“Ugh… Coral, I don’t know. Isn’t that a little excessive? Do we need to go that far?” Zellin asked cautiously. Coral had just proposed that Zellin fight for her hand in marriage. She said that if his father found out that she was already in love with someone, he might change his mind. “I mean, Coral, you’re only thirteen years old this year. This relationship is getting too intense too fast.” Zellin said with his hands raised, wanting to stay out of this.

Coral’s face scrunched up into her angry face. “Dummy! This is only a stall! If my father agrees to this marriage, we’ll have until I turn 14 to run away before we’re forced to commit. And this way I won’t have to leave behind a shirked husband.” Coral explained, seemingly annoyed.

Zellin’s face paled and he began sweating. “Yu-you want to run away with me?” He asked with a stutter.

“Idiot!” Coral exclaimed, seriously annoyed. “Run away to escape, not to be together! Although… we will be together.” Coral explained, slightly blushing at the end of it.

Zellin suddenly started breathing heavily, unable to catch a moment. Shit! Since when did my life turn into a forbidden love romance? Zellin couldn’t help but think to himself in the midst of a mini panic attack.

Coral whipped her hand out, slapping Zellin on the face. “Hey! Get a hold of yourself! We’re doing this!” Coral said decisively. “Now go to sleep. We’ll be going to see my father in the morning.” Coral said firmly, patting Zellin’s shoulder as if to comfort him after ending his life. With that, she left, leaving Zellin in the room, struggling to catch his breath.

Zellin took in a deep breath and held it in for a moment to slow his breathing, before exhaling. Zellin wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the situation. Though he wanted Coral to be happy, he definitely didn’t want to get married. No! This is for Coral! It’s time to man up! Zellin thought as he slapped himself in the face.

Next morning…

When Reyal saw Coral dragging the hesitant Zellin out of the door, he asked what was happening. When he heard the situation he immediately burst out laughing and insisted that he and Liu come along.

Eventually, Coral had brought the others to the walled off part of the city, in the center, where the royal palace was located. Zellin’s face immediately paled. “Ugh, Coral. Are you by any chance, a princess?” Zellin asked, seriously hoping for a ‘no.’

“Yeah, what of it?” Coral replied without expression.

Fuck! Zellin exclaimed in his head. She wants me to ask the king for his approval in marrying the princess!?

Reyal let out an amused laugh. “Woah, Zellin. I never knew you could be so courageous as to ask the king for her daughter’s hand in marriage. So bold, so bold. It’s really admirable.” Reyal said, with a bit of schadenfreude. Though he would be slightly jealous if Zellin really was able to marry a princess.

“So does this mean you could be the future king?” Liu asked frankly.

“Easy. No one’s really going to get married.” Zellin said nervously.

Reyal and Liu looked to each other to see the amusement in the other’s eyes, before both bursting out into laughter. “Hahaha, ha ha ha! Zellin, you don’t seriously think you can escape the king do you?” Reyal asked, shattering all of Zellin’s remaining hope. Zellin secretly hoped that the king would reject his proposal.

“Yeah, Zellin. Aren’t you overestimating your abilities a bit much?” Liu asked, shaking his head.

“Don’t mind them, Zellin. Let’s go.” Coral interrupted, grabbing Zellin’s arm and pulling him forward.

Eventually Coral led the others into the castle, all the way into a very large, domed room, where a large man was seated in the center, meditating. Occasional ripples of energy would undulate outwards, forming circles of energy around the man which disappeared into the air.

“Father.” Coral called out in a loud voice from afar. If kids at Coral’s level were to touch those energy ripples, they’d surely die pointlessly.

“Hmm, little one?” The man dressed in silk, said, becoming aware of the kids in his presence. He stood up slowly in one second, and in the next he was standing over Zellin, releasing a terrifying aura that made it so Zellin couldn’t breathe or couldn’t move. “Why are you holding my daughter’s hand?” The king suddenly said, causing Zellin’s suffocating body to break out into a cold sweat out of fear.

