August 19, 1987
I've never been a fan of traveling, but yesterday morning King Bowser offered me a proposition that I could not resist. He mentioned to me that my newfound friend, King Leirelat, was hosting a meeting between the kingdoms of Alteria, Oceanside, and Dark World. As second-in-command to my king, it was my duty to join him on his journey to the frigid land of Alteria. Several years ago I made a few trips there on Council business, and all I could remember from those voyages was that Alteria's summers felt like winters. Still I knew that the meeting would be greatly advantageous to Dark World and Leirelat's kingdom, and quickly obliged to go. It was surprising to hear that Oceanside was once again cooperating with Alteria, because as of last January, contact between the two had ceased. I can only pray that a peaceful resolution will be reached and further conflict avoided.
Over the last few weeks, the Crown Prince had been pestering me about when he was going to see the Alterian princess again, so I took the liberty of asking King Bowser if his eldest son could accompany us on this trip. At first the king was adamant about the boy remaining home, but after some coaxing on my part, he agreed to yet Ludwig join us, as long as I kept a close eye on him. Cleverly, I surprised the Crown Prince last night by telling him to prepare for a journey on the airship that next morning. I clearly remember him looking up at me with those large blue eyes of his, complete with a perplexed look on his face. Although he was only eleven years old, he always struck me as looking a bit older than other boys his age. It definitely was a more mature look...something you wouldn't expect to see on a preteen. All tangents aside, I explained to him that his father and I were taking a trip to Alteria to visit with King Leirelat on business, and he was allowed to come along and visit his sorceress friend. Naturally he was excited about the news, then asked if Victoria, or as he calls her, Tori, knew we were coming. I told him I wasn't sure, since Leirelat shares very little about political matters with his daughter. Ludwig said he wasn't going to mention anything to the princess if he "spoke" to her that night, and wanted to keep it a surprise. I still find it interesting how two people can have normal conversations with each other while being hundreds, if not thousands, of miles apart. I envied the young sorcerer's ability.
The next morning I had made it to the airship bright and early before my king or the prince. The sky was clear, absent of any clouds. It was a perfect morning for an airship ride! Since I was going on official business, I had to dress up in a suit. It had been a long time since I wore one of these things, as King Bowser doesn't require me to wear formal attire while living at the castle. The morning sun was hotter than usual, and all I could do was pull at my collar and tie while waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. A long time ago, Monika had remarked about how handsome I looked all dressed up. I could still hear her voice in my head, and it caused me to chuckle to myself. I ran a hand through my dark brown hair and shook my head. A voice from behind me broke my concentration. It was Captain Valor.
"Doesn't this sun feel like a bitch on your back, Head Administrator?"
I turned around to greet the captain and held out my hand for him to shake. He firmly took it and began laughing.
"That suit looks awfully uncomfortable, Head Administrator."
"What's with the formalities, Valor?" I smiled.
The captain chuckled again, "You just look like you'd rather be back in bed, that's all, Kamek. So, you and the king are taking a trip to Alteria today. Is this a friendly day trip, or are you guys going to talk about shitty stuff like politics and everything else boring of that nature?"
"Well," I began. "You could say we're going on a business trip. King Bowser is meeting with Oceanside's King Edward and King Leirelat. I'm sure I'll take part in the festivities as well."
"Don't sound so excited now, Kamek!" Valor joked. "Although, today is a gorgeous day to do some air traveling. I haven't had his Majesty on the airship in some time. How's the Queen? Has she popped out another one yet?"
"Any day now, Captain."
"She's such a tightwad. It's amazing how she can fit anything through there-"
Before Valor could make me squirm with his graphic metaphor, I was relieved to hear the voice of my Crown Prince. "Hi Kamek!"
"Ludwig!" I greeted my protegee as he made his way up the airship ramp. King Bowser walked at his son's side, wearing an outfit all to similar to my own. Even the prince was dressed up in a pair of tan dress pants with a white button down shirt. Complete with his personality, he could've definitely passed for a fourteen year old...except that he was still a tad bit short. For a moment, Ludwig reminded me of his father, but only in stature. "Your Highness." I nodded my head as my king walked up to Valor and I.
"Good morning, gentlemen." King Bowser started. "When shall we be leaving?"
"Hello there, your Highness." In a rare moment of seriousness, Valor bowed his head in respect for King Bowser. Even though he had been the airship's captain for a number of years, he had never seemed to strike up a relationship with my king. I've always enjoyed talking to the captain on airship rides, as he is quite the character.
"Good morning, Captain Valor." Bowser politely smiled back.
"And hello, your little Highness." Valor addressed Ludwig as he ruffled the prince's hair. "I didn't know you were accompanying your father and Kamek on this trip."
Although I knew for a fact that Ludwig didn't like people touching his hair, he beamed up at the captain anyway. "Hi Captain Valor." The prince paused for a few seconds and squinted as the sun got in his eyes. "Yes, I'm coming along to visit a friend."
"Ah, that's nice. Anything beats staying in the castle all day, especially on a day like today. Kamek, do you know how the weather's supposed to be in Alteria today?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure, Captain. But if it's anything like it was last time I was there, it's going to be a bit chilly, even in August."
"Then maybe these suits will have paid off then!" King Bowser laughed as he mimicked the action I had made earlier by pulling on his collar.
"I sure hope so." I added, tugging on my tie. I honestly did not mind dressing up, but standing outside on a sweltering summer morning was making things much worse than just the chafing against my neck.
"Well then gentlemen, shall we depart?" my king interrupted with a grin. "I don't want to be late. It wouldn't look right for the king of Dark World and his entourage to show up tardy, now would it?"
