He made his way forward with a straight face and oozing in confidence, but that was just for show, as he was so nervous and uncomfortable on the inside with all the stares he was getting, even as a prince he wasn't use to attention being solely on him.
He bowed as he got forward, then just as Clover, King Leohart presented his medal…
"Jericho, I give you this honor for your immense assistance in our time of dyer need, thanks to you am standing here with my people, I can't express my gratitude enough, this is just a little honor but I hope you feel how proud I am to present this to you... (he handed Jericho the Twinstar Continental Medal, same as Erica, and with a huge smile Jericho accepted it)… congratulations my boy" King Leohart concluded, Jericho bowed and one by one, snapping out of their shocks the council began applauding, as Jericho turned to leave King Gustavious stopped him…
"that isn't all you are receiving Jericho" he said with a devious smile, princess Erica gave an exasperated sigh as she knows it's never a good sign when her father smiles like that…
"here we go again" she cried…
"we know you might reject this offer that's why we decided on it without informing you" emperor Riko adds with his own smile…
"indeed… Jericho, you will be receiving land from all three of us, the land that connects all three of our nations, that our ancestors decided to keep neutral, because of it's resources, so it won't cause conflict between our nations about thirty (30) years ago… (murmur filled the room, with some people against it, but king Leohart wasn't hearing any of it as he raised his hands and they all went silent)… Jericho you can do with the land how you please, if you want to found a new nation, do it, anything you want, it is yours… we won't be taking no for an answer" King Leohart concluded…
Jericho stood completely dumbfounded as his mouth was left open, he looked at the direction of his friends, and saw them laughing cause of his reaction to the news…
"ohh this is golden (laughs)… I haven't seen Jericho look like that before" Erica reacting, trying to hold in her laugh…
"aww… he looks completely knocked out, poor guy" Alice adds also trying to hold in her laugh…
"well I must say, it's actually nice to see him receiving a taste of his own medicine, now he knows how we feel whenever he pops up with some strange idea and ability" Sir. William adds with a sigh…
"oh my, I did not see this coming" princess Diamond stated still in shock, while Clover smiled at Jericho feeling so proud as if she was the one that got the land.
After what seemed to be an eternity, and realizing there is no way of turning it down now, even if he really wanted to, Jericho finally accepted his fate…
"T-Thank you your majesties, I accept your gracious gift and will live up to your expectations" still confused Jericho answered, the kings all smile as they felt relief Jericho accepted it, he then made his way to sit with the others, receiving a lot of stares in the process, happy ones and ugly ones.
After all that excitement Duke Konrad finally resumed…
"that is all for the honors ceremony… the next is the final matter on the docket, we will be discussing the changes coming to the world that will kick start the beginning of the new age… some of you might be hearing of this for the first time, but a natural energy has been set in motion in our world, one that will be the norm for the next generation, it is called soul energy… (gasps and murmur filled the room as the curiosity of the leaders was peaked)… here to give us an in depth explanation of what it truly is and what it means for our world is, the former heir of the Dynasty of Menssai, Prince Jericho Von Menssai" hearing his name Jericho stood from his sit and begin to explain the situation.
He went in detail, explaining the origins of soul energy and how every living thing already possess it, it's disadvantages and advantages, he also went on to explain how not everyone will be able to freely manipulate it as he can, but they can still use it with a catalyst as Erica and the Elite Holy Knights of the Kingdom of Righteous can, he also went on to explain the ages that are soon going to be awaking to this new reality the world is in, and urges them to think of how to assist the young ones, and also how dangerous it will be if they ignore it.
The room was like a ghost town, as Jericho concluded his explanation, some were scared, while others were just curious, but the main feeling they all had and agreed upon was they had to think of a way to manage it so the kids awaking won't be hurt or hurt the people around them.
"and in taking advantage with all the leaders present for the first time in a long time, we want to resolve this issue now, so if anyone has a suggestion the floor is their" Duke Konrad stated, everyone in the room fell silent as they try to think of something, then after a while one of the leaders, Earl Mooz Von Unis the ruler of Unis, one of the vassal states of Warmark spoke…
"why don't we send them to the military school, the soldiers will sure be more than enough to not only watch after the children, and train them in the ways of the military, making their bodies and mind strong, but also we gain asset in our military" the idea of Earl Mooz rang around the room, with some, considering it as a good idea, mostly because of the part of having a stronger military, not really for the sake of the children.
