Previously on Hakuna, the prince's attention was completely stolen by a girl named Joy who possessed a striking, almost unsettling resemblance to his divine partner, Nolitha. But like literally everything that has happened in Hakuna's increasingly complicated life lately, the encounter was immediately interrupted and something was profoundly off. The political and spiritual intrigue of the matric camp was only beginning.
Fade in…
Arrival of the Bridge Clan
Hakuna was seen sitting alone at the table by the window, entirely absorbed in his initial, stunned appraisal of Joy, who sat opposite him. He was completely unaware of the other girls who had quietly materialized and occupied the surrounding seats, effectively encircling him. The dining hall's noise, which had been momentarily suppressed by the arrival of Joy, was slowly creeping back, masking the quiet intensity of the confrontation.
One of the girls, situated directly to his far right, spoke without any preamble, her voice low, precise, and immediately demanding. "You seem to be a bit unguarded as of late, Prince Hakuna. Especially for someone known for their paranoia."
Hakuna immediately looked sharply to his right, his eyes flashing with the instant realization of danger.
He thought to himself, his internal alarm sirens blaring at full volume. "Where in the hell did these people come from? Their approach was so clean, so silent. Even with my enhanced senses, I failed to detect their movement."
He then questioned flatly, the shock being quickly replaced by irritation. "Who the hell are you?"
Phumaphi, one of the encircling girls sitting directly next to him, reacted almost instinctively to the Prince's hostile tone, her own energy flaring in defense of her leader. "Mind your tongue, Prince! You are speaking to your superiors!"
The first girl who had spoken then immediately reprimanded her subordinate, her voice calm and authoritative, cutting through the sudden tension. "Now girls, there's no need for this much hostility. We must maintain decorum. This is the rumored "Monster" of the Letebele Clan we are dealing with. A display of fear is unwarranted, but we must be cautious."
Hakuna instantly froze, his internal monologue seizing upon the new, highly offensive epithet. "Wait, Monster? When did that nickname happen? And why does it sound like they use it as an official classification?"
Hakuna slowly scanned the faces of the other girls, his eyes narrowing in intense, clinical assessment.
Psycha chimed in, having run a full energy profile on the surrounding individuals. "Interesting. Extremely interesting, vessel. They possess the unmistakable, highly disciplined energy signatures of a specialized Royal Squadron, which is much rarer than the standard guard. This strongly implies that there is a Royal Entity here who commands them, and that specific girl must be the Entity." Psycha's attention settled on the girl to Hakuna's right, sitting directly in front of the window.
Hakuna synthesized the data instantly and delivered his primary deduction. "So, judging by the intensity of the security, the formation, and the fact that you spoke, you must be a Princess from a highly significant clan."
"How very perceptive, Prince," the girl replied, a subtle, cold smile playing on her lips. "Your reputation as a brute clearly underestimates your academic abilities."
Hakuna continued his systematic assessment, his gaze hardening. "However, your squadron's formation is designed for perimeter defense and spiritual warding, not aggressive offense. You don't seem to be from a militant, war-ready clan like the Tshabadira or my own Letebele."
Nolitha then questioned mentally, sensing the deep political undertone of the confrontation. "Could she be The Philosopher? This level of calculated political infiltration is far beyond a simple school rebellion."
Hakuna responded to her mentally, his focus absolute. "That's what I'm trying to find out. I need her to reveal her true hand."
"Oh? You are trying to find me out?" the girl queried, raising an eyebrow, sensing the deep line of questioning.
Hakuna then said, pushing his deduction further. "Yeah. But your squadron members—have an unusually strong desire to protect you. Not out of mere duty to protect you, which is standard. Not out of rote loyalty to the throne, which is expected. But out of deep, personal admiration for you. This kind of loyalty is typically earned by someone who provides spiritual or physical aid, which means you're not just a royal; you are a rare Royal Samaritan."
The girl replied, finally displaying a flash of genuine, unmasked respect. "I am truly impressed with your insight, Prince Hakuna. You are far more observant than the war reports suggest."
