Year 2: The Heroes Descend - Chapter 8

A month had passed since the summoned heroes had arrived in Aangapea.

In that time, Duncan and his team had been given a strict training regime to follow every day which included an early morning run.

However, when Duncan arrived at the training grounds that morning, he felt that something was wrong.

The air was heavier than normal.

The sun didn’t seem as bright as it rose in the distance.

What’s going on?

***

A month had passed since the convoy set out for Rhodes, the capital city of the Free People’s Alliance.

In that time, the Demon Emperor had never turned to look to the west and kept his attention solely focused on the west.

However, today, that would end, for the Demon Emperor’s wrath would finally be witnessed in the west for the first time.

The air was heavy.

The stench of death radiating from the skeleton escorts was thick and sickening.

Soon - the Dark Lord’s real plan shall begin.

***

“Dante?!”

“…Yeah, you felt it too, Kella?”

She nodded and rushed to his side, gazing from the stone balcony to the distant grand road leading into the city.

“They’re here.”

***

The Demon Emperor’s convoy consisted of five carriages, drawn by tall, undead steeds with hellish red eyes, with two hundred skeleton soldiers in full chainmail and leather armour walking alongside them. Accompanying them, holding tall banners with the Satyr’s Skull on were twenty heavily armoured knights on the back of massive black mares.

On each of the carriages, there was a knight in dragon-metal plate armour, each carrying a unique weapon in their hands.

One held hook swords, another a bow, another had a glaive resting in his lap, the fourth had a katana strapped to his side, and the fifth had a pole axe resting against their shoulder.

Those who had awoken early to start preparing for the day ahead were petrified by the sights of the undead walking along their streets, as the soldiers and knights stood watching on, hands ready on their weapons. They had been informed days before that the Demon Emperor was sending an envoy to Rhodes, but none of the defenders of the city knew how to react.

Scared mothers hid their children.

Nervous adventurers followed the convoy as it drew closer to the palace.

Anxious whispers spread throughout the city and, within hours, all who dwelled within Rhodes knew of the arrival of the Demon Emperor’s convoy.

***

“Get dressed, get your gear and get everyone outside right now!” Dante had ordered Duncan’s team when he caught them on the way back from their morning run.

In a panic, the servants and guards of the mansion did the same and soon all thirty of the summoned heroes were outside the palace gates, surrounded by hundreds of knights, dozens of nobles and the leaders of the Free People’s Alliance. Princess Aeila and her brother, Prince Augustus, were in attendance, with Dame Chelsea firmly at their side donning her plate armour and sword ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.

“What’s going on?”

“Why’s everyone so anxious?”

“Dante, you didn’t tell them?”

“Well, there wasn’t much time, Kella.” He sighed and frowned at them. “About three weeks ago, we learned that the Demon Emperor was sending an envoy to visit Rhodes to ‘greet the foolish heroes from another world’, and today’s when they’re meant to arrive.”

“Wait, you just let them walk unopposed through the west?” Kayleigh shook her head, bewilderedly. “Why didn’t you turn them away?”

“Firstly, I’m not in charge of any part of the alliance forces except for you lot and second.” He glowered towards the opening gates. “They had…hostages.”

The grand palace gates slowly parted, allowing the five carriages inside. The undead soldiers chattered their teeth and growled at the knights that surrounded them, even threatening to slash at them if they got too close. The mounted calvary paid their ‘escorts’ no mind and instead glared up at the archers and mages along the battlements.

“…Dante.”

“Yeah, I see them.”

“See what?” Duncan asked.

“You see the ones riding at the front of those carriages?” Duncan nodded. “They’re some of the Demon Emperor’s elite forces; the Dread Knights.”

“Dread Knights?”

“…Wow, what an edgy name,” Kayleigh muttered.

“They sound…friendly,” Hajime whimpered as he gripped Tonbokiri tighter.

“Duncan - should we-?”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Dante warned them. “Just watch and let us handle this. Kella.”

“Right.”

The pair stepped forward and made their way over to the four monarchs who, alongside the most powerful members of their entourages, were awaiting the Demon Emperor’s envoys at the bottom of the steep steps leading into the main palace castle.