"No, it wouldn't! I'll prepare for departure now. Get comfortable, your Highness." Captain Valor bowed his head once again, then left to go address his crew.
"...Sounds like a good idea." King Bowser said to himself as he walked off somewhere on the deck.
I took this opportunity to look down at the Crown Prince, who reminded me of a miniature version of myself as he too began to play around with his collar. "Are you nervous about this ride, Ludwig?"
"Umm, I suppose I am, but just a little bit. I've been getting used to riding on this thing."
I chuckled as I put my arm around the boy and pulled him close to me. "Yes, you'll get used to it eventually. In the beginning, rides like this are never good on the stomach."
He returned the gesture and placed his arm around my waist. "I hope so. I'm tired of feeling like I'm going to puke every time I get on this thing!"
We both laughed, and I couldn't help but squeeze his shoulder. I made it no secret about how I thought of the boy. Everyone around us saw how I treated him as if he were my own son. I looked up momentarily to find the king gazing at the two of us with a rather unexpressive look on his face, standing about ten feet away. At first I froze, unsure of how to react, but then I quickly calmed down and shot the king a jubilant smile. I don't think Ludwig noticed, but if he did, he remained quiet. King Bowser bent his head in acknowledgment, then walked off to find a place to sit. I knew damn well that the king was aware of the relationship between his son and I, but I don't think he cares much. If my son was treating another man like his father and leaving me in the cold, I would be extremely hurt, and not to mention embittered. Fortunately enough for me, my son was right there by my side. I may have failed Monika, but I won't fail him.
"Go ahead, Ludwig. Find a nice place to sit, because I think we're going to be taking off shortly." I said, nudging him on the arm.
"I want to sit close to the railing this time and look out."
"Oh, really? I'm impressed with you, young man. You seem to be getting over your fear quicker than I expected."
"Yeah but..." the boy grinned. "Can you come and sit with me anyway?"
"Of course!" I exclaimed. "I think there are some seats over there."
We both walked over to the opposite side of the main deck and took seats that weren't too far away from the ship's railing. I didn't see my king anywhere in sight and wasn't sure where he had planted himself, nor did I care much to know. My relationship with him has suffered somewhat over the past few years. It all began around the time I became Head Administrator and Ludwig's teacher. Previous to that, I had remained on friendly terms with King Bowser, even under the foggy circumstances surrounding Monika's death. Despite everything, he was my friend, but now I feel that things have started to change between us. That icy stare he gave me earlier only solidified my convictions. It wasn't exactly the terms I had wanted between a Head Administrator and his king, but I downplayed my feelings towards him when it came to politics. After all, I was second-in-command until Ludwig got old enough, and had to put my duty before my own petty emotions.
Soon after the prince and I sat down, Captain Valor made an announcement that we would be departing as soon as possible.
"You alright, Ludwig?" I asked as I looked down at the boy. He turned his attention towards me and nodded his head. "Good. I'm sure the captain would be upset if you made a mess all over his deck."
"Hehe. Eww..." the boy grinned. "Hey, Kamek?"
"Yes?"
"I've been working a lot on my sorcery lately."
"You have?" I raised an eyebrow. "By yourself?"
"Well, yeah I guess so. I've just been learning how to concentrate better and built up power for my spells. I want to attempt some stronger fifth tier ones soon."
"I've already seen you cast some pretty powerful ones, Ludwig. Earlier we managed to find out what your tier is...at least for now." His comment caused me to think about the conversations with his mother. I couldn't help it, but I was being nosey. "Speaking of that, have you been talking to your mom?"
"We talk all the time."
"I'm glad to hear that." I was beginning to get the notion that his tier wasn't going to remain five forever. "Have anything interesting to tell her lately?"
"Just about my training. I've mentioned you to her several times, as well as Bowser."
"Heh, what did she have to say about your father?" I was interested to hear what the late Queen had to mention about her husband, considering towards the end of her short life, she didn't have anything pleasant to say about him.
"She doesn't like to badmouth him to me, but she says you're doing a much better job than he is." He started to giggle. "Come to think of it, she talks about you a lot."
"Oh really? You can tell her that I think of her a lot too."
"Sure."
It was at that moment in the conversation when the airship began to move. I noticed the boy's hands nervously grip the side of his chair as the ship lifted off the ground. He was getting close to overcoming his fear, but he wasn't quite there yet. I affectionately wrapped my arm around him, as if to say, "don't worry, everything will be fine." And for the rest of the ride it was.
We arrived in Alteria almost two hours later. I could feel the drastic drop in climate as soon as we crossed over the mountains bordering between Teknara and Alteria. It had to be somewhere in the 60's temperature-wise, which was steaming hot for an Alterian August early afternoon. For the first time that day, I was glad to be wearing a suit! Captain Valor landed our airship on the Alterian castle's private airstrip with ease. It wasn't until after I got off the ship that I saw King Leirelat's private jet parked next to our airship. The startling contrast between the two was rather humorous. The jet was small and traveled at much quicker speeds than our royal method of transportation did, but it lacked the intimidating look our ship had.
My king had surprised me once the airship landed by practically sneaking up next to me without saying a word. His voice caused me to jump.
"Riding on this thing is nice, but I'm just glad to be getting my feet on the ground again!"
"Your Highness!" I cried. "I didn't see you during the ride. Where were you?"
"Inside. Sometimes I get nauseous while traveling on the airship, so I like to stay indoors incase if I get...ill."
