Emiya and Ryouta walked back to their resting place. While on the road, Emiya wondered what Ryouta was doing during his training.
"Hey Ryouta, where are you going while I'm gone?" Emiya said
Ryouta put his right hand on Emiya's shoulder and whispered, "I made a lot of money, guess how much I made from gambling, Emiya?"
Emiya closed his eyes and thought for a second. "Hmmm, 200 to 300 dragon silver coins?"
Ryouta laughed and whispered again, "I made 50,000 dragon's gold coins?"
Emiya was stunned and said "Wait? What!!! How could you make that much? Someone can't have that luck, and that's a lot more than I just won in the tournament. What do you exactly gamble, Ryouta?"
Nah, the gambling is guessing the number of times your fight will end. I am alone betting the match will end at 12:03:10:59," Ryouta said.
Emiya unspeak, he is super amazed at Ryouta.
"Now, even though you got the 2nd place, let me treat you to some dessert. Oh ya, I heard there will be an honorary gathering this night. Let's find some clothes for you to wear for the gathering, and we will buy something fancy. Let's go!!!"
Emiya and Ryouta ambled through the bustling streets of Elarion, the golden glow of enchanted lanterns casting a warm shimmer on the cobblestone paths, as they searched for proper attire to wear for the grand Appreciation Ceremony. All the tournament participants, nobles, and the royal family would be there. It's already 8:00 p.m., and both of them wearing a black tuxedo to the ceremony.
Both of them were stunned after reaching Elarion Castle. They walk into the castle through the bright red, gold-lined door. Emiya sees a lot of people dancing, drinking, and talking together. A few nobles approached Emiya, and they praised Emiya's fighting skills. Some of them offered him to be a guard, and some of them proposed that he be their future in-law. Emiya got distracted for a second, and he suddenly saw someone familiar. It turned out to be Princess Faelar. She is wearing a green dress with a bright diamond bracelet. He walks to her and gives a little praise for their fighting and feels bad for exposing her during the fight.
"It's okay, my identity will be exposed if I fight with two others. Your fire magic control is not bad, too, do you plan to be a soldier here or anything, maybe? Looks like a few of the nobles trying to win your heart."
"Looks like you have your fanclub too Emiya. It's been a long time, Princess Feylar. I never thought you would join the tournament and become an expert in using blades." Aetherius said to Princess Feylar. Princess Feylar's cheeks turned red and even her voice changed. Emiya handshake with Aetherius.
"Aetherius. Oh looks like two of you had met once before." Aetherius gives a little laugh.
"I once saved Princess Feylar when she was on the way to the Qilin Kingdom. Do your wounds have recovered, Princess Feylar?", Princess Feylar shows her hands to Aetherius, suddenly a trumpet is blown signalling that the most important person already arrives at this ceremony. The King itself.
"The one and only, King of Elarion, King Alexander." The King is tall, with red-orange hair, and bright blue eyes, and his skin is white. His smile shines, and everyone is focusing on him, and behind the King, followed by a tall black hair guy, wearing a tuxedo, and 5 people, who are the God's Generals of Elarion Kingdom. The King sits on his mighty throne, beside him is his assistant and 5 of God's Generals. He stands.
"I am happy that everyone is here, today. I am so sorry for not attending the tournament. Deva, my friend, already told me all about the fight that shook the arena. I am grateful that our young generation is growing up stronger. I'd like to introduce you to people, the person who won the 1st place of this arena tournament. Mister Aetherius, is a Hero, and a magic Knight. He didn't win because he is a hero, but the spirit in his heart brings him here. As I promised, the person who wins the 1st place, I will grant wishes for the person. Aetherius, what do you wish for?"
Aetherius stood in front of King Alexander and knelt in respect, declaring that the request he wished to make was a secret. He also humbly sought permission in advance, he wished to bring someone to the meeting. The situation turned to silence, waiting for the King's response.
"Meet me after the ceremony, Aetherius", said the King.
