Good Freeday, 19th of Aprillia, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

  “It is with a gladdened and humbled heart that I accept your very warm welcomes, Great Elders of Goria, and to you, O Great Hulubalang ni Angka Halak…” One of the main representatives of the delegation - a man who looked to be in his forties with some strands of hair on his beard beginning to gray - had bowed and performed the somba to the King of Goria as well as all the Elders present in the King’s Hall. His gesture was followed by the rest of the delegation who followed suit. The representative then continued to formally introduce himself and the rest of his delegation, “Alai, jumolo hupatandahon ma diriku tu hamu sude angka natuatua sian Jabuni Hulubalangta… (But allow me first to introduce myself to you all) I am Sohasurahan Singalion, anggi ni (brother to) Raja Tagam Singalion. Along with me is the esteemed Tuan Marudut Rumaparau, Younger son to Raja Tendi Rumaparau.”

  As Lord Sohasurahan was introducing the rest of the delegation, Josias had found out that the younger man who had been observing around the hall was the eldest grandson of King Tendi of Rumaparau, Tuan Hagabeon Rumaparau. The young quiet woman next to him who was still holding onto her book and pen was the daughter of Raja Tagam Singalion. Now that Josias had a more focused look at her face, he noticed that despite her very dark hair, it was clear from her distinctly western facial features that she was a Malaok. Her name was Marintan Victoria Singalion. Her foreign features of pale skin and facial features were shared by the other young man who sat to her left side, her elder brother Tuan Panghirimon Victor Singalion. It was an interesting thing to see that there were Malaok in other realms but considering that Hutangali bordered the foreign western colonies directly, it wasn’t too big of a surprise. What was an even more interesting fact was that Hagabeon and Marintan were engaged to each other, paving the way for a union between Rumaparau and Hutangali.

  “I would also like to once more give thanks to the Reverend Archbishop Ludwig for his ceaseless efforts in the aid of our peoples especially with the establishment of proper educational facilities within our realms.” Lord Sohasurahan continued his thanks towards the Ephorus “Hopefully, the churches you have helped to establish within our realms continue to prosper and grow as is the will of our Heavenly Lord.”

  “And I share in your prayers, Lord Sohas.” Ludwig bowed as he smiled with his hand over his chest “I have already made plans to send more missionaries and priests to further speed up the process of establishing other dioceses in your two realms. Hopefully if all goes well, we can have the consecration ceremony conducted by the end of the year.”

  “One could only hope, Lord Ephorus…” Sohasurahan replied once more before he continued “I would also wish to formally inform the Hulubalang of the main purpose of our delegation here. The honourable Kings of Hutangali and Rumaparau would officially and humbly request of our Hulubalang to welcome our young ones here to for a period study within the mighty realm of Goria. The young lords Hagabeon Rumaparau and Panghirimon Singalion have been sent here to train with the great warriors of Goria whilst the young ladies would be studying the art of medicine and healing so as to better the lives of our own realms. If my lord Hulubalang would so please…”

  As Josias looked towards the king’s throne, he saw his grandfather nod before he stood up from the throne helped by both hands upon the armrests. King Parhal had coughed a few times before he personally greeted the delegation, “...It would be a great honour to our Realm… to receive such promising youths to study among our own... May this be a sign of deepening friendships forever more between our realms… Both as kinsmen clans as well as brothers in Christ! Please, enjoy what humble food we have to offer…!”

  As the king concluded the formal welcome, he sat back down upon his throne as he gave his instruction for the feast to commence. Just before the feast was to start in earnest, as usual, the king had invited Bishop Ludwig to lead everyone in prayer to bless the food that was to be eaten. After saying their graces and concluding with a light blessing by the ephorus, the guests were welcomed by the king to be the first to take the food from the plates as the meat and rice were circulated throughout the hall.

  As usual, Josias took a mountain of rice upon his banana leaf plate before moderately taking his favourite roasted pork meat. Josias felt an uneasy shiver on the back of his neck and when he turned around, he only saw the disappointed gaze on his mother’s face as she alternated between looking at him and his plate full of food. Josias could only smile sheepishly at his mother before she moved closer to him and forcefully scooped up his rice before dividing it between his younger siblings.

