Alma 72 The Stainless Prince of the Eas

Hundreds of millions watched as the coronation begun. Two figures stood outside atop of the tree-spire. Lights and floating cameras were pointed at them, illuminating their figures for all to see across the city and the world.

Velvund conjured a thin, golden crown made of flowers and then said, "I, with the full authority granted to me by the Lion King, crown you a prince of the East and childe of the Alf. May your blood and spirit carry the dignity of the ancestors in the days to come…"

The East watch as their former king put the golden crown on the boy in silence. When the young figure was crowned, it happened.

Across the city, people bowed in the presence of their new prince. Waves of Avunian citizens, bent over and offered their respect to the new prince in a show of solemn unity.

Of course, there were some who still did not approve of the former king's decision, but even so, they still bowed to the new prince. The law was written in blood and therefore, had to be followed by those who possessed the blood.

They bowed to the law of blood and not to the human prince. What the felt about him no longer mattered — the law took precedence over their own feelings and opinions about the matter. Such was the price they had paid to maintain the Eternal Unity of the East…

Reed gazed out into the endless crowd of people and saw them for who they were — people he was now responsible for in some capacity.

He felt numb — emotionless best described the feeling.

It was an odd thing; He neither felt anxious nor afraid about the fact that he'd been crowned a prince of an entire people. Not even excitement or concern…

Reed simply gazed out into the crowd, smiled politely, and waved at the crowd in composed manner.

He stepped forward and took the initiative almost as if he already knew what to do...

Reed channeled Anima into his throat and then said, "People of the East, hear me and listen to my words…" His voice echoed out across the city with perfect tone and timbre and reached everyone at the same time.

It was as if was right next to every citizen in the city, speaking to them in a one-on-one conversation, compared to the Velvund's booming, regal voice that sounded like thunder made manifest for all to hear.

"I can sense the discord in your hearts — the fear, the distrust you possess. Know this, People of the East, I am not your foe. I, an outsider; a foreigner not native to this word, have heard of your difficult — painful history with my kin and understand why many of you might have reservations about my new… position amongst your family."

Reed paused for a brief moment and looked into the crowd. He gazed at the tiny figures down below and said, "I cannot force you to accept me as one of your own anymore than you can force me to accept sins that do not belong to me. I am merely myself. Nothing more. Whether you can see me for who I am or what you think of me is something outside of my reach, but…"

"I hope that one day, you'll give me a chance. An opportunity to let me show you who I am, and what I represent.

Not as a Human, a member of Humanity.

Not as a Prince, a son of the Goldentree Clan.

Not as a Contender, someone in possession of an Alma.

Just as myself — Leon.

What I ask… is for you to judge me on my inner most qualities, present within the core of my being. Let my soul be what you judge my on and not the nature of my flesh, nor the my status...

This is something I humbly ask of each of you tonight. To set aside our differences and reach a compromise… to find a path that we can both walk together, for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the realm..."

That was surprisingly easy, even more than I expected…

Reed waved a final time and then quietly turned around only to find Velvund, Lu'um, and the rest of the event's guests staring at him in dumb shock like they'd witnessed an actual miracle.

Even Lacrima, who usually had something negative or critical to say about Reed's actions had been left speechless this time...

Was this the same nervous, awkward boy that they'd met tonight? The same one who looked like he'd died inside around them? Who looked entirely out of place?

What. In. The. Hell…

Velvund roughly coughed and then stammered out, "S-son, are you alright?"

"Hm? Why wouldn't I be? If anything, I should be the one asking that question. You look sort of pale. Something wrong with you, gramps?" said Reed.

He looked at Lu'um's pale face and said, "You too, huh… What's up with you guys? Someone poison the wine, or something?" Reed chuckled and said, "Everyone looks a bit off, now that I think about it…"

Reed patted Velvund's back and said, "You're a bit too old to be drinking so much, gramps. Don't get carried away with the festivities, alright?"

He grabbed Lu'um and said, "I'm going to chat with a couple of my friends in my room, gramps, so don't wait up on me. Have fun… in moderation, you hear!"

And just like that, the newly crowned prince had written himself into the annals of history over the course of a single night. The saga of the infamous Stainless Prince of the East had begun…

Violett stared at him as if she were looking at a freak from another dimension and said, "Are you sure it's him?"

Lu'um elbowed Reed on the ribs and he obeyed. He undid his transformation and his old features slowly morphed back into shape.

"Yo.... How have you been, Violett? And judging from your looks, you must the big boy himself, eh? You know, Violett's spoke—!"

Violett quickly strangled Reed before he finish his sentence and roared, "WHY. CAN'T. YOU. LISTEN? Do you have ANY IDEA what you done?! Why are you so...?!!"

"I…bfhery…sphorry!"

Her eyes glittered with a deadly shine until the person beside her said, "Come now, sister, give him some slack. You yourself haven't had the best track record either, you know. Let bygones be bygones."

Violett snorted in response and let Reed go, but not before she whispered in his ear, "We're not through… not even close."

Reed coughed as he massaged his neck and said, "You're always a charmer, aren't you? I missed you too, Violett."

The man beside Violett pulled out a handkerchief and said, "Here you go," and patted his back. "Haydn Kingscrown, it's pleasure to finally meet you, Reed."

"Same," said Reed. "I've always wanted to meet you — the man who survived growing up with…" Violett's eyes shone with barely constrained fury, "such a beautiful, charming, and talented sister like Violett."

Haydn laughed uproariously when he heard that, much to Violett's displeasure. He wiped the tears off his eyes and said, "That's the thing — she didn't. She was so problematic as child that Father had her sent to the Evergreen Estate as punishment. Even sent the Head of the Kingsguard to nanny her because normal people couldn't handle her!"

Reed laughed too when he heard that, but then suddenly went quiet when he realized the implication.

Wait a second… I given the Evergreen Estate and was at one point, threatened to stay in there. Doesn't that mean that I'm...

He didn't find the story as amusing as he initially did and bitterly smiled instead. His eyes looked dead inside.

Lu'um gently patted his back and kept quiet. She knew that anything she'd said would like hurt his fragile ego. Some wounds could only be healed over time, and this was one of them.

"Well, you know how the saying goes — birds of a feather flock together. We expected something like this to happen sooner or later, but nothing on this level. You truly are a force to be reckoned with, Reed."

"In the span of a week, you've gain the favor of the Silver Reaper and have become a prince in the East, home of the race that hates our kind the most. And that speech of yours tonight, Goddess help us all…" said Haydn as he shivered in genuine awe. 

"If Violett is a living disaster — a living storm that causes damages wherever she goes, then you are… like a hurricane had a human child. I am truly impressed that someone with more affinity with chaos exists than my sister. Even our Father was astonished when he heard the news about you…"

Violett smiled and said, "Now you know why I didn't want you to meet him."

Reed nodded slowly as he restrained the urge to not do anything to Haydn, but he truly found it a difficult, herculean task.

He didn't know if he'd survive the night at this rate…

Chapter end