The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 4 More Than A Jolt

After a few seconds in astonishment at what I said, The Queen proceeded to step forward towards me. The maid behind her spoke in a loud voice immediately after the first step.

"Your Majesty please allow me your humble servant to administer the mana jolt!"

I was stunned by the suddenness of her loudly requesting to do it instead. The Queen simply stopped walking in front of me and spoke to the Maid while turning her head ever so slightly.

" My Husband risked his life in order to bring this man before us to save our beloved daughter. I have no right to do anything less than he Trish, and seeing as how this is a safe procedure for all involved there's no reason to fret over it, please respect my wishes as Queen but more importantly as a mother."

With an authoritative touch to her softening voice, she left no room to argue. Trish as she was called, looked on as if she realized she had overstepped her bounds. I'm still not too sure at the reason for this response. I suppose I should just ask, just to be sure even after she said it was safe, so I open my mouth.

"What is your maid so concerned about Queen Aqua? If there is a danger of some kind I won't be scared away, you have word on that."

The Queen looking bemused at my question flashed a smile and answered with a cheerful voice.

" I believe you don't need to deal in pleasantries with myself or my husband. Let alone the fact that a Paladin holds the same status as a Hero in our world, The man who saves our daughter from her fate will no doubt be a family friend forever and always. Besides to become a Paladin not from training but from your very nature says a great many things about your personality I trust your words, John."

The King and Queen or should I say Warrick and Aqua both look at me with an understanding and warm gaze, it feels similar to my foster parents if I'm being honest, it makes me feel a bit melancholic seeing as how I can't ever see or talk to them again. But perhaps I shouldn't focus on what has been lost I should focus on what I can save in the present.

Warrick continuing on from Aqua's train of thought begins to speak.

" To perform the mana jolt as we call it. Requires two people to hold hands in order to complete a mana circuit as it were, one hand to control the mana going through the body and the other hand to return said mana to the sender. Usually, it's a grave crime for any man besides a King or bloodkin to touch a Queens body, but considering Aqua is our finest magic user in Diablos and we're doing this to save my daughter, I'll allow it."

Warrick's eyes seemed to contain a hint of bloodlust in the last part of his explanation. I decided it was best to let Aqua do as she pleased, it wouldn't be kind to refuse her after understanding the meaning behind her actions and how she still intended to go through with it despite what could be said about her if it leaks out that it happened.

After readying herself Aqua asked me to join hands with her. I did as I was asked. her hands felt cold and surprisingly delicate I guess she doesn't do hard labor. I suppose that is befitting of a Queen.

" Okay I am now going to start the process I will not lie to you John this is going to hurt, I'm basically forcing open pathways in your body that are supposed to be opened slowly through delicate meditation."

I shake my head up and down to confirm I understand, and I Take a deep breath and exhale and say that I am ready to her.

" Okay on my count 1..2..3." she said quietly as she focused.

At first, I felt nothing, then I felt a cool sensation like ocean water touching my hand. Then I felt the sensation enter my hand. Once it reached my wrist is when the pain started. It felt like someone shoved hot needles up my arm and rotated them slowly the cool sensation was replaced with a burning sensation that slowly approached my elbow. once it touched my elbow the pain started becoming even worse the needles started dispersing like shrapnel. It felt like my Elbow down had exploded like a balloon. I grimaced, perhaps noticing the look on my face, that being scrunched in pain trying to breathe. Aqua spoke to me.

" The pain will amplify from here are you sure you don't want to stop?"

I looked at her most likely with bloodshot eyes and I responded with the only words I could really muster.

" No matter what happens push through and complete the circuit please."

Ten minutes felt like Ten days. I'll spare the gory details but safe to say I've found out that there are pathways all around the body, the most painful being the eyes and the chest I could have sworn I felt my heart stop beating from the pain, and I thought I felt a needle pop out my eye, but no blood came out and my ticker was still ticking. a half an hour later after I was given a drink of water and could actually see after the pain had subsided, I saw it.

It was pure white like someone had wrapped me in a cloud on a sunny day I could barely see through what now looked like a thick fog all around me. as I began to try and collect myself, I heard Aquas voice from Infront of me.

" From the look on your face John I'm assuming you're lost in what seems like a fog right? don't worry everyone who has their mana pathways forcibly opened like this has it happen. what has happened to you is the body can't handle the sudden change that has happened to it so it's mana runs wild for about a day after the jolt. Seeing as how you wish to save my daughter as fast as possible though, we can help your body adjust to its new abilities quicker! the assimilation to your now opened pathways is easier than one might think you just have to suppress your mana leakage through control."

" And how do I do that Aqua?" I responded.

"Simple you need to grasp your own mana and learn how to turn it off, as you are right now your body is like a flooded stream that leads to a raging waterfall which is your mana leakage, so you have to calm the stream and calm the waterfall. The easiest way to do this is to meditate to help your concentration Then feel for your mana."

I immediately sit in the cross-legged style I've seen monks do in documentaries and movies and close my eyes to try and focus.

"Ah so this style of meditation exists in your world as well John."

Warrick said in a surprised tone his Guards also letting out surprised sounds. Aqua meanwhile began trying to cheer me on with words of encouragement such as.

"Not bad at all John!"

And.

" You're close to doing it!"

My concentration was starting to break, after all when I would concentrate on studying for instance it would be in a quite library or my room until Laura would come in to play one of my games or read one of my comics I had. at one point she tried to watch a movie seriously what was she thinking!? Ah now I've completely lost my focus a little frustrated from recalling the past and the noise around me my thoughts leaked out.

"Guys I understand there is a lot to be impressed about from having an Otherworlder in front of you but please be quiet I'm trying to focus." I spoke through clenched teeth.

"Sorry"

everyone said in unison except for that maid Trish I think? granted I didn't hear her speak so there's at least that.