The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

While Seya and Titania were with the Dragonoids, Aria was talking with Ryn. Or at least, she was trying, because Ryn was pale and silent since Aria pulled her to sit on a rock nearby while the others were playing in the water.

- Well, I want to explain some things to you… hey, are you listening? Hello!

- Sorry… I'm a little nervous…

- Yes, I'm a frightening little girl, all right… I'm what, half your size? Knnya… knnya… knnya…

- Ahahah! Yeah, if you say it like that…

- Ok, listen to me very carefully, because I will say this only once! Knnya… knnya… knnya… I really love this joke!

Now, enough fooling around. What I'm going to tell you, keep it to yourself, ok? Well, every 1.000 years, when I notice that this world has become stagnated with no improving or significative advancement, I travel everywhere to look for a being that can be truly remarkable and I help him, from time to time, until he becomes a force to push my world and my people forward. This time, that being is Seya. And because you are following him around since the first day of school, you know what I'm talking about.

- So, you do have plans for him! Seya thinks that you just like to mess with him!

- Well, that is also true. I really like to see him nervous. But the fact is that I granted him the ability to use all the Attributes of Magic. He learned how to use them, all by himself.

I was very happy when he fell in love with you, but I misjudge his RabbitKind blood. It's stronger than I would have guessed. The 'imprint' part, for example. Arys already explained to you that it's a physical signal for when a RabbitKind falls in love, right? One other is the natural instinct that race has to have more than one partner. I don't know if it will apply to Seya, but it's better if you prepare yourself for that. Or maybe nothing like that happens. I never know what to expect from that crazy brat.

- You mean… he can fall in love with another woman?

- Well, yes. But that doesn't mean that he may stop loving you. RabbitKind is a very interesting race. They can love in the same amount, more than one partner. And treat them equally. But I'm only guessing, I don't know if it will be like that with Seya. But, either way…

- Yeah…

…

Inside the Dragonoid cave, Seya opened a Gateway to the new Inn. Titania hid her light so that she couldn't be detected and she followed Seya. As soon as Seya crossed, he was at the front of the Inn. The others were not there, but Seya heard some voices inside the building of the pool. He went inside and he stopped, with his mouth open. In the pool, Seya saw a lot of whirlpools, tornados and some small waterspouts. The water was scattered everywhere. Princess Heiji jumped from the water, made a twist in the air and she dives in again. On the other side of the pool, the King did the same. Everyone else was seated on the chairs, clapping their hands and shouting. Suddenly, the King came flying and he hit hard on the floor, butt first, near Seya.

- Ouch, my butt… I really thought that this time I would get her!

A very happy Princess had her head above the water.

- Three wins for me, none for you. I'm the champion! Hahahahah! No one can beat me!

Hearing that, Seya turned the water into ice.

- Yeah, right, fighting against some rookies that are not used to fight like this. I wanted to see you do the same to me!

Princess Heji smiled, her hair turned orange and the ice melted and when it was liquid again and some steam was starting to come out, she dispersed her Magic, her hair returned to its natural color and she put her tongue out.

- …Blagh… to you, party pooper! If I remember correctly, the last time that we did this, I also beat you. I won against my father in the ocean. He said that I only won against him because there was too much room, so, we came here. Seems it's not a question of space, but of ability, right father? Ahahahah!

- Ouch… yeah… Seya, you trained her far too well!

- I'm starting to think the same. Maybe I made a small mistake? Or not. She's my very own Fire Princess. And you, crazy Princess, do you mind drying all this?

- You meanie! I wasn't the only one to do all this!

- Consider this as your prize, for the victory.

- Fine… but I want the prize that my father promised me! I want my new dress!

- Ryn, where's Aria? Did you lose her or what?

- No, she went away a little after we went to the beach to watch those two fight against each other. She said something about a wish from someone that she needed to confirm before conceding it or something like that.

While Seya was talking with Ryn, Princess Heiji increased her Magic, more and more, and soon, the temperature inside the building was blazing hot. Everyone went near Hina that with her Wind Magic, created a Dome of fresh Wind to protect them all. Seya quickly grabbed the King and they also went next to Hina. When all the water had turned into steam and Heiji was standing in the bottom of the empty pool, she decreased her fire. Hina used her Wind Magic to collect all of the steam and concentrate it at the top of the pool. Seya cooled it down and it poured on top of the Princess, filling the pool again. He was looking at Heiji, very mad.

