The Quest for Normania #1: The Door of Andrios

41. A New Era

A new era of Ahala had begun right in front of Norin's eyes—he could tell.

Eurana Ayesha of Silone had a certain gleam in her eyes that moment as she gazed first down at the first subject of Silone and then around the room, avoiding, consciously perhaps, seeing the dead body of her father. Norin didn't have to wonder about the amount of courage she was summoning to be able to do this.

He found himself stepping forward, beside Premier Luka, and bowing to her. "Eurana Ayesha Sinhala, my loyalty for this kingdom lies with you for eternity, until the day I die."

When he looked up, still bowed, he saw the clear emotion of happy relief at his gesture.

"Sorcerer Norin Zura, I accept your loyalty. From henceforth, you shall be named my kham – kham of the new eurana of Silone – and shall stand by my side no matter what comes to us, choose every choice I make, steer me in the right path if I deviate, and love me like you have never loved anybody else – put me above all else and be the first to know what is in my heart and my mind, and what my soul desires. Do you accept?"

Norin's pleasant smirk said it all, but yet, he was required to speak, give his verbal consent in front of the witnesses to this small formal kham ceremony:

"I, Norin Zura, Sorcerer and Disciple of Rumin Nyagal, hopefully graduating with honours, shall hereby accept my new role as your kham – kham of Eurana Ayesha Sinhala, my love, thief of my heart – and shall let you stand by my side no matter what comes to us, choose every choice I make, steer me in the right path if I deviate, and love me like you have never loved anybody else – put me above all else and be the first to know what's in my heart and my mind, and what my soul desires." His grin widened mischievously. "Do you accept?"

Although she knew he wasn't required to verbally ask her permission, since she was the one who had initiated the small impromptu ceremony, she grinned back confidently.

"I accept."

All across the continent and the world, people could feel the change and the onset of a new era in the air:

The Tavern Master who attempted unsuccessfully to drive Ayesha and Norin apart from their fight a few years ago...

A few survivors from the royal Normanian household...

Kiki, Leo, and Fatish as they stood waiting for help to arrive on the terrace of the Tower of Zara...

The islanders of the Isles of Riveria down south...

The Ahalan mortals of Palpa and Ruvina to the north of Zorra...

Hamsa and Mahima in at the edge of Marina...

General Mihaad and Salim at the Palace of Marina...

The survivors of the recent attacks on Ashisa...

And finally, Ashisha Rama on Earth, and Rumin Nyagal and her enemy locked in a deadly battle.

Agatha swallowed, not knowing what to say.

It was Lawrence who spoke up: "Long live the new Queen!"

Cecil snorted and corrected him, "It's Eurana here, Lauri. Long live Eurana Ayesha!"

Cassandra and Teresa exchanged happy grins. "Long live Eurana Ayesha and her kham, Norin!"

Everybody else around the room took up the chant: "Long live Ayesha and Norin!" Only Nora was sitting on the floor beside the young couple, blinking, unable to comprehend what in the world was going on.

Norin had eyes only for Ayesha, as she stared down at the body of her father, a small sad smile on her face. "I know what we can do," he murmured to her.

She didn't move a hair. "What?"

"Ask the mages here to freeze him and store him away, until we can cremate him properly. What do you say?"

Then, she turned to him, her smile unwavering. "I like this idea. Let's do it."

"Are you sure?"

"I have never been more sure than I am now, in you." She leant forward and gave a peck on his cheek. "Let's do it."

He smiled, kissed back, and turned to the mages waiting behind them with a few guards. "Please freeze the eurana's father and store him away in a safe place; we want to cremate him properly under different circumstances. Can you help us?"

The old man whom Rumin had referred to as Yelin Mythrra stepped forward. "We've been told you were all friends of Rumin Nyagal. Therefore, we're here to help you however you choose. We can take this task upon us."

"Thank you." Norin took Ayesha's hand and stepped aside for the older mages to do their work.

Slightly curious, Ayesha asked, "Can you do this, as well?"

"Well, without a proper license from my teacher, I'm not really allowed to perform magic on people or animals; I only did for the past month and a half because I was under the obligation to, by your father's orders as well as Yela Rumin. Otherwise, Mithra and I are unqualified."

"I see. Well, would you if I command you to?"

"I'd use my magic to help you, yes. But I wouldn't dare to do it on your father – on someone as important as him, I think even you'd agree that experts should better take care of him."

"Because he was your eura?"

"Because he's your father."

Ayesha felt touched at this. "Thank you, Norin."

Teresa spoke up suddenly: "Hey, shouldn't two people in a kham bond kiss after their formal vows are taken? That will end the ceremony officially."

Norin smirked at Ayesha. "She's right."

The younger girl very subtly shook her head. "I'm not ready."

"I know; me too," he mumbled and patted her back lightly.

Cecil spoke up; he'd been staring out the window while the others were distracted: "I think we should help Yela Rumin!"

Mithra and Norin at once exchanged glances, before the latter turned back to his kham. "We'll be going out to assist Yela Rumin. We've made a plan, a foolproof strategy that will drive the enemy away for another day."

"And maybe even damage him!" Mithra winked.

"You can come with us, if you want, and show what the new monarch of Silone and Normania can do."

Ayesha's eyes gleamed as a smile spread on her face. "Ooh, I like that! Let's go for it!"

"Cassandra! You need to come with us, too! I'm sorry, Teresa, not you. Agatha and Lawrence will remain, as well, as does Cecil. We need a set of eyes while we're at work damaging the enemy."

"Right!" hollered the others.

"Take your positions! Nora, stick to Teresa at all costs, wherever she goes!"

Teresa stepped forward to take Nora's hand gently, smiling down at the scared young girl. "Hello, I'm Teresa Milvana. Nice to meet you."

Some kind of calm settled over Nora's heart, as it did for everybody who met the gentle older woman.

"T-thank you, Teresa ummi," she whispered.

Norin took Ayesha's wrist and nodded to Mithra towards the library doors. Off they went to execute a plan the two Sanguines formulated in their minds.