"Oh you're the adventurers His Majesty was talking about. Sure, fine. I guess you can just go and barge in as you please." The guard in front of King Kiemarl's room said and then stepped aside. Adol and Dogi smiled at each other and then went into the room. King Kiemarl was in his bed, resting peacefully.
"Ah Adol, Dogi. Don't worry about it, I've heard you've made progress. I'd like to hear about it." King Kiemarl happily said, and both Adol and Dogi began to talk about the journey so far. They explained everything that happened to the best of their ability.
"I see...I had no idea the anomalies occurring around Altago were that bad...It's worse than I'd thought..." Kiemarl said, looking down and frowning. He closed his eyes for a while and then Adol and Dogi began to panic. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring up the situation of the anomalies with King Kiemarl in his current condition. Just when Adol and Dogi began sweating, there was a knock on the door.
"Father? May I enter?" A familiar voice asked and Kiemarl's face lit up almost instantly.
"Ah Aisha! Please, come in!" Kiemarl said happily and both Adol and Dogi sighed in relief. Then, a girl in pink and lavender clothing came in. Yes, this was the same old Aisha, except this time she carried herself like a real princess. She walked up to Kiemarl's bed and greeted him.
"Hello, Father. I'd heard that there were adventurers in the kingdom who've gained favor with you...Are these the men?" She asked, her voice gentle and almost completely different from the voice Dogi and Adol were used to. She spoke with grace, and carried herself with elegance. This was not Aisha.
"WHO ARE YOU!?" Dogi suddenly yelled making both Aisha and the King jump back with shock. The King put a hand on Dogi and nodded, reassuring him that this was his daughter.
"Do not worry Dogi, this is my daughter, Aisha. This is the first time you've met yes? Anyway, Aisha I have not seen you for quite some time. Where have you been? What have you been doing? Sigroon has been very worried about you." Kiemarl said, gently scolding Aisha. Dogi looked closer and then realized it was Aisha, but he still remained wary.
"I...uh...T-There was something I wanted to investigate, you see..." She said a little nervously.
"All right...And were you investigating it with a red-haired young adventurer and his tall, muscular partner, perchance?" The King asked and then Aisha almost froze. Why did he know all this?
~ Somewhere in Kylos ~
"Ahahaha...Ah this is great. Aw just look at her face. Almost makes me feel guilty that I told his Majesty. But hey, this is too entertaining." Mishera said to herself, smiling. She scooped up a bit of honey and put it on the Honey-Sap rice, eating as she watched from afar the chaos that was running through Aisha's mind while she explained herself to her father. Even though she was that far from Altago City, she could still see clearly what was going on in the King's room. Mishera had the ability to see what others could not, after all.
~ Back in Altago ~
"Wha-I...!" Aisha said, speechless and then Dogi and Adol just shook their heads.
"OMG BUSTEEEDDD!" Dogi yelled and then high-fived Adol. Aisha frowned and then bit her lip in anger of the two boys, who were having the time of their lives it seemed.
"SHUT UP! Father, h-how did you...? D-Did Scias tell you!?" She yelled and her tone changed immediately back into her royal voice. She looked almost like she was just defeated. Kiemarl frowned and then shook his head.
"No, he didn't. And even if it were from him, I receive numerous reports on a daily basis. It's not hard to keep tabs on you. Is there something you'd like to say to me, Aisha?" Kiemarl explained and then Aisha frowned.
"I-I...I'm sorry..." Aisha said apologetically and then the King turned his head towards Dogi.
"I know she gave you no choice, it's not your fault. I apologize for her actions. I hope she didn't cause you trouble...at the very least she didn't cause too much trouble for you..." The King said and then sighed. Then Adol and Dogi laughed and Aisha tightened her fists in anger.
"Dogi you little shit!" Aisha yelled and they only laughed more.
"Anyway, back to the point. As Mishera pointed out, a majority of the people in this city are descendants of Edona. We originally lived elsewhere though, and as one of the Five Tribes, we lived in perfect balance. However, during frequent trade with eastern nations, the people of Edona changed. They became greedy little shits and abandoned their home island to find a place where they could have better marketing. This was, of course, how Altago City came to be around 200 years ago. Mind my tongue, by the way. Anyway, they gained enough power to influence the other tribes. That is how Altago became the 'kingdom' it is today. The royal family are direct descendants of the protectors of the great Sea Dragon, O-Balon." The King explained and Dogi and Adol listened, eagerly awaiting the location of the Sea Altar.
"So you know where the Sea Altar is?" Dogi asked excitedly. Kiemarl smiled and gently shook his head.
"I have not seen it in person, but I know about it from the legends. Of course, not many still remember those legends today. You might be able to find it in 'Ruins Island' as the locals call it. It's just off the coast of Altago City, and you can reach there by boat. If I'm correct, you should have seen it when you came here. It was the small island some distance from ours." Kiemarl explained again. Adol, Dogi, and Aisha then nodded their heads. Then, Kiemarl clapped his hands and a guard came in.
"Your Majesty?" He asked.
"Prepare a boat at the harbor. It need not be large. These men will be going to ruins island." He said and then the guard nodded and went off immediately.
"F-Father...I understand if you disprove but I-" Aisha tried to explain, but was then cut off by Kiemarl.
"Aisha...I am aware that you have made it your own mission to investigate the kingdom's mysteries in my stead. However, as your father, there is nothing more important to me than your safety. You understand right? I'm saying that you should go with them." Kiemarl said and in Kylos, Mishera burst out laughing.
"Wh-what?! Really!? Oh my gosh, thank you daddy! I-I mean, Father. Hah, I mean Father..." Aisha said happily and almost jumped for joy. There was a little silence before she suddenly jumped on the bed and hugged her father. Kiemarl laughed a little and then hugged her back.
"On one condition, you do not run off again after you get back. Do not put yourself in unnecessary danger okay? Adol, Dogi, please protect my daughter...and feel free to scold her as you see fit if she puts herself in unnecessary danger. This is an order." King Kiemarl said and then winked at them. They winked back in secret and hgih-fived each other.
"Alight! Now that's an order I can get by!" Dogi said and then Adol nodded. Then, Aisha clenched her teeth and her fists.
"Dogi what the fuck man!? Is scolding me such an exciting prospect!? Especially when you're the dumbass little shit who's been getting us into trouble!?" Aisha yelled and her father raised an eyebrow at her. "...I-uh..b-bleh...I...I mean don't worry Father! I shan't put myself in danger! I swear it!" She said, realizing what words just came out of her mouth.
"Nice try Aisha." Kiemarl said. In Kylos, Mishera was laughing her face off because she knew what was going on in Kiemarl's head.
"Oh come on! You set me up for that! It's not fair at all! Oh forget it. Goodbye Daddy-uh, F-Father! We'll be taking our leave now." Aisha said and then hugged her father one more time. Then, she let go of her father and turned to Dogi. "Dogi get your ass moving!" She yelled and then proceeded to drag him out by his ear. They left and it was only Adol and Kiemarl for a moment.
"Ah I was worried I didn't show enough care for my daughter, but it seems like children grow and learn when their parents aren't there to see it! If only my dear waifu was here to see our beautiful daughter so full of energy and life...Oh sorry, I let me emotions get the best of me for a moment. Adol come here for a sec, I have something which will be of use to you." Kiemarl said, still smiling a little. Adol went up to Kiemarl and he recieved a ring. Kiemarl nodded and then so did Adol.
"Oh my fuck, you're not proposing to me are you? You better not be, because there's only one who has my heart and that's...nevermind." Adol said and smiled politely at the King, who smiled and nodded back. Then, Adol took his leave.
They approached the docks and saw the same guard who was at the door of the King's room. He greeted them with a nod as they walked towards the boat. The travelers went inside the boat and then suddenly heard a voice.
"Princess! Princess, wait! Y-You there! I order you to leave the Princess behind!" A woman in purple said. Aisha then, realized immediately who this person was.
"Si-Sigroon!? Crap, she must've found out about my outside apparel. Come on, let's go!" Aisha said, shoving the both of them into the boat.
"You're sure? Isn't she like, your guardian or something?" Dogi asked and then Aisha yelled at him.
"If she catches me, she'll keep me cooped up in the palace until I'm, like, 50! GET YOUR ASS SAILING!" Aisha yelled.
"The island's too dangerous I tell you! Please! Think this through! You're too young to die! If you won't stay here, then at least take me with youuu!" Sigroon said, but she was too late. They were already sailing away. Some thirty or so, minutes later, they were finally approaching the island.
"Phew feels like I can finally breathe easy. I thought she was going to climb on and drag me back to the palace by my pigtails..." Aisha said sighing in relief.
"You sure you're okay with blowing her off like that? She seemed pretty...I mean, generally worried about you." Dogi asked, reading something that looked like writings on his hand.
"Sigroon is trustworthy and dependable, but FAR too overprotective. Even if I were to explain my reasons for going with you guys, she would never understand...I'll apologize once we get back but I...I just don't want to deal with that right now...This'll be my last chance to go with you guys because of my promise to Father...Wait, forget I said that! What's wrong with me!? Uh-I, it's not like I'm lonely back at the palace or anything! Uh, just...nevermind I said anything okay!?" Aisha ranted and then the both of them laughed a little.
"Hey, we don't know what'll happen at Ruins Island. Actually we do, but nevermind. Just don't worry about all that right now. Put everything else out of your mind and just enjoy the NOW!" Dogi said and then Aisha nodded happily.
~ Back in the King's room ~
"They should be arriving in the island shortly...It's just as the legend says...with all these anomalies and suddenly a stranger arriving out of nowhere...Will this prove to be a blessing upon the land, or a curse?" Kiemarl mumbled to himself, pondering. Then, he heard a knock on the door. "Oh, who is it? I'm awake! Please come in!" He said happily. The door opened and then...