The Ghost King's KeeperCh86 - Choices and Tests

~ Bonus  Chapter ~

How could he forget his own name…? He always wrote his name in school directory, spoke it when introducing himself, filled it in for important documentations… how could he forget something like that…  A25kdg

He knew he had a surname, but why couldn’t he recall it? 

“Please proceed to the platform.” 

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Ruzen didn’t even known when he had taken the dip, but he felt the chill of the evening breeze seeping into his bone, his wet clothes suffocating him. 

He walked towards the platform, and stayed there, quivering a little.  hYJ83E

“Keeper, do you need assistance?” 

On hearing the slight concern tinting the voice of the hosting man, Ruzen gulped in a lungful of air and tried to sober up from his shock. 

He could mull over it later, for now he had to make sure he did the ceremony correctly. 

“I am fine. Just feeling moved… there is some kind of energy seeping through my skin.” 

Ruzen wasn’t sure if the man bought it, but when he resumed speaking and chanting some ancient spell, Ruzen felt relieved. 

He looked above the platform, watching the people who sat still, quietly following his ceremony… they all had their eyes on him, and at least, 1,000 if not more, had gathered inside… 

Ruzen could imagine how hard they must have fought to be sitting here, because the people who had greeted him outside, they were not the ones who were in the arena. 

Ruzen could pin point the ‘beings’ who were hovering above him, capturing his every move again. He knew his ceremony was visible to everyone in real time… he couldn’t show weakness here.  H1tz6A

“Cursed One, Ruzen, please step forward and show us your piety towards his Majesty. Serve him a promise you would keep for eternity.” 

Promises? 

Nobody told him he would be speaking vows here.  

Ruzen was so dumfounded that he couldn’t think more than tit bits of snarky humors. Like… he would have appreciated more time to think.  X1yPT6

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.

“An eternity…” Ruzen started, noticing the sudden pause in the air, as if everyone was waiting to hear what his vow was.  

Taking in a stuttering breath, Ruzen closed his eyes, “For eternity, till we not remain anymore, until fate lets us, until we can, in sickness or in health, for better or for worse, I will forever remain by your side.” 

The pause of before broke when someone gasped, followed by murmurs and words of shock. 

“Keeper Ruzen,” the priest man spoke, his voice calm yet stern, “Your promise is for eternity, if you deviate from it, you will perish. Are you positive you would not change your promise, I will give you a second chance if so, no one will question your morals, because this is a serious binding of fate.”  sSK1ZU

Ruzen opened his eyes and looked at the priest man and the gathered crowd, everyone was looking at him with admiration but also with a sort of… emotion Ruzen couldn’t make out. 

Was he wrong to speak his wedding vows? He could compromise if they asked him so, but was that really necessary.  

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Still, he could understand the gravity of the situation, because if he broke his promise, of course there would be repercussions. He also understood, that this place was not like his previous home, where divorce was practical and weddings were not always written in stone. 

Still, where will he go if not with the King? He couldn’t go back to his parents… he thought it would be impossible, given his stance and life here… also, he didn’t think he could ever part with the King, even if he did go back to his parents…  dUyC6w

“Did I say something wrong?” Ruzen questioned instead of speaking his vows again, he wanted to know what this priest man was going to say about it. 

The priest man spoke innocently, “You will be linking your life to our majesty for eternity. You will never have a choice if you wanted to deviate from path. You are binding your soul to his.” 

Ruzen suddenly had an urge to smile, but it was fickle. Well, he couldn’t not make this promise now that he had already spoken it.  

“I have already spoken my promise, and I have no intension of changing it again. You are asking me if I would ever deviate from path, you are asking me if there is a chance where I will consider pairing with another… Let me ask in return,” Ruzen’s voice echoed, mingled with confidence and curtness, “Will there be another like his majesty in my life? Even if he discards me, I will fight back to fall right into his graces again, I think I will survive.” And of course, Ruzen wasn’t above making a scene if the King ever took in another partner, or concubine or wife.   bjK8l1

He shuddered as a dominating jealousy and downright ugly possessiveness blinded his thoughts. He even felt like considering murder if the King ever showed favoritism to another. That ghost wasn’t even aware yet of how possessive Ruzen felt he was going to be.  

