Chapter 59: Disgrace

Kutch Woods and Jo’ra Kom came after Safo Nur to the hospital. Safo told them about his latest adventures in the game. How he made new friends, the most renowned assassin in the Cube 1 and the most caught thief BlackSly. Safo informed them about his secret quest, and how their team fought a giant worm.

“We did it so fast that it even had no time to spit the needle. I’m telling you that Miloud is very skilled at making plans and strategy.” Safo praised Miloud very highly after witnessing his capabilities.

All the way to the restaurant they talked about the game. Kutch and Jo’ra shared their latest assault of the castle and a battle with an emerald crocodile that was more than a hundred meters long. It could control water in the swamp that surrounded the castle and had an army of smaller crocodiles.

The whole siege of the castle lasted 2 days and one night and ended with the crushing defeat of Kutch’s guild. They faced a great loss both among members and resources.

“I heard that that bastard “Lord of the Wings” is now leading his army to attack the castle after hearing about our failure.” Jo’ra burst with disgust at the fact that their most vicious rival was about to triumph when they accepted devastating destruction.

“Haha, are they really? What is their guild’s name? Lord of the Wings? Haha.” Safo laughed so hard that his stomach started to ache. Kutch and Jo’ra couldn’t understand the humor, though.

They went aboard the flying car and drove straight to the restaurant. Once more Safo admired the sight of the New Tenga capital planet - Psiora. Skyscrapers were so tall that their top was hidden above clouds. The city was busy as always. Other levitating cars flew by them swooshing and disturbing the air.

“How is O’rmon?” Safo decided to ask the question that tormented him.

“Uhm, she is fine. At home, she wasn’t feeling well and couldn't attend the party. She said that she is happy that you won and wishes you many more victories in the future.” Kutch was lost for a moment but soon gathered his thoughts together.

“She didn’t.”

“No, she didn’t. I’m sorry. She is in her room and refuses to leave. But one thing is for sure, she regrets what she did.” Kutch’s voice sounded with a tone of disappointment in his sister but he masked it well with a tone of compassion towards her.

After being exposed by Kardon, she couldn’t raise her head in the room full of people rooting for Safo Nur. Things turned even direr when she decided to interfere with the match to save her lover.

The tournament was a sacred tradition, part of the psiora cultural heritage. Entering the ring for the battle meant that the combatants put their lives on the line. Matches rarely ended with death but if none of the two opponents gave up - no one could stop the match.

O’rmon received millions of disapproval gazes for her disrespectful actions. Probably the most disappointed psiora among everybody else were Kutch’s friends. Those who dreamed to win her heart someday lost their hopes in a second, none of them could compete with Kardon Gar.

“Are you mad?” Kutch continued.

Safo took a moment to ponder his thoughts about O’rmon’s betrayal. She was Kardon’s spy, informing him about every move that Safo took, including all of his skills and flaws.

“No, I’m not. I just think that Kardon utilized all of his resources to win the tournament. And O’rmon was simply a tool to him. She shouldn’t think that I will be mad at her because of such insignificant matters.” For Safo, it was something close to natural, helping those who you love. Sometimes, one should choose their precious ones over others. He was sure that he could do much worse for his family.

Kutch didn’t answer. He was glad, friendship with Safo made his life full of adventures, he didn’t want to lose him. He feared that in case things turned out to be disastrous he would have to choose between his sister and a friend.

“We arrived. Guests are inside waiting for you.” Kutch pushed Safo’s wheelchair and they moved towards the entrance to the upscale restaurant.

A figure in black was at the entrance waiting for Safo’s appearance. “Safo, can we talk?” A man came out of the shadows to greet Safo.

“Yon?! Hi, how are you?” Safo and the rest were surprised to see him, considering that Kutch was sure that he didn’t invite any of the other candidates. It was an obvious thought that they were rivals and most likely won’t attend the party to celebrate the rival's victory.

“Not so much, to be honest, can we talk in private for a minute, please.” A young gazelle psiora looked sad, his tone wasn’t strong as usual. His loss in the tournament hit him hard.

Safo nodded to Kutch letting him know that everything was fine. And after a minute of talking Yon with a relieved smile entered the restaurant.

Yon Ace confessed that he wanted to quit the race for the title and give all of his votes to Safo, leaving a monologue for his voters. To say that Safo was shocked was to say nothing.

“My father is outraged after watching my disappointing performance at the tournament. For my luck, he and his best friends are finishing the order on my behalf to earn me more stars.” Yon said that Safo’s desperate match against Kardon made him think about his own position at the race. Yon joined the contest to make his commander's race more difficult. He was sure that M.M. won’t make a good King for Psiora.

When Yon proclaimed that he will attend the election his father was overjoyed. He hastily gathered like-minded friends and began to take orders to make more stars. At first, Yon was delighted to see his father active again, but soon he started to notice strange behavior in his father. Plans, ideas, schemes were spoken considering New Tenga’s current non-military state. His father and friends were about to start a second war against the Empire if Yon would become a King.

“I know myself and my father, if I won the race I wouldn't be able to reject my father’s plans. I will not be a good king for New Tenga. And I can’t face my father for these three months. I’m asking you to join your team and be your subordinate, so I will never have a chance to be king.” The determination of Yon Ace impressed Safo Nur, not many people could accept their weaknesses and stop before they could bring harm to people.

Safo agreed to take Yon. They shook hands and were ready to join others for the feast.

Upon entering the room as big as the hall, Safo began to recognize familiar faces. Halazar - the Regal Advisor, who was practically ruling the New Tenga while it was without a King. Elixio Quirz - Financial Advisor, who currently controlled all money flow in the three planet system. Both were chatting and loudly laughing, apparently slightly drunk already.

Achraf - father of Lunayrapo(Luna), mustached and red-skinned man in his fifties. He was sitting next to the bio-android robot - Dost. Dost was a psios, a race that had the same roots as psiora. Next to him sat an old rat, Toyan Ay, a breeder, Safo got used to referring to him as Master Splinter. The trio was stuffing their faces with a variety of food and alcoholic drinks.

Other fifty or so psiora of different types and shapes were unfamiliar to Safo. Kutch mentioned that there will be many psiora who wanted to make an acquaintance with the potential future king.

The celebration started on a merry note and continued that way until the end. Safo’s eyes ran through the food on the table with a thrill. Even though he couldn’t catch a glimpse of anything similar to Earth’s food, his mouth watered in anticipation of trying so many new flavors.

A dish with the meat of a giant snake was a bit salty and fatty, the meat of a young fish brought from a purple ocean planet had a flaky almost sandy texture and was gobbled by Safo in split seconds. Some wild vegetables and rice-like things pressed the meat down into Safo’s stomach. All that was followed by cold and sweet sparkling water where the bubbles had a different flavor than the beverage itself. It reminded Safo of some herbs and spices while bubbles were flavored like dulcet fruits.

Teal milk from Hfen farmers had an interesting taste of bitterness. According to Master Splinter, indigo cows with tiny legs ate exclusively fungus.

Fruits on the table was a whole different topic to talk about for Achraf. After he got drunk, everybody witnessed the other side of his personality. Talkative gardener. Achraf told the history of many fruits and vegetables that were placed on the table.

Suddenly doors opened and new guests appeared. The rest of the advisor, including grim Kundlur Gar.