  “Abang eats like a monster! Hehehe…” Julia said as she laughed while talking her youngest brother Janus and her cousins Tiur and Tigor while pointing towards Josias “Don’t be like Bang Josi!”

  At Julia’s behest, the other three little toddlers shook their heads with the young Tigor and Janus even standing up and hitting Josias while yelling ‘monster!’.

  “I’m so hungry, I can eat a kid!! Rawrrr!!” Josias at first feigned offence and annoyance but at the absolutely adorable sight of his four younger siblings he just couldn’t help but play along with their games as he glomped the two little boys and pretended like he was going to eat them. All the while pinching their chubby little bellies.

  “Ahhh! The monster got me! hahaha!” Janus screamed in laughter.

  “He got me too!!” Tigor also called out.

  “Quiet down, the lot of you! Can’t you see we’re in the middle of an important dinner?” Hotma couldn’t help but shake her head and reprimand Josias. Josias merely laughed as he acquiesced to his mother’s scolding before sending the kids off to sit back at their places. “Josi, instead of making a mess with the kids, why can’t you help me and feed the children?”

  “I can feed myself, omak! (mom)” Julia said as she proudly took the food on her plate and put it in her mouth.

  “Ya! Me too!” Tiur tried to follow Julia, but it was apparent that the four-year old was terribly clumsy at it.

  “Alright, alright. Let bang Josi help you eat, Tiur!-”

  “It’s alright, I can handle it. Here you go Tiur, say ahh…” Just as Josi was about to move to help feed his younger cousin, Serena had come in and sat beside the little girl, automatically feeding her like it was the most natural thing to do.

  “I thank God everyday that my fool of a son was blessed with so beautiful and womanly a partner!” Hotma said as she clasped her hands and made the somba position to the air “Oh Serena, you already look like such a perfect mother! Oh why can’t you two just get married tomorrow?”

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  Serena laughed before she looked at Josias asking him, “Yeah, why can’t we?”

  Josias only rolled his eyes before answering, “Love of my life, you know everyone has agreed to postpone all the weddings to after we return from the Gotilon festival so that we can focus on the tournament?”

  “Yes, but did we not receive the message yesterday that the festival has been pushed back to be held next month? We’re going to wait that long?” Serena shot back as if it was the most natural thing to do, all the while only giving Josias a side-eye glance as she continued to feed Tiur.

  “Love, we’ve only been engaged for a little more than a week…”

  “Officially… In reality, you’ve been courting me for years at this point! Are you actually waiting for me to turn old?”

  “Hasianku, you’re barely nineteen years old!”

  “I was eighteen when I had you, abang.” Josias’ mother actively stoked more flames while she was also feeding Janus and Togar. Hearing this, Serena only gave a soft harrumph.

  “Ma, you’re not really helping here.” Josias said as he shook his head, also beginning to eat himself “Also, now come to think of it, why is Serena taking care of Tiur? Where’s her actual sister-... Ah man, I really don’t know how to feel about that.”

  As Josias was looking for Maria, he only rolled his eyes when he caught sight of her sitting next to and playfully feeding Johannes. Josias could only shake his head at the public display of affection. He wasn’t being a hypocrite, but even he had his limits when in the presence of the king, the elders, and even foreign dignitaries. When he looked around the king’s hall, he saw that Sadrach and Helena were also having a fun time talking and playing around with each other.

  “I swear, the younger generation is taking after Pauli and her husband in the worst of ways.” Hotma only shook her head as she followed Josias’ gaze, seeing the young affectionate couples.

  “Ah well, you can’t really blame them. It’s how they show affection.” Josias said as he shrugged it off. Though he was also itching to just glomp on his fiancee, he realised that it wouldn’t give off a good image especially as when he saw the Prince of Rumaparau and his fiancee being very stoic despite sitting next to each other.

  “Well, not that your father didn’t try to be as passionate as he wanted in front of others…”

  “Unfortunately for father, your love language was more physical attack as compared to physical touch…”

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing. Ahem…” Josias couldn’t help but pretend to clear his throat as he looked away from his mother’s squinting eyes. As if in an effort to rescue him from the situation, Serena had spoken up, opening a new topic for discussion.

