Tynesday, 12th of Juno, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

King Parhal had called upon Josias and his companions to take a stand in front of the elders. He also called upon their betrothed to stand next to them. As they all gathered, King Parhal gave them a proud smile while nodding.

"...Over here stands the next generation of Goria, my successors… And I am proud to call them all as such… As it so happens… Three of them are my direct grandchildren…" King Parhal had coughed as his voice grew slightly hoarse. Archbishop Ludwig immediately moved to hand him some medicines but the king raised his hand to stop Ludwig.

Josias wanted to move immediately but he knew his grandfather hated appearing weak. Because of that, after a short moment, his grandfather had stood again facing the crowd.

"...With that being said… As soon as we return to Goria, we shall usher into a week of weddings and celebrations…" King Parhal then motioned the somba gesture. "...I humbly invite you all to this week of celebrations… as I wish to share my joy with everyone of you, my fellow kings and elders… I extend this hand of good will to prove Goria's sincerity… in maintaining peace within the Halaklands as the Hulubalang… On ma gohkon dohot joujouku tu ho sude… (This is my invitation to you all)."

As the king finished speaking, he turned towards his close advisor – Elder Marasi – and nodded before stepping back. Elder Marasi in turn stepped forward before clearing his throat to speak. He strengthened his voice with aura as it reverberated once more throughout the field.

"I also place this invitation alongside my king as four of my own grandchildren are among those being married as well." Elder Marasi smiled proudly alongside the king and the other elders. "When my king placed this gohkon dohot joujou for you all, he meant it."

Elder Marasi slightly shifted his gaze towards the Saorma before he continued, "As my panggoaran (eldest grandchild from son) will be marrying a granddaughter of the King of Saorma, we also extend this invitation to the court of Saorma. And for this special occasion, the king also lifts his exile upon his second son temporarily to act as he should as the father of the bride. This is to show that Goria still honours the ways of our ancestors."

Josias looked at his grandfather as he heard the news of the temporary lifting of his uncle's exile. A stoic look on his grandfather's face as always. Josias didn't know what he expected. It was clear there was still deep animosity between them but Josias wasn't in a position to do or say anything. Even his father didn't dare to push his luck when it came to his grandfather's decisions.

Finally, a third elder had stepped up to speak. Josias' maternal grandfather, Elder Sabam Hutabaru. As always, this grandfather of his was fitted with the most expensive of western-style clothing. Each finger on his hand donned an elaborate golden ring with all sorts of precious gemstones on them.

Josias wanted to laugh, but it was funny seeing ompung Sabam interacting with the King of Rumaparau and the King of Tanjung Sinaria. The three men touted as the wealthiest in all the Halaklands considered each other a friendly rival of sorts in terms of wealth. Just yesterday he had overheard his grandfather and the Rumaparau king arguing over which far off land was the best to acquire precious silks from.

The only thing that the king of Rumaparau had over Elder Sabam was the fact that Rumaparau were in discussions with the Northern Republic to acquire a western-style warship.

The two old men were insufferable indeed, but lovably so. If there ever was such a contradictory thing. With the Hutabaru's constant flaunting of wealth, Josias always wondered why his mother was so strict when it came to finances. One would think it was below a person of means to haggle for the smallest things in the market, but Josias digressed.

"I would also like to put forward this invitation along with an assurance that your comfort and amenities within Goria would be guaranteed by me." Elder Sabam said with a slight bow "Though of course, if any of you would like to pay for more, we are always open to discussion with beloved patrons."

Elder Sabam, always the opportunist.

All the elders of Goria were in one way or another related to Josias and his companions if not directly then collaterally. Josias' maternal grandmother – Elder Sabam's wife – was a member of the Binangabalok clan. She was in turn sisters with Mateus' paternal grandmother. Elder Gokasi of the Siparadian was the maternal grandfather of Arta. Elder Parmonang of the Sipistar was the brother of Elder Marasi's wife.

Such was life within the close-knit clan communities of the Halak. Everyone was related in one way or another. Then again, when your nation's whole reason for being is by descent from a single common ancestor, tangled family trees were a given.

Thus, the elders' invitation for all the kings and other elders of the Halaklands to join in the wedding celebrations wasn't at all excessive. Not especially when Goria was trying to make a statement of power projection and wealth.

At the invitation from Goria, the various kings and elders of the realm immediately started to discuss among themselves. An invitation like that was a grand one to be sure, but considering they've already been out of their realms for weeks, it was quite an ask to extend their trip further. But Josias knew that a direct invitation from his grandfather was also unable to easily be declined. Not especially when it was by his authority as Hulubalang Nabolon.

Goria's allies in Hutangali and Rumaparau were obviously among the first to gladly declare an acceptance of the invitation. It was to be expected as they would have to travel through Goria anyways to return to their realms.

"We thank the Hulubalang's most gracious invitation and we also express our intentions to attend." Unexpectedly by many – but not by the Gorians – the Nabolga had also declared their attendance to the celebrations.

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Despite the bad relations between the younger warriors, Tanjung Naria was still related to the Gorians through blood and marriage. Thus King Benedictus, and by extension his ally in the Kingdom of Inamaria, also declared their intentions to attend.

The only king mentioned directly by the Gorian elders – King Lombutua of Saorma – stepped forward as he looked at his in-law with a serious expression. Though it was clear there was animosity between the two realms, it was indeed true that it was his granddaughter who was to be married. With a reluctant and deep sigh, King Lombutua answered, "Saorma also declares their intention to attend."

