The High Castle – The King's Palace.
"How could we have missed this?" the leader of the guardian guild; Merzta went up and about pondering.
"It happened right under our noses." Miscovan interjected, silently pouncing his finger on the table.
Members of the king's council had been gathered at the palace and they sat at a table, a rectangular table. The king was yet to be present and his council men tossed their ideas and grievances about.
"From the little report we've gathered, it happened without warning too. How could we have known? Don't be too hard on yourself old man." Oueus, Reus' elder brother replied from the comfort of his seat.
"Maybe we should just have them all summoned immediately and hear what happened from the witnesses."
"This instance?"
"Yeah."
"You're cruel. They're just kids, let them rest, at least for the night." Reus said
"I see you're all hard at work as always." The peculiar voice settled the chaos in the room. And all composed themselves. King Churchill had arrived with his right hand man Taiga and comfortably, he took his seat.
"Taiga." The king said. "Your seat." He gestured to the seat right across him.
"My king, I'm honored, but my position is at your right hand. I will say it a million times if I have to."
The king heaved out a sigh of defeat and turned his attention towards the room.
"My loyal friends… it seems things have taken a rather sharp turn for the worst. Not only did our enemies infiltrate our home, they made off with one of our youth."
"My lord, we're doing everything possible in our power to seal any breach in security and track the infiltrators as soon as possible. My people are on it as we speak." Merzta humbly reported.
"Takel. I believe every student except the lost one is accounted for?"
"Yes, king. After we were contacted by an assistant who was on his way to their graduation party, we immediately sent the medical team to the scene. All are well and accounted for with the exception of Hikami Kaina." Takel reported.
"Hikami." The king called out. Shocking to everyone, Kaina's father was present, yet, he didn't seem to be slightly bothered about his son's current situation.
"My king need not worry yourself with the likes of children like my son. As far as I am concerned, that boy ceased being mine before all this incident. He was unfit!" He voice rose, almost raging.
"Hikami!" Merzta shot up from his seat. "Need I remind you who you're talking back to in that manner, you're in the presence of the king."
"I wasn't aware I spoke out of turn, I was just saying things as they were. Unless you'd have me lie." He froze his gaze on Merzta and Merzta; looking back, could only scoff and take his seat.
"It has come to my attention that some of you wanted the students to be summons this very night to hear what happened from the witnesses themselves?" the room grew cold and bearer of that thought couldn't help but twitch a bit.
"Not a bad thought in itself, but, they're worn out, not talk of the battle they had to fight."
"Merzta. Who do you have on the case this instance?"
"We're currently gathering the intel we have before anything else."
"Put Elfa Ingrid on the case. And have him form a team of abled men of his own choosing and your own recommendations if need be."
The king sighed and laid back into the chair and everyone was tempted and gazed in his direction, they've known him to always be laid back about most things but this… they all could feel was different.
"My KING. Is everything alright?" he spoke as the mouth-piece for all present.
"I think we've become a bit too shrouded by our peaceful life that…darkness may have laid one over our eyes. Ah." He caught himself and propped up, his hands clasped in front of him as he sighed and smiled. "But don't worry, all is in control." He assured them as they heaved sighs of relief and smiles.
"Alright. I'm sure you all have your sleeps to return to." Taiga commented. "You're dismissed.
All were gone, leaving the king and his right hand man. And he had put his legs on the table and was staring at the ceiling.
"My king." Taiga had returned from escorting the rest of the members of the king's council and called the attention of King Churchill yet, it fell on deaf ears. "My king" once again, deaf ears.
"Zarnish Zarthog." The words softly escaped King Churchill's lips as he was quickly reeled back to reality by a loud bang on the table.
"You were day dreaming again weren't you?"
"Oh no… You caught me!" he chuckled.
"Oh no! I forgot." The life entered his eyes again, almost causing him to fall off his seat. But he caught himself. "Taiga!" he called. Tell Takel to send the children on a cruise, all expenses covered of course, let them enjoy a day of rest and wonder. Then after, I want the ruined ceremony to be held once again, at the palace this time."
"My king! That would be a first."
"Right? It would be my pleasure too. Then, I want to personally congratulate the best students of the year, and most importantly those that protected the rest during the incidents."
