'Wolfenstein Kingdom city gates'
A distorted atmosphere could be seen as heat showered down from this afternoon's blazing sun. The horizon outside the main gate seemed desolate, with red and brown specks of dust floating about in this heat.
Two figures could be seen approaching at a slow and steady pace.
"Eh? Someone's approaching?"
A guard that was assigned to the upper part of the wall hadn't noticed the incoming figure rather quickly.
"Even though this is the main gate, very few people enter from this direction" Another guard interjected.
The main gate doesn't have very many people coming and going, not because the Wolfenstein kingdom has weak trade or commerce, but because the gate itself was created with the highest walls and the stoutest fortifications. This may also have something to do with the fact that this entrance was the closest to the King's Castle.
The geography of the mountain ranges surrounding the Wolfenstein kingdom did not allow it to have a perfectly symmetrical square shape. As such, the entire kingdom is leaning towards more of a really elongated rectangle than a square. The main gate is on one of the long sides and the mountain ranges are covering the other long side.
The commoners reside on the eastern side while merchants and traders reside on the western side. Most people enter from the western side as it was the center of trade and commerce. This is mostly due to the fact that the main market of the kingdom is there. On the other hand, commoners reside on the eastern side, for it was the agricultural lands. Farmers and ordinary residents alike are often seen entering and exiting the eastern gates.
"Send someone to verify their identity. Make them stay where they currently are!" The head guard commanded.
It would seem that an order like that was a little inhospitable, but the main gate is facing the entire Central woodlands, which is a big No man's land. It is a place in which enemies might easily reside. Acting cautiously is the head guards' responsibility after all.
Only a few minutes passed as the horse of the scout galloped back to the main gate, "It's Commander Mendi!" The scout exclaimed while gasping from his hurried return.
"Eh? Marvin? He's alive? Report this immediately." The head guard was in confusion, hasn't he heard that Mendi was killed during a chase operation commanded by the king a few days ago?
...
Feihren and Marvin arrived and were inspected thoroughly. Although it was not due to them thinking this 2 were hostile, one of them was still a total stranger to their kingdom.
"State your identity, a magic item will be used to verify anything and everything you say."
"Gama Feihren, a retired general of a fallen kingdom to the north" Feihren practiced this line
'Wait, magic item!?' His heart slightly jolted as now he suddenly realized that the last part of his "introduction" was totally just a made up backstory, but just as he was about to speak again.
"All clear, he's telling the truth. Inspect his baggage and equipment next." The inspecting head guard proceeded.
'Eh? Did I have some passive skill to convert my bullsh*ting into truth? No matter, it is still a good thing for me after all. I'll always accept any lucky breaks that come my way'. Feihren nodded in satisfaction as he carefully placed the black case he had on a wooden table.
"This is the preferred weapon that has accompanied me throughout my journey." Feihren stated and nodded in all sincerity. No lies there. Well… almost. And that's only because he had obtained this deity-grade weapon a few months ago when he was around level 990.
The case was opened and the guards that took a peek at what was inside let out a gasp of surprise and awe. It was simply stunning. It was such a beautiful… wand? Staff? Eh? What's this majestic looking thing in front of them?
"Sir, by any chance, do you happen to be a Battlemage? [1]"One of the guards inquired.
Feihren just crossed his arms and nodded with sincerity. In all honesty… He had no idea what they were saying to begin with.
The expressions of the guards changed as they immediately said.
"You're now allowed passage kind sir; the inspection has been completed"
"Many thanks," Feihren replied while doing a half-bow
"And Sir Mendi, the king has issued an order for you to meet him as soon as possible." One of the soldiers that have just arrived a while ago interjected.
Marvin politely nodded as both he and Feihren entered Wolfenstein.
...
"Are you seriously a Battlemage?" Marvin curiously inquired.
"Do I look like one to you?" Feihren said with a faint smile. Marvin sighed helpless as he asked,
"Do you have any business to be done in the kingdom? If not, I'd be glad if you'd join me to meet with the king." Marvin seemed to be asking as a joke, but a hint of sincerity could be clearly seen in his eyes.
As for the circumstance that happened during the pursuit operation, only Feihren had known the complete story, on how he was immediately abandoned by his own troops! That scene in which he had lost all hope on the brink of death.
Feihren replied with ease, "I do not mind, I am in no hurry after all."
This would be a good opportunity for him in any case.
After having a quick meal at a nearby pub, the two of them made their way into the Wolfenstein Kingdom's Castle.
...
"Oh? You really are still alive huh?" Not a single trace of interest can be seen in his face or heard from the completely bland tone at which he spoke. It was as if one has seen a pawn miraculously escape being eaten, and is ready to be asked to do another death-defying task for them.
This was King Louie the 3rd, 41st King of Wolfenstein.
An arrogant 'son of heaven' that has miraculously inherited the throne at the early age of 22, when he replaced his deceased Father three years ago. He was as ignorant in running a kingdom as his age suggested, but through these years the kingdom was still strong. As if some force behind it is keeping it intact and progressive.