The carriages came to a stop as the five Dread Knights dismounted them. With perfect coordination, the skeletons arranged themselves in a tight battle formation, with spears and shields facing outwards, threatening to slay anyone who dared step too close to them. The Dread Knight with the bow climbed on top of the middle carriage, the very one that the other four were now stood beside.

The woman with the hook swords opened the door and outstepped a man draped in a jet-black cloak with a large red Satyr’s Skull on its back. His face was obscured beneath a wooden Satyr’s Skull mask.

“Creepy.”

“What is that?”

“Is that…the Demon Emperor?”

The summoned heroes’ whispers did not go unnoticed by those in the courtyard, though none dared tell them to be quiet - for they too wanted to know whom the masked figure was.

“Hear me, rulers of the Free People’s Alliance, for I am here to enlighten you to your own ignorance!” The masked man’s cries echoed for all to hear him loud and clearly. “This world, Aangapea, does not belong to us; it has never belonged to us! No, it belongs to one man and one man alone - his majesty Lord Allaric, the Demon Emperor, rightful ruler of all this land and its people.

“To stand against him is to stand against the nature of things! To defy his will is to defy the will of the world! To dare to fight back against his forces is folly and will only bring greater misery and pain to all of us who live in this world. People, you have addressed yourselves as the ‘Free People’s’ out of ignorance, not justice. No. Your very cause, your very existence, your very nature of rebellion is injustice itself! And I-!”

“Forgive the interruption, madman.” Princess Hiiragi’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “But you are quite rude for a guest, aren’t you? Not only did we permit your arrival to our home, but we even might permit your return to yours - and yet, you have not introduced yourself. All you have done is rudely brand us as idiots.”

The masked man roared with laughter. “Princess Hiiragi, my identity should be obvious enough - I am the Emperor’s Voice! Chosen by his majesty personally to bring the truth of this world to you all.”

“You sure about that?” Dante chipped in, stepping forward a few metres. “Because I can’t help but think you’re another one of those Awoken we’ve heard so much about.”

The masked man raised the Satyr’s Skull off his head and revealed his hazel eyes to the adventurer. “I am not one of the Awoken. I am as sane as the day I was born.”

“I’d disagree with that,” Kella grumbled quietly.

“Kayleigh, what’s an Awoken?”

“No idea.”

“Steph?”

“Hmm, never came across anything like that in the library; let’s ask Chelsea about it later, Duncan.”

“If you are sane.” King Alexander roared. “Then surely, from one sane man to another, you would remember that the Demon Emperor only came to this world a year ago. How could someone like that truly be the rightful ruler of Aangapea?”

“King Alexander - you don’t remember me, it seems.”

“Oh? Have I ever had the pleasure?”

The man lowered his mask back down. “…You haven’t at least.”

“Enough of this.” Bernaught stepped forward, brandishing his war hammer. “Where are the hostages?!”

The skeletons soldiers did not take kindly to that threat; their hisses grew louder, and they began to stomp their feet angrily.

The Dread Knight bowman knocked an arrow as his kin flexed their grips on their own weapons.

The archers, knights and mages surrounding the convoy all grew more tense, and a few even drew their bows and swords.

“Bernaught, do not act recklessly,” Dorothy snapped. “However, I do believe that you should show us their condition, should you not? After all, the only reason we permitted your envoy arriving here today was because you said you have valuable hostages.”

“Oh, we do.” The masked man’s tone became more sinister. “So many, in fact. To get the ball rolling, Una, bring out the first hostage!”

The woman with the hook swords sheathed her blades, then marched to the second carriage, dragging out of it a beaten and bloodied knight with little colour left in his face.

“Cacus?!”

“…Prince…August-”

The woman called Una threw the knight roughly onto the ground and stepped onto the back of his head.

“Stop it!”

“Prince Augustus, please, control yourself!” Chelsea urged him, struggling to hold the prince back.

“Take one more step this way, former prince, and Una will kill him.” The messenger laughed when he saw the distraught expression on the royal sibling’s faces. “He was lucky, in a way, to have survived the battle at Atryus. Lady Mania found him and enjoyed torturing him greatly before the other royal brats.”

“…What?”

“Oh?” The masked man licked his lips and met Augustus’s and Aeila’s gazes. “Did that catch your interest? The second princess in particular was begging Lady Mania to stop for hours, but her ladyship simply found that even more of an incentive to keep going.”

“You…bastards!”

