The morning arrived, the sun was slowly rising on the horizon, its golden rays passed through the clouds and illuminated the palace of the Sixth Kingdom, the birds were singing in the trees of the garden, the air was fresh and pure, filled with the scent of flowers and dew, the Princess was standing in front of the great gate of the palace, she wore a green traveling dress, her hair was tied in a long braid, she had a small backpack on her shoulders, she was watching the guards arrive one by one, Raider, Rambo, Baabun, Piner, Thiky, they were all there, dressed in traveling clothes, they were tired but excited to go on a mission, they knew this adventure would be dangerous, but they were ready to face anything.
The Princess said to them with a big smile “good morning my dear guardians!”, they all answered in unison “good morning Princess!”, their voices echoed through the palace courtyard, then the Princess looked around and asked “where is Mito?”, Raider answered pointing to a tree in the distance “he is outside, under a big tree, he is sitting alone, he has been there since this morning, he hasn’t moved”, the Princess nodded, she knew that Mito liked to be alone, that he needed his space to think, she understood that.
The Princess entered the palace and came back with packages in her arms, they were clothes and armors, she handed them to the guards and said “get ready and you can wear these clothes, they are light armors made of leaves and reinforced fabrics, they are flexible, light, they will allow you to move freely, they will protect you against enemy attacks”, Rambo took an armor and looked at it with astonishment “armors made of leaves?” he asked, his eyes wide open, he had never seen this kind of armor before, the Princess nodded “yes, because you are guards now, you must have an outfit worthy of your rank, these armors will protect you and make you faster, they are crafted by the best artisans of the kingdom”, Raider smiled and said “okay, we accept with pleasure, Princess”, he took the armor and put it on, it was light, comfortable, he felt stronger, more confident, the other guards did the same, they put on their armors and looked at each other, they were proud of their new outfits.
The Princess left the palace and approached the tree where Mito was sitting, he was leaning against the trunk, his eyes closed, his arms crossed, he seemed calm, he wasn’t moving, he wasn’t saying anything, his face was impassive, like a statue, the Princess stopped in front of him and said softly “good morning Mito”, Mito opened his eyes slowly, he raised his head and replied “good morning Your Highness”, his voice was calm, neutral, without emotion.
The Princess sat down next to him on the grass, she looked at him for a moment then asked “are you alone?”, Mito nodded without hesitating “yes, I will be alone”, his answer was short, direct, the Princess insisted “don’t you want to talk with the others?”, Mito shook his head “no, I prefer to be alone, it allows me to think, to focus on what awaits us”, he needed this silence, this solitude, to prepare himself mentally for what they were about to face.
The Princess nodded, she understood his need for solitude, she took out an armor from her bag and handed it to Mito, “here is your armor” she said, Mito looked at the armor, it was made of leaves and fabrics, it was light, but it looked like the ones the others were wearing, he took a long breath then said “leaf armor?”, his voice was neutral but one could read a slight hesitation in it, the Princess replied “yes, at the beginning, over time you will change, you will have stronger, more powerful armors, but for now this is all I have to offer you, I know it’s not perfect, but it’s the best I could find.”
Mito looked at the armor, he turned it in his hands, he looked at it for a long time, then he placed it next to him on the grass, he looked the Princess straight in the eyes and said “I don’t like armors, they are very heavy to carry, they slow me down, they prevent me from moving freely, I prefer my complete red tracksuit with my black boots, it’s light, comfortable, it allows me to move quickly, I feel freer that way”, the Princess looked at him, she was surprised but she smiled, she respected his choice “okay, if you prefer to keep your clothes, it’s your choice, you can keep them, I won’t force you to wear something you don’t like”, Mito nodded and stood up, he adjusted his red tracksuit and his black boots, he felt good, he was ready to leave, ready to face whatever came his way.
Two hours later, everyone was ready, the guards were wearing their new armors, Mito was wearing his red tracksuit, they were all gathered in front of the great gate of the palace, the Princess looked at them all with pride, she said “we leave now, let’s follow the road through the forest, we are heading to the Chain Kingdom, the path will be long and dangerous, stay together, stay vigilant, and above all, don’t be afraid, I will be with you, I will guide you, I will protect you as much as I can”, the guards nodded, they were ready, they knew this adventure would be difficult, but they were determined to succeed.
They left, they walked for hours through the forest, the trees were tall and dark, their branches joined above their heads, forming a thick roof that blocked the sunlight, the ground was covered with dead leaves and moss, the air was humid and cold, filled with the smell of earth and rotten wood, there were sounds of footsteps, cracking branches, sounds of wild animals watching them from the shadows, every sound made the guards jump, they were tense, nervous, but they kept moving forward.
Suddenly, shadows appeared around them, creatures with red eyes, twisted bodies, sharp claws, they came out of the bushes, the trees, from everywhere, they were numerous, they formed a circle around the guards, blocking any exit, the guards stopped, they regrouped, they drew their weapons, Mito stepped forward, he looked the creatures straight in the eyes and said in a calm voice “are you Vic’s demons?”, the creatures answered in a hoarse and threatening voice “yes, we are Vic’s demons, he sent us to stop you, you will not pass, you will never cross the border of the Chain Kingdom, Vic is waiting for you, but you will never reach him!”
Raider stepped forward, he drew his sword and shouted “you are going to die now!”, the fight began, the guards fought with courage and determination, Baabun used his fast techniques, his movements were fluid and precise, he struck the demons without them being able to touch him, Piner shot arrows, each arrow hit a target, they pierced through the creatures’ darkness, Thiky struck with his strength, his blows were powerful, he sent demons flying through the trees, Rambo fought with determination, he used everything he had learned, he didn’t let himself be intimidated, Raider was a true storm, his attacks were fast and devastating, he gave the demons no respite, Mito moved like a shadow, his movements were fluid and silent, he struck the demons effortlessly, he eliminated them one by one, he was too fast for them, too powerful, too precise.
After an intense and furious battle, the demons were defeated, they collapsed one by one, their bodies dissolved into black smoke, the guards were victorious, they were tired, covered in sweat and blood, they were in pain, but they were alive, they had survived.
After the battle, Raider approached Rambo, his face covered in sweat and blood, his breathing was short, he was tired but he was smiling, he placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and said “do you remember Rambo?”, Rambo looked at him, out of breath, he hadn’t caught his breath yet, “what?” he asked, “we promised mom Nanu we would come back, we promised her we would win the tournament, that we would bring back money, that we would get the family out of poverty, we promised her we would come back alive, that we would be strong, that we would make her proud”, Rambo nodded, he remembered, he remembered the promise they had made to their mother before leaving Kisolo, “yes” he said, “I remember, I remember very well, I never forgot.”
Mito was watching them, he was observing them, he approached slowly and asked “your mother?”, Raider turned to him and replied “her name is Nanu, she lives in Kisolo, she works hard for us, she sells cassava leaves and peppers at the market, she wakes up at four in the morning every day, she works without stopping, she never asked for anything for herself, she gave everything for us, she sacrificed herself so we could have a better life”, Mito nodded, his gaze was empty but there was something new in it, a glimmer, a spark, he said “okay, we can go to Kisolo one day, if you want, to see her, to tell her that you kept your promise”, Raider and Rambo looked at him with surprise, they didn’t expect this proposal, then they smiled, they were touched by Mito’s kindness, the group continued their journey, walking through the dark forest, toward the Chain Kingdom, toward the unknown. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
End of chapter 10
“The group has defeated Vic’s demons and continues on their way, but what other trials await them on the road to the Chain Kingdom?
And what will happen when they finally arrive at Vic’s domain?
The answer in the next chapter!”
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