"Ah, that's understandable." I said. It was amusing to finally find out that Ludwig resembled his father in another way besides stature. They both suffered from motion sickness.
"Where's my son?" the king asked as his eyes scanned the area behind me.
"He had gotten up to walk around about ten minutes ago. I'm sure he's around here somewhere. He doesn't like traveling on the airship either."
"Oh? That's something I didn't know. Interesting." the king partially said to himself. "Well, when you find him, let me know I was looking for him."
"Yes, your Highness. I'll do just that." My tone had a sardonic quality to it, which I tried my best to hide. "I'll let him know."
"Leirelat is waiting for me. Please keep an eye on Ludwig. I know he has a habit of...misusing his powers."
"I'll prevent him from walking through any walls, your Majesty." I had to grin at my words. All silliness aside, I felt the need to question the king about something. "King Bowser, will I be joining you in your meeting with the two kings?"
"Why do you ask, Kamek?"
"Well...I am Head Administrator, and thought it would be a good idea to get involved in the current situation." I didn't come all the way to Alteria to be the royal babysitter. Although I cared greatly for the Crown Prince, I wanted to get involved in what was going on in the meetings. It was odd for me to be absent, considering I did hold a great deal of Dark World's political power.
"Of course you'll be joining us, but first I want to get acquainted with King Edward on my own. For now, you'll watch over Ludwig, then when I'm ready for you, I'll send someone to request your presence."
"If that's the way you want things, your Majesty, I cannot complain."
"Good. Then shall we go?" He motioned with his arm towards the steps leading off the airship. "I don't want to keep them waiting."
"You go ahead, your Highness. I'll find Ludwig first, then meet up with you later."
"Very well." With that he flashed another smile, then made his way off the airship. I didn't have to look far to find the prince, as he was now seated in the same place he had been throughout most of the ride. I walked over to him, pulling my suit jacket closed to avoid the chilly breeze.
"Come on, Ludwig. Time to go and meet the princess."
"Was he being a jerk again, Kamek?" he unexpectedly asked me. I already knew who he was talking about, but inquired for further information anyway.
"Who being a jerk?"
"My father. What did he say to you?"
"Oh, he just told me to keep an eye on you for the time being. Later on I'll be meeting with the three kings. You shouldn't really be calling him a 'jerk' though, Ludwig. He is your father after all." It irked me to say those words, but it was true. Besides, I had a few choice names to call the king myself, and "jerk" was definitely the tamest of them all.
"Eh, whatever." Ludwig nonchalantly replied back as he stood up. "I want to go meet with Tori now."
"Then let's go and find her then."
"Head Administrator!" came a voice from out of nowhere. "I'm glad you could make it!"
Ludwig and I looked up to see a familiar looking figure making his way over to us.
"Head Administrator Gregory, so good to see you again!" I exclaimed, shaking the man's hand.
"I'm sorry if I'm not allowed on your ship or not, but I couldn't help myself." he chuckled, releasing his grip on my hand. "You have quite a flying machine here, Head Administrator."
"From one administrator to another, just call me Kamek." I smiled. "And it's perfectly fine if you wanted to take a peek at our ship. It isn't your typical piece of modern engineering."
"No, that it isn't." Gregory then held out his hand for the prince to take. "Hello there, your Highness. I'm also very glad that you could make it too. Have you ever been to Alteria before?"
"Thank you, sir. No, I never have." Ludwig answered. The Alterian Administrator shook the boy's hand with such force that I practically saw the poor prince shake all over.
"Princess Victoria has no idea you're here. Why don't I bring you to her? I believe she's in the main living room with her new pet."
"New pet?" I questioned. I immediately thought of the story the princess had told me when I first met her, about turning her father's bird into an ice cube.
"Oh, you'll see. It's a mischievous little thing."
"She didn't mention anything to me about a new pet." Ludwig said to me.
"That's because she just got it yesterday." Gregory already began walking towards the airship's ramp. "Come on, let's go!"
"He's an energetic character, now isn't he?" I smirked at the Crown Prince.
"Maybe it's something in the water."
"Ah, that could be it. Well let's go and catch up to him!"
So Ludwig and I followed Head Administrator Gregory off the airship and into the castle. My king had already met with King Leirelat, leaving myself and the prince in the care of Alteria's royal hospitality. Gregory led us down a long, magnificent hallway adorned with paintings and photographs. I couldn't get a good look at any of them because we were walking at such a fast pace, but made a mental note to go exploring around the Alterian castle later. It wasn't long before we stopped in front of an open door at the end of the hallway. Our guide turned to us and covered his lips with his index finger, signaling us to keep quiet. He stepped into the room first.
"Your Highness! You have some company. Come out and greet them!" Gregory called into the room. I tried to peek my head in, but didn't want to be noticed too early, so I stayed back once I heard her voice.
"What Gregory? I'm busy!"
At that point, he motioned for us to enter the room.
"There she is." he whispered, nodding his head to the back of the room. There was Princess Victoria, on her hands and knees, with her...backside turned towards us. She appeared to be searching under the coffee table for something, and didn't even notice us come in. "What are you searching for, sweetie?"
"Isis is hiding under here and she won't come out!"
"Have you tried-"
"Oh there she goes!" Out from under the table darted a small black and white kitten. It zipped past the princess and the three of us, only to disappear somewhere down the hallway. Victoria turned around to be greeted by a sight she wasn't expecting. Her amethyst eyes shone when she saw my prince.
"Louie!" she squealed, hopping to her feet. "I didn't know you were coming today!"
"I wanted to surprise you, Tori." he smiled as she welcomed him with a hug. I don't think he expected it, but slowly returned the gesture.
