Author's Note: If you have stuck around and read the story up until now, I want to thank you for your support. It means the world to me that you are enjoying the world of Keena as much as I am! From here on, unless something happens in my life, I will be posting an episode on every Tuesday and Friday of every week. I do ask for understanding if I am not able to post and I will make sure to explain why. Again, thank you all, and enjoy! End of Author's Note.
After defeating Thanatos, the leader of the Red Dragon Guild, Rain Nisho knew that there would not be anyone else that could stand in his way. After all, Thanatos was known as the only person who could go toe to toe with Rain and he took him down relatively easily. He went on to conquer the rest of the world, and fairly quickly at that. City by city, state by state, he either won the people over or made them submit. However, he just couldn't allow the Black Dragon Guild to live on. That's why he had to wipe them out. He didn't want them starting some type of uprising. There had been too much bad blood between them.
After announcing to the people of Keena that there was a power that rose so high that nobody could challenge it, the Red Dragon Guild named Rain Nisho as the leader of the new world and the first King. They held a ceremony and also had a majority backing from the people due to how most of them were won over. This allowed the people, who felt indebted to Rain, to celebrate his crowning and rise into royal status. During this time, the Red Dragon guild dissolved into the Red Dragon Army or, also known as, the King's Royal Army. They spread their forces far and wide. In turn, there was resistance and there were a few scuffles here and there across both continents, but the Royal guards that now roamed almost every square inch of the land put those fights out pretty quickly. The people all around the world all resonated with the feeling of security and safety. Not everyone agreed with nor liked what was going on. There were those that appreciated this, but some felt like this was a tyrannical move.
Eventually, King Rain put his plan into motion to shape the world that would give him the most control. He gathered thousands upon thousands of people who had some type of elemental ability that could terraform the earth and the sea. Even the wind type users had their part to play in it all. The King was thinking much bigger than anyone had anticipated. The layout of the land before and after would be drastically different.
Little by little the plan that Rain wanted to make happen was playing out right in front of the people's eyes. The whole of the transformation of Keena was estimated to take roughly three years in total to complete. The King's Royal Army started by splitting both continents into two more continents, which made four continents after all was said and done. Then, they made all of them perfectly equal in size to one another. When they were shaping the lands, they made them perfect squares and all had the exact same square footage.
The King demanded that land be set aside to be placed at the north and south poles as separate state sized lands. The south pole state would be used as a large jail that would house Keena's most notorious criminals according to the new law. The north pole state would be named The Kingdom and it is where the King would call home. Lastly, where the corners of each land would meet, there would be a large city at each were constructed higher than ground level. These cities acted as security checkpoints for people trying to go from continent to continent and from sea to sea. If you needed or wanted to be able to go see family or friends in another part of the world, you would have to pass through at least one of these points.
With hard work from countless individuals, the world of Keena had completely changed. It took just under three years to complete since most people worked faster than expected. The change that Rain had envisioned had been brought to life. Unfortunately, the King didn't do the things he did to help the people. He did them for his own personal gain. Either way, the people did end up benefiting from his selfishness.
About a month after finalizing Keena's transformation, King Rain called a meeting with all of the appointed council members to discuss what came next. He explained how the people of the world were weak and how something needed to be done about it. "The world of Keena as a whole will participate in the installation of something I like to call the Royal Fighting Academy. It will be necessary for the growth and development of our world. I also want to add in a new rule to being king and it will affect myself as well." Everyone listened intently because they didn't see why there should be any rule changes to how the king operated.
Rain said, "The Royal Fighting Academy will be where people go to learn about their abilities and to allow them to become much stronger earlier in their lives. When I say 'earlier', I mean it. I want these children to start as soon as they get their abilities. I don't expect them to start the day they turn ten, but we won't accept them after a single month of their birthday. However, I want it to be voluntary. If they are the ones volunteering to work hard and strive for greater feats, they will push themselves beyond their limits. If we compare a simple simulation of being forced to do something versus if they want to do it for themselves, I believe the results of both would be night and day." Everyone around understood the logic behind what King Rain said, but they wondered why he brought up a rule change right after stating the installments of the Royal Fighting Academy.
