Days Drawing Near

After that moment, Christa and Titania left as the man went on his way, somewhere out and far from the forest.

"That's all the information I have gathered talking to him, it seems that he condems King Castile as an evil and cruel ruler, same as the princess he mentioned."

Christa concludes her story of what happened back in the forest, where she and Titania drove the wood cutters and the armored men away. Shortly after, talking about the king who is deemed to be someone that is evil and cruel, Mitou gives almost the same opinion to what the man said.

"King Castile, huh? It wouldn't surprise me if someone bad mouthed him on his back or hated him, I mean he's a ruthless and powerful king that rules one of the countries that dominated the decade war from a long time ago."

The words "Ruthless" and "Powerful" got completely stuck in Christa's head, it piques her curiousity as she began contemplating if the king is someone who is unbelievably strong that could give her a fight, a fight where she'll be forced to use her powers.

For the past month, a lot has happened since she moved to the kingdom, Adventuring in a dungeon with a new found companion, saving a town from bandits, helping a certain friend from saving his mother, meeting her sister who she thought never existed, and fighting odd creatures that she had never seen before. But even after everything that happened, Christa felt like she's not doing something she was supposed to do, a purpose, as if she forgot what it was.

However, during those times, times where she had to use her sword made out of wood, her fist that is clad with her blazing flames, an inescapable feeling of excitement burns behind her smile like a raging fire.

Without a doubt, fighting is what drives her to go forward, fighting is what gives her a purpose.

"Ruthless, powerful, evil... Just who is King Castile? Is he someone crazy strong?!"

Though it was not evident from the curious look on her face, her exhilarating voice says otherwise. That the same feeling has started surging inside her like a small ball of flame that is steadily growing bigger and bigger until it bursts as she waits for Mitou's answer.

"Y-you seem to be a bit interested about him, Christa..." Said, Mitou with a bewildered reaction.

"A bit interested...?" Aina whispered to herself as she sits alongside Christa with the same reaction as the mayor expresses.

"Anyway, King Castile was said to not been born of royal blood, he was only one of the many unit commanders in the Kingdom of Kruule. However despite being only a unit commander of a small group, he posses great knowledge in the battlefield, everytime they were sent to raid a demon's lair or some dungeons, his group would be the only one returning with everyone being alive. Chivalry, brain, strength, and charisma, he's got it all. And on top of that, he also has great looks. It's also said that every woman who sees him began singing his name. Without a doubt he's an image of a perfect knight made real. And that perfect knight eventually captured the princess' heart who later became the queen of Kruule."

"So, is he strong? Like literally strong?"

"Well, I guess you could say that..."

"Oh... so that's the King of Kruule, huh... In my perspective, he's kinda insane." Said, Christa.

It may sound like she was impressed about how the King of Kruule was back in the day of his youth, but in her mind, she only cares about hearing that Castile was someone that is remarked to be a strong King. Mitou looks at her thinking if she understood how strong Castile is.

"By the way, you sure know quite a lot about him yourself, mayor." Christa continued after pausing for a bit.

"Well, my Mother came from Kruule. She used to tell me stories of the country and how it was used to be a country brimming with peace and happiness. And how a glorious knight captured the princess' heart."

"Seriously? I didn't know that..." Aina responded.

"My Mother, my Father and I only knew that she's from Kruule until now. Back in the day during the war, if you ever mentioned that you came from that country, people will immediately point their weapons or their magic at you, all out of fear."

"Seriously? Why?" Aina asks.

"Well, you kids probably didn't know, but Kruule was the country that is feared by many during the war. So it's only natural that people who sees or met a person from Kruule will immediately panic, thinking that they're being invaded by Kruule.

Suddenly, Christa cuts in. "Hey, I think I've heard about this war that happened in the past a lot now. Did you know what actually happened? I mean how it all started?"

"I only know rumors about it but, Kruule was part of the decade war just like Reilaea back in those days. And between all those countries that were involved in the war, Kruule and Reilaea were the ones who are standing out, the two countries that are always in everyone's attention, thanks to their strength in military might and unpredictable tactics."

Mitou continues as she shares her wisdom to the two who's inside her house, telling a past that happened during the war.

"The decade war, a war that severs the connection between humans and other races, the war that started from the death of 2 people from 2 different races, a human and an elf... And a war that started the reign of a cruel, powerful, evil king, Castile Cruelle."

"You really got those keen ears, Mayor Mitou."

Mitou looks down and takes the cup of tea sitting on top of the table in front of her, she then takes a sip.

Continuing Mitou, the war was said to have started because of the death of 2 people from 2 different races. Incidentally one of them was the late queen of Kruule, Castile's late wife. They said that Castile saw the lifeless body of the queen lying in front of an elf with his own two eyes.

"Rage and hatred, Castile killed the elf he found standing in front of his wife's corpse without hesitation. Right after, he brought the head of the elf in the elven country. Where he blamed them for the death of his wife. At that moment, the man who referred to as the perfect knight turned insane at the death of his queen, and declared war... And the decade war began."

