- A heart full of vengeance, a mind full of pure intentions...
Caeruleus cannot bear looking at Inzary. What he just did will surely haunt him forever and to the afterlife. "This action cannot be undone... and there is no way I can redeem myself from it," he admits guilt.
The sword has impaled Inzary's chest. The sword went through his body. Caeruleus took the life of the only person he is close to. The person he was once friends with, and the only best friend he had.
"Sir!" someone shouted.
It was a voice of a man far away from him. The unknown person seems running to where Caeruleus is. With the silence of grief covering the surroundings, the gasping of the unknown person can be heard. Every step he made is equivalent to a rapid gasp.
"Sir, everyone is..." he stopped momentarily as he witnessed something that cannot be fathomed by anybody else "...waiting for you."
Inzary fell on his back, while Caeruleus landed safely on his feet. Caeruleus cannot help but mourn for his lost friend while blood continued flowing outside of Inzary's chest.
Shocked by what he had just seen, the unknown person gasped. "L-let me introduce myself, sir" the unknown person greeted, "I-I am a Junior Summon under Knights. It is... nice to meet you, sir."
"So, you are just beginning on being a Peer's Summon, I see that," replied Caeruleus as he wiped his tears off his face. "What brings you here?"
"U-uhmm... an Aristocratic Councilor ordered me to find your location and announce to them what is happening right now," the Junior Summon replied.
"Do you know what happens when a low-level government official kills a high-ranking government official?"
"I-it is stated in Teran's Tablet of Authority... if I am not mistaken."
"I will be glad if you cited that."
"If I recall what it is, i-it is said that whosoever killeth a man above his governance, he shall be isolated from the kingdom forever and forevermore."
"And that means?"
"If someone of lower rank kills someone of higher rank, they will be sent to jail..."
"You heard that, Inzary? The government is redeeming your loss by sending me to jail. You deserve this justice, right?"
"N-no!" Inzary barely spoke as he coughed up blood. "It doesn't have to be like this... I want... I want to eradicate them all! ALL OF THEM!"
"You are right, Inzary," Caeruleus replies. Tears once again slowly fell from his eyes, "It doesn't have to be this way. You didn't have to die, you didn't have to perish, but... but I have to stop this!"
"W-what? You really think- you really I would believe that? Why, Caeruleus? Why? Is it because you want to gain more reputation? Or- or maybe is it because you want to be promoted to a higher level?"
Before Inzary had the chance to finish speaking, he coughed up and spat blood once again. His breaths became deeper and deeper. He became desperate to live.
"Hey, Junior Summon" Caeruleus called his attention, "Before the sun rises, I want you to report me to the Aristocratic Councilor."
"B-but for what reaso-"
"For murdering Inzary - an Aristocratic Councilor - for his power and his wealth," Caeruleus interrupted the Junior Summon.
"B-but sir" the Junior Summon hesitated, "this is just you making up storie-"
"Juniors should follow their seniors under any circumstances, right?" Caeruleus insisted.
"Y-yes, sir... yo-you have my word."
"Good. You seem to follow instructions very well. Now, let me repeat: do you have my word?"
"Yes sir! I won't break the word you gave me!"
"Now, I want you to summon Fate here. I believe I have to explain everything to him. About what ties Inzary and I had."
"R-right away!"
Just before the Junior Summon leave, Fate arrived carrying Kisei on his shoulder. At that time, Kisei is unconscious due to the fight between him and his father.
Fate carefully laid Kisei down on the ground as he looked at Inzary. Astonished, he gasped. He is lost in words as he saw Inzary slowly dying as he continues losing blood.
He approached Caeruleus. "So, you have finally killed the traitor," he says, maintaining an emotionless face.
"Quite the opposite, Fate," replied Caeruleus as he draws his sword back, "I must say he is our ally."
Shocked by what Caeruleus said, he shouted, "W-what?! You are seriously saying Inzary is our ally?! I apologize for the disrespect, but you are indeed out of your mind!"
"I do understand you, Fate. I don't remember telling this, but Inzary and I were once friends."
"Oh, really, sir? He is our ally because you were once 'friends' with him?!"
"Contrary to what you have just said, no."
Inzary intervened and laughed hysterically. Despite struggling to breathe properly as he keeps himself alive, he still managed to laugh.
"What?" asked Fate. "I should be the one who's laughing here. Just... look at you. You killed my childhood friend and you have immediately paid the price. How pitiful."
"Oh, Fate," Inzary replied, his breathing getting deeper and deeper over time, "You... don't know how to act... like a villain I am."
"You are right, Inzary. I cannot act as a villain properly because I am NOT like you."
