Chapter 17: Catalyst

“3-3,000..How. How in the world?!”

The king’s eyes widened, and he slammed his fist hard into his granite table. A plethora of curses swept through his mouth and he went on a tirade.

“Is there no one in my midst who is not insolent!? How do you lose 3,000 in one single battle!? Sei’O is not capable of such an offense!”

During the king’s myriad of insults, the Keins walked over and knelt beside the mage. “You’re Hakka, aren’t you? I remember sending you off to guard Lord Valen.”

Hakka’s eyes lit up. He was impressed that the Keins would remember someone as meager as he was. He bowed and averted his gaze. “I’m sorry. I’ve failed my mission in protecting him. I-…” He clenched his teeth, recalling the events in his mind. That thing…was no child. That was a demon.

“I fled from the field of combat…like a coward.”

The Keins stood up and patted him on the head. “And what of this news. If no one survived, who was to deliver this information to us?”

“You made a judgement call. You’re much more useful alive, than dead. So I’m happy you didn’t die as well.”

The king’s anger then turned towards Hakka. “AND YOU! YOU’RE A TOP GRADE WIZARD, HOW DO YOU FAIL TO KEEP VALEN SAFE?”

He walked over to the Mage and picked him up by his collar. “I swear to the gods I will have you thrown to the wolves and eaten. Mark these words. Failures have no room to be amongst my court.”

“I-!”

“Quiet. One word out of you and it will be the most painful death you will have ever experienced.”

The Keins put a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. “I’m sure it is the only death he'll have experienced… But against a magician who can self-destruct, it is not a proper threat.”

“Guards. Have him thrown into Hell’s Reach.” Several of the guards mobilized towards Hakka and went to pick him up from the floor.

“That will be unnecessary. You all may stand down.”

The King shot the Keins a sharp glare. The guards stopped all activity. While they still sandwhiched either side of the man, they avoided touching him.

“What are you doing guards? I said, detain him.”

“I think he will still be of use to us. For instance. The amount of information he holds is integral to how we proceed in the battle to come.”

“I have no need for cowards as subjects. He should have died with that scum Valen. To lose 3,000 people…in one night even. Truly he is insolent!”

The king attempted to calm himself down, yet still again grew angered. “Kill him. Kill the damned mage now.”

The Keins held up his hand, yet again interfering with the King’s command. These were King's Guards. Their devotion was supposed to be 100% to the king. However, not even they wanted to disobey the Keins.

The King grew irritated. “This is an invocation from the King. On behalf of my granted authority.”

An invocation was a royal order that could not be denied. Regardless of who denies it, they will be seen as a traitor.

Just before he could finish the rest of his order a sharp slap came across his face, knocking him to the floor. Remus immediately ran over to him "Your Highness!"

The rage crazy king immediately hushed down, rubbing the red mark on his cheek. "I think the king is tired. Please escort him to his quarters."

The guards hesitated and the king cursed under his breath. They bowed and finally gave in to the Keins' orders. The King was escorted back to his room so long as he hadn't said otherwise. Remus looked nervously at the whole scene

Such actions would surely fall under his failures. Remus shuddered. As he lead the king up the palace floors and back to his room, the king was silent the entire time. This only surely meant he was biding his time before his rage welled up again.

He sat in his room as silently as possible, not having said a word.

“W-would you like me to bring you water your highness?”

"Who does that man think he is....to dare slap a Royal authority. TO DARE SLAP ME!"

"That Keins thinks he can throw his weight around just because of the actions of his damn fathers!"

"Ridiculous...who does he think he is. He might be the Great Keins, but that does NOT GRANT HIM MORE POWER THAN ROYAL BLOOD!"

"He honestly thinks the people would back him up against me? Do you think so too Remus?!"

"N-no o-of course not your highness. Nothing could match your divinity.." Remus immediately answered, stumbling over his words, trying to avoid adding salt to the open wound.

“You’re the king. Nothing should stand higher than your might.” He bowed even deeper than he did before, as if his head would break through the floor.

