To be honest sometimes I don't understand how these Taslanians think. After the whole ordeal I went through I just want to find a bed and lay on it for days but that wasn't possible.
They have the rule that after every ceremony people gift the new channeler with things that will help them in their journey to greatness and fulfilling their destiny. They called it the gifting ceremony which is funny since it will just be a chance for dignitaries to meet with me.
We drove out of the temple immediately the ceremony was over and as we drove off I was in awe of the amount of people outside the Temple to watch it happen. I know a few people have been ringing it in my ears that history is being made today but seeing all these people come out to see me and the joy and hopes on their faces just made me realise the amount of responsibilities on me and I start to have a panic attack as my breathing spikes up.
I don't know If SUAP and Thomas noticed my discomfort or not but they both hold my hands and squeeze it.
"We gat you, I know it is a lot but I know you will kill it" Thomas says and I smile
"Welcome to the world of the royals asshole" SUAP says and I chuckle. She sure knows how to make an insult sound nice.That small affection calms me down a little and assured me that I will always have them whatever happens. I smile at them and the moment SUAP sees I was calm she jerks her hands off and glares me. I reply with a smirk and we spend the rest of the drive in silence.
The rest of the drive was less suffocating since we were in the quieter parts of town. I take my time to admire the city and it was a beauty to behold. It was so quiet and beautiful. With the bright light of the afternoon sun sinning on the pedestrian rails and making it glimmer. The roads were too smooth and shiny that I would argue it was made using granite and marble because of how shinny it was.
We drive into the little palace and the whole environment changes. I know they have barriers up here but unlike the first day I came here and every other days I could now see it. It was shinning a bright green and it covered the whole expanse of the little palace. I was amazed by the amount of energy it will take to create such a shield. The floors of the palace was made of expensive marble and as usual the palace was made of bricks and gold.
We walk into the palace and head straight for the ballroom. I now understand what it means to be royal is learning to wait till you are called. We entered a special room and remain there for minutes in silence before the King and Queen enter.
"Ohh my God I have never seen such power and beauty before. You really are one hell of a kid, congrats kiddo" Sheila says pulling me in for a hug and yeah I hate hugs but I needed this one. After all I have gone through today a motherly hug would help. We remain like that for a long while before I pull away. Elias walks up to me patting my shoulder.
"The baton of power has officially been passed unto you today. Not only are you a prince now but you are also the most powerful being in the whole of Taslania. A huge responsibility has been placed on you today and you decide how the story plays out by your decisions and actions. Just know we will be here with you every step of the way to guide and support you. You are not just a ward to me, you are my son." Elias says pulling me in for a hug and we pull away almost immediately. I nod to him and he smiles.
We spend about one hour in there just talking about stuffs before we were finally called into the ballroom. This time the name was called in succession. The calling started with the king and the Queen and then SUAP. The next person was Thomas and then I was called. The moment I was called I stepped into the room with a huge applause welcoming me and I couldn't believe what I saw.
The Gifting Ceremony was happening in the ballroom of the little palace and it was not what I expected at all. I thought since it was the little palaces eveey thing will be small but that was a huge lie. The little palace was huge but the ballroom was so large it could contain 30,000 people without them touching each other. Though there were only about 200 people in here.
The whole room was beautified with gold and black balloons and decorations giving it a more regal vibe. The words "CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW MANIPULATOR AND SAVIOUR" was boldly written and hanged and the saviour part sent shivers down my spine. I didn't sign up to be anybody's saviour. I stop in my track gaining akward looks and whispers from the crowd. I take a deep breath before continuing my walk into the room.
There were multiple tables in the room arranged in secession on both sides and the royal family had one at the far end of the room. The tables were covered with golden and black linen also with multiple crystals on them. I walk a little faster and finally make it to the end of the room where the family was. They were all seated on their thrones confidently smiling and I couldn't believe here I am almost loosing my mind from the stares.
The thrones here were not as regal as the one at the palace but they were still breathtaking becaue these ones looked like the throne was carved out of the ground itself with beautiful artworks on them. There were five thrones in the room this time and it was now the whole King's ward shit was dawning on me. I walk up to the King and bow as I was taught before taking my seat on the only empty throne in the room.
I always imagined the throne since they weren't cushion would be uncomfortable but once I sat on it I can agree I have not felt this comfortable even on cushion chairs. The sit was so soft and relaxing and it also help ease all the tension in my body.
Once we were all seated the programme kicked off with a welcome speech from the King's personal advisor and then we went on to hear a whole story and presentation from different entertainment groups. Even the best musical band in the whole world were invited and men they were jamming. After letting go of all my worries I started to enjoy it.
