*Hand to Hand, Weapons, and Hika*

In the hand to hand and the weapons portion, we were in a tie. The breaker was the power of our Hika. He threw everything he could at me. He was angry that he and I kept tying, he wanted to finish me off so badly. I saw the look in his eyes, tunnel vision. Everything he fired missed the mark. Light spears, trying to blind me, you name it. I was able to get the jump on him with my Hika; firing lightning; stunning and incapacitating him. Moments later, I saw him try to get back up, but he couldn’t and fell back down. I then heard the crowd cheer; human and elven alike. As the crowd began to swarm around, I saw Kaori run to me and hug me along with a kiss.

“You did it, Yuri! You beat Faniir! You’re the new safekeep!” He exclaimed happily.

I was stunned that I did win. To be honest, I didn’t break a sweat with Faniir, nor did I have tunnel vision. He, on the other hand, did and was soaked. Odd. I’ve never seen that from an elf before. I guess I really got under his skin. Thinking about it makes me laugh and I’m trying not to. He fought as hard as he could, I can give him that. But it’s fair to say… don’t underestimate a half breed.

As the crowd calmed, the queen raised her arms for the people to be silent as she spoke.

“People of Pamola! It is a great honor to say that Yurich Kelun will become our new Safekeep of Light. However, I must address this. I know a certain group of people of Pamola along with others have been discriminated against in recent years. I am here to tell you that under my rule, we do not tolerate any kind of discrimination against any race. We are all equal in the land of Elem. Any signs of discrimination must be reported, and it will be dealt with from the safekeep of this land. False claim reports will also not be tolerated. Both instances will be investigated. If found with sufficient evidence of discrimination, will be fined. The same goes for false claims. I just want you all to rest assure that that law will be put in place starting within the month. By Alpha, I give you my solemn oath.”

The crowd applauded at her speech.

“Also, may Yurich Kelun please come up?” she asked.

That’s surprising that she asked me to come up, so I did with her family, her advisor, and the other safekeeps looking at me. She then turned to the crowd.

“Being a Safekeep has many faces. Being mixed is one of them. I want you all to understand this. Yurich Kelun represents the humans and elven that live here.” She stated then looked at me. “We welcome you with open arms, Yurich. And your friends and family.” She added with a smile.

She extended her hand to me, and I held it shaking her hand returning the smile back. I slightly looked to Yenish, for she had a suspicious look on her face. Something in my mind said something wasn’t going to go right as the years progress.

*Next Day-Assimilation*

I chose the weapons I wanted to use which are daggers I call Blinding Truth. The wonderful beasts I chose were beautiful birds to help power my Hika; Lena, a crow, and Pamo, a thunderbird. I gave my vow to the heart of Pamola, Palai, a bright shining stone, giving her my essence and promising to protect her. I then asked Queen Furia if Kaori could live with me in the temple, and I’m so happy and grateful she said yes.

*Two Years Later*

Well, a lot of things has happened during these two years. Both good and bad. After I became the Safekeep of Light, I had to cut my hair due to what happened in the tournament with Faniir. In the weapons portion, he was able to cut a good portion of my hair to where it was uneven. So, I had to cut it short so it could grow evenly and luckily, it’s growing back. Hanchia was such a good person to talk to and spend time with, but due to what she was doing in Haliae, and her killing people in Bura, resulted her title as safekeep being stripped and being imprisoned in Tanz. Oma Warrens became the new Safekeep of Water and is much more fit to be a safekeep. Also, Yenish was acting suspicious and disappeared. No one knew where she went.

Everything in Pamola is going fairly well. There have been a few complaints with discrimination, but not as much like I thought. I kept everything the way Damos kept it, but I have given more funding to the Pamolan people. I relighted Palai with my Hika today so the light within won’t fade away. If it did fade, no light, just complete darkness and it would take years to renew the light for Pamola, let alone the other lands and machinery that use our Hika. Palai can last for two years, but I choose not to revitalize her every two years; once a year is wise to do.

As Kaori and I were looking over to see if there were any complaints or any issues in my office, one of my soldiers came in and saluted.

“Sir. I have a report from Queen Furia.” He stated.

“What is it, Maalik?” I asked.

“She wanted to have a meeting with you in Nora whenever you’re available today.” He replied.

“Okay. Give the message that I’ll be at the castle soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

Maalik left out of my office so Kaori and I could finish looking through the paperwork.

“You know, I can be able to look through the papers while you go to Nora.” Kaori suggested.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” I asked concerned that I might leave him doing a task I’m supposed to be doing.

“Come on, Yuri. Going through these papers will take no time for me. You go on ahead. I’ll look after things here while you’re gone.”

He gave me a reassuring smile which made me smile back.

“Thanks, Kaori. I’ll see you later then.”

I gave him a kiss on the cheek and left out the office. I opened a door that led to the underground antechamber where Palai was placed. The doors to the antechamber closed behind me as I looked at Palai touching the smooth surface.

“I’ll be back soon, Palai.”

I walked away from her and raised my hands.

“Momoku!”  

I summoned my daggers, walked to the end wall of the antechamber, and made a portal to walk through and enter the castle. I arrived in the foyer where the soldiers were guarding the doors to the throne room. I walked towards them.

