Sugona, the Holy King of Gusteko, walked through the bustling streets of the capital, his hood drawn low to hide his striking features. Despite his towering frame and the faint aura of authority that clung to him, no one recognized the man beneath the simple blue robes. He cursed under his breath, his gruff voice barely audible above the chatter of the crowd.
"Damn that Odglass... What a pain in the ass," he muttered, adjusting his hood as a cold breeze swept through the streets. "Telling me to investigate personally. What does she take me for, her errand boy?"
The capital buzzed with life around him, but Sugona's mind was elsewhere. His boots clacked against the stone pavement as he approached his destination—the academy. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he thought of how to make this detour worth his time. If nothing else, perhaps watching a few hopefuls flail about with their "spiritual arts" would amuse him.
The gates to the academy loomed ahead, tall and imposing against the snowy skyline. As he stepped inside, he found the courtyard lively with activity. Students mingled, sparred, and practiced their arts under the watchful eyes of instructors. Sugona stopped for a moment, observing with quiet amusement.
His gaze fell on a pair of boys in the middle of a heated wooden sword fight. One was a dark-haired boy with sharp, intense eyes that seemed to hold more determination than skill. The other was a bitter-looking boy with a Kagaragan accent who cursed with every missed strike.
The black-haired boy—Natsuki Subaru, though Sugona didn't know his name yet—moved with a surprising amount of speed and precision, his strikes fueled by raw determination. Tekka, his opponent, was slower and clumsier but just as fiery.
"I'll knock that smug look off yer face!" Tekka snarled, swinging his wooden sword in a wide arc.
Subaru smirked, sidestepping with ease. "You're gonna need a better swing than that, Tekka!"
Sugona watched, intrigued despite himself. His keen eyes could see that neither boy had mastered the art of swordsmanship, but there was something... different about the dark-haired one. His movements, though unrefined, carried an unyielding spirit. The boy had fire, Sugona noted, even if it wasn't yet tempered by discipline.
"Interesting," Sugona murmured to himself, folding his arms as he leaned casually against a nearby pillar. He watched the fight with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, wondering just how far these boys could go—and if they'd ever become worth his attention.
Subaru dodged another clumsy swing from Tekka and retaliated with a quick jab, the wooden sword tapping Tekka's shoulder. Tekka let out a frustrated groan, glaring at Subaru.
"Yer lucky I'm not using my full strength!" Tekka barked, rubbing his shoulder.
Subaru rolled his eyes. "Sure, Tekka. Whatever you need to tell yourself."
Sugona chuckled quietly, his voice a low rumble. "That one's got spirit," he said under his breath, referring to Subaru. "Might be worth keeping an eye on him..."
As the fight continued, Sugona's smile widened. For the first time since leaving the blizzard and his palace behind, he felt a flicker of genuine interest. Perhaps this little "mission" wasn't a complete waste of time after all.
The sparring match was heating up, with Tekka gritting his teeth and Subaru dancing around him, trying to land another hit. But as Tekka stepped to the side, he suddenly performed an underhanded move, one that was clearly against academy rules. He swung the wooden sword at Subaru's legs in an attempt to trip him.
"Illegal move!" boomed a deep voice from across the courtyard.
Both boys froze mid-motion, the sound reverberating through the crisp air. Subaru blinked in surprise, while Tekka's face contorted into confusion and irritation.
"Oi, who the hell are ya?" Tekka barked in his thick Kagaragan accent, straightening up and turning to face the source of the voice.
The tall man with braided white hair and a striking blue mask approached them, his movements slow and deliberate. There was a casual arrogance in his stride, as if he owned the space around him. Tekka's words trailed off as he got a better look at the towering figure.
Meanwhile, Subaru, still holding his wooden sword, broke into a laugh. "Ha! Tekka, even he knows you're cheating!"
Tekka glared at Subaru but kept quiet, clearly unnerved by the imposing man.
Sugona, unfazed by either boy's reaction, stopped a few feet away from them. His piercing gaze lingered on Tekka for a moment before he pointed lazily with a gloved finger. "You've got the strength, but yer wasting it with sloppy moves. Try striking with your left side instead."