- You crazy Princess! That was dangerous!

- No, it wasn't! I was very careful to only heat the water. It worked, right?

- You know that we have a lot of water inside of us, right?

- …Ah… Oops… Sorry… I … didn't think about that…

- Argh! You… but Hina, since when are you able to make a Dome of Wind? That was very good!

- Yeah, I thought about that when I saw you putting Princess Arys inside a Dark Dome at school. So, I tried to think of a way to do it with Wind. I can also make a Wind Cage, very powerful!

- So, you are a copycat… I don't know if I feel honored or worried!

Hina made a proud pose, with her hands on her waist.

- Look who's talking! You are always copying every Magic that you put your eyes into! Since I can't use all the Attributes like you, I just try to do the best that I can, using Wind Magic!

- Yeah… Ahahahah! Well, seems that everyone was having a blast without me around.

- Indeed, at least, until my daughter over there dared all of us for a fighting tournament underwater. This string that Hina lent me, it's truly remarkable! I was able to breathe underwater with it and a Wind Crystal! By any chance, you don't have an extra, wouldn't you?

- I do. But it's not a matter of asking for it, it's a matter of merit. Muahmuahmuah!

- I didn't hear that laughter for quite some time… Seya, don't tease my father, you meanie! Sorry father, I hid it from you. Remember that string bracelet that I gave you and mother, years ago? Seya made it for me. It was his first pair, as a test. Since he made me a pendant with a special string after that, I didn't need those, so, I gave one to you and another one to mother.

- Do you mean this one that you told me to never to take it off when you gave it to me as a present? I use it every day since then. And your mother too.

Heiji looked at Seya who was smiling. He nodded to her, allowing it.

- Well, you see father, in that bracelet, there's a very old Magic. With it, no one can harm you, either with a physical attack or a Magic one.

King Rohan was looking at his bracelet, intrigued.

- You mean, it's because of this thing that I never get hurt when I train? Or that, every time that your mother gets mad and tries to burn me, it never happens? I thought it was because of my Magic!

- Yeah, right… sorry to tell you like this, father, but you are rather weak as a Mage… Ahahahah!

- You bully! Seya, my own daughter is bullying me! What are you teaching to my sweet little girl?

- I don't have anything to do with that. She has more of her mother than she looks! Oops, please, don't tell the Queen that I said that!

- Yeah, she would get very mad at you. But, wait a minute. Heiji, if this bracelet does the same as the string that Hina lent to me, why did you told me that I need one of these?

- Ahahahah! Because it was funny? Ahahah! If you could see that exact look on your face that you're making right now! Priceless! It was totally worth all the years that I had to wait to tell you this! Ahahahahah!

Everyone burst into laughter. Except for the King. He had a dumbfounded look on his face. Finally, he started to laugh too. When everyone calmed down, Seya called them to join him at the tables. They all seated next to his table, still wet and in bathing clothes.

- Well, I had some ideas before coming here. I even made a new building in my Capital. We now have a brand new Coliseum. The people can go there to watch some fight or Magic tournaments or another kind of entertainments, like theatre plays, street performers or hear some music done by a minstrel or troubadour. Ryn, breathe! Air in, air out, air in…

- What are you talking about, I'm fine. At least until I see that. Then, I may need to breathe a lot!

- Ahahahah! Well, I even placed there some Sunlight Crystals so that the shows can be performed at night if needed. Like that, the people can have some entertainment after dinner, when everyone likes to take a stroll, enjoying the fresh night air and the lights. I thought that we could go there, later on, to do a show. My people are working very hard lately, they deserve some entertainment.

Princess Heiji raised her arm quickly.

- I'll go first! I'm going to do an amazing Fire Show!

Princess Arys made a throw-up face.

- Who in their right mind would want to see that? Stupid brat… Unless you put yourself on fire! Now that, I would even pay to see! Heheheheh!

Duncan shook his head.

- Arys, that's so mean… Princess Heiji, I wouldn't mind helping you on that!

- Yeah, the Fire Princess and her personal escort! An amazing duo! Ahahahah!

