The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

He cleared his throat and said, "Listen Joey, the rightful owner of this country is Edens."

"You mean… those royals?"

"Yes, those royals."

"Do they even exist now?"

"They do, and they are in the same situation as us. Or should I say they are the best example of what we will become if we don't stop Riku now."

Joey furrowed his eyebrows and said, "What do you mean?"

"Hundreds of years ago… no, it may be a lot more than that. Well, it doesn't matter."

"Are you sure you are--"

"I am sure! Don't sweat on details!"

"Then don't say it in the first place."

"Those Edens form a pact with the government. At that time, constant wars were happening between the kingdom. The Edens had no manpower, but the government did. So they signed a pact, and guess what happened soon after?"

"What?"

"They were betrayed and killed."

"...!"

"All the powers from them were taken, and now… no one gives a damn about them."

"So you are trying to say the same will happen with us?"

"Yes! If we don't stop this now, we will end up just like those Edens."

Joey Clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he said, "Do you think Riku bro is an idiot?! Do you think he will let us down just like that? You are underestimating him, dad."

"His way of doing it is wrong! We have to use the old methods! We have to create terror in the citizens! We have to--"

Joey turned back and looked at his father with the corner of his eye as he said, "And then you wonder why mom no longer talks with you."

"What did you say?!"

Joey waved his hand without looking back and said, "Later…. Dad"

He then proceeded to the last room in the hallway.

The door was already creak open.

Joey gulped down and knocked on the door.

"Is it you?" The voice said from the other side of the door.

"No. It's me, mom."

"Come in."

Joey opened the door and walked in.

A woman was sitting on the chair facing the balcony. She moved her hand and said, "Come here."

She had white hair and some wrinkles around her face.

Joey slowly walked to her and sat beside the chair. "You came late even though I warned you."

"I am sorry."

"What happened to your head?"

Joey covered his forehead. "It's an old wound."

"Let me see." She moved her hand to Joey's wound and pressed it. Joey didn't scream, but his face showed his pain.

"You are becoming a liar; just like your father."

"I just didn't want to worry over me."

She rubbed her hand on Joey's head and said, "How is the school going?"

"Good"

"Did you make any friends?"

"Yeah. I made lots of friends."

"Don't lie."

"I am not lying."

She looked at Joey and said, "Do you think I am a fool?"

"..."

"I can tell when you are lying."

"I… haven't made any friends yet."

"You promised me you would make lots of friends."

"I did."

"Joey, why don't you fulfill your promises?"

"I tried."

"You are lying again."

Joey sighed and said, "I don't have time to make friends, mom."

"Your age is to go outside and play with friends."

"It's not"

The woman let out a big sigh as she moved her hand from Joey's head to face and said, "You are still not over that girl, huh?"

Joey grabbed her hand with his both hands and said, "I am over everything."

She turned her gaze to Joey and said, "You were not lying this time."

Joey smiled and said, "Did you meet Riku bro and Rita sis yet?"

"I haven't."

"Do you want me to inform them that you are here?"

"No need. They are busy with their life."

"But Riku bro said he wanted to meet you."

"I will meet him next time."

Joey rubbed her hand on his cheek and said, "How long are you staying here?"

"I am leaving after three minutes."

"Stay for a month."

"I am leaving in three minutes."

"Stay for a week."

"I said I am leaving in three minutes."

"At least stay for today."

"I have to go."

"Please mom. It's been about a year since I last saw you."

"I can stay in this filthy place that has been built with blood."

"I will book a hotel for you nearby."

"Not happening."

"When will you come back here?"

"Not in millennia."

"When will I see you again?"

"I am not seeing you again until you make friends."

"I will make friends."

"And get yourself a girl who loves you.", She added.

"I… that won't happen."

"Then you will never see me again."

"You know very well what happened to me when I tried to taste the love before. It's scary. I don't want to experience the same pain again."

"Life is not easy; it never was, it shouldn't be easy. Treat life as a test, a surprise test. You have come in this test unprepared, with no idea of what's going to happen next. Just try to live. No matter how painful it is, no matter how sad it is," she then stood up as she patted Joey's head and continued, "It's always worth it."

"What happens to those who fail this test?"

"It doesn't matter if you pass this test or fail." She walked to the door as she said, "Just surviving this test would be enough."

"Surviving is the real test here," Joey muttered.

"Joey, my son."

"Yes?"

"Won't you drop me off the gate?"

Joey got up as he said, "I will."

As Joey was helping his mother to get down the stairs, Joey asked, "What about you, mother?"

"What about me?"

"Did you pass the test?"

