Chapter 4

Karna got out of bed. He was shirtless, and his ribs were bandaged. He realized he was in Lucia's room again. Karna heard a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" It was Sora. "Yeah, just tell me what happened. My memory's a little hazy."

"Well, you took down a basilisk and knocked out for a week because of that. You also managed to get injuries everywhere." Karna nodded. "Yeah, I feel like I came back from hell. How's everyone else doing?"

"Not so well. Hylium was utterly destroyed by the basilisk. As for Sobloeze, a Kraken showed up near a port."

"Did you just say a Kraken?" Sora nodded. "Yeah. We managed to keep it at bay but lost a hundred lives before taking it down." Karna clenched his fist. "A basilisk was bad enough, but now there's a Kraken too? So many people have died..." Sora put his hand on Karna's shoulder. "Hey, you just became a Cahaya. You were incredible when you took down that basilisk. People may have died, but things are becoming peaceful again." Karna smiled. "I guess you're right. Although I have to say, I'm surprised you're giving me emotional support. You never do that."

"Well, people change as time goes by. Anyway, can you walk now? Lucia's waiting for us."

Karna bowed before Lucia. "I'm so sorry. It must be inconvenient for me to lie down in your bed every time I collapse." Lucia shrugged him off. "Don't be sorry. I'm happy to help you in any way I can. If it weren't for you, Sobloeze could have gone extinct today." She drank a glass of water. "If you can still walk, there's something I'd like you two to help me with."

Lucia took Karna and Sora to a range of mountains at the west end of her kingdom. "These are the Alps. Enemies wouldn't attack us from the west because they'd have to go through the mountains. But now it seems an enemy is using them to shield itself from us. At night, it comes and kidnaps young children, who are never seen again."

"What is it?" Sora asked. "Someone who saw it described it vividly, and it matches with an image of a manticore." Sora looked at the mountain tops. "Oh yeah, they're mountain beasts. A hiding place right next to its meals is something it couldn't refuse." Lucia nodded. "With the arrival of the Cahaya, more and more Kegare have been showing up." Sora's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying its Karna's fault that all this happened?" Lucia was stunned to hear that. "No! I'm grateful for what he's done, really! Although... a group of nobles believes otherwise."

"What was that?"

"I'll tell you later. Right now, I just need your help. Please. The strongest barongs in my country could barely take down that Kraken. As for me, I'm useless. I'm incapable of fighting Kegare." To Karna, she looked like a little girl pleading, with no resemblance to the tough princess she's been. "Alright, we'll help you out. Just tell us about what you said later." Lucia's face beamed. She hugged Karna. "Thank you so much! I promise you'll never regret this!"

Karna and Sora began their ascent to the top of a mountain. " You sure we could trust her? She's hiding something from us." Karna shook his head. "I don't think she has any malign intentions. But it must be tough to be a princess."

"What do you mean by that?" Karna shook his head. "Nothing important. I was just musing. Lucia said there's a band of soldiers hunting the manticore down. We should hurry." Karna began running, with Sora trailing behind him.

The two saw Velvet and waved to her. "Lucia sent you two here to help with the manticore?" Karna and Sora nodded. "I see. One of my soldiers has spotted the manticore and bringing it back here." Velvet led the two to the way her soldiers were. "Brace yourselves, it's coming."

The manticore appeared, hovering before them. It had the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and the tail of a serpent. In its mouth was a soldier, and the manticore chewed him to bits in front of everyone. The remains of his carcass were dropped to the floor. Velvet ordered her soldiers to attack. "There it is! Encircle it!"

The manticore shot needles from its tail at anyone who went near it. Soldiers screamed as they began to dissolve into dust.

"Matahari!" Everyone stared at Karna, who was poised to shoot a spear from his bow. "Sora, back me up!" The manticore dodged all attacks. Its tail rattled, and needles rained down from the sky. Karna burned them and shot another spear, which hit the creature's right wing. Sora shot a stream of water at the manticore, which ripped its tail off. Karna shot another spear at the manticore's belly, and the creature fell to the ground. The soldiers down there swiftly finished it off.

A team of medics arrived. Velvet was furious. "What took so long?"

"Forgive us, ma'am. Cornelius and the other nobles were furiously debating about where to send us. Kegare attacks have ramped up in the past week. Cornelius said there were more powerful creatures to deal with, so he refused to send us here." Velvet's jaw tightened. "That rotten scumbag's trying to get rid of me, huh?"

"I'm sorry ma'am, what was that?" Velvet sighed. "Nothing. Treat the soldiers who've been injured, then report to me when you're done." Velvet walked to Karna. "Think you and your brother can chat for a minute? It's important."

Sora crossed his arms. "Well, you wanted to chat. What do you want to talk about?"

"First, thank you for all you've done. I owe my life to you two twice now."

"No need to thank us," Karna said. "We're happy to help out in any way we can." Velvet looked at Sora, then back at Karna. "Are you sure it's a We? Your brother doesn't look so happy to be cooperating with us." Sora nodded. "I'm only doing this because my younger brother is an idiot and will get himself killed without me." Velvet smiled. "I can tell you really care about Karna." Sora blushed. "It's not like that! Anyways, didn't you say you wanted to talk about something?"

Velvet nodded. "A lot of people here are grateful for what you've done, Karna. But some think that you're a curse, that the fact that you're the Cahaya is the reason more powerful Kegare have shown up. Most of the nobles have been trying to spread that idea, anyway."

"So, the nobles don't like Karna hanging around here?"Sora asked. Velvet nodded. "So what about you? Do you think Karna's a thorn too?" Velvet shook her head. "No. Many of the nobles here have been corrupt for a long time. They ended up being resented by almost everyone in Sobloeze, so they tried to better their reputation, but Karna came along and ruined that."

