CHAPTER 10
"Hey! What's that?"
Suddenly, the miracle that General Rupert has been praying for has come.
Everyone looked at the fountain in the center of the plaza. The water in the fountain suddenly moved on its own. It is dancing as if it has its own life. Everyone's attention was on the moving fountain and was awed by the way it was moving. The small droplets that dispersed from the flowing and moving water reflected the light and it sparkled.
"What's going on?" General Amiana asked.
"If I know then I should've said something." Councilor Shun replied with an amused expression. Other Generals shared the same confusion. Zaman just shrugged.
Even if Rupert was also surprised he just shrugged it off. The prince motioned him to continue. He was about to speak again when another strange thing happened. The water from the sidewalk suddenly overflowed.
People shrieked and there were whispers of surprise. It interrupted further that made the prince make a fuss.
"What's going on?!" the prince stood up annoyed.
"You must have an idea what's going on, my brother!" an eerie reply echoed around which made everyone flinched.
People looked at each other, confused. The generals did not escaped the confusion too.
"What was that?"
"It said my brother!"
"What does that mean?"
"I don't really know!"
Those were the common words that shared by the crowd. Everyone's looking from every direction looking for the owner of the voice. The water's movement became harsh and fiercer. It moved around the people. The people got scared and tried to runaway but they can't get through. The water grew bigger and it engulfed the crowd. The crowd panicked as well as the prince. The divine generals jumped up through the water barrier.
"What was that all about?" General Jotham exclaimed.
"I definitely don't have any idea what's going on!" Zaman said.
"Of course, with your brainless brain I doubt you have the slightest idea of everything." Shun said and looked at him with cold eyes.
"What did you say?!" Zaman growled and looked at Shun as if he's ready to break every bones in his body.
"See?" Shun said. "I guess this is getting interesting. I can't wait to see what happens next." he added.
"You always change personality when you're on the battlefield. You really are a two faced bastard." Jotham said. Shun just smirked and his eyes is full of excitement.
"Well, we're not sure if this really is going to be battlefield." Amiana said.
"I can feel it. Something's going to happen." Shun replied. Jotham just shrugged and crossed his arms. Amiana just observed them.
"Now then, what will the prince do now?" General Dugald finally said something. They looked at the prince and he doesn't look good. His face is full of uncontrolled rage, fear, and intent to kill. Rupert behind him doesn't know whether he should be happy about this.
It's been five minutes since the eerie voice and the water barrier was formed. The prince stood stoned on his feet and the soldiers are waiting for his orders. The generals decided to round the barrier. The people looked at the prince hoping for an answer.
"Your highness…" Rupert whispered.
"Shut up! Who are you?!" the prince shouted at the top of his lungs. The crowd turned silence.
"Have you forgotten already? How sad. I thought because we were brothers you'll be able to remember me" the voice replied.
"Brothers?!" the crowd whispered the same thing. The generals looked at each other.
"W-W-What are you talking about?! Who are you?!" the prince was hysterical and was trying to be oblivious.
"How can you forget? I'm your brother. My name is Zoi."
The moment that name was mentioned, Adlai froze as if it was whispered right directly on his ears. Everyone was surprised. Clouds formed just in Amane and lightning strikes. Adlai felt chills down his spine. He gritted his teeth and he's turning pale. His fingers dug deeper to his palm as his clench is getting stronger.
"Zoi? You mean the other prince?" General Jotham asked.
"He's dead that's impossible!" General Amiana exclaimed. Her eyes widened.
"Maybe he wasn't able to rest in peace." General Shun chuckled.
"Come on this is getting troublesome." General Dugald said anxiously.
"Zoi huh?! I guess I am going to give him a piece of me! Show yourself coward!" Zaman yelled and drew out his sword.
"Stop it General. Someone's just fooling us. Dead can't come back to life. This is rubbish. Let's just continue with the coronation." Adlai said trying to calm himself.