“Dad, stop it!” Coral called out angrily, releasing Zellin’s arm to beat helplessly against his father’s steel-like body. “He’s come to say something! Let him talk!” She demanded.

“Oh.” The king said, stroking his bushy beard as he retracted his aura. “Come, now. What is it?” He asked. Though his aura was retracted, his body hovering over Zellin’s and his piercing gaze still caused Zellin to be unable to speak.

“I- I- I,” Zellin tried to say through his fearful stutter.

“He’s come to ask for my hand in marriage!” Coral suddenly burst out loudly.

“Oh? Can’t he say it himself? I’d really like to see how this kid is going to make me give up my precious daughter.” He says with a smile. “Hey kid, I can’t hear you! Do you need me to turn around before you get over your fear?” The king said, turning his body around to mock Zellin.

“Th-thanks, that’s actually better.” Zellin forced out.

This immediately caused the king to burst out into a laughter. “Haha! A little shy, aren’t you, kid? Well get on with it. If it makes you comfortable you can talk to my back if you want.” He said with amusement.

“Y-yes, I’d appreciate it.” Zellin immediately agreed, before getting on to business. “I’m here to make Coral my wife!” Zellin said with a deep, loud voice, attempting to sound manly. Though the effect was rightly taken away, as the king had to turn around for him to say it.

Reyal had the burning urge to burst out laughing but held it in for fear of receiving the king’s attention.

The king let out a yawn, before asking, “And why would I allow that, shy one?” The king seemed to be quite bored.

“Be-because I love her!” Zellin called out passionately, causing Liu and Reyal to turn their heads away in embarrassment. “Th-that’s right, I said it! And I mean it! I love her!” Zellin said loudly, attempting to look serious.

“Yeah?” The king asked in boredom. “Prove it.” He said, plainly.

Okay, Zellin. All those years you spent writing romances in your room will finally be of use this day! Zellin said, motivating himself. “To prove my love, I’m willing to be pierced with 1000 throwing needles!” Zellin said, causing everyone’s eyebrow’s to rise as they thought, really? Throwing needles were weapons used by the ninja and assassin classes. They could range between many sizes, and were usually very thick for something termed as a ‘needle.’

Zellin paused for a moment before mustering up his courage and continuing. For Coral’s happiness!... God I hope they don’t make me do it, he thought before speaking. “With the first needle to pierce my body, you may simply ignore my boast for love. With the hundredth needle, you may acknowledge it, but not approve. With the fifth hundredth, you may take my words seriously. But with the 1000th needle, if you still do not allow us to be together, you might as well pierce my heart and end me, as the pain of not being together with Coral would be 1000 times worse!” Zellin spoke intensely, taking heavy breaths by the end of his speech.

Reyal and Liu’s mouths dropped open, and Coral had to cover her mouth. Isn’t that a little much? I mean, I’m only thirteen this year. She thought to herself.

The king slowly turned around with crossed arms. He stared intensely at Zellin for a moment before saying, “Seriously?”

Zellin threw away his hesitance, returning the king’s intense stare and saying, “Seriously.”

The king suddenly broke out into a smile. “Hahaha! That’s a good kid! I knew I picked the right one for my daughter! You said you’re serious, okay? So no backsies. Remember, if you go back on your word, I’ll be coming for you! You’re betrothed now, so get out before you change your mind.” The king said with a wide grin.

Zellin’s face suddenly became expressionless. Picked the right one? Zellin said to himself, wondering what this all was. Zellin felt a force pick him up, as the scenery instantly changed. Zellin suddenly found himself back in a wide hall. The king seemed to have disappeared.

Zellin turned to face Coral’s blushing face, asking, “Coral, what did the king mean when he said he picked the right one?”

“Oh, that? That’s nothing.” Coral said, waving her hand as if to brush off the situation. “My dad actually chose you in the beginning to be my husband, but he wanted to see if you’d fight for me first.”

“Whhaaat!?” Zellin exclaimed loudly, unable to believe what he heard. Liu and Reyal started laughing, louder than ever at the increasingly amusing scene before them. “Coral! I only said those things because I thought you were being married off to some a-hole!” Zellin yelled, exasperated.

