(This chapter contains graphic depiction of violence that may be upsetting to some readers. Viewer description is advised.)
Watching the steady stream of water pour out into the floors below creating the softest of slashing was a final moment of tranquility the old man with white hair knew he would have. It was mere seconds before his departure, and right now the only thing that could bring him remote comfort was the soft silence inside the room and the rock-solid model of his former glorious self.
The library was big, hollow, and empty, filled with every book he had ever read in his entire livelihood, and those he knew he would never get the chance to. The chasm spread out into multiple rooms, branching out into a perimeter only barely smaller than the entirety of that of the Neo Empire. He felt pride and joy in knowing that the endless stream of halls and walls stretched to coveralmost every inch of his glorious kingdom, yet a sense of jealousy for the intelligent soul who shall be given the opportunity to experience these wonders themselves for the first time.
In the distance, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps yet did not care enough to turn to see who his trespasser was. Not long after he practically felt the floor bend slightly to accommodate the heavyweight of the soldier behind him healing.
"My lord," the soldier breathed, "doest something ado thee?"
He hummed, already grown used to the old tongue of the Gaeans'. "Worry not much about my well-being. I am simply relishing this place for the time I can."
The soldier's head rose, face flushed, "Pardon one's asking, but one would think thy holiness would rather spendeth thy final moments with thy family and cater-cousins, not high-lone."
The man chuckled, deep throaty and whole-hearted, with the hint of a rasp, as though he had gurgled saltwater his entire life. "Please," he scoffed, "every person you have just spoken of will die alongside me."
The soldier seemed baffled, "My lord! How couldst thee sayeth such things against thy family? Thy jointress and children, doth those gents cullionly nothing to thee?"
"I've kissed my wife's lips to the point where I've grown sick of the taste. I've hugged my children enough times where I can recreate ice sculpts from memory. I've said goodbye to all of my friends to where even speaking hurts my voice. I've pondered my life long enough, where now..." He stared at the droplet-shaped object in his hands, still gushing with clear glowing liquid, the smallest manifestation of his entire being.
Without it; he was already dead.
"Worry about her fairness first," He continued, giving himself no longer than a few more seconds to be remorseful. He had time and he had already used it, no need for being greedy. "Women tend to take longer for these types of things naturally."
The Gaean soldier stuttered dumbfoundedly, never realizing the expansive crooked nature of each of these so-called 'world leaders. At first, he feared for a world without them around, now he feared for the world that had to put up with them.
The soldier, with very little gratitude, stood roughly and departed, kind charisma worn off as he strutted away to attend to his own ruler instead. Very faintly he heard the grumpy mumblings of "waste of one's time" while he left.
At the sound of the faint footsteps disappearing the old white-haired man laughed sadly, allowing for the first and last tears of that day to slip through his eyes.
"Now then," he answered himself, staring once more at the object in his hands, "it is time to find you a good hiding spot then, little one."
-
A horrid smell rose above the horizon amongst all the chaos, a smell too few were aware of and even fewer could recall. A smell of burnt butter and bread, a smell of dried tears and blood, a smell of dry air and wet ground.
War.
It was the fresh scent of war.
Although the three were locked away into the deepest depths of the castle Maya could still feel the quakes within the floor, vibrations coursing through her body in a steady hum. She looked around in confusion to see if the others felt the same thing, at first unsure of herself.
The King seemed baffled, his head rose in high alert, already forgetting his precious discovery. He rushed forth with big strides to the nearest door and the girls followed suit. As they got near they were nearly toppled over by the rush of soldiers who were all carrying their weapons and making their way outside.
"There is an enemy attack on the bay!" One shouted, "Escort His Majesty to the safety chambers and eliminate all threats!"
"There's an enemy attack?" Said King exclaimed. His eyes widened shortly before narrowing, a bitter scowl on his face. "That damned Cyrus, so does he truly wish to use force?"
Another soldier came forth and grabbed the King by the arm.
"Follow me, your Majesty," he spoke strongly, a slight quiver in his body from what Maya can only interpret as fear. "We have prepared you and the Queen's rooms accordingly. Once we locate her we will-"
The King snatched his arm from the boy and faced him. "Bring me my sword."
