Prince's Identity Vol. 2

1. Congenial springs

"Lian! See I told you it's so beautiful here in congenial springs" Navah's eye smile shining brighter than the sun.

Lian smiled softly as if he is agreeing with those words.

"Common quickly, let's go inside" Navah grabbed Lian's hand and entered the springs excitedly. With the snow top mountains in the distance, the clear springs are surrounded by a warm mist floating around giving an illusion as if they are amidst clouds up in the sky. The scenery couldn't be more ethereal.

"Lian, we made it to Xia finally" Navah looked straight into the amber eyes of Lian, he couldn't contain his happiness at all.

"Um, we made it" Lian softly patted over Navah's dark hair.

Congenial spring lies between Fang and Xia located amongst the mountainous terrains surrounded by geothermal springs. On one side it is covered with snow top mountains all year and on the other hand, the land is soft and verdant. It did possess a very contrasting and peculiar geography. It is said that a few hundred years ago a great plant pandemic attacked the earth leaving empty barren lands. Severe drought prevailed everywhere causing people, and animals to die alike. It was thought to be the end of the world.

But then it is said a few men were sent by the heavens to end the plant pandemic, their origins unknown. The people of the earth pleaded with them not to leave afraid of another catastrophe. The pair of the heavenly men decided to teach Moxie to the humans to avoid the calamities and prosper. But to give such power to humans could easily lead to destruction hence the pair of heavenly men remained on the earth establishing congenial springs.

At the congenial springs, there are apprentices from all the four kingdoms who once passed the skills test can be instituted to learn the art of Moxie and become a Moxie exerciser. The length of the institution depends on their abilities and interests.

There are people at the congenial springs who guide the apprentices, essentially called instructors, masters, and Doyens. There were also hunters and helpers from all four kingdoms. Regardless of all their work, all these people are called free souls as they do not associate with any four kingdoms and live their life in solitary serving the springs. Above all, there is the Keeper who overlook everyone and everything of the congenial springs and it is speculated that he must at least be some thousand years old. No one ever saw him. But everyone listens to him.

Typically the four kingdoms provide the funds in exchange for the Moxie knowledge in their workforce. Once the apprentices pass the skills test and enter the springs, their family background and even the kingdom they are from are to be kept secret. Some people even use alias names. Everyone is equal there from a prince to a pauper. If someone violates it a harsh punishment would be awaiting them.

Suddenly the ethereal scenery turned into a dark luscious forest with rose black trees around. A fire is raging at places, the ground is covered in blood and bones. At a distance, he could see the blood-drenched golden rose robes of the silver-haired man. He turned towards Navah and smiled a little. Navah anxiously ran towards him. By the time he could touch him there is nothing in front but an empty space.

"Master Nara...." the young lad looked very nervous and scared.

Navah opened his eyes at once and spared a glance at the young lad breaking his meditation. He was standing on one leg on a rock in the middle of congenial springs while balancing the sword on its tip on the back of his palm.

"Erm..erm the resting will have gone wrong" the young lad was shaking.

"What happened?" Navah asked calm and composed still maintaining his posture.

"Erm Merxi wanted to try the resting will you have taught us last week. um um...he tried it on himself" the young boy was shaking even more now.

Navah raised a brow and quickly flipped his palm and caught the silver-blue sword and leapt onto the ground at once.