King Hakao: Interesting.
King Hakao smiled, standing unsteadily with many burn wounds on his body.
Ray and Hifung looked at King Hakao with fear, anxiety, and panic.
King Hakao: I will withdraw my troops. You all should return to your kingdoms with your armies and your king.
Hifung and Ray struggled to stand.
Hifung: What about the agreement!?
King Hakao gave a thin smile and chuckled.
King Hakao: I give you two years. Each hostage must remain in the kingdom holding them and must not be tortured or enslaved.
King Hakao: During these two years, the Kingdom of Hakao will not attack the Kingdom of Milty.
Hifung: Why must the hostages stay in the kingdoms that hold them!?
King Hakao: You don't need to know. The point is, that is the agreement I approve.
Suddenly, Hifung fainted.
Ray: Hifung!
The king regained consciousness from his fainting. He stood up, looking at Hifung who was unconscious beside Ray, with King Hakao standing in front.
King: Damn, what did you do to the kids!?
The king shouted angrily.
King Hakao looked at the king standing up, then approached the king who was staggering and in pain.
King Hakao: I made an agreement.
King: What!?
King Hakao: Go back. All hostages from each kingdom must remain in the kingdom holding them. I give two years. During these two years, the Kingdom of Hakao will not attack the Kingdom of Milty, and no hostages may be tortured or enslaved.
King Hakao: That's the only agreement I approve. If you don't accept it, you can die.
King Hakao: How about that?
The king stared sharply at King Hakao.
King Hakao: If not, I will kill these two kids.
King Hakao walked toward unconscious Hifung and powerless Ray.
King: Wait!
King Hakao looked toward the king who was still standing.
King: Fine, I agree with that agreement.
King Hakao smiled slightly.
---
Hifung woke up in the hospital at the center of the Kingdom of Milty. He sat on his bed, looking around confused.
There was no one in the room except Hifung.
Hifung (thinking): "Why am I here?"
He recalled the fight with King Hakao.
Hifung: The king!?
Hifung: Arg.
Hifung was in pain, looking at his body, realizing many burn wounds.
Suddenly the door opened.
Micyl, Ray, the King, and Feds entered.
Micyl saw Hifung.
Micyl: Hifung.
Micyl immediately approached Hifung, followed by Ray, Feds, and the king.
Hifung: Seems like I was unconscious for quite a long time.
Micyl's eyes filled with tears looking at Hifung.
Micyl stretched out her arms to hug Hifung.
King: Don't hug him, his burn wounds still contain chi energy.
Micyl didn't hug Hifung, looking embarrassed.
Ray: Hifung, you were unconscious for three full days.
Hifung: Three days!?
His eyes widened, surprised to learn he had been unconscious for three days.
Hifung: So, what's the result of the fight?
Feds: Thanks to you, the Kingdom of Milty and the Kingdom of Hakao made an agreement.
Hifung: An agreement?
King: The agreement is, King Hakao gave two years. During these two years, the Kingdom of Hakao will not attack the Kingdom of Milty, but all hostages must remain in the kingdom holding them.
Hifung lowered his head, accepting the situation.
King: What is their real purpose for not releasing their hostages? Even though the agreement says hostages cannot be tortured, enslaved, or killed, I still feel something is off.
Hifung: Two years, huh.
Micyl: Hifung, is your left hand okay?
Hifung: Um... My left hand? I don't feel anything strange in my left hand.
Hifung: By the way, King.
King: Yes?
Hifung: Earlier you said my burns still have chi energy?
King: Yes, you fought with King Hakao using aura and magic, causing a big explosion. Fragments of King Hakao's chi energy hit your body, causing burn wounds and the energy hasn't disappeared until now.
Hifung: How about Ray?
Ray: I also got burn wounds from chi energy fragments, but now I'm almost fully healed.
Hifung: Oh.
King: You're almost healed, too.
Hifung sighed.
King: I'm sure after two years, a big war will happen again.
Feds: Yes, the kingdom's troops must be trained harder.
King: Yes.
King: I came here just to thank you for saving me and this entire kingdom, thank you, Hifung.
