"Master, I am so angry... angrier than I've ever been in my life... huuuhh..." Nir shouted, clenching his small paws in the air.
"How dare that mere king ask you to marry his son? A human! For the sake of the kids and the school, I let him live. I will ensure that I meet him in hell."
"Nir, Akira is a small girl who is greatly admired by the people. If she were to marry a prince, even just in name, the people would be happy with the king. He wants to use my popularity as a stepping stone for his son. I expected this kind of move from a noble family or a duke, but I never thought the king himself would take the initiative."
"Master, let me tell you, I don't understand why everyone refers to us as the demon tribe, given their cunningness. Have they never visited the human realm?" Nilay said with a sarcastic smile.
"But, Master, now that you have rejected him, will he cause trouble for the school?"
"He won't. I gave him a better offer."
"A better offer??" Nir moved his paws demanding to know."
"I told him that we are simple wanderers and won't be staying here for long. As we were leaving, I proposed to him a plan where the royal family would be stakeholders. We concluded that he would establish a new section in the Department of Education to oversee the school we are setting up.
"If we have angered or dissatisfied the royals, the school won't survive. But Nilay, I don't trust humans. Ensure that the people who lead the sections and the head of the school are from the night tribe and will follow your orders. I am entrusting this task to you."
"Don't worry, Master. I won't let you down. This school will flourish for centuries." Nilay wrapped his paws around her hand affectionately.
"Anyways, The king seems happy with your suggestion. He even sent us back, in the royal cart."
The royal cart passed through the bustling streets of Amidah. Akira waved to the townspeople who were worried for her and had gathered in the street, waiting for news. It continued its journey and reached the outskirts of the bamboo forest. The skies suddenly filled with dark clouds. She could sense the danger ahead. She and Nir got off the cart and walked through the forest.
"Master, it's the petrified demons..."