“….”

  In the darkest area of Planet Veyronia, a supreme ministry held together by the Elders of the Dark Intrinium. A meeting took place, accompanied by Lord Veyron, King of Veyronia and leader of the Dark Intrinium.

  “….”

  “Surely- we will raise the efforts and defense budgets, the programs have been flowing excellently, and our partnered distributors will be pleased with our results. A new era is of coming.”

  The Elders, though mysterious, are the Veyronia Federation Court. When the King is absent, they make sure to circulate the planet and its people. They hold a high standing in the Dark Intrinium Army, however, representing a senior authority, their experiences have allowed them to create mission planning and future campaigns. Since they are not directly involved in the army, all processes are finalized by Lord Kytan Veyron.

  “….”

  “With the Tivula campaign, we will be able to send out more manufacturers. Resources are limited however, Tivula is not so much as a valuable planet – just more territory for us to expand upon.” Third Elder said.

  No Elders’ faces could be seen in the room, it was pitch black with only dim lights scattered over Lord Veyron’s seat, this was an act of respect, showing that the only person of interest is the King himself.

  “But why Tivula? More contested space is beneficial but only when the space itself has use- that sand planet has nothing remotely important, and its people are just peacemakers. We will gain nothing. What of the advancements on Testharia?” Second Elder said.

  “….”

  “Lord Veyron had assigned this campaign; we are not at the discretion of discussing the reason. Our Lord has decided that Tivula has become a planet we must conquer.” Fifth Elder said.

  “I reckon Lord Veyron can see the importance of this planet; thus, we must contest it. The Tivulans are not under any protective jurisdiction so efforts will be nil. I will assign Berserker Orsin to be the commanding leader of this campaign.”

  “…”

  Lord Veyron had not said word this entire meeting, he seemed spaced out, unaware, was he even conscious? He sits with both hands resting on his chin – what was he thinking?

  “My Lord, you seemed inattentive, does something trouble you?” First Elder spoke, raising his concerns for Veyron’s lack of communication.

  “A Soul Artifact, Tivula has a Soul Artifact.” Words finally came out.

  “Pardon, a Soul Artifact?” First Elder responded.

  Veyron stood up, scattered lights dimming over his face.

  “Tivula will be conquered, I expect nothing less. This meeting is now over.” He turned to the shadows and made his exit.

  -

  The King’s palace, a Veyron’s palace. Contrasting with what the Eria’s bestow, several gold accents with marble-lized flooring using vanta black etching. Paintings placed down huge corridors, white pillars dense as glaciers. It was such an ordinary palace but meaningful at that. Kytan could only call it home, the key difference between what Sachiel Eria possesses and what Kytan Veyron doesn’t: no familial presence, it was only Kytan. The center of Ky-Capital, The Palace of the Veyron, houses only just Kytan – ironic.

  It did not entirely lack any form of life, butlers and maids moved around the place to keep it at its most pristine and functional appearance. Some wait within the throne room but it had been unused for years now, showing the lack of interest Kytan has for such a grand honor.

  Kytan walked down the big hall, footsteps echoed, clicking against the marble floor. Butlers and other palace servers populated the hall, they immediately moved out of the King’s way, bowing for high respect.

  “My Lord.” They say.

  “….”

  He made his way to the throne room, hoping to reminisce about the past, the time when he wasn’t king.

  Upon entering, it was a huge room, empty, silence was especially loud, the dead could echo. The room was not vacant, a woman, a maid, had some cleaning supplies. She was in the middle of dusting off painting frames and the marble floor. It looks like she was doing this all alone.

  It didn’t mean anything to Kytan, apart from the fact that she was cleaning a particular painting: a painting of his father, Kytron Veyron.

  “…” He walked over, footsteps clicking around the room though the maid was drawn to cleaning off the dust.

  She was humming, humming a song. A warm smile, like she was calm, at peace. Cleaning would seem like a good passing time, a means to keep something from going bad, it’s satisfactory work, perhaps that’s why she was so fixated on it.

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  “Excuse me.”

  “Yes- I will be done soo-“ She turned her head, thinking it was another servant calling out but it was the King of Veyronia instead.

  “-WAH!” She fell back, knocking over her cleaning supplies. A cleaning bottle spilled out, washing over the floor.

  “O-Oh no..”

  She was shaking, she had just made a mess within the room of the kings, right before the presence of the king too.

  “L-Lord Veyron- I am so sorry, excuse my failure- I wasn’t aware that you would come into this room!” She kneeled instantly, shaking and gushing out tears a little.

  “…”

  Kytan was looking down at her, he noticed that she was wearing glasses, they were on the floor next to the spillage.

  He walked over, picking them up.

  “Heh, I’ve never seen you before. Are you new?”

  The woman looked up, she was squinting a bit, maybe because she can’t really see that well without her glasses.

  “Y-yes, I am new. L-Lord Veyron- please forgive me… you have all the right to get rid of me…” She said.

  “Hm.”

  Her glasses lenses were wet from the spill; he used his shirt to wipe it off.

  “Huh?!- My Lord! Why do such a thing?? You will get messy- I should be cleaning that off myself! Gh-…” She was confused.

  He got onto his knees, putting the glasses onto her.

  “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “…H-“ She was embarrassed but not humiliated.