"My king, normally, I would protest, but, nice thinking."
"Right? Hahahaha"
Morning had arrived and the sun was hot and out and by the request of the king, messages had been delivered to every graduating student of Dolrea Academy and they had readied themselves, wearing their backpacks and waiting on a smaller Militrain that was going to take them through all of Dolrea and back home by the end of the trip.
"Is this like the best day ever or what?!"
"In the end, you're going to lead with that? As I recall you didn't want to even get out of bed." Lilith interjected.
"Yeah but then I remembered, I vowed to turn a new leaf." Khay quickly responded.
"Plus who'd refuse a trip around all of Dolrea?"
About 30 minutes had passed, the students waited at the trains platform, exhausted from waiting.
"Hey, how long do we have to wait?"
"I don't know." Another responded.
"Hey! Hey!" It traveled to their ears and they all turned their attention to him.
"Kobby!" the three said in unison, standing with Mira, Amine, Han, Lui, Yousef, Kai, Hodgard, basically the people who saw the whole ordeal with Kaina.
"What took you so long?"
"Pardon the lateness, a cat crossed my way." He chuckled, wearing a combination of a blue black long sleeve sweater and a jumper and a silver bag with its strap across his chest.
"Oh is that so." Lilith sneered. "You were supposed to have been here like 30 minutes ago."
"Like he said." Another voice entered the conversation. "He had to help an old woman cross the road."
"Yoshi!!" Trilith exclaimed, drawing the attention of the students around.
"Yeah. It really is him." A reply came from amidst the crowd of students. "Muten Yoshi"
"There's Fera and Kolaiah too." Mira announced.
"Fera nee!" Lilith exclaimed. And she smiled and waved at her as her flower yellow beach shirt danced in the air over her cotton-like ash inner on slightly baggy trousers.
Kolaiah stood by her right, wearing a white baggy jeans over sandals and sleeveless brown shirt under a blue jeans long sleeve top. On his hands were black gloves that bore an insignia of explosion. This was his standard attire.
"Isn't Yoshi supposed to be halfway across the world or something?" one student cried. The man in question was one of their seniors, top of his class in Battle Arts and top 3 during his time; a senior to Kobby and his graduate year group. He wore a black trouser and a blue shirt.
"Yeah. I thought I was supposed to too." He heaved a sigh of defeat as the chew stick in his mouth came falling loose with his expression. "Apparently, some things need immediate attention."
"Yoshi! Yoshi! Yoshi!" Trilith sing sung.
"Yo Mischievous Trio. I hear you've cranked things quite a lot since I've been gone."
"Can you blame us? It got boring with both you and Nana away." Khay replied almost proud. Trilith standing by his left side gave a continuous nod of agreement.
"Junior master Kolaiah, still stuck up as always huh?" Lilith teased.
"Right? You'd think he'd change into something more comfortable for the occasion but noo!" Khay added.
"Oh no no. Something's different this time, he didn't bring his sword." Trilith chuckled as they giggled at Kolaiah.
Kolaiah scoffed knowing very well the attitude of these three. And he walked on to them.
"Mischievous Trio, good to see you looking good as usual." His calm flat toned voice replied. "However, jokes on you. I don't ever go anywhere without Shin-shin." He smiled and scoffed at them as walked past them revealing his short sword comfortably resting around his belt at his back sheathed and sitting horizontally.
"Ehhhhh!" the three exclaimed.
"Enough formalities. We're already behind schedule. It's take off time." Yoshi announced. The Militrain rustled over the tracks at high speeds exiting Dolrea. The students had settled in the many sections of the travel beast and comfortably taken their seats. There was chattering and merry making across, the life of youth filled the air. And in one cart, at a table sat Trilith, Khay, Lilith, Han and Lui and like the others around them, they had glasses of smoothies with straws in them on their tables and they sucked away at it for joy.
"Ohh" Khay exclaimed; sitting at the edge of the seat, he could see Kai coming his way. "Kai." He called out, expecting a somewhat friendly response, but rather, the boy dropped a crumpled paper on their table and walked ahead without as little as a chatter.
"What was that all about?" he reached for the paper and stretched it out. "Next 3 cars. Blue Peacock on Raggard Ramparts ™"
"Seems we're needed somewhere." Khay announced to his friends.
