Few days after my recovery and the restoration of order within Sunborn, Father and I visited Ar again but this time to see that the three idiot kings abdicate their throne and hand it over to an heir that sees to reason and doesn't answer to any of those Kharadim leaders that want control over every piece of land.
I know this means a war will ensue soon enough but I'll make sure that doesn't happen during my initiation journey.
When we arrived via teleportation, we were greeted by the five prodigies with all of them bowing in gratitude.
"Thank you for saving Faraan back then and for making us see how arrogant we've grown from believing our power was enough" Ali expressed in gratitude but I couldn't bear the fact that all of them were bowing as if I've ascended the throne so let them off easy and thanked them for the interesting show of power they all gave me.
"Since you're here to watch the monarchy switch places, I wouldn't mind showing you around the Academy Town hmph" Mika said shrugging her shoulders and looking away.
"Wait wait wait, a tsundere? man this really is a fantasy world" I thought to myself.
"I'll have to decline although if you take your time to come to the Khosari Kingdom maybe we could get along then and I'll be the one to show you around KwaMfundo(Academy Town) and kwaXhosa (the royal capital)" I kindly declined the offer cause we were running out of time for the meeting as they wanted to negotiate not ending their lives but exiling them.
"Understandable. I guess we'll have to go as a group then don't you think guys?" Ali asked the group after hearing what he deemed pleasing words.
"Yeah, I wanna see more of this continent"
Ishmad said punching his left palm,"I want to travel more but I'd love to learn more from Lulutho" Faraan said, "Yeah, I'd love to" Yasmine replied.
"Woah she can talk? I mean she strikes as Raven type of girl but that's a first" I expressed shock in my thoughts and my face clearly looking that way.
Everyone seem to look at Mika's way and in classic tsundere style,"I'll go if he's there" she replied, and we all laughed realising the situation but I kept a dumb face not to be obvious.
We parted ways and now it was a negotiation battle against three nations combined as one so I decided to wait at the entrance for Father to get me, the whole "going there by yourself" thing is something I didn't want to do in this situation so I stood my ground until we got there.
"The monarchy would like to propose an offer to make the three kings abdicate their thrones to the heirs of the Ar Family and be demoted to an official" the family spokesperson said, and I knew they hadn't thought of giving up power so I began questioning them one by one.
"He is to be former king of Nile, Mohammed Ar. Who in your branch of the family takes to go outside and speak to the civilians and the villagers in Nile Kingdom whom those in the highest position consider peasants?" I asked the first question, "From my knowledge, that would be my daughter Cleopatra but she doesn't seem to be suited for nobility" Mohammed replied.
"Alright, the next ruler of the Nile is Princess Cleo. You exile and work in the continent you took bribes from" I responded back instantly then looked at Ahmad who looked scared to even speak infront of me ever since I froze the insides of his mouth.
"Dear one who is to be former king of Aegis.May I ask from your branch of the family, who takes the time to initiate help for the people of the nation and is still able to rule and be just fairly and with moral when justice needs to be served?" My second question asked but this time to Ahmad who would reply,"Like I'd give my position to that peasant who I accidentally gave life to. I even threw out his mother from her post as a concubine so that I live well my queen".
"Alright, whoever the abandoned son is. He is the next king of Aegis with the mother being recognised as Queen Mother. For safety reasons, you and your current family are to be slaves in Veyra continent. You're a danger to your nation and the Ar family" I responded playing around with a Crimson Ball which shook everyone.
I knew I needed to nasty as they are so I went with what raced through my mind in the evaluation of their answers.
"Lastly, the one whom is to be former king of Nistu. May I ask you to name the one member of your branch in the Ar family that has a pure heart and sees things as right or wrong whilst being strong enough to rival you" my last question and the most boring as I knew Nitsu had no influence over the other two kingdoms but somehow managed to catch up to them thanks to the crown prince.
"That would be the crown prince. He was able to take everything by his own hands and was kind enough to let keep my seat for until something happens or when I step down" Achraf replied and without hesitation I said, "Make it official, the crown prince is now the king and you are to work as an advisor for my little brother. All three coronations should happen the moment these three leave the Ar Dynasty and that's final" I concluded my questions and negotiations there.
"If they don't accept the offers now, I'm afraid they'll have to die right here and now" Father stated after my decision which had the monarchy whispering to each other.