Tekka furrowed his brow, clearly skeptical, but nodded reluctantly.
Sugona then turned his attention to Subaru. "And you, kid. Quit dancing around like a rabbit and act accordingly. Focus on the flow of your opponent's movements, not just their strikes."
Subaru raised an eyebrow but shrugged, holding his wooden sword back up. "Fine, fine. Let's see what happens."
The two boys reset their positions, glancing briefly at each other before resuming their sparring. A small crowd of students had started to gather, drawn by the tall, masked stranger's commanding presence.
Tekka took Sugona's advice, swinging from his left side with more control and precision. Subaru quickly found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the sudden improvement in Tekka's technique. The strikes came faster and more calculated, and for once, Tekka wasn't leaving any obvious openings.
The crowd murmured in surprise as the tides of the match shifted. Tekka's strikes were relentless, forcing Subaru to stumble back, his feet digging into the dirt.
"Damn it!" Subaru muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth. His sharp eyes flicked toward Sugona, who was watching with an amused expression. "This is all your fault, you tall jerk!"
Sugona simply smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against a pillar. "Hey, hey, hey. Don't blame me for yer shortcomings, kid."
Tekka swung one last time, and Subaru barely managed to block the strike. Both boys were panting by now, the intensity of the match leaving them drained.
Sugona raised a hand lazily. "Alright, alright. That's enough. Relax, boys."
Tekka lowered his wooden sword, his face flushed with pride at having finally bested Subaru, at least in part. Subaru, meanwhile, gave Tekka a begrudging look before cracking a small smile.
Sugona let out a loud yawn, stretching as he turned to leave. "Good effort, though," he said casually over his shoulder. "Keep at it, and who knows? Maybe you'll both amount to something someday."
The crowd began to disperse as Sugona walked away, leaving Tekka and Subaru standing in the courtyard.
"Who was that guy?" Tekka asked, still catching his breath.
"No idea," Subaru replied, a hint of irritation in his voice. "But I hate that he was right."
Tekka grinned, leaning on his wooden sword. "Maybe I'll start listening to tall jerks more often."
Subaru rolled his eyes, the two of them sharing a rare moment of camaraderie as they headed off the field.
Sugona walked through the frosty streets of the capital, his sharp blue robes swaying in the icy breeze. He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, his masked face betraying an unusual frown. While the capital had always been cold and harsh—like the people within—it was eerily subdued today. The bustling markets were quieter, the usual hum of voices replaced by whispers and nervous glances. Even during the short-lived summer months, the kingdom was livelier than this.
"Am I really that out of touch with my people?" Sugona muttered to himself, his deep voice carrying a hint of begrudging self-awareness. His eyes scanned the subdued streets, the silence gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
He stopped mid-step and exhaled sharply, turning toward the nearest carriage station.
"Guess I'll check in with the old man. It's been... what, two years?" Sugona let out a short laugh, climbing into the first available carriage headed toward the outer border region. He slouched lazily into the cushioned seat, stretching his legs across the small cabin.
The ride was uneventful, the snowy expanse blurring past the frosted windows. Sugona sat back, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the armrest, humming a soft tune to himself. His mind wandered to the past, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Old Guini… wonder if he still thinks I'm some snot-nosed brat with no respect for tradition."
As the carriage drew closer to its destination, the familiar gates of Guini's secluded mansion came into view. The towering iron bars were just as menacing as he remembered, frosted with ice and standing like silent sentinels in the desolate winter landscape. Sugona stepped out of the carriage, the crunch of snow underfoot the only sound accompanying him. He didn't bother admiring the property, his long strides taking him straight to the heavy oak doors of the mansion.
Three booming knocks echoed through the house, the sound reverberating with enough force to rattle nearby windows. Sugona smirked behind his mask, his signature dramatic entrance intact. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his robe, leaning back slightly as he waited.
The door creaked open, revealing a young maid with jet-black hair tied neatly at the back. She froze in the doorway, her violet eyes slightly wide as she took in the imposing figure before her. Sugona tilted his head, his masked face unreadable as he scanned her from head to toe.
"Uh… may I help you?" she asked, her voice firm but slightly uncertain.
