Chapter 43:
My will shall resonate in this stormy game
The wagon was at least something pleasant, and what I saw of my departure was not pleasant, the winged ones of darkness appeared, they consumed the people around, I do not know why Alba would favor me to leave, but I had something clear, the people in the wagons were Lasha's people and I would be their protector no matter what got in my way and noticing allies as trustworthy as the Celim house helped my personal calm while I wore Lasha's white cloak.
“Young man, look ahead, enemies,” the warrior with the symbol of the Celim house pointed out.
“They don't look like it. They're not attacking us.” I judged hastily, remembering how my father had told me they were the things outside the walls, the warriors who charged the enemy at the first opportunity. Still, I moved forward with a pair of White Guard warriors to speak with young Abaddon. “My lord, are they allies?” I asked, noticing the water condensing around them.
—0—Abaddon—0—
“More or less,” I replied, calming down a bit and demonstrating why I wasn’t a follower of the Holy Faith, and my robes helped me a lot.
We arrived just in time at the front and the dark-robed warriors opened the way for us, while some joined the escort.
“Young Abaddon, I have been entrusted with ensuring that you arrive safely at Rhythm.”
“It’s good to see you again, miss.”
“Likewise, my colleague sends her regards, by the way.”
“If you find her before I do, please give her my regards.” I bowed as I answered, extending the same respect that was extended to me.
—0—Nor—0—
“How was it for you this time?” I asked, partly out of politeness and partly to elicit answers from a close ally, noticing how the light suddenly disappeared. “It must have been difficult to manage life without your maid?”
“It has been, to say the least, a hectic life, for reasons that are somewhat less personal than you might imagine.”
“So I heard. It seems Kyū seemed happy to have eaten quite a few interesting things during his time at the Sol noble house, and he’s memorized many of the passages I showed him, so it shouldn’t be difficult to take him in, since we’ve verified most of them.” He couldn’t help but think about how he was talking too much and continued with a lie that would help ease the uncertainty. “Once we tear down the pillars, the center will only be a smoking ruin.” I forget who I was talking to and try to apply some ointment to the possible wound I’d opened. “Since he no longer belongs there, I hope he’s removed all attachment.”
"I've already demolished the house, that information is completely outdated." He shook his head, without a hint of regret in it.
“I see.” “Why did I say so much? We needed the Sol house as a base to gather supplies.”
“Enemy attack!” they shouted further ahead.
—0— Jeon Jaeng —0—
“ATTACK.” I shouted as loudly as I could. My mission was clear: win a minor battle and secure supplies for the Warlords’ second assault. “Blood for Mars, Bones for Ares.”
We engaged in battle with great ease, the warriors were skilled, but in one or two cuts we won without discussion, I felt the cold passing through me and was surprised to see water.
"The magician is a priority." I noticed more water arrows passing by and catching us, but not over our armor, while the warrior in Black quickly directed the troops, ordering the wounded to retreat to the rear and forming clear defenses. Meanwhile, more water was forming behind us. If it hadn't come to the front, I wouldn't have recognized the red sand that splattered their steps.
“Son of war,” he pointed the axe at a potential traitor. “Why don’t you fulfill your duty to the one you swore your soul to in this life?”
“Why do you do this? Did you not once call upon the name of our King?”
“I owe this life to…” I hesitated, as his voice rose above mine.
"The blood that Mars demands is anyone's, as long as it flows into his illustrious cup. It matters not to him whether it's innocent or guilty. I've decided to be a bad servant, nothing more." The water turned dark, but with a slight hint of red around the edges, as he wielded a spear and stood in front of it.
“As you wish, you will be part of his next throne.”
—0—Fort—0—
“Warriors, take up arms, the battle is ahead, prepare yourselves!” I shouted as loudly as I could to what remained of the Celis house.
"Yes, my lord." The nearest one nodded, and the closest voices continued with the same response.
“Daughter, wake up, take the bow quickly.” I shook her shoulder calmly, seeking to put an end to a protective problem that was important to me.
“Yes, Father,” he reached out even before wiping his face.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye how he took up the bow, while the troops stood alert at the sides and two joined me from the front with a report.
“My lord, the dark-clad warriors are holding off the savages, but their losses are considerable; uniting now would be best.”
“But we've left the place unprotected for a counterattack. Take two trusted warriors and follow me to the front.” My plan complete, I took the two one-handed swords, which the attendant on the armored carriage handed me, and I distributed the rest. “Daughter, direct the people here and have them watch for any attack.” I was pleased to see her nod and set off with the three warriors at my back. “They will not harm my family again.” I looked at the same savages who drained my wife's blood. “Attack the children of the savages without mercy.”
"Yes, sir." I noticed in them the same hatred I must have felt when I saw their lack of control in their attack and the many weapons stuck in theirs. In one leap, I decapitated one, spun around, and caught another's weapon in his ribs, yanking hard and throwing him against the rest. I retrieved my short sword and sheathed the next one, taking the one from the fallen body and leading the rest. "They will pay with blood for the insults to my house." I growled more than I spoke, and the memories came flooding back. The morning had been so peaceful yesterday.