Arys stood up and shouted.

- No, you can't have him! He's mine!

Duncan looked at her. Arys looked at Duncan. They both became bright red and Arys seated again, looking down in silence. Heiji didn't let that one go, it was impossible for her to wait any longer for the last kill.

- Arys, stop that! Duncan, you too! Just kiss already! You two are taking too much time, it's starting to get annoying! Just admit that you like each other! Argh! So annoying!

Duncan gulped, he looked at Arys. He then looked at Princess Heiji.

- I'm very sorry Princess Heiji, but my heart belongs to Arys since the first day that I saw her… I wouldn't mind helping you on that show, but anymore, I would have to deny.

Arys looked up and her eyes met Duncan's. They looked at each other, both with a smile and a red face. The only difference was the trembling on Arys ears.

- Ahahahah! Finally! Good for you, you crazy girl! Now we can get married on the same day! We can make a huge party!

- Who told you that I would want that, you brat? Why would I want to get marry on the same day as you and make a party together, when every time that I see you, I just want to tear your head off?

Princess Heiji pretended to be shocked. She looked at Duncan while placing her hand on her own mouth.

- Duncan, do something, she's so mean to me!

Duncan laughed.

- Ahahahah! Sorry, but seeing you two arguing with each other like that, it's so funny! You both pretend to be rivals, but I understood for quite some time that you really like each other.

The two Princesse's shouted at the same time, looking at Duncan with a menacing look.

- What?

Everyone just exploded. They all laughed until tears were running loose. The King had to grab his stomach, it was starting to hurt.

Seya got up and he went to the middle of the two lovebirds and he placed his hand on Duncan's shoulder and he whispered to his ear.

- I would be very proud to call you cousin when that happens, Duncan Macleod, of the Clan Macleod.

Duncan froze, with a smile. Seya then whispered to Arys ear.

- Well done, Arys. Do you see? Everyone already knows that you are very kind and an amazing person, despite you always pretending to be nasty and mean.

- Yeah… thank you, cousin…

Seya seated and while everyone was wiping their tears and congratulating the new couple, Seya was taking out some things from his Compressed Dimension and placing it on top of the table where he was seated. When the others looked, they approached his table. Soon, they were all around it, some of them seated, others standing up, curious with all that.

- Now, what are you going to do with all this? Some crazy ideas, right?

- No, all of this, I made recently. You were all nagging me about some new games after you saw the Magic Knight and throwing a lot of ideas so I finally found the time to do it.

With the Sunlight Crystals, people can have better light at their home during night time, so I thought it was ok to create some indoor entertainment. And some of this will be great for the people on our lands, to practice. And in the Kingdom of Rohan, I'm sure it will also be a success. Zak, come closer, my test subject!

- Why it's always me? So many people here and you always chose me! I'm starting to feel bullied!

- No, it's just because I don't like you. Ahahahah! Shut up and look at this. I'm sure that such a Noble young boy as you knows this kind of board, right?

- Of course, it's a Chessboard. Don't tell me that you are going to challenge me? Because I'm very good at this, you'll lose badly!

- No, I'm a Grandmaster at this, actually. No, it's just this board and these round wood white circles and some dark ones. I call this game, Checkers. It's easier than Chess, but it's more difficult than it looks. It's a two player game, and it's possible to make a tournament out of this.

- You're a Grandmaster at chess? Why that doesn't surprise me? So, what do we do with these round things?

Seya explained the rules and he made a quick game with Zak, as a demonstration. After that, everyone wanted to play. But Seya had more to show.

- Now, Zak, if I place these circles on the intersections of this Chessboard, do you recognize it? Please notice that these circles are blue in one size and red on the other, so…

- It's a little Go game, I think. I'm not very good at this, I always found it strange. I know that the Elfians love to play this.

- The board and pieces do look alike, but Go uses white and dark pieces. I think the way to play this game is a lot simpler. I call this one Othello and it's also a two player game. A tournament can be created, like with the Checkers game over there.

So, I'm going to explain the rules for this and do a quick game with my test subject, over here.

Seya explained the rules and he did a game with Zak. Despite saying that Go wasn't his kind of game, he defeated Seya at Othello, two times in a row. Seya didn't like losing the first demonstration, and he liked even less, losing his second try.

