The Crimson Prince： Awakening 65 Chapter 3: The Late King's Summons

"About time you finally wake up." Leo said as his best friend rose from the bed in the large fire lit room. "We were starting to take bets if you were even going to get up."

"Who bet that I would sleep the whole day?" The prince asked as he scratched his bedhead.

"Well," Leo said with a grin. "Everyone thought you'd be out for days after the attack you unleashed on Aremesis, so pretty much just me." Leo gave a wry smile as he thought of the money he would have to pay up.

"n.o.body wins this bet I'm afraid."

"You're awake buddy," Leo said

"Yes, I'm awake." The prince said as he rose from the bed. "But William is not in right now. And since his body has risen, yet the mind is wandering, I'm afraid n.o.body wins this bet."

"That would make you Cainus then." Leo said. He put his hand to his forehead and sighed deeply. "We are going to have one upset girl after all this is cleared up, aren't we?" Leo thought of Maya and how long it took for him to convince her to go to her a.s.signed room to sleep. Were it not past midnight, he had no doubt that she would have been by Will's bedside until he awoke. He also tried to get her a change of clothes from the ragged tatters of her midnight black dress, but she politely declined.

"Will promised to be the one to pick out my next outfit when we go to New York when he wakes up." Maya had said on the way out of the chamber.

Now that Leo was looking at Will's body, yet Cainus in the drivers seat, he couldn't help but have a nagging feeling it would take a while for them to trade spots again.

Will's body was fairly damaged from the fight with Aremesis. As Cainus got to his feet, he winced while clutching a bandaged stomach. "Weren't healers sent to fix this mess?" Cainus said as he limped over to the wardrobe.

"I'm pretty sure that's what the bandages are for." Leo said. "Will's body is already healing at a rapid rate and Bianca is busy with the others that were damaged in the fight."

"I thought the royal line would come first in service." Cainus said as he opened the wardrobe and took out a fine red robe with a matching vest which were embroidered in gold and a pair of pants to match them. Setting them on the bed, he went to a dresser and took out a white b.u.t.ton up collar shirt with ruffles down the center.

Leo watched as Cainus put together his outfit. "There's a different order of precedence from our world." He said as Cainus tucked in the white shirt into his fine pants and put on a red vest. "The ones who need the service more are helped first."

Cainus b.u.t.toned up the robe over the vest and put on a pair of black leather boots, followed by a belt which was covered in fine gems within a gold belt buckle. "What other changes do you outsiders intend to bring into the land I painstakingly put together?"

"I take it no one is supposed to think that you are Will?" Leo shrugged off the late king's question.

"That's not the plan." Cainus said as he went to the door of the chamber. "Call the others to the meeting hall," he said as he opened the door. "We have much to discuss."

Cainus

Walking into the throne room, his red robe flowing over the polished granite floor, Cainus took a seat in the golden throne and awaited his meeting.

"It's nice to see you wearing the colors." A strong voice said behind Cainus. "But I'm not dead yet." King Ragnos stepped out from behind the throne and looked at his son.

"True," Cainus said with a quizzical tone. "Though I had hopes that you would borrow the throne to an old friend." Cainus's hazel eyes flashed blue and a shock of gold hair spilled down the robe.

"Cainus?" The king's eyes went wide as his son transformed into his late teacher. Instantly King Ragnos went to a knee and bowed deeply. "My apologies," he said with a softer tone. "n.o.body told me that the first king was going to make an appearance."

"Sadly," Cainus said as he allowed his appearance to return to that of Will's." That is what this meeting is about."

"Has something happened to my son?" The king's voice became worrisome as his thoughts went to reasons which his son would not be present.

"Be patient William." Cainus said as he lifted the King's head softly by his chin. When their eyes met, he let go. "Everything will be explained momentarily."

"Will!" The kings turned their attention to the main hall doors as the burst open. A dark figure raced down the hall in a speed of desperation. Her dark hair flew behind to match the tattered dress she wore. "Why didn't you wake me as soon as you came to?" Maya gasped as she collected herself at the stair of the throne.

Taking a moment to process what she was seeing, Maya's eyes went wide as she noticed King Ragnos kneeling before his son. Her gaze went to Will and noticed immediately that he was not in his usual black jacket. His cross and dog tags had been removed as well.

"Maya," Cainus said in a soothing tone. "It's good to see you again."

Recognition hit her as soon as her name was spoken. "Where is Will?"

"You and the King ask the same question, yet I must wait for the whole reception." Cainus said as he watched more men and women entering the hall. "I do not wish to repeat myself."

Maya

Waiting as patiently as she could, Maya folded her arms and stared at Will who wasn't Will as he relaxed within the granite throne.

