"L'autre âme est toujours vivante."
The words Louis spoke kept running in Kai's mind. As he was taken back along with the rest, he had a confused yet worried look in his eyes. All the way he stayed silent, when suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Looking back, he saw Lala looking at him, asking what the Saintess wanted with him. To this, Kai just smiled and moved his hand in the air, dismissing the talk. But around that time, Kai's mind raced. What Louis said was; "The other soul is still alive."
It was simple to understand what Louis meant; the other Kai was still alive somewhere. But how and where?
But for the answer, Kai already thought of a theory; maybe in the dream land dungeon, where the other Kai died. But it wasn't certain he's there, yet the chances of it being true were high.
As he slowly seated inside the carriage, he turned to Sakura; pointing his finger with the words forming, asking if they can go to the palace right now. Sakura titled her head with a confused look; stating that they can go but why so suddenly. To this, Kai just replied with a smile that before going to the duchy, they were given some work to do in the academy which was to be submitted once the classes start again, and the papers for that are with Ray.
To this, Sakura nodded understandingly as she looked at Hiro asking if that's alright. Hiro simply nodded, with a small smile in his lips; saying it's fine since he also has something to attend to in the palace. Further adding, he said that Sakura can take everyone else back to their home, while he goes with Kai to the palace. Sakura thought for a while, then slowly nodding but gave on another confused look saying it's fine but also asking why didn't Hiro told her about his work. Hiro simply chuckled to it, saying it wasn't something important. But his eyes said the other, with a seriousness clear in them as he looked ahead on the road.
Thirty minutes passed by, as now the group's carriage came to a pause by the palace entrance, with Kai quickly putting on his wig. As Hiro and Kai stepped out, Sakura told them to come back soon and she would prepare a great meal for Kai. Kai just smiled warmly, as Elysia, Ana and Lala waved at him, while Hiro put on a pitiful look and asked about his meal.
To this, Sakura just closed the door and said to finish his work first; as the carriage moved on.
Hiro's look shattered as he murmured to himself about how Sakura sometimes give him the cold shoulder; as Kai simply shrugged to himself. Just then, an imperial knight came forward and greeted Hiro, guiding the two to where Maximus was. According to him, Maximus was pretty stressed these days; first the assassins attack and now some conflict with the other empire in the north.
Slowly, they all reached in front of Maximus's office, as the knight knocked in the door; saying Hiro has arrived along with Kai. For a while, no response came as everyone looked at each other in confusion. The knight was about to knock again, when suddenly a tired voice responded back. It was Maximus, but his voice was filled with tiredness, as if he didn't get any proper sleep these days. His voice said to let them in, as Hiro tapped on the knight's shoulder and said that he shall take care of things from here.
The knight nodded, walking away as Hiro looked back at Kai and told him to follow him. As the two stepped inside, the view of the inside was a mess. Papers were scattered around, and in between those papers, Maximus was lying down, dark circles under his eyes.
"Could have found a better time to come you know…"
Maximus said so, as he slowly sits up, holding his head as he gestured his hand for Hiro to sit on the floor. Hiro laughed a bit, as he stepped closer and sat down next to Maximus asking if he's been working like that for some days now.
Maximus simply nodded his head, tiredness getting to him.
"There's lots of things an emperor has to do… Even managing the banquet for tomorrow."
Hiro wondered with a confused look, asking why maximus didn't asked his assistant and Celestina for help. Maximus simply shrugged, saying his assistant was helping him before but he fell ill from over-working; and as for Celestina, he didn't want to have her sick like that.
As the two were talking, Kai read a few papers scattered on the floor; detailed on the conflict between the northern empire for some mana-stone mine, that is located in the Lunara empire border to the north, but currently the northern empire captured it.
"I told you to rest!"
As Kai was looking out the papers, a voice came by the door. As he turned back, he saw Mono standing there, walking towards the three saying she should probably let Celestina know about this. But Maximus kept insisting he's fine now, pulling Hiro to his side saying Hiro will help him. But Hiro had a confused look, asking why him.
As the two argued a bit, Kai wheeled himself to Mono; passing on the papers in his hand as he asked with his projection;
"Maybe we should leave the two here to work."
Mono smiled a bit awkwardly, taking on the papers as she held on to Kai's wheel and took him out, closing the door behind. As the two walked, she began saying how Maximus has been tensed since he heard about the attack back in the duchy. She leaned closer to Kai, asking if he was hurt during the attack; but Kai quickly moved his hand in mid-air, indicating he was all good. Then he slightly turned back to Mono, pointing his finger as he projected his words asking;
"It's all good now. By the way, what's the banquet about that uncle Max was talking about?"
To his question, Mono nodded understandingly as she smiled at Kai; saying that the upcoming banquet is for the celebration for a major deal being sighed with the southern empire, Eterna.
According to her, in Eterna, a new form of technology has been developed and that technology will be shared to their empire as well. And for the signing of the contract, the first duke of the Eterna will be coming. Duke Anton Hillington.
Kai listened carefully, nodding in understanding. Just as they were walking, both noticed two figures running in front of them to the other side. Both Kai and Mono looked in front; they both caught that it was Ray and Nino, running together laughing and holding hands. Kai and Mono were momentarily shocked. The two looked at each other for a few seconds, as a silent agreement took place between the two.
The both smiled and nodded, as Mono quickly began to carefully follow Ray and Nino, while wheeling Kai as the two were curious on what's going on.
-To be Continued