There was a moment of silence inside the place as the bright light of flames danced gently to its own burning, serene rhythm.
Ado's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as his eyes were filled with uneasiness, anxiously shifting from direction to direction. Obviously, trying to avoid Mon's scrutinizing gaze probably trying to guess what Ado was going to reveal.
It took Aso a couple of deep breaths before he heard his own voice vibrating inside his throat out of his mouth. "I failed you, Mon. I betrayed you. I don't wish to be forgiven by you; I know I don't deserve it but I really am sorry. I've been haunted by my guilty conscience ever since... ever since the king had asked me to do it."
Ado's head hung down, low and heavy with guilt.
Ado had been expecting to be slapped with words of anger,
The sun had risen at its highest peak as the giant ball of fire itself in the floating middle of the vast, clear blue sky. Everyone had taken shelter under the roofs of their homes to avoid being fried without oil under the sizzling temperature outside. However, the hardworking farmers who bathed on their own sweats only had the guts to battle the intense heat. Some were plowing their fields. Some were mourning about their crops' curling leaves as their usual green color slowly turned into hopeless brown. But no matter how strikingly bright and hellishly burning outside, the jail remained eternally dark and incomparably freezing. It was like the jail was made of snow. Mon couldn't take his eyes off the gloomy face of the other prisoners behind him, clinging their pitiful hands unto the cold iron bars of the jail. Their faces were painted with hopelessness and
The awaited day has come. As the sand in the hourglass started pouring down, a huge crowd poured inside the great arena, suiting themselves wherever they want just to have a perfect view on the trial ground. Almost everyone in the kingdom were there to witness a gruesome punishment for a simple mistake that shouldn't have come at this point. A simple mistake that shouldn't take on a punishment as heavy as treason, rebellion or murder. But in a snap, the rules of the king had changed. Where as long as someone violates his rules, where a crime is that serious or not, a fair punishment should be applied. A fair punishment in the eyes of law but an unfair one in the eyes of the public. The people were still in great awe of this sudden change and couldn't fathom that the king h
As Prince Zaeius wept, something fell in front of him. It was a tiny key chain carved in a black jade stone in the form of an owl of which interestingly resembled like Gowl. There was a pair of glowing blue eyes and a tiny bell on its neck. He gently picked it up and traced his trembling fingers on its finely carved details. Even though Mon left without saying anything, Prince Zaeius assumed that maybe Mon gave this to him so he would always remember him. But with or without this, Prince Zaeius won't ever forget him. "Ah! My rebellious son has returned!" The king furiously said. His ears were red,brows furrowed of anger and disappointment. Prince Zaeius brought his gaze up upon hearing this. Those words were no more surprising to him. He had been used to it ever since. But, however, what surprised was the hideous creature s
Ever since what happened on Mon's 'execution', even though no one remembered a thing, Doctor Bai had asked the king to stop any form of literature in the kingdom. From books to tiny strips of paper as long as it contains a letter or two were burned down to ashes, allowing to legalize it only for the castle's own use. "My books! Please don't do this to my store, sire!" cried an old woman to a soldier who was gathering all the books that she was selling in an open area, preparing to get them burned. She was doing her best to stop them from ransacking her store. "No, sire! Please! I feed my family through this!" "We're just doing what we're told to do, ma'am." Although the soldiers' faces showed how much they're against on the king's order, they can't do anything abou
"Your highness, where are we going?" asked the story teller, almost in a whisper as he leaned closer to the prince. The rest of the soldiers were getting ready to ride on their horses back to the palace. Prince Zaeius just hissed at him, giving a meaningful look or else he might accidentally gave out his identity without him realizing. "Do you think you'll live if someone might find out?" 'Isn't it obvious that I'm bringing him to the castle? This guy must really have a death wish.' It's better that he took the story teller with him. Who knows someone from his troops might betray him? At least if that happens, no one would have the guts to threaten the story teller's life. "But I'm not used to riding hor
