Spring Kingdom, 508
3 months since the departure of the Flower, Flora Zeymer.
Slowly getting back into its place, the river no more flows with blood, the cattlemen could pasture worry-free in the plains and valleys, the children could play 'til sunset again. One thing remarkable change that happened in the Spring Kingdom that impacted the mood of the people were the fields used for cultivating crops became the graveyard. It could not escape the eyes of people as it has become the place for mourning and the fact that it's wide made it unnoticeable. There were no days of neither family nor friends bringing flowers and liquors to offer the dead. No days nor nights without someone crying and with the amount of flowers brought to every tombstone, after three months, it was like their tears grew the seeds. When seen from a distance, the graveyard would only look to be a vast garden but a sanctuary for the souls of each hero. As for someone who lost his hero, for Apoy Fierro, it became his safe haven. The graveyard has become his refuge for weeks when he wanted to let out all the emotions he couldn't tell– for there was none to. Perhaps, the flowers were one of the factors that kept him on coming every sunrise. He wanted to lean on somebody, somebody that would understand him but afraid to have one again, afraid to lose again. He would rather chat the dead than the alive. "Old man, I want to eat meat. Smoked and glazed to a sweet honey with a kick of spice. I told you to teach me how to cook other than eating but you won't. I'm so fed up with just bread and cow milk from the time I woke up to the time I sleep. It's a luck if Na'yd visits house, he would cook me the most delicious meat and it's much better than yours. Ah! I forgot old man, Na'yd is my buddy in the brigade. He's a little boy with a body like a girl. He lives somewhere in Abelonia, I thought he was somewhat annoying when I first talked to him that night. I kinda like his personality, it turns out he's fine. If I said 'don't act like we're friends, ' he would say sorry the instant and father, it seems that someone is listening to us." Apoy halted for a moment when he heard the crisp of leaves and be on his guard the moment bloodlust touched his senses. It felt somehow familiar to him though the aura has more negativity and unstable. There was none when his eyes scanned, only a letter on the ground. He tread lightly over tombstones to check it, the bloodlust have disappeared and that made him pick the glossy letter on the ground. He knew there wasn't a letter or anything when he passed there earlier.
"Greetings from the Major General; congratulations son of Kanor Fierro. You've been chosen to become the 49th member of the 5th brigade. Report this 15th sunrise of the spring to the palace." he read it using his eyes word per word and checked if there's a crest of Spring Kingdom's army and to his surprise, it was really a letter from the Major General. He ran back to his father's tomb completely forgetting what he had felt earlier just to show the letter as though the deceased was really standing alive and proudly listening to his son. "Dad! This was your dream!"
"I thought you didn't like to be a knight?" Apoy held his breathing when he felt something cold and sharp in his neck. 'Like hell I don't have a choice but to join. '
"So the selection wasn't wrong. You're real worthy to be the 49th member huh? Congratulations, Fierro." the mysterious man literally smiled drunk at Apoy, he seemed satisfied and amazed of how the kid managed to do the same thing. "We can now put down our daggers."
"Identify yourself first."
"Oh, my apologies to you haha! I'm Katan, your senior knight in the 5th brigade. I was the one who brought that letter. Am I cleared?" Katan dropped his dagger first and Apoy followed while examining him. Tall and bulky like his father but with eyeglasses only.
"I'm sorry, it became a habit since my father trained me." damn, he totally concealed his presence and what? He's drunk?
"That explains why, I'm impressed by your instincts. Surely, he would be proud to have his son on the 5th brigade."
"By any chance, do you happen to know my father? You talked like you do."
"Have you never ever heard of the name, Katan? That bastard have never told you huh? We're buddies in the 5th brigade."
"Woah! You telling me you were his buddy? And what? Father's in the 5th brigade?"
"I am telling you. Anyway, I guess it's his tomb?"
"The name's saying it is."
"Ah hahaha, it's really his tomb, " Katan genuflected and poured his booze. "It's been a while, pal!" as he closed his eyes, the memory of that tragic night resurfaced. "Aight! No time for tears. Be on time for that day kid, the new General is a fanatic of punctuality. Gotta leave, I still have a surprise left for the fiftieth member hahaha!"