“I’m here to have a meeting with the queen. She’s expecting me.” I stated.

They moved aside and opened the doors for me. I walked in the throne room with Furia on the throne with her mother, father, and brother standing next to her. I bowed in respect to her.

“Please. You don’t have to do that, Yurich. Please stand.” She pleaded.

As I did stand, her remark made me chuckle.

**

We talked while we walked outside in her garden. Her family was still inside while her soldiers followed us.

“How is the anti-discrimination law working in Pamola?” She asked.

“Fairly well. Complaints have been at a minimum. Kaori has been helping me with the papers along with my soldiers investigating.” I explained.

“Well, that’s good.”

“It is but being at a minimum doesn’t mean it’s trying to stop.”

“I am aware of that. But I had to put that law into place for Pamola, because it’s happened many times when Queen Askari was on the throne. I am planning to expand it here and the other lands.”

“That sounds like a good idea, your highness.”

Before she could say anything else, we heard screaming inside the castle. The queen looked at me genuinely concerned. She and I ran to the side door of the castle. Before I could open the door, a few soldiers burst open the door and stopped in front of us. They were frantic and panting from running.

“Milady! Lord Yurich!” one of the soldiers yelled.

“What’s the matter?!” I asked.

“We’re under attack! She’s… she’s back!” another soldier replied.

At first, I wondered who they were referring to, but I’m sure I knew.

“Yenish?!” I asked.

“Yes, sir!”

“Alright. I need you all to alert the other safekeeps in their lands. They need to come here urgently for it includes the queen’s life on the line! Also, tell that to my partner in Pamola!”

“Yes, sir! Will do.”

The soldiers ran out of the castle walls and into the city to give out their message. And I hope they send it fast to the others. I kept Furia close to me as we entered the castle through the side door. We passed the kitchen and where the workers would sit at. We reached the throne room, and it wasn’t a good sight to see. Soldiers dead and blood everywhere, I had to shield the young queen from looking. I didn’t see Kai anywhere, so he might still be alive… I hope. As we made it to the foyer, I heard Furia scream and cry as she was looking down on the floor; I had to hold her mouth shut as I looked and saw her parents… They… were killed… so much blood…

“Is that Furia that I heard screaming?” a voice came from outside in front of the castle.

I knew whose voice that was, so did Furia. We walked to the front door; I slightly opened it to see Yenish and four others; two elven, one mixed breed, and… Hanchia?! This can’t be possible. Yenish broke Hanchia out of prison, I’m sure of that.

“No need to eye us from the door. Come on out, little queen!” Yenish yelled.

I summoned my daggers and opened the door with Furia behind. Yenish was surprised to see my face along with Hanchia.

“Oh, Yurich. How nice to see you again. How are you, dear?” Yenish asked me.

“It would be best for me to not answer that. What have you done?! Why did you do this?!” I asked her.

“Do what? Eradicate the weak links in the castle along with Kivu and Faye? The throne of Elem shouldn’t belong to a 13-year-old little girl. She wouldn’t know how to really rule a land… unlike me.”

I sighed and I was truly angry that she committed an unjustifiable crime.

“Please don’t tell me that you’re envious about not becoming a queen. For an elf, this is redundant and vain act, along with killing a child’s parents! What have you done with Kai?!”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about him. The only thing you need to worry about… is your queen and your precious lands. On this day, we’re here to break tradition and start something anew.”

“Hmm. If this is how you break tradition, this is the most irresponsible way to do it. And this is unacceptable!”

She just laughed at my remark.

“Like I care what you say, darling boy. The mark that Alpha gave Furia will become her demise along with future queens.”

The moment Yenish’s hands glowed green, I heard Furia scream. I saw her writhing on the ground and her mark glowing green and I had to sit her up. I heard Yenish laugh at her pain. I glared at her.

“Let’s hope you safekeeps stay alive because you all bear her burden. Isn’t that right?” she asked me.

She then snapped her fingers which made the male elf come at me and Furia with his war hammer. I moved out the way with Furia in my arms before his hammer went down. He then tried to attack us again until I saw Xianchi come in and block his attack making him back off. I had to put Furia down so I could help Xianchi. Later on, Landon came in to help, then Senuo, and then Oma. We all fought as best as we could, but fatigue was getting to us. Yenish then decided to fire a green aura beam directly at Furia which all of us use a barrier around her and us. Seeing the barrier faulter was not good.

Senuo instantly thought of a plan to teleport us to the underground sanctuary which is beneath Elienta. Luckily, Hanchia was never informed about where this place was, nor was Yenish. Furia knew well about how Hanchia was due to Haliae’s struggle and never told her. Her parents told her to never say the location to Yenish; I guess they might have known something wrong with Yenish all along. We… don’t know what to do. We’re completely overpowered. As of now, we just hope the people of the lands heeded every soldier’s warning. We don’t know if or when Alpha will mark another girl or woman, but if he does, we’ll be there to find her before Yenish, because I know that’s what she will do.

We can’t do anything now. We sadly would have to wait, but we must make ourselves better, train ourselves more, and hit much harder than she did us. When that day comes, no mercy when we get our lands back.