- These are not like Chess, but you need to think a lot before each move! It's really fun, each of them. I don't know which one I like more, actually. Either this one or the Checkers, are very fun.

- Well, if my test subject likes them, I suppose more people will. What I like about the Chessboard, is that it can be used for the Checkers game and for the Othello, if needed, because they use the same size of board and squares draw on it.

Princess Heiji was very quiet until that point, and she was looking very closely at the Othello pieces.

- I don't like this game. I know this one for some time.

- You don't like because you always lose. We used to play this game for hours in your room.

- Yeah… Heheheh. It gives me some nice memories. Remember that time when I lost 5 times straight and I got so mad that I totally vaporized the board?

- And after that, you tried to do the same to me and I had to escape using my Gateway. I opened a Gateway to my parent's house and you threw a Fire Ball through it. I had a lot of trouble, putting out the fire and fixing the house. My mom pulled my ear when she got home because the smell of burned wood was still there. She thought it was me that did it and I couldn't say that it was you because she would want to get you!

- Ahahah! Yeah, fun times, indeed! Ahahahah!

- Crazy Princess… Well, I have here two more, I made these ones thinking that they will be very good for my people, for practicing numbers and words. But since they are very fun, a lot of people will also like them.

This one, Sudoku, is like a puzzle game. You just need paper and a pencil. Here Zak, try to solve this one. The objective is to fill this 9x9 grid with numbers so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes that compose the grid, contain all of the digits from 1 to 9. I can make a lot of puzzles like this one, with only one solution. And once you understand the mechanics of it, you can also make some, for other people to solve.

Zak took the paper and he looked at it. He tried one time, got it wrong. Tried again, another error. After the third attempt, he was still struggling with it.

- This is impossible. This game is rigged.

Princess Heiji looked at it for some seconds, she grabbed the paper and the pencil wrote on it and delivered to Seya with a smile.

- Next, please!

- Let me see… well, it's correct. Let me give you another one… here.

Heiji glanced over it, frown, wrote on it and delivered to Seya.

- Next, please! This one is fun! Why you never showed me this game?

- Let me see… right again… strange… for an airhead, you are very smart…

- You meanie!

- Ok, the final one, this Super Sudoku with a 16x16 grid. Try to do that one, you crazy Princess!

Heiji looked at the paper. She frowns, bitted her lip, frown again, smiled and wrote on the paper.

- Next, please!

- No way! In seconds? Let me see… this… and this… it's correct! Really… how do you do this so easily?

- I was always good with numbers, so this is rather easy for me.

- Easy? I doubt anyone here could solve this in the same amount of time! Zak couldn't even solve the first one!

- You are really trying to compare me with this second class son of a second class Noble? Oops, sorry Hina… Heheheh!

- This girl… Well, this last game here, with this board and these blocks with letters written, it's a Scrabble. You try to make words of the letters that you get and place it on this board. Each letter gives you points and each word also, depending on where you place it on the board, which has the points marked. The next player must use the letters on the board and his own letters, to make a new word. Up to four players can play. Another nice family game.

I'll explain the rules and we'll see how Zak manages this one.

After some minutes, Zak was ahead of Seya, by a long shot. Seya noticed one thing.

- Why most of the words that you make, it's just insults or weird names?

- Because that's what I shout to myself when I see your Magic's. Sometimes, I hate you so much!

- Yeah… I can tell from all this… Man, you really do hate me, don't you? Ahahahah!

Well, this one and the Sudoku would be very good for the people in my lands, for practice.

I was thinking of making thin boards for these games and a big case to accommodate everything. I'll name it as 'Heiji's Favorites Games'. And because I was able to do this with all your ideas and constant nagging, the money will be split between Ryn, Myra, and Zak. Duncan didn't help and Hyna and me, we are already very rich. Don't worry Duncan, I have a nice job offer for you as soon as you graduate from school, don't you worry.

Arys and Heiji shouted at the same time.

- Hey, what about me? I helped!

Seya shook his head, slowly.

- Two Princesses, filled with jewelry enough to buy a small country, trying to snatch the money of their commoner friends... such a shame...

Arys made a sad face.

- I don't get a salary for being a Princess and I don't have a source of income... not fair...