  “What is your name?”

  “It is T’kara, T’kara Dusuu, My Lord.”

  “T’kara, it is good to meet you.” Kytan rolled up his sleeves and walked over to the spillage, he grabbed a towel and began cleaning up.

  “Hm- My Lord? What are you doing? I can clean that up- it’s my mistake and you shouldn’t trouble yourself with it!”

  “I made you create this mess, it is my fault, so I am taking accountability for it.”

  “Ehh-hm..”

  T’kara’s face grew red, she was embarrassed, it was meant to be a peaceful clean down, a good peaceful passing time. Now the king is doing what she is meant to do, the king is doing her literal job and that is cleaning, she thought to herself.

  .:. Why? .:.

  “I walked in and saw you taking your time with this specific spot, are you drawn to the painting?” He referred to the Kytron painting.

  “Well uhm- I was, yes.. I found it to be soothing to look at- so I wanted to make sure it was especially clean… He was a great man and a king.”

  “I agree, my father was nothing short of great.”

  Kytan wiped everything up, stacking the supplies back into order on the tray. Slowly standing straight to look at the painting.

  “T-thank you..” T’kara said.

  She stood behind.

  “Subjugated so many worlds, spaces, armies. An iron fist ruling- no previous king was as great as him. He was a good man, a true father. After my mother had passed when I was young, he really devoted himself to being a father, I would say that I held him back, but father was unbothered. It was like he knew how great his conquest was, the only thing left to conquest was to be a father.”

  “They called him an evil tyrant, a monster and an enemy of several worlds- but he was like any other king, wanting to see a world fit for all peace, peace achieved through strength. Veyronia was the perfect world because of him.”

  “Unfortunate, killed at the hands of a nobody, a Soul-Wielder exceptionally strong to defeat father. I do wonder if they are still alive.”

  Kytan stared at the painting.

  “…” T’kara didn’t know what to say, she didn’t want to say anything that would settle a moment of unease.

  “My Lord- if you want my view, I will say that your father raised such a great man- I’m here, I really want to see the making of the greatest king in history, that being you, My Lord.”

  “…”

  Kytan was silent.

  .:. Oh no- what am I saying? He probably thinks I’m just some stupid girl wanting to make ends meet. I seriously don’t know how else I could put it, but I really look up to him. .:.

  “Forgive me, My Lord. I am quite stupid and nothing more than someone who just cleans- I fear that I am staining your presence with my inability to be competent.” She closed her eyes.

  Kytan turned around, having a warm smile on his face.

  .:. He is smiling..? .:.

  “You can just call me Kytan.”

  “Ky- well, wouldn’t that be a dishonor? You are the Great King; you hold so much superiority I couldn’t just call you that..”

  “Alright, then I simply urge you to call me Kytan.”

  “Y-yes My Lo- I mean, Kytan…” She squirmed a little, having called the King by his first name, her face grew red yet again.

  “Is it okay if I become your friend? I don’t have many friends.”

  “O-Of course it’s okay! I will be whatever you want me to be, L- Kytan!”

  “Though- I must ask, why me?.. I’m a nobody.”

  “A nobody you aren’t. Now a friend of mine.” He leaned down to pick up the cleaning supply tray.

  “Stick around, you may find comfort in this huge place. I’ll offer you a drink sometime.”

  “It would be a great honor!” She remained still, trembling a bit.

  “Well- I would hate to eat up your time, sorry for the mess.” Kytan handed her the tray.

  “No! Your time is eternally more important than mine will ever be- in fact, this is a great honor to finally be able to communicate with you.. K-Kytan.”

  Kytan gave a small chuckle, he chuckled for once.

  “We will work on the formalities, it is kinda awkward to have a friend refer to me so grand. I must get going, be more aware so you don’t get startled next time.” He bowed his head.

  “-And sorry about the glasses, though I must say- you are the first person on this world and within the palace that I’ve seen wear such a thing.”

  “They suit you. It isn’t traditional, it looks good on you.”

  Her face grew red again.

  “Oh- I uhm- well uhhh- hmm… you flatter me , I am undeserving of such! They can be a bother… but I am happy you think that- I often get made fun of for it…”

  “You are quite the flower, T’kara.”

  He smiled, walking to exit the room.

  .:. A flower?!?- undeserving flattery, does the king truly think this of me??? Oh no, no one has ever said such things to me- the king was the first.. .:. She turned, watching Kytan leave.

  .:. And now… he wants to be my FRIEND! .:. She smiled, containing herself.

  .:. That’s… SUPER COOL! .:.

  -

  .:. “So unlike you to try and befriend someone out of nowhere- especially one that works under you.” .:.

  Kytan walked down the empty hall.

  .:. Is it so unnatural that I just want to be me and not a king? .:.

  .:. “Now that is strange coming from you. Your whole goal was to succeed your father; you even showed your appreciation of him to that woman.” .:.

  .:. I’m trying what I can, blood is always going to be on my hands. .:.

  .:. “You are in a predicament, the wavering Kaioshun is getting a grip on everything, shouldn’t you be a little more cautious? There has been an awakening of some sort, you will have to engage Sachiel Eria as you mentioned- a conquest is not easy when you are dead.” .:.

  .:. We will see, as far as things go.. .:.

  “I don’t know what I want.”