Chapter 9 - Same Old Drama

Liss growled angrily as she made her way to the restaurant. The girl with Nelex stood up tensed. Nelex chose to remain in his seat. He continued to eat as if nothing was happening.

Liss violently kicked the table into two, and the food spilled everywhere. Nelex ate what was left of it off his fork and tapped on his lips with his napkin. The restaurant owner heard the noise outside.

"You just broke one of my good tables! You are going to have to pay for tha..." Liss slapped the owner in the face with a chair.

At that point Nelex got up and the frightened girl hid behind him. Light and Sharaina rushed to stop Liss from doing any more damage. Waitresses scattered in panic leaving their boss semi-conscious on the ground with his tongue out. Liss glared at the girl's hands squeezing Nelex hands.

"What gives you the right to touch my man, bitch?" Liss rudely asked her.

"He told me that you two broke up!" She screamed.

"Yes, we did break up. I don't even know why she is doing this." Nelex casually said with a smirk across his face and hands in his pockets.

Liss angrily pointed at him. "We never broke up! You are still mine! No one can have you but me!" she screamed at him.

"You made it very clear that you never want to see my face again." Nelex waved his eyebrows up and down as he reminded Liss.

Liss scoffed, "Oh, shut up Nelex. You and I have been together for five years. You should know by now that I can be a delusional bitch. I can also be a murdering psycho so you better tell that bitch to get her hands off of you!"

"Liss, enough of this already." Sharaina spoke up and stood in between Liss and Nelex.

Light escorted the trembling girl out of the restaurant. When she was safe, he returned to help Sharaina cool Liss down. He found Sharaina holding Liss back.

"Sharaina, I'm cool now. Please let me go." Liss begged of Sharaina.

Sharaina couldn't argue with the sincerity in Liss' eyes, and she let go of her hand. Liss went to Nelex and looked up to him with teary eyes.

"Do you really hate me so much that you would replace me hours after our break up?" She asked him. Her voice was low and sad.

Nelex pulled her closer by her waist. "You know that I can never hate you baby doll."

Nelex planted a kiss on her lips and Liss kissed him back. Sharaina rolled her eyes and dashed out of the restaurant. Light followed her out astonished. Sharaina was walking so fast that he had to jog in order to catch up with her.

"Sharaina I am so confused." Light said when he caught up with Sharaina.

"I too, used to get confused five years ago." Sharaina replied unamused.

Light laughed. "But she said that he is a jerk."

"Yep!" Sharaina agreed.

"She also said that he didn't deserve her and she was happy that they broke up." Light continued as he laughed.

"She definitely did." Sharaina said, making a corner into another street.

"She said that he is a stupid son of a bitch that couldn't keep it in his pants." Light finished.

Sharaina stopped walking and looked at him stunned. "She did?"

"Yes, weren't you listening?" Light laughed hard.

"I stopped listening the moment we left my house. That's how it is with those two. They fight, break up then make up. I'm honestly tired of their drama," she explained, giggling

"It's good that you know them well." Light flashed a boyish smile at Sharaina and she playfully smiled back.

Light and Sharaina finally arrived at the workshop. They found Naian shirtless and painting a table outside. When Naian saw them, he carefully put his paint brush down and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He smiled happily at them and offered them seats outside the workshop in the shade of a tree.

"Hello, Light right?" Naian greeted Light.

"Yes, it is and you must be Naian." Light replied.

"Yes, I am." Naian confirmed. He switched his attention to Sharaina. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Mama has gone over to uncle Jenu's to see aunt Naliya. She asked me to bring your lunch." Sharaina explained and gave Naian the basket.

Naian got a whiff of the food and his stomach secretly growled in hunger. He whistled out a happy tune as he unloaded the basket. He took out two lunch boxes, a bottle of water and a flask.

"I am so relieved that you have brought my food early. I feel famished. I failed to have my breakfast this morning because I overslept." Naian washed his hands with the water from the water bottle.

"Maybe I will have the strength to lift those logs into the shop after I eat." Naian opened a lunch box. It had fried spicy rice in it. He dug into the basket once more and pulled out a spoon.

"You mean the ones over there?" Light pointed with his head.

"Yes these ones and those over there." Naian pointed with his spoon after he swallowed.

"Would you mind if I gave you a hand?" Light offered.

"I wouldn't mind that. As soon as I finish eating, we can move them." Naian spooned up some more rice.

"No don't worry, I will take them in right now." Light assured Naian.

Naian had his mouth full of rice as he watched Light go over to the logs. Light focused his gamarax on the logs and they glowed purple. With his other hand, he focused gamarax on the door and it opened. He made the logs go up into the air and one by one they flew into the workshop. He was careful to pile them up neatly in a corner. This went on until every log was inside the shop. When Light was done, he went back to his chair and sat.

Naian closed the lunch box that had rice and carefully picked the one that had soup. He quickly helped himself to the soup and washed it down with juice that was in the flask. Naian wiped his mouth and looked Sharaina dead in the eye. Sharaina stared back at him. By the look on her face, it was clear to Light that she knew what Naian was going to say.

