Riven, Rosendun.

1:02 p.m. 20th Banem 1092.

Riven, the capital city of Rosendun, and home to most of Rosendun's guilds. The city had experienced a meteoric rise ever since it was reclaimed in the famous Battle of Riven. Despite the monstrous damage the city incurred, its citizens were all too happy to offer their services to restore it to its former glory.

Thanks to the citizens' tireless efforts, Riven now stood as a shining beacon for all of Rosendun. Its streets were as clean as they were busy, filled with thousands of adventurers, traders and common folk going about their day. The city was also home to the largest Mages' Guild in Rosendun, which drew countless potentials from around the country and beyond.

Recently, there were rumors of a new academy being built close to the Royal Castle. It was said this academy would dwarf the Mages' Guild in size and would cover a vast range of topics, from common subjects like the Common tongue to specialized subjects like magic, combat arts, and much more.

The most exciting part about the academy, however, was its low cost of entry. It only cost about 1000 Syros per year, which was more than affordable for even low-income families. Thousands of young men and women had thus traveled to Riven, waiting for the academy to open its doors, in hopes of getting chosen. After all, this was probably the only way a poor son of a farmer could make a name for himself in this cutthroat world.

The massive influx of Hopeful students congested the streets but was a large boon for the inns and restaurants as they brought big businesses with them.

"Ouch!" A hooded daeben cursed after getting stomped on by a woman's heeled boot. Kashi turned around and watched the little Masonian woman rushing somewhere, completely oblivious to what just transpired. "Wow. The city really is busy," he muttered and then pulled his hood tighter over his head as he pushed his way up the streets and headed to the castle.

After about thirty minutes, the daeben finally cut through the crowd and reached the castle gates. Kashi looked up at the massive gates with a slight smile. Last time he was here, he was running along the walls at night to open the gates for Absalon's army. Now, he got to walk through the front gates. How times have changed.

"Halt!" called a guard donned in Rosen's pinkish-red ceremonial armor. He was one of three guards assigned to stand at the gate to ward off tourists. The real guards stood atop the wall with arrows trained at the daeben. However, the battlements shielded them from sight, so passersby were unaware of the constant danger they were in. The guard was pleased to see Kashi stop of his own accord. More tourists than he'd like tended to push their luck. "Identify yourself."

"I am Kashi of the Hopeful Maggots," said Kashi as he removed the hood, revealing his face. He took out an identification badge and handed it to the guard. "That's my guild badge."

The guard accepted the badge with a skeptical look. "You are Kashi?" he asked as he examined the badge. Satisfied, he handed it back, and said with a relaxed smile, "I thought you'd be taller."

"I haven't stopped growing." Kashi laughed as he scratched the back of his head. "Might add a few inches soon."

"We'll see," the guard said with a chuckle and then asked, "So, for documentation sake, I must ask why you're here. Hope you understand?"

Kashi nodded as he waved his hand, "I understand, don't worry. I'm here to see King Parissius. He should be expecting me."

The guard nodded appreciatively and then took out a rink. He turned his back to the daeben as he communicated with his supervisor. Moments later, he turned around to look at Kashi and then said, "Are you alone? It says you were expected with a large party."

"Oh, yeah. It's probably better to let them out here," Kashi replied, and then turned around and raised his hand before the guard could ask what he meant. A portal opened in front of him, and out stepped the Maggots followed by King Xafier and three ministers.

"Kashi!" Stryke roared with excitement as he rushed up to the daeben. "You have an entire world!?" He frantically patted down the daeben and pulled on Kashi's cheeks as he asked, "Are you still human?"

"Technically, I was never human," Kashi laughed as he grasped Stryke's hands and pushed them off his face. "But, yeah, I'm still me. Nothing's changed." Kashi felt a heavy gaze on the side of his face and turned to see King Xafier staring at him. The daeben let out a weak smile as he questioned, "Is something the matter, Your Highness?"

King Xafier shook his head. "I was just thinking; our decision to ally with you put us on the right side of history. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be to be an enemy of yours."

"What are you talking about?" Kashi retorted with an embarrassed smile. "I'm the one who's been lucky to meet you guys." Without waiting for the king's response, he immediately turned around and said to the guard, "So, these are my companions. Do I need to identify everyone?"

The guard's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he stared at the daeben in shock. He swallowed hard, and then barely managed to stutter, "Y-y-yes. If it's not too much trouble."