"I pray for his safety then." Apoy wanted to ask him more information about his father but just thanked Katan for bringing the letter personally and waved his goodbye. Guess he won't tell anyway and I guess drunk people are useless to talk to and I guess that I should pack things up father. I'm following the path you never wanted me to follow. I realized it now, why is it old man? Feeling the first spring haze and waited for the first sunrise of the season, Apoy have decided to take his father's path. He believed something has been secreted for a long time.
Spring Kingdom, 509, The Palace. 15th sunrise of the spring season: the day of the of 5th Brigade's ceremonial.
"Claudio, the moon barrier is starting to fade. Some of the demons can now reach and enter." said Max, one of the king's closest friend and the new General of the retrieval brigade– the 5th Brigade. "Flora stopped sending us messages, I wonder how is she doing right now?"
"I could no longer sense her, Max," worry was in his manner as he flipped the coin he was playing. "What brought you here anyway?"
"To talk about retrieving her." he walked while stretching his arms and rotating his head. He was about to continue speaking but interrupted by the bang of the door and a lady in her uniform appeared. Claudio, startled too, forgot the coin he was playing and it flinched them two as it hit the marbled floor. The lady, displaying her significant smile as she fixed the loose strands of her golden hair bowed and yawned comfortably.
"Apologies, have I interrupted you both?" Max held his chest, his face in surprise.
"Obviously, Esperanza! But what a beautiful interruption you were?" his tone softened while approaching the maiden with a playful smile. "You done work?"
"Good morning Max, " she gave her a pout before gazing the king; Max was bothered at the hair strands interfering her eyes and placed it in the back of her ear. "Pleasant sunrise, My King." Claudio grimaced at the unbearable sight and Max knew how to tease his friend.
"It's really good in the morning for a man to hug a beautiful lady." Esperanza got the atmosphere and played along with Max.
"These two, nauseating view. What's this? An epidemic?" mumbling quietly; they're making him feel jealous, he knew.
"I'm still not used of you calling me 'king', come on! We're alone anyway." Max and Esperanza laughed, he definitely knew how to shift the situation, the same Claudio they knew.
"So I left the healing brigade, " Esperanza checked her record book and a pain was illustrated in the small of her face. "The casualties kept rising each coming day. Knights coming back with severe injuries but rescued villagers escalated. Max, Claudio, any report about Flora?" her expression turned serious.
"We were talking about her earlier. She stopped sending us messages three weeks ago. Claudio, I think I have to go and search for Flora?"
"But Max, our forces will be divided if you do. We are really lacking of knights, Cadia City is in danger and quit hugging me already. Claudio, can't you detect her?"
"I did in the last three weeks since her last message but then her presence disappeared. It's either she's out the scope of my magic sensing ability or she is, " Esperanza raised an eyebrow then noticed the dirt on her friend's boots; Claudio massaged the temple of his head and inhaled so long before releasing the weariness. "Max, I'll be joining the retrieval at Cadia City. From there, I will go out of the moon barrier and begin the search."
Esperanza exclaimed and Max seconded.
"You alone?"
"And what about the kingdom, Claudio?"
"And what about her?! You said you would go search her, right?"
"Yes, I did but ONLY I will go and NOT YOU."
"Oh boys, please stop it. I haven't had a chance to sleep for weeks."
The two went silent then specifically scanned her countenance. "Ugh, my skin looks parched now."
"You can sleep in my bed."
"No, she's sleeping in my bed Claudio– wait, of course she would!"
"I am not sleeping in any! Let's weigh what's best for the situation and what's with those dirty boots?" but though she already knew, still asked him, the dirt was just getting into her nerves. Claudio agreed, stood up and walked near the window to give a look at the people below. The two were important for him, the kingdom and Flora.
"I've come up with an idea to save both. Later at the gathering I will announce the forming of a new brigade."
"What?!" The two shouted and went to silence again and for the second time, right when Max was about to say something was interrupted by the bang of the door. A skinny man awkwardly took off his hat and bowed to the three.
"Forgive my interruption, My King, Generals. Greetings, the new recruits have assembled in the hall."
