Volume 2

Chapter 15 – I Want You to Join Me.

“Kiria what is it you wanted to talk about.” Storm yawns as he speaks. “it’s late and I’m sleepy.” Rubbing his eyes, in hopes of waking himself up.

“I apologize for disturbing you during your sleep but…,” Kiria signals for someone to move forward. “the old wise man wants to speak with you.”

Storm looks at the figure and continues, “I assumed you would come but I did not believe you would reach here so soon. Regardless tell me how did you locate one of my commanders.”

Kneeling on one knee Erlang continues, “It was a matter of pure coincidence, Your Highness. You see…”, he continued with the story.

***

Cat’s Tail Inn…

“Stop…” before Shen could continue, he heard a loud howl coming from the other side of the door.

“aaouu” Kiria howled and jumped into the inn destroying the door. “what’s going on here??” Kiria inquired with authority. Her eyes immediately shifting towards Shen who was standing with an unsheathed sword.

Shen without saying a word places his sword back into his sheath as he hears whispers spreading in the inn all talking about Kiria who was one of the King’s three commanders.

Shen talks to himself, “She is one of the commanders? No, matter how I look at it she seems like a monster. So, we were really being lied to.”

Kiria turned around and saw the harpy girl on the floor with the man at the counter standing in front of, protecting the girl. With a visible and audible sigh, Kiria says to the aggressor, “admit to your crimes now and the King may be lenient on you, if you do not admit but are found guilty your punishment will be severe.”

“Shut up you lowly monsters you deserve to be below us humans.” The man screams with a face of disgust and anger. He moves forward holding a fork trying to stab Kiria…

But before he can get anywhere close to Kiria, “Light Magic Shining restraints” as she casts the spell, two shining pieces of white cloth extend outwards from her body and completely wrap around the man turning him into a living mummy. He screams but his screams are muffled by the cloth wrapped around his mouth.

At that moment two soldiers announce their presence, “what’s going on here!!” they look around and see Kiria, they lower their heads in a show of respect and Kiria orders them to take the man away.

Kiria turns back around facing the girl, “I apologize miss, there are still many people who disapprove of humans and our kind living together despite the King’s orders. So, please do not take anything he said to heart, because our King who is much stronger than him approves our co-existence.”

The girl silently nods looks up and whispers a very soft, “Thank You.”

“I know this can never be enough but please accept this compensation on behalf of the King. “Kiria hands the girl a pouch full of coins. “Which was brought in by one of the guards. “She then thanks to the man who was behind the counter and hands him another smaller pouch of coins as compensation.”

After seeing the event go down Shen moves forward towards Kiria, “miss.” Before he could continue…

“Yes, you come with me.” She said signaling Shen to follow.

“But...” he couldn’t understand but regardless followed with a quizzical face.

Kiria seeing Shen’s confused face clarifies, “The King had been waiting for you he believed you would be here by tomorrow but it seems you were here a bit faster than anticipated.”

Still confused Shen inquires, “I understand but where are we going??”

“To meet the King of course, like you he also wants to avoid this war.”

***

Back to Present…

With a wide grin and a sigh Storm speaks, “Ahh, that is quite the story. So, tell me what is your assessment of me.”

“I believe we were tricked. You are very clearly a man who strives for equality, that’s why I would like to request that you don’t give my comrades a great punishment for their crimes.”

“Crimes you really assume they will be able to commit crimes??” Shen stands in silence, “you see before they even get near the gates they will be wiped out of existence.” Storm's eyes menacing like the dark night letting his aura go wild.

“what’s this feeling it’s- it’s so heavy the atmosphere here is crushing me, …but this aura is not of a human, neither is his mana excessively strong, even so, why do I feel so afraid.”

“You are a smart man… so tell do you now know who I am?”

“It can’t be are you not-,” Shen gets abruptly stopped by Storm.

“Shh everything from here on out is to be discussed behind close doors.” Storm begins to lead Shen into his room. “Oh, and Kiria you are free to do whatever you like.”

“Master may I follow you as well?”, Kiria says speaking in a sultry tone.

“Yes, you can join.” Kiria was elated to hear that and wagged her tail uncontrollably.

And with that, they all made their way to Storm’s room.

***

“My lord.” Aisha greets Storm with a slight bow.

“Aisha!! I thought I told you to go get rest.”

“Yes, you did but it’s my duty as an aide that requires me to be of assistance to you at any given moment.”

“Oh god, … huu ok please go to your room and sleep, and this is an order as the King of Estelle.”

“Yes, my lord.” Aisha takes a bow and leaves.

Storm opens the door and enters his room.

“Papa!!” Roseiri jumped and wrapped her hands around Storm’s neck.

“Roseiri why are you awake I thought you were asleep.”

“I was but then when I went to hug papa I realized, papa was not there. I thought papa had left me.”

“Oh, sorry baby but I am here now okay, so let’s get you into bed.”

After a few minutes Storm put Roseiri back to sleep.

“Ok let’s continue I am sure you have figured it out…,” Shen nods in response, “well no need to stay in this form. Storm gets out of his Human form. As you see I am not human I am a Dark Cumulus, isn’t that just fantastic.”

“If you are a monster, why would you want to live with humans.”

“That’s not of concern to you. What you should think about is you, comrades.”

“What do I need to do!?”

“You are a truly smart man. That’s why I want you, so join me become my ally…”

– END