"P-pardon me?" The soldier fumbled, "B-but your Majesty! You can't seriously be proposing you head out there with all the-"
"Bring me my sword!" He demanded the firmer expression on his face and teeth bunched into an almost scowl. "It was an order, not a request" he looked down at the soldier with rage and anger. "This battle is a personal matter of mine, so I am entitled to handle it as such. You worry about the Queen and making sure the two of them are safe."
"But-"
"Now!"
With that, the more solid shuffled his feet and saluted the King, making his way down to what the girls could only predict being the Queen's chamber.
The King looked back at the two girls, irritation still etched on his face but less vile as before. "You two should follow him," he advised, "it is not safe here at the moment, and I am sure your families will be worried sick once they catch news of what happened."
A pull of adrenaline coursed through Maya and Maria's bodies, and the realization that everything that was going on around them wasn't fake sunk in.
This incident reminded Maya of back when her school would host special drills for circumstances where there was an outside threat and each child needed to be accounted for before returning to the safety of their homes. She was always convinced that their nation was too poor and small for anyone to ever want to try to rob or hurt them. That the day was such a problem were to occur she'd be prepared and ready, that she would be the last person to ever quiver and cry.
Yet, this was different. She wasn't in the familiar classroom of her school. She wasn't covered and protected by a trusted adult. She wasn't just a mere snow walk away from her house. She was a good couple of hours assuming she'd be traveling back by foot. Her parents had no idea where she was, nor had any transportation device to come pick her up if she did. She couldn't contact them, call them, heck she didn't even know if they were home at this moment either.
It was at this moment she had wished she did tell her mother the truth about where she would be going, so she could at least promise herself someone out there could find her.
Maybe if she did it would have stopped the tremble in her body, long enough so she could remind herself to breathe.
She barely processed anything that was going on around him, simply in a state of shock and pure fear as the horror of reality settled in. A shrilling scream caught her ear, followed by another explosion which made her dread at the fact that just mere seconds away people were dying. People were dying.
She imagined blood and bodies stacking on top of each other, fire blazing through the land melting all essence of snow that surrounded the castle. She wondered to herself how far the canons would reach. If one would soar so far it'd hit the castle dead on and cause the entire ceiling above her to collapse.
She was so far out of it she wasn't even aware of her own surroundings until she felt someone grab tightly to her arm.
"Come on," Maria huffed out next to her, "It's not safe here anymore. We're not trying to die are we?"
That word made her face pale, biting her lip as the feeling in her gut settled into something worse. She looked around for the King to ask him a question only to realize he had long since left.
Maria tugged sharply and pulled her forward when she showed no signs of movement, "C-come on."
They treaded in the direction where the previous soldier went as swiftly as they could.
-
With a sword tucked tightly into his grip the King rushed forward outside to face a sky of red and ashes. The stench of smoke clotted his lungs and in a moment of weakness, he reached for the corners of his robe to cover his face. He probably should have taken it off while inside.
Eyeing the situation he made out three large black ships that docked at the bay, perpendicular to the castle. On each of the ships, multiple ally soldiers were climbing the walls to reach the enemy. On deck were groups of men, some he recognized and others he did not, with weapons clattering against one another.
Around him was a similar experience on those ships, soldiers two or three at a time flinging weaponry at one another and cutting at each other's skin. The battlefield was so tightly cramped there was barely any room to breathe. Luckily He could distinguish from appearances alone those on the battlefield that were on his side.
A man with a club yelled loudly before charging in his direction. With practically instinctual speed he ducked to the side as he swung his weapon forth, staggering forward from the lack of expected impact. Before he could attempt to turn around to swing again the King already dug his sword into the corner of his shoulder and jabbed as deep as it would reach. Blood splattered as the main cried out in pain, dropping his weapon and arching away from his blade.
With a twist, the King yanked his sword out and watched the man fall to the floor into a pile of his own flesh. Before he could collect his bearing he heard the sound of a loud bang followed by the heavy impact of a resulted collision.
The sound caught him off-guard, causing him to accidentally bite his tongue as he flinched. He cursed himself, eyeing the root of the problem and realizing that canons, these bastards had brought CANONS, made their way one by one into the castle walls.
For a second he feared for the safety of his wife, face paled and body filled with the sudden urge to run back inside, already regretting his decision of following the battle. But he was barely given the chance to doubt himself as two more enemies came running forward to strike him. Head empty and blood rushed he continued his endeavor of countless slaughters as the cries of battle echoed into the air.
