The same night that Zeliker was requested to unite the humans' and demons' kingdoms, he and all his friends including Trez and the group of slaves gathered in the mansion dining hall in the dimension.
The slaves were forced to sit since they feel inferior. Why?
Because there was a gap in ranking between them and Zeliker, the royal demon.
They felt it was wrong to sit and so were forced to sit by Silvert. Only Enta looked normal, well, he was always disrespectful, whether you were royals or not.
Zeliker felt Enta's hateful gaze but he could see Enta had almost reached the gate to upgrade his rank from the lowest to the middle rank. Such a thing to happen was unusual and not many demons can do that.
For example, Silvert. He had become a high-rank demon from the middle rank after the latter was taught by Zeliker and also because of his hard work.
Zeliker then ignored Enta and looked at his friends one by one. Xcerox and Miulwess have their seats closed to him where he sat at the head of the table. From his view, he saw all of their expressions and hidden actions.
He smirk when Kion, a slave and Enta's best friend, was doing knitting under the table. The latter gaze was on her little sister beside him who smiled cheerfully at him. Zeliker's decision to save them makes his heart satisfied. This was the sight he wanted to see in some people. Their unworried expression and relief from their terrible life.
Peace… He guessed he did want it a lot more than he thought.
His gaze was straight but he could see Stiria beside Miulwess. In front of her was Gizelis, sitting beside Xcerox. Next was Riseptos facing Frix, Nish facing Ashla, Enta facing Trez, Kion facing other slaves called Luuma and then other slaves. Excluding Enta, Kion, his little sister, and Luuma, there were eleven more slaves. The seat in the dining hall was filled with everyone there.
"Thank you for coming." Silvert started.
He was standing beside Zeliker on the right side while looking at them all.
"There is something that Zeliker and I would like to ask for everyone's opinion. King Elamos shockingly have requested something for Zeliker and it has something to do with both clans."
"Elamos wants me to become a middleman to unite both humans and demon kingdoms." Zeliker slowly announced.
"What?!!!" Xcerox and everyone were shocked.
Zeliker put both hands on the table and rested his chin on them. He smiled.
"Interesting, isn't it? Xcerox, Miulwess, Stiria, your father may have the same opinion. What'd you think?"
“I, I could not have imagined such a thing would happen. I thought he would make it hard for you.” Miulwess honestly said.
It can’t be helped. He’s now viewing Elamos as someone bad or evil, for hurting Zeliker before. Zeliker knew what he meant and was touched by his concern. He released a heavy sigh.
“To tell you the truth, I'm getting a headache over this request. I mean there’s a lot of danger I might face and I don’t mind doing it but the critical problem is I need a hand to do it. I can’t do it alone and honestly, I’m not good at making diplomatic thingy,” Zeliker hinted to them that he needs help which he’s not used to asking someone before.
Everyone finally understood why they were gathered. It seems Zeliker truly needs their help. Uniting the Humans and Demons clans was a huge activity and very risky.
“This feels so exciting. Don’t you all think?” Stiria suddenly said with twinkling eyes.
It felt like she would have a huge adventure like in many books she has read. Xcerox and Miulwess have their eyebrows twitch at her.
“Stiria, you know this isn’t a book, right? Just like Zeliker said, it will be very dangerous. For that reason, I will not let you do something dangerous.” Xcerox told her sternly.
“I know that brother, but I can speak with my friends from other kingdoms when we have our princess tea party next time. After all, you need to get the baby of the royal family's trust first before you can make the brothers or elder sisters listen to you. And slowly, they can help loosen the string of hate on the king's heart toward the demon's clans. Wouldn't that be like killing two birds with one stone?” Stiria asked them while giving some ideas for them.
The princess tea party included all the youngest princesses from the human kingdoms. Usually, they would have a princess tea party during a princess' birthday. Coincidentally, it was almost her birthday next month. She needs to invite them as well as the aristocraft family children. Stiria thought the party may be a good idea to start her plan to gather allies.
“That's a splendid idea, Your Highness!” Riseptos and Nish feel the ideas were great.
Everyone was surprised by Stiria's smart thinking. It seems they haven’t thought of such an approach. Isn’t that much easier if Zeliker was going to speak with the kings later on?
Zeliker was stunned after hearing it. His eyes couldn't help to stare at her with amazement. He had never thought of such a thing. He found a new side of her again. Her smartness to think of a quick outcome, while smiling brightly, makes her so dazzling in his eyes. He got enchanted once again.
"I guess that would be faster to gather trust from the kings. So, Zeliker, you can leave the royal family to us... Zeliker…? Oi, Zeliker." Xcerox called and even waved a palm in front of Zeliker's eyes, yet, the latter looked so focussed on his little sister.
Xcerox had to give a confused stare at Silvert asking silently what was wrong with Zeliker. Miulwess had already noticed something and was surprised by his thoughts. He couldn't help staring at Zeliker and Stiria.
Stiria didn't notice anything unusual because she was chatting with Gizelis, Riseptos and Nish. She also asked Frix and Ashla about their plan to gather the allies in the party later.
"It couldn't be what I thought, right…?" Miulwess' face gives out a little sweat.
"Zeliker." Silvert had to use his finger to tap on Zeliker's shoulder.
Zeliker snapped out of his daze and realised the three were staring at him. His face blushed a little and he let out a cough while moving his eyes away from them.
"Sorry. I will let you guys handle it. After all, I have my own plan after we get back to Eskimos later. I'm going to the Miko Kingdom." He told them.
"Miko Kingdom? Ah, you want to find the ancient library, don't you?" Gizelis heard what Zeliker said and turned back to face him.