“Now, now, former second prince, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and say things we can’t take back. Your siblings are safe, for now, but they might not be depending on what happens here today. In fact.” The masked man chuckled again. “Themis itself might not be safe depending on what you do today.”

“What?!”

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Free People’s Alliance, summoned heroes from another world, I am here today with joyous news! His majesty wishes to see young Princess Aeila reunited with her family, safe and sound, at his home, the Dread Keep. He intends to let the three of them live together in harmony for the rest of their days, safe and sound by his side. Of course, this offer only extends to her highness and not Augustus, last of his name should he dare take one step closer to me.”

“You son of a-!”

“My prince, please!”

“Brother, don’t fall for his taunts.”

“Oh, it isn’t a taunt, Princess Aeila. Tres - bring him out.”

Tres, the Dread Knight with the glaive, went to the second carriage and dragged out a man with a bag on his head. With a great force, Tres dragged the man before the masked messenger, forced him onto his knees and then tore off the bag.

The whole courtyard gasped when they saw the signature blonde hair and blue eyes that Prince Augustus and Princess Aeila shared, with a man they thought long dead.

The royal siblings couldn’t contain their tears when they saw their elder brother.

“Julius?! Julius!”

“Brother Julius! Brother Julius!”

It was Prince Julius, but it wasn’t the Julius they remembered.

His eyes, once full of ambition and confidence, were empty.

His good looks were impossible to see with his greasy hair, sunken skin, and thin, malnourished body.

There were multiple bloodied bandages wrapped around his limbs and chest, no doubt left on display to upset the siblings even more.

“Prince Julius?!”

“He’s alive?”

“I thought he fell with Themis.”

“Julius…” King Alexander whispered, his right-hand curling into a fist. “What did they do to you?”

“Now I have your attention,” the masked messenger continued. “Hear this, Princess Aeila. I will be leaving this place in exactly five minutes, with or without you. If you are not here and ready within those five minutes, the Demon Emperor shall put ten thousand people in the city of Themis to death.”

“What?!”

“How horrible!”

The cries of outrage and disgust revibrated throughout the courtyard, as all but the monarchs reacted to the Demon Emperor’s threat. Duncan was beside himself, almost unable to control the disgust he felt rising in his chest.

Had Kayleigh not grabbed his arm, he might’ve stepped forward and drawn his Divine Artefact.

“Don’t.”

“…I know, but-!”

“Duncan.” Atalanta put her hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Watch and don’t forget this moment for the rest of your life. This is our opponent. And this is just the surface of his malice.”

“I’ll kill you if you touch her!”

“Augustus!” The two Dread Knights holding the hostages moved ever so slightly, ready to execute them on a moment’s notice. “One more word out of your mouth, and Tres will slit Prince Julius’s throat.”

“If you do that, you’ll never leave Rhodes alive,” Bernaught grunted.

“If that happened, then his majesty would be more than happy to execute thirty thousand peasants in Themis instead.”

“What?”

“Oh, I forgot to mention that part, didn’t I?” Gleefully, the messenger proclaimed, “Should I not return to the Dread Keep within a month, not only will all the remaining members of the Themis royal family be executed, thirty thousand good, innocent people shall be put to the sword. Once they’re dead, they’ll be put to good use in his majesty’s army, just like these proud former members of the Holy Legion!”

The skeletons cheered and growled, bashing their weapons against their shields.

“…Monster.”

“Be that as I may, Princess Aeila, you have five minutes from now to make your choice. Even one second too late will drench your hand in the blood of thousands.”

“Princess Aeila, you don’t have to listen to him,” Princess Hiiragi quickly spoke up first. “It’s nothing more than a bluff to-”

“When you and Prince Augustus came to my country for aid, I swore I would protect you,” King Alexander cut in, kneeling before the young girl. “I did not swear that to you lightly.”

“King Alexander…”

“…Princess, we want to keep you safe. However.” Dorothy sighed heavily. “If…if you truly wish to leave with him, then I-”

“What are you talking about, you damned elf?!”

“Hmm, silly me.” The messenger laughed. “I forgot to mention - this isn’t a one-sided trade.” All went silent as the messenger slowly pointed at Prince Julius’s head. “If Princess Aeila comes with me, I’ll give you back Prince Julius.”

“What about Prince Augustus’s personal knight, Cacus?”

