Chapter 59: Meeting and Verdict of the Rose Council
Hayden found himself alone, inside the graveyard again, with a lot of things in mind. He found himself sitting beside a tombstone and a crypt with his head painfully throbbing, unlike he's ever felt before. He was breathing heavily, groaning as he tried to maintain his will over the sheer pain which was an irritating struggle and very unbearable. He then heard footsteps around him notifying him that there were guards patrolling around the area. Hearing this he hid behind one of the tombstones in panic and listened closely as the guards conversed.
"I think I heard something..." He heard a skeleton chatter, with its voice clanking.
"Hmm..." A heavily armored zombie said, as Hayden peeked through to see the said zombie scratching his chin.
"Whereareyou..." A John mob said, in a fast creepy slang, trying to sniff Hayden out as he then gritted his teeth, while holding his head. He kept himself silent, as he knew that he was deep trouble.
Then Hayden suddenly smelled smoke surrounding him causing his eyes widened slightly, looking up and wondering what was going on. Peeking through the gap of the large tombstone and crypt, he saw that the three guards were trying to smoke him out, using a torch, and a bottle of sleeping potion at there disposal. Hayden quickly covered his mouth with his hand but instead of his own he felt a soft and familiar hand covering his mouth and nose in a gentle manner.
"Hehehe... stay warm... Haydie." He heard a familiar voice giggling, as he turned his head, only to see Karen smiling at him and continued holding her hand on his face and caressed his cheek with the other. Hayden's vision started going dim, as the smoke itself was taking effect. Karen smiled and then kissed him on the forehead. "That's right, rest, don't worry though, I'll make sure you'll be put to use for a great a cause...just let dear ol' Karen take care of you." He then saw her holding a mask in her hand, which had a white color, hollowed eyes and not other features besides those hollowed eyes.
"I see him!" A guard, with a jukebox and a wooden body called out to his fellow guards. Then as they approached behind the tombstone, they saw someone lying there, out cold.
-Elsewhere-
The kings were conversing with each other as both of them were trying to come up with good and open arguments toward the council. The headmaster then looked at his wristwatch and saw that it was time to commence.
"It's time." Eric said, as he looked at the both of them.
"Well, guess we should go to the council then." Bones said, reviewing his notepad, which was filled with arguments, standing up from his seat.
"Uh-huh." Boom nodded in agreement, standing up from his place too. "Oh boy."
Eric then stood from his desk seat, and walked towards the door of his office. "Follow me; I'll lead you two there."
"Alright then." Bones said.
"Lead the way..." Boom said, as Eric opened the door.
The three of them exited the room and walked through the school halls, with scholars greeting Eric along the way. The two kings saw how polite the scholars were and they were quite impressed by their actions.
"So Boom, how's life treating you?" Eric asked the creeper king.
"It's all good." Boom replied, without even hesitating. "Kingdom is peaceful, have four beautiful daughters which I am proud of, and basically, everything is just peachy, being a father and a king." Boom smiled to himself, thanking the life given to him. "How about you, Eric?"
"Good, in fact very excellent." Eric replied. "I've been running this academy for more than three years, I guess, and nothing much has happened since then."
"Hehe, at least you're enjoying being the boss, kinda nice seeing you again."
"Same, and how's Verona?"
Boom then fell silent, sighing as he rubbed his head with a smile. "Still... being herself."
"Don't think I forgot about that little incident at your reception." Eric grinned, while Bones started to snicker.
"Oh God, don't remind me please." Boom pleaded, as he remembered that all too well.
"The cake landed on your face, so I guess she still packs a punch huh?" Eric remarked, Bones burst out laughing, and Boom hissed slowly at them. "I also recall you running away quickly, when you badly remarked her hairstyle." Boom immediately turned white and looked around, to see if Verona wasn't there, as he planned to do it again.
"Okay good, she isn't here..." Boom took a sigh of relief, as he wanted to retort to Eric.
In his throne room, King Webs was nervously gulping down water as he tried to regain his composure after his shock. The Crow of the Night, otherwise named Sehk, was there with him, watching him silently finish down seemingly two pitchers of water and sighed as the Spider King calmed down.
"Do you want a reward?" King Webs asked the generous yet seemingly silent Sehk, out of the blue, as his reward for his information.
"No." Sehk deadpanned, sincerely.
"Are you sure?" Webs looked up at the young man. "It's no trouble after what you've told me."
"I just want you to calm down and stay quiet, they'll be able to return is about a few days." Sehk confirmed, but while he's there, he may as well just make use of the opportunity. "But, I would like a favor from you, nothing too hard."
"Yes of course, what would you want me to do?" Webs asked.
"Hand this, to princess Lone." Sehk then slowly reached for his pockets and handed it to the king.
"Very well." King Webs took the envelope from his hands.
"And don't attempt to read it, you might get cursed, I used a special envelope on it, only allowing the designated person to read it, understand?"