"So, we have to watch out for the nobles?" Velvet nodded. "They may plan to kill you, so be careful." Velvet's eyes met Karna's. Karna was shocked to see how austere her expression became. "As the Cahaya, you are our only hope, not just for Sobloeze, but for the whole world. Please, guide my people towards the light." Karna nodded. "That I'll be happy to do. But I'll need your help." Velvet gave a sad smile. "I wish I could help you, but unfortunately, I won't be able to." Sora raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"In a week from now, I'll be married off." Sora was puzzled. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"It's a political marriage. Our relations with the Arcadia kingdom have soured over the years. Since I'm a noble, I'm supposed to marry the prince of their nation." Sora began to understand. "Healing relations between the two countries. The nobles can take credit for their ploy, and the people will think the nobles stopped a potential war from happening." Velvet nodded. "Yes, that's their objective. That's how they plan to fix their relationship with the commoners."

"You won't be able to help us because you'll be busy playing politics. If you show support for the Cahaya when the nobles denounce him, you'll be attacked, too. The marriage itself may be called off." Velvet nodded, fighting off tears. "I can see you're that you're the brainier brother. But you are right. As much as I wish to help you, I cannot. A war may happen with Arcadia in the future. So, to protect my people, I'll..." Tears ran down her cheeks. Karna held her hand. "Don't your parents care about how you feel?"

"No. Ever since I was little, all they cared about was how useful of an asset I could be to them. They're as horrid as every other noble."

"Then would you mind if I help you?" Velvet was astonished to hear that. "You want to help me? Why? I'm a complete stranger to you." Karna smiled. "I'm the Cahaya. It's my job to help people in need."

"He isn't joking, in case you're wondering," Sora told her. "This is how my little bro is. He's going to help you, even if you turn him down, so just accept it."

A young man sat on a couch, drinking a glass of wine. The silhouette of some creature passed through the walls. The young man smiled. "You are a servant of Rangda, correct?" The silhouette growled. "Yes. We are the Takau, the ghosts who serve the queen of Kegare. Have you obtained the key yet?" The man shook his head. "I am to marry her in a week. Rest assured, I will bring her to you."

"Very well. But our lord thinks it would be wise to give you more power."

"Why so? Nobody is fighting me over her." The Takau growled again. "It seems the Cahaya has been spending quite some time with her. We fear he may decide to take her from us." The man laughed. "The Cahaya? Humanity's savior is going to take her from me?"

"Do not take this casually, human. The Cahaya has defeated a basilisk. He is a formidable foe."

"I see. Has the Warui you promised me ready to become a jahat with me?"

"Yes. Penyerapan will fuse your soul with his tomorrow. For now, just worry about the girl." The ghost vanished into the shadows, leaving the man to drink wine by himself.

Karna stood near a church. He was wearing a beige sweater, black jeans, and brown boots that covered his knees. Someone poked him on his back, and he turned around, captivated by what he saw. A young girl wore an elegant red dress. Her black hair hung loose on her shoulders, and she wore a choker made of gold. "Velvet?" The girl smiled. "I prefer not to dress like this, but I am meeting my fiance today. We still have some time, so let's go shopping."

"Shopping?" Velvet nodded. "Your brother warned me about your horrible taste in fashion. So I'll be buying you some new clothes." She grabbed his arm and led him to her favorite store.

Karna carried two bags as Velvet waved to the shopkeeper. "Are you sure you're fine with me buying all this?" Velvet nodded. "It may seem expensive to you, but not to me. I usually shop here every day. But we should get going. My fiance is waiting."

Velvet sat on a chair. A middle-aged woman with cropped brown hair greeted her. "Hello, Mistress Velvet."

"Hello, Isabel." Isabel looked at the boy sitting next to Velvet. "Mistress, may I ask who that is?"

"This is Karna. Karna, this is Isabel, one of my family's many maids. Is he here yet?" Isabel shook her head. "Your fiance will be arriving shortly." She heard knocking on the door. "He has come." Isabel opened the door, and a young man appeared. He wore a red suit and had long black hair tied into a ponytail. He sat across from Velvet. "Why, hello. I presume you are Velvet?" Velvet nodded. "And you are?"

"Oh, please do forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Kai, the prince of the Arcadia kingdom." He reached out to touch her face. "You are as beautiful as the rumors say you were." Velvet grabbed his hand and swung it away. "We may be engaged, but you're still a stranger to me. Don't do as you wish." The man smirked. "I was only complimenting you. By the way, who's he?" Velvet smiled. "Oh, he's my new boyfriend. His name is Karna." Kai studied him. "Um, is there something wrong? You're looking at me weirdly," Karna said. Kai shook his head. "No. Don't take this the wrong way, but I never expected the Cahaya to be a delicate boy. I imagined someone more large and intimidating." Karna's jaw dropped. " How did you know?"

"That you were the Cahaya? It's the subject of the whole kingdom. Everyone's talking about you." Kai turned to Velvet. "I believe that we are to be married. Now is not the time to be in futile love affairs." Velvet smiled. "Maybe. But if I can, I would like to have Karna's hand in marriage instead. So here's my proposal: how about a duel?" Kai laughed. "You want me to defeat the Cahaya to win you? My, you're such a demanding woman." Velvet grinned. "I agree with you with that. The duel will be two days from now. You can choose to either fight me or the Cahaya. If you win, I'll marry you. Lose, and Karna becomes my new husband. What do you say?"

"Very well. However, I'll choose the location of the duel. I'll tell you all the details later." With that, he left.