The King's Beloved

~ [Music Recommendation: "Sunny Mornings" by Peder B. Helland (Instrumental only) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~ 

News traveled fast regarding the king finally consummating his marriage with the queen, much to Azalea's embarrassment. The king enjoyed it though, and used it as an opportunity to tease her.

"It's probably because you screamed so loud," King Calum chuckled as he teased Azalea, the day after their "consummating". They were having breakfast, and maids gathered at their side, ready to serve them. "I forgot to put sound proof magic, sorry for that".

Azalea was drinking her tea and almost spilled it when the king teased her. Her face instantly flushed red - there were others in the rooms for him to make a joke like that.

"Ugh … I think … that the bedchamber is quite large and its walls should be thick enough for it to be soundproof," Azalea humored him, "Though it would be another matter if someone tried to come in and …," she gulped, "heard the noises, and gossiped about it". She squinted her eyes on the maids which, in return, jolted at her gaze.

Unfortunately, the real culprit wasn't there with them. Indeed, it was one of the king's servants who spread the news - first to her coworkers, then her friends, up until it reached the ears of everyone in the Floating Kingdom. 

The maid in question was about to serve them lunch that time she arrived. She opened up the doors to the bedchamber, and since it was too large, and the king and queen were rather "busy", they didn't notice her arrival. As soon as she opened, she heard Azalea's moans and the king teasing her. She was shocked at first, but it was a news she, too, had been waiting to hear. So when she got out of the room, she giggled and couldn't help but spread the news to her coworkers who also shipped the king with the queen. Seeing them kissing every time they met, the king and queen gathered a lot of supporters from the servants, up to some officials and other Magi and candidates in the whole kingdom. Thus, the reason for the news spreading fast.

With this news, the nobles were pleased and they finally stopped pestering both the king and the queen about making a child. King Calum and Azalea enjoyed the days of peace, and they happily resumed their normal daily activities without mishaps.

While they were enjoying their brief peace, Rania, Elliot, Ducis, and Luna, went back to the Forbidden Chamber, like they usually do, so Elliot could practice his new found powers. This time, there were two magic he needed to master - sand of Saburra, and wind of Ventus. However, it was night when they arrived so they rested first, and waited until the next morning.

When dawn arrived, Elliot got up earlier than everyone else, except for Ducis, who was nowhere to be found in the bedroom. Elliot shrugged it off, thinking he was probably outside, and simply got up in bed and washed up. After a short, warm bath, he prepared breakfast for everyone before going outside to practice. He didn't want to wake up Rania and Luna so he moved carefully and silently. Funny thing was, Elliot's normal movements were already so light like how a cat's footsteps were barely audible. He stood, walked, and moved like a model, but his footsteps were weightless. Perhaps it was the reason he could move so swiftly if he wanted to.

Once done preparing, Elliot headed outside, towards the Forbidden Forest. On his way, he met Ducis who was walking on a very slow and steady phase. His head was bent low, staring at the ground as he walked. Elliot already caught up to him but he didn't notice him until he tapped his shoulders.

"You're in deep thought," Elliot greeted him, as he gently tapped Ducis' shoulders. "What's wrong?"

Ducis jolted and immediately turned his head towards Elliot. His eyes widened as if he never expected to be discovered.

"Ugh, yes - sorry, I was indeed, in deep thought," Ducis apologized. He let out a sigh afterwards and looked ahead of him. 

Far ahead was the meadow where they usually practiced, and at the end was the horizon with the sun almost peeking from a distance. Elliot followed his gaze and saw the mesmerizing view of the morning dawn. He smiled at its beauty and basked himself in its gentle radiance.

 "Mind sharing what it is this time?" Elliot asked, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. "Is it because of Flora?"

Ducis gave a sad smile, and shook his head, his eyes fixed on the horizon like Elliot. Then, he sighed, stopped walking, and looked straight to Elliot's eyes as he called out his name.