"Oh, they've come so early? I like that attitude! Please tell them to wait a bit, I'm wrapping up things here. You can leave us."
"Yes, General." When the messenger has left, Max faced Claudio.
"So, I was going to say that your plan seemed dangerous." Claudio made a loud 'tsk' sound and tossed out the crown to his friend which nearly fell off the floor.
"I'm tired wearing that."
"Hey, as what have Esper said, our forces will be divided. Forming another brigade when our current state is not good– sighs, fine, detail me your plan after this ceremony–no! You must detail it after I instruct the new recruits. The olds really love to ruin us, exceptionally you."
"Boys, count me in. Don't forget me!" Claudio grinned at Esperana's frown.
"We will." the two men in unison comforted.
"Then I'm leaving, Esper, come with me. I have something to tell you."
"As long as it does have a sense." Max and Esperanza left Claudio's room to see the new recruits. On their way, Esperanza was keeping her hands on her ears because of the naughtiness Max kept whispering. She regretted tagging along but too late to go back at Cludio's room.
"Oh, come on, haha why? What came into your mind when I said 'sleep'? Hey Esperanza, I see you reddening! No need to be shy, we'll do it soon. How many kids? Two? Five? We'll make it ten if you want."
"Gratitude be to you oh heavens." She stopped covering her ears and thanked as they reached the halI and Max put his seriousness back. Esperanza saw an addition of seventeen new recruits with each possessing distinct aura but the one at the back stood out.
"How fearsome."
"Fearsome, is that it?" Esperanza pinched him secretly and Max wrapped his wincing face through a series of thumping which made the recruits thought that they needed to look at them. Esperanza, as the prime healer and as the General of the healing brigade, she couldn't amount to exactness of the number of people she had met face to face through saving. Apiece got an aura of revenge and pain but what the person releasing at the back was different. A mixture of pain, wrath, longing, hatred and sadness. If Flora was beside her, she would understand her as likewise she has an ability to see the colors of aura.
"Welcome knights, you traveled all the way here and must be tired. I believe... eighteen should be here?" Max recounted thinking maybe he was wrong. "Seventeen, I thought my math turned poor. One is missing." The recruits murmured their speculations regarding the missing one.
"He ran away with his tails between his two legs.", "Coward!", "Could it be that he was only late?" Max looked for Katan but he wasn't around with them.
"All eyes to me and listen good, " Everybody hushed and put their full attention to him. "I am Max Kantilad, the newly appointed General. Make me proud that I chose you and not embarrassed and don't make me admit that I was wrong to select each of you here as the replacements of the former ones. The 5th Brigade is the summit of Spring Kingdom's military. All of you must have the characteristic of a 5th brigade member. Summit means at the top and at the top means power and authority but that doesn't mean absurdity and abuse of your position. I thoroughly checked out all of your ability and proficiency and wether you have a choice, I checked your family backgrounds. I don't want losers here, are we clear? Shout your answer!"
"Y-yes, sir!" They were stunned that their answers were not shouted at the same time. He was young, he was really young to be a General but it does not seemed to be a justification for him to be not. They saw him how he spoke, how composed he was and put pressure on them for just less than a minute of speech. Probably born to become a General like his father. Just at the sight of his stance that obviously saying both intelligence and skills, they got thrilled to see the capabilities of their young General. At the back, Apoy hadn't imagine all of his life to lead a team. He sucked at socializing, he gave the impression of a bored and short-tempered guy. What amazed him the most was the authority the General was emanating; though two people have different eye color, like the king he saw that night at Abelonia, the General's stares also looked burning. My guts is telling me that we are at the same age but how could he be so good looking? Does it relates to bloodline? And that lady, did I do wrong to her? I'm getting shy at her stare– oh man! A lady of that elegance giving me her attention means that I, too, am a damn good looking man!
"Follow the servants, they will bring you to your own rooms and will continue to give details of the ceremony. Come back here at strictly noon, I will introduce you to the high council. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" their shouts unified that time and boomed the halls. For the very first time, Apoy got intrigued to see the high council which he disliked after his father died.
"Let's see what is your life before, old man."