Being the kingdom's shield was an honoring job. Although difficult, my heart didn't bear the burden of protecting his majesty's life on my own. Among the Derranian forces, there was one general. He always had my back. That man was the brother I didn't get to have. I know a thing about brothers. It wasn't pleasant, not even the slightest. In fact, that was the reason I ended up in chains.
It all started on that night---The night of peace treaty...
.
.
.
The night was still young.
I stood by the great gates near the enterance of the palace. There were fallen bodies around me. Some were breathing heavily, and others stopped altogether. The soldiers under my command had already endured various injuries. After all, we had to pave our way here with sword steel.
I walked up to see who was yet alive and well; so, we could carry on. I looked all around me, and all my eyes saw were majestic hard concrete lining every ground and wall. It felt as though no force could penetrate this castle. But as I marched forward, my eyes caught the man I trusted the most straiding my way. He seemed well-enough to endure another fight.
"Svyen.." he sighed. "We've lost some good men.."
I felt utterly disappointed to his news. "I could tell.."
"This force that we still have," he told me. "Would it be sufficient to reach his majesty?"
"Olin," I looked him hard in the eye. "It's best for us to die here rather than doing nothing."
"But these Afallanians---" Olin argued but I cut him off.
"They may surpass us with numbers, but we got skill." I walked past him. "And once we reach King Gregorio, he will request the assistance of the Axiom."
"Ar--are you sure, Svyen?" Olin asked as he followed me through my inspection. "The Axiom never had helped this planetoid."
I didn't know how to reply to that, but I carried on regardless. And then, I saw him..
"Hey, look.." I uttered.
"He looks alive." Olin stood next to me.
We stumpled across a frail young man. He was resting his back against some large pot. He had thin orange hair covering most of his forehead. His expressions seemed troubled, but there were no any typical injuries.
"Are you hurt?" I squated down to take a closer look.
The young man in return, forced his eyes to open.
Olin soon decided to join me. "Can you stand?" he asked him. "What is your name?"
The young man pushed his body front, and struggled to answer, "Benn.." he muttered at first. "My name is Benn, General.."
"Looks young.." Olin exchanged eye contact with me for a moment.
"I--I'm seventeen, sir.." Benn said.
"Too young.." I sighed in exasperation.
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm all right now." Benn pulled his body up.
"Captain Helsem!" one soldier called for me. "The gate is open!"
The remaining soldiers began marching into the castle. The path ahead was clear for us to proceed.
"Understood." I informed them. "We'll move out as well."
"I'll do my best not to hold you back anymore." the young leutientant, Benn eagerly said. "I'm very honored, sir, to be on the first line with you."
It was obvious to me that he was hurt in battle, but his insistance on pressing along was admirable. He reminded me so much of my brother. Svyen's brother, from his old life..
As we marched through the corridors, enemy soldiers came our way. Olin on the front, gave us the signal to be ready to engage.
"Are all right being on the front line, leutentant?" Olin asked Benn. "Don't you have any family you're anxious to go back to?"
"I have a younger brother back in Flowershade." Benn answered. And I could not hold myself. It was very cruel for fate to put such a child into war.
"I see.." I said. "I'm sorry that you're so young, and yet you had to pick a sword.."
"No, sir!" replied the boy defensively. "It's for my country! For my mother and father, and everyone who died in this war!"
For his country he said, I thought to myself. This straight-forward answer, and single-mindedness. It routhlessly reminded me of how I used to be---of how we used to be..
Nostalgia is vexing sometimes. Even for a grown man such as myself. It lured me into opening up to that boy mid-operation. While we continued infilterating the palace, I told him about Svyen's earlier days. Back when Lantis was a place on the map.
"Lantis?" the boy wondered.
"It's where I was born." I explained. "It was a small country that was destroyed twenty years ago, and got absorbed into the Empire.."
Looking back, I really was green. I couldn't stand living under the Empire. So, I left my brother and sickly mother, and left the country..
"I left my original home, my brother those I was supposed to protect; searching for the power that could defeat Afallan. But I did not, and Lantis was too far gone.." I told Benn. "Given what has happened, I've been trying not to think of the brother I fled from. Because if he's still alive there somewhere, he must surely resent me.."
Benn walked closer toward me, "Why you're telling me all of this, sir..?"
I couldn't think of any appropriate answer for a captain to tell his subordinate. So, I went frank. "...I wonder." I sighed. "It might be because your single-mindedness reminds me of how we used to be.."