“Daughter, how good you are with the bow.” I handed her the newly acquired arrows, noting her exceptional aim.
“Okay, I’ve already hit the target 4 times.”
"Very good"
—0—Portia—0—
I remember how dad stroked my hair and mom brought some fruits, I enjoyed them very well while I once again tensed the bow, although the cello of the Black crown continued to bother me, when I remembered where it came from, it did not change that it was better than the 4 I had already broken and once again I concentrated and let the arrow go.
“Okay, in the Red Zone, daughter, there are already 5.”
“Yes.” I looked at it like a direct future, I would be given armor and people telling me I was the best archer, and I would gain renown for my family in the process.
I continued practicing, when a repeated knock on the door distracted me and I lost the eighth arrow. I looked angrily at the door. The warrior entered with more haste than permission and I was ready to reprimand him for my bad shot.
“SIR, IT IS URGENT, THE SAINT CALLS ALL NOBLE HOUSES TO THE CATHEDRAL!”
“I understand, dear, let’s go.”
"Yeah".
Something serious must have happened for all the houses to be called and I was getting ready to go, along with the elders of my family, but they didn't let me, instead they asked me to go play, so I resigned myself to simply eating something and returning to continue practicing with the bow.
To my surprise, it didn't take long to find my favorite, I savored the watermelons and, already full, I left, heading home again. When I saw the couple walking again and shouting on the road as always, seeing that they wouldn't have much else to do, I approached them and, as a surprise, I threw myself at both of their necks.
—0— Layla —0—
The morning was perfect, my family's grievances were finally forgiven and I was able to enter the castle's famous library. The spirit of a Saint chose me as her new vessel in the not-too-distant future, and my pact with the Sol family assured me of a long time of peace that I had only been able to dream of.
“He’s paying attention.”
"Not at all".
“You don’t change.”
“And I never will, this life is already perfect as it is.”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha it certainly seems so.”
“It is; it doesn't look like it.” He suddenly let go of my hand and, from what I saw, he was tying his boot. “It's…” Before I knew it, something grabbed me from behind, and for a moment I thought of some forest animal, but I remembered the walls and quickly suppressed the usual scream.
"I'm not one to judge your tastes, miss, but that's my fiancée, find yours." Abaddon seemed to act mockingly when he found something amusing.
I opened my eyes to see the same old chick that was bothering me and quickly pushed her up, causing her to stumble as she came to stand and protected myself, noticing how she fell again, luckily for me she passed by my side.
“Like help”
I was about to deny it when I saw the girl take her hand and hurriedly pull her to her feet, and I looked at the two of them with disgust, as I almost always did when we met.
“I think he's fine, even with the abrupt step he took.”
—0—Gladis—0—
The morning was very lively, and even more so when I heard about the meeting, which gave me time to go buy some tea, which I enjoy, and on my way I encountered a sight I hadn't anticipated as a bonus to all the joy of the moment.
“Yes, thank you for helping me,” Miss Portia thanked.
"And what about me? You won't help me too," the daughter of the barbarian tribe complained.
"Miss, you're not a little girl to play house in the street," the prince retorted.
“I’m not a child!”
The childish manner of Arbos's daughter always seemed amusing to me, and in order to enjoy the show a little more, I began to follow them silently, lest my interference cause the end of it.
But to my chagrin, what I hadn't expected happened, and the fact that the girl knew how to have table manners was disconcerting to me, and I put it aside, while I decided to join them, when I noticed the sudden clouding of the place and looked at the sky, terrified.
“A… Alba.” I didn’t know what an ominous evil it could be, turning into darkness, and I felt my strength draining away as I thought quickly, noticing at the same time how the light was rushing back to her, at least at the edge. “Quer…”
I didn't think about it much, I ran to catch up with them, when I noticed the little girl running and Miss Portia's scream, it brought two guards who were just a little ahead of me and seeing how they started moving as soon as I calmed down, I decided to leave for the castle quickly, in case they caught me red-handed with the purchase.
—0—Aru—0—
I don't remember much of what happened after my father perished in the defense of that fateful night, but what I do know is that he inherited his position to me and made a point of making sure that I, as well as my family, remembered his mission: to protect the people of Lasha and its walls. When we were called to the temple, I didn't see much chance of it being a reward for me.
"Holy, I've summoned all my warriors as you requested." He knelt down after everyone else.
“There are very few of them,” I said, somewhat worried.
"I hope you understand that since the last problem, it's not just those who came from abroad and the new recruits who have left..."
The praetor's silence told me more than I wanted to know, and knowing that we had at least 100 other White Guard brothers, I wondered what the criteria was for not even considering them.
"Your mission is important. The order has already arrived from the divine tribe. Bring Abaddon with extreme care and discretion. We cannot let the corruption of the son of the House of Sol be known so soon."
“As you command.”
After that, we left to communicate the orders to everyone, in silence and with care, to my fortune or bewilderment, we left just in time to see Alba eclipsed, the praetor gave the order and we left in haste to look for young Abaddon with orders to put urgency before subtlety.