The last time she had seen the late king, he was tying her essence to Will's in order for her to gain her lineage weapon. She remembered the power behind his voice as it boomed. She remembered the vows she had made when she placed the ring on her ring finger. Maya knew that Cainus had only little to do with the transformation she had gone through that night. She knew that most was Will's intention.

Will wanted some way to rid Maya of the darkness that had been fueling and siphoning off of her. He knew she was on a time limit. She had no control over her body at the time. She could only do as Aremesis asked. With all the desperation at the time, as they embraced one more time before the final battle, Will had given her a new aura which allowed her to gain her freedom.

If that freedom wasn't enough, he had also given her a weapon which had shown his complete trust in her. As she placed the ring on her finger, Cainus came to her and bonded her to Will, changing her aura once more.

Even though the darkness hadn't completely left her, she had the gold lining within her dark aura to show her free will through the curse. Though the flame had given her back her life, no one knew what type of side effects if any the gold flame would give.

Maya's eyes snapped back to reality as she saw Cainus rise to his feet. She heard the closing of the hall doors which she turned to. The hall was full of the orphans she had made and the slaves she had freed. She looked back to the doors through the crowd and saw that Leo was guiding a tired looking Bianca through the wielders.

As Maya inspected Bianca as she approached, she noticed how pale she was. Her hands had a slight red appearance, as if she had washed blood off of them so many times it may have stained. Her tired eyes met Maya's and she gave a small half smile which was returned.

Not too long ago, Maya had chased Bianca off as she selfishly tried to bring Will home instead of continuing the responsibilities which had been forced upon him. For only a moment, she had worried that he would follow his old girlfriend through the archway.

Will had surprised her when he turned Bianca down. He had basically given up his old life for that of the prince he had become. He had shed off the carefree life he had before he had met Maya, and instead turned to the hundreds in front of him calling out for his aid.

When Bianca returned, Maya didn't know what to think at first. She kept an eye on Will as he slept. She didn't want Bianca to get too close in case she had ulterior motives. It wasn't until she noticed the scorned ex girlfriend healing all of the wounded that she finally decided to sleep.

Bianca and Leo took their places by Maya. Michael and Jonathan stood behind them. She didn't even see them approach and had to wonder how long they had been in the hall.

"Everyone is present and accounted for." Maya called to Cainus. "Where is Will?"

Cainus

"What are you talking about, Maya?" Someone shoved his way to the front. "Will's right there." Roy pointed at the prince. He winced a little as his sore chest where the bullet entered throbbed.

"Careful Roy." Bianca said in a motherly tone. "Your wound is sewn with my aura, but try not to move your arm too much until it's completely healed."

"That's not Will." Maya said with certainty. "This is Cainus, First King of Ebonhart."

There was a small murmur from the crowd. Even though they tried to be quiet, the hall amplified the noise, making it hard to hear over.

Cainus couldn't blame them. Not many knew about the blood pact that all of the heirs to the throne make. His teaching was meant to be secret. He was never meant to be a stand in for one of his students.

"Enough." Cainus called out calmly. Though he spoke quietly, everyone could feel the power within the words. "I called this meeting today to explain the chain of events and what will be transpiring with your prince for the foreseeable future."

The hall quieted down instantly. "Your Prince William is now training with my master in order to attain new understanding of then elemental gifts. He will be gone for as long as it takes. It may take as short a time as this meeting, or as long as ten to twenty years."

"Why so long?" Maya asked in a panicked tone. "Can't your master just tell him a training routine and send him on his way?"

"That would be the case if he had continued his training the way he had before facing Aremesis." Cainus said. "But he used power he had not yet unlocked, destabilizing his body and throwing him off balance." He allowed the words to sink in for a moment. "If he doesn't learn how to master the ability he has awakened, it will take over his body and destroy him from the inside."

"You are here," Jonathan said quietly. "It doesn't look like my son's body is damaged beyond repair as you stroll around in it."

"I am a wielder within the line of kings, Jonathan." Cainus turned his attention to Will's dad. "Holding this power is something extremely dangerous even to myself. It is taking everything just to have me stand here and give you this information."

"This is coming from Ragnos himself." Cainus shouted throughout the hall. "Your prince will be gone for some time. He suggests you continue with your improvements to the land. Train your young wielders." A weary gaze went to King Ragnos. "There will be no more wielders to be born from your aura, William." He watched as the king weighed his words carefully. "This is what you have until your son finishes his training, make sure they are ready."

"I have finished what I have come here for." Cainus said wearily. "Take the prince's body back to his chambers and look after him until he returns."

Jonathan and Michael put their hands under Cainus's shoulders to catch him as he fell. "Train them well." He said before his eyes closed and demeanor of a sleeping prince replaced that of the late king.