Chapter 8: The False King (8)

Chapter 8: The False King

[After School]

[Micheal]: Damn it! Where did Kaiser run off to?

(He scans the courtyard, frustration gnawing at him. Then, he spots someone familiar.)

[Micheal]: Huh? Is that Alice? Shit… I really don’t want to do this, but it’s worth a shot.

(He exhales sharply, then walks over.)

[Micheal]: “Hey, Alice. I need to ask you something—about Kaiser.”

Before Alice can respond, a sharp voice cuts in.

[Crya]: “Tch. Lizard-breath, Ace doesn’t know anything about K-A-I-S-E-R, so how about you run along while I’m still feeling generous?”

Micheal barely spares her a glance.

[Micheal]: “First off, I wasn’t talking to you, rich brat—”

[Crya]: “Hmph! It’s Crya Kirin, thank you very much!”

[Micheal]: “Yeah, didn’t ask.” (He turns back to Alice.) “Like I said, I came here for Alice.”

[Crya]: “HOW DARE YOU—”

[Alice]: “Enough, Crya.” (She sighs, then looks at Micheal.) “I’m not so petty that I can’t answer a simple question.”

(She pauses, then shakes her head.)

[Alice]: “But no, I haven’t seen Kaiser. Not since his… incident with King Arthur.”

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Micheal clenches his jaw. Damn… That’s the last thing I wanted to hear.

[Micheal]: “Shit. I don’t like this… He was right beside me, and then—poof. Just like that, he was gone.”

[Alice]: “You think this has something to do with his interaction with King Arthur?”

[Micheal]: “Maybe… I just hope he’s okay.”

⸻

[Somewhere Else – Kaiser’s POV]

Kaiser blinks, trying to process what he just heard.

[Kaiser]: “Huh? What? Hold on—could you say that again, Mom?”

[Mom]: (Calmly) “You heard me, Kaiser.”

[Kaiser]: “My dad and King Arthur knew each other? That’s kinda insane—lowkey freaking out over here. Wait—if they knew each other, then what actually happened?”

(His mother’s expression softens, but there’s a sadness in her eyes.)

[Mom]: “It started over a decade ago, before your father and I met. Back then, Arthur wasn’t the only one in line for the throne—your father was a contender too.”

Kaiser stiffens. Dad was… in the running for King?

[Kaiser]: “Wait, seriously? Then he must’ve been crazy strong!”

[Mom]: “Oh, he was. In fact, he was the strongest among them. With a single swing, he could level mountains and split seas. But Arthur… wasn’t far behind.”

(She looks away for a moment, as if recalling something distant.)

[Mom]: “They clashed many times. Your father won every time—but just barely. Then, something changed. Your father kept growing stronger, and slowly, Arthur began to fall behind. The distance between them grew… and so did the tension.”

(A silence lingers.)

[Mom]: “Then, one day, a rumor spread—Arthur had requested a duel for the throne. By then, your father and I had already met… and you had already been conceived. But Arthur didn’t know that.”

Kaiser swallows hard.

[Mom]: “Your father left to face him. Hours passed. Then a day. Then another. No one heard anything—not even me.

Until Arthur came back… alone.”

(A chill runs down Kaiser’s spine.)

[Kaiser]: “Wait… so—does that mean… Dad died?”

[Mom]: (Firmly) “No. It was never confirmed that he died. And I know, deep in my heart, that he isn’t gone.”

[Kaiser]: “How can you be so sure?”

(She reaches into her robe and pulls out a folded piece of paper.)

[Mom]: “Because of this. Read it.”

(She hands it to him, and with trembling fingers, Kaiser unfolds the note. His eyes scan the words, his breath catching in his throat.)

“Arthur is a fraud. He plans to kill everyone. If I disappear, then his plans will be ruined. I have to go. I’m sorry. I love you. Take care of Kaiser.”

Kaiser’s hands shake. His pulse pounds in his ears.

[Kaiser]: “Wait—Dad’s ALIVE?!”