"O-of course..." Webs said nervouusly
"Also, can I get a piece of torch." Sehk asked.
"A torch?" Webs repeated with confusion
"Yes." Sehk replied
"What for?" Webs asked
"I'm gonna need it on my way back." Sehk said blunty
"Sure, you may take one from the wall." Sehk then nodded and took a torch from the wall. "Thank you for everything." Webs thanked kindly
"Wait for them, a'ight?, and ensure that everyone will be accounted for the festival, got it?" Sehk told Webs.
"Of course..." Webs said
"Good evening, High Council." Eric greeted, as he bowed to them.
The high council would be consisting of 12 noble and royal mobs. Bones and Boom looked at them, seemingly surprised, observing their appearances:
The first one on the left was a female mob, she had dark-blue eyes, fairly pale skin long black hair, she appeared to be in her late twenties as she wore an aqua blue sea dress.
Next to her was a man with red eyes, spiky blue-red-green hair, fairly tanned skin, with two long fangs that's covered with red liquid, he appeared to be in his teenage years as he wore a marble-patterned cloak along with red.
The third one would be a humanoid hidden inside a blocky mob, he appeared to have a dispenser on his head, oak logs for arms, smooth stone and a small dispenser on his body and cobblestone as his legs.
The next one had orange eyes, dark-red hair, and fair skin, he appeared to be wearing a cloak that resembled obsidian, and he appeared to be in teenage years.
The next two mobs, seemed to resemble each other, dark gray eyes, black hair, fair skin, a leather jacket that resembled cobblestone over a jacket that resembled smooth stone, plus dark gray jeans and brown boots, the main difference is their size and age, one was tall and appeared to be in his late teenage years, the other was small and young, appearing to be in his, early teenage.
Then there was a man who seemed to resemble snow golems, except for his orange eyes, scruffy brown hair, slightly pale skin, white wool jacket with sleeves resembling oak fences and dark brown pants and dark gray boots, he appeared to be in his teenage years.
Next was a man who had shaved hair, dark green eyes, slightly tanned skin, brown war paint under his eyes a flame tattoo on his arm and wore only a leather helmet and a loincloth over his body, with a bow behind him and a sword sheathed on his right side, he also appeared to be in his early Twenties.
Next was a man who had long gray hair, grey eyes, slightly pale skin, and wore only leaves and vines over his body, he also carried a golden hoe with him and appeared to be in mid-twenties.
The next man look like a normal Steve, except for his dark gray shirt with a ghost in the middle of it, dark brown pants and grey boots, he appeared to be in his early next man had frozen blue eyes, slightly blue skin, short brown hair, a light-brown shirt, dark brown pants and grey boots, all underneath a set of diamond armor and a head of a frozen bull as his helmet, he appeared to be in his late teenage years.
The last man appeared to have dark-pale skin, yellow eyes, a black and white striped tuxedo set along with a vampiric cloak, he appeared to be in his mid twenties.
All of them sat up, as they saw the two kings before them.
Bones' mouth seemed to have dropped open and literally fell but he was able catch it just in time before it hit the ground, and stuck it back to his jaw. Boom on the other had was equally shocked and surprised, since he thought that talking to them might be harder than he thought.
"Well... this is going to be harder than we thought..." Boom whispered to Bones.
"Let's just play it cool..." Bones advised in response. "How hard could it be?"
"Good evening, Headmaster Eric." The lady on the right greeted, in a sweet yet firm voice as she bowed, followed by the rest of the council, before looking at the two kings. "Who are these two people?"
"They're kings, m'lady, kings from the overworld." Eric replied. "Onto my right is Boom, King of the Creepers, and to my left is Bones, King of the Skeletons."
"Skeletons? ha?!" The man in the loincloth interjected.
"Shh, be quiet." The man who wore leaves and vines shushed him.
"I see..." The lady cleared her throat, gesturing for her colleagues to sit down, though she still stood up, as she looked at Boom and Bones. "What is your business with us?"
"We have a proposal for you, and it would benefit everyone in a way." Boom replied.
"How so?" The one in the vampiric cloak asked.
"Basically it's sorta like this." Bones started. "Boom and I have merely been wondering around the land for quite a while in search for a landmark or location in preparation for the upcoming Mob Festival, then we merely stumbled, rather found, upon your academy with the help of one of your scholars..." Bones went on further of explaining, as the lady replied.
"Denied." The lady looked very serious as she said it.
"WHAT?!" Bones sounded really really surprised and shocked.
"Now, hold up hold up, miss squidhead." The man in the vampiric cloak looked at the lady. "Let's give these fellas a chance to explain their side of the flesh further."
"A festival? It does sound tempting." The man in the loincloth interjected.
"I agree, let's hear their plans." The man in the white jacket, who resembled snow golems seconded.