- Me neither...

- Sorry, I was messing with you two. Ahahah! The look on your faces! So funny.

If I'm not mistaken, and usually I'm not when regarding money, we can apply with this game case for an Ownership Law. It will be a huge success everywhere. I can almost see it, tournaments with these games, being held everywhere. A World Tournament even! That would be nice, right?

Arys and Heiji shouted at the same time.

- Yeah! I'm going to be the champion!

And then, they looked at each other, with a menacing look. Seya smiled, they were too similar.

- And I also have homework for all of you. Let's upgrade the Chess game, shall we? All of you, create small Magic Crystals with Light and some, with Dark. Then, using Earth Magic, make the chess pieces out of wood or rock, the white ones, and the darks. Infuse a Magical Program on the Crystals so that during a game, every time a piece takes another, have them fight and the losing pieces, get thrown off the board. That would be cool, right? And another Ownership Law for all of you.

Everyone looked at each other, that was one crazy idea. And they were the ones to do it?

- Why the long faces? You can already make Magic Crystals, I've already explained and demonstrated how to infuse them with a Magical Program, it's just a matter of you thinking about the movements that the pieces will do and create the Program.

As soon as you have it ready, we can put the new Chess pieces inside the case of 'Heiji's Favourites Games'. The case will be big, to accommodate so many games!

Oh, I almost forgot, there's still another game, this one here, Hnefatafl. I forgot the pieces… and the board… here. A very good game for a tournament!

One white King, twelve white knights, and twenty-four dark knights. This game, I think our King over here will like it. It's a game that requires a lot of thinking and strategy, like Chess, but with fewer pieces.

The King holds the white king piece made of wood, and he noticed that it looked like him!

- Now, this fellow here is rather handsome! What did you call this game? Hnef what?

- Hnefatafl. It was the closest that I could get of the sound that my mother does when she sneezes. I always laugh when I hear her sneezing.

- Ahahahah! You're right, it does sound like her! So, how do we play this?

- On this 11x11 board, you place the king here, in the middle, at his castle. The white knights around him, protecting him. On the sides, the dark knights. On each corner of the board, there's also a castle. The king must escape to one corner, to win the game. The dark knights, try to capture him and the whites, defend the king. They move in a special way and to capture the king or kill a knight, it's kind of special. Let me explain the rules and movements.

After the explanation of Seya, King Rohan was playing against Zak. He was losing, badly. In the end, there was only the white king and a lot of dark knights, with a very happy Zak.

- And if I place this piece here, I'll kill the king… a-struck to the head, and he's dead!

Seya laughed, seeing the sad face of King Rohan.

- Zak, I said to capture the white king, not kill him! Ahahahah!

- Oops… sorry, my King, it's the bad influence of a certain boy…

- Now it's my fault? You have killing intentions, and you blame me? That's it, next time that I need a test subject to a death game, I'll be sure to remember this!

Hina shouted while hugging Zak.

- No, you can't!

Princess Heiji was holding one of the white knights, she grabbed another one, looked at it, and she grabbed another one.

- This game is also going to be inside the case of 'Heiji's Favorites Games'?

- Yes, I was thinking about it.

- Care to explain why the white king looks like my father and the white knights looks like all of us? And I think I also saw in there my mother, your parents, and Arys parents.

- Yeah, and also the Elfian King, the Fairy Titania, some mermaids, and the BeastKind King… Oh, and Master Eridan and Inia and a lot of Dwarfs. I thought it's funny like this.

Everyone grabbed the pieces, trying to find the one that looked like them. Hina was looking at one white knight.

- I'm so pretty!!! Zak, look! Here!

- Yes, and this is mine. A very handsome boy, indeed! A little chubbier than the others, but still, very good looking! Ahahahah!

All of them wanted to keep their piece, but Seya shook his head.

- No way, this game is a prototype, I need it for my artisans to do more like it. When they have made some, I'll give one complete case of 'Heiji's Favorites Games' to each one of you, ok?

Heiji was holding her piece and John's piece against her chest, pretending to cry.

- But they're so cute… I want them now…

- I have a better idea. You and John go change to some pretty clothes and let's go outside. John still owns you a kiss for the statue that you want, right? That statue will be mine and Master Eridan present for your engagement.