Water Kingdom

More than a hundred children had lost their parents and homes. A dozen stores had burned due to the Emberocks. Golems were attacking a town in the East. The fish population in the lake was dwindling. Half of the forest near the border was dying. The economy had plummeted, leaving many Faes unemployed. Half of the military had perished in the war before King Philippe's death, while the rest remained in mourning. Essential supplies were scarce, and the once-clear waters were now polluted.

Liam sighed as he reread the list compiled by Minister Wilhelm detailing the Water Fae Kingdom's current predicaments. Just one day had passed since he was crowned King, yet he was already faced with monumental challenges.

His cousin, Ludwig, had returned to his own kingdom, the Fire Fae Kingdom, to safeguard his wife during this critical time. Meanwhile, Hiyasmin had departed with his knights to search for Alexa at the Forgotten Fjords. Leonel had been dispatched the previous day to locate the Ravager who had escaped, ensuring he didn't return to the Aetherius with the crucial information about Louise, King Ludwig's wife and the Queen of the Fire Fae Kingdom, who was not just an Elven but a gifted Abyssal Wayfarer and the Possessor of the Aureate Flame.

It was speculated that the Ravager had likely fled to Primotheus Capital, deeming it the safest haven for his kind. Unlike other regions, Primotheus had a mixed population, where the presence of Ravagers, Elvens, Faes, or Witches wouldn't raise suspicion. Despite their formidable healing abilities, a Ravager's body would take at least two months to disintegrate without finding a cure. Ludwig's knights were tasked with ensuring no Ravager with blue and gold eyes returned to Colossus. They had strategically positioned themselves along all possible routes and hidden passages back to the continent, making it difficult for the Ravager to return home or extract blood from his kin.

"What are your plans as King, Liam?"

Liam felt the urge to lash out at being addressed with the title but restrained himself upon realizing it was the late King's mother who spoke. He stared blankly at Lady Frieda, noticing that she wasn't paying attention to his words. Despite her age and the marks of time on her face, she exuded confidence in her demeanor and words.

Despite having been at the Orient Palace for a week, Liam's patience was wearing thin due to the constant reminders from the old woman about the kingdom's problems. While her intentions weren't necessarily malicious, her probing questions like, "Why did you choose to be a King? You're a Dirty Blood, unfit to rule," grated on Liam's nerves.

He couldn't help but recall how he had posed the same question to the Ministers initially, almost finding Lady Frieda's question amusing. Yet, anger simmered within him as he realized he had no choice but to accept the position. The kingdom's survival was at stake, and he couldn't allow innocent citizens to suffer because of his personal reservations. 

Reluctantly, he accepted the responsibility that came with the Ones and the Pearl Scepter, even though only half of the scepter had been passed to him. The other half remained with the wife of the former King, whose body had yet to be found, leaving the Pearl Scepter incomplete. Thankfully, the Ministers had already dispatched men to search for the Queen's remains.

Liam stormed out of the chamber, paying little heed to Lady Frieda's continued words. Using his flying ability, he swiftly arrived at the town, where a scene that further fueled his irritation awaited him. King Philippe's knights were viciously attacking a man in the town square, who knelt while enduring the brutal lashes of a whip. Nearby, his child wept uncontrollably, his cries echoing through the tense air as townspeople tried to console him.

"What is happening here?" Liam's voice boomed with authority, causing the knights to freeze in their tracks. 

One of them, his gaze lowered in shame, dropped the whip and mumbled, "Nothing, Your Majesty. We are merely administering punishment to this accused fool."

Silently, the man collapsed to the ground, his body marked with bruises from the brutal punishment.

Liam furrowed his brow. "What crime has he committed to warrant such a punishment?" he demanded, his voice firm.

The knights exchanged uneasy glances among themselves, clearly caught off guard by the King's unexpected visit and questions.

"He failed to pay sufficient taxes," one of the knights replied firmly.

Liam's eyebrow quirked at the response. "What is his occupation?" he asked, trying to maintain his composure.

The knights were silent for a moment before one spoke up. "He is a fisherman, Your Majesty."

"How much is his tax?" Liam inquired further.

"Thirty Galleons, Your Majesty," the knight replied.

A hushed silence fell over the onlookers as they absorbed the revelation. Liam approached the injured fisherman and looked down at him, his expression stern. The man, unable to move, bowed his head in fear, apprehensive of angering the new King, rumored to be a cousin of the Ascendant and the King of the Fire Fae Kingdom.

Everyone was keenly aware of Ludwig's immense power, and the fear of disobeying his cousin loomed over them. The threat of their beloved town turning to ashes under Ludwig's wrath was a haunting prospect.

"How much is he lacking?" Liam's voice was stern as he demanded answers.

"Ten Galleons, Your Majesty," one of the knights replied, fear evident in their eyes.

Liam's expression twisted into one of disbelief. "Why is his tax so high? He's just a simple fisherman, and yet when I visited the Hall of Fortune this morning, the kingdom's treasury was empty."

