Capital of Asura, Cardos

After a month in total, the two reached the capital's border, of course, after many hardships and challenges. One would expect their relationship to close up during that time, but it's impossible with a stingy princess like Lyxinella.

The border of Cardos was huge. It was a large wall, probably the size of an Iron Dragon, and it was reinforced with Force magic. There were six guards, for every 100 metres around the wall. The southern border, the one which faces the Sahara, however, only had four. Because the kingdom does not expect others to cross the Sahara.

Miraculously, Altair and Lyxinella did. (The princess joined around halfway through.) They walk up toward the border. A guard spots them through a kaleidoscope. He was ready to ring the bell next to him, for signs of an invasion, until he spotted the girl beside the boy.

After 3 minutes or so, they reached the wall and the guards. The guards eyed the boy suspiciously, however, two of them went to reassure the princess. With this, Altair could confirm that she was a princess. He had only heard of Cardos in his father's journal. The royal family's last name was also in the journal, but it wasn't what he mentioned.

'Princess, you're safe!'

'Bring the two of us in. Let's give a stop by Dia Square first.'

'Yes ma'am!'

With a half-hearted command, she was able to bring both herself and Altair into the kingdom. The capital was nothing like Altair had imagined. The cities and capitals in the demon continent couldn't compare in richness when it came to Asura, the human continent. Many people were wandering the streets. Families, lovers, friends, children. Some different races were visible such as dragonewt, elves, warbeasts and etcetera. It was more diverse than anyone could imagine.

As he followed the five in front of him, he noticed that some were happy about the princess' return and others weren't. Altair also was one of the reasons why they were displeased. The people of the capital weren't all happy. The largest building he could see was a large castle, with two others beside it. That was probably the king's home. All the other houses looked average, but from where he stood, Altair could see two mansions. He assumed they belonged to barons or dukes.

'Stop.'

The young princess said. The guards stopped immediately and Altair stopped a few feet behind them. They were in what the princess called Dia Square. There was a fountain in front of them, and they were surrounded by bystanders, the civilians. Lyxinella turned around–a huge smile was plastered onto her face–she held out her arm and pointed at Altair.

'Guards, get him! He attacked me!'

The guards unsheathe their swords and rushed toward Altair, without asking questions. It was true that Lyxinella had a few injuries on herself but they were claw marks and the like. They were blinded by loyalty. Altair believed that it was more money than loyalty.

The first guard came in with an overhead slice toward the ground. He was floored instantly and disarmed. Altair took the guard's sword for extra measures. This time, two guards came at the same time. They circled him and tried to hit Altair from the sides–he hopped up, causing the guards to hit each other's armour, and kicked their heads. Now only two more left. One dropped his sword and ran through the crowd, while the other cowered in fear.

'What are you useless guys doing?! Capture him!'

Lyxinella pressured the other guards. Everything stopped with one shout.

'What's going on here?!'

The crowd behind Lyxinella cleared up, showing a carriage carried by two winged white horses. Pegasi. From out of the carriage window, was a woman. Her fair long hair floated through the wind, and her emerald eyes shone in the sunlight. She wore a pink dress. Without waiting for the carriage to drop, she jumped out and landed on her feet. The woman ran toward Lyxinella.

'Sister Ria!'

Lyxinella ran toward the woman, called Ria, and hugged her with tears flooding her eyes. Ria glared at Altair. He didn't flinch or anything. Slowly, his vision faded and dropped to the ground. He was hit by a sleeping drug from behind. What would happen to Altair now?

[x]

'Wake him up.'

'Yes, your majesty!'

A sharp pain combed over the cheek of Altair, then the left side of his body. He struggled to open his eyes but finally did after seeing something pink. He noticed what it was, but didn't say anything. His face just beat red.

'White vagabond.'

A rough voice called out to him. It wasn't the person in front of him, but someone else. Altair tried to stand up, but couldn't. His hands were cuffed. It would be hard to get up. The female in front of him picked him up and set him to face someone. There was a man, sitting on the throne. The aura he gave off could cause chills to be sent down anyone's spine, even Altair's.

