The King’s Courtier

Chapter 9 - Kaiyus

     After her testing with Jeremyus, Aurelia was so exhausted that she hugged the bed as if it were her long lost parents.  She dozed off to sleep almost immediately, and luckily had no elicit dreams this time.

The alarms sounded at 5:00am the next morning. Why five, one may ask, and of course, the answer would be because the sadistic brute couldn't give Aurelia the comfort of sleeping until sunrise. 

She met Kaiyus at the waterfall inside the castle. She had never went to look around the north side of the castle where there was multiple courts for different sports and a long beautiful waterfall decorating the surroundings and maintaining a moist atmosphere. Of course a lot of her testing would be easier if it was held out doors, but once she left the magical door she would forget of the anonymous 8 and that would clearly disrupt the testing. 

Luckily, the castle alone was so large it contained all the commodities the world could offer and demolished the need to leave. She looked around, seeing all different types of fields and courts fit for tennis, volleyball, skating, and even some sports she didn't know the name of. She could see a really long rock climbing wall and she could see an outdoors area behind the waterfall. There was a small room behind it, resembling a stable. She could also see a glass mini room one floor above. It was filled with water. Swimming pool she gathered.

Kaiyus looked at Aurelia for a mere moment before he spoke, "bow." 

"Excuse me?" She retorted.

"I am Kaiyus, the king of athletics and descendant of King Laka of Celestia. Perhaps the others don't indulge in the luxuries of holding rank, but for you, little special lady, I wouldn't hesitate." His voice was sharp and stern. She didn't think he could demand as much respect as the king through his tone, but his power filled the room as he looked down at her with perfect posture. 

She gave a small bow, unable to speak. She had many questions. What'd he mean king of athletes? And descendant from a king in Celestia? Celestia was an entire galaxy away. Were all matrons descendant from a different galaxy? Was that what separated the king of Elexia from them? Their origin? 

Sometimes she wondered if Kaiyus deliberately allowed her extra information. She always learned more when she was around him. She looked at him and admired the earring covered by his brunette hair. His body was muscular, but it wasn't the type of buff that tended to be repelling. Kaiyus always wore black, the color bringing out his ocean blue eyes. He was always clothed perfectly, he appeared to be more classy and fashionable than the other Matrons, Alaya excluded.

"When being trained or tested by me, you call me Lord Kaiyus. When talking to me, you speak with respect. Beware that I am permitted to serve your head on a stick if I see fit. We will play three sports, you will be judged based on them. It will take roughly five hours, and it's rather hard to play with your outfit so I recommend you strip."

She had so many questions, but the most emergent was "you recommend I What?" 

He had ordered her to dress this way. If it was not fit for sports why would he tell her to dress this way. That sly sadistic pig. She could now clearly tell that his entire plan was to have her undress after ordering her to dress incorrectly.

"Was I un-clear, Aura?" He looked her dead in the eyes, a shadow of a smile haunting his beautiful full lips.

"Of course not, Lord Kaiyus." She said, smiling to hide her defeat. "Aurelia or Aurel." Her eyes were so fierce as she said the words that he bared his hands shrugging.

She took off her top and sweat pants to reveal her matching lingerie set. It was nothing too fancy, but also nothing embarrassing. He seemed to admire her arm and back muscles from a far, and when she turned, he appeared rather shocked by the presence of the small but noticeable abs. 

Maybe he truly was only into men, because he not once stared at her perfect upper or lower body. Only at her muscles. He wasn't drooling the way she had hoped, so she really had no idea what the point of undressing was to begin with.

The first sport he tested after she decided she was done sulking was basketball. She wasn't particularly talented in the sport and Lord Kaiyus never failed to remind her of it. "That was a terrible shot." He laughed. "How is your aim so bad? Weren't you the protégée?" 

She rolled her eyes and fought the vulgar gestures she wished to throw at him, swallowing her curses and swears just in case he was being serious about the threat of putting her head on a stick.

Before starting the second task, Kaiyus approached her with a question, "I heard you had impeccable skills in the strength category. Tell me dear Aurel, did you know that I was the only one in all our years of existence to disarm Jeremyus? And now you have entered my league. Beware, nonetheless. The line you have crossed is dangerous." He smiled.

No she did not know. In fact, she remembered Jer saying that Melody was the second best at sparring. "From what I had heard, Melantya already excelled far beyond your capabilities in sparring." 

"Well that's hilarious." He actually looked amused or bewildered. Either way, she did not like the mocking look in his eyes. "The matron you did not meet and I were the only ones who got to choose our categories. We even have the choice of switching categories each year if we pleased. The two of us are the youngest but the most talented. We are gifted far beyond the others. We hold powers that no one else in Elexia has. Powers that some would call magic. I liked the sports, so I decided to rule that category for now until I get bored of it, of course. Frankly, the women in my category always have the best bodies." He grinned.

This came as a great shock to Aurelia. No one had mentioned such a thing. But she was nonetheless glad to learn more about Iris just in case he ever turned out to be a threat. As if responding to her thoughts, Kaiyus opened his mouth again.