Seeing this turn of events, the Raja Malim scratched his chin before he nodded. "...It has been quite some time since I have stepped foot upon the mainland. If Goria would have us, we are also interested in observing how the Hulubalang governs his lands. The last time I was in Goria was when we gathered to elect King Parhal as Hulubalang…"

King Parhal gave the Malim king an affirmative nod, acknowledging his formal request. Elder Marasi then spoke in King Parhal's stead. "Goria would be honored to return the favour of harbouring us here in this sacred mountain for the past few weeks as well."

Once the Raja Malim had expressed his intention to attend the celebrations in Goria, it was like the floodgates had opened. The other realms quickly declared their intentions to attend as well. Josias laughed as it seemed like they were all going to miss out on the next big event if they hadn't accepted the invite. Soon enough, it was as if the entirety of the Halaklands had collectively decided to set the next round of celebrations in Goria.

It was going to be one hell of a celebration. Josias even wondered just where in the hell they'd hold their wedding if upwards of literally ten thousand people were going to attend. Perhaps the wide fields just outside the village? With this amount of traffic coming into Goria, it seems the realm's merchants would get considerably more busy.

All the realms had contributed to the funding of the Gotilon festival as well as the tournament rewards. However, the wedding celebrations were a personal celebration by the Gorians. Such a turn out was going to cost his realm a pretty penny.

Josias shook his head to rid himself of his more miserly thoughts. All matters of funding and finance weren't his problem to begin with. That was for his grandfather and elders to worry about. He could worry about all that when it was time for him to marry off a child. But until that point, all he had to do was shut up and do as he was told.

The music upon the field started once more as the drums were banged. It appeared as though Josias' intention to just enjoy his life had support. As the festivities and merriment resumed, Josias quickly tugged on Serena's arm as he asked her out to dance with him.

Serena laughed and nodded along as the two started jumping and moving their arms and legs to the beat of the music.

Their close friends and companions joined in on their fun soon enough. Laughter and merriment were infectious as the faces of everyone on the field was filled with merriment. All except for a select few people with more serious expressions.

***

Partogi had widened his eyes when he heard his father had declared a temporary lift upon his exile in honour of his daughter's wedding. It was an understandable position to be sure, but it was no less surprising. He had expected his father to be just as tough as a nail that wouldn't budge when it came to his decisions.

Though, Partogi didn't delude himself into thinking that reconciliation was at all possible. He had burnt that bridge long ago. His current position within Saorma was also proving to be quite pivotal especially with his own recent ascension into the realm of a fifth-star peak warrior. He was of course happy that he finally bypassed his bottleneck, but it was a trivial consolation for the loss of his family.

The festive mood in the air did little to calm his nerves and the gamut of emotions he was feeling. His wife to his side – though in a far better state to how she was when they were first exiled – had still lost the brightness within her smile. Her melancholy would only grow worse every time she heard the laughter or the cries of little children.

Yes, his father had 'temporarily' allowed him back within his realm to attend his daughter's wedding, but what about after? Was that it? Was he still expected to just leave with the Saorma like that? Like a stranger who was only asked to be around when it was needed? What sort of show of love was that? Even wolves showed more care for their young.

As Partogi stood there in the midst of all the music and cheer, he still felt an emptiness within him. A few short months weren't enough at all to resolve his feelings, but it was still enough to make him think on things more thoroughly.

Partogi found his eyes wandering towards the crowd of Gorians who were quite a bit away from him. He observed his nephew who was dancing with the Archbishop's daughter.

Partogi wasn't lying when he told his nephew that he was proud of him. Josias' show of skill was far beyond his own when he was at that age. Partogi had always been the more bookish type like his nephew Hesekiel. But that being said, he realised that Goria's youth was far above and beyond the rest of the Halaklands.

To have five warriors reach the level of the third star? And all that while being no more than twenty years of age? It was phenomenal.

These feelings of awe were quickly embittered as the small smile on Partogi's face disappeared. He had caught sight of Timotheos laughing along with the rest of his children who were not with him.

Partogi scowled as he saw his prodigal son. No, it was too much to even call someone like that his son. He had so unjustly rebelled against him, shown him nothing but content, and all for some foreigner's religion! Timotheos was no longer his son, and he was no longer the man's father.

The boy who he would read stories to and taught how to write. The boy who would everyday write a letter on how much he loved his parents as writing practice. The boy who would come to him everyday because he was scared of the dark. The boy who was so excited when he heard he was about to have a sister. That boy was gone. Replaced by some form of zealot. To be punished by one's parents was one thing. But to be betrayed by one's son?

"Our boy has grown up, hasn't he…" Partogi was pulled out of his thoughts by his wife's sudden voice. "Despite what he is, I'm glad he grew strong… Strong enough to oppose his father at least. He takes after you in more ways than you notice."

His wife's gentle voice ached him. She was forcing herself to smile but Partogi could see her puffed up eyes. Not once had she gotten a restful sleep since their exile. Every few nights, Lamria would still awaken in screams from night terrors. Each time, her screams were always the same. 'Don't take my children from me!'

Yet how could she still force herself to smile like that? How could she still look at their son with such unwavering love?

Partogi felt his wife's hand wiping away tears from his own face. Tears he hadn't even noticed were there.

Without another word, Partogi pulled in his wife for a hug. In his embrace was the one person he couldn't live without. The one person that made it all worth protecting. He couldn't dare to see her saddened like that.

"Whatever it takes…" Partogi said as he caressed the woman in his embrace "I swear to all the ancestors and all the gods in the heavens… Whatever it takes, I'll get our children back…"

It was a solemn oath. Something he didn't even believe was possible or realistic. But they were words that still echoed the small rays of hope within his heart. Despite his words, despite his feelings, despite it all. He was still a father. And a father does what he can to protect his children.

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