Chương 50: Book 2; Chapter 49; Confrontation (2)

Reply from The One would come in the simplest possible complete package of knowledge, understanding, and most importantly, through the feelings, suitable for the particular person it was addressed to. It cannot be shared as it is unshareable, as other people would not understand your package, as they have different lives, different understanding, and different abilities, and when The One would send a reply to them, even if the question is the same, the reply for them would be different.

It would lead to the same truth, but by the route that is most suitable for that particular person and not for anyone else. Information received can and must be shared at any opportunity given, but the "package" from which this information has come is impossible to share. How can words help here? One may know a million words, yet it might not be sufficient to convey a single feeling for the other person to understand what the speaker was trying to express.

The answer came in understanding how a moment's decision can be taken by the river of life, enlarged, inflated, and picking up speed over the years. How it would escalate to enormous power, engulfing everything on its way and growing bigger from all that it had absorbed. One moment's choice, one decision, risen from mainly unselfish motivations, including one lie while trying to benefit many, while trying to do the right thing…

A real example of how one little flop, one little mistake, one lie could get out of the creator's control and become such a powerful influence, influencing and changing people's lives and the history of the nations. The greater power one has over the world and others, the greater influence such a mistake will have on others and on the world. It is not about how big the mistake is, it is mainly about who made it.

Rainee calmed herself down, stood up, with one move pulled her sword from the ground, leaving a deep opening in the floor, and with a swift movement mounted the sword back to her side. She straightened herself, looked again into the King's eyes for a few seconds, and said in a loud and commanding voice:"By the order of the King, leave now and return to your usual lifestyle in exchange for the awareness and knowledge you just witnessed.

If you choose to stay, you can keep your knowledge, but by staying, you make a lifetime agreement to join the King's services, obey, and accept orders from your King and superior royal officers at all times. If you choose to leave this position at any time in the future, all knowledge of Royal matters you gain while serving the King, including moments you have witnessed now, might be lost to you, no matter how much time passes.

If you choose servitude, your life will belong to the King first and only then to yourself. You have 90 seconds to make a decision – leave or stay. Time starts now." After finishing her speech, Rainee stood straight with one hand resting on the hilt of the sword. The King, on the other hand, walked back to the sofa and seated himself in the same relaxed position, with his arms stretched across the sofa's back and one leg over another. Rainee was looking at the King while waiting.

What she said obviously wasn't addressed to him. Before the King came, she was alone in this hall, but not in the building. There were very few people in the next room, trying to get a glimpse of the "legendary" General, who was supposed to be dead, but apparently had secretly taken a vacation from royal forces to teach them in this remote School. When the King came, they got quiet but didn't leave. None of them would understand what had just happened, and what had happened was not a part of their lives.

All that they witnessed came by accident. What has been seen and heard cannot be reversed without a person's permission. Still, it was also not fair to people to be left with lots of confusion in their minds about what just happened, and they didn't have any chance to understand any of it, and if left as they are now, their lives would change drastically, they might even be called mad people.

So she had given them a chance to go back to their normal lives and forget what they have just witnessed, or stay and join the Royal courtier ranks, then they can know and find out more. She made it very clear what she meant not only by voice. To inform them, she also sent each person an understanding message of what she just said, so everyone was denied a chance to misunderstand or misinterpret.

Also, each of them was fully informed about how their personal life would continue if one or another path were taken, based on the knowledge and possibilities of this very moment. Such a prediction can be very accurate or not, depending on how many unknown factors will join in the future. But nevertheless, it was entirely understandable for those who received it to realise what twist life would take depending on the decision made.

She didn't have to wait long, just after a few seconds, people started to sneak out of the building. It didn't surprise her. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. No matter how interesting it might be to learn some things about the King or a General, to change life completely for it, one needed dedication and desire, not just to be randomly dragged into it.

And despite many of those who were leaving now had a wish and desire to join the King's services, and after forgetting what they had just experienced, most would sign up for it, it wasn't the same. People didn't know how it felt to be at the King's services or under the command of others. After signing, they would find it out slowly, and if it doesn't suit, they are free to leave and come back at any time. That's the beauty of not knowing in advance, you take it slowly and see what is best for you.

Now she passed information on how it will really feel without giving time to adapt to it – take it or leave it. Not many can do it. There has to be a reason behind, stronger than all you just discovered. The way she informed everyone didn't leave them any doubt that this decision would be irreversible and would take place as soon as 90 seconds ran out. And it was irreversible, and no other arrangements or agreements were needed – the word was passed, the message sent and received, the decision chosen was final.