The knights remained silent, unwilling to provide an explanation.

"Where is the tax collector from Fortune?" Liam's abrupt question caused the knights to exchange uneasy glances.

None of the knights dared to speak, prompting Liam to turn to the gathered crowd. Their fear was palpable as their fingers collectively pointed towards a grand mansion at the heart of the town.

Without a word of farewell, Liam soared into the sky towards the mansion and entered without permission. Inside, he found Rainier, the Collector of Fortune for the Water Fae Kingdom, engaged in a gambling session with aristocrats. Silver, gold, and bronze Galleons were scattered across the table and floor.

"Your Highness..." Rainier stammered, caught off guard by his King's sudden intrusion into his home. "It's an honor for the King to grace my humble abode. How may I assist you, Your..."

"Why is the Treasury empty, Sir Rainier, when you are imposing such hefty taxes on the citizens?" Liam's voice was laced with frustration, his teeth clenched and his hands tightly fisted.

Rainier and his companions paled at Liam's accusation, their eyes locked on the angered King.

"But Your Highness, I was planning to deposit the collections tomorrow..." Rainier attempted to explain.

"The audit was scheduled a week ago," Liam stated firmly, cutting off any further excuses.

As Rainier approached Liam with outstretched arms, intending to placate him, nearby vases filled with water and roses suddenly exploded, causing everyone to back away in shock.

Rainier lowered his gaze. "Due to the war, the former King's death, and recent amendments, I lost track of time amidst my workload..."

"Why did you not choose my coronation day, or this morning, or yesterday? You had ample time for gambling but neglected your responsibilities," Liam's patience was wearing thin, evident in his tone.

Rainier cleared his throat nervously as Liam approached with determined strides. However, Liam's attention was drawn to soft hushes coming from the other side of the door. Instead of confronting Rainier, he turned towards the wooden door where the whispers grew louder, accompanied by gasps and murmurs.

"Your Highness!" Rainier called out, attempting to halt Liam's advance. But one look at Rainier's trembling form made Liam realize the gravity of the situation. "We can discuss this in the parlor, Your Highness. Not here, my wife... um..."

The panic on Rainier's face spurred Liam to quicken his pace, and he swiftly pushed open the door. Inside, he was met with a shocking sight—more than five women were almost naked, their feet chained, visibly malnourished and exhausted.

Painful memories flooded Liam's mind, triggering a surge of anger that he couldn't contain. Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed a torrent of swirling Fire and Water elements that engulfed the Collector of Fortune's home. The once-opulent mansion was reduced to ruins amidst the screams of Aristocrats trapped inside, while the chained women before him cried out in fear and despair.

Once Liam regained his composure, he halted the swirling Fire and Water elements, but the damage had been done. Rainier's mansion lay in ruins, and Rainier himself was thrown outside, injured and bleeding, surrounded by curious onlookers.

Stepping out of the destroyed residence, Liam was met with a heavy silence from the crowd. Fear was palpable in their unblinking stares. Even the knights and Aristocrats, usually adorned with admiration, now looked upon Liam with shock and concealed shame.

Liam cleared his throat, his voice carrying authority. "If anyone dares to commit crimes against the laws set by the Ministers, or if any Fae abuses their position, they will face consequences far worse than this," he declared, his gaze piercing through each Aristocrat's eyes. "Do you understand?"

Hesitant nods from the crowd confirmed their comprehension, and without further ado, Liam swiftly returned to the Orient Palace. His fury simmered beneath the surface as he struggled to comprehend the motivations behind exploiting and harming others, a sentiment that brought back painful memories.

Rainier's actions puzzled Liam deeply. Despite having a comfortable life, wealth, and a respected position, why would he choose to harm the helpless, the poor, the innocent? Liam knew that it was Rainier who had ordered the fisherman's punishment, as he had discerned from the whispers of the townsfolk.

Even before ascending to the throne, Liam had been aware of Rainier's corrupt ways. However, without the authority to intervene in King Philippe's kingdom, neither Liam nor Ludwig could take action against him. Rainier had been embezzling the hard-earned Galleons of the citizens and had even stooped to abusing vulnerable women, who had no means to fight back against his power. The thought of Rainier's despicable deeds made Liam feel sick to his stomach.

Despite his overwhelming anger and desire for vengeance, Liam knew he couldn't act rashly and take matters into his own hands. As the newly crowned King, he understood the weight of his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. Rushing into unnecessary violence would only create more chaos and potentially implicate Ludwig in matters that weren't his doing.

The last thing Liam wanted was for anyone to suspect Ludwig of plotting to conquer the Water Fae Kingdom, a notion that was both absurd and impossible. It was crucial for Liam to exercise caution and restraint. His decisions now had far-reaching implications, impacting not just himself but the entire kingdom and his family's safety.

Therefore, he resolved to behave with wisdom and foresight, prioritizing the peace and security of the kingdom above his personal grievances.