The King’s Courtier

Chapter 5 - The Anonymous 8

  Everyone in the castle bowed deeply as the king walked past them. Aurelia couldn't help but notice the trailing guards walking behind them, noticing everyone's every move. She couldn't help but wonder if she could out spar them.

She desperately wanted to ask the king what the special event was. She was asked to wear lingerie at all times, yet even on her very first night she was dressed in a full gown. The dinner must be special if she was to disregard the given dress code.

The walk to the dining hall was long and tiresome, but the perfect weather in the castle ensured she didn't sweat a single drop. 

When she looked above, all she could see was endless gold. The entire castle was made of pure gold. Honestly it rather strained the eyes, which was why the king's bedroom was very refreshing. While she was taking in her surroundings, she realized the king slowing down.

The door of the dining hall opened automatically as if it sensed the king's presence. When Aurelia and the king walked through, the door closed behind them immediately, and the guards stationed outside the door.

The dining hall was large. The walls were bordered by a buffet of food stationed at every inch, but the long table in the middle also contained a variety of foods. She couldn't help but cringe at how all this food would be wasted while people in the oblivion and void often starved.

The king sat at the head of the table, telling Aurelia to take the seat beside his.

Just as she sat down, 7 figures came in to view. All 7 of them hooded as they walked towards the dining table and took a seat. With a snap of their fingers, their covering outfits disappeared and their faces came to view.

Ever since Aurelia was a child, she was told that the oblivion beheld the most beautiful mortals, but truthfully, many people in the Oblivion paled in comparison to the 7 she was gawking at. 

The first was a young man around her age. He appeared no older than 18, his hair messy in the neatest way. He was a brunette blessed with blue eyes. He was tall and youthful, and he held his smirk proudly while taking her in. He radiated a certain type of energy. His presence said trouble, danger even. His eyes narrowed as his smirk broadened almost as if he could sense her fear and emotion towards him. 

He snapped his hand, chuckling as he opened his mouth: "a picture would last longer. Feel free to take one and label it the handsome Kaiyus." The words were spoken dramatically, as if a character in the opera was voicing them. Feeling flustered and embarrassed, Aurelia avoided the heat in her cheek and turned to the man behind Kaiyus.

The second man looked around 20. His eyes were pitch black as was his long hair. He held her stare for a couple of seconds before she cowered. She noticed the scars on his neck, and tried not to think of where they originated from. She found him the least good looking amongst all those around, but she would bet her life that his beauty out matched anyone else who had ever stepped in oblivion all these years, beside Iliyus of course. His name appeared to be Lucifer.

Beside him was a woman. She was almost as beautiful as Aurelia. Almost. She looked only a few years older than Aurelia, but her long blonde hair and blue eyes demanded respect and attention. Her outfit show cased her curves perfectly. Her body was slightly more curvy than Aurelia, but even through the clothing, Aurelia could tell that she wasn't as muscular. The king looked towards the girl and waved, "always happy to see you, Amyra"

The woman, Amyra, looked behind her as she stepped to the side, where a man looking around her age came to light. He was also blonde with blue eyes. Siblings, she guessed. The blonde man's features were softer than the others. He seemed kind and caring, unlike the other man. There was a hint of a smile on his lips as his hand elegantly tickled through his hair. His name was Niklaus.

Next was an older girl. She appeared around 30. She was wearing a cherry red dress, and although she lacked curves, she appeared fit and strong. She was almost as beautiful as the blonde despite being far older. Her hair and eyes were pitch black, but her lips were as red as her dress. Gorgeous, Aurelia thought. The older girl was introduced as Alaya. 

Alaya stood next to a girl looking around her mid twenties. "Stop staring at my girlfriend or I'll have your eyes served along with the Caviar." Aurelia's head snapped up to the girl who the voice appeared to belong to. She had a certain sparkle in her eyes and she held a wide smirk as she reached out to hold Alaya's hand. She was just as beautiful as Amyra

Alaya snickered before she opened her beautiful mouth, "Relax Melody. I doubt the escort is into ladies." Intertwining her fingers with the girl who's name appeared to be Melantya, even though they seemed to call her melody. 

The last companion was a male that looked just as beautiful as the first. His dark curly hair perfectly complimented his chocolate skin. He was the most muscular out of all the man. His biceps were clear even through the layers of clothing. He looked around the same age as the King and acted with as much elegance as him. He was called Jeremyus.

"Are you done staring at all my friends now?" The girl called melody snapped, rolling her eyes at Aurelia. 

What was that girl's problem? She hadn't even met Aurelia. "I indeed am." Aurelia snarled back with arrogance. The surprise in Melody's face was evident as she let out a full laugh. 

"Very well then." Melody said in between laughs.

Aurelia was embarrassed to say that she felt rather warm when the king grinned in approval of her sly comeback.

"Aurelia, meet my closest group of friends and my inner circle. Matrons, meet Aurelia." Announced the king.

Matrons. She had heard the term before but couldn't remember where from. 

"Matrons is what we like to call our little circle. We keep the term private so the outside world wouldn't know what books to scavenge through to find our weaknesses." The king said almost in response to her thoughts. 

She could've sworn she had heard the term before though. 

He continued, "We give each escort this opportunity. They sit at the table with the Matron eight and ask as many questions as they have. All of which would be answered honestly. The only catch is: for every question, you are required to answer one back. Nevertheless most forget all the answers as soon as they walk out the front door regardless, so don't bother asking too many." 

She was then told to start with her first question.

"I thought there were eight of you. Why are there only seven? Or is the king considered the eighth?" 

"Smart girl." Kaiyus grinned.

"The eighth of us is away on a mission. I'm afraid you won't be meeting him." The king dully responded. 

"Why are you anonymous... why go through such lengths to hide your identities?" 

"The matron eight are not only immortal, but the greatest in their fields. Each Matron is blessed with being the best in a set skill. They remain anonymous because they each monitor their designated continent and pass time amongst the commoners to ensure everything runs smoothly. It would cause havoc if people truly knew the matrons live amongst them." The king explained.

"Who runs what department?" She enquired curiously.

"Jeremiyus is the strongest being in the world, outside this circle. He monitors the warriors in the strength category. We call him Jer. Melantiya is gifted with the best voice and rhythmic skills in the galaxy. She over sees the music category. We call her Melody. Alaya is the artist. She is gifted with immense creativity and skill and she oversees the art category. Niklaus is the best writer and manipulator of words. He looks over the linguistic category. We called him Nik. Amyra is the brains. She has the highest IQ in all of Elexia and she runs the perfectionists. Kaiyus is the gifted sportsmen. He can outdo every single athlete in every single sport. He oversees the athletes. We call him Kai. And Lucifer, he overseas the void. He is gifted with resilience. He heals faster than anyone in Elexia and scars the hardest. He feels no pain and seldom gets tired." 

Lucifer. Aurelia snickered. "How fitting for one called Lucifer to oversee the place most call hell." 

The king growled in response to her sly remark, clearly offended. 

She couldn't help but wonder where the scars on Lucifer's neck came from if he scarred the hardest in Elexia. He would have had to go through tremendous pain and torture to have received such vivid scars. Where the scars from the void? Was the devil often caught in the cross fire of the peasants? Or did the king inflict those? Was the king cruel enough to hurt his own men?

They all seemed comfortable enough with King Sulfur. They didn't give particular respect or courtesy to him. They simply treated the king like any single soul would their friend. Perhaps he truly was good to his inner circle.

Trying to process all the information, she couldn't help but once again feel the flicker of rage. All these people looking after individual categories, yet none bothered to care for the Oblivion. The place where so many women suffered just to please the king. If the king was calling her average, she couldn't imagine how badly he criticized all those before her. How badly he had hurt her fellow peers.

"And oblivion? Are we not good enough for the presence of your Matrons?" 

"Do you think oblivion would need a matron?" The king responded carefully. Probably trying not to snap.

"I suppose not."  She wasn't completely sure if she meant it, but if it had exited her mouth, it must have been either a truth or half truth.

"Very well then." The king concluded.

"How much of the rumors are true?"

Kai smiled. "I like her Sulfur keep her around. Look at all those carefully worded questions. She just asked four questions in one. Respect." 

"The matrons are immortal. Your memory will be wiped clear of them. They can indeed appear as any age outside the castle. They do not eat men but we do enjoy torturing them for sport some days. Specially melody and Kai." The king smirked at his friends.

"What am I to do with my free time? Am I allowed to take a lesson here too as I was in the Oblivion." The king frowned at Aurelia's question.

"Well that's a new one." Amyra said, seeming bored.

"I suppose if you wish, you could take elite lessons with any of the matrons that see you worth teaching. You would have to take a test with each one of them first though, just to determine who would deem you worth teaching." His hands were on his chin as if he was deep in thought, "No one had requested that before. Some asked for more jewels and freedom and comfort, but never training. Perhaps you are as special as the rumors claim." 

The king would never know how much that compliment truly meant to her. It meant there was hope for her after all. Maybe a sign from the gods to not give up.

Hiding the pounding of her heart, Aurelia mustered up the strength to respond "I suppose that's all the questions I have then." 

The king and Kai simultaneously leaned forward, Kai finally saying "our turn then." With a broad grin.