She didn't need to go and check if anyone was still left in the room – she could feel everyone who was in the room, in the building, or even outside. She knew very well how many were affected by the scene that had just occurred and made sure that each and every one of them heard what she said and what the outcome would be. She even knew how they felt after hearing it. Seconds were ticking, people were leaving, the King was resting, and Rainee was standing at ease. Three, two, one – time was up.

The King lifted his eyebrow in a questioning manner. Rainee couldn't "read" the King's feelings in the same way as everyone else's, but this time she could easily guess what that raised eyebrow meant, as she herself was surprised, too. But she didn't say anything, so the King broke the silence:"A friend? Can it be that after so many years, you found a friendship in someone else, not just that black devil of yours and those two good-for-little sons of mine?"

"….." Rainee snapped out of her thoughts. First, after realising that despite all odds, not everyone left, she was surprised. Then touched to the depth of her heart by the reason why her friend Anniet stayed, but after the words "good-for-little sons" left the King's mouth, all that was forgotten, and the same overwhelming feeling overflowed her again. By all means, what is it?!

"That, my beautiful daughter, is an anger." Anger… Rainee has felt anger in other people many times, but it never felt anything like this… Has she become an angry person? Still, anger is just an emotion, just a feeling. She has taught others how to let it go countless times, and she has witnessed success many times, too. As with any other feeling, you just walk through it, acknowledging and feeling it through, not taking it together, leaving it in the past, but without a reason to return to it.

For every feeling to rise, there has to be a reason. Once the reason is acknowledged and accepted and lived through, that feeling is not needed any more. Never before has she done it on herself, never before did she need it, but it worked the same as if she had done it many times. Anger was rapidly draining out, disclosing what it was hiding behind, and to no surprise, it was pain. Such an enormous amount of pain that it nearly crushed her.

The "well-known" reasons for this pain came up, but she chose not to acknowledge them. Firstly, she didn't want to, and secondly, it will enwrap her back in the same vicious circle from which the King obviously has just unwrapped her. If she brings up the same reasons, it will bring the same outcome, as for change to occur, something has to be changed.

"Dark has become a popular colour lately," - the King said, standing up, - "but I don't think it would suit you in any possible way."

"Are you telling me that I have become an angry person?" – Rainee asked in a relatively calm voice. She can bear this pain, she can keep it open and live with it until the true reasons for it are found and discharged. Or should she say, ways to discharge them are found. It is just another pain. One more layer. Good that it has been opened, no matter how badly it stinks.

"People don't become angry," - the King disagreed, - "they experience anger."

"You just introduced it to me, so it is obvious I didn't experience it before."

"But you did," - the King smiled. – "Just even you yourself didn't realise the way you used to experience it. Everyone calls this part of you vicious, fierce, and temperamental. But I disagree. I admire her, neither less nor more than the rest of you. Unfortunately, she cannot help you right now, so you are left all by yourself. I have never seen such an ability before and find it most remarkable, and have been jealous of it so many times." It was more than obvious to Rainee what the King was talking about.

"Did you… kill her?" – She asked in a quiet voice.

"I would never kill any part of you," - the King said softly.

"Can I have her back?" – She asked, closing her eyes as she didn't want them to reveal the pain she was experiencing because of this separation. Now it has become so clear and obvious, as if these few words said by the King had pulled away some veil that was closing her eyes. Her beautiful dragon was famous for its tantrums and unpredictable moods that sometimes made even her wonder what was happening in her head. Now it has become more than clear.

Each dragon possessed the ability to help its master in the most beneficial way. It was funny to call the person of the dragon a master, as there were no masters in this relation. Not even a relation. It was the same person in two forms, or rather, a piece of a person's soul born into a non-human creature. So up until now, she didn't even know her own dragon's real ability…

"Yes," the King answered to her question, - "if you can handle her."

"I will," - Rainee said firmly, without a single doubt in her voice. Long-lasting tension was finally broken, and she felt relieved again – she will get her back! Not so long ago, for such a promise, she would run and hug the King, or at least would smile at him with all the gratitude she was experiencing, ingrained in that smile. Now things were different, and instead her eyes were turning away - a very unpleasant feeling.

"I don't like the person I am becoming," - she said, forcing her look back to the King.

"You are the same person as you have always been," - the King disagreed again. – "It is just that our relationship has reached a turning point where we cannot see what is in front of us, and the road here is slightly bumpy. None of us is used to these unpleasant situations, and it feels awkward. That's all."

"I haven't forgiven you," - Rainee said.

"I didn't expect you to."

"Then why did you come?"

"How many reasons do you want to hear?"

"Two," - Rainee said without thinking. There is no time or possibility to name all the reasons that make one take a decision. To hear only one, it would make it "The Reason" when there is never such a thing. So two is the minimum number one should choose, and preferably the maximum number too, as when mentioning only two, the most important with the most weight will be named.