"And you act like I'm not even here, your Highness?" I joked as I stared at the children.
"Hi, Mr. Kamek! I had no idea the two of you were coming! My dad didn't say anything." She glared at Ludwig. "And neither did you!"
"I told you, I wanted it to be a surprise." he answered.
"It's very nice, isn't it?" Gregory interjected. "But you better go after your cat before it ends up eating the houseplants again."
"You're right!" Victoria began to tug on the prince's sleeve. "Come on, you can come with me! I'm going to need help catching her. She's such a brat!"
"Sure." Ludwig smiled.
"You too, Mr. Kamek!"
"If you insist, your Highness."
With that, the two scooted down the hallway after the feline. Before leaving to join them, I addressed Gregory. "So you weren't invited into the meeting either?"
"No." He shook his head. "Odd, isn't it?"
"Very."
"We will be attending later, but as for now, the king doesn't want us there. I'm about as clueless as you, Kamek."
"I figured that. Is King Edward here already?"
"Yes, he arrived shortly before you did. He's in there with them now."
"And he didn't bring Oceanside's Head Administrator?"
"No, I don't believe so." Gregory stated. "Just between you and me, do you think the kings have been acting strangely lately?"
"I agree with you, Head Administrator. I've noticed it for some time now."
"Kamek!" Ludwig's voice interrupted from down the hall. "Hurry up!"
"We'll talk more later." I told Gregory. Apparently it wasn't only me who was starting to get suspicious. Well, I shouldn't say 'starting to get suspicious.' I've been suspecting things for a long time now about my king, and now it had spread to Alteria. Once I met with the kings and Gregory again in the meeting later on, I was going to make it a point to bring this topic up. I was beginning to grow tired of being left in the dark.
"Of course. Now, go after her Highness. I'm not sure who causes more trouble; her or the cat!"
"I'll keep an eye on her for you." I smiled, then left the room to go after the two. "I'm coming!"
"We're in here!" came the prince's voice from a room on the opposite end of the hallway. I quickly made my way down the long corridor and found the children in what appeared to be another living room of some sort. Victoria was standing on one side of the room, with Ludwig on the other. The little kitten was seated in the center of the room, between the two, and was now staring up at me. Evidently I was blocking her exit while I stood in the doorway.
"Don't move, Mr. Kamek!" the princess directed. "She can't get out now."
I wasn't sure how to react, but stayed put. "Alright, I'll stay here."
"Gonna grab her, Tori?" Ludwig quietly asked his friend.
"Yeah," She started to take small steps over to the cat in order not to startle it a second time. "Come...on...Isis."
Isis directed her attention away from me and back to her mistress. She innocently stared up at her, unafraid. The creature was adorable, I had to admit. I was more of a dog-lover, but the kitten was too cute for me to dislike. Seeing Isis sitting there reminded me of my ex-wife's cat, who had a penchant for tearing up my dress pants and shirts. I hated it almost as I hated Camille, but if I had to chose between the two, I would've picked the cat.
"She's staring straight at you." the prince said to Victoria, his voice still soft. "I think she knows what you're going to do."
"She probably does, but I have to grab her." The princess quickly made a motion to bend down and pick Isis up when the kitten bolted out of the way, only to be snatched up by an alert Ludwig. The cat didn't expect him to grab her so fast and began to struggle. "Thanks, Louie!"
"I've had plenty of practice chasing after toddlers." he quipped, handing the animal over to the princess.
"Nice reflexes, young man." I commented. "And you didn't even have to use your powers to catch her!"
"Isis, you're such a troublemaker!" Victoria scolded as she planted a kiss on top of the animal's black head. "Hey, do you two want a tour of my home?"
"Sure, that would be lovely, Princess. I was just about to request one, actually." I smiled. "From what I can tell already, your castle is much bigger than ours back in Dark World."
"Yeah, you can get lost easily in this place." The princess held Isis tightly in her arms and pressed her close to her chest. "Just like my kitty here."
"By the way," I began. "Where's your nanny? I believe her name was Erica."
"Oh, I dunno. Maybe she's got the day off." she smirked at me. "C'mon, let's go!"
Once Victoria made sure the cat was firmly in her grasp, she guided Ludwig and I down the hallway, making comments here and there about who was in the photographs, what she did for fun around the castle, and about how there were "too many damn rooms" in the place. I had to agree with her there. Almost every single room she showed us looked like a carbon copy of the one before it, except for the spectacular library, which took up two entire floors of the palace. It was much bigger than anything back home, and made me envious. I'd have to make another journey to Alteria just to browse the library's shelves. Next, she brought us outside to view the gorgeous rose gardens. The kingdom was known for its blue roses, which were unique only to Alteria, and the royal garden was filled with them. I was surprised to learn from Victoria that the flowers grew all year round, no matter how frigid it had gotten outside. I had never heard of evergreen roses before. If Monika were still alive, I would've brought her back a bouquet. Upon reentering the castle, we walked into a gallery of photographs. Victoria had stopped in the center of the room and began to explain who the people in the pictures were. While she talked, I took notice of a large photograph in an ornate frame of a young couple. I instantly recognized the man as a younger version of King Leirelat, and although I didn't know for sure, I had a good idea who the lady was next to him.
"You're right, Mr. Kamek." the princess mentioned out of nowhere. "That's my mom."
I looked at her with an embarrassed expression on my face. "I'm sorry if it seemed as if I was snooping. I really wasn't. I can be a bit nosey at times."
"No, you don't have to apologize. I was going to show you two the picture anyway." She made her way over to the shelf where the frame was and picked it up to show me. Ludwig joined us too.