My best entertainment was the music and the stand up comedian. The guy took me back to my world giving me a whole Eddie Murphy kinda vibe and it just made it very enjoyable. There was also a power show and that was massive. I saw a guy shoot a ball of liquid energy that incinerated a whole target in seconds. I also caught a knife made of pure energy.
After the whole entertainment the meet and greet started. It bacically constituted the king and I walking around the crowd to meet a few of his acquaintances and little introductions were done here and there. We met the prime minister of the world and his family, the local president of the different nations and their wives, members of the Royal Council and evey other officials.
They all had questions for me like I was on a TV interview. The questions ranged from if I was an orphan? Who my parents were? Which nation I was from? What specialisation I woild like to take? What i could do? How long i have known of my powers? And even if I was the king's son from an illicit affair? Can you imagine this people.
The funny part of the greeting and questions was how much hatred and negative emotions I can feel from most of them towards the king. A lot of them respected their King and were smiling with him but they didn't love him. You really can't please everyone can you. I barely escaped those questions with a nod and vague answers and after we had greeted almost everyone in the room it was time to eat.
We all take our seats and dishes appear on the tables from nowhere (just another perks of being channelers) and it was smelling really delicious. I couldnt wait to taste it and i wish they taste as good as they smile. Just as we were about to dig in Elias stands up. Ohh what does this man want again. He hits his cutlery on his glass to gain everyone's attention and they all drop what they were doing.
"I have a few things to say" he starts "I know most of you believe I adopted Jason as a ward because he is powerful and a manipulatorbut that is wrong. I could care less how powerful he is because not all powerful people turn out heroes.
I have not even told him this before but the main reason I adopted him is because of who he really is as a person. During my time as a king I have met millions of young people but none are as wise and special as he is.
He has very poor manner of approach, speech, action and he isn't as dull and boring as every royal" he says and the crowd chuckles "but he is brave,smart loving, respectful, selfless and has every attribute of a royal. He even has the arrogance of a royal" he says and the whole crowd laugh
"I am highly honoured and proud to not only have him as a manipulator who I know would effect enormous changes im the universe but also as a son of mine. Cheers to you son" he says and raises his glass to the crowd and we all do the same thing.
"Cheers" the whole crowd replies and clang their glasses. I was overwhelmed with not only respect and admiration of him but also joy of finding a place among this people. All my life I have felt like an outcast and now I have finally found a place where I belong. Gramps was right I am just special and not a freak.
After the whole toast we dig in and the food tasted better than it smells. I really need to meet the chef who made this dish because i can learn so much from him. I need to know how to make this. He made many dishes but I ate the Jollof spaghetti spiced with fish, shrimps, sausage and liver. I also had grilled chicken and peeper sauce. For desert I had cherry cheese cake with orange juice.
Once we were filled we moved to the gifting which was the main purpose of the whole ceremony. I don't know why they can't just call it an after party special. The gifts I got were more than I expected. The first gifts I had to open were from the King and Queen. Elias gave me a pouch. I open it and it had a golden storage ring, 6 warp balls, and an ammunition belt.
The Queen gave me a Katana made of silver and with a golden case. It had a black gem at the end and the moment I held it I feel it drain a little of my power and the gem light up a bright gold. I pull the sword and the whole drawings on it start shinning brightly. I have always wanted a real katana since I started training with a wooden one at home.
The prince gave me a wristwatch that doubles as a locator(a wristwatch that can find anybody that the blood is placed on it). SUAP gave me a necklace that had a gem on it. According to her it is meant to sense if there is any danger around me. This was a nice gift from my greatest enemy.
Every single person brought very expensive gifts that were wrapped crazily. The gifts ranged from clothes, weapons, books, magical items and even technology of all kinds. Once that was done we moved to the dance floor and almost every lady danced with me.
The dance was basically the ladies dancing with me until the final dance. After dancing with the queen the only person left was SUAP. I could see she didn't want this as much as me but it is compulsory we dance. We walk up to each other and bow before she gives me her hand and I take it. I place my right hand on her waist and she places her left hand on my right shoulder.
We start dancing and it was like everyone in the whole room disappears leaving only two of us in our own little world. I got a little lost in her light blue eyes. She had dark brown hair that had specks of white in them. She looked beautiful with her slightly pale skin, slight makeup and light blue kafta. We didn't know when the dance finishes beacsue of how lost we were but a cough from the king brings us back to our senses and we walk away from each other to sit on our thrones.
The rest of the day was awkward with me stealing glances of her and catching her doing the same multiple times. Why does the only person I hate the most have to be the most beautiful person in the kingdom? I really am in for a long ride. The whole day goes by quickly and I was back in my room in the little palace ready to sleep and I had only one thing on my mind as I went to bed.
I think I can survive here if I try but that is only if I stay away from the princess which is impossible. Yeah I'm fucked