"It's settled, you've been defeated by the unanimous awesomeness of the guys." The man in the vampiric cloak said, as the guys cheered in unity. "*ahem* Please continue Mr. Bones and Boom.
"I feel sorry for her..." Boom though as he frowned a bit to the lady on the left, as she sighed, since she was the only girl.
"ANYWAYS..." Bones sighed tiredly. "Look, it's not really for us kings and queens to enjoy it, but it's mainly for our children; every year we also hold the Festival for them." Bones explained. "When they were young, they seemed to enjoy it a lot, and to them it's become an annual tradition, and we'll let everyone spectate it, besides those pesky humans that is."
"But overall our Princes and Princesses have trained for this upcoming Mob Festival and basically this is the only place where we believe is actually nice and more importantly worthy of holding the Mob Festival." Boom added. "The choice is all on you youngsters, if you deny our proposition, then we'll understand, but if you accept, then thank you, but as a reminder, you council members are the one to decide."
Their speech was followed by a moment of silence, before the man in the vampiric cloak spoke up.
"Well squiddy, what do you think?" He asked the lady on the left.
"*hmpf* What do you need me for? Obviously, I'm just a liability to you all." She crossed her arms and looked a bit annoyed at them.
"That's not true, you're the defacto, and the oldest in this group, plus you're the only girl, so you're the boss here..." She then looked at him, as he looked very sincere. "What do you say?"
The lady fell into silence, looking at her colleagues. "*sigh* Well they did say it's for their kids, even though we never got to experience what it was like to be one, it can't hurt to let anybody else have fun."
"Agreed!" The snow golem-esque man seconded.
"Absolutely!" The man in the loincloth interjected.
Chatter of agreement and cheers would come from the council, as Boom seemed to sigh in relief, and Bones seemed to smile. Then the lady on the left smacked her gavel on the small wooden circle.
"It's settled, your festival is now approved." The man in the vampiric cloak said.
"Thank you all so much." Boom said.
Bones and Boom smiled, exiting and placing themselves distantly from the council high table, as the next pair of scholars who are going to argue came to the council.
"This is our lucky day." Boom remarked.
"Oh yes, but now we have to figure out the on what do this year..." Bones said, as Boom groaned and facepalmed, and Eric grinned at them.
"Need to call someone?" Eric remarked, as Boom nodded.
Kai was slowly being pushed by Ace, followed by Yuki, as they slowly walked the halls towards Silk and Willow's room.
"You know... I find this very embarrassing..." Kai admitted, as he looked down and sighed. "I would do crutches, but no, it had to be a wheelchair."
"The doctor said that walking isn't really gonna be good for your legs at the moment, so he had to submit you to this." Ace said, looking over Kai's bandaged legs.
Yuki then saw the worried look in Kai's eyes, worry about the spider siblings. "Don't worry; I'm sure both of them are fine."
"I swear...they better me, knowing that Kratos was the one that did this I'm...just worried about them. I mean, sure the doc said they're alright but...I just...I don't know." Kai felt little weakened by the fact his girlfriend and her little sister nearly got poisoned to death thanks to his carelessness.
"He's very professional, I'm sure they're okay, besides he was very honest with you, telling you they sucked your poisoned blood out to replenish it with a fresh one, that's gotta be a sign that he's telling the truth." Ace remarked, trying to comfort him.
"I know that... but sometimes..." Kai they started tearing up a bit. "I just care for them deeply that's all..." He then wiped his eyes, sobbing a bit. "I just... don't know, what it would've been like if they died slowly and I couldn't have saved them...after what happened I…I felt powerless. When that Ender guy showed up he moped the floor with Kratos with ease and it just made me look weak in comparison to him."
"Don't worry, at least they did get saved, and what luck too..."
"I know, and I'm very thankful for that guy..." Kai smiled as he remembered Sehk's kind and brave act.
When they arrived at the right room, Ace willingly opened the door as Yuki entered first. Kai then followed pushed by Ace into the room. The three of them saw Willow resting, asleep on her bed, and Silk who was seated in hers, reading a book, and then looking up to see the three of them.
"Hiya." Yuki greeted her.
"Yuki, Ace and..." Silk then paused when she saw Kai and immediately teared up as she leaped up, lunging at him, as she hit him softly, she immediately hugged him and cried on his shoulder. "Big brother *sob*... you're okay!"
"You too!" Kai then hugged her tightly, with his good arm that isn't in a sling, as Yuki and Ace watched them both.
"I-I thought you were a goner!" She sniffled.
"I'm here now..." Kai smiled and understood how Silk felt. "Don't worry, just let it all out..." She then patted her over the back, as she looked up at him. "How's your big sis?"
"She's alright, she just went to sleep..." Silk sobbed
"I was worried for about you two... so much..." He the hugged her tightly.
"We all were too, big brother, but you're safe now, and I bet big sister would like that..." Silk whimpered.
"Yeah…I bet she would." Kai said with a faint smile.