Mapiya Isnd gradually reached stability in the fifth year since its opening to the public. Again, another achievement attached to Karel’s name. Although the court recognized his contributions, not all of them were pleased about it. Not that they could do anything to Karel, knowing he never overstepped or abused his authority.

  After the brief visit in Maya City, Karel went off elsewhere to find more people. Like st time, he let his dimensional corridor decide for him.

  “Huh?” Karel scanned his surroundings once he exited the dimensional portal. “This is…”

  When he exited the narrow alleyway, a carriage ran past him and his cloak swayed as some of his hair peeked from it. Noticing the familiar bustling bordertown between Rouwen and Weissdel, he became thoughtful, “Since I’m already here. Should I pay Ryndell a visit?”

  Timely enough, the sun had finally set and the district livened up. Deeper into the night, he found himself in Ryndell’s bar.

  As the familiar blond sat before the countertop, Ryndell brightly smiled. “It’s been a while, sir! You haven’t changed a bit all these years!”

  He chuckled at his cheerfulness. “So are you, Ryndell. Your best drink please.”

  “I got you!”

  As the bartender mixed the drink, Karel filtered the conversation in the bar. Nothing to note as of now.

  The ice cubes clunk inside the gss as Ryndell slid it to him after a few minutes and Karel eyed the two-toned drink to examine it.

  “A new drink?”

  “I first mixed it earlier this year. It became popur because of its exquisite taste, according to my frequent customers.”

  Karel smiled. “Then let’s test if it lives up to its reputation.”

  Ryndell csped his hands nervously and anticipated Karel’s reaction. The tter, on the other hand, was surprised at the taste.

  “This is actually good. It has a sweet aftertaste disguising the strong liquor added in it.” He looked at the bartender with a grin. “You’ve outdone yourself, Ryndell.”

  The werebeast smiled brightly and nodded. “I’m gd you like it!”

  The two of them caught up, talking over some gossip.

  “I know you went to Norn a few years back. You must have known what happened to Master Kani.”

  He slightly clenched onto the gss. “I do.”

  “And I’m gd that he’s doing fine now. Because, you know, if it’s him, I know he’ll be able to achieve whatever he has now.”

  “You mean?”

  “It’s an open secret that he’s from the Liafor Marquisate. Although, people don’t openly discuss his matters.”

  “You surprisingly have a lot of connections for you to know that.”

  Ryndell chuckled. “That happens when you’re in the business for decades, sir.”

  “Tell me more about this.”

  Karel, despite their closer retionship within the past years, never meddled anything about Kani’s personal matters. He knew about his circumstances, sure, but never really delved deeper into it and only knew what he told him.

  “Even though his family resided in Deorya, he’s also popur here. After all, none could hold a candle to Master Kani. His retives apparently envied him because of his achievements.”

  “When the attack happened on his estate, even the Liafor Estate was thrown into a disarray, thinking someone among them instigated it.”

  That’s one thing he found odd in the aftermath of the attack. Especially that time when they transferred to Weissdel after the attack on Kani’s estate in Norn. There had been people protecting him from the shadows. And according to him, the mistress wanted him dead and his grandmother also hated him.

  “Intriguing.” He mused then sipped from his gss. “By the way, any unusual news you have?”

  “By unusual, you mean?”

  “Something involved with the immortals, or perhaps some roaming beasts needed to be subjugated, just anything.”

  He hummed in contemption. “There might be some up north? I heard that the furthest town had been pgued recently by some small beasts and Prince Guerrid immediately attended to it.”

  Karel looked at his gss, pensive.

  “Ah, since we’re talking about this, you would be interested in the test gossip.” He grinned. “It's about Prince Guerrid.”

  “Oh, I met him before.”

  Ryndell leaned in a little, whispering, “The current crown prince, his younger brother, is said to be incompetent and those who oppose him are eyeing the first prince.”

  “Guerrid has no desire to sit on that throne.”

  The werebeast harrumphed. “You’re right but the nobles are persistent on letting him retake his succession right.”

  An eyebrow raised. “He’s a Padin?”

  “It’s a rule of the temple that if a royal possesses a divine power, he will serve as a Padin of the kingdom and renounce his succession right.”

  “The temple is truly…”

  “Right? They’re trying to manipute these Padins, turn them into their own people but Prince Guerrid had always been at odds with the temple and never set foot in there again after his ordination.”

  “I might need to visit the prince instead.”

  “Tell me the gossip,” Ryndell said in a hush which made Karel ugh.

  Eventually, the patrons left the tavern deep into the night. The staff began cleaning and Karel finished his gss.

  “Well… I actually have something to say.” Ryndell’s furry ears popped out, perking up in attention. “Do you want to work for us? A tavern will be provided and we just need someone to manage it.”

  Ryndell widened his eyes in surprise. “And where is that?”

  “Mapiya Isnd among the Southern Isnds.”

  “Oh, the new isnd of the Ramayan Empire?”

  “So, the news has reached here.”

  He smiled. “I know what you did, Sir Karel, but again, that’s just how you Ramayans are. Based on our interactions and from what I heard, you Ramayans love your technology.”

