I'M NOT ASKING FOR PERMISSION

The grand doors of the royal court swung open, and all eyes turned to the entrance. There were grunts and groans, as well as the clicking of tongues, once they realized who the person was. Kojo stood on the threshold, hands nestled deep in his pockets, his posture radiating an air of nonchalance that clashed starkly with the formality of the setting. The mid-morning sun, filtering through the high, arched windows, painted the stone courtyard in a warm, golden hue, illuminating the intricate carvings and the rich tapestries that adorned the walls. Yet, the atmosphere was thick with disapproval, the nobles' gazes heavy with thinly veiled contempt.

"All this 'cause they can't simp on Sasha anymore," Kojo thought, shaking his head and walking inside.

Kojo's impromptu visit had disrupted the meticulously planned schedule of the court, a transgression not easily forgiven by the assembled dignitaries, aside from the transgression of him not being the scantily dressed Sasha. Kojo could feel their resentment, a palpable wave of displeasure that washed over him. The rustle of silk and the hushed whispers of the nobles formed a backdrop to his quiet defiance.

He walked to the center and faced the king, bowing slightly. King Gorges sighed. From his appearance, he hadn't had time to relax of late. He seemed to have been already worn out during today's discussion and was unwilling to have any drama. But Kojo had come anyway, so there wasn't really anything he could do.

He asked Kojo the reason for his visit, and the young man responded that he had come to inform the king of his intention to travel to Ezkanur, an announcement that had been met with immediate and vehement opposition.

King Gorges had inquired as to the reasons for this journey, and Kojo had offered only vague assurances, stating that his motives were personal and could not be disclosed. This lack of transparency had ignited the nobles' ire. They saw it as an act of insolence, an affront to their authority.

"Who does he think he is?" one noble muttered, his voice laced with indignation. "He thinks he can come and go as he pleases, without so much as an explanation?"

Another chimed in, "We've been far too lenient with him. Champion or not, he is still subject to our authority."

Kojo, overhearing their complaints, turned to face them, his eyes gleaming with a subtle, almost unsettling light.

"Oh? You old hags are acting weird today. It's not like you can stop me if I choose to go now," he said, his voice low and steady.

A ripple of unease spread through the court. The guards, their hands instinctively tightening around their weapons, exchanged nervous glances. The king, sensing the rising tension, raised a hand, silencing the murmurs.

"Enough," he commanded, his voice resonating through the chamber.

He turned to Kojo, his expression thoughtful. "Kojo, I trust you. You may have good intentions for going to the northern continent. Intentions that may be of benefit to our kingdom, but the nobles have a point. We cannot allow you to embark on such a journey without understanding your reasons. Our relationships between nations are delicate, and while we have a friendly bond between our two countries, all it takes is one wrong move. Your presence there could be misinterpreted and cause... complications."

Kojo remained unmoved.

"I'm not asking for permission, Your Majesty," he reiterated, his voice calm and resolute.

"What?" the king asked, stunned.

"I'm going as an individual, as Kojo Atari, not as the Champion of Archadia."

The nobles erupted in protest, their voices rising in a cacophony of indignation.

"As Kojo Atari?" one of them scoffed. "What does that mean?"

"He must think we're fools," said another.

"We've given him too much freedom," said a third.

"It's high time we put measures in place to sanction this uncouth behavior," another suggested. A lot of nobles agreed with this suggestion.

"What I mean is," Kojo replied, his tone laced with a hint of amusement, "that I'm going on a personal journey. I thought it prudent to inform you since it'd be weird if you found out later or if something randomly happened and I wasn't around, to give you a 'heads up,' as it were."

The phrase, delivered with a casual air, only served to further infuriate the nobles.

"A 'heads up'?" they echoed, their voices dripping with sarcasm.

"Is he mocking us?"

Kojo stifled a yawn, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"No," he replied, his voice flat and matter-of-fact.

The nobles turned to King Gorges, demanding that he reprimand Kojo for his insolence. The king, however, remained composed. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his hand, silencing the clamor.