"And who is this man beside you?" King Louie the 3rd inquired as one of his eyebrows rose, pointing at the man beside Marvin.
"He does not look familiar? Not from this continent, I suppose hmmm?"
"Your Majesty…" Marvin attempted to answer before Feihren overrode him and introduced himself.
"I am Gama Feihren, Your Majesty."
Feihren bowed while in his half-knelt position. "I am a retired commander from a fallen kingdom to the far north." He continued. "I have planned to humbly stay in your kingdom to start a brand new life, Your Majesty."
"Eh? A retired general of a fallen kingdom? You should have changed that to 'some coward who fled his dying country'. Typical of people from the Shodan Continent pfft!" King Louie the 3rd retorted, not giving any respect to this man's introduction.
'This rude kid…' He just creased his brows at the king's obnoxious reply as he sighed internally.
"…And you Marvin? Another coward! It seems you two are birds of a feather. Your very own troops reported that you yourself halted the chase, and turned tail from the pursuit? Pathetic! After I heard the news of you dying, I sighed in relief. Cowards like you don't deserve to return!"
Marvin just regretfully stayed in his knelt position, unable to retort and justify what actually happened back then. He was afraid that he will never be given a chance to act and gain back the respect that he lost from his subordinate's report. Truth is, he was assigned to be a knight commander by King Louie II. As such he was well respected by his own troops, even though he was once a commoner.
When King Louie II died, most of the men under the tutelage of the previous regime, including the men in his troops, perished. They were replaced by the new generation of knights. However, these knights were as arrogant and self-centered as the king they were serving; Obnoxious, just truly obnoxious.
A tall, pale-skinned guy beside King Louie the 3rd whispered in his ears. The next instant, shocking words came out of the king's mouth.
"…And as this is the case, your return is a disgrace to the knights. Please die for me." The king raised his hand as a command to summon an executioner!
Marvin gasped, taking in a cold breath of air, refusing to look up and believe the words that the king muttered. Beads of sweat dripped profusely from his forehead.
Holding an apple that he grabbed from the fruit basket in the ornate table beside the throne, "Let's do the execution first thing in the morning? Eh, no, late in the afternoon?" The king mockingly pondered. "You know what, let's just do it right here and now." A devious grin appeared on his face.
'Textbook as*hat, that's what this kid is. Tsk, this is going overboard…'
A burly man with a metal round helm wielding a blunt, yet gigantic, ax in his hand approached Marvin, who was still silently kneeling without muttering a single word.
The other royal knights and subordinates within the throne hall did not dare say anything during the entire process. For them, going against the king's order is just digging your own grave. The king himself was an existence at the peak of Expert-class. Even with his youthful age of only 25, no one dared to go against such peerless talent, especially when it's a king.
As the executioner got closer to Marvin, a sudden voice interjected. The entire aura of the throne hall changed in the next instant.
"Your Majesty…" Feihren calmly interjected as he rose up and slowly walked toward the king! Everyone was shocked by this incident.
'General's Aura >>> Activated'
'Supreme Gaze >>> Target: King Louie Rudyard III'
King Louie the 3rd directed his gaze to the sudden voice that interrupted the execution. 'Who dares go against my command?' Surprisingly, it was this coward of a "general" that dared to speak. But as his gaze landed on this man, a suffocating killing intent flooded his consciousness, as if the air he was currently breathing had solidified in his throat.
The royal guards nearest the throne attempted to apprehend Feihren when a sudden pain was felt in their heads, stopping them right in their tracks. Heavy breathing could be felt by every royal guard that attempted to move, and some of them already knelt as if they had run a hundred kilometers within a few minutes! The aura simply feels exhausting!
The others just stayed frozen helplessly.
A faint voice continued, "Isn't this a little too much Your Majesty? I went through the trouble of saving this young man over here. Can you muster enough respect for me to spare him?" A sneer appeared on this man's face.
As Feihren neared the throne, a sudden voice yelled "Insolence! How dare you act that way in front of the king!?" A mystic orb with blue radiance spun inside the palms of the pale man as he bravely charged towards Feihren. But the next instant…
*Thud!
A loud fall could be heard as the thin man's figure rolled from the platform to the floor. 'Wha? Seems like the mini-stun was so effective? Or did he just trip on his own? Well, that's unfortunate… And painful' Feihren mockingly laughed.
With only a few feet between Feihren and the king, he asked.
"Shall we go now Your Majesty? We'd go now and this would in no way affect your great self, right? Am I wrong Your Majesty?" Feihren turned back as he glanced at the man that was still face down at the bottom of the platform, and the unmoving Marvin, as he approached and calmly said, "Let's go, we don't have any business here."
Marvin was dumbfounded. He just stood meekly and went towards Feihren as they walked out of the hall.
The scene was remarkably similar to how a child would be scolded by his mother and his father would come and save his as*.
The entire throne hall kept silent until the entirety of Feihren was gone.
[1] Battlemage: A highly respected class in the world of Nuwiell. It was a noble, battle-ready class for soldiers specializing in area of effect magic, whether it was meant to help or harm.