THE THIRD MAGE 33 Listen Carefully

*knock knock*

She quickly cleared her things and placed them all in the pouch. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Hiro."

Denaire arranged herself before letting him come in.

"Hiro, it's late. Why aren't you asleep?"

"I'd like to ask that to you too."

Denaire laughed. "Well, I'm afraid I really can't sleep. Can't you sleep too?"

"Sort of. Do you mind if I stay here with you for a bit?"

"Sure thing. You want to talk about something?"

Hiro sat on her bed and covered his face with his hands. "I don't know. I really kept thinking of what happened earlier. I really want to kill him."

"Who? The King?"

Hiro peeked through his fingers and nodded. Denaire sighed and sat beside her. "Tell me Hiro. What made you so mad that time?"

Hiro sighed and put down his hands. "All my life, my Mama taught me to respect women. She was left by my father when she was bearing me. I saw her working so hard to give me the proper education I should have before the Magoria. We were in middle cla.s.s before.

"And then, when I was promoted to a n.o.ble, I didn't forget about her. I snuggled some delicious food for her. And when I started working, I gave her a huge portion of my salary. She was my life back then, and until now. And I really do not want my woman suffer like that.

"I do not want any woman to be left alone to take care of their son because living is meant to be shared by two loving people. They work hand in hand to provide and support their family.

"And when I saw that vile King, abusing his power to get whatever he wants and doing those things in broad daylight, I don't know what to believe anymore.

"He even asked me to be with him doing those vile things! And he asked me to take you too! What evil sorcery! I would never let him touch you. I would never let any harm befall you."

Denaire was touched. She couldn't understand the feeling she's having now that she didn't know she was hugging Hiro and crying in thanks.

"Hiro, thank you for taking care of me. Thank you because I don't know where I might be sold to, and I can't imagine myself being sold to the likes of the King. Thank you for being here with me, for without you, I might have killed myself. Thank you so much Hiro."

Hiro held Denaire's face. "Hey look at me. You don't need to thank me. It's the least I could do. And when I first saw you, I knew you were the one I have been looking for in my whole life."

"But when you first saw me, you kicked me. You hurt me!" Denaire spat out.

"I had to do that to make me look like I was hard on the prisoners. It hurt me to hurt you but I have to show to them that I wasn't soft. A general's first rule is to never waver. I might be accused of treason for that."

Denaire covered her mouth. "That bad? You Exoshans are so violent and strict."

Hiro wiped the tears on Denaire's face. "We weren't like this a long time ago. But when Queen Lydia sat on the throne – "

"Wait hold up!" Denaire raised his hand. "A Queen ruled Exosha?"

"Yes, before."

"How come?"

"It was the time of the coup, when her husband, King Helion denied the notion of one of the generals to declare war against Nomosyne. King Helion's belief was that all the nations in Aenario should live in peace and harmony.

"But the Queen didn't want that. She encouraged so many people to rise against the King with her, telling that warring was the only thing that would let them prosper.

"So, when they killed the King, the people elected her to lead the nation. And that's when Exosha started eyeing every kingdom around it.

"But over the years, many people started to rebel against her. So many lives were lost in the constant war she was waging. Many have shown mercy to the prisoners and many have fled the country. Even the no-mages rebelled when the Queen focused on them.

"After putting out all rebellion, she immediately decreed those rules with the punishment equivalent to treason. And since the succeeding Kings were her vile offspring, Exosha got no choice but to follow them."

"Maybe you could unite and fight against this evil monarchy."

"So many have tried Denaire. But no one knew that this line of royalty possess a unique power. They could summon lightning at will."

Denaire jerked up in shock.

"Yes, contrary to everyone's belief that lightning could only be summoned when the moon is shining, their family could do it without the moon. All the other few lightning wielders could only do it with the moon, but with them, they can summon it any time.

"And always, they would strike during a volcanic eruption where their lightning would be a hundred times stronger – an instant kill."

"Do you think that's what happened during the no-mage rebellion?"

"Yes. But I don't get it why the no-mages rebelled all by themselves when in the first place they didn't have the means to fight against magic wielders."

Denaire was shocked. Surely they should know because this is where the no-mages first used their powers.

"Why? What does it say in your history?"

"It only says that the no-mages rebelled because they want fairer rights. They fought with swords and shields and arrows. But they should have known those efforts were futile right? I mean, against fire wielders? They will never stand a chance."

Denaire's face darkened. "Hiro, do you want to know what really happened?"

"You know?" Hiro asked incredulously.

"If I say yes, do you want to hear it?"

"Sure. That's the part of our history that I'm confused at. And how do you know about it?"

"Let's just say I knew one survivor from it. And please don't share anything about it. Do you promise?"

Hiro looked at Denaire, with resolve in his face. "I promise. I promise with all my life."

"Then listen carefully."