  “So I see the very beautiful lady sitting over there. A Princess of Hutangali was it?” Serena asked.

  “Yes. They said she and the other girls are here to study our medicinal arts in our hospital.” Josias answered excitedly “I guess my fiance will be getting a lot of new students, huh?”

  “Namboru, did you hear that? Josi just called another girl beautiful in front of me!” Serena said all of a sudden which could only elicit Josias to drop his jaw in disbelief.

  “How the hell did you manage to get that from anything I said??” Josias asked to which his mother could only laugh.

  “Because you did, though.” Serena said matter-of-factly “I asked about a beautiful lady sitting over there and you answered it with a ‘yea’.”

  “What in the world-...! Love, you asked if she was a princess of Hutangali and I only answered truthfully!”

  “Oh, so you are saying that she’s pretty?”

  “...I don’t think I’m gonna get any of the right answers this way, am I?”

  Hotma chuckled more seeing Josias floundering around, being led by the nose by Serena’s teasing of him. “You still have much to learn of a woman’s ways, abang.” Hotma said to her eldest.

  Josias could only shake his head with a sigh as he raised his hands in a surrendering motion. He wasn’t going to bother arguing verbally with his lover over something as stupid as whether or not he called another girl pretty. He’ll admit to himself that the girl was indeed objectively stunning, but he was smart enough to know that sharing his objective thoughts would also most likely get himself objectively killed. As his father - who was currently conversing with the elders and the allied representatives - had always told him, ‘Happy wife, Happy life’. And with that he got back to focusing on eating his food and talking with his family and friends while he was at it.

  As the feast went on, so did the day now fully become evening. Most of the food had been finished and the people had looked like they had their fair share of the meal. As the night grew late, many of the women and children had left the hall to go back to their homes. Despite her teasing of Josias, Serena had walked up and introduced herself to the women of the allied entourage, including to the Lady Marintan.

  Archbishop Ludwig had instructed for Serena to show them to the newly built separate dormitories near the church where many of the nurses would rest while they were on shift. Josias didn’t know how she managed to do it, but Serena seemed like she hit it off very well with the Lady Marintan as he could see them chatting away happily as they walked out of the king’s hall. Soon enough, the hall was left with only the King and his heirs, his council of elders and their heirs, as well as the two representatives and princes of the kingdoms of Rumaparau and Hutangali.

  As the plates of food and all the other forms of trash and rubbish were taken away by some of the workers of the king’s household, the people that were left there seemed as though they were to discuss something of great import that wasn’t mentioned earlier. Josias could only imagine what it was that the kingdom’s allies could ask of Goria.

  “...And so now that we are left here… only to the council, what is it, gentleman… do you all truly seek from us…?” King Parhal asked the allied representatives with a serious tone as he folded his hands upon his lap while leaning towards them.

  Lord Sohasurahan cleared his throat once more before answering King Parhal. “If the Lord King would allow it, I shall cut to the chase… it is with great reverence yet also some shame that I represent the Kingdom of Hutangali to ask that Goria aid their allies against a troublesome situation.”

  “...Of what kind is this aid that you are expecting…? And to what end?”

  “We would require military aid, Lord Hulubalang…”

  When the mention of military aid was made, the king’s hall all of a sudden was abuzz with whispers and murmurs. Josias too was rather puzzled at what Lord Sohasurahan meant by that. Was there a war brewing? And if so, with who? Why was Goria to be dragged into this mess? So many questions were now flying around within his mind and it was gnawing at him. This meeting didn’t seem like it would end with just simple platitudes.

  A grave situation was fast approaching the Kingdom of Goria, yet all Josias could do was pray for the situation. He didn’t know what was coming, but he knew it was significant. And with these thoughts floating in his consciousness, his grandfather had asked once more.

  “...Are you all preparing for a war…?” The king asked, his eyes ever sharp despite his raspy voice. What the representatives would answer to the king with next would be crucial in the development of the political situation in all the Halaklands. And with that, the representative Sohasurahan had cleared his throat and was fully prepared to explain himself.

  “It would seem so, Lord Hulubalang…” Lord Hasurahan said as he nodded his head.