'Why did you attack my daughter?'

Altair got the picture. It was a whole misunderstanding. He could already imagine that smile on Lyxinella's face. She fixed the whole story on the assumption that Altair attacked her and threatened her to lead him back to the kingdom.

'Simple answer. I didn't.'

His apathetic face and tone didn't change. This angered those in the room. The female beside him grabbed him by his vest and snarled. She shouted at him.

'You're in the presence of the king! Show some respect! And do not lie!'

'I'm not lying and is there any reason that I should show respect? You're all treating me like an enemy so I'll act like one. There isn't any reason that I should show respect to the enemy king. Well, tell me, female knight?'

'Enough with your logic!'

She raised her fist at him and lifted him slightly higher. Altair's indifferent look remained.

'Elice. Stop. He is not lying.'

The king said. The female knight named Elice looked up at the king. She wanted to object but stopped once his menacing eyes met hers. They were eyes that she couldn't defy, even if she thought something was wrong. Elice let go of Altair and bit her lip.

'Then, white vagabond, I shall ask you a few questions. You do not have to answer if you do not wish to.'

'Sire, why're you treating him with respect?'

It wasn't the female knight who asked, but a knight beside the king. He stood without a helmet, and his armour looked more advanced than any other knight's. His hair was red and his eyes were green. In his hand was Altair's sword that he got from the Myriad Pyramid.

'Since he is the saviour of my daughter. My Deviance confirmed it. Now, white vagabond, who are you and where did you come from?'

Altair was very fond of the king he just met, though the subordinates he had with him weren't very fair. He decided to answer the questions.

'I am Altair Ashen, and I came from the demon continent, Demontica.'

Everyone in the room unsheathed their weapons and poised for battle. The knight beside the king didn't unsheathe the sword but was ready to unsheathe it. Altair knew the reason for that. The king raised his hand in the air, signalling them to sheath their weapons.

'You just like him, your father, I mean.'

Altair didn't change expressions.

'Now, I will ask you this. Are you human?'

'Yes. I am human.'

The king looked into the eyes of Altair, and Altair stared back. Neither of them backed down. Then, without warning, the king laughed. His laugh filled the room and many looked at the king in surprise.

'That confirms it. You are human and trustworthy.'

He snapped his fingers and the restraints on Altair fell off. The boy stood up, rubbing his wrists and cracked his neck. His body felt slightly stiff. The stare of the king was intimidating for him.

'Now, I know you surely made some request in exchange for saving Nella, when you saved her.'

'How did you know?'

'I just thought about your father, and what he would do.'

There was a slight silence.

'Before that, can I have my satchel and sword back?'

'Your satchel is in your room and your sword is with Reynald, here. We'll use it as the King of Knights' weapon.'

'Sorry, but that's impossible.'

Altair gave the king a straight response. He wouldn't back down, since he wanted his sword back, but that wasn't the only other reason. Altair held out his hand. The sword flew out of Reynald's grasp and into the boy's hand.

'As you can see, it's already a part of me. Plus–'

He unsheathed it. The blade was weird. It wasn't like any other. One side was straight, the back, and the front was curved. Those who knew this weapon would call it a "katana." What was most peculiar about the sword was the fact that the blade was black.

'It's a demonic sword, and only I can unsheathe and hold the blade.'

'I see. Truly is.'

The king laid out his hand, in front of him and shouted.

'Altair Ashen, what are the requests you made with my daughter?!'

'To go to school. Have a place to eat, sleep. And identification.'

'Done! Maids! Bring him to his room.'

Two maids walked out to the side of Altair and bowed in front of the king. The king nodded at them. Altair sheathed his sword and followed the maids, who escorted him outside. Before he left the room, he stopped.

'Oh, female knight.'

Elice looked at him. A nonchalant look was still on his face and he still spoke in an indifferent tone.

'Pink suits you.'

He left. Closing the door.

'Pink?'

Elice looked down and realized what he meant.

'ALTAIR ASHEN!'