ADVENTURES OF THE PRINCE

A clean stream glistened underneath the sun, its sound like music to the world around it. Surrounded by lush patch of grass and forest beyond, the stream was a gathering of all kinds of animals who lived in peace and prosperity. Until, one day, a man and a bird arrived.

“Humph, I can’t believe you dare speak like that to a great bird!” the Phoenix gawked atop its lungs, causing other nearby animals to look toward it in wonder.

“What great bird?! All you do is sleep and shit on my shoulder!!” the Prince exclaimed.

“Shit?! Where from?!!” the bird exclaimed right back.

“Fine, you don’t shit, you piss!”

“I melt!”

“Then control it!”

“… I’ll peck your eyes out.”

“I’ll rip your feathers out.”

“For the last fucking time, I don’t have feathers!!!”

And so, the peace and prosperity was ruined by a loud and obnoxious pair who made the little, solitary stream their home for a few days, depriving all kinds of animals of their only source of water. Within the Animal Kingdom, those days are remembered as ‘Three Days of Despair’.

* * *

Parsia and the bird have been traveling for nearly a month now, and, along the way, have mostly been fighting… each other. In addition, Parsia had already spent most of the Mana Stones Lynne gave him, and was forced to camp outside and hunt wildlife to eat. It didn’t help that no one bothered to give him a map, so he was forced to put up with the bird who gave him directions.

“A day or two more and we’ll reach the Immortal Magus Sect,” the bird said as the two passed a canyon. “Can you handle it?”

“… if you would just shut up, yes…” Parsia mumbled dejectedly.

“Humph, I’ll have you know that the rest of the world would pay to listen to this Great Bird talk for all eternity!”

“Where?! Where is this rest of the world?! Dead? Unaware? Because only a graveyard full of tombs would let you gawk on for more than a minute!”

Two days passed quickly for Parsia, and the duo found themselves at the entrance of the Immortal Magus Sect. Young Mages were rolling in and out, excitement apparent on their faces, while Parsia stared at them with envy. Returning back to reality, he sighed and shook his head as he walked up to the guards.

“Excuse me. I’m here to visit the Headmaster.”

“Shoo!” the guard spoke mockingly. “Beggar wants to meet a great Headmaster? Go away before I kill you.” … a beggar?

“Uh… I’m really not a beggar. I’m here on business.”

“Business of what? Begging? Ha ha ha.” the rest of the guards burst out in laughter as they pointed fingers at him. Do I really have to… ugh…

“Lynne sent me.” Parsia said, whereupon laughter immediately came to an end.

“Genius Magus Lynne?!” the guard exclaimed in shock. “The kindest person that saved academy students during the Ancient Tomb incident?!” Kindest?!! “The most talented and knowledgeable student in the history of sect?!” What?!! “The man amongst men?!” I give up… “The one whose statue is visited daily and where students pray to get stronger?” Why am I even here… “The one who killed that Zen God and saved a bunch of no-names?!” What the f…

“Y-yes… that… that Lynne…”

“Ha ha, you should have said so man!” the guard hugged him by the shoulder as he dragged him into the sect’s ground. Right at the central point, Parsia immediately saw a statue of a youth in a heroic pose, holding a sword and pointing it to the sky. The youth had brisk, clean features and long hair, and appeared battle-scarred. Who the fuck is that?! And there was a monkey on his shoulder. Oh, Lynne… wait, that’s not Lynne!

The guards quickly led him to a teleporter inside a main building and sent him on his way up. When Parsia came to, he found himself inside a beautiful garden and in front of a small, wooden house. Atop the porch was an elderly man, humming low melody as he read through a book while drinking tea. When he noticed Parsia, he appeared surprised for a moment as he put the book down.

“You’re the Headmaster?” Parsia asked.

“Indeed. Are you a new student? Why was I not informed?” the old man asked.

“Uh, no, no,” Parsia shook his head. “Lynne sent me here…”

“Oh? Lynne? Haven’t heard from that bastard ever since he left, and he still sends someone else?”

“Uh…”

“Ha ha, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Sit down, how’s that kid doing? How far did he progress?” the Headmaster asked as he sipped a cup of tea for Parsia.

“He recently broke through and entered Grand Realm as an Empyrean.” Parsia replied casually; the Headmaster suddenly froze, jaw agape, as he stared at him. “Hm? Are you okay?”

“…”

“Hello?”

“…”

“Take your time…”

“HE WHAT?!”

“Hmm… this is a great tea. Almost as good as the one my wife makes.” Parsia ignored the shocked Principal and spoke on.

“B-b-ut, how could he?! He’s so young! I mean, I know he’s talented, but is he even twenty yet?!”

“Just slightly over it.”

“Just how talented is that kid? How?! And why didn’t he inform me? Did he ascend to the Divine Realm?! Is that why he sent you? To brag about it?!”

“Uh… no,” Parsia said. “He’s in the Eastern Wastelands, building his own Kingdom.”

“Of course he asce—what?”

“In Eastern Waste--”

“Building his Kingdom?”

