Chapter 14: Chapter 14
A group of young men, went past the gates and were leisurely making their way to the Ashanti Palace. They were five in number, to be exact. More specifically, they were making their way to the dining hall to find something to eat. Night had fallen and those with an appetite were already gouging themselves on the tasty, exquisite cuisines the palace had to offer.
This young men were clothed in black robes, with the image of the blue wind rocking the still waters of the ocean, embroidered on the chest region of the robe. A tall, dark, heavily muscular fellow, with dark, curly, short hair, arrogantly strolled in front, while the rest walked behind, with their heads bowed and their walking steps in synergy with the guy in front. They didn't dare to move too fast or move too slow. Everything had to be in tandem with their leader.
The leader suddenly stopped in his tracks and arrogantly lifted his head to the dark skies. He closed his eyes and raised both palms into the air, as if he wanted to claim the skies for himself. The others following behind stopped as well, and watched in anticipated silence at the actions of their leader.
The leader then uttered in an hoarse voice, very irritating to the ear, like a shard of broken glass been screeched on tiles,
"It's almost time. It's almost time for me to begin my ascent. It's almost time for my legendary story to begin. Oh, I can already hear my name on the lips of the people of Arges. The praises, the chants, the glory; it will all belong to me. To me and me alone. My name to travel to the continents of the world. Yes, I can hear it. I can envision it. The other contestants will be stepping stones to my greatness. I will be crowned champion, as they will all bow their heads in worship, envy and hate. I will be number one above all."
If overconfidence was a religion, this guy would be its priest!
The followers all fell to their knees and bowed their heads seven times, while uttering worship and praises in unison, onto their leader. It was like this had been strictly practiced. Like it had been done a hundred or a thousand times. Because, none of them skipped a beat in their movement. It was in an abnormally, perfect synergy.
They all uttered in one voice,
"Oh, great Philemon Hendrickson, grandson to the esteemed high priest of the blue wind sect. The pride and hope of the province of Jogota. You, who would soon be exalted above all men, under the heavens. We bow before you in adoration. The arena of arges is yours for the taking. For no one can compete for your glory, nor can any contestant battle against your power. We praise thee, our fearful leader. May our voices reach the nine heavens and may the Gods in turn shower you with the shining light of their blessings. May the blue wind guide you to your promised land."
Guests of the Ashanti palace, whom were taking a stroll around the beautiful gardens of the palace, admiring the nightly scenery and taking in the sweet scent of the beautiful flowers, stopped in their tracks to amusingly behold the scene taking place.
This was cockiness at its extremities. Some nobody who didn't understand how high the sky was, claiming to be some kind of god; this was truly some high end entertainment.
The actors of this one-sided play continued on with their performance, unfazed by the stares and the attention they were garnering. The leader would praise himself to the high heavens and sing about his minuscule achievements, while his followers would bow seven times and indulge his arrogance with more praises and worship. It was like a call and response kind of thing.
This went on for about five minutes or so, before things were wrapped up and the performers continued onwards to their destination.
Hmmmph!" The leader, no, Hendrickson snorted, with his nose upturned to the sky, " The only somewhat worthy opponent in my group is that Jason guy, the rest are just tomato cans. By the way, who is my first fight? I forgot the name of the other two."
"Sir, you will be going against Devon Douglas, tomorrow." One of his followers replied.
"Devon Douglas? Why does that name sound familiar?"
"It's the guy from Bermuda, sir." Another follower replied.
"Oh, I see. Hahahahaha!!!!" Hendrickson laughed manically "This is perfect. My championship road is already set. I will be doing the people a favor tomorrow by taking out the trash. Not a bad way to start. Or don't you think so guys?"
"It is as you say sir. If you gravely incapacitate that filthy piece of garbage and stop him from taking part in the tournament any longer, you will be appreciated and honored."
"Yes, yes the sanctity of the tournament would once more be restored." Another followed
"No more Bermuda, no more filth."
"Hahaha!!!" Hendrickson laughed manically again. "I normally don't like bullying the weak, as it's beneath me to do such, but this time I will be going all out in my endeavor. It's his fault for having the guts to show up here in the first place. I will teach him how important it is for one to stay where he belongs."
The large, dining hall was populated by less than fifty persons, as compared to the thousands of people temporarily using the facilities of the Ashanti Palace. Most preferred to dine in their rooms, than in the dining hall. The group made their way to a random table and were about to signal the attention of the waiter, when Hendrickson unintendedly spotted his prey at a table by a corner of the hall. An evil grin instantly surfaced. He indicated his discovery and beckoned to his followers
"Why don't we go say hello and show our respects?!"