  “We’re not called the most advanced civilization for nothing.”

  Ryndell ughed. “Where’s the lie? While what you did is a welcomed change, things are bound to get complicated in the long run.”

  “We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.”

  Ryndell nodded. “As for your offer, I will think about it.”

  Karel paid his tab and stood from his seat. “Just send us a letter. If you ever agree, I’ll be happy to welcome you.”

  Waking up to the bustling capital city the next morning wasn’t as fun as he imagined. Well, he’s quite used to a serene environment and another warm body pstered onto him or in his embrace.

  Those crimson red eyes blinked as they stared at the mirror, reflecting his bedhead and sloppy dress shirt on his person.

  “Ah, I need to visit Guerrid today.”

  The trip to the said prince’s castle after breakfast was rather uneventful but Karel noticed how sparse the buildings were as he moved closer to his destination.

  Upon arrival, a rge fortress, instead of a pace, loomed before him. He pulled onto the reins of his horse and addressed the guards asking for his information. “I am Karel, seeking an audience with Prince Guerrid.”

  The guards looked at each other incredulously, wary of him. As he descended from the horse’s back and fixed his attire, a guard already announced his presence to their master. Prince Guerrid himself came out and, contrary to how his people usually saw him, grinned widely upon seeing the familiar face.

  “I’ve waited years for you to visit!” he excimed and excitedly embraced Karel, much to the tter’s surprise.

  He patted his back before they separated. “How are you, Your Highness?”

  “I’m fine! You?”

  This was definitely not the Guerrid he met back then.

  “I’m fine.” He smiled and he was immediately ushered inside.

  “Your visit is so timely, you know.”

  “Oh? Is there something I can help you with?”

  “There is a rogue knight in Norn and we’ve been trying to capture him for a month now. He seems capable of using magic, however, what I feared most was his physical prowess. He’s…” He sighed. “He tackled three of our men and severely injured one of them, the other two broke a few ribs.”

  Karel hummed. “Would it be up to me to deal with him ter?”

  “Do as you see fit.”

  “Thank you, Your Highness.”

  “He also helped around the vilge but he’s a bit… wild and couldn’t communicate well. I haven’t heard any news since we let him be a few weeks ago.”

  “I’ll take note of that.”

  They moved to a much more private room and Guerrid immediately asked, “Since you’re already here, I want to know your opinion about something.”

  “About?”

  “You know my disposition in this kingdom. I was originally the crown prince but because of my divine powers, I wasn’t allowed to participate in the succession.”

  “And you don’t want the heir position anymore, right?”

  Guerrid solemnly nodded. “Back then, you said it wasn’t easy to run a kingdom. Obviously, I know that but…”

  “Something must have happened for you to be this distressed.”

  Guerrid casted his look down on his hands. “My brother is clearly incompetent. And while I still have another sibling, I don’t think she wants the throne unless something worse happens. I hope nothing will happen though.”

  Karel leaned back, pensive. “If worse comes to worst, this incompetent brother of yours would have to rule this kingdom whether you like it or not.”

  He shut his eyes. “Unfortunately.”

  “The only thing you can do now is to be a mediator. Answer questions if they ask you, give out your opinions but explicitly tell them that it’s still up to them to act because you’re not allowed to dabble in politics.”

  “How about when they wanted to marry their daughter to me?”

  Karel clicked his tongue. “Say you’re ascetic.”

  He snorted. “Would they even believe that?”

  “You’ve been doing your duty piously. What’s not to believe?” He shrugged, raising an eyebrow at him.

  Guerrid smiled. “It’s really refreshing talking to you.”

  “And if you have more troubles, you know where to find me.”

  The prince was a great host and Karel spent the night in his pace before departing the next day. Prince Guerrid mourned his departure but the blond promised to visit again. The tter hoped it wouldn’t take years again, much to Karel’s ughter.

  His feet led him to the heart of the city, wandering for a while. First, he needed to check something in Weissdel before hitching a ride to the north. Karel took in the familiar sights of the road leading to Norn. It’s been a while since he traversed these trails, mencholy swelling in his chest. They used to travel along this road and he couldn’t help but clutch onto his chest. After all, this was where everything started.

  Karel looked at the foliage above as the cart continued on its way, sunlight seeping through. He shouldn’t have cared back then. However, his unexpected meddling resulted in something more and he didn’t even regret doing it.

  After all, someone needed his help and he’s capable of helping them.

  Now, look at where it got him.

  He’s never fond of someone like this outside of his family. He appreciated people, true, and like Elder Orazio, he admired him and treated him as a father figure outside their mentor-apprentice retionship. But, how about Kani?

  Who is Kani to me?

  A retionship existed between them because of his whimsicality, and additionally, his curiosity. He all had the chances to not associate himself with the man and yet he gave in, blooming into something more, to the point of having attachments to the man when he’s supposed not to.

  (“We’re the Accursed, remember?”)

  Am I not allowed to love someone else then?

  Karel shut his eyes momentarily until he realized what those thoughts meant. Crimson eyes opened abruptly, widening in shock at the realization.

  I love… Kani?