And according to the look of things, the king doesn't plan on going back on his words, he truly plans on visiting the Chuvulan Kingdom.

What can the chiefs and nobles do other than accept his decision? The king's voice resounded again,

"So some of you knights would have to prepare yourselves for we'd soon embark on a journey soon".

He was saying this to the two knights standing beside him, but not like he was telling them they'd be among the knights that would embark on the journey with him.

After he was done making that utterance, he then glanced at Ethan and voiced out once again,

"Ethan, some warriors would be escorting me as well, you'd be among them".

"No problem, your majesty". Ethan stated bowing his head a little.

And at that moment, the king breathed in and out. Before all the chiefs and nobles left the king's palace, they talked about the time when the king would embark on the journey.

The king was the one that set the date, and all they had to do was agree to it.

******

At Aiden's academy, people were talking about the current situation. And what was the current situation? The Chuvulan Kingdom requesting for an increase in the tributes.

You see, even school wasn't excluded, they were talking about it there too. And it wasn't only in Aiden's academy, they were talking about it in other academies as well.

Right now, Aiden was in his classroom, and students in his classroom were talking about it. He wasn't excluded, he was also talking about it with his friends, Oliver and Ava.

They all squeezed themselves into Aiden's seat and were discussing it. No teacher was in their classroom currently.

"So, the king chose to become greedy all of a sudden? Like, what is his problem?". Ava voiced out.

"No one knows what his problem is, but all I know is that he is annoying". Uttered Oliver.

"He knows that if a war occurs between our kingdom and his, they'd come out victorious, that's why he's so confident". Aiden said.

"And who knows? We could change things, who says they'd have to come out victorious all the time? A war hasn't occurred between our kingdom and theirs before, and I hope it doesn't 'cause testing out who'd come out victorious would be a bad idea,

Destruction and death would definitely happen. That's why we are even paying tributes to them in the first place to avoid war. But we can change things that even when our kingdom and theirs battle, we'd come out victorious,

Our warriors and knights just have to train harder". Oliver uttered, and he was making a point.

Aiden and Ava nodded their heads in understanding, then Aiden's voice resounded,

"But war shouldn't occur at all. As you said, testing out who'd come out victorious would be a bad idea, it's risky. They should just settle the issue amicably. It's either we double the tributes, or our kingdom would find a way to change the king's mind".

Oliver and Ava nodded their heads, yes, that was making sense too...

"According to what I heard, the king would be journeying to the Chuvulan Kingdom soon though it's dangerous to see if he'd be able to change the king's mind. And some knights and warriors would be escorting him. Do you think that's a great idea?". Uttered Oliver.

"Whether it's a great idea or not, it has to be done. We even have to be thankful to the king for doing this, he's trying to avoid trouble, he's trying to see if he can change the king's mind. It has to be done". Aiden said.

"And seems like your dad would be among the warriors escorting him". Ava said.

"Yes, he'd be among them". Aiden stated.

"You know, I really respect your dad, he's helping out this kingdom in many ways. After coming back from the journey of paying tributes to both kingdoms, he'd be embarking on another journey soon, he's amazing,

You can imagine the stress they had to pass through before arriving at both kingdoms, the things they had to battle on the way. And now, he'd have to embark on another one soon and pass through those obstacles again,

And he's an official, isn't that amazing?". Oliver uttered.

"Yes, that's definitely amazing". Ava backed up Oliver.

Aiden didn't say anything, a smile was just plastered on his face. He didn't have to say anything, but he knew his dad was amazing.

"So, did your dad tell you stories of how they battled magical beasts?". Oliver inquired of Aiden.

"Yes, we talked about it for minutes, and it was so cool. He told me how they destroyed the beasts' cores to bring them down, complete display of power. It made me start wondering when I'd become as strong as that". Aiden retorted.

"Hmmm, it would definitely take time, we still have a long way to go when it comes to acquiring that level of strength". Said Oliver.

..And Ava and Aiden had no choice but to nod their heads to Oliver's utterance, he was saying the truth.

******

The day has come for the king to embark on the journey to the Chuvulan Kingdom. It was currently noon, and all the knights and warriors that would be escorting the king were in front of the king's palace.

They were all prepared with their different horses, and there was nothing like carriages attached to some horses. They wouldn't be delivering any goods to the Chuvulan Kingdom, so there was no need to carry carriages along.

But there was only one carriage, a strong one, a different kind of carriage, and it was attached to the horse of a certain warrior.

..Who was the carriage meant for? The king.

Yes, he'd have to stay in the carriage, he can't stay on a horse along with them? He'd have to stay in a protected place, and even though the place was secured, the knights and warriors would still be keeping an eye on him.

They'd still have to be protecting him though he was already in a protected place. When they'd come across dangerous things, they'd now have to put more effort into protecting him.

Ethan was among the warriors in front of the king's palace, and he was fully prepared for this journey. He was with his sword, and he was also present with his horse.

..Now, not all the knights and warriors that embarked on the journey to pay tributes to both kingdoms were in front of the king's palace currently.

That was the king's instruction, not all of them would be embarking on this journey with him. The little with him can do the job of protecting him.

There were also some chiefs and nobles in front of the king's palace currently, they were here to wish the king good luck as he'd be journeying to the Chuvulan Kingdom.

The king was ready to embark on the journey now, and immediately, he began walking toward the carriage until he entered it.

By now, the chiefs and nobles had already wished him good luck on the journey. Immediately, the knights and warriors began mounting their different horses, it was time for them to begin embarking on the journey.

..The warrior had already mounted the horse which the king's carriage was attached to.

And by now, they had already begun embarking on the journey. As they were riding the horses on the road, people were glancing at them as usual.

..But now, the reason why they were glancing at them was different.

They knew the king was among them, what he was doing was risky, but he has to do it. All of them sighted the carriage attached to a horse, and they had already discerned that's where the king was.

Many of them just kept hoping he'd go and come back safely, he was a good king.

By now, they had already covered kilometers while embarking on the journey, but they hadn't come across anything dangerous, the journey had been smooth so far.

Minutes passed again as they covered meters, and they hadn't still come across anything dangerous. Now, not like they were hoping to come across something dangerous, they wish the journey can be smooth throughout.

..But they have to tell themselves the truth, that isn't possible.

While Ethan was on his horse riding it, he began thinking of the conversation he had with his wife the night he told her he was gonna be embarking on another journey with the king.

It was still regarding the paying of tributes stuff. Yes, he remembered the expression on her face, it was gloomy.

She was like, 'It hadn't been long since you arrived, and now, you'd be embarking on another journey?'.

She wasn't happy, but she was a good wife, she knew this must have to be done...it was to the benefit of everyone in the Tuvalon Kingdom, she was proud of her husband.

A smile appeared on Ethan's face as he was thinking about it, he loved his wife, Emma...she was a good woman.