"No trouble at all," Kashi placated and then went on to introduce the entire group, "Stryke, Yuhi Jade, Syèl Rifatora, Shokō, Absalon, Lunette Falsetto..." Kashi frowned and then shouted, "Show yourself Sha—"

"I'm here."

"Fuck!" Kashi drew a deep breath as he glared at the assassin, and then continued, "The asshat's Shadow Falsetto. The golden chesch's Miote, and last but definitely not least among the Maggots, is our vice-guild master and someone you're definitely familiar with, Leila Lightwood."

The guard nodded as he saluted Leila, "Good to see you again, ma'am."

"How's the baby?" Leila asked, though her expression remained cold.

"She's doing great. The missus asked me to thank you for your help with the priest."

"It's fine," Leila replied. "Soon, you won't need to rely on someone like me to get proper healthcare for your child."

Kashi, seeing the exchange was over, gestured over at King Xafier and said, "This is King Xafier, ruler of Aygorzi in Merriheim, and the three behind him are his ministers."

The guard once again saluted. As a guard of Rosendun, he could not bow to another nation's king, especially in the Royal Capital, but he still had to show respect. "It is an honor, Your Highness. I pray your stay is as fruitful as it is peaceful. May Rosen's Petals Blossom Your Path."

"The honor is mine," King Xafier stated with a smile. "I have always wanted to meet Rosen's King."

"Ah, I shouldn't keep a king waiting," the guard exclaimed as he signaled to the men on the wall. As the gates slowly opened behind him, the guard turned to Leila with a pleading gaze, "Please, could you explain the procedure?"

Leila nodded, understanding the guard's fear. He did not want to offend this collection of powerful and influential people. She turned to Kashi and said, "Guests cannot carry weapons into the Royal Chamber. We have to leave all weapons out here." Kashi was about to speak when she said, "We also have to show our inventory to prove we don't have anything stored there."

"Oh. Wow, that's thorough," Kashi exclaimed, but it did not really affect him either way because his weapons were in Orez. It was faster to summon them than pick them from the inventory.

Leila led by example, opening her inventory and removing her collection of bows and arrows. Several guards with large bags walked out from beyond the open gate and began carefully storing the weapons. Their methodical movements proved just how experienced they were with Summoneds' insane storage capacity.

Following Leila's lead, the others unsheathed their weapons and emptied their inventory. As expected of Summoned, each of them had a significant pile-up by the time they were done.

*Clatter* *Clatter*

However, no one came close to Stryke, who appeared to be a walking armory. Sword after sword, ax after ax; several shields and spears clattered to the ground forming a small mountain in front of him. The guards and maggots stared at the embarrassed tigur at a loss for words.

Stryke stroked his chin, letting out a nervous laugh as he explained, "As raid leader, I have to hold on to the loot until I get a chance to turn it in at HQ. It's not like I use them all."

The guard sweated as his colleagues bagged and labelled the weapons so there was no confusion afterward. He then did a quick check of the Summoneds' inventory and politely patted down the dwarven Residents. After he was sure no one had weapons on them, he said, "This way please."

As the guard led Kashi's delegation to the palace, unbeknownst to him, one of the soldiers atop the wall picked up his Rink and contacted someone. "The daeben is entering the castle," he reported, sharp eyes narrowing as he glared at Kashi's back.

Kashi, oblivious to the attention on him, chatted with the guard as he led them into and through the palace until they reached a massive door with a giant rose mural emblazoned into it. "This is new," commented the daeben as he admired the beautiful pink rose. The last time he was here, murals of trees occupied the door. It seemed the new king had changed his mind so the chamber doors reflected the nation's flag.

As if sensing their presence, the doors slowly slid open, allowing Kashi and his party to get a full view of the royal chamber. To their surprise, it seemed a session was in full swing as several ministers and wisemen of the court were in attendance, divided by a pink carpet that ran from the door to a few meters away from the throne.

Leila eyed Kashi, and the daeben reluctantly led the way. A chamberlain announced their identities to the court as each Maggot crossed the threshold, the solemn propriety of it all causing the daeben to feel uncomfortable.

Kashi sensed a lot of hostility oozing off the ministers as he walked toward the throne. He could not understand the cause, but he was thankful as their hatred calmed his nerves. The daeben turned his attention to the throne where a broadly grinning King Parissius sat. The excited King trembled with excitement, but Leila's harsh gaze forced him to remain in his seat.

The King understood that even for Kashi, he could not break protocol. Especially because there were many who were displeased with how much power Kashi and the Hopeful Maggots unofficially wielded. The treasury favored his projects, and the army was unofficially at the beck and call of Absalon, a general of the Hopeful Maggots. It was no surprise then that these ministers, who were seeking power in the embryonic stages of Rosendun's development saw the daeben as an eyesore.

