Mastery: Zero

Chapter 1

The sun cast a warm orange glow through the window, the shadow of a cross was placed against the floor from the muntin of the window. The room had checkerboard tiled floors made of granite. There was ample room with the ceiling being raised far above where the bed laid, the room's windows matched the height of the ceiling with its own long frame, placed within it and equally long glass pane. A young man rolled over in the bed, his eyes opened slowly, the feeling of heaviness in his eyelids. He squinted as he saw the bright light coming in and rolled over to face the other wall, where it was much darker.

The man stretched all his limbs with a loud and long yawn escaping his mouth. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, he looked around the room, a large dresser was in one corner of the room. A large desk of wood sat on the opposite side of it. The man turned to his left allowing his legs to dangle over the bedside, where he was met with a three-paneled mirror. He looked at his messy white hair then yawned again as he got up from the bed. A knock could be heard from the door followed by a voice muffled by the wood, "My king, may I enter?" Ruko, King Arno's right-hand man and best friend, spoke with his strong and vocal voice. The king coughed clearing his voice,

"Ahem, uh yes you may," Arno answered, his voice being slightly unclear due to lack of use for the last eight hours, the door opened and a man dressed in full black armor stepped in, Ruko had black hair; some of it strewn across his forehead,

"I see you're fully awake, how do you feel?" Ruko inquired, his arms crossed,

"I'm fine Ruko, there's no need for you to keep checking." Arno smiled with a pained expression behind his eyes,

"Arno, I know you and your father were very close, are you sure you don't need time to yourself?" Ruko asked as he watched Arno's eyes, he read through the smile plastered across Arno's face,

"Ruko, I'm fine," Arno said as he opened the dresser and changed out of his evening attire and into very elegant garments that are to be worn underneath his white armor. He then moved to strap on the royal white armor with beautiful engravings on the chest and shoulder plates. Arno then took his blue royal robe with the white fur trim along its edges and placed it on his back, holding it there with metal buttons. Arno finished off his grandeur outfit with his pointed black crown, "Alrighty Ruko, what is on my agenda today?"

"Well, your father used to walk the streets of his kingdom every week to show the people that he was a tangible man. The people will be expecting to see the new king today." Ruko stated, "We have the guards ready for you."

Arno nodded acknowledging Ruko, "Leave the guards, I don't need them." he said with a smirk,

"But, my king, what about your safety?" Ruko questioned Arno's plan,

"Don't need them, I've got you to protect me, and my rapier." Arno patted the sheath which held his sword, "Today I am a truly tangible king, without an entourage of guards at my heels." Arno proceeded to walk outside the bedroom door, Ruko followed. He looked to his right, seeing the grand kingdom from his palace. The two made they're way down to the entrance of the palace, crossing the drawbridge they stepped into the world in which the people lived. Arno took a breath of fresh air, "Isn't this refreshing?" he turned his head to see Ruko's reaction to the aroma of the clean air.

Ruko was surveying for any suspicious activity, as usual, he had his arms crossed a static look of seriousness on his face, "Lighten up," Arno gave a punch to Ruko's shoulder, "This is the most beautiful and greatest kingdom in the world, and not even a smile."

Ruko turned to meet Arno's eyes, "My king, this is the same kingdom we've been looking at for years." Ruko said bluntly before turning back to survey the area. Arno let out a heavy sigh and began walking. The streets were bustling with people, worker women, worker men, shop-keepers, guards on patrol, and children playing on the cobblestone roads. Arno shined a handsome smile at a group of young ladies carrying baskets of food as the giggled and walked by. Ruko kept his eyes and ears open looking around for anyone who dared to hurt the king.

Arno continued his walk, straight, as he passed the many shops and houses, the people all turned their attention to him and stared in awe as his majesty ambled adjoining his loyal subjects. He nodded to the people who all stared at him, as he looked around a certain woman caught his eye. She about as old as he was, tall and gorgeous and apparently Arno had caught her eye too. She smiled a white beautiful smile nodding, Arno nodded too greeting each-other without words, she turned back to the work she was doing and entered her home. Arno had a residing smile after seeing the young lass.

Arno had been stopped, he was a taken aback by the woman, he shook it off and continued his walk, Ruko followed. They traveled across the city along the major streets allowing the people to see them as they pass through, the new king. Along their journey across the city the caught a glimpse of the streets the demons lived in, the demons lived just like the humans but separated and segregated due to prejudice. Though the demons lived much happier lives within their own community, the children stared at Ruko in awe, "I want to be a great warrior like him someday." One exclaimed out of the group of four children,

"We're demons, Sen. They won't let us be royal knights." Another remarked with a scoff as he walked back through the alleyway and back to their street. Sen looked up at Ruko as Ruko turned to glance down at the child, giving his usual hard stare before returning his gaze to the street, Sen smiled in awe at the black knight.

Arno let out a sigh, "It's a shame that our people can't get along with each other, don't you agree?" Arno had worried expression,

"Indeed my king, shall we return to the palace now?" Ruko asked, a deep and expressionless voice,

"We may," Arno answered with a quick exhale of his breath. The two trekked back to the palace while Arno reflected on the image of that woman he saw earlier. Surely they'll meet each other again. The two stepped into the courtyard of the palace.