Blessings from the Lord Universe

In the kingdom of Sky City, situated high above the mortal realm, the people traveled for a week to reach the heavenly hill where King Arthur resided in his cloud-covered castle. It was a cumbersome journey, prompting the citizens to prefer praying to their king rather than making the arduous trek. Fortunately, King Arthur possessed a remarkable ability to divide himself into millions of identical versions, allowing him to visit each home in his kingdom every seventh day. This extraordinary power brought great joy to the people, as they could communicate directly with their king without the need for prayer.

On this particular seventh day, King Arthur split himself into countless versions, all bearing his unmistakable personality. As he settled in to observe his duplicates attending to his people through the lord’s mirror, a mighty gust of wind toppled his guards stationed at the front gate. Intrigued by the unusual occurrence, King Arthur, knowing that no one would approach him on this designated day, decided to investigate the cause. To his surprise, he discovered that it was his father, Sylas.

“Father, you certainly have unique ways of announcing your presence,” remarked Arthur with a smile.

“Well, son, it wouldn’t be as amusing if I simply teleported before you,” replied Sylas.

“Oh, I remember when you appeared in my throne room as a pillar of fire. The maidens were quite bewildered, dousing you with water,” Arthur laughed, reminiscing about the past.

“Yes, I recall that eventful day. How are those maidens of yours? Do they still serve in your castle?” inquired Sylas.

“Only two remain. The other three found companions and have been wedded,” Arthur informed him.

“I have witnessed their unwavering loyalty to you and the gods. I have been sent by the ‘Lord Universe’ to reward them and bestow blessings upon them,” revealed Sylas.

“Very well, Father. Come inside, so they may know that their time of blessings has arrived. Their devotion has been commendable,” Arthur invited his father.

The guards opened the massive gates for Sylas and King Arthur. Sylas, seeing the gate open, floated inside without touching the ground. Amused by his father’s showmanship, Arthur chuckled and jokingly exclaimed, “What a show-off!” His father turned to look at him and chuckled in return. Sylas landed gracefully on his feet and proceeded toward the throne. Once they reached the throne, Arthur signaled for Mayan and Starry, the remaining maidens, to approach.

Mayan and Starry approached the throne, their eyes fixed upon Sylas, Arthur’s father. They bowed before him, displaying their loyalty and commitment to him and the universal order.

“You may rise,” Sylas granted them permission. Mayan and Starry stood up, their gaze locked onto Sylas’s fiery eyes, eagerly awaiting the reason for their summoning.

“You maidens have found favor in the eyes of the Lord Universe. You have been bestowed with special gifts. Mayan, you have been gifted with the power of healing, while Starry, you have been blessed with the gift of foresight, enabling you to see the past, present, and future,” Sylas announced.

Turning to his son, Sylas asked, “Arthur, what about your duplicates? Are they with the other two maidens who are now married?”

“Yes, Father. They are with my subjects in their respective homes,” Arthur replied.

“Inform your duplicates to pass on this message to them. Let them know that they have found favor in the eyes of the Lord Universe and have been blessed. Laura has been granted the gift of teleportations, and Nara has received the gift of invisibility,” Sylas instructed.

Arthur closed his eyes momentarily to convey the message to his

Duplicates, who were currently residing with Laura and Nara. The message filled the two maidens with excitement as they received the news.

“Father, your words have been delivered,” Arthur informed Sylas.

“Son, how is my granddaughter, your daughter? Has she not yet discovered the key to her freedom? The Lord Universe is displeased with the curse upon her, as He cannot intervene until she finds true love,” Sylas expressed his concerns.

“Father, she has spoken of a young man who has shown interest in her. It won’t be long before the curse is broken,” Arthur assured him.

“Hasten the process, for the Lord Universe says she will be needed in this realm for a purpose undisclosed to us,” Sylas urged.

“I shall speak to her,” Arthur vowed to take action.

Sylas beamed at his son before disappearing through a teleportations spell. Arthur chuckled, knowing his father’s penchant for dramatic entrances and exits. As he observed the astonished maidens in front of him, he turned to them and asked, “Do you still wish to serve in this castle, or would you prefer to return home?”

Mayan replied, “I desire to serve until I find a man who will accept me as his wife.”

“Very well,” Arthur responded. “Since you have been blessed with the gift of healing, I will send you and other healers to aid my people. In this new role, you may find a man worthy of being your husband.”

Mayan bowed and left Arthur’s sight, leaving only Starry. Arthur turned to her and posed the same question.

“My king, I wish to serve you until my dying breath,” Starry declared.

“What about finding a partner for yourself?” Arthur inquired.

“I have found a man who loves me; he serves as one of your noble guards,” Starry revealed.

“Why has he not come to me to disclose your affair?” Arthur asked, perplexed.

“He waits, my king, for the right moment to reveal his intentions,” Starry explained.

“Summon him immediately,” Arthur commanded.

Starry exited the palace and made her way to the training field where Maven and his friends were practicing. According to the gods’ laws, mortal men who wished to serve in the king’s army were blessed with extraordinary strength, speed, protective armor, and the ability to leap great heights.