"Coughs... excuse me now those are reasonable offers and we will fulfill our promise. I'd like to thank you on behalf of the elders of the monarchy for sparing the lives of our kings. We may now conclude this negotiation meeting" the spokesperson responded and everyone but Ahmad agreed to the offers.
"Damn you Khosari bastards, I'll get you sooner or later and when I do. Your nation will fall" Ahmad yells, "Goodluck with that. I'd might see you before that happens and probably crush you, maybe" I responded while opening a portal back to Khosari.
As soon as Father and I got back, the twins came rushing at us with a well dressed stranger following them.
"Brother. Father. A messenger from Zulani Kingdom has come to see you both." Ntsika said trying to catch his breath.
Now that I took a good look again, the outfit made perfect sense but then again I had to figure what King Sgidi wanted from us, especially me as I don't usually participate in diplomatic affairs.
"It is a pleasure to see Your Majesty again and I believe its the first we meet isn't it Your Highness?" the messenger asked looking at me with a business casual smile.
"Yeah...sorry, who are you again?" I asked looking confused.
"Oh my apologies. I haven't introduced myself. I'm the Zulani royal messenger Ntando. I've been sent to give this invitation to both you and His Majesty as the royal family will be holding an event which King Sgidi would like for you to attend" he responded.
"I see...well, that's up to the person in-charge of this kingdom to decide. Ntsika. Aya. Let's go" I said then proceeded to leave with the twins as I wanted to drift back to the library again and try to read more of that book.
"Sgidi decided to invite me and my son too? I understand why I might need to be there but I'm a bit confused as to why he would want my son to attend too. What's his reason?" Father asked with a stern yet confused look .
"His Majesty said that the event will be his eldest daughter's 18th birthday celebration and was hoping that if no one can beat her for her hand in marriage... your son might be suitable. He also said to never reveal this to him as he wants your son to at least be present if he isn't partaking in the event" Ntando replied.
"Oh I see now. That's understandable, we'll be there for the event" Father replied.
After that brief meeting between the two, Ntando departs to return back to Zulani and Father enters the palace and tells one of the maids to relay the message to me.
I, on the other hand, started going through the book that Emperor Jinta wrote and interestingly so found passages that made me realise how there could be a Holy war coming.
"This world or unuverse you currently in has four realms that which is the Central World that you currently occupy.
The Spirit realm where only spirits dwell as the Creator deemed it to be, but also those who are chosen to be Vanguards are to stay or train in the Spirit realm.
The Heavenly realm where the angels and the Creator dwell then last lastly the demon realm where fallens angel and their disfigured creations dwell.
The Creator was at odds with an army of 700 angels and from those angels stood seven who would possess unique skills that are the Seven Deadly Sins.
These seven angels weren't strong enough to make the Four Archangels concede but in their constant wars over 60 000 years, they slowly would use or possess humans that would join the war and soon the angels slowly lost the advantage they had over these fallen angels.
To save them, the Creator began to launch all of these fallen angels into a realm that was full of void, almost like an abyss waiting for people to trap.
The Creator would be successful in achieving this but during the process of evicting all these fallen angels and possessed humans, a human who was never seen by any of the Archangels proceeded to stab the Creator's heart and would vanish into the realm too.
In His dying moments, He proceeded to tell the seven angels, "You seven were special. I do not resent nor hate you. I just hoped you never had to look at other beings as toys to play with" then proceeded to send them to realm too.
In the last moments before He would succumbed to death, the four archangels Bjorn who possessed the unique skill "Michael", Tenma who possessed the skill "Gabriel", Siya who possessed the skill "Raphael" and Aolani who possessed the skill "Uriel" surrounded the Creator with tears and vengeance showing in their eyes but the Creator simply told them before dying, "getting revenge on my behalf won't benefit you so never bother the Central world and let the spirits guide the humans, elves and beastfolk well cause if you do something reckless, someone with the same skill as mine won't ever be so forgiving and they might even deem you the same as those in the demon realm" pages 10-20 briefly described.
"Disregarding their master's final words, they began killing any human that would align themselves with the demons but soon after 10 000 years after the death of their master, they began invading the Central World and would kill those who had malice in their heart but slowly start to kill their innocent families too which ended up being a war on humans, elves and beastfolk too.
