Chapter 30: Recognition
"I didn't actually take any of your teeth."
When these words entered the Imperial Knights' ears, they were confused but still tried to see if those words were true.
They were doubtful, yet, also hopeful.
When the tip of their fingers touched the surface of their teeth, they felt goosebumps.
They were dumbfounded. None of the Imperial Knights know how to react.
"I apologize for playing with. I just did it as an icebreaker. You all will be my future comrades, after all."
He just thought of it in that instant but Ayensi played it off like that.
This is one heck of a ridiculous ice-breaker. However, no one rebuked his words.
"How did you do that?"
Anya broke the silence.
"It was only an illusion, really. I only have a strong defense, how could I even get past through your defense and take a tooth?" Ayensi replied using an as-a-matter-of-fact tone which no one can rebuke.
After accepting Ayensi's explanation and grasp the situation, Captain Gragan was the first to compose himself. Although it was still obvious the daze in his face.
"If it's just your strange play, Yensi, we're sorry for showing some inappropriate appearances."
Meanwhile, at his back, the three Imperial Knights looked into each others' mouth to see if there's a missing tooth to find none. Only when their captain finished his words did they found relief.
"Oh, it was nothing. I just hope you're not angry with it."
"No... we are certainly not."
Strength determines almost everything between humans. When they finally acknowledged Ayensi's capabilities, they began to be polite which greatly appeased the latter.
Going back to the palace by foot, Captain Gragan asked, "Illusion... is your defense real or an illusion too?"
'But even if it's an illusion, to make us believe that it is real was enough to show his might.' he thought.
"No, I specialize in defense."
As they went through the main road where most people walked, Ayensi was a bit fascinated with these common people.
'What pathetic sight is this? I regret that I came from the same species as these creatures...' he internally sighed.
Ayensi could comprehend why these people were giving way to the Imperial Knights, but at the same time, he couldn't accept it.
'How can they be okay in that position?'
As knowledgeable as he is, he couldn't answer that question.
After they passed through, the capital got noisy about this mysterious and beautiful couple whom the Imperial Knights talked to on equal grounds.
Shiena shied from being called a couple with her master. On the other hand, Spirit didn't stop following them while ordinary people couldn't sense her.
The other Imperial Knights, following them, were fidgety. They were trying to find the people that they created misunderstanding earlier, except Berdan. In his case, the damage was unrepairable.
He glanced at Anya, expecting to get an answer from her. But what that answer is made him nervous and fidgety.
Meanwhile, Anya herself didn't hear Berdan's friend due to the shock from what just happened earlier...
When they returned to the palace, the Great Emperor heard what he expected to hear.
"Hmmm... so even against the Imperial Knights, he didn't bleed..."
The news-bearer couldn't believe his own words. But the emperor doesn't seem to be surprised.
'He is definitely a God!'
...
"That was fast. So what is the result?"
Sitting on the throne, the Great Emperor asked as if he didn't know.
The Imperial Knights all kneeled and reported. But before they do, they noticed that Ayensi and Shiena were not kneeling in the presence of the Great Emperor.
Earlier, the Imperial Knights didn't think much of it. They just thought that the Great Emperor had already told them to stand. However, at that moment, they just arrived!
The elders and counsellors all looked with confusion. They thought the same.
'Why aren't they kneeling?'
"Ayensi," Captain Gragan urged, "When in front of the emperor, unless you're told by His Majesty let you stand or lift your head, you should kneel in his presence."
At that point, Shiena stepped forward and said, "We apologize. We didn't know that kind of tradition. You see, we are just rogue travelers. Please excuse my ignorance."
'Only you?' the others raised an eyebrow but soon just shrugged it, treating it as mishearing.
'But now that you know, why aren't you doing it!?'
"You may now stand."
Before Captain Gragan can speak the question in his mind, the Emperor cut him to it.
With no choice, the captain reported what happened, honestly. Of course, he didn't give out the detail of how unsightly they reacted to it.
The Emperor acted surprise but quietly listened. Only when the captain finished his report the emperor spoke.
"So what do you think. The job of the Imperial Knight is to protect me. So having defense and strong... illusion abilities are great, aren't they?"
Certainly, adding the "illusion" with Ayensi's defense opens up many ways to defend the Emperor.
For one, Ayensi could disguise himself as the Emperor if there is an attack. The killer thought that they've got the monarch but they just fell into the trap.
The Imperial Knights stayed quiet about this. They no longer question Ayensi's capabilities.
"But, Great Emperor..." Captain Gragan still had a problem, "He's still new. It's his loyalty that is I am questioning. Once he become an Imperial Knight, his job is to guard and protect His Majesty, in other words, he had many chances to get close."
The emperor was about to counterargue when Ayensi raised his hand.
"Ayensi, do you have anything to say?"
"I don't think that would be a problem. I only have high defense and a few illusive tricks. I can't harm the emperor even if I want to. If you're worried about my illusions. Well, as you just experienced, my illusions don't last forever. If you found something amiss, it is so easy to suspect me of using such trickery. Aren't I actually in danger?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone