Magnifico

Tales of horror

It was two days already, the day Sun had promised to start the journey to Sytrits. Sun wasn’t fully prepared yet for the journey he intends to accomplish with Jonas. The journey to Sytrits may take longer than he anticipated. He had promised the king that he would leave in two or three days but he realized that it may not be achievable any longer because he hasn’t fully gathered the logistics that would guide their part to the unknown land.

It was early in the morning the third day; the day Sun intended to start traveling. Sun woke up so early even though he had a late-night discussion with Jonas the previous night regarding the journey, they concluded that they needed more time to plan things out and have themselves prepared. So, Sun wanted to relay this information to King Zulu so he would know what his opinion may be.

Sitting on his bed, Grizler sleeping in the middle, between him and Amara, he sat quietly thinking of what to say to the King. He was also waiting for the day to break fully so he doesn’t go too early to the Palace and end up waking the king from his sleep.

“Honey,” Amara said with a low pitched tone. “Why are not sleeping?” she asked, searching her eyes.

“Oh, dear. I did, now I am awake.” He responded, his lips slightly narrowed to give a forced smile.

“C'mon, you still need to sleep, remember you didn’t sleep early yesterday after you came back late. Now’s the time for you to sleep, you need all the sleep you can get.” Amara implored.

Sun wasn’t too bothered like how Amara thought. His only worry was not being able to deliver as he promised. Sun was a man of his words, and he doesn’t back on them. The king understands this and Sun himself knew that the king will not be satisfied if he tells him about his plans to shift the journey; to give him one week's grace or probably more. Amid these worries, he defiantly lied down on the bed like Amara had earlier begged and he did not sleep.

Jonas himself woke up early that same morning, he stood up, walking unsteadily to his bathroom, he washed himself up. Now clear and sound, he got into his room and opened all his windows to allow the free flow of air into the room untampered. Now his head was clear, with the cold morning breeze, which was about to get him chilly, he could think straight now.

The difficulties involved with the journey of Sytrits have started dawning on him. He never really gave it a thought until he had a late-night discussion with Sun. He went up to his armchair, sat down, and closed his eyes, crossed his legs to lessen his worries. It was already morning, he decided to go outside the palace to look around that early morning. He grabbed his clothes and put them on, without wasting much time, he went outside his house for morning touring. While he was walking around, he saw a man sneakily went inside the court. He watched the movement and he noticed that the way the man went inside the palace court in the absence of the guards seemed suspicious. Jonas wanted to overlook and ignore it because he assumed it didn’t concern him but he however decided to check it out anyway. Getting close to the slightly closed door of the main entrance of the main court, he went inside. It appeared to be Kylian who was searching for something secretly and quietly in the palace. On sighting Jonas, he jerked. Jonas saw a middle-aged man, probably his age mate or probably younger than him, looking clean and exudes royalty in the way he looks.

“Who are you?” Kylian asked as he hides what appears to be a page of paper at his back.

“I should be asking you that question, what are you doing here this early morning?” Jonas asked.

“I don’t owe you any explanation until you tell me who you are,” Kylian asked impatiently.

“I am Jonas. And you?”

“Oh. You are king Jonas? I mean former king almighty Jonas. Here you are hiding while your pet beast is searching for you, destroying people in the process” Kylian said slightly raising his voice. He continued “Huh? Jonas, you have just caused me pains. I lost so many loved ones because of your reckless action.” Jonas was now confused, though he knew he had done so many bad things but didn’t remember ever meeting Kylian. He had almost forgotten the reason why he came in because he was still trying to figure out if Kylian was trying to accuse him of something he didn’t do.

“Please, who are you?” Jonas asked, confused.

“Ha-ha,” he giggled. “Well, I am king Kylian, King of Azmak.” He paused, tilted his neck a little to the right, and lips slightly raised. He continued “well, former king by the way. I am a visitor here, A special visitor of King Zulu” he quietly stashed the book inside his back pocket in a way that Jonas didn’t notice what he did.

“Oh, I see,” Jonas said sharply. “ But I don’t remember offending you or meeting you before,” Jonas added.

Kylian wanted to use this opportunity to his advantage because he doesn’t want Jonas to suspect him of anything. “You don’t remember offending me?” Kylian asked raising his voice. “How many people can you really remember that you have offended? Well, I don’t know what you did to King Zulu and the people of Quinax to really convince them to believe whatever bullshit you might have told them. For me, I don’t care. I will have your head hanging in the main gate of my kingdom if you had made the mistake of coming to Azmak instead of Quinax.” Kylian said with a more intense voice.

“Look Mr. Kylian or whatever you call yourself…” Jonas was still trying to make a statement when he got interrupted by Kylian.

“King Kylian, address me like that. Besides I heard you are no longer the king of Alaphas. The demon you brought to the world of the living has taken over and I must say that I am happy for that but I am still upset that you still breathe” he smirked.

“King Kylian or whatever, please listen. I didn’t come here this early morning for these arguments. I came here to check out who was in here and that’s all. If my kingdom of Alaphas has in any way wronged you, I’m so sorry. I sincerely apologize on their behalf.” Jonas apologized. He wanted to leave as soon as he can because he wasn’t comfortable staying with King Kylian. After all, there was something about him he couldn’t explain. He was seeing Kylian as someone that was once a good man but has turned vengeful. He tries to keep his face funny and happy but within him, tells a tale of horror.

“I must go now,” Jonas said, looking directly into Kylian's eyes. He caught Kylian's gaze and he quickly looked away. He turned around and went out from the courtroom walking slowly and his footsteps almost noiseless. Jonas got outside the court still walking slowly. He stopped for a while and rehearsed over what king Kylian had told him: I will have your head hanging in the main gate of my kingdom if you had made the mistake of coming to Azmak instead of Quinax.

It got him thinking and it led him to start worrying. He was not sure of what he was worried about or what worries him most. “Is it Kylian or is what he had done in the past?” he thought to himself. He realized he has too many enemies, both seen and unseen enemies. That early morning, Jonas started feeling depressed. Catching a glimpse of the feeling, he moved his two hands to his back and had them crossed into a fist; he continued with his early morning touring around the fort.