Jack woke up in Ein's bed, he could hear noise in the kitchen. Jack rubbed his eyelids and tried to recall what happened last night. Everything was blurry for a moment but it was all coming back to him. He remembered hiding in the woods overlooking the house until the middle of the night. As soon as he felt it was safe to sneak back in to interrogate her he would. It was the middle of the night before he was comfortable enough to think that she truly believed he was long gone and went back. He remembered putting the knife to her neck and threatening her. He remembered her crying and making some crazy statements and then everything after that was blurry.
Ein walked into the bedroom and brought a tray of food to him. Jack sat up, stretching.
"What happened last night? I barely remember anything" Jack asked.
Ein blushed and smiled, she began to twirl her long green hair in her finger.
"Well... You came back and put a knife to my neck, and when I told you my true feelings you become an animal and made love to me viciously" Ein looked Jack in his eyes and Jack immediately remembered the same crazy look.
"We are one now, Jack. We will be together forever, you had me twice, now I will never leave your side for as long as I live. You can treat me however you want, nothing you do will ever hurt more then being separated from you." Ein began to breath heavily staring into Jack's eyes. Perspiration coming down her forehead and flushed cheeks.
Jack, took a bite of the toast she made while looking at her, now concerned with his own safety.
'What the hell did I get myself into? My buddies back home always said don't stick it in crazy and here I am now'. Jack sighed and figured, she could say all these things but she would never agree to leave with him and Jack was willing to bet she wouldn't leave her home here.
"Ein, don't forget that you agreed to take me to see the King today. I would appreciate it if I could see him as soon as possible so I can start getting some answers." Jack said.
Ein made a quick look of annoyance but as soon as it was there, it was gone. Jack couldn't tell why she would make a face like that. Maybe she knew that he was planning to leave afterwards. Regardless, he was going to do what he had to do.
They both got dressed together, and left for the small castle in the back of the village. Once they got there, Ein went ahead of Jack and spoke to the guard at the front gate. When she came back, she led him through the gates.
There was a stone walkway with a flower garden on both sides. In the middle of the garden there was a small wooden bridge that went over a small pond. On the other side of the pond was fresh cut grass and the stone walkway continued up to the large, wooden double doors. When the doors opened, there were small columns on both sides that led straight to a throne.
Jack thought it was nice but he could tell it was small. This wasn't a large kingdom, he was the king of a small village therefore of course he wouldn't have anything too extravagant.
There was an older man with a long gray beard sitting on the throne. He had a crown on his head made of gold and just a couple of jewels. He wore a red and green checkered robe. He was kingly but definitely not rich, Jack could tell.
"What brings you here? I was not expecting visitors today so please make it quick, I am very busy." The king sounded almost annoyed and uninterested.
"My name is Jack, sir. I would like to ask you where I am and how I may find answers to how I got here" Jack tried to say as proper as he could, he was talking to a king after all. Jack stood waiting for an answer but the king paid almost no mind to Jack.
Jack stood there waiting, his blood boiling more and more as he waited for some type of acknowledgement from the king. As time went on, Jack opened his mouth to say something but someone else beat him to the punch
"Father! will you answer him please and stop ignoring us as if we are not here! we will not leave until we have answers!" Ein's chest heaved with anger.
'Did she just say father?' Jack realized, looking back and forth from Ein to the king, he could see a small resemblance.
The king looked up and glanced at Ein, then over to Jack and his eyes widened.
"YOU!"
Jack could feel a sudden bloodlust coming from the king, he looked to both sides of him. On each side was a knight with swords, he didn't see any archers. Before the king could give any orders and the knights could react, Jack ran up to the king as fast as he could drawing his M17 handgun from its holster in one fluid motion and held it to the king's neck.
"One wrong move and your king dies", Jack growled at the knights. Jack looked back at Ein, she stood there not fully understanding what had happened.
Jack turned back to the king "Why did you want to kill me just now? What have I ever done to you?"
The king sat still but lifted his hand to signal his knights to stand back. The king looked down at the gun aimed at his throat and back up to meet Jack's eyes.
"So, you don't know where you are or why you were brought here?" the king asked as if surprised.
Jack began to lower his weapon, he could sense that the king meant no more harm to him. Jack was always able to feel the intentions of people. It's like a sixth sense, he could feel when someone wanted to kill him or meant him any harm. It was like an animalistic instinct he couldn't control.
Once Jack put his gun away, the knights stepped forward and the king waved them off. The knights looked at each other confused but followed their orders and stood on their post.
Ein, stood in disbelief and awe at the man she loved. His fast movements, his quick thinking. He was the perfect combination of strength and speed. She was enamored by him. She walked closer to take her rightful place next to Jack. She looked up at him and at the same moment, he looked down at her, she could see the love filling his eyes when he looked into hers. She was proud to be with him.
'Why is she looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?'
Jack shook his head and looked back at the king, he took a step back to give him some space. The king cleared his throat before speaking.
"I do not know all the details, the high kingdom of Arinvil have oracles that told of a prophesy."
'No freaking way, how cliché can this get?' Jack thought to himself.
"The prophesy says something along the lines of someone from another world will come and destroy ours. I do not know all the details, if you want more information you will have to go to Arinvil yourself and ask there but I will warn you." The king said "You will most likely not be welcomed with open arms, more likely, you will be hunted everywhere you go. Now please leave my kingdom as soon as you can, or else I will have to send my guard after your head."
Jack turned and walked out, Ein following at his heels.
Once they made it back to Ein's house Jack walked through the door and turned to face her once they were both inside.
"Why didn't you tell me your father was the king?" Jack asked furiously.
"I'm sorry Jack, it was a detail I left out purposely in the beginning but I forgot to mention it later. Please don't be angry with me. Would you like to punish me for my insolence?" Ein's face began to burn red. "You could whip me, or s..s..s..spank me" Ein buried her face in her hands.
Jack shook his head and let out a sigh. He decided it didn't matter, he got what he needed in the end and now he needs to go to Arinvil to find out more.
Jack began to pack his rucksack with supplies he may need, some non perishable food he made sure to get ahold of in the markets, a tarp, a filled up water skin and some other odds and ends to help in his travels.
Ein helped him with packing some things and she was doing her own thing. Jack didn't pay her much mind since he now had a mission, a focus. When he was finished and had all his gear on, his weapons strapped to him, he turned to face Ein and she was standing there with her own backpack and travel attire on her.
Jack looked at her for a moment and immediately told her "No. Absolutely not. You cannot come. It will be dangerous and you will just slow me down."
Ein huffed, "I told you already I will never leave your side. you can punish me later for it but I am not leaving you."
"You are not coming, I mean it, I cannot bring you. I need to do this myself and like I said, you will just slow me down."
"Fine, then tell me, where is Arinvil? Which direction do you plan on going?"
Jack sucked his teeth, he was so excited about this new information he didn't even think about how to get there.
'Amateur move Jack' he thought.
"You can leave me, Jack, but that will not stop me from following behind you. So you can either let me come or I can follow you behind. Maybe the wild animals will kill me all because you wouldn't let me stay with you" Ein knew in her mind that he would never let anything bad happen to her, he would protect her with his life.
"Fine, you can come, but you better not slow me down." Jack wouldn't have cared if she followed, he was trained for these things, he could shake her by nightfall. But he didn't know where he was going, so he did need a guide to get him to Arinvil.
'I can dump her off there, shouldn't be an issue'