81 DEEPER THAN YOU THOUGHT 1 (1/2)

Stone pillars lined up straight, side by side, inside the main hall of the palace of the Butuan Kingdom.

A lady was gracefully advanced towards the high back chair where a man sitting comfortably with a crown on his head.

”Salamuyak pays respect to Sultan Alab,” the lady kneeled down holding the edge of the long urbane skirts of her gown.

”Don't be so formal. Call me father. There's only two of us here.” Sultan Alab chuckled. His daughter grew a lot.

”Yes, father.” The lady curved her lips slightly.

”How was it?” Sultan brimmed with anticipation.

”Kalipsi was no doubt strong.” Salamuyak knew how powerful the black-cloak men they have encountered inside the cave but he personally killed it by himself. But she hid the truth to his father.

She twisted the story a little bit. She reported that the strongest beast they have encountered was killed by Kalipsi alone as they let him do it. ”But I haven't seen Tala uses his power,” Salamuyak added.

The Sultan became silent for a moment. According to the elders that with the two, Tala managed to shield a powerful attack from a disciple of Far Eastern Academy and Kalipsi was no doubt strong as his daughter saw his power with her own eyes. He decided to look closely towards the two youth and his daughter volunteered.

”If there are unusual things about those two, report it to father immediately, okay?” Sultan patted the shoulder of his daughter.

”Yes, father.”

”Do you have something to do?” The Sultan asked.

”Nothing much. Why did you ask?” Salamuyak responded respectfully.

”I hope to dine with you. Can you do that for this father of yours?” Sultan hung a smile on his face.

”Of course father.” Salamuyak brimmingly responded. They eat together in a rare moment, so of course, Salamuyak wouldn't waste this opportunity to eat with her father again. Sultan unhurriedly ordered the servants to fetch some food for them as they leisurely chatted.

...

Sun passed through an open window, illuminating a dimly light room, revealing a young man-like figure with his braided hair hung on his back.

Ten pills circled around him whilst a force kept it floating. Faint fluctuations of his energy slowly subsided and the pills stopped and gathered in front of the young man.

He opened his eyes revealing his deep black pupils. Slowly raising his hand, he picked one of the pills and examined it.

”Not bad,” he murmured.

The pill was the inferior pill he has concocted so far. He intentionally made that quality in order to hide his true identity.

He materialized a bottle and put the pills inside.

He got up and went out to his room, striding towards a certain residence.

The young man planned on sneaking inside. He was confident that no one will be able to see or catch him, but he immediately brushed off that idea thinking that his reason for coming doesn't need to be concealed.

When he arrived at his destination, guards of the owner of the residence blocked his way in.

”This is a private residence of 1st elder. Do you have any appointments for him?” One of the four guards asked politely.

Though they didn't know the little man, their actions always reflect on their boss. As 1st elder was a kind person, they were tasked to be kind too by the right hand of the master of the house.

The young man fell silent for two seconds before he replied, ”I don't have.”

The guards fell silent for ten seconds before they ask, ”Sorry, young lad. We can't let you in.”

Understanding them, the lad nodded and turn around. Before he can step forward, another guard asked, ”May we know your name? So that we will able to notify the first elder that you came here.”

The lad faced him. ”I'm Tala.” He replied.

”Ta... Tala!” Guards were stunned. They haven't thought that they almost shoo him away.

1st elder personally notified them to let Tala and Kalipsi in if ever they came to seek his presence.

One of the guards rubbed his head and said, ”We're sorry for being incompetent. We have not recognized you. If you don't mind?” Just as his last word fell, he bowed down and gestured his hands of letting him in.

Tala fell confused, but he eventually entered the residence. 'I wonder of what did he says to them?'

Another guard accompanied him inside making it easier to locate 1st elder.

The guard knocked on the door of a library of the house. ”1st elder, Tala has come seeking your presence.”