-
The explosion caught everyone off guard. The impact was loud enough it practically shook the entire castle and they almost lost balance. For a moment Maya worried that this place was crashing down on her, and couldn't stop her heavy breathing as she failed to keep up with the two in front of her.
"wait," she huffed out, exhausted. "W-wait! Please, just...wait..."
The two stopped their movements and turned around to face her. She took advantage of the stillness to kneel and catch her breath, feeling as though this was the first time that day she was finally able to think clearly.
"You heard it, didn't you?" The man she was chasing after asked. The soldier from before."It's not safe here, the longer we wait the more danger we'll be in." He turned around and got ready to start jogging again. "You can take a break once we get there."
"Please," Maria begged, "we're kids. We can't keep up with you."
The man sighed out of frustration and pity, a solemn look on his face. "Watch over your friend will you, unfortunately prioritizing Her Majesty's safety is my first and foremost duty as a Royal Gaurd, no matter who else may be here." He already started running but Maria had enough compassion to wait for her fellow friend. "When you are ready continue running down this hall and catch up with me, I shall let you inside when you do."
"Come on Maya," she urged, "it's unlike you to be so unfit of all days."
"No-Maria-," Mata literally couldn't breathe, "-ria no you don't-you don't understand! I can't...I-I just can't. Please I-."
Suddenly she felt a gloved hand wrap around her and a light, much more gentle tug by her side.
"Look," Maria spoke, calmly for once. "I know you're probably upset about the whole blessing thing with the King, but right now none of that matters. Everything we worked for, all of the goals we had wished to accomplish, none of that can happen if we get hurt."
Maya looked at her friend in total disbelief, a different person entirely, one with self-control she had never seen before. "But...but how? Maria, don't you understand?" She grew angry and shook her friends by the shoulders. "Don't you realize that this isn't about the Blessing? It's more than just some stupid book that we found. People are dying Maria! Your brother is out there! Fighting for his life, stopping those explosions, and risking his own safety. Maria, he could be read right-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence. She was interrupted by a slap to her face, one that barely hurt due to the cotton cushion softening the impact, but still caught her off guard nonetheless. The sound of it echoed so loudly but fell of deaf ears compared to the silence that followed afterward.
"Listen here clumsy Maya," Maria scowled, "my brother is nothing like you at all! He's actually strong and really powerful and doesn't cower when things don't go his way. I know for a fact he would never die in a place like this! So don't you dare underestimate him you hear me!"
It was the first time she had been so serious, Maya felt all but compelled to nod her head, mouth most likely ajar.
"You can cry as much as you want but don't you ever talk down on my family like that."
Maria, less gently this time, grabbed her arm once more and pulled her forward so aggressively it almost hurt. "Unlike you, I have faith in the people who I care about, enough so that I don't say things like 'I cant' or 'you don't understand'. If I hear one more sentence about dying and fear I swear on everything Maya, I will leave you here!"
Maya simply stared-simply stared as her friend tugged her arm and ran with a new profound speed to accommodate two sluggish people. She simply stared at the person whom she could no longer recognize. Simply stared at the girl who she thought she was better than in every single way accomplished something she herself didn't think she could do.
All she could do, Maya realized;
Was simply stare.
-
A blade equally as sharp pressed up tightly against his, a matter of brute strength as he felt his hand bend and his weapon nick the edge of his throat. His opponent stared at him with wild animalistic eyes, looking as far from human as anything ever could. With a barbaric scream, the King was able to nudge his leg free and kick the man in the shins. His grip faltered slightly and that was all that was needed the push him off and aim for a low swipe at his legs.
The thing let out a pained wail before falling, allowing him to jab his sword twice into his skull. He finally took a short break and started to become aware of the terrible condition his body was in.
His robe was torn and his body bruised. He knew it had only been mere minutes and yet it had felt as though days had gone by in battle. The sky was so red from the flames that left awake in the explosions that he couldn't even properly see the sun anymore.
He coughed, ashes entering his lungs and he covered his mouth once more. He grew tired and impatient, only looking for one sole person here amongst this crowd. Once he was killed the rest of the matters would be resolved quickly as such.
"Cryus," he drew the name out like a lion's roar, starting soft before crescendoing into a full-on growl, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Where is that two-faced coward! I showed you mercy and you showed be red!" He spun in circled and continued yelling, "Come, let's us draw blades like real men since this is how your kind resolves all of your issues!"
