The Phoenix's Maiden

Royal Feast (Part Three)

“Hello milady,” Arthur greeted Amber when she opened the door for him. Upon opening the door the young man was not ready on what he is about to witness. The beauty of the maiden caught him off guard and stared at her. Amber felt some discomfort at Arthur’s stare and she cleared her throat that snaps him back to reality. He stands straight and bowed down to Amber and she just stared at him as he completely forgot again their agreement with formalities.

“She’s stunning right?” Kamandag boasts to Arthur and the young knight stands straight again clearing off the dust that got stuck on his outfit.

“Yes she is,” Arthur agreed in the most sincere way. Amber did not see that coming and she looked down so that they cannot notice her reaction towards that compliment to her. She is not that used in receiving compliments from other people.

After she calmed her mind she stood straight again and look at Arthur straight in the eye while the young knight is staring at her with sparkle in his eyes, but Amber snapped her fingers and then Arthur once again snapped back to reality. His cheeks suddenly became red as tomatoes because he was ashamed of his actions towards the maiden. He thought to himself that he needs to control these actions.

He offered his hand to the maiden. “Shall we?” he invited Amber and the maiden just grabbed his hands and they started their way towards the banquet where the twin kings are waiting for them and the other royal guests that are eager on meeting the successor of the phoenix clan.

Kamandag just sat behind Amber’s long hair and keeps on reminding about Amber about their deal. If she stood he ground she will reveal one of her prized secrets. The reason why the striped snake keeps her human form a secret still remains a mystery.

They went through a long hallway where they are greeted by the servants, elves, engkantos, and duwendes alike. The pixies flies by Amber and they offered a gift to her which the maiden did not hesitate to accept. They added more sparkles to her gown which made her more bright and stunning, and the snake is very happy about these. She is sure that Amber will be the most neck twister lady in the banquet because there is one that cannot resist looking at her. Yet Amber cannot notice how the young knight admires her.

It did not take long until they reach the banquet where guests are seated on their respective places. It was an elongated table where the twin kings is at the very end of the table which means they are the highest authority inside this room. There was a vacant seat beside them and it was meant to be sit upon by Amber.

Their gazes quickly navigated towards Amber and Arthur, the gentlemen mystics’ necks were turned to her and some even have their jaw dropped at their first look to the maiden. But to Amber this is a heavy pressure for her to carry but Kamandag just reminded her the reason why she needs to overcome this trial in her royalty stage.

“Just walk elegantly and calm,” the striped snake whispered to the nervous maidens’ ear. Her knees are shaking and she cannot stop it as if there was no escaping this fate, but the young knight just holds her hand tightly and she was calmed for a little bit of time.

Arthur guided the maiden towards her seat. “Ignore the eyes, it will make you less nervous,” the striped snake whispered again to her ear and the maiden quickly looked at the ceiling. She puts her full trust to the young knight to prevent her from tripping and she also tightened her hold to Arthur and the young knight felt it. He got the message and became more careful on their way.

Then they reach Amber’s seat and Arthur offered the seat to her. She just sat there quietly trying her best to remain calm despite all of the eyes inside the room are looking at her except for Arthur, and the twin kings that are proudly observing the guests admiring Amber, as if they raised her on their own.

“Let me introduce to you the prophesized maiden of the phoenix,” Azura announced and his deep voice is fitted to gain the attention of others.

“Her return must be celebrated by us as our fates our secured again from the invasion of the underworld,” Ashura added. “Cheers!” he shouted while raising a glass of wine and the others grabbed their glass of wine.

“CHEERS!” all of them shouted except for Amber.

“Raise your glass of wine,” Kamandag said to Amber and she quickly grabbed her glass of wine and raised it to the air like the others do and then they drink the wine. But Amber do not like any kinds of alcoholic drinks, wine included. She looks to Arthur who is currently stundind at her back and tried to gain his attention.

“You want?” she offered the wine of glass.

“Just put it down to the table if you don’t want to drink,” Arthur said to Amber.

“Is it not rude to them?” she hesitantly asked the young knight.

“It’s okay,” he said and the maiden felt that a stone was lifted to her shoulder and put the wine of glass back in the table.

“Milady,” one of the guests tried to chat with Amber as the others began to prepare their meals in their plates. "Pardon me for interrupting your meal, my name is Maisog, leader of Malakas clan in this kingdom, it is nice meeting you,” he said in an awkward manner and even the snake felt the cringe from the tone of his voice.

“Looks like this strong, bold, handsome looking man do not know how to talk to woman,” the striped snake commented.

“It is nice meeting you too,” Amber returned. “My name is Amber,” she added and Malakas do not know how to respond so Amber just smiled at him and she turned her focus to the food in front of her that was serviced by Arthur.

