Forgot to upload this one...

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[Ties] Bootcamp 15

The Kingdom of Perlas, a large nation situated in the middle of the Ashan Great Continent. A powerful entity established in the desert region of Asha. Home to 127 million Perlasians, it has a rich history of prosperity and turmoil. Lasting for well over three centuries, it had more than 60 generations of rulers.

Eqari Year 332.

A historic event had occurred during the reign of its 67th ruler, King Eleazar Arkansius Perlas. For the first time in its history, the Kingdom of Perlas elected their next king. Out of 127 million, 72 million people of age voted for their respective princes, Prince Emmanuel Perlas and Prince Elijah Perlas. This sudden change in succession made itself distinct from hereditary inheritance and usurpation of the throne.

The citizens of the Kingdom of Perlas, Perlasians and Eskurs, spent three days to vote. Usually, this would give enough time for either candidate to cheat. Nevertheless, the voting went by peacefully due to the efforts of the Royal Army and the Royal Guard. After voting, tallying the votes lasted for an entire week. Again, it had gone by peacefully. Manually counting 72 million votes by hand, errors were absolutely not permitted, and was personally overseen by the abdicating king.

A week after the voting had ended, the results were immediately declared.

///

Two youths stood before one another surrounded by a crowd of soldiers and Eskurs. In the crowd stood an Eskur woman, an Eskur doctor, a Perlasian man, and a Perlasian officer. The crowd formed a circle around the two youths, a young man and a young woman.

The two youths wore light clothing, and were in stances.

"Malachi, it had only been half a year since you woke up, " said Ibrahim, "do take care to not push yourself too hard."

"I'll be fine, doc, " replied Malachi, "Besides, I'm really curious about how Arlianne did with Uncle Greg's 'Special Training' while I slept."

"Well, we've got the medics and orderlies on standby in the off-chance you do collapse, " added Ibrahim pointing over to a tent set up nearby, "ah, maybe Bashia could do a better job at persuasion?"

Ibrahim looked at the woman beside him. Bashia was just watching the two with a smile.

"No need for that, Ibrahim, " denied Bashia, "I'm sure I've done enough to make him think twice about being reckless."

When Malachi heard her, chill ran down his spine.

'If this is what it's like to have a mother, " he thought, 'I don't know whether I should laugh or cry...'

This time, it was Emmanuel's turn to speak up.

"Think about it this way, " he said, "at least we could see whether or not Malachi is fit to enroll in the academy or not with this. I know his ability had relatively dwindled as he slept, but let's just see the end result."

"Ahem, Your Majesty, we are burning daylight, " interrupted Malachi, "Can we get it on already? The heat from the high noon sun will easily sap our stamina."

Emmanuel, the new king of Perlas, stared and shrugged at Malachi.

"Well, Your Highness, feel free to start anytime, " he replied with a smirk, "Greg, if you would."

Gregory stepped forward with a flaglet and stood in-between Malachi and Arlianne.

"All right, here are the rules, " he announced, "No lethal blows and that's it. You may throw, bind, pin, smack, or do whatever to your opponent. Just no killing strikes or lethal techniques. You will spar for as long as you can until one side becomes tired or resigns from the match. Any questions?"

Malachi raised his hand.

" 'Anything' is allowed?" he asked, " 'Anything' apart from killing blows?"

"Yes, that is right." affirmed Gregory, "You may spit at your opponent if that's what you're getting at."

A few people from the crowd let out stifled laughter and displayed slackened jaws in surprise. Others even chatted with another whether the Royal Phoenix before them was serious or not. Malachi just stretched his body and leapt around in his place excitedly.

"Brilliant." He commented.

"Mally, don't go overboard." Warned Bashia with a frown, "Arlianne, feel free to put him in pain, if you must."

"Yes, Mama." Affirmed Arlianne, "Malachi, I don't know what you plan to do, but do know that I plan to beat you."

A malicious grin floated on Malachi's face in response to both Bashia and Arlianne.

"Oh, don't worry, Mama, " he said, "I have a way of ending this fight swiftly and safely. Just thinking about it makes me tingle."

Bashia stared at Malachi.

"Never mind. Arlianne, beat him black and blue for me, " she ordered with a cold smile, "Eman, Greg, stay put."

"Er, okay?" Replied Emmanuel, "Uh, Malachi, good luck."

Malachi ignored everybody else and focused on Arlianne. Gregory looked at both of them before raising the flaglet.

"Well, seeing as both of you are feisty, " he said before dropping the flaglet and leaping back, "Begin!"

