Love and Devotion

Wilhelm got up and walked out of the dining hall along with the houseservants. He needed to clear his mind and could not stand staying in this castle any longer. He also needed to meet up with his supporters in a place away from the church’s prying eyes. He went back up to his room for a black cloak to protect against the ash fall from the outside.

As he went out into the castle courtyard, the ash from the darkened sky gently fell upon him. Mt. Ymir was an active volcano from the Aurok province, the land of the Orcs. It had been active for centuries yet it had not erupted since the start of the 1st war with Ougonites, 800 years ago. Yet now its ash clouds have managed to reach all the way to the capital. Some say it erupts whenever Synthara is angered. Wilhelm was not sure if it was true, but if it was, why had it not erupted when the Kingdom converted to the Ultimatum and outlawed worship of Synthara? Surely such a wrathful and passionate god would not allow her followers to be led astray with not even a whimper? Wilhelm could only conclude that she must have some sort of plan, she had too. She is a real, breathing god that Wilhelm saw with his own eyes along with everyone else who came to the Myrksalr Temple. Being near her presence felt like standing near a giant bonfire. From that presence, he could tell that she was passionate and would not allow her land to fall to invaders. She will return one day.

Wilhelm sighed as he went to the stables towards his black stallion Sleipnir. He petted his snout as he hand-fed him, the horse exhaling a small whiney, calming his emotions. He always felt the need to go for a ride after dealing with Julius and his father, they were aggravating to an absurd degree.

After spending a few moments checking that his saddle was in order and ensuring he had all of his hunting equipment, Wilhelm mounted his steed and rode out of the stables into the castle courtyard. He approached the main gate nestled in the tall castle walls. When he reached the gate the guards let him pass into the city without a word.

The city of Rok was a large city constantly stained with black. All of the buildings had steepled roofs in order to prevent ash and snow from accumulating, creating an almost spiky appearance for the city if one were to look at it from a high angle. Combined with its wide and straight streets, and thick, tall black walls it was a city built for war.

Wilhelm rode along one of the main roads going away from where the ash clouds are originating, passing by street vendors hawking their wares and the poor begging to survive. The latter was growing in number by the day.

Eventually he made it to the outer gates into the wilderness beyond, where the ash clouds gave way to blue skies and lush forests with snowy hinterlands in the distance.. He was aware of his reputation as a disobedient son and leveraged it by forming a habit of going out on long hunting trips whenever he was upset. This way no one suspected that he was actually meeting up with his supporters.

He made his way through the hunting trails into a forest clearing where about a thousand people gathered around multiple bonfires with a larger bonfire at the center of the field. Today was the day of Blót, a yearly festival honoring Synthara with sacrifices.

As Wilhelm approached the clearing, he dismounted Sleipnir and turned around towards the dark forest. “I know you are there.”

There was silence, after a long moment Camilla came out of the shadows, dressed in a non-descript black cloak and her long dark blue hair fluttering in the breeze. Her shy and cutesy demeanor was replaced with an ice cold flat one.

“How did you know?”

“When I'm not deep in thought my ears are very perceptive. Your footsteps were so quiet that I almost missed them entirely, had we been in the city you might have caught me by surprise.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” Camilla said with a hint of sarcasm. “Why have you not attacked yet? Are you not worried that I'm going to report to the inquisition about this pagan festival? Or even that I might kill these pagans?

“No. Because I have already defeated you.” Wilhelm said as if it were a fact carved into stone.

Camilla paused, searching Wilhelm’s face for any sign that he was lying. He seemed absolutely confident that he could defeat her, one of the Ultimatum’s imperial guards granted divine power directly from them. He did not know that of course, but it was still something to be wary of. Despite not having any Soul Armament, the prince was still known to be one of if not the strongest warrior in the Ragna Kingdom, he must have some sort of edge.

“Care to enlighten me on how exactly you defeated me? I find it very hard to believe. Amuse me.” Camilla said with a smirk.

“Because I have your heart.”

“Ha! You must be naive if you actually bought my lovey dovey act, it was just a sham to deflect suspicion.” Camilla sweated slightly.

“You blushed like an apple when I held you by the waist in my room, you cannot fake a blush.” Wilhelm stepped forward, keeping his expression serene and cool.

Camilla reflexively stepped back. “S-so what!? I just like you for your body, that's it! You naive numbskull! My heart and mind all belong to the Ultimatum!"

“When I said I have your heart, I meant it in more ways than one.” Wilhelm pointed at Camilla’s chest.

“Because my bone is inside of you.”

Camilla widened her eyes in shock.

“When I touched you in my room, I implanted a tiny piece of my bone into your body. That piece would then slowly make its way to your heart and then it will grow and spear your heart.”

“Impossible! There is no way I would have not noticed you stabbing my body. You are bluf-” Camilla was cut off as she felt a sharp pain in her chest as if something very sharp poked her organs. It was only for a second but she felt like she could have had her heart skewered by now.

Wilhelm walked in a circle around Camilla. “I do not make idle threats. Did you actually think that I would let an assassin this close to this many of my subjects without any insurance? Had you brought backup you might have been able to salvage your mission. I am surprised they only sent you after me. They must have confidence in your abilities.” Wilhelm stepped in right in front of Camilla and looked down on her with absolute assurance. “Whatever power you possess, if you think it is fast enough to kill me before you die, then by all means, let us race.”

No matter what method she could think of at that moment, it would not be fast enough to kill him before her heart was destroyed. Her Ice-based Soul Armament would not do any good. Her daggers are out of the question. She was completely at his mercy. Was she really going to die here without even getting to use her new Soul Armament? The Ultimatum would never forgive her if she died in such a way, the gates to heaven would be closed to her forever. Camilla looked up at Wilhelm defeated, tears streaming down her face.

“So, what now? Are you going to kill me?”

Wilhelm looked down at the pacified woman kneeling before her. She was Ougonite no doubt, probably sent by Julius to spy on and potentially assassinate him. Yet whenever he fought Ougonite agents they always chose death over surrender, even when the odds of beating him were impossible. Yet this girl clearly wanted to stay alive, perhaps…

“No, I am inviting you to Blót.”