Rain then switched expressions and now wore a more exhilarated look and it even extended into the fibers of his limbs. Just at a glance, anyone could tell he was shaking with excitement, but everyone around had a feeling it wasn't for pure purposes. "From here on, every five years, with that year ending in a zero or a five without fail, there will be a tournament held called 'The Royal Red Tournament'. To be eligible for the tournament, you must volunteer at least three years at the academy. With that being said, and the prerequisites I just laid out, if we started up the fighting academy right this very minute, there wouldn't be a tournament for seven years." Rain looked at everyone in the room and then dropped the bombshell that nobody thought would be said in a million years, especially not after the work he had done to become king. He cleared his throat, "We need a substantial prize for someone who takes victory in the tournament, right? I'm officially stating that the overall winner of the tournament will become the next king. I want to add a preventative measure here. After losing, the previous king may not participate in the tournament nor become king once again."
Not many understood or even knew how to take in what was just said. However, one of the more trusted council members leaned his head down a bit and chuckled silently to himself, assuming he had already seen through the King's real reason for becoming king in the first place. The meeting was adjourned and King Rain started walking off as royalty must be the first to exit. He heard a simple call of his name. "Rainy, I think I know!" a voice said with a somewhat teasing tone. Rain stopped and only turned his head slightly, "Oh you think you've figured me out huh? Well then, Khalid, explain oh great and wise one." Rain was obviously playing back.
Khalid took a purposeful pause before exclaiming, "Come on Rain, how long have we been best friends for now? I know you enjoy my ability quite a bit, but even with the help of my youthful ability, I know you're a sucker for a great fight. I mean heck, with the help of my ability, you could technically live forever, but that's not your style. I think you're bored! You want the kind of fight that gets your blood pumping! Fighting with an incredible amount of risks is your thing!" After saying that, Rain could be seen with a bit of a 'happy crazy eyes' thing going on, "My thing?" He let out a small, but deep chuckle, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about… okay fine. All jokes aside, you are right. I'm more bored than I have ever been. There isn't a single person on this planet that could give me a run for my money. I need a seriously intense fight soon or I might go crazy!!"
Both men stood there for a second before bursting into laughter with each other. Rain heartwarmingly stated, "It's really good to see you man! I did want to get you away from the others for a more serious conversation though." Khalid jokingly teased, "You aren't coming on to me are you? I knew something was off about you!" Both started cackling for a while. Rain finally straightened up and looked Khalid right in his eyes and said, "I want to give you a stand alone position in The Kingdom. I want to do it because you are my best friend, but more so, unfortunately, to hand you a task that only you can do. I wouldn't trust a single person alive besides you to have the follow through and heart that you do."
Seeing Rain get as serious as he was, Khalid decided to really take each word in carefully. "Anything for you brother, you know that! You saved me, I would follow any path that you set me on as long as you truly wanted me to." With these words, Rain smiled a bit. "I need you to put the duty you feel for me aside and hear what I am about to say to you loud and clear." Khalid was becoming more and more confused with every word spoken. "I am promoting you to the King's right hand man and the head of the council. You will be the man behind Keena. You will be the face in the shadows. Yes I am King for now, but I meant what I said in that meeting room. If I were to be beaten in battle at the tournament, there would be a new king. Your duty would then be passed on to him. The reason I am giving you this task is due to your honesty, loyalty, and ability. You can live indefinitely as long as you aren't killed. If the day comes where someone succeeds me, I want you to be there and guide them. Show them the ropes and pass on all of the knowledge you have gained up to that point. I guess what I'm getting at is I want you to live life forever for me. Extend the life of each king after me. This will bring about unrivaled strength in the future, I can almost guarantee it!"
Khalid was stunned in place for a few minutes. His face had 'shock' written all over it. Rain then saw something he had only seen once in his life. Khalid had tears streaming down his face. "Even though you have such a pathetic reason for becoming king... even though you're my best friend… even though you saved my life… or maybe it's because of all those things, I accept!! I will do as you ask as your best friend and with you as my king. Until the day you are bested by someone, I will put your needs ahead of mine!" he said throwing in sniffles practically everywhere.
"I'm glad to hear it!" Rain lowered his head only a little in thought, "Now… should your title be the King's pet?" Laughing a little, Rain jumped back because he knew Khalid would throw a fist, but he missed. "Ha ha, you think you're so funny huh?" Wiping away his tears, a smile could be seen by Rain on Khalid's face. "Ha ha! Let's go man, we have a lot of construction to do and we can't live forever… oh wait!" Rain said while running off and Khalid chased him.
Author Name
ClodiasManga
End of Episode 7: The New World