"Captain..?"
"I don't want you to have regrets like I do.." I replied as the Imperial troops caught up to us at that point.
~Clank!
~Clank!
The young lad stood before me as we were completely surrounded. His hand gripped hard onto his sword as he stood firmly. "I don't.." he said. "I don't have any regrets!"
"Kill them!" the eniemies charged against us all at once.
"I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD THAN FIGHTING ALONGSIDE YOU FOR DERANNA!" Benn yelled as he dashed through the armored soldiers and fought every last one of them with brutal courage.
The battle got tougher and more forocious. The guards of palace called for back up, and it was impossible for us to move forward at that point.
"Olin, what shall we do?" I asked him in dread as I was fencing with one armored soldier.
"We need to make way for the guest chamber!" Olin was also struggling against some guards.
"Captain, General Olin!" a voice called, out for us. It was the rear troops on our side. They came forth. "You two have to proceed! We'll take them from here!"
"Huh..?" Olin looks back at me for conformation.
But then, Benn told me "We'll hold them, sir! You go on ahead. Please, protect the king! Protect Deranna!"
I gazed back into his eyes. They were determined. There was no way I could talk him out of it. And that was coming from his captain.
I found myself nodding to him. And slashed my way to Olin. Once I grabbed him, we took off toward where his majesty was. But just before I we got too far, I halt in my place for a second, and gazed back toward that brave bright boy. "BENN!" I yelled, and he turned toward me.
"Don't die.." I told him, and he nodded.
"Svyen, there're more coming our way!" Olin pointed toward the soldiers ahead of us.
"As expected.." I prepared my sword, and along with Olin, sliced through the enemies in no time.
~SMASH!
~Crash!
"Uwaagh.." the armored soldiers collapsed to the ground.
"Svyen, look at this.." Olin pointed at the armor of a fallen enemy.
"This armor.." my eyes narrowed. "It belongs to an Executioner.."
If an Executioner is already here, could it be that they completed preparation for their attack?, I wondered.
We continued our way regardless. His majesty's chamber was still few meters away. Olin and I kept up our pace. Buf once we reached the corner, a number of armored guards ambushed us.
"You will die here, Derannians!"
"Ugh!" I couldn't proceed any further unless blood shall shed.
"Svyen, you go carry on.." Olin stepped forward. "I will take care of them."
"Just don't dare and perish.." I ran toward the chamber.
I made my to the king's chambers. I strided through the castle corridors. My head had no time to strategize. All I wanted was to get to his majesty before the enemy did. As the captain, all hopes were on my shoulder; I was their only bet. So, pushed myself onward, and raised my speed until I was almost running at that point. It was reckless, I would have admitted. But I did it because my actual foe then was 'Time'. But, the moment I reached my destination---
"Uhh..!" I halted.
"What?!" his majesty froze in place, like he got caught.
"Your majesty, thank goodness you are all right!" I approached him, but King Gregorio's expressions were tensing up with every step.
"How did you get past me?!" he even stepped away from deffensively. "St--stay back, General..!"
His attitude toward me was not normal in the slightest. He seemed as though he was terrified I would've hurt him. It confused me at that point.
"Your majesty..?" I tried to show some outward concern.
"It seems it was a mistake making a wanderer like you a knight.." he said with a tensed disgusted look. "Don't you see, General? If my life is lost here, Deranna will fall into chaos and ruin! I do not mind.. I've lived for too long already, but I don't want to put my daughter or my people through any more pain.."
What he said just shocked me at first. I am the General of Deranna's Royal Force. Why did I have to hear all of that as if I was some kind of treator?! Did someone filled his head with false insight. But King Gregorio didn't stop there..
"There's no telling what will happen to my country, my daughter, and my people should you go through with this!" he shouted at me. "SO I MUST LIVE!"
"Wha--what are you saying, your majesty..?" I stuttered. "I would never turn my sword on you.."
Despite what I just told him, the king remained stiff and vigilant.
I gazed down to my hands, "If shall ease your mind, I'll abandon my sword here and now.."
As soon as my sword hit the floor, his majesty's feared face turned to that anger and spite. "And I am supposed to believe you! To begin with, I ordered you to protect my daughter and the proof of her royal blood!" he shouted at me. "Why are you here?!"
