiftly entered it and it vanished as soon as he entered it.
"Sly old man." Alma cursed as she slammed her palm on the table
King's Quarter.
Two men on black royal clothing were watching every thing that had just happened on an ice screen, right from the time Sir Frank entered the inner area. One was smiling while the other was calm and indifferent.
The smiling one was tall, had a lean physique, he was handsome, his hair was inky black, he seemed carefree. The other, he was the King, he looked 23, there was a calm vitality that seemed to float around him. Clear eyes, short black hair, high nose bridge, thin lips and a exceptional jawline, they all seemed to blend like never before and form a very handsome face. He was tall and proportionately muscular. He was King Aman.
"At our level it's quite fun to spy on weaker people, It teaches what a normal is about, it also provides entertainment." Uncle He said with amusement in his to
"Sure." Aman said uninterestedly
"So, the King finally exits seclusion, huh?" Uncle He said with a joking tone
"Yes." Aman said while still looking forward
"So did you accomplish something?"
Aman nodded. Uncle He smiled then put his hand on Aman's shoulder and softly smiled "Then I'll live the king to his own personal adventures." Aman also smiled and turned to look at Uncle He who met his gaze, smiled even wider and turned around to leave
Aman watched as he left, then something strange happened, looking at Uncle He's receding figure his vision blurred considerably, he blinked turned to face the area in front of him but as he blinked and open his eyes, his vision blurred even further. He was the strongest expert possibly on the entire plane. There was no dust, tears, sickness or poison that could make his vision blurry, so this was beyond anyone's imagination.
By the time he blinked again it was darkness, complete silent darkness. Then he felt a headache, a brain splitting headache after which it disappeared almost instantly and by the time he opened his eyes he was in the body of a twelve year old.
Surprised by what just happened, he surveyed the room he was in with deep caution. His expression returned to calmness and he said to himself
"Hmm, so it happened after all….. Interesting"