“… yes?”

“Where exactly in the Eastern Wastelands? I’ll move the sect over right away.”

“…”

“Is that not okay?”

“No, no, that’s exactly why I’m here,” Parsia said. “Just didn’t expect you to accept it so easily.”

“He ascended! Of course I’ll join him!”

“What about students?”

“Whoever wants to follow can follow. Whoever doesn’t can screw off!!” Aah, how did this sect survive with such a terrible Principal?

“O-okay… just stay here. I have to visit some other people and I’ll come and pick you up on my way back.”

“You promise?!”

“Sure.”

“Great! Fantastic! Ha ha, suck on that Lord Tang!” Who is- ah, I don’t care…

* * *

About a month later, Parsia found himself in the Skyfire City, capital of the newly established Elvernheimn Kingdom. The city was sprawling with activity day and night, and Parsia’s rugged and beggar-like appearance stuck out like a sore thumb in the otherwise pristine streets.

He quickly found the closest inn and took the long-needed bath which lasted for nearly an entire day. He had long since shooed the bird off to find herbs, materials and ingredients, and his journey was much quieter and pleasant since then. Donning the clean robes, he set his sights onto the massive palace, wondering how to get audience with the King. Should I show off my strength? Hmm, better not. They may think I’m there to kill the King. Should I look for Median first since I know him? Ugh, but he’s also probably in the palace…

“Hey, are you Parsia?! It’s really Parsia!” the moment he neared the palace gates, the guard suddenly called out toward him.

“Eh? You know me?” Parsia asked, confused, as he tilted his head.

“Who doesn’t know you?! You’re one of the great three heroes of the Skyfire War!! Haha, can you please sign this for me?! Aah, my wife will be so jealous! She has huge hots for you, by the way! Ha ha, I can’t believe I got to meet a hero!” Eeh? What is going on?! “Are you here to see the King?”

“Ah, yes…?”

“Ha ha, come, I’ll show you around! Ha ha, I can’t believe I got to meet my hero!”

“…”

As soon as Parsia entered the palace grounds, he quickly realized why he was recognized: just outside the palace itself, there were three massive statues standing like proud towers: one of himself, wielding his Urumi with a heroic expression, another of Thalia holding a spear upright, and lastly of Lynne holding a massive scythe on his shoulder while flipping the sky. Am I… dreaming?

“Aah, you three are amazing!” the guard said as they paused before the statues; each was at least ten meters tall and was sculptured out of the most expensive stones. “You fought back the entire army of Zen, and spawned the heroic tales of Three Heroes! I can almost imagine how it was like… heroic Lynne riding the storm, swiping away darkness with his scythe of light! Beautiful Thalia setting hearts on fire with her beauty and allure, and destroying her enemies with her godly techniques! And heroic Parsia, capturing hearts of young women with his heroic disposition, building a harem as tall as sky!” WHO ARE YOU FUCKING DESCRIBING?!!

“Y-yeah… sure…”

“Hey, inform the King!” the guard spoke to another standing near the statues. “Hero Parsia is here for a visit!”

“H-hero Parsia?! Oh my God!! It’s really him! I-I’ll be right back! Inform the King! Inform the King! Hero Parsia has come!”

* * *

Odd silence hung through the small, well-lit room. Three people sat on chairs, all with different dispositions. Parsia was calmly drinking tea, as if none of what was happening had anything to do with him. Median was shaking his head, covering his face as if begging some unknown face for forgiveness. Elynal was recovering from shock as he tried his best just to continue breathing.

“I-I’m so sorry Ely… that brat…” Median spoke softly as he patted Elynal on the shoulder.

“It’s… it’s fine. I-I can just rename the capital… but… the question is--”

“I don’t know.” Parsia immediately interrupted. “It’s Lynne. When have any of his actions ever made sense?”

“… it hurts me how true that is…” Median mumbled.

“He just decided to build a Kingdom on a whim…” Elynal sighed, surrendering to it. “I’ll give you some gold and lend you some of my men,” he continued. “Just… just… aah…”

“How’s the conflict here?” Parsia asked, curious.

“Eh, it’s mostly non-existent,” Elynal said. “We’ve recovered majority of the land, and kind of paused the war as my father has a whole heap of issues to deal with up north rather than fighting with me. It works for us as it gives us more time to stabilize our foundations.”

“Good, I’m glad to see this place prosper. By the way, what’s with those statues?”

“…”

“…”

“Why is Lynne flipping the sky?”

“…”

“…”

“Yeah, it’s probably best I don’t know. Oh, right, Lynne told me to pick you up Median,” Parsia said. “So you’re coming back with me.”

“Yeah,” Median nodded, smiling lightly. “I was actually thinking about looking for him.”

“We’ll miss you around here, Median.” Elynal added.

“Ha ha, you’ve got it all under control,” Median said. “Lynne, on the other hand…”

“…”

“…”

“Khm, yeah, uh, so I’ll go and pack…”

And thus the adventures of the prince end, awaiting a new beginning.