“I do not know that you can be that smooth,” Kamandag complimented the maiden.

“I was just lucky,” she whispered back at the snake trying her best to not catch any attention from the others. The other men were secretly looking at the maiden and Arthur did not fail to notice it but there was nothing he can do, except if they do anything bad to Amber, but the female guests were admiring the knight’s looks and physique and were jealous of Amber but there were nothing they can do, except if they want to be exiled in this kingdom.

Throughout the meal Kamandag perfectly guided Amber on proper etiquettes of eating in this situation and the managed to pull it off.

“Now for the main part,” Azura announced with his deep voice. The red curtains beside them were lifted and a group of elves were standing there. Once the curtains were completely lifted they began with their act.

“This is how the greatest king of Fernis saved the kingdom,” Ashura happily announced and Amber’s attention was completely caught by it. She was too curious to know what really happened back then, she trusts that this was all real as the twins are there to witness their salvation. There was a man standing there in front wearing a crown with a bloodshot crimson hair, resembling Amber’s. That man’s job is to re-enact the late King Frigs, and then many actors came into action as the demons he fought.

King Frigs is not alone in this scene, as his loyal subordinates fought alongside him without fearing death that is sure to come. As they are slowly progressing towards victory, a young guy with a black hair and pointed ears appeared. He menacingly looks around him as his fallen demons are slowly dying and then he finally looked at Frigs who is near exhaustion. He smiled like a maniac, enjoying the scene as if it was a paradise to him. For a demon lord, it is.

“Satan,” the actor who is playing as Frigs whispered with disgust.

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA,” he laughed giving fear to all who heard it, just like what the subordinate actors did. “You really believed that you can win?” he asked jokingly.

“It is always the good who defeats evil,” the actor that played Frigs said, but the one who is playing Satan just laugh and laugh to his heart’s content.

“Oh, really your highness,” he mocked the king. “Then in the end, it’s either one of us will claim this land,” the one playing Satan became serious with his tone.

“I don’t have anything to claim filthy demon,” he responded. “This kingdom was already owned by the mystics who live here,” he said proudly and the surviving knights behind him shouted with glory. “Your defeat is judged, and I will defeat you for sure this, to end this chaos you brought once and for all,” he challenged the demon lord and sheathe his broad sword from his waist.

“They are a very excellent actors,” Kamandag whispered to mesmerized Amber and she just nodded towards the snake companion, to not miss any scene in this play. Her geeky side is showing again, as the twin kings are watching alongside with her.

“In the name of Fernis, I shall defeat you,” he shouted as he charges towards the demon lord, yet the young-looking Satan just stood there very still waiting for the King Fernis to close his distance. He chuckled softly, and as King Frigs was about to give a fatal blow, the demon lord quickly sheathes two scythes with short handle and successfully blocked the fatal blow.

It quickly became a battle of strength, as the two fighters looking at each other with an intent to kill while their weapons are battling causing some little sparks, because of the friction between metals. But, as their battle of strength lasts longer, the one who will become triumphant in the end is clearly showing. Due to exhaustion of earlier battles, the demon lord is overpowering the king little by little and the looks in his face became more crazier as it was. His smile is very wide showing his pointed teeth, while his bloodshot pupils is becoming more noticeable to the audience.

Even this is just a play meant to entertain people, Amber is clearly showing that the battle is affecting her, as if she is watching the real fight of this scene. This is how good the actors are. Yet, after there battle of strength, the demon lord managed to break it and the king was sent backwards. As he regains his balance the demon lord didn’t let that crucial chance to slip away and he gave him blows that really wounded king Frigs.

Exclaim of the audience can be heard, and some are becoming wearier as they watch their king get overpowered by a demon.

“You call this power?” Satan said as he looks down to the fallen king. “You are just another weak mystic in front of me Frigs,” he insulted him and kicked him. “From now on this kingdom is mine,” he said with a wide smile and a creepy voice. “I will claim everything in this land and turn this land into a chaotic wasteland where my demons feast on your people,” he added and looked at the weakened king. “Isn’t that fun if you can see it with your own eyes,” his pitch became high as he is becoming more amused to king’s angry expression at hearing his plans.

“You forgot one thing demon,” he said.

“And what is it your highness?” he mockingly asked.

“I am not fighting alone,” he clicked his finger and bright light suddenly appeared blinding the audience and as the blinding light disappears, they noticed that the two are gone in the stage and then the red curtain covers the stage.

Every mystic clapped just how magnificent the act was and all of them have similar questions in mind.

What really happened back then?

To be continued...

-The Phoenix’s Maiden-