He was still speaking, "I think, he became greedy all of a sudden, he wants more of the goods. And he knows our kingdom wouldn't be able to come out victorious once a battle ensues, so he's so confident and doing whatever he likes".

They all shook their heads a little, then Emma's voice resounded, another question,

"But did a little fight almost occur when you guys were at their kingdom? 'Cause I'm aware these kinds of things always lead to war".

"Yes, a fight almost ensued. Many of us had already drawn out our swords from our scabbards, I didn't though. And that was the same case for the armies of the Chuvulan Kingdom,

But then suddenly, more of their armies started trooping in and their knights doubled. So if a fight was to occur at that moment, we'd definitely lose because they are mightier than us,

So we had to leave things like that and leave before things get out of hand".

"But the king hasn't decided yet, right?". Hazel threw a question.

"Yes, it wouldn't be that easy to decide, it would definitely take some time. I mean, this is something concerning kingdom to kingdom". Ethan retorted.

"But do you think the king would agree to double the tributes?". Lydia threw a question as well.

"Honestly, I don't know. But I'm having a feeling he'd call for a meeting soon so he'd hear the suggestions of the officials. With their suggestions, he might then be able to decide".

Aiden just sat there listening to everything, he was the only one that didn't ask a question but was listening to everything they were saying. And you know what? He was a little angry.

Why? 'Cause of what the king of the Chuvulan Kingdom was requesting. He wanted the tributes to be doubled from now on, what a greedy man he was.

'He deserves to die'. Aiden thought to himself.

They stayed in the living room for a long time talking about the current situation. Then Aiden suddenly changed the topic, he had heard enough of how the greedy king wanted double of the tributes.

Now, he wanted to talk about the dangers his father and the other knights and warriors came across while journeying to both kingdoms.

..He wanted to talk about magical beasts, he wanted to talk about how they battled them.

And yes, he did that, after successfully changing the topic, he and his dad started talking about it. He was asking his dad numerous questions as his dad was giving answers to them.

You know, he found it really cool that they battled the beasts and brought them down without any of them dying...

Apart from that, they also battled wild animals and brought every single one of them down without any of them dying...he found that really cool as well.

"So, we had to focus on the beast's core to completely bring it down. That's how we brought down all of the beasts we battled, they weren't that many".

Aiden shook his head a little in amazement, that's just a complete display of power. They battled more than one magical beast without any of them dying. And that was the same case for the carriages and horses.

None of the carriages were destroyed, and none of the horses were killed. Wasn't that great? Complete display of power. Aiden was wondering when he'd become as strong as that.

"I know what is running through your mind at this moment". Ethan said to Aiden.

"What is it?". Aiden inquired.

"You're wondering when you'd be able to acquire such power to battle a magical beast and bring it down without getting killed". Ethan responded.

"How did you know? Can you read minds now?". Aiden inquired with a bit of amazement on his face.

"No, I can't read minds, I could tell from your facial expression".

Aiden nodded his head a little, then Ethan's voice resounded again,

"Well, as time passes, with training, you'd be able to become strong that bringing down a certain rank of magical beast would become easy for you. Going to one of the academies specialized in training benders would help you accomplish this".

Aiden nodded his head a little then voiced out, "I'm definitely gonna go".

"Well, I'd be leaving you guys here to have a long conversation about this". Emma said as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on and walked out of the living room.

Now, not like she was leaving 'cause their conversation was boring. No, since the topic has been changed, she wanted them to have a father-and-son talk.

After Emma had finished walking out of the living room, Hazel and Lydia did the same. They stood up from the chairs they were sitting on and walked out of the living room.

Aiden and Ethan just sat there having a father-and-son talk. They conversed for minutes until Ethan said it was about time for them to go to sleep.

..So they left the living room and went straight to their different rooms.

******

The king did as expected, he called for a meeting 'cause he didn't want his head to blow up from overthinking. He couldn't decide on his own, so he wanted the suggestions of the officials.

So as early as in the morning, he had already sent for all of them. They were sitting in his palace currently all dressed in their meeting robes. Ethan was also present among them.

..Remember, though he was a warrior, he was still part of the officials.

They knew of the current situation, so there was no need for the king to talk much about it.

"So, what do we do? Do we agree to double their tributes though it would affect us in one way? Or do we refuse to and accept whatever results that come with it?". The king inquired.

The officials began giving their different suggestions. Some were saying they should double the tributes just to avoid trouble for they knew if a battle takes place, the Chuvulan Kingdom would definitely come out victorious.

While some were saying they shouldn't double the tributes, who was he to be requesting more goods? But the people that were saying they should double the tributes were more many than the ones that said they shouldn't double them.

..They were simply just trying to avoid trouble.

This didn't ease the king's confusion completely, but he was having an idea of what to do.

'Seems like I'd just have to double the tributes'. He thought to himself.

Then another suggestion came from nowhere, a strong one, a different one, the type the king wasn't expecting. And it came from a certain low-ranked noble.

"Why don't you try visiting the Chuvulan Kingdom though it's dangerous? I feel you guys should talk king to king. Tell him what you have in mind and see his reaction,

Things might be different since it's you telling him this now".

A certain high-ranked noble didn't waste time to rebuke him...

"Are you crazy? So you're saying the king should journey to the Chuvulan Kingdom? Where does that happen? Do you know the number of dangers on the way? Are you trying to give our majesty here a death sentence?".

..The high-ranked noble was rebuking him, meanwhile, the king was already contemplating what he said.

"I think that's a good idea". The king voiced out after he was done contemplating it.

Do you know the number of gazes that focused on him the moment he made that utterance? All the chiefs and nobles glanced at him with surprised facial expressions including the knights around.

..Even Ethan had a surprised expression plastered to his face as well...does the king knows what he was saying?

"Are you serious, my king?". A certain high-ranked chief inquired of the king.

"Yes, I'm serious, I should visit his kingdom so the both of us can talk king to king". The king stated.

"Are you aware of the amount of dangers you'd have to pass through on the way?". Another high-ranked chief inquired.

"I'm aware, but I trust the knights and warriors that would follow me to protect me properly. I mean, they've been going and coming back safely for years now. I'd stay in a really secure and strong carriage,

I know this is very dangerous, but I have to do this. Thanks for suggesting it". The king said glancing at the low-ranked noble that suggested it.

All the chiefs and nobles just opened their mouths in awe...the king was serious about what he was saying. Even the low-ranked noble that suggested it was a little surprised.

He didn't know the king would easily accept the suggestion. And this was making him a little afraid now.

Why? 'Cause if anything happens to the king on his way to the Chuvulan Kingdom or on his way back, people would blame him 'cause he was the one that suggested it.

..He might land in big trouble.

But the suggestion has been made and the king has accepted it...nothing can be done about it.