Chapter 395 - Broken Friendship
As Kaminari was facing the wrath of his best friend, he remembered everything in the past. From the time when they were young, their adventures together, and the bond whom he didn't know would sever so easily.
He closed his eyes and looked back on his past.
–
A young little man was crying behind a giant house. It was the conference of the kingdoms, but he was just scolded by his father after he asked if he could play.
His father was upset by how Kaminari was forcing him to go outside of the castle. The kingdom they are on wasn't their own, and he was worried that his child might get hurt.
"Stupid father," Kaminari grunted while he hugged his knees. It was nighttime already, but he didn't want to go back and face his father. He was too angry to do so.
A cold gentle wind passed through him that made him shiver. He hugged himself tighter to maintain his body heat, but he was failing.
In a distant not long after, he had heard someone play the flute. He was mesmerized by how beautifully it was being played. The song playing was also beautiful that it instantly captivated his thoughts.
Kaminari followed the sound until he reached a hidden garden behind the palace. The garden was hidden behind a large fake rock and thorny vines. Anyone can get through the rock and vines since they were just projections there meant to keep people away.
Just when Kaminari got past the rock, the flute stopped. He gasped and tried to hide under a bush, but a voice had already spoke.
"Who's there?!" a male voice said. "I can see you clearly."
Kaminari immediately raised his hand to show surrender. He walked deeper into the secret garden until he saw a stone platform and a young boy his age sitting on top. The boy was carrying a flute in his right hand while a sword in the other.
"I come in peace," Kaminari said. "I only want to get away from my father. Please, I don't mean any harm."
Angin narrowed his eyes and slowly lowered his sword. He felt another presence get past through the stone, so he raised his sword once more. "Who is it now?"
"Your highness?" a soft female voice called. Footsteps could be heard while the voice that kept the words got closer. Sayu then saw the stone platform and the one she was looking for was in front of it. "Your highness, where have you been?!"
"I-I…" Kaminari trailed off. He glanced at Angin, his eyes asking for help. "Well, actually this boy had invited me here."
"Boy?" Sayu shifted her gaze to the boy at the platform, instantly gasping when she recognized who it was. "Y-Your highness!"
Sayu kneeled and placed her hands in the ground, "Please, forgive Prince Kaminari's intrusion. This must be your sacred haven, and we have tainted it by coming without asking for permission."
Angin shook his head after he saw the girl kneel, "No, it does not bother me at all."
"But sir, we have interrupted–"
"It's really okay," Angin cut Sayu off before she could finish. "I only say that to my father who always bosses me around."
"You too?" Kaminari gasped in delight. He was grinning whole approaching Angin. "My father is exactly the same thing."
"Forgive me, your highnesses," Sayu said and slowly stood. "I must be punished for my recklessness."
"Why is she like that?" Angin asked, face contorted with confusion and uncomfortably. "She looks like she had been through a lot."
"Well she was tasked to guard me with her life. It's normal for her to panic," Kaminari snickered. "Besides, she has her own story to tell. Something dark. She doesn't really like talking about it, so don't even try."
"Could you tell me what happened then?" Angin asked, making Kaminari smack him in the back of his head. "Hey, ouch. What was that for?"
"I just told you that she didn't like to talk about it," Kaminari scoffed. "Are you deaf or something? Should I clean your ear so you could hear properly?"
"Please, milady?" Angin leaped off of the stone platform and in front of Sayu. He kneeled in front of her which was something that neither Kaminari nor Sayu had seen ever since.
"A royal kneeling in front of a comnoner?" Kaminari gasped. "Sayu, make her stand real quick."
"Your highness, Angin, please," Sayu begged. "Sir, please stand up."
"I won't until you tell me what happened," Angin said with a pout.
Panicked, Sayu had blurted out the words, "A Crystal Maiden moved and killed my family. It was my father's fault because he was arrogant and he disobeyed his king."
"Oh," Angin breathed out while slowly standing up. "Oh, my. That was…"
"Ever since then, I had no intentions of betraying a royal. I should never repeat my father's mistake again," Sayu said. She looked like she was about to try and was barely keeping it together.
"Just cry, Sayu," Kaminari said and walked to his friend. "You can cry and I won't punish you."
That night, the Kaminari and Angin swore to each other to protect Sayu. Even after the conference, they always find away to see each other and train together.
Not long after, they received enough merits to become Masters and Lady of their respective affinities.
Sayu had developed a fascination for illusions after she saw the one in Angin's secret garden. She trained herself even with her limited mana to become a master illusionist that can trick all five senses.
Angin on the other hand, can control the winds of the skies and the tides of the atmosphere. He could control weather to an extent and produce massive air attacks that were dangerous if not handled properly.
Meanwhile, Kaminari had used his massive mana reserve as a royal to cultivate his magic. With his electric affinity, he became a man of speed. His slashes were so fast that they could barely be seen by the naked eye. His speed was unmatched in all the land and he could create sparks and strike lightning at any given place.
The three became known in all the kingdoms after working together and suppressing a looming darkness that tried to take over a city. The kingdoms were impressed after knowing that the three singlehandedly defeated the evil, stopping it from corrupting the city.
They didn't know that the three indeed stopped Malice from consuming the city. But it didn't stop her from taking over Angin and Sayu.
After their mission, the two were secretly reporting to Malice. They used their merits to collect information and send it to Malice for her to plan. But as they were doing their mission, Kaminari had raised a suspicion on a mole in their midst.
Sayu seduced Kaminari to stop him from investigating further. Her seduction worked and she got Kaminari wrapped up in her fingers. Angin knew this and also seduced Sayu, the two of them eloped and the latter got pregnant.
All the memories flashed in Kaminari's eyes and he suddenly remembered something Sayu mouthed to him before she succumbed to her death.
"She have always loved you," Angin said that suddenly woke Kaminari from his thoughts. "I had to use a potent spell to make her mine.. But in the end, it was always you."