"Kojo," he said, his voice firm but measured, "you may go to Ezkanur, but you will be going as Kojo Atari. Any consequences of your actions will be your sole responsibility. The kingdom will not intercede on your behalf, nor will we be able to offer you any support during this period. Do you agree?"

Kojo nodded, accepting the conditions without hesitation.

"Thank you for your time."

With a final, dismissive glance at the fuming nobles, Kojo turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the grand hall. As he exited the court, he could hear the nobles' voices rising in a chorus of outrage, their words a testament to their frustration. Kojo smiled, a quiet, knowing smile, and continued on his way, the weight of their disapproval falling harmlessly behind him.

"So, that's what happened," Maxwell said, his voice low and thoughtful, as he moved some files and books around the office.

Vanessa, seated behind her desk, didn't even bother to look up from the files she was reviewing.

"As interesting as your story is, Kojo, why the hell are you here?" she asked, glancing up at Kojo, who was casually browsing through the titles, his fingers trailing over the spines of the books. He had pulled out a particularly interesting-looking tome and was skimming through its pages, his eyes scanning the text with interest.

"Mmm? Did you say something, Vanessa?" he asked, his attention still on the book.

Vanessa's eye twitched, and a portal suddenly materialized beside her, a staff slowly emerging from the shimmering portal. The staff was aimed directly at Kojo, its tip quivering with anticipation.

"Vanessa, calm down," Maxwell said, taking a stack of files off her desk.

With his free hand, he slowly pushed the staff back into the portal with his finger, tracing its length as it disappeared into the portal, which itself dissipated, leaving behind only a faint shimmering in the air.

Kojo, seemingly oblivious to the tension, looked up from the book he was reading.

"I need some books," he said.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical.

"I didn't peg you as the reading type, Kojo."

Kojo shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I need information about the various celestial beings."

Vanessa's expression turned calculating. "We have quite a few volumes on the subject in our library, but I'm afraid they're not for loan. They're very costly, and I need to ensure they're properly compensated for."

"You probably don't have the information I'm looking for anyway," Kojo said, returning his gaze to the book in his hands.

Vanessa's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Then why do you want them?" she demanded.

"I'll never know if I don't check," Kojo replied, turning to return the book to its shelf.

Vanessa rose from her seat, her eyes blazing with indignation, and a vein popping on her temple. Maxwell intervened, putting his hand on her shoulder, restraining her.

"Come on, Ness, help a friend out," Maxwell said.

"Ness?" both Vanessa and Maxwell said in unison.

"Besides, don't you want to know what treasures are to be found in the tower?" he asked, his voice innocent, as a golden short spear with a long curved blade appeared in his outstretched hand.

Vanessa's expression changed, her eyes narrowing.

"You're trying to bribe me?"

"Yes. But if you don't want it then..."

"Come with me," she said, her voice dripping with honey. Kojo smiled and handed her the spear. A portal sucked it in, and they both moved toward the door.

She turned to Max. "Finish the files on my desk, Max."

"Later, Max," Kojo waved at Max, who smiled at him as they left. As the door closed behind them, Max opened his eyes.

Kojo, walking beside Vanessa, felt a chill run down his spine. He ignored it, putting on his usual nonchalant air as they walked through the school. The students they passed couldn't help but stare, especially the ladies.

"(Don't get big-headed because a few minors are giving you attention.)"

"Why would I?" he asked in his thoughts.

"(Who knows the ways of a pervert?)"

Kojo groaned.

As Lin returned to the church premises, sunlight caused the snow to shimmer in its light. Kojo was nowhere to be found, and the silence seemed to press in around her. Seeking solace, she made her way to the chapel, the soft glow of light being filtered through the stained-glass windows illuminating the dim interior. She took a seat on a pew, leaning back and closing her eyes, letting the peaceful atmosphere wash over her.

The man who had been praying earlier slowly got to his feet, his eyes fixed intently on Lin. His gaze seemed to bore into her.