"You there, stop spacing out and hurry!"
A lean, garish guy with a mustache yanked on the shackles that bound a little little girl, no more than nine years old. Her wrists and feet were chained together. Her long black hair was a tangle, and her long garment was ragged grey, like a street beggar.
Some of the beggars were dressed better than she was. She was, however, not alone. Other people were also chained behind. They were all shackled together in a single line.
"They are the prisoners of war from Hallius, I heard."
"Tsk. Tsk. What a pitiful bunch. But war is war, it's their sovereign's fault for not being able to withstand the empire."
"Withstand the empire? It's definitely a one-sided battle. The empire's Lion Knights probably overwhelmed them."
"There are even children amongst them. What a pitiful life must they lead now."
More people whispered as they saw the inmates being shoved while some admired the knights ahead.
The gallant knights of the Empire of Abalos marched in front. As they did a professional march, colorful confetti and flowers of all hues started showering down.
The prisoners trailing behind the knights were frightened, while some were resigned to whatever destiny awaited them. However, if one could see the expression on the small girl's face in front of these fallen, one would be perplexed.
She was calm. Very calm, to the point that one wonders whether she is one of the inmates who may face execution or terrible enslavement at any time. There was not a single ripple of emotions from those purple eyes hidden under the tangled hair.
The girl raised her head. Her eyes were drawn to the knights who had caught them. Then she looked around at the happy folks cheering among them. It seemed as if she was a traveler rather than a prisoner. For the first time, her eyes were drawn to the new scene before them. However, she merely continued to observe because that was the only thing she could do at the time.
The march had finally come to an end after nearly an hour of walking. The march concluded in the vast square within the Imperial Palace's imposing walls.
There, the imperial family was waiting on a human-made stage.
"Lions of the Empire, you have triumphed once more; I can't express how grateful I am of you," Empress Elena, a gorgeous lady in her thirties with long golden hair and kind but keen sky-blue eyes, welcomed everyone. She was dressed in a stunning golden gown that complemented her sun-kissed hair. Her head was crowned with a golden crown set with crimson rubies and tiny diamonds. The knights dismounted and knelt in front of the empress.
"We are honored by your words, your Majesty!" chanted every knight in unison.
The biggest, black stallion approached. "My beloved, is it the knights you've only seen?" a strong and majestic deep voice resounded. Everyone bowed down as he removed his black metal helmet.
Such reverie to the emperor of the empire. Emperor Tursten 1st.
He was a big and powerful man with wild long silver hair and golden scary eyes. However, seeing his empress softened his gaze. He dismounted his steed and ascended the steps that led to the Empress.
"As the Empress, it is only natural that I commend the knights for a job well done," she said as she offered her right hand, which the emperor gently accepted. Before pulling her closer to him, he laid a delicate kiss on the back of her palm.
"I'm happy that you return safe and sound," the empress whispered.
"I promised you after all my dear," the emperor gently whispered back.
The crowd that had gathered to see the engagement of the two royal imperial couples rejoiced. After all, the entire kingdom knew how much the two admired and loved each other.
The two royal imperial couples faced the crowd. "To all my beloved people!" the Emperor remarked, breaking the silence. "We gain another triumph from the kingdom of Hallius, marking our glorious route to unify the entire continent of Sienna! For a full week, I and the entire empire shall celebrate!" With the Emperor's declaration, citizens, nobles, commoners, and knights alike were delighted.
The whole square boomed with thunderous cheers.
***
As night fell, the entire empire's capital city glowed with lights from several bonfires. That would last for an entire week. During the jubilant celebration, the war captives were gathered and placed in the cell beneath the Imperial Palace.
The small girl, who was in one of the cells' corners, had her legs tucked together and her head buried into them.
"Come on, little one."
The little girl lifted her head to look at the person who had just talked to her. It was an elderly lady with a kind smile on her face. The elderly lady was also a prisoner of war. "You are so young to be experiencing such tragedy."
The little girl said nothing and merely looked at the old lady.
"Please accept this," the old lady said as she extended her right hand, which held a hardened piece of long bread. "This is really too much food for an old person like me."
The little girl stared for it a few more moments, but seeing that the old lady, would not bring down her hands, she finally accepted the bread.
Then the little girl started eating it, however taking the first bite, she stopped.
"Is there something wrong with it? I know it tastes like rock, but we don't know when we'll be given something to eat once the celebration is over," the old lady sighed as she moved toward the little girl on the left side. She leaned against the bricked wall.
Following the elderly lady's remarks, the small girl nodded her head and resumed eating the bread. The old lady began talking again while she was eating.
"You don't say much, so," the old lady exhaled deeply. "I can't blame you; you must have been through a lot before you came here. It feels like everything just happened yesterday," the old lady had a faraway look in her eyes. "We live in a little hamlet outside the ruined kingdom in peace, but since the war began, all three of my sons have been enlisted in the army and are most likely dead right now." The elderly lady's voice was mournful.
Thud.
The little girl who was eating the bread slumped. The dust flew away and the remaining half-eaten bread fell on her hands down to the ground.
"I'm sorry, young one," the old lady said, her gaze falling on the collapsed little girl. "But, dying right now is preferable to the fate that awaits inmates like us, I hope," her eyes slowly closed. "We'll have a blessed life in our next lifetimes."
With those last words, the old lady breathed her last. But at the same time, the little girl who she thought died already due to the poison in the bread, opened her eyes.
Strangely, it was still calm as ever despite the death she just faced.
A system sound echoed through the girl's head along with the appearance of a violet translucent screen.