Hakuna then shifted his tone, his voice dropping, taking on a resonant quality almost as if he was speaking directly to her soul, projecting his intent directly at her core. "To your right, there is a large, empty table. Yet, you chose to corner me here, which makes me wonder, Princess…"
His eyes began to glow, not with the hostile purple of Celesti, but with a sharp, piercing light brown, the color indicative of his maximum focus now solely on the potential, inevitable political or physical fight.
He then continued, the air thickening around the table. "What are you, a Princess from a non-militant, Samaritan clan, hoping to achieve by seeking out a Prince known universally for his terrifying power and his ruthlessly efficient conduct in the last war…?"
The air around the table tensed to the breaking point. The dining hall noise seemed distant and muffled.
The girl then spoke, her voice measured and completely devoid of hostility, despite the tension. "I have no hostile intentions, Prince Hakuna. Even though, by all rights, we should be at absolute odds with one another."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" the Prince muttered, the puzzle becoming more complex.
The girl then introduced herself, finally laying her cards on the table. "I am Nokukhanya Serame of the Khanya Clan, a powerful Bridge Clan formed centuries ago as a result of a peace treaty between one of the most powerful Tswana clans and one of the most powerful Xhosa clans. These lovely ladies are my Royal Squadron: Phumaphi, Noligoa, Sureina is by the food station, and the one who stands silently next to me is Gorata. And I'm sure you're already well acquainted with Joy." She paused, her eyes challenging him. "We are a peaceful clan. We seek no war and seek no part in the conflict between the kingdoms."
"The Khanya Clan? I've never heard of you in any of my political briefings," Hakuna asked, his voice betraying his surprise.
Nokukhanya replied, her meaning crystal clear. "Yes, the Khanya Clan. And I'm pretty sure you now know exactly what I meant with my previous statement about us being at odds."
Hakuna remained utterly silent, the historical weight of her declaration sinking in.
Nokukhanya then continued, elaborating on the dangerous political reality. "You had just come from a brutal war with the Tshabadira—one of our beloved Tswana clans. And your war has led to the confirmed death of a powerful Princess from one of our most beloved Xhosa clans. My mission is to ensure peace, yet your actions have caused tremendous conflict within the tribes we are sworn to protect. So, in actual fact, I should be plotting your immediate assassination, but I am not."
Nolitha then spoke, suddenly recognizing the name with a gasp of shock. "The Khanya Clan! I've heard my mother, the Queen, talk about them once, but I've never seen anyone from there, let alone their current Princess!"
Hakuna thought to himself, demanding an explanation from his partner. "Why is that, Nolitha? Why the intense secrecy?"
Nolitha continued, her explanation long and detailed, realizing the massive implications of their presence. "It's a sacred clan. Only a few trusted clan heads and the King know where they're permanently situated. It's exactly as they're implied: a Bridge Clan. They are the neutral party who distributes intelligence and facilitates political and spiritual communication between the Xhosa and the Tswana tribes, and vice versa. They know absolutely everything about all the clans in the respective tribes, so much so that they are the most protected clan in the region. The most skilled warriors from the two tribes are secretly chosen and dispatched to protect them every twenty years. They were the ones who were solely responsible for the political approval of my clan visiting the Citadel of Crowns five years ago, including the controversial approval for the Tshabadira Clan to attend last year."
Hakuna quickly thought, "Well, thanks for the timely warning, Nolitha. Very helpful."
Nolitha argued back mentally, "I never knew they would be here at a simple matric camp, Hakuna! They never leave their compound! Bottom line is, they may not be a militant clan by nature, but they are not a clan you want to go to war with under any circumstances, if you know what I mean. They have too much political leverage."
Hakuna then spoke out loud, cutting through the silence and returning to the central question. "So, Princess Nokukhanya, if you have every reason to orchestrate my death and destabilize my clan, why aren't you plotting my assassination right now?"
Nokukhanya replied, her voice filled with her official duty. "Well, as per my essential duties as princess of the Bridge Clan, I must know the full truth about anything that has to do with any one of the clans under our spiritual care. I must gather the unvarnished facts. Therefore, I would like to confirm the complete validity of your Royal Tie—and I would also like to speak directly to Princess Nolitha, if you wouldn't mind facilitating the conversation."