As Zellin said these words, Coral didn't hear 'I didn't mean anything I said,' instead she heard, 'this situation forced to me to say my true feelings.' Coral, looked down slightly and blushed. Then she brushed away her pink hair and looked up at Zellin. “I know. I would have never known you felt that way about me.” She said shyly.

Zellin felt as if the world had suddenly gone crazy, like nothing made sense anymore. He was so confused, it felt like his mind was spinning.

Reyal struggled to stop laughing, wiping a tear from his eye. “Hey, don’t worry Zellin. If it makes you feel any better, she’s still marrying a huge a-hole.” Reyal said with a laugh, patting Zellin on the shoulder.

“Fuck my life.” Was all Zellin could say.

After Zellin’s unfortunate engagement, they all went back home.

Zellin sat in his room, trying to ignore the king and Coral’s devious plot to trap him into an engagement, and instead thought about why the king wanted to marry off his daughter to Zellin. Could my parents have some extraordinary background that I’m not aware of? I’ll have to ask them next time I’m home.

Zellin spent the rest of the day thinking and trying to sleep in his room. Coral attempted to speak to him about their engagement, but Zellin left the door locked and the lights off. He didn’t want to deal with that at the moment. I might grow to love her in that way… Zellin thought to himself. I hope she’s super hot in the future…

The next morning…

The sun shone through the large glass windows, onto to Zellin’s king-sized bed, caressing Zellin’s sleeping face. Usually the bright light would have annoyed Zellin, but the warmth felt quite comfortable, allowing him to drift even further into his sleep. Zellin didn’t know why, but he was at peace at this moment…

Thud! A large boot had suddenly stomped on Zellin’s sleeping face, abruptly waking him from his peaceful sleep. “What the fuck, man!? Can’t a kid sleep in peace around here!?” Zellin yelled out, rubbing his sore and dirty face.

“How lazy are you? It’s almost noon. Get up!” Called out a deep voice.

Zellin looked up to see a tall, golden-armored man staring down at him. “Who the hell are you?” Zellin asked, his voice filled with annoyance.

“I’m your new teacher. The king has assigned you and all your friends someone to teach them, for the sake of the princess. The way it is now, you’ll likely not survive 5 years in the real world. Now, come on, up! Follow me to the courtyard.” The man said before striding out of the room.

Fuck my life, Zellin thought to himself, before getting dressed and following suit.

Out in the large courtyard, Zellin held is hand up against the bright sun before looking into the courtyard. He saw that in the very spacious courtyard, Liu, Reyal and Coral were already in the middle of sparring with their teachers. Even Loki was being taught to use a short sword.

Zellin slowly walked to his new teacher, as if dragging himself. When he got there, he lazily asked, “Can’t I get a meal first?”

The tall man simply threw a pill at him, which Zellin caught and looked at. “It’s a meal pill. Everything you need in a meal, in a pill. Eat up.” The man said without expression. It seemed as if the man wasn’t too pleased with this new assignment.

Zellin grudgingly put the pill in his mouth. “Why do I need a teacher? Can’t the king just buy a bunch of skill books for us?” Zellin asked, his eyes squinting against the light.

“I’m also here to teach you discipline. As the princess’s future husband, you must learn to be responsible and work hard, lest the king end your life in disappointment.” The man said frankly. “I hear you’ve taken up the Pole Arm skill.” He said, changing the subject.

“Yeah, but it’s kind of like a side skill. I’m actually a Summoner.” Zellin replied.

“Well, now it’s a main skill. The king isn’t willing to let his daughter marry someone who can’t fight. From now on, you will begin to learn everything about the pole arms skill.” The man said firmly. “You will learn to fight at all lengths, from short staff, to long staff, to pike-length pole arms. You will also learn to use the halberd and fight with a shield. In addition, in preparation for the very likely occurrence where you’ll be disarmed, you will learn hand-to-hand combat.”

Zellin could only smile wryly. “Who knew getting engaged would be so troublesome?”