'Do you still remember that legend your mother used to tell us when we were just kids?' 'I'm not sure if you're going to believe me now because I did the same when Ferlah told me this. But I'm telling you the truth whether you believe me or not. Ferlah...is here to stop the history from repeating itself. Everything from that legend was real.' Keir's voice echoed in his head again. But no matter how many times he played it in his mind, he saw no connection from that legend and what Keir had told him. Was Keir trying to fool him? Or was it Faz? He's just wasting his time for this. He even dragged Faz into it. "At least you tried your best. You did well. Don't worry." Prince Zaeius couldn't hide his disappointment anymore. &nb
It's been a week since Bek and Meah stayed at the abandoned barn in the middle of Fallen County's boundless forest. And it's been a week since Bek last saw the three of them–Ferlah, Keir, and the prince. One long week. One long week since he and Méah struggled from feeding themselves with wild berries and drinking from the collected dews on the leaves of wild taro plants growing from the back of the abandoned barn. So long that they couldn't even remember the taste of meats tenderness and the savoury flavor and the aromatic smell of the freshly cooked rib soup. No one came back for them. Though Bek didn't feel abandoned neither held a grudge on them. Because he understood. But now, he decided to get out of this unfortunate place. He wanted to escape from this place to an
"Sweet candies for sale!" "Beautiful ladies, I have here every amazing jewelries that you're looking for!" "Everyone, I'm selling boiled eggs and roasted peanuts here!" "Here! Here! Here! I got all herbs and medicines that you want for the cheapest price!" "Eyes here! We make personalized toys for your kids, sire!" "Fresh crocodile meat and whole chickens here! Madam, would you like to buy some?" Bek was mesmerized by how lively this place was. Everyone was wearing fancy silk clothes except for the striving vendors. However, their clothes were more decent and more presentable compared to his despite having a hard life. &nb
The golden rays of the sun broke out through the thick, dark clouds that were slowly dissipating away. The sun sat above the golden capped mountains in the west, about a few minutes before it would rest from a long day of work. The bright light vanished and the small crystal ball fell on Keir's chest. Then it slowly disappeared as soon as it touched his skin. Kalen was greeted by the silence of the world. The thick fog was cleared and the sky was full of hope. But for him, it wasn't the same sky anymore. It was the sky of new life and new beginnings. He looked around and everyone was lying on the ground. There was no trace of Purple Smoke. But he recognised Méah's figure lying ahead of him for half a mile away by her clothes and armour. However, as much as he wanted to check on them, he would have to chose his brother first who was lying right next to him. But judging on Keir's injuries, Kalen decided not to touch him. The arro
"Useless!" Purple Smoke screamed in both fury and disappointment. She hated it when someone fails her and had a long history on it. To her anger, struck Méah with her palm on the chest. Méah flew a few yards away from where she stood. But she didn't complain. For Purple Smoke was her master and the only one who has the authority to do anything to her. She rolled on the ground for a couple times and spat out black blood. She was on knees but her face was still blank and didn't show any hint of pain. Purple Smoke faced Keir and the princess's body. Her vision quickly darkened. "Love. This is what love bring to people. What a pity. They're even willing to die because of it." She grinned. While she was feeling the moment of victory, she heard a swooshing blade coming from behind her. She quickly avoided it and saw Kalen. "Oh, another silly boy. But I like you already. You're braver than your brother." "I w
After they ran away and the battlefield was almost emptied, Purple Smoke was furious when she saw Méah kneeling on the ground, frozen like a statue. She couldn't believe a simple trick could affect Méah. "Come, my dear." Purple Smoke walked in front of Méah. She bent down and held Méah's chin up. Black and purple veins appeared on her neck down to her arms. Then all of it crawled into Méah's chin down to her neck, spreading towards her back. Her injuries were healed and the arrows were burnt into ashes. Méah stood up straight. "Avenge yourself. Kill them all. Kill." Purple Smoke whispered to her ears. "But first, I want you to do something." Then, Méah suddenly disappeared in Purple Smoke's eyes. She was now off to do what she's told to do. Purple Smoke burst into a boisterous laughter. But she eventually stopped when a loud blow of horn was caught in her ears. Among all the four kingdoms, only one would use horn
The three of them were in utter astonishment when they saw the enemies were swarming again. They had no idea where they came from but now they seemed stronger than those that they fought with earlier. King Astius shoulders dropped. At the other end, he saw the Deep Caves and everyone struggling to defend it. The enemies were about to break in. "What the hell! They're like locusts!" Keir cursed under his breath. Suddenly, they heard screams coming from behind them, the main gate from the city of Noartias. As they turned around, they saw the remaining of their soldiers, the war veterans and majority of Eastian soldiers who were assigned to defend the city. They were rushing to the battlefield, ready to give their life for the sake of the world. And then, they joined them to launch an attack on the battleground. Weapons clashed hard against each other. Some tasted flesh, blood and bones. Blood were splattered everywhere, leaving a crimsom