That's when the Four Elemental Dragons and the Spirit King stepped in to create a band of them across the 8 continents called the Vanguards.
Thanks to their combined strength, the Vanguards were able to send the angels back to Heavenly realm which peaked the interest of those in the Demon realm.
Soon after I reincarnated, which was 500 after the first Central war, the demons would invade the Central World after the seal connecting to the Demon realm broke and with my 13 companions we successfully managed to send them back but those were just the disfigured ones and the fallen angels.
When it came to facing the Seven Deadly Sins, their leader Macbeth who possessed the unique skill "Wrath" killed 7 of us by himself but thanks to an awakening of our skills, We were able to send back after using my unique skill—Zeus—Olympus Judgement and sealing them again.
This seal wasn't as strong as the Creator's so I'm aware that they could invade again but there will come a time where the Heavenly and Demon realm will both invade the Central World and Armageddon will begin" Pages 30-50 described briefly.
Thanks to this information, I realised that I'm in an even bigger mess as I remember as kid being told a story of how a group of people 500 years ago did the same thing too.
"Your Highness! Your Majesty said that you are both to attend the event at the Zulani Kingdom in two weeks!" A maid shouted.
Startled, I slowly regained conscious as the maid expressed annoyance as I never responded to her 6 calls whilst I was beginning to grasp the situation at hand.
"Oh man. You scared me but I heard your message. Thank you, you may go" I responded.
The maid left and I continued on reading the book to have a better understanding of the events of these wars.
Two weeks passed and we were on our way to the Zulani Kingdom via the buffalo carriage but joining us this time was Mother who insisted she come as she thought she understood the situation and was a bit angry at the fact that Father could be hooked up with a concubine.
"So what is this event we're heading to? I don't see why I have to be here" I calmly asked.
"You'll see when we get there but your are the event's guest of honour. Your mother and I are just accompanying you as to be witnesses to what happens to you there" Father responded.
I looked at both of them then lowered my eyes as to sleep because we had 500 km before we arrived and as I took a nap, the fact that I had to lead 15 other people kept lingering on my mind.
Soon after taking an hour nap, we arrived in the Zulani Kingdom royal capital— Shaka.
"King Buzile and Queen Bongi welcome! His Majesty is waiting for you both in the Nongoma palace" Ntando said with another business smile and welcome expression.
"Ah Prince Lulutho! You've come too. If I may show you—", I cut him off and ask, "I'd like to check around the capital first, apologies for cutting you off".
"Check around the capital? What is it that you seek?" Ntando asked.
"I just want to be familiar with the place that's all. You can even have someone show me around if you concerned about my safety" I responded.
"Oh I see. Let's have Prince Ndumo show you around then" Ntando said with the same business expression.
I took his offer and met with the second prince Ndumo who despite being one of the favoured princes in the Zulani royal family, he seemed to be a jerk.
"I'm the first prince of Khosari, Lulutho Ovayo Thulane. A pleasure to meet you" I said faking my friendly expression and face.
And as if looking down on me, the jerk calmly said "I'm the second prince Ndumo, follow me and don't do anything stupid" .
I followed him as he said but kept looking around thinking about how I can find the second Vanguard here but after an hour of looking and sightseeing, I couldn't find one.
The birthday celebration would soon begin with the nobles of the Zulani Kingdom looking as dashing as they could be hoping that their sons would be to get the 1st princess's hand in marriage.
"This suit is starting to irritate me, I miss my casual wear" I thought to myself.
"Ahem, let's start! Welcome honoured guests to our 1st princess's 18th birthday celebration" King Sgidi said.
"Now per our tradition here in Zulani is for our daughters to be pure before marriage and my daughter is no except so I'm happy to announce that she is just as pure as a baby so now whoever is able to beat her in a one on one battle will be able to call her their wife" He said with a confident and proud expression .
"So I was here for this? I really need a break from being a royal" I thought to myself.
"As His Majesty said, the princess will fight those who deem themselves of calling her their wife and the battles will begin one hour after food is served so please enjoy yourselves in the meantime" the Zulani royal spokesperson announced.
The celebration started with drinks for 30 minutes where everyone would meet and chat with everyone but King Sgidi would come up to our seating area with his Queen and the crown prince Nkunzi.
