Chapter eleven

"Ei, walk with me." Kana asked standing at the entrance of Ei's room.

"Wait! Let me put on my shoes!." Ei exclaimed reaching for her shoes before falling off the bed to which Kana chuckled at.

"Beautiful necklace." Kana comments taking notice of the necklace Issey gave Ei.

"You think so? thanks!." Ei replied before walking towards Kana. "So, where are we going?." Ei asked as they began walking through the massive corridor.

"To Kairuk's temple." Kana answered simply.

"Eh, I thought Kairuk's temple would be off limits, because they're hosting the ritual there." Ei mused tapping her chin.

"Not to be royal family."Kana replied.

Location:Kairuk's temple

Ei had her hands clasped together, pretending she was praying. She watched Kana who looked deep in to prayer, soon she bowed as Ei quickly followed her example so as to not anger her.

"Let's go." Kana said and Ei nodded, soon she saw Kana's eyes widen before she bowed, Ei traced traced Kana's eyeline before her eyes landed on Queen Aira, mother of Raga and Eiji, Ei quickly bowed copying Kana's movements.

"Kana, is that you?." Aira asked in a sickening sweet voice.

"Yes, your highness." Kana replied.

"I see you've come to pay your respects to Kairuk, before the ritual."Aira said, Kana nodded. "And, you've brought Ei along." Aira continues turning to Ei.

Ei stiffened feeling her penetrating gaze on her back.

"Y-yes, your highness. I also wanted to pay my respects to Kairuk." Ei stuttered feeling suffocated in her presence.

"Oh, you've not forgotten about Kairuk and here I was thinking you had forgotten everything before you made a move so bold that you hit a prince."Aira said mockingly.

"Excuse me, your highness. We have to go get ready for tonight's ritual."Kana said grabbing Ei's arm.

"Very well."Aira sighed waving them off.

Kana started walking away pulling Ei with her but halted when Aira began. "Oh, and Ei. Gary, is returning in a few weeks, please don't tell me you've forgotten about her."Aira said Ei opened her mouth to talk but was dragged away by Kana before she could get a word out.

"Who is Haru?." Ei asked and Kana sighed.

"The king's ward, and a very bad memory for you."Kana replied and Ei paled.

Ei twirled around in her dress, the ritual required everyone wearing a traditional wear. It had ended a while ago and everyone was free to go around the festival hosted after.

Ei had Eiji on her right and Kana on her left, Eiji had become rather dedicated to Ei after she had saved him from a group of bandits that tried to cut off his arm.

"Ooh, candied apples!." Ei squealed speed walking towards the cart.

"Please help me look after her." Kana sighed face palming.

"I will, but you should go back to the castle, you look pale."Eiji advised and Kana nodded.

"See to it, that she stay out of trouble, she has a tendency of getting into it."Kana said.

"Will do!."When Eiji turned around, Ei was nowhere to be found.

Ei whimpered as she felt the cool tip of Raga's blade slowly nip at her neck. She wondered why thought following a group of assassins sent to kill the king was a good idea, instead of helping she had seen them get killed by the one who hired them, one had taken her hostage and was threatening to kill her if Raga didn't leave him alone.

"Didn't I tell you to kill her, she's useless anyway."Raga spat in annoyance and Ei's eyes widened in horror.

"I don't like you either, bitch face!." Ei snapped before digging her heel in the assassin's foot, he released Ei in a painful frenzy. Ei gasped crawling away as a knife embedded itself in the assassin's skull, she gasped when he fell to her feet… dead.

Issey arrived kneeling by her side and she watched in fear.

"Were you the one, who killed him?."Ei stuttered in fear as Issey nodded reluctantly.

They were interrupted when Raga let out a growl of anger before grabbing Ei's wrist and yanking her to her feet.

"Raga let her go!."Issey said.

Raga ignored him choosing to glare at Ei. Ei shrunk away in fear.

"Look at what you did! Who asked you to come here!."Raga yelled tightening his grip on her wrist, Ei flinched in pain.

Ei didn't answer only choosing to stare at him blankly.

"Didn't you hear me! Answer me!."Raga yelled agitated.

Ei passed out when he continued spewing curses.

"!!!!! Wake…up!!!!...WAKE UP!!." Ei jolted from her sleep before looking around in a daze, everything was beautiful, with clear blue skies, green pastures, and the wind was blowing softly.

"Where am I?!.....am I dead?." Ei stuttered disoriented.

"Oi."

Ei looked around still dazed.

"Oi!."

Ei hummed wondering where she was

"Oi! Stop ignoring me dammit!." A man with dark brown skin, hazel optics and shoulder length hair brown screeched.

"Uh uh? Who are you?."Ei asked tilting her head.

"Be glad that you're able to see me mortal for I am…Kairuk! The god of iron!,"Kairuk exclaimed flashing a dramatic pose.

"Kai-who?."Ei asked tilting her head and Kairuk stiffened.

"You insolent mortal! You don't even remember who I am,"Kairuk screeched pointing at her.

"Hm hm, so god of iron, why am I here?." Ei asked and he looked at you.

"Because I have something important to discuss with you, you see I brought you here, this kingdom is approaching a time of disarray, and I promised the first king of Aldera that-."

"So you're the one who sent me here! Take me back home!." Ei cried pointing at him.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking human!" Kairuk screeched raising his fist.