“Dame Chelsea?”

“Should her highness make her decision with at least two minutes to go, then I shall give you the knight too. As a token of goodwill.”

Princess Aeila took a long, deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

One by one, she looked into the worried eyes of the leaders of the Free People’s Alliance; her eyes then drifted to the summoned heroes, and the one called Duncan she had grown to admire not too long ago.

“…I accept.”

“Princess!”

“Aeila, don’t!” Prince Augustus grabbed her by the shoulders, tears in his eyes, his whole body shaking. “Please, don’t go…with them. If, if I lose you too, then mother, father-!”

“Brother.” Aeila smiled sadly at him. “It’s okay - I’ll wait for you. Both of you.” She looked into Julius’s vacant eyes once more, but it was too painful for her to see her beloved brother in that state. “I’ll be okay, I promise. Yvonne, pack whatever belongings of mine you can and be back in three minutes at the latest.”

“Y-yes, princess!”

“My princess.” Dame Chelsea gripped her hand gently. “If this is the path that you’ve chosen, then…” Chelsea bit her lip before she continued. “I wish to go with you.”

“What?!”

“Chelsea?!”

“Instructor Chelsea, why-?!”

“…Dame Chelsea,” Lord Akechi mumbled softly.

Dante clicked his tongue as Kella stared daggers at the Demon Emperor’s envoy.

“It’s my duty to stay by your side and protect you.” Chelsea knelt before her princess and kissed the back of her hand. “If you would have me, I would gladly follow you into the depths of the abyss itself.”

“…Thank you, Chelsea, but are you sure?”

“…Yes.”

“Then, it seems we have struck a deal,” the messenger mused. “Princess Aeila, Dame Chelsea, if you would.” He held out his hand to them. “I promise you a safe, and pleasant, journey to the Dread Keep.”

“Wait.”

“Dante?”

The famed hero of old stepped forward, pushing through the skeleton soldiers and up to Una whose boot was still firmly pressing Cacus’s head into the ground.

“You’re human, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Just like the Satyr Knight?”

“Yes.”

“Born and bred in this world, yet you stand for the one who wants to destroy it. Why?” Una titled her head almost innocently, before scoffing. “What?”

“It’s simple - I serve the one who saved my life. That’s all.”

Dante couldn’t help but scoff loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s it? That’s why you’ll discard your humanity and help subjugate the whole world? A shitty reason like that? Don’t you even feel any remorse, any guilt, for enslaving other people, torturing them, and selling your souls to the devil?”

“Humans abandoned me. Humans kidnapped me. Humans - killed my family, raped me, left me to rot in a dirty hole in the dark. Why would I care about them?”

“Heh. So, you think you can just do the same to other people and get away with it? Don’t even feel a bit-?”

“No. I, no we - we Dread Knights have abandoned this world that left us to rot.”

“There are…humans, fighting for him?”

“Of their own free will?”

“I mean, the messenger guy looks human but-”

“This is the reality of this conflict, everyone.” Kayleigh’s cold voice silenced the other heroes.

This is…just so wrong, on so many levels! Duncan gritted his teeth angrily as he watched the princess and Chelsea step towards the convoy. Why can’t we stop this?! Why do we just have to shut up and watch this?!

Are we really…that helpless?

“Duncan.” Kella suddenly appeared behind him and leant in close to speak so only they could hear one another. “If you wish to say anything to Chelsea, now’s the time.”

“Wha-?”

“You might not get another chance - you…don’t want to leave anything unsaid.”

On unsteady legs, Duncan made his way over to Chelsea just as the princess’s luggage was handed over to her. It was a single, small trunk which, from the looks of things, was extremely light.

“Ch-Chelsea!”

She smiled at him. “Duncan?”

I…I don’t even know what to say to her.

There’s still, still so much I wanted to say, and do together.

I’ll save you.

I’ll come and get you.

I want to spend more time with you.

I loved our late-night talks.

There’s so much, and yet I-!

“Hey, Duncan. Do you remember, what you swore to me that night?”

“…eh?”

She giggled a little. “I know you were probably just trying to cheer me up, but I wanted you to know that-”

“I’ll do it.”

“Eh?”

Duncan collected himself and firmly locked his gaze on hers. “I’ll do it. All of it.”

