Episode 3

[The world has never been a simple frame colored in black and white. Sometimes, the more light there is - the less you can see, the louder the streets - the less you can hear, the wider the sky - the less you can breathe. Therefore, is it uncommon when one who has succumbed in sin could rise anew in a greater light of repentance?]

Amidst the fire and ashes, six pillars of purple-colored light emerges from the ground in the capital's plaza. The bottom of the pillars linked with each other, forming an hexagon before unearthed an enormous gate from down below.

" W-What in the world is that thing?! "

Knights whispering to their fellow comrades. Those whom guards the plaza, even well-trained as they are, were aghast before the size of the gate and the stench of decaying carcass that came from it. The foul-putrid odor is so strong, strong enough to empty one's stomach.

But the truth is that they haven't seen the worst. The gate slowly opens. From the gap of the double doors, a dark-colored blood-like liquid seeps through. Like a puddle of filthy mud, it overflows, seeping deep into the under, turning it into a tainted soil. A tainted soil, like its name, is a defiled soil that is rendered unable to create the force of life. instead of growing seeds, it can actually turn an open wound fatal.

From the tainted soil, came forth beings of unknown origin. Dissimilar to one another, each of them has their own morphological traits. Some were tall as a barn, some were the size of lambs. Some were creature that has no mouth and some other consist of only mouth. Even so, one thing for sure is that these vile creatures bear extremely hostile intent.

The dark creatures immediately initiate conflict with the knights of the kingdom, spontaneously, and barbarically, without any warning in advance. They strike worse than a rabid dog, purely driven by insatiable hunger for massacre that doesn't call for any structured chain of command, tactics, or anything in between.

The open conflict that occurs in the plaza can be seen from the balcony of the High Chamber. Although a little bit unclear without the aid of tools and magic, one can easily perceive the menace that brews below them is getting more and more intense by every second.

" My people. "

The sudden voice turned their eyes. Lies before them a sight of a warrior donning his armor, fully equipped with his cuirass, vambraces, and greaves. The strange-warm aura around him strangely put their mind at ease, even after looking such tremendous horrors unleashed.

" My friends. "

A pauldron decorated with an horned griffin sit upon his muscular left shoulder. Every part of the armor were exclusively made out of Arconite. One of the most prized metal on earth, which is said to be almost equal to a dragon's scale.

" My brothers. "

His servant put his cape on the back of the armor to complete the perfection of his appearance. The word 'nostalgic' was not enough to describe the feeling of those who witness the sight of this grand warrior. 'This is how it supposed to be' they muttered to themselves.

" Eremir was right, I have failed you... all of you...

Trampled and trapped in my own egocentric behavior. I am truly is the worst of the six. "

Halius kneel down with both knees on the ground. He couldn't look into the face of his subjects for how ashamed he is of himself. His eyes damped and his voice trembles. The thought of all inanities that he has done suddenly floods his mind, thoroughly clearing the mist that resides within him for almost fifty years, ever since the death of his spouse.

" Considering the sin that I have committed, I truly have no right to ask this... but surely against such threat, there is no other way. "

"Please lend me your strength for the sake of our land!"

He held his head down as low as possible, only an inch away from the ground. As if time stopped still, everyone before him rendered speechless, for this is the first time they had seen a king to bow so low.

" Your Majesty! "

After a few second of frosting confusion, they all hurriedly kneel down until their forehead touches the ground. Before finally realized that the sight they are beholding is a portent of the rebirth of a long-sullen heart. The awakening of a fifty years slumber.

" Your will is my fate, Your Majesty! You don't have to do this! "

Rein was the first one to bow, and also the first one to stand up and rushed to the king side. He lifted up the king, begging him to stand with might. He pulled out his sword and put it before his king's feet, expressing his undying loyalty before once again bow before him.

" If your heart also turns pale, then who could possibly stand against such evil?

Please, Your Majesty! Show us power! Be our beacon of light in this time of dire! "

Touched by his action, Halius cried a bit and pat the lord commander's shoulder, thanking him for the courage the young man has given him. Halius wipe his eyes and stood back up with a stronger heart. Now that his mind is clear and his heart is firm, his resolve to redeem his past flared brightly than ever.

Yet despite the reflective-melancholic nuance in the air, Eremir is the only one who didn't bend the knees. Instead, he sharply glares at Halius. The king wasn't surprised nor disappointed, for he only has himself to blame.

" Eremir... I... "

Eremir walks towards Halius. His crooked back and wrinkled skin made Halius realize how many time has passed. How long he had burdened his former mentor's mind.

" I will cast away my throne and titles once this is all over, Eremir. "

He stops right in front of Halius and slaps the king in his face, not only once but twice. He also punched the king's chest with all of his back although of course there's not much power left in such a brittle hand. 'Oh no, he just walked straight to his grave for the second time!' Everyone thought to themselves. But surprisingly, Halius wholeheartedly accept it, for even though it doesn't do anything to his body, it means a thousand to his heart. It brings the memories of his youth, back to the day when his mentors always hit him whenever he misbehaved or failed a test.

" I am aware that you are certainly not the brightest. But never once did I taught you of such idiocy...

'A man's sight should never be hindered before any predicament.' You, idiot, are embarrassing both yourself and mine. "

Eremir's true intention was to seek for the smallest dirt in the eyes of his former pupil, the trace of the maddened arrogance who were going to severe his head from his body a few moments ago. Yet curiously, he can't find any.

" Kings, crowns, thrones, and castles means nothing without a land and its people. And now you are losing both...

So, instead of dawdling in your regret of the past and promises of the future, why don't you raise the flag and show us if you are truly spoke for your heart? "

Eremir kneels afterward, just like the others. This surprises Halius as much as it surprises the other. No one ever expect Eremir, as full of dissatisfaction as he is, to commit such action.

" Master, I-! "

" I ceased to be your mentor a long time ago. Now, I am but one of your subjects. Decide for us, and we will submit ourselves to your wisdom, Your Majesty "

With all in its place, it is time for the sons of Edessia to move on and fare against the rage and chaos that engulfs their beloved land.

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