The first to move was Malachi. Charging forward, he faced Arlianne squarely for a tackle. Arlianne responded with a charge of her own, and thirsting her right palm forward. Malachi dropped his body mid-charge, leapt forward for a lunging tackle, and nearly grappled Arlianne's legs.

"Tch, quite fast, aren't you?" He commented, "Wonder what you did with Uncle Greg?"

Arlianne dodged his tackle by leaping to the right. Afterwards, she delivered a kick aimed at Malachi's waist.

"How about you?" She inquired, "You move like you hadn't slept for a year. Ah, darn it."

Malachi did a backflip, and Arlianne missed her attack. She, then, jabbed her left fist towards Malachi's head as he landed, but Malachi ducked in time and swept his leg beneath her.

"Even in my sleep, I practice as I dream." He replied, "It's a phenomenon called 'lucid dreaming' where you're in almost complete control of your dreams. Oops."

Arlianne somersaulted and brought an axe kick upon Malachi from above as she evaded his leg swipe. Malachi twisted and spun his body to the left to evade since he was low enough to launch himself.

"Is that another ability from your past?" She wondered, "Your stories from your past life were already unbelievable. Then again, seeing you, doubts would naturally be dispelled. Grgh, take this!"

Arlianne swept up some dust to blind Malachi. Surprised, Malachi leapt back and ran around the perimeter.

"Haha! So close!" He laughed, "You know, after all these years, I have yet to do one thing with you."

Malachi's gaze sharpened, and a chill ran down Arlianne's spine.

...

The crowd around them neither cheered nor jeered. Simply watching the two youths spar to their hearts' content.

"Hmm, Malachi hasn't rusted a bit." commented Gregory, "To think he could fight for this long despite his year-long sleep."

"Hold up, " interrupted Emmanuel, "Since when did Malachi practice combat? Before he slept, all he had done was stamina and endurance training, right?"

"If you listened closely, he said something practicing in his sleep." Said Ibrahim, "Then again, is it even possible to be in control of the subconscious?"

"Do you mean... rather, does he mean to say he practiced as he slept?" Wondered Gregory, "If so, it wouldn't be surprising. Although, for it to reflect on his body in reality... Is it really possible?"

"You've seen his scar... or the lack of it on his back, " argued Ibrahim, "Frankly, I'd rather believe it to be from the mix of being a half. On the topic of dreams, we can only believe him since only he experiences it. We all have dreamt, yes? Some are vivid, most are just vague, others are just plain strange."

Those watching just analyzed the fight and conversed amongst themselves.

"Looks like Malachi's getting serious." said Emmanuel.

"Does that mean he wasn't serious before?" wondered Gregory, "Any ideas?"

"Anything goes, right?" inquired Emmanuel, "No clue, but judging from Malachi's personality, it shouldn't be too bad."

...

Malachi's gaze sharpened, and he made a wide grin. Arching his body forward, he mimicked the form of a wild beast. Arlianne's brows furrowed as she watched Malachi change his stance.

'He must be getting serious, no?' She thought, 'What are you planning to do, and what is that one thing you have yet to do with me?'

Arlianne shook her head to get rid of unnecessary thoughts, but that momentary action gave Malachi the chance to strike. Malachi dropped his body and pounced towards Arlianne like a beast, his arms stretched forward to grapple her again. Arlianne prepared herself to dodge, but Malachi shifted his trajectory with unmatched agility like a wild cat. His arms had become akin to a beast's forelegs, while his legs propelled his body forward.

This sudden change in style caught Arlianne off guard as she failed to react on time to dodge Malachi's attack. She tried sending a kick towards Malachi, but Malachi openly received the attack and latched himself onto Arlianne. Panicking, she tried to kick him away with futile effort.

Malachi, as he was on Arlianne, unbelievingly snaked his way around her body. Using centrifugal force to move around, he effectively pinned Arlianne to the ground.

Seeing this, Gregory was about to call off the match as Malachi was evidently the victor, but Emmanuel held him back.

"Not yet, Greg, " he said, "The match isn't over yet, look at her eyes. Those aren't the eyes of someone who had resigned herself. Besides, anything goes, right?"

Malachi pinned Arlianne down, almost effortlessly, and the two were literally face to face with one another.

"Remember what I said?" He spoke as he bound Arlianne's body, "There was one thing I have yet to do with you all these years."

"Guh, you just said it a moment ago, " she replied, "How could I forget? You mean this?"

Malachi grinned.