She slightly smiled and glanced at the pillar in the hallway.

Joey's dad was peeking from behind the pillar.

Her smile got a little wider as she said, "I chose to fail for some idiot."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Later at night in Das' house,

All three of them were eating dinner… or at least two of them.

"What's wrong, Das? You haven't eaten anything yet", asked Angela.

"..."

"Das?"

"..."

Angela looked at Derek and signaled him to do something.

Derek nodded and said, "Das?"

"..."

"Das?"

"..."

Both Angela and Derek glanced at each other.

Derek forced a smile and tabbed the spoon on the table.

"Das?"

Angela's face twitched as she tried to get up.

Derek held her hand and stopped her.

Angela tried to get up again, but Derek stopped her and nodded.

He took out his phone and typed something.

A second later, Das' phone rang.

Das immediately took out his phone and saw the text.

[What's wrong? Are you okay?]

Das looked at Derek and then at Angela.

"I am sorry."

"What's wrong? Something happened in school?"

"Not exactly."

"Then?"

"Elena is angry."

"Hmm? What do you mean she is angry?"

"I made fun of her. I made her cry, and she ran away."

"Why would you do that?"

"I always make fun of her, but she never gets angry. I mean... She does get angry, but she never runs away."

"Maybe you said something you shouldn't have?"

"Or maybe a sensitive topic?", added Derek.

"I think so."

"What exactly did you say?", asked Angela.

"We were talking, and she mentioned her twin sister."

Angela's eyes widened as she said, "And?"

"And she said her sister studies in the university. I said that's impossible."

"Das…"

"It turned out Elena is nineteen years old."

"Das, listen to me."

"And then I made fun of her, saying she got left behind because she is an idiot and much more things."

"You should have touched that topic, Das."

"I know I am an idiot."

"Why would you do that when you don't know anything."

"I know. I then ran after her to apologize, but I couldn't find her"

Angela then looked at Drek, and Derek nodded.

"Das, we have something to tell you."

Das looked up at Angela and said, "Hmm?"

"Your father and I are acquainted with Elena's parents."

"...!"

"And we know Elena and her sister too."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I thought it wasn't necessary."

"That's not for you to decide."

Das slid the plate to the middle of the table and stood up as he said, "I am going back to my room."

"Wait! Das, at least hear what I want to say"

"Later"

Das ran upstairs and slammed the door behind him.

Angela looked at Derek and then looked at Das' plate, saying, "Did I mess up everything again?"

Derek held her hand and said, "Don't worry. He is just worried that Elena might hate him, and we both know that there is no way that would ever happen."

"But if it does happen, then what?"

Derek squeezed her hand and said, "Don't worry."

"Maybe I am not really cut out to be a mother."

"That's not true. You are doing a wonderful job in being a mother."

"You are just saying this so I won't feel bored.

"That's not true. You are really doing great. At least better than me."

"A maid was cleaning Daulla's room. And she said she saw Daulla staring at her."

"That must have been her imagination" 

Everyone thought the same. But she said she also heard a faint voice saying, 'Lil Das'."

"Maybe she just imagined it?" said Derek.

"No," Angela shook her head as he said, "That maid was recruited a month ago. She shouldn't know anything about Daulla or Das"

"Then maybe Daulla really woke up from her coma?"

"I hope so"

"Don't worry" Derek held Angela's hand and said, "She will wake up soon"

"Yeah" Angela replied with a distant smile.

"Don't worry, okay?"

"Maybe I will call her here when she wakes up?" Her eyes widened as she said, "maybe I should move her here? She might wake up if Das is around her?"

"Das still don't remember her."

"You are right" Angela then shivered and said, "Say, Derek?"

"Hmm?"

"What if one day Das forgets us too?"

"..."

"What if he forgets us? What will we do if that happens?"

"Nothing much would change."

Derek stared at her for a while as he caressed her face and said, "Don't worry too much, okay?"

"But--"

If you worry too much, your hair will turn white, and your face will be full of wrinkles."

Angela's face turned pale as she froze for a second and said, "You won't love me if I have white hair and look old?"

"What about you? Would you stop loving me if I turn old?"

Angela chuckled as he said, "You are already old."

Derek smiled as he said, "Then why do you ask me that?"

Angela squinted her eyes as she said, "Are you calling me old?"

"Nope," He grinned and said, "You are forever thirty years old."

Angela turned the fork at Derek and said, "You mean 'forever eighteen', right?"

"Eighteen would be too much."

"How about twenty?"

Derek got up to wash his hands and walked to the basin.

"Hey, answer me."

"I will answer that in the bedroom."