Sugona chuckled lazily, straightening up and looming over her like a shadow. "Well, well. Aren't you a surprise? Didn't think the old man was hiring these days." His gaze lingered on her, and for a moment, Elsa's hand tightened on the edge of the door.
"Who are you?" Elsa asked, her tone shifting slightly into a polite but cautious inquiry.
Sugona grinned beneath his mask, tilting his head. "Just an old friend of the family."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Think you could fetch the man of the house for me? Tell him Sugona came to pay his respects."
Elsa hesitated, her sharp instincts bristling at the towering stranger's demeanor. But after a moment, she gave a small nod and stepped back, closing the door behind her with a soft thud.
Sugona stood in the snow, the faint chill biting at his exposed hands. He crossed his arms, a flicker of amusement in his piercing eyes. "So, the old man's still alive and kicking. This ought to be fun."
Inside the house, Elsa hurried down the hallway, her footsteps quick and deliberate as she approached Dr. Guini's study. She paused just outside the door, her hand hovering uncertainly over the handle. Taking a deep breath, she knocked twice and waited for the gruff voice inside to respond.
"What is it now?" Guini's impatient tone came through the door.
Elsa opened it slightly, peeking inside. "There's someone at the door. He said his name is Sugona…"
The sound of a quill snapping filled the air, and Guini's chair creaked as he abruptly stood up. His sharp eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance—and something else—crossing his face.
"Sugona?" he repeated, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and irritation. "What in Odglass' name is that fool doing here?"
Before Elsa could respond, Guini was already marching past her, his heavy boots thudding against the polished floor. Elsa followed cautiously, her mind racing with questions as she tried to decipher the stranger's significance.
Back at the entrance, Sugona casually leaned against the doorframe, his breath visible in the frigid air. As the door swung open again, he was greeted by the sight of Guini's unmistakable scowl.
"Long time no see, old man," Sugona drawled, his tone dripping with faux sincerity.
Guini's eyes narrowed further as he crossed his arms. "What do you want, Sugona? And don't give me that 'paying my respects' nonsense. You don't respect anything."
Sugona chuckled, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Always the warm welcome with you, huh?" He looked around the familiar halls, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of nostalgia and amusement.
Guini pinched the bridge of his nose, already regretting opening the door. "Get to the point. Why are you here?"
Sugona shrugged lazily, glancing at Elsa, who was still standing quietly by the door. "Oh, you know. Just checking in. Thought I'd see how the old man's doing before heading to more pressing matters."
Guini's jaw tightened, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You're up to something. You're always up to something."
Sugona grinned beneath his mask, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Come on now, Guini. Can't an old friend just drop by for a friendly visit?"
The tension in the room was palpable, but neither man seemed willing to back down. Elsa watched the exchange silently, her sharp eyes darting between them as she tried to make sense of the dynamic.
Eventually, Guini let out a heavy sigh, waving a hand dismissively. "Fine. You're here. Make yourself useful or don't get in my way."
Sugona chuckled, following Guini down the hall. "You know me, old man. Always happy to help."
Elsa stood in the doorway, her brows furrowed in thought as she watched the two men disappear into the depths of the mansion. Something about Sugona's presence felt… off, and she couldn't shake the feeling that his visit was more than just a casual drop-in.
As Sugona stepped further into the mansion, Guini led him into a spacious study filled with shelves lined with books and various magical instruments scattered across the room. Guini gestured for Sugona to sit, but the tall man waved him off, instead opting to lean lazily against a nearby wall.
"Alright, Sugona," Guini began, his voice sharp and to the point. "Why are you really here? Spare me the theatrics."
Sugona exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck casually. "You caught me," he said with a faint smirk. "Mana disturbances."
Guini's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recomposed himself, crossing his arms and adopting a stern expression.
Sugona twitched, raising an eyebrow. "What's with that face, old man? You look too normal."
Guini scoffed, dismissively waving his hand. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied coolly.
Sugona let out a soft chuckle. "Right… anyway, it started roughly... what? Four, maybe five years ago?" He scratched his chin in thought. "Yeah, around then. Right here, in this region, actually."
Guini's composure faltered slightly at Sugona's words, but he quickly masked it. "And what exactly are you implying?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with suspicion.
