THE MAD KING AND HIS GUARD

Alec readjusted his grip on his two-handed longsword as he waited for his opponent, his best friend, to make a move. A deafening silence reigned around the large square as the public watched the two fighters whose eyes are following each other's weapon walk slowly as they wait for the right moment to attack.Keith slid forward and cut at his left arm; however, Alec was quick to trap his blade on his guard and stab his chest. The crowd cheered for him, but it did not last long as the adversary charged in to clash their swords and disarm his friend. "You seem to forget who you're fighting against," smirked Keith as he stabbed him one last time before claiming victory. "You're dead— again." 

Keith knocked on the door furiously. He has been waiting for his friend to show up in the village for a long time.Carolyn opened the door and smiled widely when she saw him standing outside. "Keith! What brings you here?""Is your brother here?" The girl raised an eyebrow, "Weren't you supposed to be together? He left this morning to meet you." Keith frowned, "I have been waiting for him for the entire morning. He was nowhere to be seen. Are you sure he did not come back home?" Carolyn shook her head. Keith pressed his lips nervously and took a deep breath. His best friend was not one to disappear suddenly without telling him about it. Something must be going on and

Alec arrived at the castle as an enemy, a prisoner unfortunate to have broken the law and disrespected his king. Now, he was a strong young man who has won the battle against the best soldier in the kingdom and a man who was still disrespecting his king no matter what. He stood in the middle of the arena as the crowd cheered for him. The guard's body was pulled and left trails of crimson red liquid on the sandy ground. Alec did not take off his eyes from the king. Not only because of his resemblance with Keith but also because he wanted to show him that he was wrong. The Mad King believed his guard would end Alec's life, and the opposite happened. The king soon left the arena. He did not dare look at the young man again as he was still surprised he won the battle. He was convinced of his guard's strength, that Alec would be the one to fall on the sand. Alec watched him leave cowardly with a smirk. He was still dizzy, and his heart threatened to rip right out

Four men were on their knees under the scorching heat of summer. Their hands were tied with a rough rope, and their hairs were dishevelled and covered in blood. One of them was praying in silence while the rest were begging for mercy. But their sobs and shouts were just a melody, a background to enjoy during the afternoon for the Mad King.   Kenneth was sitting on a chair as he watched his prisoners plead for their life. He smirked and sipped on his wine as he enjoyed the power he was feeling at that moment.   Alec, who was standing behind him, shook his head and took a deep breath to appease his anger. He hated how the king was abusing his privilege to treat people worse than animals.   It was like a routine for him, a daily tradition to execute men or women and

Kenneth woke up earlier today and left his chambers before his servants come in to get him prepared. He was still wearing his silk night robe and walked barefoot in the palace hallways. The maids and valets lowered their heads when he passed by them and started whispering. The atmosphere was dull lately because the queen and the prime minister were angry because the nuptial duty has not been fulfilled no matter how many nights they have tried.The king made it very clear that he did not love his wife, nor he was physically attracted to her. Gwendolyn tried many ways to seduce him such as wearing her most beautiful dresses and trying different hairstyles and fragrances. But none of her efforts impressed Kenneth.Whispers spread around the palace that the queen was not beautiful enough to make the king fall in love with her. Her father was the talk among the ministers as they looked