"Elliot …," Ducis paused, "I just wanted to say …"

"Hm?" Elliot turned his head towards him. "Yes?"

"I believe in you," Ducis declared, with eyes full of conviction.

Elliot was surprised. "Ahm … that's random," he chuckled, "But … thank you".

"Elliot," Ducis called again, "about the next gate … It will most likely be the hardest gate for you … compared to the previous ones". The worry on his expression was so apparent as he said those words to Elliot.

"Hmmm … If that's the case, then I'll need all your help," Elliot smiled at him. "Thank you for your help in advance".

Ducis felt conflicted. Deep inside him, he wanted to give more information but he couldn't and shouldn't. If he did, then the trial would be meaningless. It would be like cheating and Elliot wouldn't be able to become … what the "Rite of Passage" wanted him to be. Deep in his heart, he was in anguish. He wanted to help so badly but this was something Elliot had to pass on his own or it would all be for naught. So with a wretched face, he tried his best to smile back at him as he chanted the words over and over his head.

"I believe in you, Elliot. You are the Supreme's chosen. I know you can do it … even without our help".

After the small talk, Elliot and Ducis continued walking until they reached the meadow. Elliot summoned Saburra and Ventus from his Zweihänder, and they began practicing after the short greetings. Saburra started the lessons and demonstrated his main skills to Elliot.

"My dominion is with sand, so anything the sand can do, I can, too," Saburra started. "I can do sand spikes - something that's kinda like my sister's earth spikes, sand wall, sand storms, sand golems, quicksand - to trap enemies, etc," he enumerated them and conjured tiny sample of them as he spoke. 

"I see … you're brothers and sisters after all. But your element is more concentrated on sand instead," Elliot deduced.

"Yup! That's right," Saburra agreed. "But let me tell you a tip," he smiled as he raised his forefinger and winked at Elliot. "You can actually combine each guardian's elements to produce a combined skill with more potency or concentration. Best sample for this would be my sandstorm. If you're to produce it with my powers alone, it will be a very concentrated sandstorm, yes, but if you combine it with Ventus' wind prowess, it would be much more destructive and powerful. Do you get what I mean?"

Ventus nodded in agreement. "It would look something like this," he added and signalled Saburra. They both conjured magic in their palms; to Saburra - a heap of sand came gushing out of his hands; and to Ventus - a gale of wind. Their powers whirled with each other, producing a sandstorm. They only created a small sandstorm, the size of bonsai tree, but when Elliot measured its concentration, it was indeed, much powerful than the bigger one Saburra conjured alone, a few moments ago.

"Wow, that's … amazing," Elliot gaped like a child who learned something new. He'd always just knew how to cast a skill on its own element. He never thought it could work that way.

"Uh-huh," Ventus nodded smugly. "Now as for my skills, I can do a cyclone or whirlwind, depending how big you want it to be. Also as you have seen when we fought, I can also create wind blades, air balls, air walls, etc. But the special ones you'd find useful most of the time is a supportive skill called 'air glide', as the term suggests, you can glide in the air easily, instead of flying. If you combine it with your already swift movements, you'd be much quicker. And another special that I didn't use is 'gravity'. I can make something as light as possible, or as heavy as possible. Cool, right?" He, too, demonstrated them as he spoke the name of the skills.

After all the spectacular display of their powers, Elliot practiced them on his own, until he could cast them as effectively as Saburra and Ventus did. It didn't take that long for him to master them. It was only noon and he was already able to cast them so easily on his own - even the element combination skills! The guardians were once again amazed by his genius.

Once done practicing, Elliot and Ducis returned to the Forbidden Chamber where they found Rania and Luna already awake. Since everyone was ready, they set off once again to Anguis Solum, and onto the Seventh Gate. This time, the door was made from shells and corals submerged in water like an aquarium bent to form an arch. And at its middle was yet another black hole.

With a jump, the whole team entered the black hole and onto the seventh realm ...

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