5.16 Wow .. you're small

Levay questioned, "The second dragon prince was killed on our lands?"

Shu XinYi stood up and calmly answered, "As the chosen king told me; the second prince was killed on our lands, Yes. As for the first dragon prince; WangZi, was bold enough to claim that he did intend for a war when he first came to our lands. After all, it was his blood brother that was killed."

Levay looked genuinely happy as he laughed, "Hahaha. The second prince really is dead. That's great news. Ilseu, your mother was-"

Shu XinYi respectfully interjected, "I know, My Leige. My mother wouldn't have wished for the death of the second prince regardless. You must know this if you truly did know her."

Levay really looked at Calian Ilseu this time, he really is your son My Lady. Levay sighed to say, "So WangZi is here to find justice for his brother huh?"

Shu XinYi bowed again to say, "Not exactly, My Leige. The dragon prince seemed sorrowful; forgiving even. Like he owed something to the Elven kingdom." Shu XinYi took a pause to let his words settle before saying, "My Leige, if we line everything up then, I can see why the dragons started to appear here and other kingdoms. And why the first prince knew that it was definitely the Elven kingdom his brother was killed in."

Levay sat down again to analyze as he wrote on a parchmet, "Hmm. The second prince was killed on our lands. So the dragons started to search for the second prince in every kingdom. Yet only the true blood brother of the second prince could sense that it really was the Elven kingdom his brother died in. Dragons sharing the same blood have that connection. As for the Dào pearl, the dragon prince came across it; accidentally or intentionally that may be. But he was chosen and he took the pearl back with him. I don't know what to make of this situation Ilseu."

Shu XinYi bowed to say, "My Leige, For now let's arrange for the princes' depart. The Dào pearl and the dragon prince have both went away so there is no point dwelling over it. The dragon prince doesn't want a war. Maybe he was deceiving me; yet I want to believe his words. Or else there is a gruesome war awaiting us. Let's wait for action from that side. If there is any movement; atleast I can say for myself that I am prepared, so Is the army."

Levay nodded and wrote for a while then finally said, "Ok then. We'll observe for 4 more days for any movement from their side, then I will arrange a confrontation."

Levay then called for a servant and told him to call the princes down by the west stables. Once the servent left Levay said, "I'll see the princes off. You go rest." Levay said. He could tell that Ilseu had been injured from last night's events.

Shu XinYi didn't object as he took out a letter and gave it to Levay, "My Leige, I will not be able to fare them well. So please give my letter to them. I'll leave first then."Shu XinYi said after handing the letter over and he soon left.

The place he went to was the military palace. He made his way to the main room where he left FengYi. Shu XinYi hadn't given any special instruction to the servants to not let FengYi out of the Palace, nor had he restricted the boys movement in any way.

Once back Shu XinYi found that the food he cooked was eaten and some necessary supplies were stolen from his room; meanwhile FengYi was no where to be found.

Shu XinYi wasn't worried, he used Snow's help to locate him. He was buying some bread in the nearby market, being fully cloaked. Shu XinYi quickly tended to his wounds and then went to the market himself. He made no effort to hide himself, and just went like he does for regular street visit.

The royalty in this world was not as humble as Calian Ilseu, yet here Ilseu was roaming in a market buying foods and fruits like any regular person. Shu XinYi just wanted to be around the boy to make sure he is safe. He had no intention to keep him locked up.

The boy seemed very hungry, after buying and eating some bread, he entered a restaurant. Obviously he was stopped by the guard, "Young man, where are your gaurdians? Who will pay for you?"

FengYi confidently reached for his money pocket that he took from Calian's room. Yet he could only pat his body instead of a coin filled pouch. FengYi showed a sense of panic as he looked around to see a tall; pretty man with dark hair and gentle dark eyes looking at him with amusement. Subconsciously FengYi covered his face with both his hands and backed away. Then he remembered that this pretty man was not like that beautiful man who killed his family.

FengYi had not been unconscious while Shu XinYi had carried him back to the castle. So he had heard all that Ilseu had spoken. FengYi didn't understand why this man was being so caring, and he didn't like this unnecessary sympathy. Even though it was better then what the ridiculously beautiful man did to me. But FengYi still wanted to run away from every and all possible threats.

Shu XinYi didn't react to the boy's behavior, he just said to the gaurd, "I'll be his guardian for now. Let's go young man." Shu XinYi said and entered the restaurant without waiting for FengYi. He then found a private table for 2 and sat to wait. Sure enough, FengYi came in and shyly sat down in the other seat.

Shu XinYi said reviewing the menu, "Hm... Well. I am not going to eat anything. The cook I like went away. But you can suit your taste." Shu XinYi passed the menu to the boy.

FengYi rudely just said, "Just everything. I don't care." He didn't know why this man just never questioned him anything. Even now he didn't get angry nor question him stealing his money pouch. What does he want? FengYi wondered. He was after all a child. How much can he really understand? He can only try his best.

Shu XinYi called the waiter to say, "Bring medium portions of everything that a kid can eat and digest. Also bring some peach juice, until then."

After the waiter went away, FengYi said, "I don't like peach juice."

Shu XinYi said in a matter of factly tone, "Obviously. It's for me."

FengYi stared at Shu XinYi for a solid minute only to ask in an unbelieving, "Adults can drink juice as well?"

At this point the waiter had bought the peach juice. So Shu XinYi thanked the waiter and sipped it saying, "Yeah. Unless, well; You don't consider me as an adult."

FengYi curiously looked at Ilseu drinking his juice like a kid and seriously considered. Back at his home there was famous saying, "Drown the sorrows of adulthood in this fine wine, or drink up your milk and sleep in your mama's lap." Everyone likes to drink wine, and be drunk. Anything other then wine and alcohol is considered for children. Yet this man, who had a built better then his father was drinking peach juice like a tasty treat.

FengYi considered it and asked, "How old are you?"

Shu XinYi answered honestly, "25. Well 26 in 3 months."

FengYi widened his eyes to say, "Wow.. you're small."

Shu XinYi squinted his eyes at this little.. "If your aging system is considered then I am around 250 years old." Shu XinYi said closing in.

FengYi's eyes lit up like he had an epiphany just now, "Oh. So you are different them me? I was wondering why everyone in this city looks different from people back in my city. Do you perhaps have some kind of .. disease?" He said pointing to the ears.

Shu XinYi blinked trying to control his laugh as he said, "Yes, your "city" people are different from ours. And no, this is not a disease. This is a feature. Like your scales."

FengYi nodded saying, "Oh.. Ok ok ok. I get it now.."

Shu XinYi curiously asked, "What do you get?"

FengYi kept nodding as he said, "When I came here, the very first day I found it weird that you guys had pointy ears. So I was scared but then a few days later I got used to it and I think they suit you."

Shu XinYi questioned again, "That's good, but what did you get?"

FengYi said seriously, "I get how to fix the fear the people here have towards my scales. Since it's also their first time seeing my scales, then if I can just be myself and show my scales more often; then people will get used to it. And they won't rush to attack me wherever I go in this city without covering them up."

Shu XinYi closed his eyes and breathed silently. At this point the food had arrived. "FengYi, The world is not so simple to figure out. Eat up. Then we can go buy you some clothes."

FengYi was confused at both his own and that man's behavior. Why can I talk to him about my troubles so easily? And why does this man take care of me? Was it just simple sympathy, or genuine care?