"Wow," the prince started. "You look just like her, Tori."
"Indeed you do." I added.
. "That's what my dad tells me all the time. It's cool that I was named after her."
I studied the photo of the Alterian queen. Before I ever met Leirelat, all I had known about his wife was that she was also a powerful sorceress with a reputation of keeping mostly to herself. Victoria shared with her mother the same amethyst colored eyes and long black hair. Even their facial structures were the same, except that the princess seemed to have inherited her father's nose.
"Do you talk to her often, Victoria?" I asked, my gaze focusing on the princess. She too was staring down at the picture, as if it was the first time she had seen it.
"All the time. I haven't spoken to her in two days, but then again I've been busy running around chasing Isis, so I haven't had much time to sit down and really concentrate."
"I know how that is." Ludwig began. "There are some times I can't even clear my head, and I can't hear her voice. Then there are times where I can concentrate, but I hear nothing."
The princess shook her head in accord. "Yup, that's exactly it. There are times I can't even summon her. I guess spirits come and go as they please or something."
"Perhaps." I muttered. Evidentially spirits could be temperamental too!
Victoria returned the picture to its resting place. "Hey, are any of you hungry?"
"Yeah..." Ludwig giggled. "I haven't eaten anything all morning."
"What about you, Mr. Kamek?"
"Well, the bagel and coffee I had this morning won't be able to appease me for much longer. I wouldn't mind getting a bite to eat."
"I'll introduce you two to our chef, Mr. Bristelle. He cooks anything I tell him to!" she exclaimed.
"Sounds good to me!" I nodded my head.
She proceeded to lead us out of the room and down another long hallway, complete with fancy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Whoever decorated the castle sure had a taste for style, and made my home look drab in comparison. Victoria held her cat close while she prattled on with the Crown Prince. It almost looked like she was holding a baby. I let them walk ahead so they wouldn't feel as if they were being watched, even if that was exactly what I was doing. I had to chuckle when I surveyed the princess' outfit. Unlike Ludwig and I who were dressed up, the girl was decked out in blue jeans, a white shirt with a teddy bear on it, and pink socks. I suspected that she felt much more comfortable in those clothes rather than the dress she had worn the last time we saw her. It made me tug at my collar again, wishing I was wearing a simple t-shirt rather than this tie.
Finally we reached the kitchen. The princess led us in and directed us to take a seat at a large decorated table while she disappeared off somewhere. I took this opportunity to question the Crown Prince.
"How are you enjoying your visit, Ludwig?"
"Oh, I really like it here," he answered as his eyes scanned the room. The kitchen in Alteria was about the same size as ours back home, but once again, was decorated in a much livelier manner. It wasn't gaudy or anything, but made me think that the late queen might have enjoyed interior decorating much more than Queen Adora. After all, my queen was too busy pushing out babies to care.
"It certainly is a change from home, is it not?"
"Definitely."
"Ok, we're back!" the princess announced as she reentered the room. At her side was a tall man, dressed in semi-casual style. He looked to be around the same age as me, give or take a few years. I was never good at guessing people's ages. He must have been Mr. Bristelle. "Louie! Mr. Kamek! Here's the guy I was telling you about."
"Hello there. The young princess here mentioned to us what a great cook you were." I explained, holding out my hand for him to take.
"And I've heard much about you, Head Administrator. Has my lady been harassing you two on your visit?" the man chuckled. Victoria pouted her lips at his words. "Oh, I'm only kidding, your Highness!"
"He's so mean to me." the princess jokingly said. "But he's a great cook."
"No, Victoria's been perfectly fine. Her cat seems to be the one causing trouble."
Mr. Bristelle sighed. "Well, what could I get you? I could prepare a nice lunch for you three."
"Well, I want a burger." Victoria began. She looked at Ludwig, who remained silent, then back at Mr. Bristelle. "Louie also wants a burger."
"Are you reading minds again? You know it's rude to do that!" he exclaimed, shaking his head.
"It's not the first time she's done that." I smirked. "We've grown accustomed to it."
"And she's exactly right. I could certainly go for a burger right now." the prince grinned. "I'm so hungry!"
"Then I shall prepare one for you, your Highness! Anything for you, Head Administrator?"
I proceeded to tell him that a burger would satisfy my hunger too, and he promptly began to make our requests. As I sat at the table, I couldn't help but wonder about what was going on behind the closed doors of the main meeting room. I let over an hour pass by, and still no word from my king. It definitely was strange that I was being left out. I was going to wait a bit longer. If I heard nothing within the hour, I'd find Head Administrator Gregory and join the meeting without being asked. It was ridiculous for me to wait outside.
We didn't have to wait long, as Mr. Bristelle placed our meals in front of us shortly after giving him our orders. The children happily indulged in their burgers and fries, and I ended up just absentmindedly gazing at mine. Yes, I was hungry too, but I kept getting an uneasy feeling in my stomach about what was going on behind my back.
"He's thinking about something." The princess' voice interrupted my train of thought. I looked up to see the kids staring at me as they chewed their food.
"I'm sorry," I stammered. "My mind seems to be elsewhere."
"Are you going to eat your food, Mr. Kamek?"
"You don't have to keep referring to me as 'Mr. Kamek', your Highness." I chuckled. It was amusing how she resorted to calling the Crown Prince and I by nicknames. "Oh, I guess I will not be finishing my meal. Suddenly I just don't feel like eating."
Victoria frowned and put down her burger. "It's ok, Mr. Kamek. Do you mind if I take some fries off your plate for Isis?"