Inzary laughed once again, "Let me ask you a question, Fate. I want you... I want you to answer me."
"Okay, super-villain guy. What is it?"
"Do you believe... that the end justifies every means?"
"If I am the one who killed you, then I must say yes. Without any hesitations, I say yes."
"Hah! Caught you off guard... so you are just... like me."
"Such assumptions about me are baseless. Of course, I am not- and I will tell it to you once again that I AM NOT a murderous human lustful on blood."
"Okay... let's say you are true. But...but if the end really does not justify the means, then why do you want to avenge the death of your friend? Tell me, if the end does not justify the means... then... why to avenge your lost friend?"
Fate did not answer Inzary and looked away. He was left speechless by the question Inzary had just asked him.
"Huh... I see that. Even you cannot explain why," Inzary told.
"It still doesn't justify what you just did," Fate replied.
"Then what doe-"
"NOTHING!!" Infuriated, Fate shouted and interrupted Inzary. "NOTHING DOES, INZARY!! Taking lives is not and will be not justified by any means possible!"
"Alright, what do you think my intentions are?" Inzary asked.
Nervous, Fate stuttered, "T-to gain control of the government. T-to... to spread f-fear! That's what everyone does!"
Once again, Inzary laughed hysterically as he heard Fate answering his question. "See? You are making baseless assumptions! You don't know what my intentions are. Your stupid... innocent mind won't fathom in any means possible what my intentions are!"
At this point, Inzary turned pale. He has already lost a significant liter of blood. Breathing is nigh impossible for him.
"H-hey, Caeruleus," says Inzary. Every inhale he did became agonizing.
Heartbroken, tears fell from Caeruleus' eyes, and replied, "What is it... Inzary?"
"P-please take care of m-my child... w-would you?"
Caeruleus sobs and retorts, "I am... I am afraid I canno-"
Inzary interrupted, "P-please...? I... I don't want my son to fall into the hands of government custody..."
"I want to, but... but the government will take me."
Inzary cried as Caeruleus cannot even grant his final request before dying. "W-why? Caeruleus, ask me... w-why would you take my life...? Why w-wouldn't you take my final request...?"
Caeruleus immediately burst into tears and hugged the suffering Inzary, "I-I am sorry! I want to... but I can't! I'm sorry I have to k-kill you! I am... really sorry!"
"Y-you fucking traitor," the gasping Inzary replied. "Why do you have to do this to me..."
"I didn't want to, I-I swear! I didn't want this... b-but it is the only way to stop you!"
Inzary chuckled as he heard Inzary. "Hah hah! I didn't know you are such a crybaby."
"S-shut up, Inzary," Caeruleus exclaimed as he hugged his dying friend on the ground tighter.
"Just... promise me one thing... please?"
"What is it, Inzary...?"
Before gasping for air for the last time, Inzary told Caeruleus, "You owe me five pieces of bread, alright?"
As soon as Caeruleus noticed Inzary stopped breathing, he cried out loud. Inzary is gone already, and there's nothing Caeruleus can possibly do about it.
As he grieves for his lost friend, thunders roared and lightning flashed. It seems that the skies also cried with Caeruleus. Caeruleus cannot do anything but grieve for the dead Inzary in front of him.
Fate, however, is quite the opposite. While Caeruleus continued to sob, Fate just stood behind him cold-bloodedly. It is as if he's just watching a kid cry over spilled milk.
"Is he really that meaningful to you, sir?" Fate asked, his face still emotionless.
"He was... he was my everything, Fate," Caeruleus replied. He continued sobbing, "He is the only person I know I can rely on, but... but now he's..."
"I am sorry for your loss, sir," Fate replied. This time, he decided to listen to Caeruleus.
"How much do you hate Inzary, Fate?"
"With every bit of my muscle, every mineral of my bones, and with every energy of my body. That's how I can compare my hate to Inzary."
"That is quite strong hatred, Fate. Is he the first person you hated that much?"
"Yes, sir. I swear to the Overseers and Eternal Primes, my hatred towards him will never fade."
"If time will pass, let's say, will you happen to forget everything that had just happened tonight?"
Infuriated, Fate laughed sarcastically. "Do you really think that I - in any chance - would forgive your so-called ally?!"
Caeruleus exhales. "To forget is to forgive, Fate. One day, you'll eventually-"
"If 'to forget is to forgive' is true, then I won't forgive Inzary! To hell with his self-promising ideology! I mean, to destroy government? It only means anarchy, and we wouldn't want that to happen."
"He wants to destroy the government for good, Fate. He wanted to cleanse this kingdom for the sake of everyone!"
