Hi guys,

I just wanted to tell you that I am back from my little break. I'm sorry for disappearing on your guys like this, but I was caught in between my Summer classes and job (I started working full-time after the end of my classes) , so I really needed to take a break from working on all of my projects. Anyway, I guess that all of you don't really care about my ramblings, so I'll let you read the new chapter! Can't wait to see your Reviews!

PS. I'm halfway done with the next chapter, just be patient...

Bluemoonyue :P

Chapter 1

Promise

Gwendal P.O.V

Sigh. The council of the ten noble has started since half an hour ago, but the silence within the walls of this chamber is starting to annoy me. No one has said a word during this period of time and we're just staring at each other to see who's going to break the silent atmosphere. Amusing fact: I can feel that my eyebrow is twitching and my flat forehead is getting those little bumps on it. (Cherri-sama: I told you, Gwendal, you wouldn't be able to get any girlfriend if you are still keeping this habit) During those time, I can clearly remember mother saying 'girls would not fall for you if you force too much your forehead' while Yuri and the Daikenja agree with unconvinced nod. All those moments will repeat no more, they will only become memories from the past…

Ugh. This is not my usual self. Since when have I become such an emotional weakling? Anyhow, there is no time to joke around (Citation of Azu: Time is a treasure I cannot afford). Just as I was scolding myself, von Bielefiels spoke.

"I guess everyone knows the reason of today's council. There's no time to cry over the Maoh's death. We need to find a new king or otherwise the country will crumble." As expected from Voltrana, always clear about the important points. His clear and strong voice resonates across the room like a magic spell and time seems to flow again in the chamber.

"It seems to be the only way for us now, isn't it?" ask the brother of the source of my nightmares, von Kabelnikoff.

"Indeed, a kingdom without a ruler tends to crumble more than other kingdoms and its psychological influence on the citizens is way more the largest risk of all. We can't allow any rebellion within our magnificent country." Agreed gently von Wincott.

"So I suggest that we vote for the next Maoh's candidate. How about you guys?"

Just as I was about to talk, a strong objection made its way to everyone's ears.

"WHAT? We can't do that today! I need more tim…I mean we need more time to prepare the candidates, right?"

Stupid Stoffel, that is so expected from him. Plus, everyone knows he was trying to get more time to find a candidate who will become his puppet so that he may gain control of Shin Makoku through him. Does he seriously think he can fool us, the great council of the ten nobles? Haa…even after all those years, I am still wondering why he is my uncle.

"I need to disapprove this statement of yours, von Spitzberg, as von Bielefield has said, time is running and we can't afford to lose any opportunity to reinforce our protection during this period of crisis."

Right after my speech, I look, satisfied, the face of this regrettable uncle. He became red almost immediately as I finished my sentence. I can feel from my place the aura of anger that he is sending to his surrounding.

"Why you little…" just as he was calling me by any sort of displeasing names, a bunch people made their interruption through the doors. (They actually broke the doors by kicking it, I guess) Those who didn't know about Shinou heika (basically everyone except Gunter and me), received an enormous shock from seeing the dead king walking in.

"Shi…Shi…Shinou heika…"

"How … is that possible? Your majesty died five thousand years ago. It's that a ghost? Mamma Mia! If…if…" shivered the buffoon. (Who else can he be than Stoffel? Oh, and don't ask me about the mamma mia thing)

"Shut up, von Spitzberg and quit acting like an idiot cauz' it is really annoying." Cut the king brutally. Hah! That's the Original king for you. Those who are stupid do not have their place within his majesty's esteem. However, the language used is kind of rude for a king… but who cares?

"I see that von Christ and von Voltaire did not see having the need to tell you guys about me, huh?"

"Sorry your majesty, but our Daikenja told us to do so."

A sudden silence fall unto him as he heard my answer and a brief light of sadness passed through his eyes. I guess the bound between him and the Daikenja is greater than what we imagined. His dead must had an enormous shock on Shinou heika.

"…I…see…Right now, it doesn't matter, and the reason for why I am here today is:

I forbid the council of the ten nobles from choosing another Maoh unless I, Shinou, told you when the moment comes. I order you this by the authority of the Great one, the one who create the country of Shin Makoku. And… that's all."

In front of us, Shinou heika went away just like how he came in. (By the way, there's a new bill that needs to be paid thanks to Shinou's hyper kick. Seriously Shinou, has the door offended you?) I guess everyone is still digesting all the events that happened moments ago.

"Well, if even Shinou heika said so, I don't see the point of having this reunion anymore. So mina, let's just all go back to our work since we have a lot of things we have to deal now, such as the reparation of the doors." I finished my sentence with a little grin and went away by passing through the poor doors. I know that Shinou is preparing something otherwise he would never ask us to delay the nomination of a new maoh especially when the country is in a crisis. I guess Voltrana has also noticed this.

Leaving the council behind, I wonder how is the little brat doing. He hasn't come out of his room once since that day. I am seriously thinking about taking him by his neck and then throw him in the sea. Mother is becoming crazy over his lifeless attitude and she's not very helpful by standing in front of his room and begging him to come out. I've decided, today, I need to put an end to all this commotion even if it's going to hurt Wolfram even more. He needs to get out from the shocked caused by Yuri's death.

And just I was walking toward my stupid little brother's room; I found unsurprisingly Shinou Heika, Ulrike, Conrad, Gunter and Anissina standing in front of it with mother.

"May I ask why everyone is here? Or should I ask if anyone found a way to help the brat?"

Looking at each other for a long period of time, they were waiting for someone else for spilling out the answer. Maybe my impatience became really obvious, because someone finally spoke.

"Hum, we do find something to make Wolfram coming out of the room." That was Anissina. "However, we don't know what kind of effects this solution is going to bring…"

Okay…, is it me or I kind of feel helpless the moment when she told me this…=_=〢 I guess this can't be helped…

"Well, if you could get the little brat out of there, I don't really care about the rest, now. So are you gonna do it? We don't have the whole day to wait here."

After looking at me for a while, Anissina finally give up all resistance.

"Fine, I'm gonna do it. I can't believe you, you're such a heartless person. Humph!"

….Me, heartless?... Did you look at yourself before talking? Who was the person who's always picking me to try on some suspicious and torturing inventions? =_=#

…Argh…not again…I have fallen once more in those kinds of childish thoughts. It's not the right time for it…

"So, shall we start your plan soon? Wolfram is still there and we need to do something. "

"Hai, hai, no need to rush. First, we need to call Wolfram out from this room. Let me do it." While saying this, she walks over and stopped in front the door. Looking at her, I know what she is going to do next so I immediately cover my ears with my hands.

"WOLFRAMM! OPEN THAT DAMN DOOR IMMEDIATELY; WE HAVE THINGS WE NEED TO TELL YOU!"

Ouch…why does she need to have such strong vocal string? My ears…. And of course, the brat didn't do anything… not even answering…

"You're not coming out? Too bad for you, I was trying to tell you that I created an invention that can show us the last thoughts of a late person. I could have showed you the last thoughts of Yuri, but it seems that you're not interested. Too ba….."

DANG!

Why everyone is having a grudge against doors today? Seriously, maybe I should ask Gunter to change every single door of the castle into steel doors. At least, they would last longer than those wooden doors.

"Is it true?" asked fiercely Wolfram.

Everyone was mentally prepared to see this brat's condition, since he locked himself in his room for a week. However, when he came up, I can't deny that every one of us was shocked. His hairs are messed up and they were sticking to his pale face. He was horribly pale and his eyes were red and popped. His whole person looks weak like a fading flower.

"Yes. And I have it here with me." By those words, she suddenly pulled a helmet like machine out from her bag. It exterior part was round and in a pinkish color. Some large black and yellow stripes were decorating the base of the cask. On the top of the machine, two antennas stood up each side of it. After looking at them for a few seconds I realize the cask was supposed to represent a bearbee. (Inner Gwendal: so adorable…)

"Its name is Show-Me-Your-Last-Thought-Kun" she said proudly by lifting the machine with her two hands. "To use it, you just have to put it on the deceased's head and activate the button here" she pointed at a little black button that represented the bearbee's nose. "At the same time, the button activates a mechanism that unlashes waves and it will transmit those waves to a receiver." She pulled out once more some similar helmets out of the bag. Unlike the previous one, those were smaller and they were yellow instead of pink. "The person who put on one of those yellow helmets will be able to understand the deceased's last thoughts because the waves received will be transmitted to our own brain in a way it could be deciphered. Good thing we kept the Maoh's body intact after his Death instead of burning it like the Human do."

A momentarily silence fell on us. It was hard enough to see the cold body of some dear to us, but I guess it is harder to ignore their thoughts in their last moment. Everyone was on the same page in regards to this matter, since we made our way to the Room of Silence, where the body of the fallen king was displayed. Once in the room, we stopped by the side of the crystal coffin. Slowly we opened the cover and lifted gently Yuri's head in order to place the helmet.

"Ready?" asked Anissina.

Everyone nodded, and some were trying to hold their tears back.

After pushing the button, a gleam of light started to shine on the helmet. For a moment, nothing happened and it made us even more nervous. We started to lose the slight hope we had until…

"I felt my life force slipping away gradually. A nauseous odor of blood and sweat was filling the air. Pleck…. I wanted to cover my nose and mouth but my hands wouldn't obey me. My body lay limp on the cold and bloody ground, unable to move…"

"Heika's voice!"

"Shhhhhhttttttt! Keep quiet!" screamed everyone toward Gunter.

Then we continued to listen to what was clearly the last thought of the diseased Maoh for a long time. I felt it long like decades. It was harsh to witness the gradual death or Yuri once again. And also, it was hard to listen to the farewell words of close person.

"Everyone. Live. Be happy."

And I smiled as I said that. I wanted their last memory of me to be a smiling one.

"Ah… there are still stuffs I wanted to do…" I thought. "At least I did a good job as the Maou…."

The light surrounding my body became a nearly transparent foggy pale blue.

I felt my eyelids closing slowly. Every thing seemed so silent. And I knew what was to come…

"I'll leave the rest to you… Murata..."

…

Indeed he was a stupid, but excellent Maoh. Even until the very end, the dearest thing to him was to comfort and thinking for our good. Looking around me, I can see that the girls were crying really hard. Greta was comforted by her grandmother while the others were comforting one another.

"That idiot! He didn't have to apologize!...he was great at what he was doing…really…" sobbed Wolfram while holding against him his helmet.

Soon after, we have decided to leave Wolfram in the room and we left for we knew that everything will be fine with him. And there's a country that awaits us to take care of it.