Chapter 9: The Sensei in the Shadows

Sir Fiske stepped out of the meeting room where the representatives of the other kingdoms were bantering about some certain conflict occurring in their places. He thought about Hope's foretelling. Something was supposed to come and destroy the island. Is it rising already?

"The wind, it is uncontrollably freezing!" the Ekaterina alchemist, Sir Alistair, had said. He seemed serious, for he was wrapped in a thick coat upon arriving.

"Who would like to live near slimy seas?" the Tomas knight, Paul, had complained, with a pound on the table that almost destroyed it.

"The flowers are withering, the Life Tree is dying…what's to become of us?" the famous Janus painter, Fe, had asked worriedly.

The Lucian dame, Irina, however stated nothing. She was silent, but she was awfully anxious as well. Her eye kept twitching as the representatives discussed. It was an awkward feeling.

Fiske thought there was nothing bothering the Madrigal Kingdom so far. But his niece's prediction of Cahill Island's doom, which caused her intense vertigo, could be considered as conflict. It was, Fiske reflected, much worse than what the others had stated.

He had to do something about it. So he realized something that the family entrusted him to do. It was the least he could carry out…

…

The Madrigal adviser rode his horse home, went to their palace garden, and to the stone statue of his deceased sister, Grace, near her gravesite he went. He turned the small dial on the golden plate and the statue moved, revealing a secret passageway leading to an underground hall beneath it. He stepped down carefully and moved the statue back by pulling a lever attached to the stone wall. He continued his descent until a wooden door appeared in front of him.

He knocked. "Nellie?" His voice echoed through the hallway.

A girl with multi-colored hair in a black suit opened the door. "Sir Fiske!"

Fiske frowned. "Nellie, I told you about the hair last time," he said.

Nellie ignored it. "It looks good, doesn't it? How did the meeting go, by the way? I'm sure you've never said a single thing."

The adviser nodded. He paused for a while and sighed as he and Nellie walked into the room. An underground dojo. The room, like any other dojo, was unadorned. There was a stack of weapons on one side, and a few translucent glass windows. It had symbol of the Madrigal Kingdom on every column and on the wall in the center. A huge mat was on the floor. Nellie and Fiske walked in front and bowed to each other.

Nellie put her right fist against her open left hand. "Master-san," she greeted.

Fiske did the same. "Gakusei," he addressed her. Suddenly, he sent a flying kick towards Nellie, who ducked and tumbled in an instant. Even in his formal suit, the adviser moved swiftly and smoothly. Nellie swung her foot forward as she landed on the floor, a move Fiske avoided quickly. The fight lasted for a while, until Nellie was struck down by one of her master's punches.

He laughed. "I am proud to be your sensei."

"Me too," Nellie replied, fixing her rainbow hair. "So, about the meeting…"

"Ah, yes." Fiske cleared his throat and he let out a grim expression. "The Five Kingdoms are all experiencing different crises in their places. It's like some force is fighting against the magical boundaries of each. The Ekaterina Kingdom is experiencing winter in summer, the Tomas Kingdom's seas have turned into murky waters, the Janus Kingdom's Life Tree is dying, and the Lucian Kingdom…I'm not sure, but I think there is something happening that the dame wouldn't tell." He sighed. "I have a feeling…that we have to teach him as soon as possible. We have to be ready for this, Nellie. Hope's prediction is starting to make sense."

Nellie heard her master's anxious tone. "You mean what she said that something will destroy the island?" she asked. "Oh my..."

"We have to do this now. Let's try later, after the princes' meeting." Then, he straightened. "Well, I am your sensei. I have taught you everything you need to know as a ninja. I believe it's your turn to teach him."

Nellie flinched. "Wait. What? I don't know, but—"

"Let's just say it's your punishment for coloring your hair."

She sighed. "Ugh. Hmmm, it's for the Kingdom, anyway. I guess I could."

"Good." The sensei smiled.

"I'm sure he'll be easy to teach. After all, Prince Dan shows promise."

…

Fiske left the dojo and headed to Hope's room. He looked at her, solemn and glum. He sat beside her. Arthur was desperately holding his wife's hand on the other side. "I know how worried you are, son," Fiske said.

Arthur looked up. "Don't worry, Sir Fiske. I'm sure she'll be well." It was clear that he also felt desperate as he said those words. "What's happening?"

"Many things," the adviser replied.

Arthur immediately knew what Fiske meant, reading it on his face. He kissed Hope and stood up. "Is there something we should do now?"

Fiske nodded. "Prepare for war, Arthur."