Two Months Deadline

Stepping through the portal, Khali looked with wide eyes as she set them to the entryway to the Embassy. The hustle and bustle of the habitants getting missions, turning theirs in and buying new wears overwhelmed her with the culture shock of having grown in a small village of ten people to something this grand. As she gaped at the goings on, her father's expression was not so different.

"Welcome back." Leo smirked as Will walked through to the other side. Will embraced his best friend lightly before holding him aside.

"I'm still not back. I just have something else that I have to do," He gestured over to Ralph and Khali. "And they need to be shown around. The young one, Khali is a light aura user. She can help Bianca, so make sure to set up a suitable living quarters and salary for her and her father." Will turned to leave, but Leo put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hold up," He turned him around and looked him in the eye. "I get that your girlfriend is lost, but it's been a month. I've been in charge of Ember alongside your uncle for the better part of a year now."

"I never placed that responsibility on you." Will said simply. "I don't hold you here. If you want to go somewhere, just go."

"Then tell me where we're going."

"Excuse me?" Will raised an eyebrow.

"I've been your advisor for a better part of two years now, but I haven't done any advising." Leo smiled. "I think I'm about due to do something within the capacity of advisor, don't you?"

"If you really have to tag along, I'm going to Ebonhart."

"It's been two months already, hasn't it."

"I need to see if the King has chosen a proper bloodline for the throne, and if not, I need to see if he's changed the kingdom for the better or if I need to make the change myself." Will set off once more to the exit.

"Then let me set up living quarters first for these two, then I'll come with. Just wait an hour." Leo rushed over to Ralph and placed a hand on his shoulder, leading him to the reception hall.

Will watched his best friend as he walked away with Ralph and his daughter. He smiled slightly when he thought of the man's name once more. Soon, there might be a legendary hero named Ralph who backed down from no challenge. If he had enough humor left to muster, he would probably have cracked up, but as it was, he couldn't summon enough enthusiasm.

He thought of Alex's sister Lucy. She was only a little less than a year older than Khali. He hoped maybe they would become friends. Lucy was getting a pretty good handle on her own water affinity. If she was able to help Khali with proper control, they might be able to team up for missions later on.

Will waited on one of the couches in the lounge. He sighed as he sank into the cushions, it had been too long since he sat on something soft.

He had thought long and hard on how he would confront his father. Even with everything going on, he still had to do right by the kingdom. If Maya were around. she would still expect him to keep his word. If he was to completely go against what he had said, all because of how he felt about her, that would shame her memory.

"Do us all a favor," Jonathan said as he sat down next to Will.

"Nice to see you too, dad." Will raised an eyebrow. "Would it kill you to say hi first before questioning how I'm going to handle a kingdom changing decision?"

"I'm serious, Will. This decision isn't just going to impact the line of succession, but also the relations between the kingdom and the monarchy. If you don't tread lightly, you might spark a civil war within the city."

"I already know that." he looked his dad straight in the eye. Even though it was a huge decision, he stayed calm. If he faltered on this one decision, it would not only make the trust in him waver by all those in Ebonhart, but also send more supporters to his doppelganger. "I'm going to see what my father has done in the time I've given him. If he has done enough, then maybe I won't have to do anything. Within the last two months, our sales have restored the coffers within his kingdom. If he's lowered the taxes, and increased wage.." Will trailed off slightly.

"Change can't happen overnight."

"No," Will smirked as he saw Leo walking back to them. "But hopefully it could happen within two months."