Sacrifice: Time of Mine

Minutes earlier, the Might of Torge brought Princess Alisera to her father. The travel shouldn't have taken a dozen seconds if Old Maytan knows the way. But as soon as he felt flickering presence kilometers away, the ground shifted, and the princess could only blink before she saw her father again.

King Isero was alive... barely alive. There was a tree with broken branches beside him.

"Did he fall from the sky?" the old man asked.

The princess nodded before she ran, "Papa!"

Looking at the scene, it was easy to guess that this king used the quickest elesp to stop his fall together with defensive elesp and elesk.

"Alisera?" King Isero was only half-step away from death when a tremendous life force entered his body.

Since the princess is a Life Elementalist, Old Maytan didn't do anything to the king. He only watched the father and daughter pair. The old man had a satisfied smile when this king on the ground escaped death and began self-recovery.

"Alisera! H-how!?" right when he was able to move, King Isero hugged the princess, crying in joy. That was when he saw the old man behind Alisera. The old man's calm demeanor and amiable expression reduced the king's wariness.

"This old man brought me here!" Princess Alisera cried too as she buried her head onto her father's chest.

"Hello" Old Maytan waved with a smile.

"H-hello..." King Isero was quite in a shock since he could not guess this old man's rank after a brief spread of his senses,

"Alisera, don't call him just old man!" he scolded as he stood up. But even though he scolded, he still had a smile on him while Alisera nodded back.

"Sir, I thank you for bringing my precious daughter to me." the king then deeply bowed, disregarding his status as the head of a Royal Family. He got a lot of questions but he kept it for now. He was very happy to have survived to see his daughter once again.

"Hmm, so what happened here? How did you end up in this state." Old Maytan asked after giving the two time for their reunion.

King Isero let go of his daughter and was about to answer honestly when the old man put up his hand.

"Wait, forgive me, let's talk after we travel. I still have a business back there." Old Maytan lightly laughed.

"If that's what you want, benefactor." King Isero didn't trust this old man yet, however, he was still submissive. He knew that this old man should be more powerful than he is, 'He is possibly a Rank Ey Elementalist.' the king gulped.

If that is true, whatever this old man wants to do with them, the king had no say. That is how much power raw strength holds in this world.

"The get ready, I will transport us now."

King Isero pulled his daughter towards him and suddenly, he saw the world blur. He was too mesmerized that he didn't realize that they were already there.

"...." he stood in silence.

"Papa, this old man is very strong! He just raised his hand and that big wall just opened up!" Alisera cheerfully told.

"Alisera..." King Isero didn't know to say except, "I said, don't call our benefactor old man..." 

"Oops!" the princess hurriedly closed her mouth.

"No, it's fine, it's fine. What's the problem with calling an old man old man? Hahaha..." Old Maytan lightly laughed.

Meanwhile, the king looked back while thinking, 'I can't see the tree anymore. Just how far did he bring us in a matter of seconds?'

"O-oh! Sorry, Sir, I was just too surprised by your power." he then answered when he realized the old man talked to him.

"So many things happened so you may have a lot of questions. Also, the others have already moved out. Seemed like we have to wait here."

"Then... can I know our benefactor's name?" King Isero politely asked.

"You can just call me Maytan or Old Maytan like the others."

"Maytan...?" 

"...."

"...."

"MIGHT OF TORGE, THE RANK ES WORLD ELEMENTALIST!?" King Isero couldn't keep his voice down upon realization while Princess Alisera covered her ears in surprise.

"Haha, yes, you don't need to be so loud about it."

"W-why does a legend like you here, Sir Maytan?" from being submissive, the king shuddered in fright. The usual domineering attitude he always wore was now completely washed away into the drain.

"That's a long story. But first, I would like to know yours and if you know anything about what happened... here." Old Maytan pointed.

"Of course, I will answer your every question." King Isero determinedly responded.

It was the first time the princess saw his father act like this. The only time she saw this scene is when he and the queen had a private time together in the middle of the night.

Recollecting what happened, King Isero's face soured, "We are having a party between Royal Families. It all started just a night earlier when Avion Teller tried to assassinate every Royal Couple."

Princess Alisera's eyes widened in shock while Old Maytan raised both brows, "Avion Teller? Assassinate?"

"Yes, he is a mysterious boy who can appear and disa-"

"I already know that. Continue with the story."

"You know that...?" King Isero muttered before continuing his story. However, he didn't mention Haliviana even once which creates holes in some part of his story.

When he was about to tell the most tragic part, the part where the Igelios went to them, instead of waiting for the queen, someone showed up, interrupting the scene.

"Supreme Lord Maytan!"

Noticing that the Might of Torge wasn't surprised, King Isero realized on he and Princess Alisera didn't notice this warrior's approaching presence.

"Hm? Don't interrupt us whenever you want to, Gergian."

"I apologize, Supreme Lord, however, I have an emergency report to make!"

"Continue" Old Maytan frowned. It was very unusual to see one of the Ten-Man Mighty Troop have such flustered behavior.

"The Conqueress, Darea Irdona may be on this island!" the warrior, Gergian reported with a loud voice with his body straight as a sword.

"..." Old Maytan blinked a few times before muttering, "What?"