"Oh?" Han exclaimed.
"You guys, come with us." They slowly got up without drawing much attention to themselves and found their way to the next 3 cars. The section film dissolved and allowed them access to the intended cart.
There, all the people directly involved in Kaina's incident were present.
Mira, Kiriku, Ingrid, Hodgard, Ranfa, Tanvi, Ohga, Yousef, Yegan and Kai. All except Amine and Theodora.
"Woah, everyone is here. Even you Yousef." And Yousef could only scoff back in response sitting further away from the rest. Some stood kneeling against the seats while others had made themselves comfortable.
"Everyone? I don't see Theodora." Lilith informed.
"Theodora? Who's that?"
"Yellow hair, cute face, wears a cross, got really blue eyes. You wouldn't know her, she was there at the end, and I would say, she was a big help."
Yegan looked in their direction.
"Yeah, she was." Trilith exclaimed. "Also, how did she… like just… get up and walk in there, she doesn't know Kaina…. Girlfriend maybe?"
"No way is that true or even possible. I know her somewhat, she's always kept to herself for some reason and not a lot of people approach her. But she is really kind."
"Well, going by your description, I went from first to last cart and she certainly isn't here." Kai reported.
"Well, we'll run into her sooner or later, it is a trip after all." Kay concluded.
"What are they doing here?" Yousef sneered at Khay.
"Han and Lui? I asked them to come."
"Oh, is this like an official meeting concerning the merging of the Raggard Rampart and the Blue Peacocks? I don't think we have any business being here Khay! You guys, I'm sorry about what happened to Kaina, I was really looking forward to being friends again. And thank you for protecting us, apparently, I got knocked out when the monster attacked all of sudden."
"Wait what?" Hodgard's heavy voice resounded. "What monster?"
"During the party, a monster attacked and you guys had to face it for our sakes. I can't believe I missed out on all the action."
"This doesn't make any sense." Ranfa exclaimed. "There wasn't any monster. It was Kaina we fought."
"What?" Han cried out. "Kaina? He got taken away in the end fighting with you guys for everyone's safety.
"This is ridiculous."
"It's not." The section film dissolved and he walked through to them.
"Amine! I was wondering where you were." Trilith exclaimed.
"These just came in." he flailed the bundle of sheet in the air. It was a newspaper and on the front, it bore the headline, "A Loss or Sacrifice? Hikami Kaina Sacrifices Himself Amidst Battle Against a High Ranking Beast For the Life of His Friends! ROWDY IN THE BEGINNING, NOBLE AT THE END"
"Seriously!" Ingrid exclaimed.
"Yeah. It says right here. The only son and heir to the Hikami household, Hikami Kaina sacrifices himself amidst the sudden battle that broke out at the night of their graduation. The incident while unfortunate and the boy while problematic, proved to bring out the boys true colors. The seemingly never ending battle subsided when the high ranking creature grabbed hold of the boy and left the scene of the battle, saving everyone in the end." Lilith read. "Based on eye witness testimony from over 100 students and their accounts.
"I obviously don't recall anyone approaching me for a scoop like that" Yegan exhale.
"And that's certainly not what happened." Kai added.
"I guess that would explain why the rest of the students are up and about as if what happened yesterday didn't even occur." Khay added.
"I thought it was weird too." Trilith followed.
"But it's strange though." Kiriku said. "How? I don't get it. And why?"
"Well..." Mira cried. "It's obvious someone doesn't want the truth of it all to get out there, someone with a lot of power."
Then, everyone sort of new, they all had one person come to mind at that instant.
"Kaina's old man."
"Smart bunch!"
"Yoshi!" Amine exclaimed. "How'd you…?"
"Don't panic, the intention wasn't to intrude, I just happened to have walked in without you noticing."
Then, the film dissolved and in came Kobby.
"Fancy finding you lot here. Anyway, just the people I was looking for." Then his eye trailed unto Yoshi. "What are you doing here?"
"Me? I just happened to have walked in on an interesting line of conversation these guys were having, what brings you here?"
"I didn't get the chance to ask for the details concerning the incident that happened yesterday."
"Is this the truth?" He held up the front page of the newspaper.