"vice princ.i.p.al of Destra's magic academy and his student Mars has arrived"

the king nodded and the knight got on his feet again before he turned and left, Max walked forwards along with Mars and stopped before he kneeled down, Mars however remand standing

"Mars you have to knell"

"no I don't"

Mars remained standing and locked eyes with the king that gave a wave which caused the guards inside the room to point their spears at Mars before he asked

"why do you not knell?"

"well there's a couple of reasons.... first you are not my king, I live in Green river secondly... dragons don't knell to anyone"

'other than Victoria I guess.... but that's because she's cut as h.e.l.l'

the king narrowed his eyes and the leader of the guards yelled

"what dragon, your just a dirty half breed!"

"....guess so, well I'm 50% more dragon then you will ever be which makes me 50% more awesome than you'll ever be"

"YOU! don't get c.o.c.ky you dirt half breed!"

just as the guard leader was about to order the guards to slaughter Mars the king yelled

"stop this nonsense at once!"

"but your majesty---"

"I said stop"

"yes your majesty"

the guard leader quieted down and sent a hateful glare at Mars, the king gave a soft sigh before he spoke again

"are you not afraid of death Mars?"

"....is that a threat?"

"no it's a genuine question"

"....no I'm not afraid of death"

"why not?"

Mars gave a wry smile

"who would be afraid of an old friend?"

the king's eyes widened for a moment before he fell silent and thought for some time until he finally stood up from his throne with a smile on his face

"everybody except for Mars is to leave the audience room at once"

the guard leader turned to the king with a stupid look on her face

"but you majesty we exist as you s.h.i.+eld if you send us away how can we protect you!"

"....you heard me the first time right Michele?"

"y-yes your majesty but---"

"no but's! leave!"

"y-yes your majesty!"

one the way out of the audience room the guard leader glared at Mars, but that was the only thing she could do and soon only Mars and the king was left in the audience room

"I apologize for Michele's actions"

"I don't mind, it kind of cute how devoted she is to you"

the king gave a sigh and stood up from his throne and gestured to the back of the throne

"come with me there's a room behind here were we can talk"

"...fine"

Mars followed after the king and walked past the throne and into a small hallway were the two of them eventually reached a small but comfy room, the king sat down and Mars sat down across for him, for a time the both of them looked at each other without saying anything until the king spoke and asked

"you are a apostle right?"

"...yeah I am"

Mars pulled out the 13 pointed silver star and showed it off to the king, the king took a deep breath and calmed down before he leaned in and asked in a low voice

"you are also a living G.o.d right?"

Mars' eyes widened slightly before he closed his eyes and listened for sometime until he confirmed there was no one listening in to their conversation before he gave a nod

"that I am, I'm the current living G.o.d of energy, but how did you find out?"

"well there was a couple of clues, first you can tear s.p.a.ce with you hands, secondly you did not bow to me, thirdly you seem unafraid of death and finally you are a apostle of the 13"

"I see... but where do you know about living G.o.ds from, to my understanding not meany mortals know about us"

the king sank back in his chair a looked up a the ceiling with a nostalgic smile on his face

"all kings are told about living G.o.ds when they take the throne, I was told by my father right before he died..."

"I see"

"well never mind those old stories.... I have called you here because I would like to ask a favor of you"

"...well I'm in a good mood, speak"

"first do you know about the country bordering us to the west?"

"hmm... can't say I do, well I never even knew there was a country to the west?"

"well technically it's a group of tribes made of demons that live in the wasteland that have banded together sometime in the last 50 years"

"I see, so what's the favor?"

"I want you to fetch a person from that country"

Mars thought about it for a moment, considering how board he had been since he crushed the invaders of the Mother forest and considering it was a king that asked him a favor he decided to agree

"fine, who am I fetching?"

"the next queen, their crown princess"

"...and why am I fetching her?"

"well here's the case, the current queen is against all contact with outsiders while the next in line is said to be different, I want to know for sure so I can set some trade plans in motion"

"I see and the current queen is just going to allow this?"

the king gave a wry slightly forced smile

"that's where you come in"

"I see.... sounds interesting"

"so you will agree to my request?"

"yeah, as I said it sounds interesting"

"that's truly good news..."

the king leaned back in his chair with a relaxed expression on his face

"is there any other matters we need to discuss?"

"hmm... there is the matter with the empires bounty on you.... I have done my best to block it in Destra, but I'm afraid my power isn't all reaching"

"what's the bounty currently at?"

"300.000 cel"

"I see... well if 10 men come, then 10 men will die"

"that's good well then I think that's all"

the king rose from his chair and reached his hand out to Mars, Mars gave a smile and shock it before he turned and left the hidden room and returned to the audience room which still was empty, he then walked up to the entrance and opened the door to the audience room were he found Max and the other guards waiting, as soon as Mars walked out Michele walked up to him with a fierce glare on her face

"where is his majesty!?"

"how should I know, maybe he went to take a p.i.s.s?"

"w-w-w-what are you saying you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!?"

Michele went completely red in the face as she stammered at Mars, as her face seemed to reach the boiling point her eyes suddenly turned cold before she took off her left gauntlet and threw it at Mars

"you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! you have shown zero respect for the crown, I challenge you to a duel!"

Mars looked down at the gauntlet on the floor with a slight smile on his face for a moment before he picked it up

"fine I accept"

Max gave a sigh from the sidelines meanwhile Mars sent someone to fetch his sword while he followed Michele and the rest of the guards to a nearby courtyard

"ready yourself for today will be the day of your death!"

"sure, sure whatever you say little kitten"

"w-w-what did you just call me you call me you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

"a kitten, it's because you keep meowing for attention... honestly it's kind of cute"

"w-w-w-w-w-w---"

Michele once again flushed red in her face while her lips kept trying to form a word, Mars gave a smile

"see there you go again"

Michele shut her mouth and glared at Mars with hate filled eyes and a face flushed crimson, it was unknown if it was from hate and anger or embarra.s.sment perhaps a good mix of all the former, at this moment Max arrived caring Mars' sword and handed it to him

"good luck"

"thanks"

Mars drew his sword and stood ready facing Michele