Chapter 24

Ezekiel's presence seemed to command respect and suppress everyone. Everyone was quiet and submissive around him. 

He was just that powerful. An aura of power surrounded him and he had the eyes of a skilled and experienced fighter.

Arya wondered how in the world was that female assassin ever able to almost kill him. She really did catch Ezekiel off guard at that time. She got lucky as Ezekiel would have been able to easily kill her off like a fly. 

He sure didn't look like someone who was hanging between life and death months ago.

The next fight was about to begin. A pair of boys this time.

…

Entire villages were destroyed and wiped off the map.

While families were slaughtered and eaten alive.

His army continues to grow stronger and stronger in the shadows.

So far, he has been able to get away with his horrible crimes.

But now was not the time yet to invade and take over the human kingdom.

His mana core….the very source of his power. It was still incomplete.

Only three out of the seven pieces had been found.

Four more were still out there.

His armies burned villages to the ground, slaughtered entire communities, sneaked around in the dark of night, searched everywhere to find the remaining four.

So far, his plan is working. Killing off humans was a win-win in terms of food and tactics.

Soon, the humans responsible for growing the food, making the weapons and making up the foundations of a society would be all wiped out. Without food or supplies, how could an army last for a long time?

Eating human flesh was helping his army regain power and strength.

But without their king, they were still too weak and without a strong leader. They would not dare to venture out and take over the human kingdom yet.Not until he said so.

It was a smart move to try to stir up inner conflict among the humans in order to divide them and make sure that they do not unite to fight off the invading army once the time has come.

Except it was harder than expected to stir up inner conflict among the humans.

Oh, well, it really didn't matter anymore since he was regaining his strength now. Not as quickly as he would have liked, but still, it was progress.

Time to get a little more bolder now.

….

The boys prepared to fight.

One of the boys was Astraeus. His blue hair was easily recognizable.

The other was a white haired boy with sharp pale blue eyes.

The white haired boy begins to form sharp ice knives in his hands.

 He threw four blades of ice at Astraeus who almost lazily created a portal to swallow up the shards of ice.

Another portal opened up from the right side of the white haired boy and the white haired boy had to dodge his own ice shards.

The ice shards went flying past him until they shattered against the barrier.

Arya frowned.

"Astraeus is using his power so effectively. It's not like that white haired boy can land a blow on him if a portal can just deflect the attacks."

Ezekiel nodded. He enjoyed watching fights as much as he enjoyed participating in them.

"Yes, you're right about that, Ar-Ar. Portals are normally used to move people from point A to point B and it usually isn't considered much of a combat skill but this boy might be the outlier."

The white haired boy looked frustrated but still determined.

He dropped to the ground and slammed both hands onto the ground. Large spikes of ice exploded from the ground, speeding in the direction of Astraeus. 

Astraeus barely dodged the first attack when another huge shard of ice formed and solidified, shaping itself into a long spear that erupted from the ground.

Astraeus wasn't prepared to dodge and the ice spear went right through his stomach.

Screams and gasps could be heard.

….

"Damn it!!"

Catalina and Elijah both rushed to the aid of Astraeus.

The white haired boy looked very sad and guilty and he was trying to stop the bleeding, pressing down hard on the wound with both hands.

The ice spear was destroyed when the white haired boy willed it to be gone.

The ice spear broke into thousands of pieces and then vanished into thin air.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Please…I really didn't mean it!!"

…

Classes were canceled for the rest of the day and Catalina and Elijah went off to do the royal guard duties.

Arya was sad but understanding as to why the duo couldn't spend more time with her anymore.

Baron Pax went back to his job as an Academy professor and Arya wanted to see him but Catalina informed her that Baron Pax was in a meeting with other professors right now.

Ezekiel and Arya left the Academy grounds and walked through the gardens.

Really, Arya thought, the royal palace is massive and you could spend weeks exploring it and only see maybe a fraction of what it has to offer.

Myna followed behind the two.

Arya didn't like that Myna wasn't walking with her and she tugged at Myna's hand to get her to walk with her but Myna refused.

"Come walk with us, Myna."

"It's forbidden for servants to walk alongside their masters. It's alright when we're alone but not out here in public. Besides, I can't treat you the same way I used to treat you now because you're a princess."

"But…I don't care for rules. Just walk alongside me like you used to."

Myna shrugged.

"Whatever my princess wants."

Arya squealed when Myna walked with her and Ezekiel.

"Oh, my, oh my, what do we have here?"

A nasty female voice cut through the air and ruined Arya's day.

It was Maertisa and she was followed by a trio of girls.

Marisa wore an elegant pastel blue gown and her black hair was plaited into a single braid.

A sapphire and diamond necklace covered her throat and she carried a matching pastel blue and white parasol to shield herself from the sun.

The girls behind her giggled and laughed like the princess just said something funny.

A blond haired girl, red haired girl and blue-haired girl all wearing matching white and black dresses and carrying white parasols of their own. Marisa stood out with her pastel blue dress like a parrot in a crowd of crows.

Marisa frowned and then sneered at the trio. It was hard to tell if her sneer was directed at Ezekiel, Myna or Arya or all of the above.

"Well, hello, little one. Trying to kiss up to Ezekiel now because you're too weak to do anything yourself? Well, sorry you, you little bitch."

Arya snapped at this.

"Well, I'm not!! I just want to get to know him better and have a good relationship with him as cousins!! Is that too much to ask for, you meanie!!?"

Arya's powers grew stronger as her anger exploded.

Her eyes started to glow a bright green and the trees and status surrounding them started to shake and got uprooted and started to levitate up in the air.