"Let me stop you there, sir. Even if his intentions were for good or bad, it doesn't change the fact that he would destroy the government for the sake of his ideals!"
"Let me ask you a question, Fate. It seems you don't quite understand everything."
"Oh, please! I am more than glad to hear that!"
"Why do you think... Inzary wanted to destroy the government? If I cannot convince you by explaining everything, then I must somehow convince you of his intentions by asking you."
Fate momentarily stopped speaking. He was unable to answer, but that did not stop him from arguing, even if his accusations were baseless.
"B-because he wants power..." Fate accuses. "Yes, h-he wants power. E-everyone wants power, sir! You cannot deny that fact. I-it is our n-nature to fight for power, even if means destroying everything!"
"I see that," Caeruleus replied. "But, it's not about power, Fate. You see... if someone encounters this type of scenario, the very first thing they would accuse is because of power and authority."
"Why? It is true, after all. He wouldn't commit mass murder if he doesn't want power!"
"No, no, no. He doesn't want power. Yes, he committed murder, but come to think about it, Fate. Why would someone don't want power if someone wants to eradicate the government for good?
"The answer is simple, Fate. Way simpler than what you think: to cleanse the government. The government we currently have is... already beyond saving. Our government is biased. Don't you see? The wealthier you are, the better the government treats you. Poverties are left unsolved. The poor became slaves just to have a better living."
"..."
"But that's not all, Fate. You see, the only way to solve poverty is when the poor help each other. They would rant about the government's treatment of the poor. Unfortunately, that was the only thing to solve everything. Rally until the government gets overthrown."
"Then... then why didn't they?"
"You're finally coping up, Fate. I'll give you a credit for that."
"Just... answer my damn question! I want answers, not compliments."
"That is because, in this kingdom, everyone is racing instead of helping. The only help you could do is if you help yourself. They do not care about each other, may it be of blood or not. All everyone cares about is... power. They wanted power only for themselves, and that was the very thing Inzary wanted to solve."
"But violence... isn't the key..."
"Even I told him that. But this government is already beyond saving. You can do anything, but this government won't change. Unfortunately, the only key to cleanse the government is to destroy the government."
"I am... confused, sir. If Inzary wanted to cleanse this kingdom, then why would he destroy the authority?"
"That is because you cannot save what is already destroyed. You cannot fix what's already broken, Fate. If everything is beyond saving, the only key is to start again."
"..."
Their conversation momentarily ended. The rain gradually stopped and the silence of peace has finally come. But even the serenity of the night is not enough for Fate to comprehend everything Caeruleus had just said.
Fate stared into the horizon blankly as he tries to understand what Caeruleus told him. It was too overwhelming for him. So overwhelming that it could probably take his sanity away.
"Fate, I am afraid this would be out the last meeting," Caeruleus told. "I would like to... apologize."
"Why is that, sir?" asks Fate.
"I am sorry I disappointed you..."
"You never... disappointed me. As a matter of fact, I am the one who did. You don't have to apologize..."
"I'd bury Inzary's body tonight. I still have plenty of time to use before the Peer's Summons arrest me."
"So... this is our last meeting?"
"I am afraid, Fate. Unfortunately, yes."
"But... it didn't have to be this way. How about your name? Would it be tarnished just like that?"
"I am afraid so, Fate. I am afraid it would get tarnished just like that. But... worry not. Even if my name gets tainted by bad impressions, my honor would still remain."
Caeruleus started digging a hole just big enough for Inzary's body to fit. He dug a hole, dirt by dirt, using a shovel he made earlier while he and Fate were having a conversation.
The first ray of the sun finally shines through the horizon. The birds started to chirp and chitter as they woke up from the sun.
Caeruleus finally finished digging a hole and threw Inzary's body. "May you rest in peace, Inzary..." he whispers under his breath.
As he started burying Inzary, both he and Fate heard a marching sound from their north. Fate saw a glimpse of the soldiers Caeruleus talked about earlier in unison.
The march became louder and louder. Caeruleus is running out of time, but he didn't deter from burying his lost friend properly.
...
"Under the Aristocratic Councilor's command, we hereby announce that Caeruleus - one of the leaders of Peer's Summons - is arrested effective under the government's rule!"
The soldiers pointed their spears toward Caeruleus as they stopped marching. One of the soldiers announced Caeruleus' effective arrest.
"Caeruleus! Surrender yourself to us! Resistance to the arrest of any kind will result in the use of force under any circumstances."
"Fate, it is an honor to meet you," Caeruleus said as he slowly approached the soldiers while raising his hands.
"It is also an honor to meet you, sir..."