"You're right. The Keins does not command me. I'll show them that I am still a power to be revered."

"Gather the 9 generals. I'd like to start a war council."

"y-your highness?"

"No...it would be wrong to call this a war. This will be a massacre. To it's entirety. We have all we needed from Sei'O. I'll strike fear into their hearts. Never again will another rebellion even think of happening."

"R-right away sir."

He bowed and left the room promptly.

_________________________________________________

"Lord Keins..." he collapsed to the floor and exhaled deeply. He was staring down the fate of suffering the King's wrath just now. Had it not been for the Keins stepping in. Now it was just those two remaining in the room. An eery silence filled the room.

"Thankyou. You have my sincerest gratitude." The Keins dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"This country's system...It's idiotic. Inheretence of power based off of bloodline. It can be a country's downfall. Countries should be lead by those capable of leadership."

"W-what are you saying? Do you intend on being-"

"No, of course not. Such a responsibility is too troublesome for one like me to bother with. I simply wish to see someone more competent in power. That way, I can focus my efforts more towards the future."

The glimmer in his eyes seemed more ambitious than the words he was speaking. A feat that Hakka didn't believe possible. Who exactly were the Keins... What enigmatic creatures were they?

Had the Keins declared he wanted to become king at any moment, the tremendous support he would recieve from everyone would be overwhelming. The King would be left with no choice but to abdicate his position.

Generations ago, that thin line of influence was created by the very first Keins. Unlike the King's bloodline, every Keins since then has been equally divine with their knowledge.

Thus, that very same line of influence he made, had stuck throughout the generations. Even now, should the Keins take over, not a single soul would object. Yet, he boldly declared no interest in Kingship. How unusual.

"My Lord, if I may-"

"You may not." The Keins cut him off.

Hakka looked stunned. The look the Keins had given him just now was clear as day. He knew what Hakka was going to say before he said it.

"Leading a country is to take the fate of the country as your own actions whether it suffers, or prevails"

"Surely under your guidance, it will prevail, Keins."

"Wrong."

"What do you mean? Your wisdom is unmatched in all the world."

"Alas, wisdom will not always be sufficient. The world is about to change."

"Not even I can prevent the tremors"

Hakka remained just as shocked by the revelations as he did by the Keins admission of uncertainty.

For someone as great as him to doubt himself, it was unthinkable. The only thing that made him worry was that without a doubt, the change the Keins spoke of was linked to the white haired child.

In which case, a cataclysm of events have already unfolded. He smiled to Hakka. It was the same genuine smile he always had. For some reason it always exuded warmth, and resonated well with others.

"Now...what can you tell me about the Plague Child? What was he like? What occured to the 3,000 men?"

(Note, during the spiel when Hakka first arrived, the Keins had paid attention to every detail. Whereas, the king was cought up on the fact that 3,000 had died.)

Hakka shuddered at the memory. It was the most brutal thing he had seen. Period.

"That child...was a demon. He swept through everyone relentlessly."

"Come now, demons have not shown themselves on the face of the earth in over 600 years. They're merely tales now."

"They're not tales. The Silver Knight, The golden Knight, The One Man Army...anyone who can kill so much so easily. They're nothing but monsters"

"Easily you say? How long did such a battle last?"

"Minutes."

"I couldn't truly get a good look at his face when he attacked, but I saw pure hatred in those eyes of his. He tore a hole right through Lord Valen, and before I knew it, I was losing consciousness. Fast."

"Had it not been for the talisman you presented to me, I'd have...." he stopped short of his statement and gave the Keins a stern look. "Did you...did you also predict this?"

"I see, I see." He patted Hakka. "Well, that is all I require from you. Please, make your way back home and sleep leisurely. You've done well enough."

Hakka nodded and headed to the door. "Oh, and Hakka-"

He turned to the Keins who called his name from the shadowy dark room.

"You are to not speak of this conversation to anyone. Mmk?"

"A-Aye!"

Hakka left that night to be with the rest of his family. An unsettling feeling had settled within him. One that he could not get rid of, even in his dreams