Sword of Flames [Book I] - {#Wattys2017}

Chapter 9 - A Welcoming Departure

Chapter 9 - A Welcoming Departure

The king stepped down from his throne and a myriad of people stepped out of the way to let him through. He went into the other room to get something; numerous people were asking if they could get it for him, likely feeling unneeded at that moment. He denied repeatedly and came back with a brown sack that was comically too small for his broad shoulders. Levana gazed up at the king and then investigated the contents of the bag. Packets of preserved foods, a sweater, hat, and much more filled up the space. However it did not feel heavy at all; with the amount of things that were in the sack she should have fallen to the ground from the weight. In a side pocket numerous of blue square stones with similar ingrained designs clattered together as she rummaged through.

"I have supplied you with a gravity-resistant bag, one of the only ever made. You can add whatever else you want in it, providing that it fits, and gravity will not weigh it down," the king described.

Levana swung the straps onto her shoulders, testing the foretold lightness. And indeed it was true; a bag of feathers was heftier than this bag would ever be. Levana turned around to further test the weight and the stones clacked together once again. This time the king heard and pointed his finger up to the vast ceiling in remembrance.

"And I have added The Above currency, Gungktongs," he added. "Feel free to use how much you wish to supply yourself with the necessities." Levana finally noticed the pieces of money on the side. She took them out, feeling the smooth surface interrupted by the indents of the swirls and dots. She safely placed them in the large pocket within the bag instead so that it was surely safe from theft.

"At once we shall eat breakfast. I would like to send you off with a full stomach." That comment made Levana notice the vibrations inside of her stomach. "I will explain our common threat there as well."

The king stood up in a hurry as the knights standing near the door marched forward after the last word struck the air. He and Levana followed them to the dining room she could have gotten to herself; it was only two rights and a left away. However, being escorted alongside the king of the city made her feel important.

The dining room was more familiar than the table she sat at on Earth, which was inhabited by her blood relatives. As she had eaten every meal in such a room for the past days, every time she entered the opulent and expensive space not only her stomach but her heart too felt at ease. The comfort she sensed was so welcoming, but she could not help but notice a lingering emptiness. After this meal, Levana was required to say farewell to the love and serenity of the palace and greet the harsh conditions that would challenge her survival. The tingles in her stomach were no longer only from her hunger. The girl was conflicted in whether she would be able to make that sudden change with success.

The two esteemed individuals received their food quicker than usual. Ms. Ganim wanted the last meal to be as magnificent as her first one; the reality was the opposite as everything felt rushed. Unfortunately, it was apparent why.

That time around only the king and Levana ate together; usually the other three would join them for breakfast with Malandi leaving early to continue with her work. The two began eating and Levana stuffed the food inside her mouth with great speed.

The king chuckled. "Slow down, Levana. You must leave soon, but give me some time to explain who the man is that you must kill." Levana choked on her food as the realization that she would have to kill someone dawned on her. Of course it only made sense, but hearing the word "kill" made it all worse. I shouldn't think about that right now, Levana thought, placing that conclusion in the void of her mind. In order to look normal she did as she was told and steadied her chewing. "Eat heartily and listen carefully," he reminded. Levana got ready to hear about the man who would consume her mind and actions for a long time.