It was new, it was frightening. 

But… it wasn’t such a bad thought, not that the King would hurt him, he wasn’t like that, but even if he did, well, Ruzen would raise hell before he went out. 

The priest man took in Ruzen’s determined gaze and slowly went back to chanting.   msw0iO

As the ancient words fell, a burst of murmurs and gasps bounced around the arena… Ruzen was pretty sure he had left everyone in a daze with his claim. 

Serves them right for doubting his loyalty. Hmph! 

Feeling petulant and a little overwhelmed again, Ruzen started to do breathing exercises, he needed to calm down a bit, he was showing signs of anxiety and that wouldn’t do. His king was watching him, he needed to be careful with his mood swings. Really. 

“Keeper Ruzen, do you agree to follow this land’s customs and rules?”  P1zcf6

Ruzen nodded, “Yes.” 

“Do you agree?” 

“Yes, I agree.” 

“Then please follow the directions in your heart and enter the next ceremonial ground.”  AX5cPm

Ruzen nodded again and turned to look at the arena exit ahead of him. 

Keeping pace, he exited the arena, and fell into steps with two little kids, both of whom were wearing white, but this time, they definitely didn’t seem like a human, more like ghosts… 

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“Which way will you chose?” 

The little boy asked, pointing at the five gates in front.  1nR6GX

They were shut, but the archway above them had been carved with words each. The first one from the left said, “Wealth.” 

The second one said, “Honor.” 

The third one said, “Prestige.” 

The fourth one was, “Righteousness.”  OYoLmh

And the fifth one at the end said, “Kindness.” 

Ruzen frowned, “Do I have to choose?” 

The kids both nodded, above their head, two big ‘beings’ hovered, probably capturing his moments. Really, was it necessary. He almost felt like a glamourous celebrity. 

“I don’t want to choose; they are all correct paths.”  wZAxIE

The kids looked at each other and then Ruzen, their wide eyes taking him in. 

“You have to choose.” 

Ruzen sighed, “I will let the King decide for me, I think he knows me better than myself.” 

The Kids must have not expected him to do this, since they actually looked stumped.  TQj8yW

“But you have to choose, can’t you make your own decisions?” 

Ruzen eyed them back, “No.” 

There was dead silence again… just a bit stifling and awkward. 

Ruzen felt like he need to explain himself, even if they were kids, they seemed to be older than him, and they were his king’s race, he must be a little more kind to them. Even if he was tired and unrested, he could be polite, surely.  poeGkt

“I am not saying I am a fool and can’t decide for myself, but I already made the biggest decision of my life just earlier, so pardon me, I cannot think of a suitable choice for myself, I cannot consider it until I myself walk on that path.” 

The ghost Kids let go of their frost, “Good answer, Keeper, you are not only considerate but you know yourself well. Please follow us.” 

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Ruzen looked at their innocent eyes, and wondered if it was as direct of a test as he had thought it would be. They must be testing him on more spectrums than he thought. 

He followed the kids into another channel, feeling wet, cold, and more restless.  rIEsn6

But before he could dwell on it, he was already entering a massive arena filled with blue robed guests. Except for one or two odd colors, the arena was decorated with blue. Blue sittings, blue flags, blue curtains, blue walls, blue everything.” 

The arena was covered with a tilted dome-like structure, with an opening skylight in the center, as rays of light fell over the raised platform. 

There, in the middle, stood the King. Dressed in teal shades of blue and white. His eyes sparkling from under the hood of his robes as he stared at Ruzen. 

He was enchanting.  nh8aAc

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This is a bonus chapter powered by Tassilo, I am glad you love my story dear friend, that’s the greatest complement you can give.