"Are you sure that's wise? Do cats eat table food?"
"They do now." she chirped, reaching over to my plate and removing several french fries. Ludwig and I watched in amusement as the princess leaned over the side of her chair to place the food in front of Isis. The cat, who had been cleaning herself, immediately grew startled and for the second time that day, escaped out into the hallway. "Dammit!"
"There she goes again!" my prince chuckled. He put down his food and looked at the flustered princess. She pouted as the two apparently exchanged words using sorcery. Sadly enough, I could not join their conversation. All I could do was watch and remain clueless. Then Ludwig's voice broke the awkward silence. "Come on. Let's get her before she eats more houseplants!"
"Right!" Victoria darted out of her seat and made her way over to the door. "I'll race you two!"
"Oh no, not me." I laughed, moving my chair away from the table. "I'm too old and out of shape." Certainly, thirty-five wasn't old, but it gave me a good excuse. To two eleven year olds, thirty-five must have seemed ancient. I was never one for physical endurance training anyway. My training mostly dealt with metal exercise.
"Well then at least catch up!" the prince shouted as he and the princess vanished from the kitchen, leaving behind half-eaten burgers. Before getting to my feet, I stared momentarily at the fries on my plate, then quickly snatched up a few and ate them.
"Hmm..." I mused. "Perhaps I should start exercising." After that little aside, I somehow managed to locate the children. Luckily they didn't wander far, and I found them hiding behind a large marble pillar. Isis was planted on the red and gold rug in front of an elaborately decorated closed door, completely unaware that she was being spied on. I paused in my tracks when I heard muffled male voices emanating from behind the door. It didn't take me long to realize that some of them sounded awfully familiar. The conversation going on did not seem like it was a pleasant one either, as the voices were raised and harsh sounding. Instantly I recognized the voice of King Bowser among the gentlemen, only to be counteracted by the Alterian king's shouts. I had accidentally stumbled on the main meeting room thanks to the aid of a feline.
Victoria noticed me standing a few feet away and motioned for me to keep still. As I nodded my head in response I heard one of the voices grow louder, as if the bearer was walking towards the door. The children hastily concealed themselves behind the pillar, but I did not have time to hide somewhere. I looked as the door swung open and held my breath. I did not want to be caught snooping around, especially at a meeting I was not yet invited to. Fortunately for me, it was King Leirelat who stormed out of the room. As the door slammed shut behind him, I could hear my king gingerly chatting away with another gentleman, who I presumed was King Edward. Isis zipped down the hall when she heard the sound of the door, ignoring Leirelat. He seemed to ignore her too. I silently stood there as the king rubbed his forehead with his hand and exhaled a deep breath. Apparently he did not notice me either. Ludwig and Victoria remained hidden in their spot. I had to say something.
"Is everything alright, your Highness?" I quietly asked in an effort not to startle the king. He slightly jumped at the sound of my voice, but raised his head to crack a smile at me.
"Ah, there you are, Kamek. Sometimes I think you and Gregory are the only ones who'll listen to me anymore."
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that, your Highness?"
"I mean exactly what I said." He took one last look at the closed door, then moved closer to me. "Voices carry."
"Indeed they do." I tried not to smirk at the king's comment.
"Have you spoken to King Bowser about the Alteria/Oceanside situation lately?"
"Not in much detail. He's been keeping much of his affairs from me."
"I know he has."
"And Head Administrator Gregory stated that you've been doing the same to him." I said. "In all due respect, your Majesty, could you stop withholding information from us? We are here to help." My words were blunt but very true. I figured Leirelat would have enough sense to listen to me.
"I was just about to say the same thing, Head Administrator Kamek." Gregory appeared from the opposite end of the hallway and joined us. "Pardon the intrusion, King Leirelat, but I heard your voice, so I assumed the meeting was over."
"No, it's quite alright. I was just about to summon you two anyway." The Alterian king placed his hands on my shoulders. "It's time you two learned everything." He then turned his attention away from me and looked his Head Administrator in the eye. "Will you forgive me for lying to you, Gregory?"
"Certainly, your Majesty." he simply answered. It was the way any loyal servant would have replied, but I could tell Gregory naturally still had his reservations. I wasn't sure if I could be equally as forgiving to King Bowser.
Upon Gregory's words, the door opened once again, producing the image of my king. He looked annoyed as he stuck himself out halfway. "Leirelat, why don't you calm down?" he suggested. An alarmed expression crossed his face as he caught sight of me. "Kamek, what are you doing here? I thought you were watching the children."
"I believe my babysitting duties have expired, your Highness. Now it's time to resume my position as Dark World's Head Administrator, as King Leirelat invited Gregory and I to join you gentlemen." I kept my tone calm, but it had a droll quality to it.
Bowser shot Leirelat a glance, then fixated his gaze on me again. "As you wish. It is time we learned what you think about our situation, Kamek." He smiled. I couldn't help but notice how fake it was.
My king held the door open for all three of us as we entered the room. Sitting at an oak conference table was Oceanside's King Edward. He got up out of his seat to greet Gregory and I, then immediately sat back down.
"Are you well, Leirelat?" he questioned. "You darted out of here before Bowser and I could finish what we were saying."
The Alterian king shook his head negatively. "Go ahead, Edward. Explain everything to them. Why don't you go and tell Kamek how you want to abuse a sorcerer's powers?" He snapped. "I'm sure the Head Administrator, an established sorcerer himself, would fancy such an idea!"
I felt my emerald eyes grow wide. I dreaded what these men had been contemplating behind my back, especially if it involved manipulating magic. They clearly had no idea what damage could be done.