Everyone erupted into applause upon hearing the King's answer, their cheers filling the grand hall. The ceremony continued smoothly, with guests reveling in the joyous atmosphere—dancing gracefully, exchanging laughter, and engaging in lively conversations.
Aetherius walks to Emiya and has a little conversation.
"Emiya, follow me after this to meet the King"
Emiya shock. "Wait, I didn't win the place first, it is only you who have the right to meet the king, I appreciate your help but don't worry about me."
Aetherius laugh. "Don't you want to know who killed King's Arvien?"
"Wait, I know that the grand prize is a wish, but someone can't have that ability, besides, it may reveal who I am and where I came from. Besides that, are you sure that you want to use this wish for King Arvien?"
Aetherius holds Emiya's right shoulder. "Yes, he is my master too, Emiya."
Emiya smiled. "Thank you, Aetherius."
The ceremony concluded gracefully. Both Emiya and Aetherius go to the throne room to meet King Alexander, while Ryouta goes back to their lodging place. They arrive in front of the door of the throne room, guided by royal guards. As the door opened, it was not just King but even the 5 Gods Generals there.
Emiya and Aetherius kneel to the King.
"Thank you, The Great King of Elarion, King Alexander, for granting my request. My request is, can you tell me, the person who killed my old master? And the person beside me is Emiya Selford, he is the last student of our master and the last person who saw our master get killed."
The King gave a little laugh and smiled. "Both of you are not from this planet, right? I know, how much it hurts the feeling when we lose our home, we lose the person we love, and the person we trust. I saw a lot of war that never ends, living things keep dying. I never thought you would use your wish for this, Aetherius. Are you with this wish? Aren't you the reason you are here, because you are trying to find the meaning of life?"
"You are true after all, The Great King. However, the person who took me and raised me like his own child, the person who protected me from death, and the person who taught me to be kind, I taught him as a father. I should have been on his side a long time ago, I could not forgive myself after knowing about his death. It is just all of this I could repay his deed." Aetherius said.
"Your masters are lucky to have you two and you're the winner of the tournament. Emiya, please let me see through your memory." King Alexander put his hand to Emiya's head. The King's eyes glow.
"I see, this is the true after all. I see the truth. The person who killed your master lives far away from this world. He lives in darkness and uses it to kill people, he is too dangerous. He uses a spear that is made from darkness, it could kill a soul, and the spear has already eaten a thousand souls. His name is Hogo. He is tall, black, with hair, his eyes are red.", the King said
Emiya and Aetherius look at each other and nod. The king sat on his throne.
"Oh yes, because both of the first and second place the tournament is here, can I ask you people something? Do you know anything about an army of monsters in the east?"
"I heard a rumor of that news, never thought it was true. Why? Are the monsters on their way to attack the Elarion Kingdom? It would be an honor for me to help you to protect this kingdom from those monsters," said Aetherius.
All of the Gods General stay silent, they already know about the situation from Captain Agolf. Usually, someone with a tamer skill or a witch could just control a few of the monsters at the same time, but the thing that happened in the East, it is impossible for different monsters to be together and destroy a nation unless there is a person behind all of this. A person needs a lot of magic energy known as mana, to do this thing.
Aetherius's face changes. "Your Highness, does it mean that someone is relating with these monsters and he is not from this planet? An outsider."
The King smiled and snapped his finger. "Well, not really but I know that this person is not from this kingdom or even this planet. Don't worry, I already took care of it. Anyway, congratulations to both of you for winning."
The meeting ends. Emiya and Aetherius walk home.
"Emiya, it is better if you leave this planet as soon as possible. The King Alexander is powerful, but he can't hide his real intention from me."
Emiya stops walking. "Wait, why."
"I do not know, but my instinct said he holding back his power. The King has a big secret but I don't know what it is. I see something darker than darkness inside him. My soul keeps telling me to kill him."
Emiya was stunned. "Do you think the King is a good guy?"
"I do not know but we must be careful after this. For this night, it is better if you get some rest. We meet tomorrow at the guild, Emiya."
They both go back to their lodging place.