"The other Matron and I hold the same type of power as Sulfur. Power in all categories. We are second in command and thus our accomplishments aren't usually considered the same way the other's are. It would be like comparing Sulfur to Jeremyus. He pales in comparison." He continued. 

"Are the others lords as well?" She asked

"Only the other matron and I are lords. But all of us are kings of our category. We rule our own categories, not the king; but since we remain anonymous, very few people know of our extensive duties and grand titles."  So Melody was a queen of sorts too. A queen she had ordered to beg.

Aurelia couldn't help but wonder why he constantly referred to Iris as the other matron. Perhaps he was far too used to the concept of anonymity that even inside the walls of the castle, he refused to speak a members name without his presence.

The next task was kicking balls into goals. Football, she had learnt it's called. She was fairly good at the sport, which was evident by the expressions Kaiyus was so desperately trying to hide. He made no criticism in this task.

In the midst of fulfilling her tests, she couldn't help but wonder what Kai had meant when he said 'you have entered my league.' Which league is that? Amongst the matrons, amongst those who had beat Jer or amongst the most powerful beings in all galaxies? because he was apart of all said leagues. 'The line you have crossed is dangerous.' What was he talking about? What line? She was in the middle of the test, so for now she decided to shake the thoughts and memories away.

The last task was to choose amongst a few sports. Swimming, badminton and horseback riding. She hated swimming, but she loved badminton. She was also amazing on a horse, so she couldn't quite decide which task to pick. 

She decided on badminton. She competed against Kaiyus in this last task. Of course he never missed. Not even once. She missed very seldom, which to him was impressive enough to clap for. "a worthy companion indeed." He said softly. "A kingdom's worth perhaps."

She didn't quite understand what he meant by that last comment, but she chose to keep her confusion to herself, not risking looking dumb. 

"You haven't eaten all day. Follow me." Kaiyus ordered.

Despite her distaste for him, she obliged, feeling incredibly hungry.

They both sat at the dining table alone eating in silence. 

"Tell me about the other matron." She asked.

He looked rather shocked at her request, but he decided to inform her anyway. "We call him Iris. He is gifted with magic the way I am, but his most outstanding skill is negotiation. He can charm his way through any deal and figure out anything in a heartbeat, so usually he travels around and makes deals. He's a lot like me, but I think you would like him." 

"Then he is not like you." She said without thinking, immediately noticing her mistake as he smirked.

"Exactly like me. Only more viscous. Iris lacks the empathy most of us have unless it is towards those he cares for.  He kills and tortures without a second thought. Sometimes, he enjoys torturing even more than I do." His smirk only grew at Aurelia's disgusted features. Little did he realize that he let the name of the last Matron slip, unintentionally gifting her with an excuse to use had anyone asked where she learnt the name. 

"The ladies at this court usually have a preference towards me after the king. And after me, their next choice is often the other Matron." He leaned in closer as he whispered, sounding like a stream of silk and lace "but you appear to prefer me over the king. You appear to think of me about as much as you do him, and that scares you, because you are here to service only him." 

How could he know that? How could he know of the way her gut twisted every time he neared. How could he tell that her heart pounded in her chest every time he walked by. He wasn't particularly wrong. She didn't favor him, but she did like him as much as the king. That doesn't say much though, considering she hates the king. 

"Have you perhaps considered the fact that I hate the king? It doesn't frankly mean much to compare yourself to him. If I like you both the same, then I like you none at all." She returned the smirk.

"My power allows me to feel waves of emotion. I can sense every heart beat, every nightmare. I do hope that I continue to haunt your nightmares, because I love sensing your heart beat exhilarate as you fear your life. I love hearing the crashing in your head as you realize the power house you are living amongst. I love to sense your pain." 

She was speechless. Why did he enjoy the feeling he that very second managed to evoke? She said nothing, but she refused to meet his daring gaze. 

She hated to admit it, but he intrigued her. He was not mesmerized or overthrown by her beauty. He didn't stop and stare. He didn't treat her with extra care. He was frank and straightforward, and he didn't care much for her beauty, but he seemed to be impressed by what laid within her. The brains inside the beauty. 

He had no idea what that truly meant to her. Kaiyus sometimes reminded her of Iliyus. They were both sarcastic and harsh to those they disliked. She then realized that if she wasn't on the receiving end of Kai's hatred, she might had in fact fancied him.

But the more horrific realization was that being on the receiving end of the hatred intrigued her more, making her appreciation for him grow without warning. 

He could sense how she felt about him, and that not only scared her but terrorized her with fear. He was not only sadistic and cruel, but also dangerous. 

He would use her as a toy had he learnt why she truly appreciates the way he sees her. The way he sees her for who she truly is, not as merely the 'global beauty'. He saw her as strong and smart. He saw her as one in his league. No one else had ever extended that decency towards her. 

He chuckled one last time as he dismissed her, walking out of the dining room leaving her to find the way back on her own.