...................
"It had to be the ice queen, yo. I don't think anyone else in the Frozen Fairy Asgard has that kind of ability." Jason said, as he battled with his sumptuous steak.
"And like I have said a thousand times, it can't be her. Since, she became the Ice queen, she has never revealed herself to the public eye. Even the people in sapphire have never for once laid their eyes on her, since she attained her current position. She has always been held up in the Asgard. So why would she be in the capital, especially at a time when it's very much populated?" argued Illenia, twirling her fork around spaghetti on her plate.
"Well, duh, she is here to watch the progress of her protégée." insisted Jason, with a chunk of meat in his mouth.
"Nah, I don't think she would be interested in such. I think, she finds such mundane." disagreed Illenia, as she slurped down her spaghetti.
"Mundane? What do you mean by mundane? Apart from the present ice queen, Anna is the best student to ever be produced by the Asgard. I think it would be only right and fair, that she would be properly represented. Besides, this tournament is the best way to truly examine one's talent. However Anna performs, would be telling on the justification of her been the next in line for the highest position in the Asgard. The Ice queen herself would also have to be in attendance." Jason said, as he began slicing another piece of meat from his steak.
"Look, the Ice queen is the head of their religious cult bullshit. So, she has to lead by example. Why do you think most of the ice queens of the past have never for once left the Asgard, up until the time of their death? Because, it's believed in their doctrine that every other place in the world is unholy and impure, except for the Asgard. I don't exactly know how things are been run there, but I do know that the prerequisite for been an Ice queen is overwhelming, dominating strength and the purest of heart. A heart completely purged of the mundane desires of the world. She has to be an incarnation of Alkazem. So, I don't believe such a person would want to quote and unquote, corrupt their purity by being in the midst of quote and unquote, sinners with no scruples.Illenia refuted once again. When she used the quote and unquote statement, she sarcastically gestured in the air, with two of her fingers in both hands. Like she was drawing a quote in the air.
"But, wasn't she like, masked or something? I mean, its common knowledge that if ever the ice queen were to leave the Asgard, she must have to cover her face from been seen. So, it had to be her."
"Anyone of them can cover their face, dummy. It doesn't automatically mean that such person is the Ice queen. Perhaps, it could have been an elder or someone else with some authority. "
"But, why would one want to mask their face, if they weren't compelled to?"
"I don't know, man. It's a weird cult. They can do whatever they want."
"Hhaaaaa." Jason sighed in despondence. "I really wished we had met Anna. I wanted to hug her once again. Its been ages."
"We should have meet her, if someone hadn't forced us to chicken out." Illenia aimed a slight dig at Douglas.
"What are you blaming me for? You guys didn't feel what I felt. I still feel chilly all over. It might have been a warning to not get any closer. One doesn't just indiscriminately release their aura for nothing. I didn't want to risk it." Douglas defended himself, before blowing on a spoonful of hot, chicken soup, slurping it down and then continuing, "Besides, isn't she like important now? It would have been improper to just stop her on the side of the road, especially with her entourage present."
"Nah, that doesn't matter. Anna wouldn't have cared regardless. Didn't you see how joyful she was to see us? And have you forgotten that I am important as well. Though, one might insinuate that a junior commander in the ranks of the red monks, is not quite the same as the second-in-command to the Ice queen, but I got a good enough status and I am popular enough.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. You sure like to brag like you are so important." Douglas said.
Jason grinned at Douglas's obvious jealousy.
"Something has been bugging me, though. Douglas, how come you could feel the aura and we couldn't feel anything, despite us been together in the same place? Or did you perhaps make a mistake?" Illenia asked the question that had been ringing in her mind.
"I am more sensitive to mana than most people." Douglas simply replied, as he blew on another spoonful of soup.
"Can you be more specific?" Illenia craved more details, to satisfy her curiosity.
Douglas didn't reply, or rather wasn't afforded the chance to. His countenance suddenly changed. He dropped the spoon he was holding into the bowl and cautiously stared in front of him. Jason and Illenia did the same, with stern seriousness manifesting gravely on their faces.
Five guys had surrounded their table, with the one who seemed to be their leader, in the middle of the encirclement. He had on a malicious grin and a hostile glint in his bloodshot eyes, as he glared with evil intent at Douglas. Even an idiot, could immediately guess that this group weren't here with good intentions. They had come to find trouble.
The genial ambience of the dining hall instantly dampened into one of eerie silence. The chattering of spoons on plates and bowls and every side talks between companies seized. Everyone in the dining hall were focused on the drama about to take place, with some interest. Because this interest had to do with the 'infamous personality' from Bermuda.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone