CHAPTER 9: THE KING’S PIN

“What do you mean they are still nowhere to be found?!”

King Paradox sat on his throne exuding a domineering spirit expected of a king. The queen sitting beside him scuffed at the representatives that knelt before them.

“It has been a month! twenty five prisoners do not just disappear into thin air!”

The King who normally was calm and collected could not help but grow furious at the incompetence of his subjects.

“Do any of you know what kind of light this shines on our Kingdom?

When we can’t even keep our own prisoners in check? The other Kingdoms are laughing at our incompetence!”

“Your Highness we understand this, but according to our investigations a very low tier teleportation magic was used.

So low in fact it had no exit point for us to trace.”

The representatives groveled even lower into the palace floor trying to appease the King as they pleaded.

“Are you saying they are most likely dead?” The king brashly rebutted.

“Yes your Highness.

If they had exited anywhere within the continent we would have been able to track them by now.

We hypothesize that it was a teleportation spell gone wrong and they died in the rift, your highness.”

The king stroked his chin as he became somewhat less furious and pondered what they had just told him. While it made logical sense, something about it did not sit right with the king; however he could not argue with such logical reasoning.

“Very well, regardless I still want the City guards to be on the lookout for anyone with the dragon’s Claw.”

With that decree the representatives were dismissed and the queen gave a raised eyebrow look to her husband.

“I will summon the royal investigator.”

The King gulped,

“As much as I abhor asking that crazy witch for help, I'm afraid you are right this time, we need her.

If there is anyone who can get on the trail of the prison break perpetrators it is definitely her. ”

-

Meanwhile at the Cabinet of City Ministers.

“Our city is on the verge of war!”

“Now, now councilman.

That is an exaggeration, to say the least. This is just a squabble between low level gangs within the slums.

Why should this city council even care about them?”

The council head sat with a lazied expression picking at his oversized white wig as the matter was brought up.

“Lord Winchester, council head and second to the -”

He was cut short by a wave of the council head's hand as he rushed him to get to the point and ditter from pointless flattery.

“Sir, although these are minor compared to the main city it must be realized that over the past few weeks there has been an increase in the number of lawless gangs running around in the slums.

This in turn is raising the reported number of delinquent activities in the city.”

“And what do you suppose we do about this age old problem, Councilman Tait?”

The council head looked at Tait with an annoyed expression observing him from head to toe.

“I suggest we take this opportunity to wipe the slums off the city map and bring in new investors to reinvigorate the market, thereby increasing our tax revenue.”

Tait was a short fellow with brown chestnut eyes and kinky black hair.

Tait abhorred this council and their avaricious nature.

Whenever he spoke of making changes for the betterment of the citizens no one would bat an eye, however the moment wealth was mentioned everyone perked up.

Each of them were only trying to line their own pockets or seek favour with the king.

Tait waited for the council head to respond.

The council head looked around trying to gauge the willingness of the council. As more council members began to pay attention to the matter it forced him to continue

“You would suggest we use force and remove our own citizens from the city?” Another side of the council broke out in an uproar as hushes and rebuttals were thrown across.

“Your Honor Council head, I would like to advise you that I have already submitted this matter to the King and he has approved this idea so long as the city council agrees to the matters.”

“The King himself?” The crowd of nobles and council members were forced to swallow their questioning when councilman Tait pulled a letter from his coat with the Kingdoms’ golden crest.

The head council read the letter and nodded.

“The motion to appoint a detachment of mercenaries to purge the slums is hereby accepted, let the vote begin.”

At the end of his sentence the council head pounded his mallet and opened the vote.

--

Alric was frightened out of his sleep by a hard slap when he saw Professor Terrim standing over him.

“And mister Alard, since you’ve enjoyed your rest so well would you like to recap on at least four of the circles and what their purpose is before class ends?”

Alric was still in a daze and pointed to himself questioning if he was sure he should do it.

“Yes, you. The idiot at the end of your own finger”

Professor Terrim responded with a sneer.

“Um, The first circle is the circle of life, and it is said that all living creatures have this circle but we are unable to interact with it.

The second circle is the circle of sensitivity. It is said to give us a sixth sense of danger and our surroundings.

It also allows us to sense other circles in others, some say it can even allow us to see the future-”

Alric was cut short by a slap on the head

“Stick to the facts young wizard.”

The professor interjected.

“The third circle is the spirit circle. It allows us to use magic and move small objects with our minds.

In paladin it is said to be what gives them enhanced strength and speed and even special attacks.”

Alric dejectedly continued.

“And the fourth circles are the elemental circles.

They allow us to interact with the elements and elemental magic.

These four circles are the only ones that form in all living creatures naturally.”

“Tsk, as expected of a library pass owner. Seems like you did not completely squander it.”

Professor Terrim praised Alric the only way he knew how. The class chuckled at the half hearted praise before the bell rang ending the session.

Alric walked to the lunch room, where he saw Lloyd and Phannor and Christina waving towards him.

Over the past month or so they had started eating lunch together and grown a little closer.

Seeing Alric walk over with the usual bags under his eyes, Phannor was first to greet him.

“Another long night at the library?”

“you bet. It was my last night with the library pass so I had to make good use of it.”

Alric casually explained as he took a seat next to Christina.

Christina got deet red as she sprung up and bowed.

“Nice to see you today Alard.

Here, I made you some lunch.”

Her bow was getting better by Alric’s standard more so since he had now just realized how gifted she was with her D’s plus her curves, not to mention the slight green in her hair made her fairly attractive.

She stretched out a boxed lunch to give Alric.

Alirc was surprised at first however he accepted it and bowed gracefully. Christina stared closely as he pulled the box and took up his fork to taste it.

It was absolutely horrendous, despite her beauty her food was not meant to be eaten by living creatures. Alric’s face twisted as he stretched out his hand and flicked her forehead before speaking.

“It’s absolutely horrendous. Do you always make your own lunch?”

He asked, growing paler as he continued to eat.

“No. my mom usually makes my-”

Her answer was cut short when Alric threw a fork full of her own food in her mouth. Her face turned from deet red to deadly pale, the taste was horrible.

She jumped into a corner ready to cry however when she peeked behind her she saw Alric continue to eat calmly. It was obvious he was holding in his disgust.

Both Phannor and Lloyd looked on in surprise as they watched him eat the disgusting goop of food,

“How-” before either of them could finish their question. Alric had already thrown a fork full of food in both of their mouths leaving them on the floor rolling for dear life.

Before long Alric was finished and closed the box.

Alric gave Christina a deep bow and thanked her for the food before he walked off weakly.

With jelly-like legs, Alric stormed off heading towards the bathroom.