I, Duncan Wilson, vow to you, Dame Chelsea, that I’ll become stronger than anyone else and defeat the Demon Emperor. Not just for you, but for everyone who has ever suffered because of his tyranny.

“I meant every single word of it.”

Once more, Chelsea was almost moved to tears, but she calmed herself and smiled softly back at him. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Dame Chelsea, it’s time.”

The messenger’s cruel tone cut their bittersweet farewell short, and, with one final bow, Chelsea turned away from Duncan and climbed onto the carriage Princess Aeila had just boarded.

“Duncan, was it?” The masked man asked.

“What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing major, though, I felt compelled to tell you this before we departed.” The vicious man placed his head close to Duncan’s ear, and said, “The Demon Emperor is very kind to beautiful women; he’ll make sure that there’s a nice, soft bed awaiting them once he’s done.”

The rage on Duncan’s face made the masked man burst out in a fit of uncontrollably laughter, before climbing into the carriage with his two new hostages. The Dread Knights removed themselves from their hostages and climbed back on their carriages.

“Duae, Tres, Quattuor, Quinque - kill the hostages if anyone even thinks of getting close.”

“As you command!” The four other Dread Knights answered.

As the Demon Emperor’s convoy departed with two new hostages, leaving Cacus and Prince Julius behind, all anyone could do was watch on in horror, as Prince Augustus wept.

That day, the Free People’s Alliance learnt first-hand the cruelty and malice of their foe.

***

“Thank you for all gathering here tonight,” Dante began. His tone was sombre and quieter than usual. “I know, it’s been a rough day for us all, some more than others, no doubt, but…today I think will…” He cut himself off and started again.

“Look, I know how you’re all feeling. You disheartened, you’re depressed, you feel powerless, and I don’t blame you. I’ve fought dragons and monsters you’d only find in fairy tales before, but all I could do was watch. It’s horrible, isn’t it? Your own weakness, your own power - your own pain.

“I’m not saying that you should just suck it up, move on, forget about it or anything stupid like that. No, instead, I want you to remember that this, today, was just a small taste of what the Demon Emperor will show you.

“He is pure evil incarnate and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even if that’s the abduction of a young girl just to have a bit of sport with. When you guys first arrived, King Alexander told you about the Great Disaster, right? And the fall of Themis? Well, Kella and I didn’t tell you everything about that day.

“I still remember it all as if it was yesterday - the blood, the stench of death, the laugh that won’t let me sleep, and the sight of the city I and so many others gave our all to protect, burning and being pillaged by beasts.

“But - that’s exactly why I keep fighting.

“It’s because I know what he’s capable off, and I know what could happen if I stopped and gave up the fight. I will avenge the dead; I will prevent another Themis from happening and I swear to you all now; I will claim the Demon Emperor’s head.

“He bleeds, I confirmed that myself, and that means he can be killed. It won’t be easy, and a lot of people are going to die before we get that chance, but we can win this war and save Aangapea! With your strength, we can defeat the Demon Emperor!

“It’ll be a long, hard road for us all, but.” Dante grinned and thrust a thumb at his chest. “It’s one I’m willing to walk down beside you, no matter how long and harsh the path is!”

“…I’ll fight.”

Slowly, Duncan stood from his chair, his eyes still red from crying.

“So will I.” Kayleigh was the next to stand. She flicked her hair behind her shoulder and sighed. “I can’t imagine wanting anyone else to ever feel this pain, so I’m going to do whatever I can to stop it from spreading.”

Hajime, silently, stood from his seat, sweating and shaking. He said nothing but nodded somewhat uncertainly at Duncan.

One by one, the other heroes rose from their seats - not all at once, and not all at the same speed.

Some were as quick and resolute as Duncan. Others spoke at great length, some, like Hajime, didn’t speak at all.

“…I will,” Hailey declared as Kella watched.

***

Though he knew it was pointless, the young man left his bedroom that night to visit those empty stone steps.

From the depths of his heart, he prayed that she would still be there, waiting for him as always, smoking from a pipe and with a beautiful, bright smile that warmed his chest.

He knew it wasn’t possible, yet he hoped nonetheless.

And when he found those stone steps empty, he simply sat down on them, alone, gazing up at the moons.

That night, all that disturbed the silent air of the palace gardens was the sound of the young man’s weeps.