"Oh no! They're here! They're breaking in!" Queen Jainah cowered into the corner of the room in the royal underground where they were hiding. Princess Jiyanah sat down with her, arms snaked on one arm of her mother. King Ambrose wasn't there with them because he was out in the battlefield. Unlike Noartias, Eastias don't have any shelter like the Deep Caves but they have a vast underground shelter that they called as the Underground Shelter, enough to cater the whole kingdom's population. It has one entrance which can only be found in the secret chamber of the royal hall. The five exits extend in five directions away from the kingdom's borders. Four of it share the same distance while the other one was the longest which almost reaches the border's pf Noartias. King Zarduz was the first kingdom to surrender to Purple Smoke. Being named as the weakest, poor kingdom, King Zarduz chased the opportunity to get power, enough to purge a strong kingdom l
Ferlah brought King Astius to the Deep Caves. After that, she left back to the battlefield outside. More enemies were coming. They don't seem to decrease at all. The more of them die, the more of them come. Prince Zaeius and the mysterious woman in red were trying hard to defend the door of the shelter. General Kapono was defending the walls together with the rest of the soldiers since the enemies were trying to climb up through tall ladders. Seeing all of these, King Astius didn't think twice to carry out his responsibility. He climbed to where the archers were stationed on the walls. "Aim for the enemies! Kill them! Leave none of them alive!" He shouted. Upon seeing his presence, the soldiers' morale was boosted. Their spirits soared high and their hearts filled with hope. From afar, Ferlah could be seen battling alone. She couldn't risk to transform herself so that she won't get exhausted when it was time to go
When King Astius and the rest of the troops arrived at Noartias, they were flabbergasted by the army of the enemies flocking inside. Only a few of the war veterans were left standing, fighting bravely despite being outnumbered. King Astius was suddenly eaten by guilt. He blamed himself for not seeing the trap ahead of them which made him led the whole Noartian army into deception. The moment they stepped a foot inside the kingdom, the bloody clash began. The enemies looked like a swarm of locusts, attacking them in every possible way. There were clamours of death and courage as well as the shatters and clatters of weapons. Blood were spilled everywhere and the parched ground quenched its thirst through it. While King Astius was slaughtering the enemies, he suddenly remembered the prince. Fear struck him hard. He wished his son was safe in the royal underground as it was difficult to find. But judging from the prince's behaviour, he probably
"Méah!" With eyes closed, Prince Zaeius screamed in terror and sat up from his sleep without even knowing. He just had a horrible nightmare about Méah dying, covered in blood and vanishing into thin air. However, even though it was just a nightmare, he began to pray to himself that it would only remain as a nightmare. As his breathing slowly calmed down, the throbbing pain came raging from all over his body, starting to penetrate deeper into his senses. He let out a painful hiss with a twisted expression as he went weak and limp, slumping himself back into the soft mattress of his bed. An agonizing groan followed that made him shut his eyes in a tight manner. With this, it all came back to him. But despite after being rescued and seeing the woman he loved in that situation, the flashes of tortures that he had gone through in the hands of Purple smoke held a consistent spot in his memory. That no matter how hard he tried to set
The awaited dawn finally came. It was summer but the breeze, though it blew calm and gentle, felt like a touch of a blizzard's chill. Passing through the steep trails of well-tilled earth, forests, rivers and marshes, a couple of hundred thousand men set off from Noartias to the battlefield under the command of King Astius. This was the last number that he could bring with him. And not all of them were soldiers. Some were mere folks, men and women but brave and courageous, who voluntarily swore to protect their kingdom, their homes and their families. Every abled person in no particular age requirement were allowed to go to battle with them as long as they can walk at such distance and can ride on horses and fight with willingness. However, as he couldn't leave the kingdom and the people alone unguarded, he left this task to the war veterans of less than thirty thousand. Half of them guarded the kingdom with Kalen among them and Bek was told to stay with o