Hakuna was stunned by her last request. "Wait, how are you going to speak to her? Only I, the primary vessel, can hear what she—"
Nokukhanya calmly raised her left arm, displaying a series of intricately woven, white beaded bracelets on her wrist.
Hakuna muttered, recognizing the cultural significance. "Those are the same things my sister, Bernice, wears when she does her spiritual duties."
Nokukhanya then spoke, explaining the technology of the spirit world. "These are called Ancestral Beads. They are an indicator of an individual's exceptionally high affinity to contact the Ancestral Plain. They also greatly help with seeing the Ancestors' messages clearly and communicating with the dead, as opposed to receiving them without the beads. Another sacred duty of my clan is to be the primary distributor of information from and to our two tribes in the Ancestral Plain itself. We are the spiritual messengers."
"I see. That explains your intelligence gathering," the Prince murmured, finally understanding the scope of her power.
Nokukhanya then declared, with an authoritative tone that carried the weight of both tribes. "Your clan, the Letebele, will also now be officially placed under our spiritual care, Prince, due to your recent, unstable development. This is non-negotiable from now on."
"Hmmm." Hakuna hummed, an audible sound effect of his deep thought process, recognizing this as a political checkmate.
Nokukhanya then asked, observing the lack of visible Royal support. "Speaking of which, where is your official squadron, Prince? You are the most prominent target in the district."
Hakuna replied, his eyes scanning the windows. "Some of my squadron I sent back to guard my palace, as a show of force, and the others, well… Sefate…"
Sefate appeared instantly, materializing silently and kneeling on his left side, her head bowed in respect and duty.
"My Prince. You summoned me," Sefate said.
Hakuna then spoke, his voice taking on the tone of a King issuing a decree. "You heard the political nature of what transpired here, correct? Every word, every syllable?"
"Sir!" She said sharply, confirming her absolute attention.
Hakuna then said, with absolute urgency. "Good. Report every detail—the Khanya Clan, the Ancestral Beads, the truce, and their intent to speak with Nolitha—to my brother, King Sehloho, immediately. He needs to know this political shift now."
She vanished instantly, off to Lesotho.
Hakuna then called out, his voice now quieter, calling on his second squadron member. "Seloana."
Seloana appeared immediately, kneeling on his left side, just as Sefate had done.
Seloana then spoke, her hands placed respectfully before her. "Yes, your highness. What is your command?"
"Prepare a complete, impenetrable protective barrier around the entire campus. And make absolutely sure that no one outside of this immediate perimeter hears what is, what was, and what will be said on this table. Activate the temporal shield to cover everything from two hours ago until the meeting is officially concluded," the Prince ordered, demanding total discretion.
Seloana replied, her resolve firm. "On it, Prince. Absolute silence secured."
She vanished, commencing the immense, complex spell.
Hakuna then concluded his response to Nokukhanya, gesturing to the empty space Sefate and Seloana had just occupied. "They're here for added insurance and immediate political deployment."
"I see. A wise move, Prince. However, how will the other one make it all the way back to Lesotho and report to your brother in time to have the exchange—?" Nokukhanya attempted to ask, curious about the logistical impossibility.
Hakuna interjected, a slight smirk touching his lips. "She's already back, Princess. I told you, my squadron is second to none."
Sefate reappeared instantly, kneeling again, holding an official-looking scroll.
"Your highness. His majesty, King Sehloho, sends his immediate approval and cooperation." She handed the sealed letter to the Prince.
"Here," Hakuna said, giving the royal, official letter to Nokukhanya.
"What is this document?" She asked, taking the heavy paper.
Hakuna then said, summarizing the political concession. "It's a letter of approval. We can carry out the diplomatic exchange, and the Letebele are formally accepting the spiritual care of the Khanya Clan."
"Impressive. Your efficiency and the scope of your power are alarming, Prince Hakuna," Nokukhanya muttered, placing the letter on the table.
In the farthest corner of the dining hall, a girl [1]watched Hakuna with an expression of intense, burning anger on her face, a clear resentment of the Prince's power and the political maneuvering.
Fade out…
End of Episode 54.
[1] This girl is the same who looked at Hakuna with the same anger in the earlier chapters of the previous volume.