Kyrian soon found himself on the battlefield of Occiden where days ago he fought his brother. The vast land of dry soil and desert, only sprinkled with the blood of enemies in times of war, embraced Kyrian back into it's arms.
Kyrian looked above the skies and saw the blue sky with the fires of the wolf decorating the atmosphere with ocean blue flames. He knew that the battle is won and that now, his brother is king and emperor. He secured his younger brother's throne and with that, he was relieved. He stood up but to his surprise, the battlefield wasn't empty at all.
"Kyrian!," someone shouted from afar. Looking towards the direction of the voice is his brother, Aisling, together with a few soldiers running to where he is. He was greeted coldly as he knelt to the ground for the new ruler of Occiden.
"My king and emperor," he said as Aisling neared towards him. What Kyrian can all see is Aisling's feet covered with his golden blue armor shoes. It was shiny and blinding enough that he can see his faint reflection in it.
"Where is Ezio?," was Aisling's first words. Not "Where have you been?" or "Are you alright?". His brother asked for someone else who was not with them. Although Kyrian never expected anything better from his younger brother, the fact that he expected for his kindness for his appearance disappointed him.
"The first prince Ezio was not with me when I woke up, your highness. But it has been days already since I last sensed his presence," Kyrian said.
"So are you saying that he's dead?," Aisling said with a change in his tone of voice. Everyone who was with him can see the grief in his eyes.
"…", Kyrian could not answer. It was taught to them nephilims that once the presence of one of their people can't be felt anymore, that means he has already left the world for the afterlife. The reality that Ezio's presence can't be felt anymore was more than enough reason for them to believe he is already dead. Though Kyrian spent a few more days after his stay in Anatoli to look for Ezio, he couldn't find him anymore and he was left with the regretful conclusion that he succeeded in his mission to finally kill him.
"You did well," Aisling said as he turned his back and left his brother still on his knees on that battlefield.
The moment the soldiers who were with Aisling heard the confirmation that Ezio is dead, they all shouted, "Long live the new king and emperor! Long live King Aisling!" In constant repetition, they proclaimed these words many times with Aisling still turning a blind eye to all the rejoicing. The skies remained blue and after a few seconds, everyone including Kyrian performed the coronation spell.
It was a magical covenant only performed when all the people, every Nephilim in Occiden with not one excluded, appointed a new king for themselves in unison. Days ago, the Occiden army was finally freed from their loyalty to Ezio after his death, breaking the binding spell in their arms and thus allowing them to pledge loyalty to another. For days, they waited for Kyrian who was lost in Ezio's transportation spell for the ceremony to ensue since not one soul must be excluded for Aisling to finally wear the crown.
But Aisling, containing the bitterness and grief in him hid inside his tent. His soft whimpers can be heard amidst the rejoicing and all remain silent after hearing him grieve for his brother, Ezio. His heart heavy laden for his older brother's death, he now came to the realization, which he so feared to come to light, that his brother is already gone. Years ago, he anticipated that only in death will Ezio give up the throne and it was for that reason that he couldn't kill him himself. But now, the deed was done and he still felt like he was the one who killed his brother.
His sadness overthrew him as Kyrian gently entered his tent.
"My king and emperor, I know your grief. I am Ezio's brother too," he said.
There was only silence from Aisling, and Kyrian knew he has to say something to him.
"I know you feel burdened to take the throne for yourself, now that Ezio is dead."
At the mention of Ezio's death, Aisling couldn't help but to cry silently once again, his hands covering his mouth from letting out too much sound and his eyes swollen in tears.
"But you have to be king and emperor for him," Kyrian said.
These words struck Aisling as he turned his gaze towards his brother. With sympathetic eyes, Kyrian drew near to his brother, kneeling to him who was sitting on a chair and looking up to meet his eyes.
"It is only when you become king and emperor that you give justice to his death. You can become a king and emperor of Occiden for Ezio. You can rule for his sake and remember him when you wear the crown," Kyrian said.
Slowly, Aisling came to a realization. Kyrian was right. His tears would not bring Ezio back to life, the brother he still believed he killed by his own hands. But Kyrian's words made him realize another, that the Occiden people still needs a leader and that he must stand up for them. He will rule for Ezio's sake and rule Occiden in his stead.
"Thank you, Kyrian," he answered with a smile.
"But from now on, I would need an advisor. And with that position, I shall appoint you to be by my side," Aisling said.
Knowing his brother, Kyrian knew there is no negotiation with Aisling. Even if he would refuse now, Aisling would do everything to make him agree and so, he willingly consented. "After all," he thought, "I must bear the same weight of burden like my younger brother does," he said to himself. He knew he still must aid Aisling, no matter what and that he already shares the same pressure of the crown in his head, for killing his brother.
"Yes, your majesty. It would be an honor," he replied. "But I must ask one thing in return," he added.
"Ask what you want," Aisling said.
"If your highness would allow it, I would like at least a pause from my duties as your advisor at least once in a while. Let this be a time dedicated for myself," Kyrian said.
"You are to be my advisor, the second most powerful Nephilim in the kingdom who I would like to assist me each and every day. I would not have any breaks from my duties as king and emperor yet why would you ask for one?," Aisling said in a serious tone.
"Your highness, I mean no offense but if you would not grant me this of which I ask you, I'm afraid I have to turn down your offer as your advisor," Kyrian said lowering his head.
Kyrian promised Hana he would see her again. He kept her in her thoughts when he asked Aisling this. He wanted to visit her any time he could get and watch over her, the same way she took care of him willingly.
It was a long silence before Aisling answered.
"If that is what you truly want, I shall give you only once every after three years a time off from your duties as my advisor. You can choose which days that would be. But you would only have three days for yourself at such time. After that, you must come back and report to me," Aisling said.
Once every three years. That means he can only see her for only three days every after three years. Kyrian knew this time can be limited but to be able to see her again no matter how long or how many years that would be is something he is already very grateful about.
"Yes, your highness. It is an honor. Thank you," Kyrian said.
That day, Aisling was crowned king. Every Nephilim of the Occiden kingdom gathered from far and wide into the battlefield in order to proclaim Aisling as king. Kyrian, together with all of them performed the coronation spell, touching their foreheads with both of their first two fingers combined and shouting "Aisling regnato!' mixed with their manas.
Soon after, the place where they touched their foreheads with, shone with golden light which pointed to Aisling himself. As all light emerged, they all combined to create him a golden crown, imbued with the sigil of a wolf. Both the newly created crown and Excalibur shone with flowing light as the crown landed on Aisling's head, making him king and emperor of Occiden.
With all the light that surrounded him, Aisling shone in front of the whole kingdom. His blue eyes turned gold for a moment, as every Nephilim knelt to the ground shouting, "Long live the new king and emperor! Long live King and Emperor Aisling!"