"It's true that disobayed your orders.." I bowed before him, lowering my head as I spoke. "However, I heard that assassins were targeting your majesty. So, I came here with Olin.."
His majesty's tone became much more anxious, "Assassins?! General, what are you saying?! Didn't you just massacre my attendants and vessals?!"
What?!
Me? Massacre?! What's going on?!
I didn't think his majesty is lying. Not with that intense level of dread..
But what had the Empire done to him? Was it magic? Drugs?
At that point, it was impossible for me to tell..
"In any case," I stood straight and looked him in the eye. "I need to believe me. I was not the one who attacked your majesty."
But then, a strange voice crept into my ear.
"That's right, your majesty.." it came from behind me. "..You should believe what he says.."
"Who's there?!" I abruptly turned toward it, but it was too late.
~Stab..!
A blade was already in my flank once I turned to face him. I'd managed to push it off of my body, but the damage had been done. Blood was coming out of my side, and dripped on the floor. It didn't take much time for the pain to course through afterwards. It went very intense that it forced me to kneel down.
Unlike me, King Gregorio saw the attacker's face. "What?!" I heard him getting confused. "Is this some sort of bad dream?!"
I didn't understand what he meant at first, but when I raised my head, I saw him..
He looked just like me..!
"You are..." I tried to mutter.
"Pick up your sword, General Svyen Helsem!" he pointed his sword against me. "You'll realize soon enough---who I am.."
As I staggered, my body pushed itself up straight as much as I could muster.
This man----his voice...
"Your majesty," I said. "Please, get out of here. Quickly!"
~CLANK!
A blade swifted toward me faster than wind, but I managed to block it at the last instant. The sound of the collision rang between my ears like a thunderstorm. But all of it wasn't in vain. His majesty had left the place when glimpsed behind me.
~Clank! Bam!
My enemy and I continued locking swords. Disregarding his appearance, his sword skills weren't strange to me. They were quick swifts cutting through wind, aiming for my heart. My only choice for most times was to only block them. Along with the growing pain under my ribs, I carried on exchanging blows with him. It was not a simple task.
"This is.." I panted.
That sword style---those moves..
There was no mistake, this was Lantis's sword style.
And, I finally made sure..
As I struggled to push his sword away, I said "Your hand getting stronger, Fons.."
My opponent then snapped. "This name.. " he yelled. "DON'T JUST DARE USE THAT NAME SO FAMILIARLY LIKE THIS!"
~CLANK!
~Scratch!
That man I was battling was none other my brother. He converged his anger at me, and thrust his blade onto my dominant arm. And I collapsed; losing the grasp of my sword.
"I'm now Judge Magister Fons of the Afallanian Army." he said in a tinged tone.
It was very shocking to find him here of all places, and in a situation like this! I couldn't come up with anyyhing to say to him at my weakness, but the truth.
"..I..am..sorry.." I stuttered out of pain. "You and..mother..must gone through...many trouble.."
"It's too late.." Fons tightened the grip on his sword. "Mother is already..."
Already, what? Was she dead?
"I see.." I exhaled.
"Don't think you would die an easy death, Svyen.." Fons pointed his sword to my blood-drenched face.
Seconds later, silver armored soldiers filled the place around me. And they caught me; fair and square.
"What are your oders, siere?" one soldier asked. He probably wanted to finish me off.
"We'll keep in costudy for now.." answered Fons as he walked away.
"Ugh..!" I got restrained, but tried to reach out to him. "Fons, get back here! You don't know what are you intending to do will infect!"
"Say no more, traitor.." he sighed and went on.
"Fons, no!" I yelled. "Please, Fons! You mustn't.."
But then---from afar, I saw them. It was Fons, my twin brother; it was he who killed the king. Fons caught up to him, and cornered him. He ended up stabbing his majesty in the chest. And then, minutes later before they take me away, Benn arrived; all stressed and confused. After all, he didn't know about the fact that I got an identical twin.
"Uhh, Captain..!" he stammered. "What have you done to our king?!"
I wanted to scream for him, but to no avail. The distance between us was vast. And Fons played the boy for a fool. And once he pushed the imposter away, Fons grabbed a knife, and grazed it into the poor young lad's stomach.
And Benn died before my eyes..
Once a Necromencer was used later on to recall what had occured, it was my face they saw commiting the slaughter. The Axiom then obliged Deranna to accept and surrender. And I was sentenced to death for betryal.