After a lot of murmur, and argument with some agreeing and others disagreeing, the kings were about to put it to a vote to settle the squabbling once and for all, but before they could another hands was raise, everyone turned and to see who it belonged to, it was Jericho, the kings gave him permission to speak up…
"I am not saying Earl Unis's idea isn't a good one, that will be a good place to watch after them… but to join the military?… shouldn't that choice be up to the children? I thought we want to change this world, forcing kids to join the military cause they have power sounds a lot like you want to use them as a tool… (the room irrupted in dismay, some found Jericho's tone as disrespectful, while others saw his point and agreed with him.. the king immediately stopped their bickering and asked Jericho to continue)… my own suggestion would be, why not we build a school for them, a school where they take lessons in how to control and use their abilities, a school where they can pick the course and career path they want to study and join after graduating, they might want to join the military, or become medicine practitioners, or be adventures, or work in the research department, or running a restaurant, anything they want, they should decide for themselves… that won't only help them a great deal, but it will also set the world on a new path to it's future… that's my suggestion" Jericho concluded, the room went silent, as they think of how much of a fantastic idea Jericho just come up with, some didn't want to admit how good it was cause they still found his previous tone disrespectful, Clover gave a little sigh then a huge smile appeared on her face…
"{you haven't changed at all dear Jericho, still possessing innovative thinking well beyond your years, as you did back then}" she thought as her smile increased, while Erica and the others had huge smiles on their faces as they agreed with Jericho without question, so too the three kings.
"that would be a lovely idea, but there is a problem, we won't have anyone qualified enough to teach them about soul energy, as you said it will be difficult and almost impossible for people of our age to use it" one of the leaders made a very good point…
"fret not, I would be honored to train the people of Warmark as I did with Righteous, and also I do not mind one bit being a professor if this suggestion get passed" Jericho responded with a bold smile, they all exchanged looks and one by one smiles appear on their faces.
Now the kings were ready to put Jericho's suggestion into a vote, as they did there was no single objection, even if some still found Jericho a bit cocky and disrespectful, they had to admit his idea was very good.
"now we will need to find the perfect location where the school will the built, and at which nation it will stand among the three great powers" one of the nobles stated as they all began to ponder…
"oh I know the perfect place for the school" Jericho responded, with a huge smile, seeing this as his chance….
"oh boy, Jericho has that look on his face again" Sir. William lamented with a heavy sigh…
"you don't think his is gonna do what we are thinking do you?" Alice asked with a nervous smile…
"Bwa ahh… he is really going to do it" Erica adds with a huge laugh…
"{what do they mean?… what do they think he wants to do?}" Princess Diamond thought as her curiosity is now through the roof.
"their is a perfect land to build the first ever academy, a land where each of the three powers of the world will be involved with so it can be widely accessible to all… (a devious smile)… it's the land your majesties bestowed upon me, that is the best location for it, 'The Academy Nation'… you know, since it will be in all that land??" Jericho suggested with a huge smile… "geez, Jericho couldn't name anything to save his life" Erica stated with an exasperated sigh, the others beside her all smiled as they agreed, except Clover, who absolutely loved the name, especially since it came from Jericho.
The room burst out in murmur, the kings exchanged looks, then they sighed as they figured out Jericho's ploy, but it was too late as they have already fallen for it…
"you did say I can do with it how I wish, and this is my decision, I want that academy to be established there, a land connecting the three cores of the human continent, and in turn will connect the rest of the world one day" as Jericho concluded, sighs rang through the room as murmur resumes…
"well he did it, he somehow managed to still end up rejecting the land we offered, and in an extremely logical way too, one we could never argue against even if we wanted to… (heavy laugh)… this boy is truly outstanding" king Gustavious stated with a hearty laugh, the other kings couldn't help but agree as they to laughed.
Feeling completely defeated, the three kings had no choice but to put it in a vote, which they did, with no one voting against the idea of Jericho, and so it was passed and the next step would be to prepare for it's construction….
"and with that we bring the end of this summons, please let's all make our way down to the reception hall to partake in the banquet provided my our king and also unwind, before we bring this summons to a close" Duke Konrad pronounced and the leaders slowing made their way to the reception hall, then Jericho and the others, including the kings followed suit.
At the reception hall, the leaders were met with a varieties of dishes and high quality wine, they all sat to eat and drink together, then mingled as they talked about all the shocking information they had received.
Some still gave Jericho the stink eye as they don't have the highest opinion of him, while others went and introduce themselves to him.
After a while of getting acquainted with some of the other leaders and nobles, he was finally able to make his way to where Erica and the others are…
"wow, looks like you are pretty popular Jericho, must be nice" she said trying to tease him…
"I would have to disagree with you, don't think most of them like me very much" Jericho responded as he approached…
"well it's not your fault, most of them were trying to show off, to gain favor with the three kings, and a brat came out of no where and stole the spotlight from them, it's a normal reaction… wait… scratch what I said, it is totally your fault" Sir. William spits his drink as he finished talking…
"wow Sir. William, what a way to casually stab me in the back like that… sigh… one of the reasons I see being a noble as a huge pain, a lot of fake people that only cares about themselves, trying to get closer for their selfish desires… anyway, this is truly a nice banquet uncle Leo prepared, Warmark are indeed a great pow--" Jericho froze as he locked eyes with Clover, then what he experienced with her just the other night flashed back into his head, he was visibly turning red as he struggles to maintain eye contact with Clover, seeing his reaction, Clover giggle, making everyone turn towards her as it was totally out of character for her to smile about anything…
"d-did you just laugh princess Clover?" Erica asked looking surprise, Clover ignored the question and continued with her drink…
"{oh my, Oh my, oh my… I was right!!… something did definitely happen between them last night… I just have to know!!}" princess Diamond excitedly thought….