Sugona's smile lingered, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's enough to send Odglass herself into a panic," he said, his tone deceptively light.
Guini froze at the mention of the great spirit, his fingers curling slightly into fists. The weight of Sugona's words hung heavily in the air. After a long moment, Guini finally responded. "Let's not be rash," he said, his voice measured, but there was an unmistakable edge of unease.
Sugona gave a faint, almost pitying smile. "Agreed," he said simply, though the way his eyes lingered on Guini made it clear that he wasn't entirely convinced.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door. Guini gave a brief nod toward Elsa, who had been silently standing off to the side, observing the exchange. The young maid moved swiftly to answer the door, her steps precise and cautious.
When she opened it, a familiar figure greeted her—Bell, carrying a stack of papers and a crystal wrapped carefully in cloth. Bell smiled kindly at Elsa and stepped inside with ease. "I've brought the replacement mana crystal for you, Dr. Guini," she announced as she entered the study.
But as her eyes fell on Sugona, she froze mid-step. The friendly warmth in her expression was replaced by a look of sheer terror. Her hands trembled slightly, and the papers she was holding almost slipped from her grasp.
"Y-YOUR MAJESTY!" she stammered, bowing deeply and hastily as if trying to atone for not noticing him sooner. "It's an honor to be in your presence."
Sugona's smug smirk widened as he lazily turned his gaze toward Bell. "Well, aren't you polite," he drawled, clearly amused by her reaction. He then turned back to Guini, his expression unreadable.
Guini let out a sharp breath, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to gauge Sugona's mood. The tension in the room was palpable as Bell remained in her bow, unsure whether to speak further or retreat entirely.
Sugona finally waved a hand dismissively. "Relax," he said with a casual tone, though the weight of his presence still lingered heavily in the air.
Bell slowly straightened up, though her gaze remained lowered, her every movement careful and deliberate. Sugona leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms as he watched Guini with a knowing look.
"Well, old man," Sugona said after a long pause. "Shall we get back to it?"
Sugona lazily unfolded the paper in his hands, revealing it with a dramatic flick of his wrist. The neatly written transcript bore the name Natsuki Subaru at the top, and he waved it slightly in front of Guini's face. "A new student, huh? More promising than me?" he teased with a lopsided grin.
Guini froze for a brief moment, his face unreadable, before he turned away. "Wine,"
he muttered curtly, moving to a nearby cabinet where an ornate decanter of deep red liquid sat. He uncorked it with a sharp motion, pouring himself a glass as Sugona watched him closely.
Sugona's grin faded slightly as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "You know," he began, his tone light but carrying an undertone of warning, "now's not the best time to be cryptic. A boy like this, with a record like that… the timing couldn't be worse. Who is he, and where's he from?"
Guini sipped his wine, his hand steady despite the weight of Sugona's scrutiny. After a long pause, he finally answered, his voice sharp and to the point. "A stray," he said simply, setting the glass down with a faint clink. "One Lublik found in a storm years ago. The boy had an affinity for spirits, so we took him in. It's nothing more than that."
Sugona raised an eyebrow, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't be dumb," he said, his voice tinged with mock exasperation. "One boy can't be responsible for large-scale mana disruptions."
Guini shot him a glare, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Exactly. So maybe focus your energy on something else, Sugona. Like that mess with your brother," he snapped.
The mention of his brother made Sugona's smile falter for a brief moment, but he quickly masked it with a dry laugh. "Tch, low blow, old man," he muttered, shaking his head. "But fine, I'll bite. If the boy's not the source, then what is? Odglass doesn't get spooked over nothing."
Guini's eyes flickered to Bell, who had been standing quietly in the background, her hands still clutching the mana crystal. She looked between the two men nervously, as if she'd rather disappear into the floorboards than remain in the room. Guini sighed and rubbed his temple. "I don't have answers for you, Sugona," he said finally. "If I did, I'd have already dealt with it."
Sugona leaned forward slightly, his tall frame casting a shadow over the room. "You'd better hope you're right," he said softly, though his tone carried an undeniable weight. He glanced back at the transcript in his hand before folding it neatly once more and tucking it into his robes. "Because if you're wrong… Odglass isn't going to let this slide."