He remembered that Zeliker wanted to find the answers to his questions before.
"Why?" Nish was confused.
The ancient library may have lots of books but some could not be understood in their current languages because it was written in ancient languages.
"Perhaps there, I might find the truth about demons and humans in the past. After all, a tale from the past told us that demons once were human clans but changed to demons after a certain event happened. Yet, the story wasn't completed. I mean, how can we turn to demons in the first place?
"How did we get such powers that overcome nature? Aren't you all curious about it? The library may have all these answers. Since I was little, I have been trying to find this truth. Also, you can see how different a royal demon I am. Maybe, I might find the reason for my differences there too." Zeliker didn't hide his purpose to go there.
"Zeliker…"
Almost everyone who knew his true self realised he was confused and frustrated about his differences. He was born into demon royalty but he couldn't act like a royal demon should be. They thought he had overcome this problem but it seems not yet.
"Zeliker, you're not defective, alright. You are you." Miulwess told him.
"That's right! It was you who saved me from being eaten by the demons. You are you, a normal being with feelings." Silvert put a hand on Zeliker's shoulder and looked at him with concern.
Zeliker realised he had misspoken and made a misunderstanding. But looking at everyone with the same eyes as Silvert, he couldn’t correct it anymore.
“Erm, thank you. I’m fine. Stiria.” He called her for the first time.
Stiria suddenly felt shy.
“Is it my imagination or is it really that he softens his voice when he calls my name. It feels so strange…” She rubs her fingers together under the table.
Her nervousness causes her to blush a little and she only looks at his chest but not his eyes. Since Zeliker found out about her sacrifice to marry Flare, she couldn’t help but be wary and fear that Zeliker would tell her family, including ruining the peace agreement between Shildia and the Eskimos Kingdom.
Still, she answered him with a small smile. “Yes, Zeliker?”
“You and your brothers, please be careful. I know the royal children from other kingdoms may be close to you but who knows how deep their thoughts are. Be extra vigilant when handling this alliance with them. Test them to make sure they do have the same thoughts as us. If not, choose the one we can trust.” Zeliker warned them because he was worried something terrible would happen.
“Because we are representing not just Drick but also your home, Eskimos. We might make enemies.” He continued with a serious expression.
Xcerox nodded. “We understand. Please leave it to us while you do what you need to do. You have to be careful as well, Zeliker.”
“I will. After all, I am stronger than you all combined.” Zeliker smirked.
Some of them rolled their eyes at him.
“Erm, Zeliker, are you leaving early after we send the custody demons?” Stiria asked.
“I will be leaving after the party. You need my presence correct?”
Stiria nodded. “Yes. only with your presence would they believe us.”
“Alright. I guess that is all. Anything else you guys want to ask?” Zeliker stood up from his seat.
“Nope. I am famished.” Nish said honestly and everyone chuckled at him.
“Well, then, today’s dinner, which group is supposed to make it?” Silvert turns his sight on Enta and his friends.
“Me!”
“Me too!
“Me three!”
Five teenagers stood up while putting their hands up. Silvert nodded.
“Luuma, Ariva, River, Kuan, and Yomy. Come along.” Silvert went to the end of the left side of the dining room.
There was a door there with a half-lamp showing blue colour. He opened the door and went inside with the five teenagers.
“Can we use the kitchen too?” Nish asked Zeliker.
“Go ahead. I don’t mind at all. Ah, by the way. Don’t enter the opposite door of the kitchen.” Zeliker turns to the door he mentions.
The half-lamp above had turned to red from blue before.
“Why?” Stiria was curious.
“Red means danger. That’s where Silvert trains Enta, Kion and the others.”
“Now that you mention those strange colours. Please tell us what the rest of the colours mean. We might accidentally open somewhere we shouldn’t.” Xcerox and everyone needed to know that because it was important.
“Well, white means empty and it's where you can create anything except humans or animals. Blue means safe to open. Red as mentioned before. Black is the prison or you can say torture room…”
“What?! Why do you have a torture room for?! Are you a sadist?!” Ashla gawked in shock.
“No, the room is for the stubborn enemies we want to ask for information. Ah, it can also be a punishment room too for anyone who breaks the rules here.” Zeliker gives them an evil smile.
Everyone looked a little pale and gulped with worries. They even ask themselves if they did break any rules before. Wait, what were the rules? Zeliker never mentioned it before.
“Gold means my private room which is below the living room. Purple belonged to Silvert’s room which was beside mine. And don’t ever enter his. You might find something traumatising and exciting.” Zeliker continued.
“You make us more curious to enter, you know.” Gizelis sighed.
“Agree…” Some nodded their heads.
“Are you guys a masochist? If you do, go ahead and enter his room. If anything happens, I won’t be held responsible. I already told you.” Zeliker rolled his eyes at them.
“Last one is green. That’s the infirmary if you are injured.”
Trez remembered the room he was inside before. He had been silent since he sat there and still felt disbelief that a royal demon had become friends with the human royalty. But after hearing the request from Elamos, he finally realised these royals seriously want to unite the humans and demons. He could only listen to their discussion and didn't know if he wanted such changes.
Can humans and demon clans unite and live peacefully?
Eskimos have done it but now they were hated by both clans. It was not impossible either but as Zeliker said, it was a dangerous activity for them. He couldn’t decide whether to help them or not, yet he was in a life debt with Zeliker. He would wait and see then.
The dinner was done after half an hour and everyone helped themselves to finish all the meals until nothing was left. Then, another group of five teenagers including Enta went to wash the dishes. Zeliker and the group staying in the palace went back to their respective rooms while Miulwess and Stiria entered their own room inside the mansion.