Chương 58: Book 2; Chapter 57; Walking Ghost

Inauguration was slowly coming to an end. The last few people received their "gifts", and now it was just a matter of showing and explaining the basics of how communication with these creatures works and demonstrating it in practice. After everyone had a go and succeeded, the inauguration ceremony was over.

Now there will be a short celebration, then everyone who joined the King's Army will be able to choose how they want to reach the Capital, by flying machine or via the School's gates, which would take them directly there. This suggestion brought another roar of applause and satisfaction, and it was obvious that no one was walking through the gates. Flying machines were so fascinating and very rarely used as they required an amount of energy that not many possessed. Surely everyone will want to come in them.

Not a second later than the ceremony was over, Blake stepped off the stage, walked across the square, captivating everybody's attention, and scooped the sleeping Anniet into his arms. He did it so gently that it didn't disturb her in the slightest. After picking her up, Blake looked around for a moment as if contemplating where he should go now and then turned towards the headmaster's quarters, followed closely by Deamon. People fell silent in confusion after seeing it.

Earlier, when Deamon had risen among people to chase away the attacking beast, it scared everyone around with the same effect as that black approaching creature, with only the difference that he didn't intend to hurt anyone. For some reason, not known to them, Anniet got hold of this beastly dog and wouldn't let it go. So people moved away. At first, they were still looking at her time after time, wondering why she kept holding it in her embrace.

Some say she was fearless, some could recall seeing her with Dark General when nobody knew who he was and thought her to be one of his subordinates, some said that she probably was just grateful to Deamon for trying to save them from that attacking creature. But minutes were passing, and everyone slowly forgot about her, returning attention to events unfolding in front of them, and were surprised to see her being picked up and carried away by the Dark General. What has happened that she fell unconscious?

There didn't seem to be any visible wounds, and no one noticed her lying until now, despite everyone being around and all these newly born dragon exercises going on just few meters away from her. Again, many speculations have arisen, but no one knew for sure. All they could do was watch her being carried away, and the headmaster following them shortly.

Even on such a day full of excitement, it was still interesting what was going on, and there were many who wanted to follow to find out, but their attention was taken away by a large, beautiful silver dragon coming from the sky and circling above their heads. Everyone recognised whose dragon it is and soon everything else was forgotten. It wasn't very often that Rainbow General's dragon would show itself so openly. Rainee didn't want Anniet to be disturbed.

The inner battles she was going through in the last two days were extremely energy draining, and even after a small amount of it, good rest was needed. With the amount Anniet was experiencing right now, one should sleep for a week or two to recover fully. So she made this little diversion to draw attention to herself, and it worked as a charm. Rainee, with Angus and Ruffus, stayed among the celebrating people and were happy to answer all the questions, give any advice, or just be looked at.

King didn't linger around, however, Rainee knew that he still hadn't left. She could feel his presence very well, even when he suppressed it to this very minimum, as he has been doing for the last two days. That was entirely out of his character. It was normal for him not to join these sorts of celebrations, but it wasn't usual for him to stay around. Was it because after leaving, he would not be able to come back?

It might be the case, but his mission here was already finished, and this time given now was solo for the purpose of saying goodbyes and gathering all things one might need for a new life. Right now, King was in a library, which could lead to thinking that he was doing some research. But it would not make any sense as King would never do research at the last minute. If he needed more time, he would just arrange all events to give him as much time as required.

Also, he wasn't sentimental, so it is not likely that he just lingered there for that reason. When everyone was getting more or less ready to leave, she walked to the library. As expected, King wasn't reading anything. He was looking at the endless pictures of the past Kings.

"Do you think these paintings are correct?" – He asked when she walked closer. Rainee didn't need to have a look at them as she had already done it many times before.

"I think they must be very accurate," - she said. There was already a new painting of her at the greeting hall with her new looks. So it took the library a very short time to update on it, as she stepped out as a general looking like this, hardly a few hours ago. But King already knew it, so it wasn't what he was asking about.