"Ah Buzile, you here ! I'm so glad you arrived. Greetings to you too, Queen Bongi and to my special guest, its nice seeing after that Solar Gathering" King Sgidi said as shook my hand.
"Let me introduce to my queen and crown prince. This right here is Queen Zekethelo and that is Prince Nkunzi, my eldest son" King Sgidi continued.
"Its a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Khosari's first prince, Lulutho Ovayo Thulane" I greeted back.
After introducing myself, King Sgidi would mention the events in the Solar Gathering and the Ar Dynasty showdown as he apparently was there but never got to see me.
This would catch the attention of Prince Nkunzi and the lady of the night, Princess Sphesihle.
Soon after long chats and drinks, food was served which meant an hour was left. I kept feeling stares around me because of how close King Sgidi was around me trying to persuade me into participating in the battles.
I managed to let switch topics and Father would be the one to waste time in conversating whilst I would catch the eyes of both Nkunzi and Ndumo staring and Sphesihle would dawn a stern expression only.
The hour ended and everyone gathered around a platform made for the battles to begin where 10 suitors stepped up facing the Princess.
The first suitor was the eldest of the Rhadebe family but their battle wouldn't last long as Sphesihle would eliminate him using Crismon Ball.
The second suitor, the second son of the Ndwandwe family would step up and put a good fight using fists but would ultimately succumbed to three combo elbow strike.
The third suitor came and it was the eldest of the Mthethwa family, "Those two are nothing compared to me. Now, I shall make you my wife" he said.
It would be 5 minutes that he got sent flying out of the stage with Mini Tornado.
"She's too strong for these nobles. She might challenge the next seven to a 7v1" I thought to myself.
"All seven of you step up. I'll end this here and now" she said which shocked me as I didn't expect her to do so.
"You think you can take on all of us? Let's see you try" one of the remaining seven said and in what took three minutes to do, all seven of them were knocked out cold.
The nobles were shocked yet furious but in efforts to not infuriate the princess further, they began to clap and cheer for her victory.
"Prince Lulutho, I know you hear me and I know you are here. Step up and fight me" Sphe shouted with determination.
Shocked as to hearing my name being called, the nobles kept looking for me but it wasn't until Prince Nkunzi took my arm and dragged me to the bounds of the platform that they saw who I was.
"Wait wait wait, I didn't come here to fight. Why are you dragging me?" I asked Nkunzi.
"You're to fight my sister here and now. I heard about you and I think your title as Sunborn's strongest is fake, and so does Sphe. You'll fight now, end of story" Nkunzi response with an angry expression.
I stepped up on to the platform still wearing and looked around then in front of me.
"So you're Zulani's strongest fighter and you want me to be your opponent not for love but because you heard of my stories. Am I correct" I asked Sphesihle.
"Sunborn's strongest is a title that I believe should belong to me so I'll defeat you here and now...Sun Magic..." She responds.
"wait , Sun Magic? Is she a Vanguard?" I thought to myself .
"...Solar Strike" she shouts as she jumps in the air, raising her fist and is about land the strike on me.
"Chemical Magic, Energy Absorption" I calmly said then as soon as the mana around here started to absorb into me, I took her hand and sure enough, a crest on her neck began to shine.
"I didn't expect there to be a Vanguard here. I had just given up" I said.
"A what? Let go of my hand" She said shoving me and creating a distance.
Standing in the same position, I used Alchemy to make an iron maiden but one that contains the four advanced elemental magic attacks, and as soon as she took a step back, the maiden quickly shut her in and launched all the attacks once.
Overwhelmed, she got knocked out and soon after the Iron Maiden opened itself up again.
"I win" I calmly said and the silence from the nobles was defining.
"How?" both Nkunzi and Ndumo question themselves.
Father and Mother were relaxed knowing that it wasn't first time this happened but King Sgidi and Queen Zekethelo stood there frozen.
The sight they saw was of Sphesihle knocked out cold and looking a bit damaged.
And so I took upon myself to heal her and as I was doing that, I took the glasses that were using Levitation and smashed them together to alchemize a mirror for her to see the lion shaped crest on her signifying she's a Sunborn Vanguard just like me.
"Where am I? Did I lose?" She asked as she opened her eyes to find me standing besides her.
"Pretty much but I need you to take a look at your neck via this mirror" I said lifting up the mirror to her position.