Kashi stopped at the end of the carpet and then humbly bowed his head. The daeben then moved to the side, allowing the rest of his party to follow his lead. The Maggots split to the left and right as they approached, by the end of which, Kashi, Leila, Lunette, Shadow and Absalon stood on one side, while Stryke, Miote, Jade, Syèl, and Shokō stood at the other end with their heads bowed. Following behind the Maggots wereKing Xafier's ministers, who briefly bowed to show their respects then stood to the side.

Unlike the Hopeful Maggots, the ministers could not continuously bow in the presence of their own King.

King Parissius was ever-so-glad to see the dwarven king as it finally gave him a good reason to get up off his seat. He had felt uncomfortable from the first moment Kashi bowed like a wall had been erected between them. This was the last thing he wanted.

As a King, there were very few people King Parissius could trust enough to call friends. Aside from Narkis and Alex who were always by his side, most of his friends were constantly out of reach. Leila and Kashi were the only people outside the palace he could be himself with. He did not want to lose that friendship because of some crown.

However, the protocol came first.

"King Xafier!" King Parissius greeted with a wide grin as he stepped down from the throne and approached the dwarven king. "It is an honor to finally meet you! I have heard only great things about you and Aygorzi, the land blessed by the gods."

"The honor is mine," King Xafier returned with a bright smile. "The flowers of Rosen have bloomed far and wide, beautifying a dying world. I am most thankful for your aid in restoring my people's land."

"Nonsense!" King Parissius retorted and took the opportunity to drag Kashi into the conversation, "None of this would have been possible were it not for the brave efforts of the Hopeful Maggots. Such heroes they are. Please, raise your heads, lest the gods punish my arrogance."

"The gods are aware of Your Highness' kindness and virtues," Leila said as she raised her head. "Only blessings and rewards await you, I'm afraid."

Kashi, meanwhile, just raised a brow as he looked at Leila. He was not getting involved in this glorified brownnosing. Mostly cause he would certainly suck at it. He did not want to put his foot in his mouth, so it was better to let someone familiar with court etiquette handle it.

"Haha, thank you for the kind words, Ms. Lightwood," King Parissius replied with a kind smile. A king should neither be too arrogant nor too humble. When complimented, he should have the skill to accept it without coming off as one extreme or the other. The Rosen King turned to King Xafier as he pointed at his throne. "Come, sit. A king should not stand in the presence of subjects."

King Xafier accepted King Parissius' invitation, joining the latter as they ascended to the top. King Parissius sat on the throne while the dwarven king sat on an ornate chair that had been placed next to the throne.

With the dwarven king seated, King Parissius turned his attention to Kashi, a smile on his face as he said, "It may have been too long since this palace has been graced by the legendary Kashi of the Hopeful Maggots, but your exploits have been discussed every day without fail. Pray, tell. What brings the famed leader of the Hopeful Maggots all this way, with a king in tow no less?"

Kashi cursed underneath his breath, wanting to go up there and strangle King Parissius for good measure. A perfectly functioning Leila was right there. Why was he bringing the daeben into this? Luckily, however, Kashi's amused irritation did not show as he took a step forward, placed his hand on his chest in salute and said, "Your Highness, I wish to propose a meeting among the three kingdoms of Rosendun, Merriheim, and Serisis to discuss the fu—"

"What gall!" A voice loudly and rudely interrupted, causing a sharp silence to fall upon the room. Several heads turned at once to an old, skinny minister with sharp eyes and a long beard. "A mere Summoned dare interfere with matters of state! Who are you to dictate what the mighty King of Rosendun does!"

Before Kashi could respond, another minister once again interrupted, "How impertinent and traitorous! The court has heard of your secret trains and skyships. You used the capital's funds to start a private business. How dare you!"

"Yeah! Traitor!"

"Who does he think he is!?"

"Once a daeben, always a daeben!"

Kashi remained silent as the shouts rained on. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted Stryke staring at him with a bemused expression as the tigur mouthed, "Told you so."

"Ah, fuck..." Kashi lightly cursed as the shouts and curses reigned supreme in the rowdy court.  

A/N: Someone pointed out in the last chapter that Stryke belonged to the tigur race, and he/she was correct! I remebered him with the mane, and tigers usually don't have a mane, so I forgot his race. 

So, to confirm. Stryke is of the tigur race. Picture below: that mane's really confusing.