Did you ever heard of an term "fantom letter"? Well, that is when you had to change your keyboard cause the old was gave up and the new one doesn't accept all the buttons you press. You actually have to slam it to be accepted.

So if you see any missing letters blame the keyboard, not me. I'll buy the new one soon hopefully. It takes me dubble the time to write it with this junk.

The sun had barely risen over the top of the mountains that surrounded the small, secluded kingdom when the first repair works for the day began. It was two weeks now since the first repairs started and the progress was already noticeable. Several houses that weren't so damaged were completely rebuilt and first families have moved back in their homes.

From one of the windows of the still partially demolished palace a young cat-girl observed three men that worked on the roof of the nearby house. Her tail flickered from side to side as she watched as one of them, a young man, wiped the sweet from his forehead and looked up in the sky. To other it may seem he was simply checking out the weather, but she knew better. She knew Van better than the others.

"How is he doing?" a voice interrupted Merle's thoughts as she walked down the hall towards the kitchen. It was cleared from all the mess recently and the meals for all the workers were being cooked there.

Merle turned and faced Folken's sad eyes "He's pretending like everything is alright. Like the heartache he feels isn't real." Her voice reflected Folken's eyes. They were both sad seeing how Van is pushing himself to the limits, exhausting himself every day so that when the night fall and the works stop for the day he would fall asleep immediately and not have to face the darkness around alone with only one thing on his mind.

"He'll need to form the council soon." Folken said and Merle nodded.

"He knows that, but… he is afraid that then they will demand him to pick a bride and get married."

Folken sighed. He understood his brother's fear; fear he would be bonded for life with a woman he doesn't love. With a woman that isn't Hitomi. He knew something other people didn't; he knew that the king of Fanelia didn't have a heart. His younger brother lost his heart to the young seer and was now grieving.

First few days people were shocked seeing their young king shirtless working on the roof next to a farmer and a blacksmith, but now they were glad that he was like that, that he helped them in any way necessary. People knew just how lucky they were; some other ruler might have demand for the palace to be rebuild first, but to Van the priority was the well-being of his people and for that the restored palace wasn't the condition.

Syan, the farmer that lived in one of the completed houses glanced at his king who was on his left and noticed the boy was spaced out again. It haven't escaped him that he was doing that from time to time; that sometimes he would look in the sky like he hoped to see something there.

Unfortunately for Van he was so lost in his thoughts, his prayers, that he didn't paid enough attention to what he was doing with his hands. As a matter of fact, he didn't pay any attention and that resulted with a strong slam on the hand.

"Lord Van? Are you alright?" Syan asked concerned as Van dropped the hammer and grabbed his own hand.

The next thing that happened completely surprised Syan. On the farmers amusement Van began to laugh, that healthy laughter from the bottom of the persons heart. He couldn't even properly catch a breath; instead he panted "It suits me …… when …… I wasn't …… thinking of …… what I was doing …… God, I have a strong hand ……"

A round table was set in the empty, just arranged large room. Behind the chair that was opposite of the door was hanging a red banner with the crest of Fanelia in the middle. Other of that chair that was the king's, six other chairs was placed around the table. Chairs for the new advisers council.

The door opened and the young king walked in followed by his brother and five older men. Three of them were in his father's council so they were best choice out of all the candidates. Other two were Syan, the farmer Van worked with and a wealthy merchant named Weronn. The last one became an adviser not cause Van wished him to, but cause the three older ones insisted. Weronn's fortune and connections all over Gaea should bring Fanelia good trading treaties.

When everyone took their seats and turned to the young king Van was pleased. A formed council was a first step towards new Fanelia.

"King Van, I am pleased to say the rebuilding is doing fine and everything should be over in several months." Cowin, one of the older advisers said "Not including the repairs that are necessary on the palace. So if the workers start to repair it now-"

"They won't." Van said coldly "My orders stand. City before the palace, and don't try to do anything behind my back."

Folken simply smiled on his brothers words "We won't try anything Lord Van." Weronn said with a fake smile; something that haven't escaped Van.

"You said you have a suggestion Weronn." Cowin said out of the blue "You mentioned something on our way here."

"Yes." Weronn said like he was surprised Cowin remembered his words "King Van I believe people would be less worried in the future of Fanelia if a queen would be selected. It would calm them down."

"I didn't notice they were upset about the fact I have no wife." Van answered calmly. He had expected this subject to be brought up "In fact I remember being told not to rush in marriage and bring Fanelia a queen who will be more interested in the social status than people and their well being."

"In that case you need a girl who is of the people." Cowin said assured Van will agree with his suggestion.

"And I suppose you already fount that perfect one for me." Van asked trying to hold back his anger "Do tell me who she is."

Folken watched with amusement as two advisers tried to vocalize their idea. But he knew that their proposal won't be so easy accepted at they might hope. Weronn cleared his throat and so gained everyone's attention.

"My Lord Van, my daughter Kimbell is just the right age and is not betrothed to anyone even though the proposals arrive on daily basis. If you wish I could bring her for you to meet her. She is such a charming girl and has a wonderful personality. What do you think Lord Van?"

"I think you should accept one of those proposals that come on the daily basis, cause I refuse." Van answered coldly "Is that all, or do we have something else to discuss?"

"No. That's all." Folken said before two advisers had the chance to object and, as he is the main adviser they didn't dared to object.

Hitomi was turning in her sleep. The voices were evil; they planed nothing good. She sat up breathing heavily with her eyes wide open as the last words she heard in her dream still echoed in her head "The witch is gone and in three years young king of Fanelia will be gone too, and the rightful ruler will sit on the throne of Fanelia."

She knew it was useless to try and get some sleep so instead she got up and went to the main hangar where the melefs were being build.

"You up early. Why?" an Ispano maker walked to her.

"Bad dreams I suppose." She answered and looked up towards the heavy machines that were working on five new melefs "How are we progressing?"

"Still in time plan." The maker answered and went back on his post.

Hitomi closed her eyes and took a deep breath hoping the words she heard in her dream won't come true.

Footsteps echoed through the empty hall as Basram's Lord Borzan walked towards the large study where his 'friend' waited. He was smirking for himself as he opened the door and came in.

"Any news?" the dark-haired man asked impatiently.

"Council was formed. But other from that nothing new happened." Lord Borzan answered as he sat down and took the offered glass of vino.

"When can I strike?" the stranger asked.

"Patience is a virtue. Why do you want a destroyed country?" the dark-haired man stood up and walked to the large map of Gaea on the wall. On the weak light of the candles it was seen that Fanelia, kingdom surrounded by the mountains and protected by the dragons, was rounded with red paint.

"Good point. I could use the time they need to rebuild the kingdom to gather some men. With an army on my side that boy will be brought to his knees."

"Do not worry about the army. That will be settled when the time is right." Lord Borzan's eyes glowed mischievously.

"That is good." Laughter echoed through the study "And as the repayment you want…?"

"Lands of Zeibach." Lord Borzan said with a grin "It should belong to us anyway. And in three years it will."

"Why three years?"

"Cause in three years king's daughter will be in the right age to marry and I have no doubt 'king Van' will refuse his offer. And what is a better excuse for an attack then a rejected marriage offer. It's an insult no father would tolerate."

"What makes you sure he will reject the proposal?" Lord Borzan only grinned on that question.

"Because he had already reject one." He answered "Perhaps the rumor are true and there was something between him and that witch from the Mystic Moon."

"It doesn't really matter anyway. The witch is gone and in three years young king of Fanelia will be gone too, and the rightful ruler will sit on the throne of Fanelia."