"by the way Jericho… (he snapped out his his trance as he heard his name)… do you really think we wouldn't know what you did last night uh?" Clover choked on her drink as she heard what Sir. William said and start coughing, everyone turned to her trying to help her...
"whoa are you okay princess Clover?" Erica asked, worried…
"Y-yes… j-just (cough)… went down the wrong pipe… am fine" Clover responded, looking pretty nervous, but nothing compared to how Jericho looked at that moment, he didn't even notice Clover choking on her drink as he was frozen…
"l-l-last night?… I-I do not k-know what you are t-talking about.. hehehe" Jericho responded, with an obvious nervous laugh, looking clearly distressed…
"oh stop playing dumb, what you think is a secret isn't much of a secret anymore as everyone now knows" Sir. William continued, a cold sweat was now running down the faces of both Jericho and Clover…
"oh Sir. William, y-your imagination is out of c-control… I and Prin---" Jericho was interrupted before he finished his thoughts… "come on man… you can't still be denying it when the evidence is there… you used one of you divine avatars of nature to help the soldiers and Knights last night did you not?" Sir. William exclaimed sounding very exasperated with Jericho, hearing what Sir. William said a huge rush of relief filled both Jericho and Clover and they both visibly gave out a sigh of relief at the same time…
"that was what you meant" said Jericho with a huge smile filled with relief…
"uh yes?… what else did you think I was talking about… I swear you get weirder every time" Jericho gave a nervous laugh, the others just stood staring at both Jericho and Clover…
"{what is up with this two, they are acting really off… hmm… no way, it can't be what am thinking, Jericho is too dense to others feelings to do something like that, and Clover couldn't careless about something like that… am just reading too much into it}" Erica thought, brushing it off instantly from her head as it was just too impossible…
"care to explain it then Jericho?" Sir William asked, staring down Jericho…
"oh yeah, that… well, yes… a lot happened, and my mind wasn't really relaxed, I had to do something to distract myself… I remembered the soldiers and knights were still clearing out the rest of the Lost at the front lines, so I decided to go help and also distract myself a little" Jericho concluded, shifting his gaze in and out of Clover's direction…
"Geez man, at least give us an heads up before doing something like that… now they think it's the gods themselves than came down to assist them (sigh)… {well, he is technically a god, so they are not entirely wrong in thinking that}" sir. William thought with an exasperated sigh…
"didn't really think it will become that serious (he laughs, then locked eyes with sir. Williams, then it instantly disappeared as he was wearing a lecture face and Jericho didn't want that)…(clears his throat)… s-sure thing sir. William, I will give you all the heads up next time" Jericho responded with a nervous laugh…
"wait… Sir. Jericho, the front lines is almost at the other side of Warmark, this is an extremely large nation, using a self moving carriage is a two and a half days trip from the capital, maximum, and with a horse it's three or four days, if the horses stops to rest… how did you make it there and back in just one night?" princess Diamond asked feeling like the only sane person in the group for asking that very obvious question the others just see as the norm…
"oh Princess Diamond, please feel free to call me Jericho… and also, um… I am pretty fast" Jericho responds with a smile…
"that didn't answer her question tho Jericho" Erica interjected with a sigh…
"oh, my bad, you are still pretty much new to this whole soul energy thing… well I am physically enhanced thanks to that, so making a trip like that isn't any trouble for me.. {well that should suffice as an answer for her, can't have her knowing it's part of my godly traits and not soul energy}" Jericho rephrased his previous statement, and concluding the final part in his thoughts…
"{you have got to be kidding me… this soul energy thing just keeps getting exciting the more I hear about it}" Princess Diamond thought with a weird smile on her face… "ohhh and C-Clover, congratulations on receiving the Twinstar Worldly Medal today… you truly deserve it" Jericho stated, with a huge smile and sincerity, and for the first time since what happened between them he looked comfortable again…
"thank you Jericho… but don't think I didn't know it was thanks to you I got it today" she stated, leaving everyone confused…
"what do you mean Tio" princess Diamond asked…
"well the kings were planning on giving the medal to Jericho, but he refused it, saying he hasn't done anything worthy enough to earn something like that, and he recommended me for it… of cause it was in the plan for me to receive one, but it wasn't suppose to happen today, that was thanks to Jericho, but of course they had to practically beg him to at least receive the Twinstar Continental Medal…" Clover explained with a smile…
"only you can unnerve powerful world leaders to that degree" Sir. William said with a tired sigh, Jericho couldn't help but laugh, as the other followed suit…
"but Jericho is right Princess Clover… you truly deserve it" Alice said with a very bright smile.
They all continued to talk and relax together, as the night draws near, and the banquet came to an end.
The leaders had all returned to their various territories before it got dark, leaving the royal guest of the king, they held a little private meeting as the other guest left, but just the three kings, Duke Konrad, Erica, Clover, princess Diamond and Jericho were present for this one, Jericho requested for the meeting to discuss the next step in training anyone that possesses soul energy, as he did with Righteous.