"Yes, why don't you inform us?" I began, clasping my hands together on top of the table. "Tell Gregory and I what has been going on behind closed doors for so long, ostracizing the Councils. Ostracizing us." My eagerness was betrayed by my temper, which was almost as famous as my gift of sorcery.
"Kamek!" King Bowser sternly interjected.
"My apologies, your Highness."
"Heh, no, it's alright for him to act this way," Edward explained to my king. "He has every right to be upset."
"Just tell us what's going on!" Gregory barked. "I'm tired of all the secrecy that has been going on here for the past year! Half the time I feel my position has been a joke. Things have been constantly occurring behind our backs. How do you expect us to react?"
"Calm down, Head Administrators. Allow me to propose what we've been planning this whole time."
"What you two have been planning." Leirelat smugly corrected as he crossly leaned back in his seat.
Edward chose to dismiss the comment and continued addressing us. "You two are familiar with the Netherrealm, aren't you?"
"What about it?" I asked.
"Ah, you are. Then I assume you know that its entrance is rumored to be located in Alteria's Yaltina Mountains."
"And that's exactly what it is." Leirelat butted in. "A rumor."
King Bowser sighed. "Just let him continue."
"Anyway, as I was saying, the Netherrealm is supposedly the home of spirits. It's where we go after we die."
"You don't need to give us a theology lesson, your Highness." I said. "We all know the myth surrounding the Netherrealm."
"But Kamek, I'm sure you're especially familiar with it, aren't you?"
"...And what is that supposed to mean?" I inquired, my tone growing even more agitated than before. Although it was the first time I had ever met Oceanside's King Edward, I had already developed a rather low opinion of him. Perhaps I was being unfair judging a book by its cover, but being around Edward made me uneasy. He seemed extremely pushy and arrogant. I'm usually a good judge of character, but I opted to let him explain.
"You've been trained in the art of magic. Your abilities are renowned throughout the Eight Kingdoms, and I heard that you're even training King Bowser's eldest son."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I was never one to be moved by false flattery. I knew he was just kissing my ass.
King Edward broke out into laughter as I responded. "Kamek, you don't have to be so on the defensive. I'm just trying to have a friendly conversation with you, as any two distinguished politicians would do."
"I told you he'd be like this." Bowser exclaimed to Edward.
My knuckles grew white as I wrung my hands together. "Would you cut the bullshit?" I despised being mocked even more than being victimized by false praise.
"I agree with Head Administrator Kamek." Gregory added. "This is getting old. Just tell us what the hell's going on."
"Very well." Edward dryly answered. "Oceanside has been seeking a pathway in the Yaltina Mountains that is supposed to exist which leads to a cave that houses the entrance to the Netherrealm."
"This we already know." I stated.
"Then you also must already know that Alteria has not been cooperating in our search efforts."
"As they have the right to do. You are in a foreign land. Your authority doesn't stretch across kingdoms."
"Yes, I am aware of that." Edward nimbly retorted. "Anyway, I had originally proposed that we work together with Alteria in an attempt to find this place. When Dark World allied itself with Alteria, we had no choice but to negotiate with the two kingdoms."
"So why not leave the issue alone?" Gregory asked. "If Alteria doesn't wish to seek out this mythological cave, you should abide by its wishes."
"You are correct, Head Administrator, but it wasn't until recently that I explained to your king and King Bowser about the possibilities that would await us if such a path was found."
"This entire proposal is absurd." I shook my head as I spoke. "The entire legend of the Netherrealm is just that--a legend. Even if it does exist, what makes you think that its entrance is somewhere in Alteria?"
"The myth about the Yaltina Mountains has existed for thousands of years. All myth has some nonfictional basis, doesn't it Kamek?"
I supposed he was right, but still his claim was faulty. "Hypothetically speaking, even if you do find this cave, what do you intend to do?"
"And here's the part I object the most to." Leirelat muttered out of nowhere.
Bowser and Edward again exchanged glances. Each wore a look of exhilaration on their faces. It was almost as if they were so elated they couldn't speak.
"Go ahead, Edward. Tell them what we've been thinking." my king urged.
"Allow me to explain that to you, Head Administrator." Oceanside's king smiled. "According to lore, the gateway to the Netherrealm is guarded by the spirits of the Eight Horsemen. In order to open this gate, their spirits must be defeated. The only way to do this is to actually summon them to fight. Of course you already know, the only way we can accomplish such a herculean task is by acquiring help from a sixth tier sorcerer, which have been obsolete...until now."
Everyone's attention in the room, including my own, turned to King Leirelat.
"There's no way I'm letting you manipulate my daughter's powers." he sternly said.
"We wouldn't be hurting her in any way." Bowser slowly clarified. "We just need her help for that one part."
"Are you two insane?" I butted in. "Do you have any idea what kind of magic that would take? She's only eleven years old!"
"No, no! We wouldn't try anything now. We'd wait until she got a few years older and had better control over her powers. From what I understand, it takes years to get accustomed to such a thing." Edward nonchalantly said.
"You have no idea." I growled at Edward. "Your plan is so preposterous that I can't even fathom attempting such a foolish venture!" I glared at my king, whom I was the most angry with. "Is this what you've been hiding from me? Did you do it because you knew I'd be against the idea all along?"
"Well I had a feeling you'd reject, but I remained hopeful. That's why I waited so long to tell you." Bowser addressed me as if I were a child. I had to restrain myself from lunging across the table and giving him a true taste of what a sorcerer could do. Maybe that was what they needed to feel first before taking advantage of such a power.
