Shangri La Pt. 1

141: Investigate

The following day started to begin in the East once more and just as the Sun had not even risen to the halfway mark, the bells were heard to go off ringing around the city. Right away, everyone in the palace got to their positions when they didn't even know who it could be entering the city this time. 

"What is the meaning of this? Why are bells ringing this early in the morning?" the Empress demanded. 

"Apologies, Your Imperial Majesty, but the Scholars have just arrived at the gates." a soldier answered, and that instantly changed the Empress' mood. 

'The Scholars finally arrived?' 

"Then what are you waiting for, have them open the gates and come here right away." 

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

Because the bells were ringing, all of the Todoroki Knights knew it and recognized this as meaning important people were on their way to the palace. 

"Geez, more people? How many more times are they gonna ring that bell?" Kaminari groaned. 

"Looks like since the wedding is right around the corner, all these people wanna get here." 

"Yeah, but where's our Prince? Has he come back yet?" Sero and Kirishima questioned. 

"Enough chit chat, all of you line up. No matter who they are, it's clear they're important people because the bells rang." Gin commanded, forcing everyone to get into position like always. 

'I heard the Empress say that the Scholars just got here, but when are the Prince and Princess coming back? Not to mention Katsuki and his girl are still gone too. Ugh– I'm tired of acting like a Captain now.' Gin thought while standing to position.

As soon as they arrived, the gates leading to the palace opened without any hesitation and all of the Scholars stormed in with tired expressions. But as much as the Scholars appeared as if they were about to collapse from walking so far, the Empress appeared and stood before them, forcing them all to bow to her in a hurry. 

"Your Imperial Majesty." they all answered. 

"And just what took the entire lot of you so long to come here when I'd sent a message to you weeks ago?" the Empress demanded, unpleasant to see their late arrival. 

"F-Forgive us, Your Imperial Majesty, we had some casualties on our journey here, not to mention we have been walking the entire way here." 

"I don't care about how you got here! What I want to know is if you got the job done that I requested!" the Empress exclaimed, easily frightening the group.

And because they were afraid of the Empress' first response, they could not dare answer her next question as they knew they were in trouble. The Empress noticed the long pause of silence that she grit her teeth. 

"And just why aren't any of you answering my simple question? Did you get the job done or not?" "W-We tried to do what you asked, but–" 

"Hor Empaial Maahestay." (Your Imperial Majesty) Scholar Ink interrupted, standing to the front of the group to get the Empress' attention. 

"Do you have something to say? Did you finish the job I requested of you?"

"Hes, Hor Empaial Maahestay, uh eye haas da wun oouh twid tu twy hand du hut du assed. Hut hefour eye hood hill da Emawald, da Haptan uv da Tohowohi Hightes twid tu hop may hand hid dis tu may! Eei twid tu hill may und–" (Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, as I was the one who tried to do what you asked. But before I could kill the Emerald, the Captain of the Todoroki Knights tried to stop me and did this to me! He tried to kill me and–)