Makiya

14. The White-Cross-Bearer

Ah, missed it this time. Andrey spoke as he realized he failed to see the beautiful sight in the King's Hall, as it happened at 12:00 exactly. 

Andrey thought having a clock is really amazing. He really enjoyed being organized and all his life he has always tried to be early or at least on time.

Well, the king didn't really tell him at what time he should arrive so he wasn't really late.

Passing by those great statues of war Andrey gazed upon them again. 

Spending a few moments looking at one of them he realized that there aren't any statues of mages around. Why? It was really weird as mages were obviously really amazing! Such power and potential! 

Does this mean they never went to war?

The royal guards moved aside their weapons and invited the young man inside. The great doors opened up and the glorious throne was as if bigger than the whole room. The King's Hall was so beautifully made and the engineer behind it was more than just a genius. The king with a crossed leg and a glass of wine in his hand sat down. 

The image of King Goodlie really made him look like he was filling the whole place. A truly magnificent sight. Andrey really didn't like such formalities, but this sight was so glorious that it struck respect in every person with at least a small bit of dignity. 

Andrey's gait had changed a lot. He walked like a warrior with confidence. This was due to his more built physique. His shoulders were wider, his back was stronger. He wasn't as big as other guards and warriors, not nearly as big as Nyadzel, but he appeared athletic.

Goodlie could see that the young man really has changed from the first time they met and he cherished this. He was an addition to his army, even though the boy didn't know that. 

"You will fight to survive, no matter what." the king thought as he was thinking of ways to manipulate Andrey to his desire. "He hasn't got anywhere to go. If he refuses to fight he will be chained down. Going to fight is basically being granted freedom to this boy. He will accept no matter what." Goodlie continued scheming as the boy just now came before him.

"Well hello there!" Andrey greeted as he reached out his hand towards the king. 

Goodlie was in obvious shock. Nobody ever comes to the king, doesn't kneel, doesn't bow, and just puts a hand in front and expect a greeting. A few seconds later he recovered from this state of mind and sealed the handshake.

The royal servant behind the throne sneaked from behind the throne with indescribable surprise.

Andrey smiled at the king as he didn't squeeze his hand too hard, but enough to feel that for a king his hands weren't too soft. He too was a fighter. 

Is he testing me?  The king wondered. 

The king smiled back and at that moment he felt something awkward about the boy. Andrey let go of his hand and the king sat back down. 

"Hello, Andrey. You're welcome!" Goodlie greeted in a natural voice with his gaze locked into the boy's eyes.

"I received your message about my gear."

"Yes. The servant should be bringing it to you any minute now. Do you want a drink?" 

"I don't drink, thank you." Andrey smiled.

"Atlates, what are you doing? Bring it in!"

"Y-yes, my king!" the royal servant replied as he almost tripped from trying to walk faster.

Atlates? That sure sounds greek to me. Poor guy. It must be hard to be ordered around all day long into whatever the king decides. He looks tolerant and understanding, but sometimes I really feel like he has his fair dose of evil behind that sharp gaze of his. Andrey thought to himself as he followed the servant's hasty steps.

Andrey observed the servant's physique. He was as if poor in weight. Definitely in his late fifties, maybe even more. He had slim clothes. Black and white suit with a bit of blue and gold around the neck to represent the colors of the nation and his shirt had a golden phoenix on the chest. It was sutured so that when you unbutton the shirt the phoenix would be split in half. It was a really fancy shirt.

To the young man's surprise, Atlates returned, but he wasn't carrying clothes. He was carrying a chest. Obviously it wasn't really that heavy, but the servant struggled with it. Maybe it was uncomfortable to carry?

The chest was placed before Andrey. Goodlie stood up from this throne and demanded Andrey to open it.

Slowly opening the chest the boy saw his black colored clothes very nicely folded.

"I would like you to try the gear. Take it and Atlates will lead you to a place you can change. Come to me when you're done." Goodlie ordered as he sat down and gazed into his wine.

Atlates asked politely that the young man would follow him. They went behind the throne into some blue curtains, which as if weren't there until now. 

There were multiple rooms, but the royal servant quickly navigated Andrey into some small tiny corner and asked of him to change clothes there. It appeared that people aren't usually allowed to come here. Maybe nobody ever did? Andrey wondered.

A black tank top with a lace covering the upper part of the chest, a black shirt, a cloak with a black top and red bottom, black tight pants, black shoes, black fingerless gloves, special belts for the blades. 

These were the contents of the chest. All these clothes were made with such great professionalism. The fabric was top notch. Andrey managed to recognize the leather on the clothes and although he hated it, these clothes were so well made that he loved every aspect of them. They felt extremely comfortable.

Dressing up he finally reached the last thing to equip and that was the cloak. A white cross with sharp edges decorated the center of the black-red cloak.

The king with unhid amaze glared at this marvelous character walking before him. Andrey and the servant came from the room behind the throne. 

The boy didn't look like himself anymore. The great black clothing suited him more than perfect. It perfectly fit him boosting the appearance of his physique. 

The white-cross cloak hiding the black blades tied to his back with the belts as if made his figure graceful. 

Goodlie left his glass on the table next to the throne and was just about to express his excitement until Andrey stepped toward him.

"I am left speechless. I have never worn something this good." Andrey said in a calm voice with a smirk on his face, unable to hide just how excited he is. 

"I admit that you look gracious..." the king said in a calm low voice.

"Go home and rest today. Tomorrow at 06:00 in the early morning meet the merchant in front of The Grand Shrine of Philius. His name is Polkas Reven. He trades with extremely expensive goods. He sells them here at the capital, but this doesn't mean he will be empty. He will be carrying his money, so he will be a high-value target. Protect him. After arriving at Ribas he will navigate you to his home. After doing so you must travel to Fronthornis. Beware of the dangers ahead and don't waste any time doing nothing. Nyadzel will be needing your assistance, for sure!" the king explained the task and expected Andrey to act politely and follow the codex by bowing and saying something like “As you order, my king!”.

Andrey stepped towards the king and his hand pointed out offering a handshake.

The king was stunned yet again. This time just a second later he smiled, stood up, and met the handshake.

Goodlie was a head above Andrey’s height, but Atlantes was surprised at this extreme event, seeing them as equals. As if two kings just signed a deal.

It was really rare to see such behavior. It’s not like Andrey didn’t know how to behave before a king. He had seen enough medieval series to see what others do. Though he had this realization in his head. “He is not my king. For what I know, I am more of a prisoner to him than else.”

And that was true. It’s not like Andrey is a part of this nation. He did benefit from it, but never really had a choice.

He wasn’t hostile, he just knew where he stood. To the boy, this King is just another person like him. This is why he purposely made sure he knew about his vision, the reason behind acting so irrational.

Goodlie realized that the boy comes from another world he knows nothing of. This is why he could tolerate this behavior without any negative emotion. It still did surprise him for he never experienced such awkwardness.

His dynasty ruled for ages, he has always been a king to everyone and never just a normal person to anybody. The image of the ruler was forever engraved on him.

The moment the boy squeezed the king’s hand again Goodlie felt something scary.

“This boy…” he thought “what is this darkness that I feel?”

Andrey walked away as the king gazed upon his black image.

“It’s as if there’s a huge shadow leaning over him.”

Just as Andrey was walking outside the door the king spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t… let it swallow you.” In a worrying warning voice.