—0—PRAETOR—0—
Leaving the Cathedral, I led the white guard as best I could, while I found on our way the warriors escorting the young Abaddon, I was not surprised to see the Celim house so soon and so close, but what did surprise me was to see him eating a red fruit that I could not identify even though I knew of many supplies from different kingdoms, empires and the cursed clearing.
“Troops to me, we are going to claim custody.”
We walked with the intention of intercepting them and when we finally got in front of them, the young lady took the lead and only at that moment did I notice the ropes in the boy's hands.
"Greetings, Praetor, as the Saint ordered, we have captured the corrupt and dark-stained Abaddon and are bringing him to trial in the cathedral." The guards stood to the sides, showing respect.
“Did the Saint order it?”
“To all the Noble houses, did you not answer the call?”
“I did it.” He had to play along if he wanted to keep everything in order. “I’ll take it from here.”
“How much do I pay the king to hide?”
“What do you mean?” I was momentarily taken aback, and the fact that everyone was staring at us made things worse.
“It doesn’t matter, with your permission…” He was interrupted, only by the spears that held him back.
—0—Opal—0—
I was heading outside to calm things down when I saw, or rather heard, people murmuring and others wondering what was going on, while more and more people gathered and the words a little closer to the entrance caught my attention.
“With all due respect, Praetor, you are a prisoner of the House of Celim, and I will make sure that you arrive safely before the Saint.”
“As you wish.” The praetor bowed in respect and gave them passage.
They walked back inside, as I began to wonder at what point what was supposed to be ordered discreetly turned into something more like a Show than I would have liked, but there was no time to doubt, I was here and I shouldn't put any more sentimentality in the middle.
“Miss Portia, what an unexpected pleasure.”
“Saint Opal, as you command, we have brought in the traitor and corrupt man.”
“I see you, Praetor, take custody of the boy and take him to the courtroom.”
“As Santa commands.”
He grabbed the rope roughly as they continued on their way, and with it an unexpected recognition that he had to give her, but with more discretion.
“Follow me, Miss, I will give you the reward.”
“Thank you.”
I didn't give it much thought, I had already agreed to give him the reward in Gold coins and a more direct recognition to inherit the scattered assets of the former Morin house, not to mention the trust of the Holy Faith, but it was a surprise that Abaddon's allies betrayed him so soon.
—0— Pleve People's Trial—0—
We had all run to see what had happened, the temple was overflowing with people and I arrived in the middle of what we could only describe as a trial and the words of young Abaddon, sank deep into the minds of many and mine in particular by bringing up an important issue, while we continued standing there and I saw this moment as the perfect excuse to ask what was happening to Alba.
“Tell me how many of those in Lasha do not serve the Holy Faith for fear of not being able to pay and being named as Slaves?”
I didn't know what to think, the statement was foreign to me, but the moment I thought about it, what would happen the day after tomorrow, when the time came for tithing and I told my family to hand me over, I ran from there, running to anyone who could offer me a job and some money so I wouldn't be named as one.
Fortunately for me, many people talked about a pilgrimage, and I convinced my family to leave at the first opportunity, along with the hundreds I saw that night.
—0— Trial of the Rico people—0—
“Lasha has been convicted by Alba, her trial is imminent.”
I participated from the beginning of the trial and up until now everything the boy had said seemed strange to me, but the last thing worried me, aware that he was the one in charge of bringing justice from Alba to Lasha and perhaps to the near future.
“Fire will descend, the war-worshipping warriors will ravage all around; darkness offers an easy way out, and demons are about to decorate both light and darkness.”
The absurdity simply overwhelmed me, I decided to go home and get something to eat, while forgetting about the kid's stupidity.
Dusk fell amidst slander, lies, and more nonsense that I didn't want to remember, but I was forced to stay in order to put an end to my doubts about what was happening.
“I will leave upon arrival at Alba with my people.”
The child cried out and I joyfully announced my departure only to be disconcerted in the morning to see so many people ready to leave with young Abadon, I branded from the first to the last as sworn enemies, traitors, heretics.
—0— Holy Judgment —0—
“Alba will judge you traitors as they should be.”
Great words came out of me, but the war came and as the young man predicted, everything got worse, the battle, the bloodthirsty warriors, the demons destroyed, the white guard diminished, the only thing I regretted was that my family did not leave with the boy that day, and here I was, in the castle guarded with a handful of ignorant of the greatness of Alba, when I saw him, the Saint Ascended to the top covered in light and soon I felt heat in the surroundings, while I noticed the walls turn crimson and everyone running to the entrances, I joined my hands one last time and raised a last Russian.
“My beloved Alba, please forgive me.”
I received no response, as Abaddon said, we were receiving Alba's punishment, for separating ourselves from her divine purpose and as I feel the molten stone on my back, I see how the young man claimed a sword and I stretched out my hand trying to reach, at least the figure that was there, noticing how the darkness settled behind him and they began to duel.
“Help…” I felt strangely like Tiazo. I saw the stone pass into my hand, holding me like a curse, as I noticed the young man lose to the dark female figure, and soon the crimson hue gained ground around the firmament. “Give it.” That was the last thing I remembered seeing before I felt the darkness eclipse me and the subsequent pain in the side of my head. I didn’t even know how much time had passed.
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