"There are no paintings in the Library of the Kings, but once you take in someone's life story or even a story told by someone else, you know precisely what people looked like, just as you would know from your own experience. Those faces that I did read about look exactly the same."

"I thought so," - King said. – "There is never more than four generals painted with any of these Kings." Rainee didn't reply to it. It wasn't a question; it was a statement, and she had no objections to it. Also, only this King had four generals painted in this library. Every other King had from zero to three.

"Is there any information about the Second King in that library?" – King asked This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"No." – Rainee answered. It didn't surprise King as he probably already knew about it.

"Same as here." They stood next to each other in silence for a few minutes before King spoke again.

"A decent King and his five generals will unlock the door and invite true magic back to this world", - he said. Rainee didn't answer again. She knew this phrase very well. It was challenging to say if it was a prophecy or a legend, but despite never being written anywhere, it was always alive among people.

"Every King of the past knew this prophecy, or prediction, or omen," - King continued, - "despite no one ever seeing a written statement of it. Don't you think it is very strange that, through the years, no one ever had a thought to write it down?"

"I think it is very strange," - Rainee agreed. -" But there might be a reason for it. If written, it might lose its meaning. As in the distant past, Kings didn't have generals, they had knights. At that time, the phrase was "A decent King and his five knights will unlock the door and invite true magic back to this world"." -Rainee added, surprised to herself that just now, when speaking with King, she realised it.

"Fascinating." -King said deep in his thoughts.

"There is nothing written about it in this library either. For a phrase to stay alive through the lifeline without being changed or drowned into legends, there has to be a powerful protection placed against it. Nobody does such a thing for no reason. And I am not the first of the Kings who thought the same way. That's why the position of the general is must be with every King, despite not everyone of them having a use for them. And you are right.

Now, after it was said aloud, it became so clear that these people are not tied to the name they are called. Somehow, into our times, the belief has been brought that this title is for those who lead an armed force. But there was a time when there was no armed force, as there was no need for it. But still, there were generals, or knights, next to the King. Never less than five.

And each King at some point tried to improve itself to the best to become a decent King, as it was obvious that this part was missing to fulfil the prophecy." King fell silent for a short time before continuing,"My father had fifty generals, I myself have eight. How does it come that there are no generals next to my father in this library, and next to me are only four? Do you think a general has to serve for a certain amount of time to count?" This trait of thought never crossed Rainee's mind.

It was so evident now that one would wonder how it could be missed. However, most simple and obvious things are most difficult to spot. And most of the time, those are what bring the most change.

"I do agree with you," - Rainee said aloud, - "but not to the thought you expressed." King smiled to himself after this reply. He wasn't even looking at Rainee all this time.

"Then where are we going to get a fifth one?" – He asked. It wasn't clear if he was talking to himself or asking her. Even if he was asking, Rainee didn't know the answer.

"Sorry, I couldn't give you more time," - King said, finally looking at her. – "You wanted to talk to me. I am all yours." So she was right. She was the reason why he was still here. Or at least one of the reasons. She wasn't sure what he meant by his first phrase. Definitely not an apology as he never apologised and taught her never to do so. So no matter what he was referring to, he must truly have wished that he could have done differently. It wasn't an apology; it was just a simple statement.

Still, she wasn't sure where he would have liked to give her more time. It might be more than one occasion. But she wasn't going to talk about it now. And she knew that it wasn't why King waited for her.

"When are you going to tell him?" – She asked, looking straight at King's eyes.

"To tell what?" – King asked.

"That I am your daughter."

"We can do it now," - he said, looking at her, - "he should be here any second." After saying that, he looked over her shoulder, and she saw an expression on his face that Rainee thought King was incapable of having. It was true pure surprise, as if he had seen a ghost. Rainee quickly turned around to look back with her hand already on the hilt of her sword, and the same expression as she just saw on King's face came across her face too. There was no ghost or some unearthly creature.

