a_kingslayer’s_legacy

 Walking through the corridors, the interior resembles that of a japanese castle. Beams sustain the enormous structure, as we are in the lowest parts of the place. Going upstairs, we enter a dining room next to a cafeteria. Several employees wear traditional clothing mixed with some technology; for example, they are all wearing masks of distinct folklore creatures made out of holograms. When they choose to salute me, they disable it and bow to my presence. Gratitude fills the whole place as they see me. I didn’t do anything to deserve this.

On the next floor, after some of the cooks gave me some cookies, we are currently in the entrance. Guards stand tall and in formation for anyone who dares storm the castle. Compared to the personnel downstairs, all of the security are wearing shinobi attire, with hoodies and metallic plating all over their body for better protection. Their faces cannot be seen as their hoodies are in fact head gears, with semi-opaque polygonal-shaped visors covering them completely -a kin to space suit helmets-.

Armed with katanas and pistols, their technology seems to be centred around their ancestral roots more than anything, since their handguns are thermo-mechanical, as Murph’s pistol, Maria.

Seeing my curiosity for their armament, Hayami started explaining to me why their technology is how it is.

 The Proto-Japanese focused their entire main energy production in solar power, hence their industries around it started to adapt and implement technology that could harness such a source of power.

They gambled for the power of thermodynamics, and won. Recent discoveries allowed them to create solar panels much more efficient than previous ones. Amaterasu’s blessings, for their faith in the power of the sun, graced the japanese.

A discovery that not only propulsed the empire of Japan to economic prosperity, it also was their salvation as rebellions from the military ceased to exist. For that, their belief in the goddess Amaterasu increased exponentially, which in turn made their culture revolve around the daughter of Izanagi.

“Heat gives you the breath of life and the kiss of death.” A phrase emerged in my mind, spitting it out as soon as she finished.

“Didn’t have you as a poet, Kingslayer.” Obviously joking, she punches my shoulder and proceeds to go up the stairs.

Following her, this question arises in me. “Why do you keep calling me that? Kingslayer.” It feels familiar. I might have heard it before, but not in the context of someone calling me that.

“It is your Laurel name, Julian. Don’t you remember that you entered Laurelya? In high regards, too, as the Imperator himself gave you Its blessings.” Hmm, my mind probably went numb the moment that happened. Such a cool name, though. Julian, the Kingslayer. Too bad it's tainted by the dozens of souls at its price. Haha…ha…

“And why do your people need me?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. You don’t look anything like the previous Kingslayer. Not even the values.”

“Yes, I know that mass murdering is not good. No need to remind me about it, I already do so myself.” It will haunt me until my last breath. The worst part is, they are the first people that I've ever killed.

“Hmph…” Doubtful, she stops talking to me.

Many of the remaining floors are all administration and offices. People come and go doing their jobs diligently, some even bow to me in great admiration. I still don’t get why, though.

When we reach the final stairs, Hayami stops and takes out a card. Inserting it in a device, the door to the last floor opens.

The sunlight blasts my eyes after four months of not seeing the real skies. While some clouds are present, they don't interfere with the sun shafts touching my skin. Flowers and plants fill the place to the brim with bright natural colours. It seems like some are artificial, as their colours are not from this world. Cyan, magenta and yellow bonsais and grass are present in one of the corners of the room.

A garden on top of the castle.

The floor is dedicated exclusively for these plants. Walls limit the space that they have. There is no roof, or at least that’s what I thought until the sunlight was gone as a roof started to slowly cover the room in dim lighting. A retractable ceiling.

“Tarara…rara..rara…ra”

A woman can be heard humming a melody. Squinting my eyes, as the sun rays haven’t graced my eyes for a long time, I finally see the responsible of the angelic voice.

Dressed in gardening clothes and boots, with her face covered with dirt, the woman is watering some flowers. Her hair, gathered in a bun, is also jet black like Hayami's, with the difference that some strands are white.

“Hisa, I brought the Kingslayer.” With annoyance in her words, she declares my presence. She doesn't like me that much.

Turning back around, as soon as she sees me, a smile grows on her face. Washing her face with water as she approaches, she then gives me… a hug?

“You are finally here! That’s great news.” Of course, I'm not that rude not to hug her back, but with a hint of uncertainty. She hugs me so tightly, as if I were a loved one.

“Uhmm, yeah, I’m here, haha.”

“Well, since you have no idea why I’m so happy, I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

Prompting me to sit down, Hayami is also asked to stay. Although reluctantly, in the end she accepts.

Firstly, they aren't a subsidiary of Innsperta, but she works for them from time to time. Looking at Hayami, she diverts her eyes and starts whistling. You liar! Then why did she say that?