"How come you have never done that for me?" Naian asked Sharaina, the mockery behind his voice was obvious.

"Here we go." Sharaina shook her head with a smile on her face. "How many times have I helped you lift things into the workshop?" She asked Naian.

"I agree that your super strength has helped me in the past but I am talking about what Light has done. You know... moving things with your mind." Naian mocked Sharaina again.

Sharaina leaned back on her chair and crossed her legs. "I will definitely remember this the next time you ask me for help." She threatened and sealed it with a giggle.

"Thank you, Light. I will be sure to get off work early today." Naian contented.

"It was my pleasure." Light replied.

****

Akirexer and Naliya were chatting joyfully in Naliya's kitchen. Naliya's teenage twin daughters, Rue and Rey were baking cookies. Alainara nibbled on a cookie as she watched them bake.

Naliya and her daughters received Jenu's letter from Akirexer with delight. They were happy to know that he was okay. Akirexer already read her letter at the post office. She was delighted to know that Sharumez was going to see the king the next day.

"I can't wait until Sharumez returns home. I feel out of place when he isn't around." Akirexer openly confessed to Naliya.

Naliya nodded her head at her. "I also feel the same way." She admitted. "It's so quiet here without Jenu." she added and her daughters giggled.

"Akirexer, do you have any idea of why King Raglan wants to see Sharumez?" Naliya asked.

"My fear is that he wants to see Sharumez because of the kremis Sharaina took down." Akirexer sighed.

Naliya placed her hand on Akirexer's hand. Akirexer looked into Naliya's eyes and saw a warm glow of concern in them. Akirexer forced a smile but Naliya gave her a genuine smile.

"It's going to be okay." Naliya said.

"I hope so." Akirexer lamented.

****

After two days and two nights, Sharumez finally rode into Cherilisia. It was a beautiful hilly city with pavements everywhere. The neighbourhoods of flats were clean and neat. The ones closer to the royal castle comprised of glorious mansions.

The royal castle was at the highest point in the entire city. The golden gates of the castle were seen nearly at any point in the city. Sharumez and Jenu admired the royal castle as they rode further into the city.

They came to the market. It was at least five times bigger than the market in Gemhules. Sharumez spotted a toy trader and he approached her. He looked at her merchandise and took a liking to a big teddy bear with a red bow tie.

"How much is the bear?" He asked her.

"The bear is 50 pearls kind sir." The woman replied.

Sharumez raised his eyebrow stunned. "50 pearls for a doll?"

"I can give it to you for 40 pearls!" Another trader with the same bear yelled.

That angered the first trader. "You useless and good for nothing bastard! How many times have I told you not to try and steal my customers?"

The two traders started exchanging harsh words to each other. Sharumez turned his horse away and Jenu followed him. When the first trader saw them leave, she picked the doll and ran to them.

"Wait!" she exclaimed. "Here, take it for 36 pearls." She gave Sharumez the teddy bear. "Please!" she pleaded.

Sharumez took out a 50pearl note from his wallet and gave it to her. The woman returned his change and walked away happily.

"The traders here are very persuasive." Jenu commented.

"Indeed they are. I will return here after we see King Raglan. I want to pick up something for Akirexer, Naian and Sharaina." Sharumez said.

"That's a good idea. I should get something for my family too. Naliya and the girls will kill me if I go back empty-handed." Jenu said and Sharumez laughed with him. "So are we heading to the castle now?" Jenu asked.

"I think we should check into a motel first and freshen up. After that we can proceed to the castle." Sharumez suggested.

"No my friend, let us first see the king. We needn't keep him waiting." Jenu refuted.

"Okay, let us go there now," Sharumez agreed, sighing.

****

In the castle training grounds, Prince Meelzib sparred with six warriors. Each of them had sticks and they attacked Prince Meelzib who was blindfolded and without a stick. They attacked him from different directions. The warriors were very skilled but Prince Meelzib was extremely sensitive to the little sounds they were making. This enabled him to block and counter their attacks.

A huge dark dragon silently watched everything. It was so huge that it nearly took up half of the training ground. The dragon blew out smoke from its nose when Prince Meelzib knocked down all the warriors.

Prince Meelzib took off his blindfold and basked in his moment of glory. His sweaty muscles shined in the sunlight. A maiden went to him and helped him put on his robe. Another maiden gave him wine. Prince Meelzib drank the wine and walked majestically to the dragon.

"What did you think of my training session, Umandaang?" He asked the dragon.

"It would have been better if your opponents were left unconscious." Umandaang curtly replied in a dark raspy voice.

"You know that my father wouldn't be pleased with that. The old man doesn't believe in unnecessary violence." Prince Meelzib laughed and finished his glass.

"Do you share the same thoughts?" Umandaang asked Prince Meelzib.

Prince Meelzib's face turned dark in anger. "You know that I hate it when you ask me stupid questions. It will be wise of you not to upset your master." Prince Meelzib sternly warned Umandaang and walked away.

"Whatever..." Umandaang blew out smoke again.

As soon as the heavy metallic gate to the training ground closed behind Prince Meelzib, Umandaang vanished into thin air.