It was Angus walking towards them with a questioning look in his eyes. There was nothing wrong with him apart from the fact that he was not present. Only those who knew what feeling someone's presence meant would understand why there was such a shock on King and Rainee's faces. If someone would stretch a hand to take something that was clearly in front of them, just to find out that there was nothing to take, they would be less surprised, as there would be more explanation for it.

Rainee always felt Angus's presence. She felt him in the same way as anyone else around, but also had this different, additional feeling like a part of her own self would be in a different place. Right now, she was still maintaining that unique feeling towards him, but this "different place" was somewhere far away when Angus was right here. The sense of presence coming from every person close by was completely absent.

Next moment, as if some force finally acknowledged that something was not right here, Angus' body steadily disappeared out of sight. After the initial shock, Rainee understood what had just happened. He was sent away. Not by King, as it was obvious that King was even more surprised than she was. Why wouldn't he? He always knew where everyone was around him. To see someone this close without knowing that he was here must be a real shock. Strangely that he even handled it so well.

Rainee didn't look back at King but walked away in big strides until Silver came and took her. She couldn't bear to stay with King at this moment. She was having one blow after another. She couldn't stay with him because all her essence wanted to blame and scream at him right now. And he hasn't even done anything. At least not this time. She never knew how it would look to be next to someone who found a way to this School. Now she knew. With only the difference that Angus didn't find a way into here.

The School actually sent him away. His presence couldn't be felt as he was already walking in a different dimensional space. But he definitely heard what she had said, and it shook him to the core. Blake was already waiting at the entrance, but she didn't want to see anyone right now, so she left him behind. There was no faster dragon than Silver, and there was no one who would be able to catch up with her if Rainee didn't want them to.

That is, if not to consider King, but he would never chase after her when she wants to be alone. And right now, she didn't want anyone around. She knew Blake was coming after her, and it made her really angry with him. He is so unreliable! Nothing can be entrusted to him, not even his own life and happiness! This time, Rainee felt it – a spark of anger in her, and it drained right into Silver, who screamed loudly at this blast of anger inside and increased her speed, leaving this rage far behind.

It was gone from Rainee and from Silver. So King was right about Silver's ability. How strange, Rainee never even thought that way. Now all of it makes so much sense. She does remember herself being a pretty tantrum-throwing child until one day it somehow vanished and never returned. Until the day Silver found her and came into her life.

"Sorry, my beautiful girl", - Rainee said gently, stroking Silver's back, - "it has to stop for both of us." With anger drained out, clear thoughts returned. No, Blake was very reliable. She could predict his movements one hundred percent all the time. Just he did what he wanted, not what Rainee would wish him to do. At first, Rainee was going to search for Angus and explain to him what had happened. But there was a slight problem - she didn't know where he was. She could go back and ask King.

If Angus is not in a mist, King will know his location. But then she slowed down. No matter how much she didn't want to admit it to herself, there must be a reason why it had happened. Random things didn't happen at this School. Angus was led to hear their conversation, but was sent away with just a small drop of the truth instead of being allowed to hear all. School doesn't make such mistakes, at least it shouldn't, so by any logic, it should be the shortest route to achieve what is wanted.

It didn't feel that way at all. She could feel how lost Angus was right now, and with all her mind, she could not see a way for him to go through this on his own. But still, he was separated from the only two people who could help him right now and was sent away. She could feel how badly he wanted to return to her, but still, no matter all this desire, he was not getting any closer. She also could feel how badly he wanted to figure out what's going on, and his desire to find out the truth was strongest of all.

Despite all her thoughts, Rainee still conducted a proper search for some time. She knew that she had left the School's premises and returned to the outer world this time. There was no mistake about it. The moment she crossed the border, it was as clear as breaking the water's surface. She didn't know it before, just because she hadn't experienced it before. It might be that it is best for Angus to be where he is right now, but no one said that she cannot be with him.

She wanted to be with him, and she left School with this desire in her heart. Rainee was hoping that this was where she would be sent - to the place where she could find him. Upon seeing Capital lights in front, deep in her heart she already knew that it was not the case, but still, right now, she had nothing to do in Capital, so she just searched for what couldn't be found.