This can't be happening, he thought. Before the coronation, Adlai sent an army towards the death cliff to kill all the people who were with Zoi. They were too many that he can't believe them losing. What he fears the most is that he lied to the court that he had killed Zoi and he just falsely accused him. He turns to face General Ruppert again.
"Dead can't come back to life, wasn't it? How can he come back when he's alive after all!" Everyone was shocked when the voice got clearer but they can't figure out where did it came from. Even the generals are looking left and right trying to catch even a glimpse of the owner of the voice.
"Huh?" Suddenly, a very silent General Wyn suddenly spoke. Everyone looked at him surprised. He slowly raised his arms and everyone followed his action until he stopped pointing at something. He pointed at the statue of the biggest fountain in the plaza. Everyone's eyes widened. They saw a tall silhouette but whether it is man or a woman, they don't know. His cloak waved with the wind. Zaman's face showed an irresistible urge to kill someone.
"Who are you?!" Zaman shouted.
Adlai's mind at the moment is bugged with thoughts. If it is really Zoi, then he's in big trouble. He is mentally cursing his army for losing against a lump of soil army of Zoi.
"How many times do I have to repeat myself ? I am Zoi. The true king of this country." The silhouette descended from the statue. He landed on his both feet. The generals were amazed by him.
"Oh? If it isn't the imbecile who attacked the country." General Miles said and draw out his spear. He is known to be brutal. He is the same age as General Balthasar. However, they differ in combat. General Balthasar is gentle and General Miles is brutal. He looked at Zoi bloodshot.
"As much as I wanted to, I don't want to start a fight. But I guess it is impossible." Zoi showed his face and the water barrier that is blocking the civilians from their view grew bigger and became dome. The screams and cries of the people were buried inside.
"Bastard! What are you doing?!" General Amiana snarled and her body suddenly shrouded by a thin white air. It feels dense.
"I was just trying to block them from hearing and witnessing cruel things." Zoi explained but General Amiana did not listen. She looked fiercely at Zoi. She motioned her hands and an arrow and bow appeared out of nowhere. Zoi gasped. She was about to go on with her stance when suddenly someone grabbed her wrist and a knife was pointed on her neck.
"As much as possible, I don't want fight women but if someone tries to hurt my friends I don't care if they have most beautiful body. I'll shred them into pieces." Larkin was the one who appeared behind the lady general and threatened her.
The other generals didn't saw it coming. They haven't sense anyone near them. They were about to move as well when suddenly, they were also immobilized.
General Shun is tied with a thin metal thread from his shoulder down to his knees. It was Kazuki. General Jotham was aimed with a sword on his neck and his arm is folded behind. Other generals were punctured with paralyzing poison. General Zaman is treated specially. General Balthasar appeared in front of him.
"Curse you old man! You teamed up with the enemy!" Zaman snarled at him. He threw a punch at him only to be caught by General Balthasar's hand. General Balthasar twisted Zaman's arms and the latter screamed in pain.
"Stop it General Bal! We're here to talk." Zoi said. Balthasar let go of Zaman's arm.
"Talk?" Amiana asked.
"Oh? I already forgot." Zoi said and turned to face the stage and looked at Adlai with cold blooded eyes. "Give me Faia." He said. Adlai smiled maliciously and grinned.
"What if I don't?" Adlai asked him. Zoi's eyes narrowed and gritted his teeth.
"You'll regret it!" he snarled.
"Now I see. To compensate the lack of number, it is more wise to immobilized the generals first. Hmm.. An interesting plan." Shun said calmly.
"This is not the time to be amused." Jotha snarled.
"Killjoy." Shun snorted.
"Did you came back because you failed the last time you attacked?" Amiana asked fiercely.
"Attack? What are you talking about?" Zoi asked innocently but his anger showed on his eyes.
"Don��t play dumb! You used that girl to overthrow the kingdom!" she yelled angrily at him.