He searched around the field and ran in different directions, avoiding weak jabs and slicing through opponents who stood in his way. Finally, after a while, he spotted the familiar fur coat pattern laced against someone's shoulder and made out a man kneeling crouched in the middle of the terrain.
His anger increased on sight.
He ran toward the person at full speed, two hands on his blade-like so, ready to cut right through his middle. Rage was his gas and fury his fuel, surging forward at such a silent speed to the other eye it looked as though he was nothing more than a shadow. He approached Cyrus with pure malicious intent clear on his face and swung his weapon high for the final strike.
"Die you flying barbaric mandrill!" he chanted, before he noticed something- or rather someone- in the man's arms.
Cyrus turned around, eyes rained and cheek sustained with tears. Running down his face was blood and snot, blood which covered his hands and soaked his pants and snot which pooled down the bones on his cheeks. It took a while for Adrian to realize that the blood was most certainly not his and how it spilled graciously into a pool beneath him.
In his arms was a body, one with a stab wound in its side and stomach coat drenched and coated in a cake of red. His eyes were shut, his expression pained and his most likely cold hands holding onto a single scorched piece of paper.
In the Emberians arms was the body of a messenger boy, one both Cyrus and Adrian were well aware of and acquainted to.
-
Back to the girls, the man they were following opened a door connected to a wall, one that led to many flights of stairs into a dark empty room neither one of them could identify.
"In here," he ordered, "this is the secret evacuative area hidden inside the castle. Only trusted guardsmen and His Majesty are aware of its location. The Queen and her son should be down there already. No matter what happens remain in there at all times."
Maria turned, "The Queen? And her son?" She stared at Maya in confusion, as though searching for clarity. "I don't recall the royal family ever having a child."
The man simply sighed, "Neer...he is currently the only offspring both His and Her Majesty share. He was always frail from birth and has recently developed an unidentified illness. By request of the King and Queen, his identity was kept hidden from the outside world." He shook his head disappointedly with a groan. "We're already experiencing deadly enemy attacks, there would be no hope for this castle if the next in line for the throne were to pass."
The atmosphere change, a depressed mood settled into everyone's bones.
The soldier coughed, a slight flush on his face, "Ah, apologies. That was not any of your business. For now, worry less about that and head down. There should already be a few guys down there keeping watch. If they ask tell them Allete sent you."
He saluted the girls, "I must make swift work on the situation outside. Stay safe." In no less than a few seconds he trod onward towards the danger.
Maya felt her hands growing sticky from sweat, resenting how hairy the space between her fingers became due to Maria's gloves. She yanked her hand out from her grasp, and rather explain why to Maria who had turned around in confusion she rubbed them against her coat and stepped in front of her.
"I don't want to be here anymore," she muttered bashfully, already making her way down the stairs.
"M-Maya?"
She didn't turn around but kept walking forward. Sooner than later she had to step carefully and use the railing for support from how dark it became. She heard soft footsteps behind her and figured Maria found it best to simply follow without asking. Once they reached the bottom a small aluminum of lighting came from the deeper inside with the soft chatter of small voices.
Hesitantly they approached it and saw a woman sitting in the center of the room, a bundle of blankets encased around her arms. They didn't make it three steps through the door before long spears crossed across their chest effectively blocking their path.
"Halt!" A booing voice demanded. "Who dares trespasses inside the emergency chambers without permission?"
Maya felt the blood drain from her face and for a second panic rose in her chest again. Just as she was about to explain herself a soft and soothing voice spoke for her.
"At ease."
In the same breath, both spear wielders backed off and stood to the side firmly. Maya barely got the chance to blink to process what had just happened. She was able to deduce that the voice had belonged to the woman sitting inside, and now at a closer standpoint was able to get a clearer view of her.
Her attire, as exquisite and as expensive as the Kings, shone brighter and spoke in the tone of 'fairness' and 'elegance'. She lacked a crown on her head but made up for it with the refined posture in her back and shoulders, able to demand respect without even speaking for it. Despite the fact she was on the floor she still seemed to be at a completely different level of efficiency either girls could only dream to replicate.
And her voice.
Motherly.
Powerful.
Soothing.
Quiet.
Like pouring diamonds from your palms into a pool of crystal clear water.
"Oh?" She hummed, a slight fair sound "My, what do we here?"