Guini didn't respond, instead lifting his glass and taking another sip, his gaze fixed on the far wall. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife as Sugona straightened up and stretched lazily. "Well, I'll keep poking around," he said, his tone back to its usual casual drawl. "You keep an eye on your little stray, though. Just in case."
With that, Sugona turned on his heel and made his way to the door, leaving Guini and Bell in a tense silence. The sound of the massive wooden door closing behind him seemed to echo through the room, lingering long after he was gone. Guini set his glass down and let out a long, tired sigh, his fingers rubbing at his temples as if trying to stave off a headache. Bell shifted uncomfortably, her grip on the mana crystal tightening slightly.
"What now, Doctor?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Guini didn't look at her, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Sugona had stood moments ago. "Now," he said quietly, his voice heavy with frustration, "we wait."
Elsa stood silently in the corner of the room, her back pressed against the cold stone wall as the tension between Guini and Sugona unfolded like a theater performance she wasn't meant to be part of. Her sharp eyes flicked between the two men, studying every movement, every shift in tone, every carefully placed word. The maid's uniform she wore suddenly felt tighter than usual, her hands clasped together as if to keep them steady.
Sugona's presence filled the room in a way Elsa had never experienced before. He wasn't just a man; he was a force. The way he moved, the way he spoke—arrogant and casual but with an undercurrent of power that demanded attention. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as the Holy King dissected Guini's defenses with a lazy smile, his piercing gaze betraying his true intentions.
When Sugona finally left, the tension in the room didn't dissipate. Instead, it lingered, heavy and suffocating. Guini's tired sigh broke the silence, but Elsa barely registered it. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, racing to piece together the puzzle of what she had just witnessed.
Who is this boy, Natsuki Subaru? she wondered, her eyes drifting to the transcript Sugona had folded away. Why does the Holy King care about him? Why does Doctor Guini look so... uneasy?
Her gaze flicked to Bell, who still clutched the mana crystal like it was her lifeline. Even the typically reserved spirit arts user looked shaken, her face pale and her eyes darting nervously as if she were afraid to breathe too loudly. Elsa's stomach twisted. She'd never seen Bell lose her composure before.
For a fleeting moment, Elsa's thoughts turned to herself. She wondered if she'd ever truly be safe here. She'd been given a place, a role, a roof over her head, but for how long? If someone as powerful as Sugona could waltz into this house and unsettle the likes of Guini and Bell, then where did that leave her?
Her fingers twitched, and she glanced down at them. The scars she once bore from life in the slums had long since faded, but the memories of survival never had. She couldn't help but feel like a fly on the wall, observing a world she didn't belong to—a game played by forces far beyond her understanding.
Still, her mind returned to Subaru. What makes him so important? He's just a kid, isn't he? But even as the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't shake the image of him surrounded by his spirits, their playful glow casting him in an almost divine light. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. He was reckless, brash, and far too carefree for his own good. But beneath all that, he was different. She just didn't know how yet.
As Guini muttered something to Bell and left the room, Elsa stood frozen, her back still against the wall. She watched the doctor retreat with a sense of unease growing in her chest. Bell followed shortly after, leaving Elsa alone in the now-empty room.
She exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the cold air. Her hands unclasped, and she looked at them for a moment before glancing out the window. The snow outside was falling softly, blanketing the grounds in a deceptive calmness.
"Just what are you hiding, Subaru?" she whispered to herself. Her reflection stared back at her in the frosted glass, and for the first time in a long while, she felt completely out of her depth.
Notes:
A short and easy chapter, a proper introduction to the king, new tense, uneasiness.
This chapter is important as it sets up future plot lines, we dive into the mysterious relationship and further reputation of Doctor Guini. Furthermore, we introduced to who this 'king' really is, but is it the full picture? Thats up to you, dear reader.
Let me know what you thought, so far i've been suprised with how well Algols character has done? Jonah in a far second place. I'm not used to writing OC's or making them play super big parts in my fics so its nice to see a positive response lol.
All things considered, the stories starting to come together. Stay tuned for the next chapter!