The next morning, Kaioshin woke up in the bed like he had the day before. He sat up with a little more ease than the morning before, looking around for Nishi. He could see the blankets she used to sleep on the floor were neatly folded and sitting on the chair next to him.
Kaioshin’s stomach growled a little, demanding food. He could see the basket with the apples sitting on the table, not that far from where he sat. One of the things he was missing already was the snapping of the fingers and servants bringing him whatever he wanted.
Nishi walked in the front door with an armful of what seemed like clothing. She smiled to see Kaioshin sitting up in bed already. “Good morning,” she said with a cheerful voice. “I’ve spent my morning slaving away for you again.”
“How so?” he asked with amusement.
She walked over to him and dumped the clothes on the bed. “Giving you something to wear.” She sorted through the few clothes that were there and laying them out before him as best she could. “The outfit you were wearing wasn’t in the best of shape when I found you. I was able to salvage the sash and make it into another pair of shorts for you.”
“Thanks,” Kaioshin said, almost blushing for some odd reason.
She held up his blue vest. “I tried to get the dirt and blood off it as best I could. It doesn’t look that bad.” The vest originally had fallen lower and to a point in the back, but now had been cut off to hang maybe to mid-thigh. “Your pants weren’t really worth saving, and the shirt…well…its okay except for the sleeves. Haven’t had the chance to fix them yet.
“But these here…my mother never used this material. I had it stored away in my trunk.” She held up a pair of white pants and a yellow shirt. “Hope you like them enough.”
“Thanks Nishi…What would I have done without you?” Kaioshin smiled.
“Probably would’ve died.” He looked at her oddly. She smiled as she stood back up and tossed the clothes to him. “Get dressed and I’ll make you some breakfast.”
---
Kaioshin sat at the table, eating the oatmeal she had prepared. The pants and shirt she made were almost a perfect fit. The pants were a little baggy, but very comfortable. The shirt was sleeveless and had a large V-shaped cut in the front, revealing some of the bandages underneath. It hung loosely on him, which made it more comfortable.
“Glad to see it all fits,” she said, taking pride in her work. “Oh…”
Kaioshin looked up from his bowl, hearing that she just remembered something.
“I found this in your pocket.” She handed him a gold pendent.
Kaioshin looked at it, turning it over in his hands. “My dad’s pendent…” he said sadly. “I had forgotten that I had found it.” He studied the dragon shaped object. It was slightly chipped in a few places, probably caused from hitting the ground when it broke of his father’s neck. “Any news on the castle?”
Nishi shook her head. “I don’t hear much about what goes on there when I’m here. I usually here stuff when I go to the market in the southern city.”
“When was the last time you’ve gone?”
“A few days before you woke up. No one mentioned it though, except that there was some sort of devastating fire there.”
Kaioshin nodded, remembering the fateful day. He clenched his fist around the pendent, the chain dangling from his hand. “I must drive out that Queen Zenika…. She destroyed my life and she will pay for doing so.”
“How? You’re barely strong enough to walk around this room. There’s no way you’ll be able to fight off some evil, all powerful demon.”
“I know, but what else is there for me to do? I must avenge my family’s death, Nishi. Wouldn’t you like to get back at that guy who you think burnt down your farm?” Kaioshin gave her a desperate look.
“Well, yeah…” She paused for a moment. “Alright, I’ll help you as best I can. But first you must train. You’ll need to be a lot stronger than you were.”
“Well, if you have the medical kit ready…”
“No,” she said looking at him seriously. “I’ll train with you.”
“You?” Kaioshin asked shockingly.
“Yes, prince. My father had taught me a few moves of his own. You’d be surprised how quickly I can pin you down.”
---
Later that day, Kaioshin and Nishi traveled to the Southern Town Market. The place reminded Kaioshin of the town square at the castle. Many farmers and craftsman were out and about trying to sell their goods. Nishi had to pick up some items for the upcoming week, and Kaioshin had gone to see if he could find out anything about the castle.
Kaioshin had visited this place years ago, but no one seemed to recognize him. He had removed the bandage from his head, which revealed a few healing scrapes. His face was in fact healing, but must have still looked different enough for people not to notice; either that or they didn’t care seeing he was the ‘little brat prince.’
Nishi walked into a shop with Kaioshin following. It was like a very small grocery store. The lady at the counter smiled when she recognized the young lady. “Good afternoon, Nishi.” The woman was a plump, middle-aged woman with gray hair. Dainty earrings hung from her large, pointy ears, and a petite necklace barely hung around her neck, it being a little bit of a snug fit.
“Hello Mrs. Oltenier. I’ve come for the usual.”
“Oh, well let me get it for you then.” Mrs. Oltenier walked around the store and gathered a few items, such as flour, eggs, and a few canned foods. She brought them back over to the counter and started to add up the bill. When she looked up to hand her customer the slip, she noticed the young man that accompanied Nishi.
“Oh,” she said. “And who is this fine gentleman?”
Mrs. Oltenier’s quick wink made Nishi blush. “This is Kaioshin,” she introduced, not quite sure if she should have added his title.
“Kaioshin? How coincidental.”
“What do you mean?” Nishi asked. Kaioshin just watched the two talk. He was bored of standing in the store, which seemed to be very stuffy.
“He has the same name and features of our…” her voice went down almost to a whisper, “wonderful prince,” she finished with a hint of sarcasm.
Kaioshin gave her a harsh look, clearly hearing what the old woman had intended to say. “How coincidental,” he said to her mockingly. “I am the prince.” He smiled as he turned and made his way to the door.
Mrs. Oltenier stood there dumbfounded. “My word…”
“Sorry about that,” Nishi apologized. “He’s trying his best to be better.”
“Nishi,” the storeowner started. “I half expected it, yet I thought he was dead.”
“Why?” Nishi asked curiously.
“Haven’t you heard? The entire Kai Castle has been burned to the ground. No bodies of the royal family or the family of the wife-to-be were found. Now I hear from sources that a new castle stands there. Almost just appeared there with a snap of a finger.”
Nishi knew the royal family was dead, but didn’t expect to hear about the new castle. “Wow…I don’t think even the prince knew that.”
“According to Uncle Tym at the florist store, a powerful sorceress named Queen Zenika has returned to take over the planet. But we all know how crazy Uncle Tym’s stories can be.” She laughed.
Nishi gave a small fake smile, believing at what Uncle Tym’s predictions were. “Thanks Mrs. Oltenier. I’d better be going before the prince gets antsy.”
Nishi met up with Kaioshin, who was leaning against the building outside. “That took long enough,” he said, still hurt by the old woman’s remark.
“Kaioshin, I thought you knew how many of the people feel about you. You were always the little brat, remember?”
“So? I was standing right there,” he said with a pout on his face. They started walking down the street, Kaioshin not having the slightest idea where to, however.
“Well, she didn’t know you were even still alive. She had heard about the fire and that none of the bodies were found. That and a new castle just appeared in the place of your old one.”
“Are you serious? She’s already that determined to take over, isn’t she?”
“I don’t know, but I think we can find out some more stuff. We’re going to Uncle Tym’s Flower Shop. According to Mrs. Oltenier, he seems to know about that evil queen you told me about.”