Pentoria

14. The Light's Appointed

Chapter 14

The Light’s Appointed

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The room was quiet for a while until Bangs sighed. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about Kuzix’s past. Stade knew it wasn’t his place to ask but his curiosity was already too strong for him to let go.

After a while of silence, Bangs finally spoke, “Years ago the queen, Kuzix’s mother, had died when she had given birth to him. The whole kingdom mourned for the loss but sadly, the king almost couldn’t handle it. After that day, he had never been the same. He grew more serious, heavy-hearted, and almost completely unreasonable.

“Kuzix noticed this when he was a boy. Though the king still had little affection towards him, Kuzix tried so hard to get his father’s approval. He gave up all his hobbies and studied swordsmanship all for his father. He had trained so well that he had beaten all the king’s best soldiers. But for some reason his father paid less and less attention to him.”

“Is that why he ran away?” Stade guessed.

“No, not entirely…Kuzix had a vision from the Light, a dream about invaders coming to destroy the Clan of Magic and overrun Pentoria. He summed up his courage and tried to convince his father but the king only became furious. The king was far from believing him. No one did. So Kuzix rode alone towards the Clan of Magic the very moment the Farightes attacked.”

“That’s how he rescued you.” Stade remembered and Bangs nodded.

“It is already hard for him to go back—even harder for him to ask for their help.” Bangs continued, “We are not even sure if they would believe him. They haven’t the first time.” The princess let out a sigh, “…but Kuzix still has to go. We will just have to pray that they would consider.”

Stade was silent for a while thinking of what he could do, “I will be telling the others. They should know that Kuzix had gone to his clan for reinforcements. We also should be preparing for the battle tomorrow.”

Bangs nodded slowly and Stade respectfully made a short bow. Then without any second thoughts he turned towards the door. Unexpectedly, when he opened it a boy with an injured arm wrapped around in an arm support stumbled forward as if he was leaning to the door. 

Stade quickly caught him before he fell. When the boy looked up at him, Stade realized that he was the same boy who had been arguing with Furro earlier.

“You…you were you eaves dropping?” Stade asked him in surprise.

“Of-of course not!” he stuttered, “Besides, you-you still have an injury at your chest, so why do you walk around?” 

Stade looked at him puzzled and then remembered the cut behind his bandages. He had completely forgotten about it. He tried to remember the pain he had felt before but for some reason couldn’t feel a thing.

Stade blinked in confusion but forced his attention back at the boy who was still looking at him. “That doesn’t matter,” He said answering his question, “but then, if you aren’t eaves dropping, what are you doing here?”

A hint of irritation flashed on the boys face but he quickly shifted and gave Stade a grin, “My name is Aven. I saw you and the other guys running from my clan after the Farighte base suddenly exploded.”

Stade looked at Aven's injured arm, “Ahuuh...you are from the Clan of Trade?”

“Yeah, that time when I was passing by the gates, I heard fighting inside and I saw you got slashed. Then you and that hot-head, Furro, ran out before the whole thing collapsed.”