Nonetheless, Hisa keeps answering my questions. The previous Kingslayer asked them to help the next human who was given his Laurel. Apparently, some people inherit existing titles if some requirements are met, though no one knows which they are. When mentioning the Kingslayer, Hayami looks at nothing in particular, but if I were to see her eyes directly, an abyss of melancholy would devour me. Hmm…

Hisa’s agents assaulted the vehicle that was transporting me to prison in New Athena, after they shot me with tranquiliser darts. Her clan didn’t wake me up with their medicine because it would be damaging for my memory in the long run. 

 Murph is currently in an unspecified location, searching for Leonard as he was captured by the secret police of the Imperator. His crimes? The development of the weapons that allowed me to massacre dozens of people almost effortlessly. I was also going to be convicted, but the intervention of Hisa’s men saved me.

Apparently, the Kingslayer name is a Tier 0 Laurel. Which is a category of titles only given to the Primordials. Tier 1 for example, is the one that Hisa is a part of. Tier 2 are leaders of small organisations, and the like. Tier 3 is for freelance mercenaries or adventurers.

The Primordials were at odds with the earlier Kingslayer, as he was creating a revolution in the empire to take over it and be the new Imperator. His mistake was that he did it in the shadows. The public didn’t know about it until a video of the encounter from an unknown source was posted on the Internet and as such, his figure is now a martyr.

It is not known if he is in fact still alive. None of his remains or property were recovered from a fight between him and the Primordials. In said battle, he actually killed three out of the eight agents of the Imperator. That is why Juliette was on a mission to become one; the position was vacant from that occurrence.

The Innsperta Association was somehow aware of my existence and predicted that I was going to become the new Kingslayer. Hisa was told about this and didn’t believe it at first, but now…

“...Here you are.” Tears started to well up in her eyes with a warming smile. Hayami is also tearing up a little.

“Was he… important to you?” It is a dumb question to ask, but need more information. Plus, it’s a way for her to be open about it.

“Come with me for a second.” Saying that, she stands up and walks me to a door on one of the sides of the wall. Opening it, my heart starts to throb at the magnificence of the sight I am seeing.

Birds from the railing fly away following the flowing winds as we enter the balcony.

Only a few metres from touching the clouds, this section of the city is composed of towering structures in a mountain’s slope. Separated from each other, many bridges connect these buildings. In the ceilings, shrines and gardens give a natural touch to the cement monoliths that fill the mountain.

The one that we are in is at the pinnacle of the mountain. From this view, the totality of Neo-Tokyo is visible. Not much detail can be appreciated, but the beauty of the scenario is just breathtaking.

“This sector of the city was owned by the previous Kingslayer. He helped me reach this status and found this whole place, separate from the main sector of Neo-Tokyo, where I can live in relative peace in harmony with the sky.”

 Wow… the image is just astounding. The bright skies, the clouds shadowing sections of the city, the river in the middle dividing the place in two, gardens and castles as big as my thumb from my perspective. It just feels magical.

“Your smile is like his. He enjoyed the wonders of the world. But that did not suffice. He wanted more. Not the divine, but that sense of adventure. A never ending journey.”

With a brief pause, she looks straight at me. Dazzling eyes accompanied with the view from such height just feels unreal.

“Kingslayer… What is it that you seek?”

“Completing my mission.” Naturally, my response tends to my work.

“I know, but is that… your desire?”

“I… don’t know.” I've never been asked about what I wanted, nor have I thought about it.

Through my whole life the prospect of completing operations and serving a greater good felt incredible. But ever since the New Athena incident, I just started to question my own existence.

Adventure, huh. The previous Kingslayer sure was a dreamer. Nonetheless, now that I think about it, the ideal of a journey is appealing. Meeting new people, gaining a name of my own, visiting exotic places, being someone that has and offers value. Yeah, it sounds wonderful.

Maybe this whole time working for the CEC was all for this exploration of wonders outside of my realm of thought. The idea of Phantasia. A more captivating reality beyond the commonalities of men. And I am the conqueror of lands and battles. Having the potential to do anything; A Kingslayer, holding the power to change entire kingdoms and the lives of others.

“Tread carefully, Julian. His demise was foretold by his prideful nature. Don’t let desire control your every step.”

Staring at her while she is looking at the landscape, her gaze with her elbows reposing on the railing, she just seems tired.

“I will try my hardest, Madam.” Bowing to her and promising to not end up like my unknown predecessor, her tears are swept by the cold winds.

“He said the same before he disappeared.”

I have to control myself, then. Be better. A previous Kingslayer, huh? I'm going to be better than you, whoever you are. I’ll accomplish what I have to do and remain alive. Because I know I can. How couldn’t I do it? Julian, the shining star of the CEC. If the hand dealt to me is the worst, I will not play with them; I’ll change the deck.

 With a burning pride and determination in my heart to surpass the already high heights, she stops my carriage and orders me to get inside to keep our conversation going.