The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Seya smiled at his mother.

- It's done. She's fine now.

The Princess sat upon her bed, looking with surprise at her hands and moving her fingers.

- I can feel my body again! Dad, Mom, I'm hungry...

The Royal Healers, the Queen, and the King started to talk at the same time.

- Impossible... we couldn't do anything... even the High Healer was not able... how can a small child accomplish such a thing... without chanting?

The Queen rushed to the Princess, touching her arms and legs. Seeing the Princess nodding her head, confirming that everything was ok, she hugged the little Princess, crying again, but this time, crying of happiness.

- My beautiful child! Quick, bring food to the Princess, she didn't eat all day!

One of the Royal Healers bowed to the Queen and went to the door.

- Yes, my Queen!

Anna immediately stepped in front of the Royal Healer, stopping him before he could leave the room.

- Wait! My King, no one must know what Seya did, ever!

- Royal Healer, you heard Anna. Bring food to the Princess, but if you speak with anyone, be careful what you say. For all purposes, it was the High Healer Anna Hinamoto who healed the Princess. Does everyone understand?

The Royal Healers and the Queen agreed. That was the least they could do as thanks.

- Yes, my King.

Anna bowed to the King, smiling.

- Thank you, my King. Seya is still too young to get any kind of reputation or rumors, it would only bring trouble for him.

- I understand. Now, can you and your son wait for me in the Meeting Room? I wish to stay sometime with my daughter and my Queen.

Anna and Seya bowed to the King, before leaving the room.

- Yes, my King.

…

Sometime later, the King arrived at the Meeting Room, where Anna and Seya were already seated, waiting. The King smiled and made a gesture for telling them to stay put and he then sat on one of the chairs, next to them.

- Being able to heal my daughter when not even you could... How old is he, Anna?

- He's 10 years old, my King.

- The Princess is 6, she still plays a lot and fools around, like a normal girl of her age. Your son acts and speaks like he's a lot older. And such amazing amount of Healing Magic!

Anna smiled and she gently rubbed Seya's head.

- He's been like this since he was a baby. At first, he surprised me every day, but now, nothing really surprises me about him. I just see him as a sweet and loving child that the Goddess decided to give me.

- I see... So, we can expect great things from him when he gets older, don't we? Now, we must talk about your rewards.

Anna shook her head.

- My King, we don't need any, I just did my duty. I'm glad that we could be of assistance.

- But for such a deed, I must reward both of you accordingly!

- For me, it's enough if my King allows me to return home and continue working around the Kingdom when I'm needed, instead of being confined to the Royal Palace.

- As always, you make it sound like living in this Palace, it's a prison... Ahahaha!... And you little one, there's anything that you want as a reward?

Seya looked for a few moments at the King, very seriously. He wanted to confirm some things, to adjust his life plan accordingly.

- My King, I have a question, if my King could answer...

- So respectful! Ok, you may ask anything. If I can answer, I will.

- If I have an idea to improve something in the Kingdom, or if I have an original tool, is there any way to protect my idea or my tool, so that no one can sell it instead of me? Or if they sell, can I receive a part of the money?

- Mmmmhhh.... there's one Royal Law like that, The Ownership Law. My father created that. Since I've become King, there were only two times when it was used. When a person came to me to talk about a new kind of fishing net and when another person showed me a new type of hunting bow. Both tools are being sold throughout the Kingdom and those two persons are receiving a copper coin each time one of those is sold.

Seya was thinking aloud, while mumbling, to put his ideas in order before looking again at the King.

- … One copper coin for each fishing net sold... that could amount to a lot of money if 100 persons buy the new fishing net... My King, who controls the sellings? It's not possible for a seller being able to sell 10 fishing nets and lie, saying that he only sold 5?

- Each merchant must make accurate records, for him to calculate his monthly taxes accordingly. But you are right, a merchant could tamper with his records, and for that, on the Ownership Law, there's also a punishment for those that don't obey and get caught. That punishment is decided by the owner when he shows me his idea and asks for an Ownership Law.

- Even if the punishment is death?

- Upon agreement between me and the owner, yes, it can be. Normally, if the punishment is big, the less a merchant tries to do anything illegal.

- Mmmhmmmm... I see, so there's already such a Law...

King Rohan was looking at Seya, that was mumbling again, surprised by the serious look on his face and his concentration.

- Why the strange question? Do you already have something to show me?

Seya shook his head, negating. He wasn't ready yet, he needed some proofs.

- … Mmmhhh... Not yet. I'm still making some experiments in my fields back home. Let's see how the harvest turns out. But when I have something, what must I do to apply for an Ownership Law?

- You ask for a private audience with me and my advisors. You present a project or show something that you think can be important or profitable, explain what it can be used for and how or what good it will do. Of course, the manufacturing process or any Magic involved, you don't need to show. That project or object is then put to display at the House of Commerce to see if any merchant wants to sell it. Or I can buy it. It depends if it benefits the Kingdom or just a group of people. But remember, the Ownership Law is only valid for a period of 3 years. After that, anyone can copy and sell it and you stop receiving a part of the money.

- Can I have a shop and be the only one to sell that object?

- Yes, you can. Until another merchant copies you.

Seya crossed his fingers over the table, in deep thought.

- … I see...

Anna had her mouth open and completely silent throughout the entire conversation. But when Seya stopped and she noticed the King looking at Seya with a very serious and thoughtful look, she tried to excuse Seya.

- My King, please excuse my son, he's always like this, always thinking and making difficult questions!

- He's quite remarkable indeed! Young Seya, it's that all you want to know?

The King looked at Anna, smiling, very amused by that young boy.

- Anna, are you sure he's only 10?