Arya just pointed a finger at the four girls in front of her.

The status and trees went flying at them.

So quickly that the four girls had no time to react.

But Ezekiel did.

He stretched out a hand and summoned bolts of lightning from his hands.

The blue and white bolts of lightning arched up at the flying objects and hit them spot on.

And then the lightning fired all the objects into ashes. 

Such power from the Crown Prince.

Maertisa looked shaken up as did her friends.

Ezekiel looked mad and powerful at the same time.

"Maertisa, quit such undignified behavior. You shouldn't be bullying a little child like Arya like this. You pick on her and take your anger out on her because it makes you feel better about yourself, right? Same goes for surrounding yourself with such weakass losers."

Maertisa turned red in the face and it looked like she was ready to kill the Crown Prince right then and there.

Ezekiel seemed to sense her bloodlust and anger because a huge eruption of lightning poured out of his body. Lightening coated his entire body and crackling and hissing filled the air. Sparks of electric power formed in his hands.

"Well, try me, bitch and you'll regret it."

Maertisa heard the warning in his voice and backed down.

She and her friends hurried off in the opposite direction and Ezekiel heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, Ar-Ar, can we get some sibling bonding time now?"

….

It was like a picnic. 

A picnic where a crown prince, a princess and a maid sat together on the same blanket and ate together underneath a huge oak tree.

Butterflies fluttered in the air and beautiful flowers were everywhere. But the air was getting colder now. Winter was fast approaching.

Myna had only packed some cookies and tea but that was good enough for Arya.

Arya hugged Myna tightly and thanked her.

"Thank you so much, Myna!! Thank you!! I love your chocolate chip cookies so much!!"

Myna laughed and blushed.

"Then enjoy them, my princess, if you like them so much. That's why I made them!"

A small picnic basket lined with a white napkin, filled to the brim with small boxes of cookies.

A small teapot of tea and some tea cups were also present along with some small china plates.

Ezekiel seemed at ease and relaxed as he indulged in Myna's cookies and sipped his tea.

"Best cookies ever. Myna, your cookies are worthy of praise. Maybe I should serve them at my birthday party and everyone will come to know of your divine cooking skills."

Myna blushed as she handed Myna a plate of cookies and a flask of apple juice(Arya didn't like tea and Myna knew it so the apple juice was for her).

"So generous, your highness. But I'm just a maid servant."

Ezekiel shook his head.

"No, you're not. You were once a lady yourself and-"

Myna rudely cut him off.

"The past is in the past and I don't want to cry over my former glory days anymore."

Ezekiel quickly shut up after that.

Awkward silence filled the air and Arya decided to break the ice.

"What about Astraeus?"

"The boy will be fine. It's nothing too serious."

"But…Ezzy…he won't get in trouble, will he?"

'That ice boy? No, it was a complete accident and he was really sorry about it."

Arya was quiet as she nibbled on a cookie.

She summoned two more cookies to fly over to her plate. 

Two cookies levitated off the plate and zipped over to Arya.

The teapot poured out more tea for Ezekiel. An invisible hand reached out and poured out the tea for the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince observed Arya casually using her ability.

"Arya, have you fully adjusted to life as a princess? I know that you lived on the streets as a beggar before you came here."

Arya was quiet for a moment.

"Yes. I have and I don't want to look back on the past anymore. I want to focus on the future."

Arya's eyes were unwavering and steady as she responded.

Ezekiel admired that about Arya. So strong and free-spirited.

"They lied. The king….he's dead, isn't he?"

Ezekiel, in an unrefined manner, spitted out his tea.

Arya knew she was right.

"I saw it. He was killed right away by that arrow, wasn't he? He wasn't lucky. I saw what I saw that night and there's no way he survived that, Ezzy. There must be a reason for hiding his death and pretending like he's still recovering. Ezzy, are you still strong enough to fight?"

Ezekiel still hacked and coughed and a maid handed him a napkin.

"Smart girl. Man, if you had any interest in the throne, you'll be a powerful opponent that everyone should fear."

Arya mused over this thought and gave Ezekiel a smile.

"Yes, but I have zero interest in the throne, Ezzy, like I already said. But I'm not dumb and silly, Ezzy. I survived by paying attention to my surroundings as well as working my ass off. You'll be surprised by how much you can learn just by paying close attention to the world around you.

Ezekiel recovered his dignity.

"You are a smart girl. I'm telling you this because I trust you and like you. I haven't fully regained my strength yet and I only have maybe….1/10th of my full power right now."

"1/10th? Are you kidding me?"

Ezekiel's power was insane and mind-blowing already. His lightning powers were enough to reduce a tree and several statues to ashes and burnt pieces of wood. 

If this was only 1/10th of his power, then what was he like at 100% full power?

He had to be an unstoppable force of strength and power.

Ezekiel sipped his tea and mused over Arya's reaction.

"Yes, everyone knows I'm powerful but if they knew I was heavily crippled and weakened right now, they might decided-"

"-that they stand a chance to take the throne for themselves. Political drama will ensue if you-the most powerful of all the princes and princesses-starts to shake and look weak in their eyes. We need to maintain an appearance of stability and power to avoid chaos and fighting. Hence why the king's death was covered up and you did that power move with those nasty bitch."

Ezekiel cracked open a smile and he laughed. 

He slumped over in his chair and was wheezing and gasping.

"Ha, HA, HAHAHA!! Nasty bitch!!! If only you said that in front of Maetisa!! Ar-Ar, you're my favorite little sister for a reason!!"

He calmed down and patted Arya on the head.

"Eat up and take your time. I gotta get my ass to a meeting right now."

He got up and left.