"I've been marked? Why ? Did you do this?" She asked again.
"I could say yes but no too. The only explanation for that crest is that you're a Vanguard and its manifestation came at the moment I touch your hand" I replied.
"Huh? you're saying I'm part of the legendary Vanguards? Surely you're joking and I'm dreaming" she said laughing like a madman.
I showed my forearm which had the same crest and the necklace which signifies I'm the leader but when I showed her the necklace, she instantly recognised it and got up as soon as possible.
"You believe me now?" I said as i stood up too.
"Yes. You're the leader of the Vanguards, that necklace which no one is able to recreate belongs to only the leader of the Vanguards. I've seen pictures of it in the royal library but I didn't think it was true...my apologies, Captain" she said bowing to me.
People around the platform couldn't catch was said but only saw that their princess was bowing to me in which they thought she accepts me as her husband.
The event would end with my family and the Zulani family in a meeting room to discuss what would going on forth with the elders as supervisors.
"Your son has won my daughter's hand in marriage so going on forth after a negotiation between the uncles is discussed, Our people will aid your kingdom in whatever problems you may face" King Sgidi said.
"Woah woah woah, wait a minute" I interrupted.
"Marriage is too sudden. I still need to be initiated and leave for 2 years." I continued.
"Leave for two years? Buzile what does your son mean?" King Sgidi asked my father.
Sighing from this turning out to be a huge mess he asked that the Queens, elders and younger prince and princesses leave.
Seeing as that there's no choice, King Sgidi accepted the request and as soon as everyone left leaving Nkunzi, Sphesihle and King Sgidi, we began to explain how I'm the leader of the Vanguards and why I'll need to leave for two years keeping out the Holy War part.
After finishing the explanation, we walked out of the room with Nkunzi scared for his sister but accepting and respecting me as the leader.
King Sgidi would go on to mention that after the two years, if ever I still am single then he will try to persuade me into marrying his daughter again.
"Are you going to do this alone though?" Sphesihle asked.
"Yeah. I don't want the continent to lose both Vanguards so I'll need to go alone but when I return, you'll be first to know" I responded.
Sphesihle accepted the request and never asked anymore and wished ne luck.
As we were about depart, she came running to give me something.
"Keep this. It should protect you from whatever danger you may" She said giving a goat skinned bracelet.
"Thank you. I'll keep it safe and cherish it" I said smiling.
After saying our goodbyes, we returned back home and would let another 5 months before the day of my initiation.
The big day had arrived and I looking nervous as in my past life i died before initiation so i didn't know if I'd be able to bear the pain of circumcision for two hours.
"Open up, Your Highness. His Majesty and the elders are waiting for you in the front" Banele said knocking on the door.
With a deep breath, I opened the door bare naked and made my way to the entrance.
Before leaving, Mother and the twins would hug me for the last time and a kiss on the cheek from my mother was a signal that she'll miss me.
"The prince is on his way to manhood" one of the elder announced and with a loud chorus the soldiers making a pathway for the carriage shout "The Prince is going to be a man" which would continue as the carriage would make its way to the wilderness.
As we arrived the clear wilderness and saw other huts that were made by other initiates, we quickly saw the one made for me and would then do continue on with the proceedings.
"You're going to be a man now so whatever we say, you do" Father said.
As I laid down on the floor made of dry cow dung and look up to the hut's ceiling, the circumcision commences and they tell me to scream "I'm a man".
Without hesitation I proceed to do and as soon after the soldiers who standing guard outside would shout, "The prince is a man".
After thirty minutes of watching as I get bandaged up, they leave and proceed to give the good news to the people at home.
After two hours, I quickly heal myself and make a clone in my place so that i would put on the clothes Father secretly stashed for me and be on my way.
"Thanks to the book. It seems that the next stop is Azhura's Hana Empire" I said as walk towards the port city — eLwandle.
As soon I got there I bought supplies for the long trip ahead and after sun had set,a ship made for me slowly appear along the shore with Banele as captain of the ship alongside two other army recruits Amila and Iviwe and a crew of stealth soldiers operating on the ship.
"Banele, from now on my name will be Xavier and the next stop is Hana Empire" I said.
"Roger that" he said.
We would depart shortly and this would begin an epic adventure for me and a new start to the Vanguards .