~ Bonus Chapter ~
Ruzen wasn’t sure for how long he walked before reaching the edge of Manjo’s end gate. The upper echelon thankfully didn’t try too blatantly to harass him, but he could imagine the sneering and disgust that ran amok in their minds when they laid eyes on him.
The end gate of Manjo was a trail of flower beds, bordered with high stone walls and an arched stupa sitting right above the exiting trail. Words written in ancient letterings littered the stupa, almost like a binding curse. It was beautiful yet terrifying, because the words written…
Ruzen didn’t mean to dig up history and hostile views, but something about the strokes, held more meaning than simple calligraphy.
He would have to ask the King, maybe he knew what the spell meant, because it wasn’t dangerous per say, however, it was most definitely not innocent.
Stepping out on the trail, a natural pathway of gravel and soil greeted him. It looked old and rough with use, but the blue carpet made it look more proper than it actually was.
Sighing, Ruzen continued to walk, because as the distance grew closer and closer, he could feel a little excitement growing in him. He couldn’t wait to be done with all this and meet his King. He was just too tired to do anything else.
~~
When lakes started to appear on his journey, Ruzen was alerted by his followers that Sama’Ya was close, the place where his cursed pilgrimage would end.
The lakes and streams gave rise to humidity, so Ruzen was easily sweating as they travelled on raised pathway made of soil and gravel.
He didn’t know if the gravel was a natural occurrence, but seeing the same pebble-y elements lingering at the lake’s bank, Ruzen pondered upon it. Maybe the lake was from where the gravel was collected, but the lake was a silent patch of water, where would so many pebbles comes from.
He was pretty sure that lakes didn’t have as many pebbles in them, only running water could erode a stone and tame it, not stagnant water.
But despite the questions in his mind, Ruzen didn’t ask, he wasn’t sure he was very enthusiastic about stone history, he was more inclined to being excited about meeting the King again.
~~
Entering the gates of the Sama’Ya was like entering heaven. There was greenery, lake view, tall minars and structured platforms, including a crowd of colorful awnings and stalls.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
There was a mouthwatering smell of roasted meat, grounded fresh herbs, collective scents of sweet fruits and fried scent of snacks and lunch.
A light breeze blew across the well-ventilated spaces and Ruzen could feel his body shaking as loud beats from drums and similar instrument assaulted his arrival.
“Keeper is finally here, so beautiful.”
“Keeper, visit our stalls when you are done with the ceremony.”
“Haha, our Keeper looks tired, stop distracting him.”
Random shouts and words were thrown his way as several ‘beings’ flew towards him, capturing his arrival in full scale. The area of Sama’Ya was flooded with watchers and consumers who had come to visit Ruzen’s ceremony. Everyone was eager to see the Keeper and send their well wishes.
More than anything, they were very excited to see a Keeper with their own eyes, because this Keeper was someone who would be closest to their King, even in literal sense, so it was no wonder that everyone was milling about camping outside the main ceremony grounds.
Ruzen suddenly felt shy as he walked through the crowd, he could feel eyes on him, and not just random eyes, it was a piercing stimulation that was very familiar and grounding.
He was sure it wasn’t just his mind playing tricks on him, because he really could feel the presence of his King.
Looking down at his clothing, his almost bare legs and the wide necked robe…
He tried nudging the parted robes closer in order to hide his legs… he wasn’t doing this now just because of shyness, but frankly speaking, he hadn’t felt this self-conscious throughout the walk. Now though, when he knew the King could see him, he was reluctant to be so… untamed.
Although he knew that his image had been already broadcasted everywhere, he still felt irrevocably embarrassed to face the King in this outfit head on. Something about those sharp teal blue eyes made him nervous and expectant at the same time.
He didn’t see the King, obviously, but he knew the King was watching him. How intriguing.
The pathway became wider as an opening of gardens and pavilion greeted him. The towering spiral minarets seemed to be guarding him, but he only managed to feel overwhelmed.
The crowd around him followed his parade, as two people in white robes bowed to him. They gestured for him to walk forward and showed him the way. “His majesty awaits,” was all they said.
Ruzen bowed in return and crossed over the wide space full of people, his ears picking out cheerful shouts and praises, soaking in the warmth that he felt.
“We will first take you to the civilian court, plese follow us.”
Ruzen was then taken to an open-air arena sort of place, which he saw was swamped with bright red shadings and flags. All the people wearing colorful dresses and robes – matching the vibrant mood of the coronation festivity – sat on stepped sitting arrangement, looking down at him from their seats.
Ruzen almost felt like a gladiator being watched over by a raving crowd… and even the arena seemed to be old and ancient. The whole setup reminded him of a movie he had watched before in his high school days.
But a sort of strange energy started to engulf the area as an instrument’s music floated in the air.
Ruzen glanced around to find where it was coming from, but couldn’t see anyone around.
The sound was a little sobering, but not exactly melancholic, it was somewhat serious and loud, echoing in the entirety of Sama’Ya.
Ruzen looked behind himself, only to find that he was alone, the helpers from before were nowhere to be seen, and the ones who had shown him the way, were also missing.
Trumpet like sounds reverberated around the space, lightly ringing and buzzing with energy.
And just when Ruzen thought the sound would fade out, he finally saw the source of those soulful notes.
Above the towers that surrounded him, sat one instrument each in the shape of G. Each tower had its own player, and that player was blowing into the G shaped instrument, playing it with ease.
Ruzen couldn’t help it when his eyes widened as he felt the music from each tower clashing and eventually merging to form a positive echo.
“We greet our Keeper into this humble ceremonial gathering,” A pragmatic voice of a man spoke, distracting Ruzen from his thoughts. The voice wasn’t old, but seemed to be holding wisdom and knowledge.
The speaker, now stood in front of Ruzen, and he was also wearing a white robe. What was different was that, he wore five layers of clothing, all of them white. There was a stripe of blue ribbon that tied his hair up, but other than that, the man was not wearing any other color. His temperament reminded Ruzen of historic priests in fictional stories, all stoic and solemn.
“I am you mediator today, a human from birth, hence a neutral participant.”
Ruzen nodded, he could tell the male was a human, he was not like a ghost or a God, obviously. Now Ruzen only wondered how the ceremony would proceed.
“La yi la, huan ji ya, fen hue wi ster nim.’
The man spoke to the heavens as he faced the sky, his arms spread wide and his voice echoing like a chant of the ancients.
“The plane above watches this ceremony, and the people of below gather in this ceremony. Please grant us your attention.”
Then the Mediator looked at Ruzen, “Please speak your full name Keeper.”
Ruzen blinked, he hadn’t expected to be asked for his name so suddenly, but he mused that it was expected.
“Ruzen…”
“….um
”Ruzen.”
Ruzen’s mouth went dry as he stared ahead with a buzzing ringing inside his mind. This was…
He couldn’t recall his surname.
Not even the trace of it.
Trembling, Ruzen felt unnerved, his heart beating too fast, because…
How could it be?
“Ruzen, you will become the King’s Keeper as of today, the season of warmth. Please dip in the pool on the side and step ahead onto the platform.”
Ruzen shakily walked as directed, towards the shallow pool at the left side of the arena. A spatter of flowers and herbs greeting him, but he was numb to it as he dipped his toes.
He felt energy swirling in him, but what was supposed to be kind, only made him ill.
~~
This bonus chapter is powered by, Gofa, Songen Iriarte Romero, and Robot Butterfly. You guys make my day, always, you all are so supportive, never have I ever felt this happy.
It’s getting serious now… Not remembering one’s name is kinda ominous
Thanks for reading!!
Thank u for the chapter! 🥺
Thank you for reading and commenting :))
Hooray, Another chapter! I’m so excited, this was wonderful 🙂
I am so glad. Thanks for the read and the comment dear!
I am so glad. Thanks for the read and the comment dear!!
Ok. this seems getting intense. Not remembering your full name is sus and scary.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the read!!
That gave me the chills. He hasn’t been there all that long and already starts to forget who he was before. 🥺Hopefully there is no big mind manipulation done in the background from some evil people😖.
Hopefully! Thanks for the read dear!!
Thank you for the chapter ❤😍
I would be terrified 😨 Forgetting your name like that… my paranoid self would be screaming “next is up is all of my past?!”
Oh but he did swear that the king would be his only family in his speech, and he’s in a place where words literally have power. 🤔