"And who told you that rubbish?" Larkin asked behind her.
"It doesn't matter to you." she barked. Larkin's grip on her wrist tightened.
"It does. Now, tell me." Larkin said and his eyes darkened with impatience.
"Calm down Larkin" Kazuki told Larkin.
"You really smells nice." Out of the blue Shun said while sniffing Kazuki. Kazuki was shocked and redness flushed through her face. Everyone was stoned from this.
"In this kind of situation, like seriously be serious!" Jotham yelled at him.
"I don't think that guy is a bad news." Shun said. The generals got irritated especially Amiana.
"What are you talking about?!" Amiana shouted at him and darted him with a killer look.
"Come on don't be too scary." Shun said and let out a childish laugh.
"This guy is insane." Jotham sighed.
"This guy is definitely a bad news! He attacked Amane and had that girl as his weapon! And now he's back!" Amiana wasn't able to hed back her anger.
"If he's a bad news then why would he bother to protect the people from witnessing cruelty? And I think he's the one who can control the water. In an instant we would be dead but he chose to just immobilize us. I doubt that such actions were of that someone who actually kills." Explained Shun.
"Then why is he alive?! Didn't the prince told us that he was killed?" Jotham asked.
"Then maybe the prince was lying?" Shun said sounded so dreamy.
"Impossible…" Jotham whispered under his breath. Everyone looked at the prince. The prince was shaking in anger and his face has a dark aura hovering over it. His narrow eyes became
narrower.
"That's true." Zoi said and everyone looked at him again. "He did killed me." He added.
"T-Then why are you alive?" asked Amiana, unable to sink in everything.
"A normal blade wouldn't kill me." Zoi said and let out a wide smile.
"W-W-Why?" Amiana is still unsatisfied.
"Well, because I'm a mostre."
Everyone was awed even the prince. Unlike in Faia's country, this country is completely aware with the existence of a mostre.
"That legendary persons who wielded the power of a monster?" Jotham said in disbelief.
"That's rubbish! Those monsters are not real! They're just chidren's stories!" Zaman exclaimed. General Balthasar glared at him.
"Well then, are you sleepy? I'm gonna show you that the children's story is real." Zoi said and smirked.
"Tch! Sneaky bastard!" Larkin whispered.
"You're just insecure." Kazuki said.
"Why would I? At least I am normal!" Larkin replied.
"You really smells nice." Shun inserted inserted in their conversation. Kazuki got pissed off and tightened the thread.
"Don't let your guard down. We don't know if they would be convinced after this." She said.
"Yes ma'am." Larkin said.
Others are so occupied with what Zoi is doing. He held out his hand, palm facing upward. A swirling water appeared on his palm. It grew bigger and bigger until it turned into a water tornado.
Shun smirked at what he just witnessed. Jotham stared in disbelief and his jaw dropped. Othr generals even though paralized had seen it. Even Larkin and Kazuki did not expected this. Zaman wasn't delighted obviously.
The prince was more that furious. He just stood silent since Zoi arrived. His face flustered with rage, and rage, and rage. His heart raced abnormally. It had gotten worst when Zoi showed his power. Insecurity, jealousy and greed flowed over to his veins and to all nook and cranny of his body.
He thought that the reason his father doesn't want him to the throne because he is powerless.
"Let's get down to the real business, show off!" Larkin barked at him.
"Well, I doubt the prince will let you off the hook." Said General Jotham.
"Faia was my first priority of coming here. But I also came here to take back everything that the evil prince took away from me!" Zoi snarled and looked at Adlai. Adlai looked back.
"Zaman!" Adlai yelled as if he is signalling something.
"Yes, your highness!" Zaman replied.
Everyone was caught off guard and was surprised to see huge armed and barbaric looking men jumped around them. There are only few of them but they do look strong.
"Did you really think that I don't have anything up my sleeve? You're dreaming aren't you?" Adlai said and smirked at his brother.