Hifung looked at the king.
Hifung: Y-yeah, you're welcome.
He spoke a little shyly.
King: It's late afternoon, Feds and I will return to the kingdom.
Hifung: King.
King: Hmm?
Hifung: During these two years... I want to travel the world and also train and learn many things.
The king and Feds were amazed, their eyes widened as if seeing a hope.
The king and Feds smiled.
King: I look forward to it.
The king and Feds left the room.
Micyl: You're really leaving?
Hifung: Yes, I have to get stronger for the war two years from now.
Ray: Hifung.
Hifung: Hmm? What is it, Ray?
Ray: I'm coming with you.
Hifung: Eh, but—
Ray: But, I will only follow you for one year, then I'll return here earlier. How about that?
Ray looked at Hifung with confident eyes.
Hifung: Oh.
Hifung smiled slightly, looking at Ray.
Hifung: Okay.
Micyl lowered her head, thinking about something.
Ray: Tomorrow we leave, right? I want to go home first to prepare.
Hifung: Okay, we leave tomorrow afternoon.
Ray: See you tomorrow.
Ray waved and left the room.
Hifung waved his right hand back until Ray closed the door. Then Hifung looked at Micyl, who walked beside him.
Hifung: What's up?
Micyl: I... I want to come with you.
Micyl begged Hifung with teary eyes.
Hifung: Ee, but—
Micyl: I'm not afraid of the outside world, I just want to stay with you all my life.
Micyl begged, sobbing.
Hifung's face turned red after hearing that.
Hifung looked at Micyl standing beside him.
He then took Micyl's right hand and gently pulled her so she sat on the edge of his bed.
Hifung: Micyl, I can't let you come with me.
Micyl looked at Hifung hopefully.
Micyl: Why?
Hifung: Because I don't know what the outside world is like, and my purpose of traveling is to find a way to reach the upper world.
Micyl: But, I'm not afraid of the outside world.
She said, sobbing.
Hifung: I'm the one afraid if you go outside.
Micyl looked confused and sad.
Micyl: Why?
Hifung: Because I like you, I don't want anything to happen to you. And when I come back, I want you to wait for me.
Micyl looked into Hifung's eyes, her eyes widened a little like seeing a glimmer of hope.
Hifung: When I come back, I want us to get married, so wait for me, okay?
Tears started flowing down Micyl's cheeks.
Hifung hugged Micyl; the surroundings felt silent and still, mixed with sadness but also happiness.
Micyl couldn't hold back her tears, and she started crying in Hifung's warm embrace.
In that embrace, Hifung looked at Micyl, and Micyl looked back at Hifung.
The world felt silent, this whole moment felt like it belonged only to them.
Then slowly, Micyl and Hifung fell into a warm kiss and embrace.
---
The next afternoon, Hifung and Ray stood at the gates of the Kingdom of Milty.
Micyl, the king, and Feds were also there.
Hifung: We're leaving now.
Micyl: Bye Ray, Hifung. Don't forget your promise, Hifung. I will wait when you come back.
(Waving at Ray and Hifung)
Hifung: Yes, of course.
The king and Feds watched Ray and Hifung leave proudly.
Feds spoke softly to the king.
Feds: Hifung, is he really the one?
The king looked at Feds.
King: Yes, he is the one awaited.
The king then looked at Hifung who was getting farther away.
King: The Imper.
Feds looked at Hifung.
Scene shifts to Hifung and Ray walking farther from the Kingdom of Milty.
Ray: Did you promise something to Micyl?
Hifung got a bit nervous and panicked.
Hifung: Eh... Yeah, just promised to come back safely.
Hifung glanced at Ray.
Hifung (thinking): "Ray seems uninterested in Micyl, but I'm still afraid, what if Ray likes Micyl, what should I do?"
—End of Arc—
[A/N]: Hi friends, I want to inform you that this first arc is finished. I hope you look forward to the next arc, and I hope you can leave reviews. After looking around, I realize my writing style is different from others. Do you like my writing style? If
not, please give feedback, so I can consider whether to keep my style or change it gradually.
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