"Not quite, " he said, "But what I'm about to do next."

He did the deed, and her eyes went wide with shock. She couldn't speak a word but only stare at the young man before her. The surrounding gazes also froze. Bashia, Ibrahim, Emmanuel, and Gregory could only stare dumbfounded at what Malachi had done.

Arlianne ceased her struggling, and her limbs went limp. Her eyes swam, and her breathing momentarily stilled.

Malachi retreated with a gasp of fresh air. He released his grasp on Arlianne, and her body fell on the ground. Standing up, he spoke.

"Well, guess I win this one, " he said, "Anything goes, after all."

...

Bashia gleefully hummed as she hugged Arlianne. Arlianne was still in shock, trying to figure out what had happened. Emmanuel could only snicker, while Gregory let out a sigh. Ibrahim just shrugged and let time go by.

"Hey, it wasn't that bad, was it?" wondered Malachi, "We could go for another round until you find one that you like?"

Arlianne hid her face behind Bashia's sleeve.

"Mally, stop bullying her." Scolded Bashia, "Still, to think you'd actually do that. I wasn't expecting it, but I'm quite happy."

"Mama..." Groaned Arlianne, "Ooh..."

"Haha, silly child, to think you were this shy." Said Bashia as she caressed Arlianne's head, "I always knew that Malachi had always gone reckless, but not to being so upfront like this. Heehee."

"But, you know, that was pretty embarrassing to do in public." Commented Emmanuel, "Ah, but I may have to do it with Bashia in the future."

Everybody looked at Emmanuel.

"What? I plan to let everyone know about us, " he explained, "Sooner or later, it will be known one way or another."

"Er, Pops, " interrupted Malachi, "Do you think you could hold that announcement off for a while?"

Emmanuel raised a brow.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I plan to enroll as a Skaria, not as royalty." Explained Malachi, "I want to establish my recreations as an Eskur, first, before the big revelation as the prince. I'll have less problems that way, too."

"Wait, wait, wait." Interrupted Gregory, "What do you mean by 'less problems'? Shouldn't being a prince give you a lot of privileges that an ordinary student wouldn't receive?"

Malachi frowned.

"But that's too boring, " he argued, "I want to experience life as a commoner in the academy. How about this, the academy hosts an inter-class competition, right? How about if I win that, only then you will officially announce us to the kingdom. That way, people will know that I will be a force to reckon with."

"Are you sure that's your plan?" Wondered Bashia, "Mally, knowing you, you'd just rather see everyone's shocked expressions by the time of revelation, right?"

"You know me too well, Mama." Affirmed Malachi.

"Hmph, you make it sound like you weren't born from me, " she said, "At least we have Arlianne to keep an eye on you, right, sweetie?"

Arlianne tightened her grip on Bashia's sleeve as she nodded her head behind it. Seeing this, Malachi just laughed happily.

///

In an unknown location, Elijah was with three other individuals. The first individual had a phoenix insignia emblazoned on his sleeve. The second individual wore a wholly black uniform with a serial number printed on his chest. The last individual wore a uniform with a falcon insignia emblazoned on his sleeve and had a metal leg.

"What are your plans now, milord?" Asked the Royal Phoenix, "Will we be moving to our castle?"

Elijah just sat in his seat, hands clasped together beneath his chin. He stared straight at the door across him, not minding the query of his subordinate.

"Milord?" the Royal Phoenix called him out.

Elijah let out a sigh, and turned his attention at the black-garbed man.

"Any news from the other side?" He asked.

The black-garbed man pulled out a folder and handed it to Elijah. Opening it, his eyes narrowed to slits from what was written on a stack of reports.

"So the child was his son, " he murmured, "Hrmm, keep an eye on the boy, but don't do anything to him just yet."

"Sir, if what the reports had said were true..." Interrupted the Royal Phoenix.

Elijah stared back, then moved his gaze on the man with the metal leg. The man with the metal leg shifted his legs uncomfortably when he met Elijah's gaze.

"Just keep an eye on the boy, " he repeated, "Merely as a simple repayment for the both of them. That is one mercy I will give to a Tainted."

"Then?" Urged the Royal Phoenix.

Elijah nodded.

"Continue as planned, " he said, "It was a shock to have lost by a slim margin. With this, however, we will make them remember the sins of the past."

Elijah dropped the folder on his desk. In it was Malachi's profile, along with Arlianne's, Bashia's, and Emmanuel's.

"I will wait for an opportunity to wring the majority's support from him to my side."