7 Interlude - A Not-So-Kingly Invitation

King Leaf stood silent for some time until Chronicler dared to look away from the elfic paper. He raised his eyes and looked at the young fiery haired King and found that he was looking at him smiling, with an impenetrable look of fire.

"Shall we stop for a bit? I want to show you something. Also, I would guess by this point in time you will have many questions. To some, you'll eventually find your answer, to others...ask if you want."

The young man stood from his throne, which in his human form looked out of proportion. He passed Chronicler, tapped his shoulder with his hand in a friendly way and started walking toward the great entrance door, his elegant cloak fluttering as if alive. Chronicler knew what he was witnessing, it was the Na'ar, the legendary cloak said to be made out of the core of a star.

"Y-yes my king" said Chronicler while clumsily fixing his round glasses, moving his black long hair to the side and taking with him his tools. The two then left the throne room.

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King Leaf stared at the scenery from the bridge leading to the throne room, the same bridge where his mother stood a millennia ago. The sun was rising on a completely different Abkar than the one he described to Chronicler, it was vaster, mightier, and even gentler. Where the dean tower stood there was nothing, and Leaf was staring at it, his eyes thoughtful.

"Who would have thought that after a thousand years I would have stood in the place where she stood, thinking the same things she thought. When my mother eventually told me that she killed Queen Mira, who was her friend. She told me how every time should would pass through this bridge, she would remember looking at the scenery with her when they were young. She would always think of the moment she killed her and then only the thought of doing it to save me would save her sanity. "- For you -she would say before returning to reality. But don't write this down, not yet. There other things that must be told first, and I promised you I'd show you something right? Come closer Chronicler."

Chronicler got closer to King Leaf, who was just a few centimeters taller than him, making him seem almost approachable, and not like the legends that depicted him in such a distant way, like the most distant star in the most distant galaxy. Leaf waved his hand and the scenery around Chronicler suddenly changed; they were by a beautiful like. Chronicler understood that the King must have used teleportation Ba'sar, one of the most high-level techniques that only the elite fighter of Alem can utilize. But for Leaf, it was as easy as gently waving a hand.

"Is this...," said Chronicler while looking around and noticing in the distance the royal palace.

"My relaxing spot, I often come here to fish." said the young man smiling and walking toward a small wooden building by the lake. When entering the little house Chronicler frowned.

"some tea?" Said Leaf, who to Chronicler eyes looked so human. As for the tea, it was his weak spot, and when will he ever get the chance of having a tea with the King himself. He nodded and took the liberty to move the chair and sit, not willingly but rather, naturally as he forgot for a moment who was in his company. Leaf chuckled at that and Chronicler noticed what he did and immediately looked at the King in fear.

"how rude would it be on my part to have you stand after you made yourself comfortable!" Sai the King before laughing loudly delightfully. Chronicler was shocked. Was this the King who is said to have slain Shahaka and saved Alem? Was this the Kingslayer? The King of Dragon? A human who enjoyed fishing and making tea?

"I love mint tea, it's the best in my opinion. Can I suggest you try this one? It's Dar'el mint tea, it is said to help the memory." Said the young red-haired man.

"Indeed, I would love to try it" answered Chronicler.

An awkward silence was covering the scene of the King boiling tea and the subject being served. People would have more easily believed that the slim Chronicler had slayed a dragon, than him being served Dar'el tea by King Leaf.

"This is my true form, you know. The form you saw me in when you entered the throne room is more of a formal dress I use when performing my duties." Said the King describing as a 'dress' the majestic form that was said to have been obtained by Leaf after absorbing Shahaka's powers.

"Can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to relieve oneself in that form? All those plumes and scales." Said the King laughing. As for Chronicler, he was still evaluating whether he had lost it or whether the scene he was experiencing was real.

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"Do you have a family?" Asked Leaf while sipping his tea.

"If you're asking whether I'm married then yes, and I have a daughter" answered Chronicler.

"Ah, beautiful. Any brother or sister? Your parents are still alive?"

"No, and only my mother is alive."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Would you mind if I ask you something?"

Chronicler stood silent for a few seconds and then after understanding that keeping up excessive formalities would only have been detrimental he answered, "Of course King."

"How did your father die? Was it natural death?"

"He fell sick when working and died when I was young."

"Younger you mean. Aren't you in your thirties?" Asked the King with the tone of one who feels old.

"Yes, Indeed. I usually stick around older people, so I'm used to that language" Said Chronicler.

"Oh well, that's the first time I received such a compliment!" laughed out Leaf.

Chronicler was extremely embarrassed but understood that the King was just teasing him, so he did not reply nor ask forgiveness, he just respectfully lowered his gaze a bit before raising it again.

"Did you get angry when he died?" Asked the King.

"I was distressed for some time, but eventually the wound healed. It took some time though, as he was a good father." Said Chronicler looking at the tea in his cup, as if looking at a crystal ball showing the good times he spent with his father.

"After hearing about the Messenger and how I came to this world, does your pain ease a bit?"asked the young man.

"Recording the stories of others, their joys and sorrows...I kind of understood that there was something more to it. I think that what the Messenger told you about needing the opposite of something to really know it and appreciate it sums it. I also admit that in my heart I never saw the oppressor as the oppressed, nor did I believe that we were just cattle with bigger brains. The hope of a greater justice, a greater purpose. That was my faith." said the Chronicler, letting out a gentle smile.

"Well, at least it took you only around thirty years of one life! I had to go through two lives and more than a millennia." Said Leaf shaking his head in a comical and ironic way.

Leaf stood up and walked toward a little door in the house. He opened it and took from it a covered painting. After placing it in front of Chronicler, he removed the cover and the painting of a family was there.

"I thought that showing you a family picture might help you give more life to your story. It is not the same as looking at their eyes, at their expressions in flesh and bones, but it might help you understand them a bit more...my family." The Leaf continued after a brief pause "Well, my second family. As for my family of the previous world I never really recalled them. I just remember that I wasn't there, always distracted by my work, by my role as a sort of 'ruler'. Funny how from the craving of success in that world I found myself in this position, like two big boots put on the feet of a small boy, saturated. But even that is justice, me not remembering my old family and me having to live for a millennia as a King. But all things must come to an end and my benefactor is making his way to put me out of my misery. Three days...I only have to hold on for three days."

Chronicler did not know what to say. He felt as if the idea of the world he had constructed in those years had crumbled and a hundred bulls had passed over it a hundred times, leaving behind their excrement for a hundred years. Chronicler understood that the King had only in part wanted to say those last things, and the in part he thought out loudly. Leaf took note of Chronicler's understanding and while looking at the painting showing his mother covered with a beautiful veil and other five red-haired and green-eyed man he motioned to the Chronicler to take his recording tools.

"Let's continue, we have three days and a millennia to talk about, and a little red Leaf to be trained and shaped into the 'Kingslayer' " said the King with an irony gentle like a breeze pushing dead leaves right and left.