"Even if you do open the entrance to the Netherrealm, what are you planning to do?"
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if anyone could have the powers of a sixth tier sorcerer, Kamek?" Edward started to explain.
I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure if I understand what you're getting at."
"What Bowser and I are planning on doing once we open the gateway is still unclear, but we do intend on somehow gaining control over the spirits, just like a sixth tier would have."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This idea was even more ludicrous than the previous one involving Victoria. Apparently Gregory shared my opinion.
"Isn't controlling a kingdom good enough for you? Your whole proposal is so irrational that I wouldn't consider it for a second!" He then looked at his king, and his voice became filled with desperation. "King Leirelat, you were contemplating this?"
"For a time I was..." the Alterian king responded in a low tone. "I guess I just wanted to see her again. Ever since my wife died I've never been the same. I've constantly felt a loneliness that nothing, not even my own daughter, could replace. When Victoria summoned the archangel for the first time, I had felt her presence...I hadn't felt it in years. I grew greedy and wanted more. I had to be with her once again."
"What about you, Kamek? Wouldn't you want to see her?" King Bowser broke the solemn mood. I raised my head and our eyes met. His suggestion hit me like a harsh slap in the face. I too briefly considered it, but then quickly came to my senses.
"Monika is dead, Bowser. How dare you even entertain such a thing! Spirits are not to be controlled by force. They appear to a sorcerer at will!"
"I just thought you would like to see her again, Kamek. After all, you were very close with her...even more so than I was." my king's words felt like needles in my heart. If he knew the truth about how close we really were he'd be choking on his own spit.
"Leave her out of this." I hissed.
"Then I take it you don't share the same enthusiasm we do about our idea?" Edward questioned with a smirk across his lips. "We'll give you some time to think, gentlemen. I can only hope that you'll reconsider."
"Reconsider?" Leirelat jumped out of his seat and leaned over the table to glare at Edward. "There is nothing to reconsider! And Bower, I thought Dark World was to be Alteria's ally! Why are you siding with the enemy?"
"Dark World still is Alteria's ally, Leirelat. We only want to work together with Oceanside and avoid war. If all three kingdoms participated in the search, we could avert any distasteful feelings between us all."
"The answer already is no! Alteria will not be participating in something so deranged. Edward, if you want war, we'll proudly give it to you!"
I felt myself suck in a breath at Leirelat's statement. War was the one thing we were aiming to avoid. I thought this meeting would shatter any more lingering resonances of conflict, but it only ended up making things worse. As much as I could not stand Edward, I hoped that he did not take Leirelat's threat seriously.
"Leirelat, clam down. Quit being so brash." Oceanside's king addressed his contemporary. "You can mull the decision over with Head Administrator Gregory and your Council. Give us an answer when you're ready. For now, we've got all the time in the world. Just don't dismiss it so quickly."
Leirelat remained silent and sat back down. He seemed to have exhausted his ability to fight. Gregory and I exchanged worried glances. I thought I was prepared to her what Edward was going to say, but apparently I wasn't. His plans were so demented it made me sick to my stomach. I needed fresh air. Luckily Leirelat called an end to the meeting, as it was clear that we all had had enough. Edward and Bowser agreed to give Alteria time to make a final decision, but already I knew what Leirelat was going to say. There was no way he was going to risk his daughter's safety, even if there was a possibility of laying eyes on his wife again. I was even more outraged when Bowser brought up Monika. He knows damn well I'd give up anything to just see her again, but I couldn't allow myself to be swayed so easily. I respected her too much to embark on such a gamble.
"Excuse me, gentlemen." I stammered as I got to my feet. "I need to step outside."
"You and I both." Gregory interjected.
We didn't even bother waiting for anyone's reaction. Upon opening the door, we were greeted by two pint-sized sorcerers who had their ears cleverly pressed up against it in an attempt to listen in to our conversation. Gods, I hope Victoria didn't hear any of it. The two looked embarrassed as Gregory and I stared down at them.
"...It was her idea." Ludwig blabbed, pointing to his friend. Victoria answered with a silly smile, not sure what to say.
Shortly after the adjournment of the meeting, Bowser ordered that the Crown Prince and I return to the airship. I told the prince to say "good-bye" to his Alterian princess, which he reluctantly did after some persuasion, and we boarded Captain Valor's flying vessel. Upon the airship, Ludwig retreated into its cabin, probably so he could "talk" to Victoria in peace. King Bowser and I exchanged little words on the journey home, the fissure in our relationship only growing larger and more evident, especially after the events of today. I'm just fortunate enough that the position of Head Administrator is one I hold for life, otherwise I would probably be out of a job.
As of now I have no idea when we'll be meeting up with King Leirelat or King Edward again. I can only hope that next time it will be under peaceful terms, and that Edward abandons his reckless plan for opening up the Netherrealm. King Bowser's involvement in this also stuns me, as I thought he wanted to avoid conflict. Now him and I stand at opposite ends of the situation. If war does erupt, Dark World will be forced to side with Alteria, even though my king's motives side with Oceanside. It is a circumstance I would like to evade. Once he proposes his plan to the Council, they can either deem his idea maniacal or back him entirely. Presently it is unclear which side Dark World will take in this matter. For the first time in my career, I am frightened for my kingdom's future.
Well, here it is, as promised. It's pretty huge! I'm sorry it took me a while, but I've been so busy with college and graduate school applications that I've barely had time to pee, never mind write! I hope whoever reads this enjoys it! Reviews are always welcomed. Flames will be ignored. Chapter Ten will be up soon...hopefully!