"Eh... So it all started from the death of his wife..." Said, Aina.

"What a tragic twist from the so called Perfect Knight." Christa immediately followed. "But, if the elven country was the only country he blamed for her death, then how did the other countries got involved in the war?"

After hearing Christa's question, Mitou regretfully replied.

"Sorry, that's all I heard from the people gossiping about it back then..."

Mitou puts her fingers around her chin, and her minds slowly goes deep in her thoughts. Shortly after, she remembered Christa mentioning in her story a while ago that she met and know the Prince of Reilaea, Edle. With that, she speaks once again with enthusiasm, giving Christa the idea who might know a lot about what happened in the war.

"That's right! You know Edle, right? The prince."

"Oh, right, I do. Why you ask, mayor?" Asked, Christa as she turns her head down on her left, seemingly confused on the Mayor's sudden question.

"He's the son of the former knight in Reilaea and is now the queen and the new wife of Castile, Elena Q. Reilaea. You said you're going to talk to Edle about Castile, right? Then if you want to know more about what happened a long time ago, then he probably knows a lot."

"Oh..." Christa gave an intrigued reply as he realized that it was indeed a good idea.

"Hey, I just realized why are rulers always was a former knight?" Aina cuts in.

"You don't have to dig in more in that detail, right?"

After Mitou's response to Aina, Christa stands up from the sofa she and her sister was sitting. Having her mind set onto going back to the Kingdom, she speaks.

"Alright. I'll make sure that I get to talk with Edle about Castile and the rest once I get back in the kingdom. Now that there's nothing much talk now, I think it's time..."

Aina and Mitou suddenly looked confused puzzled as Christa speaks.

"...It's time to go and start the party! There's no way I'm going back without experiencing this boar meat goods!"

It was then the two realized it was the day that it will be celebrating the time where Eisvel was saved from the plague and the day where Mitou is having his 30th birthday.

Aina and Mitou shakes off what they talked about as they agreed to the girl standing in front of them.

"You're right. I almost forgot about the celebration, we should go and join the others preparing everything."

"Yeah! Just for this day, let's go have some fun together!"

Christa, Aina and Mitou all agreed, and the three ladies went on and join the others as they get everything prepared.

The night finally hits Eisvel, the decorations were all set, the tables under a cotton table linen were ready as well as the chairs placed around them. Young ones, adults, some takes their seat while the others were standing by around the area chattering with a warm smile on their faces, giving a even more lively athmosphere than ever. The food that is cooked superbly is served to the people waiting eagerly in front of the tables.

But before everything gets started, before the people who are in position to cast their magic with their palm of their hands are facing upward, before the people who seemed to be trying their best not to get ahead of themselves from the delicious dishes in front of them.

The Mayor of Eisvel Village, Mitou, took everyone's attention as she face towards all the villagers gathered around and are waiting to hear her message.

Mitou tries to remove the dirt from her casual light brown lace up long sleeves and clears her throat before she speaks.

"Everyone..."

But before she could continue, one of the villagers suddenly spoke and argued why she was wearing her casual dress instead of the one frill and cute pure white dress that the other ladies suggested for her to wear on the occasion. The mayor immediately replied.

"Sorry, I'm old enough to not wear something like that anymore."

"But that'll make you pretty and even more ladylike than what you are now."

"Shut up! Let me speak!"

The people laughed at the background after bantering with Mitou, even Christa and Aina joined the crowd.

She looks at her clothes once again as if to realize that she did just wore a simple clothing, a dark green lace up long sleeves, with a brown leather pants, together with her light brown hair. She shakes her head off to forget about the clothes and to actually begin her message.

"Alright. Everyone, it's been another year since the day our village was saved by a great spell caster. 8 years to be exact. Along with the day I celebrate my 30 year old celebration. A lot happened as time went by, there are easy times and some hard times. There's gleeful days and sad days. But together, we went through it all without a sweat, we stayed strong together. If not for those people who left us, and the person that saved us, we wouldn't be who we are, we wouldn't be here standing tall as we move forward to see what the future lies ahead for everyone, for the village."

"And that is why, I want to give this day not just for me, but for the people who are watching us from above, and the great savior of Eisvel."

The villagers gave her a round of applause from her speech. Right after that moment... The mayor who looked composed just a second ago suddenly transformed.

"Alright! Everyone, if everything is set, let's get wild!"

The crowd began cheering as the others casts their magic that dances through dark skies before it exploded like fireworks. And the party finally began.

.

.

.

A brand new day comes, the day that everyone in Reilaea have been waiting, the celebration for the prince's birthday.

Meanwhile, standing idly, Edle watches the scenery of the country from one of the balconies of the palace that is standing at the center of the country. Before long, Kaien enters the balcony where Edle was standing alone, he then joins the prince in enjoying the scenery of the kingdom.

"It's finally here, huh?"

"Yes. It is."