Chereads / Judgement: In Heaven, as on Earth. / Chapter 12 - Judgement: Arc 2, Chapter 1 - Turning Tides

Chapter 12 - Judgement: Arc 2, Chapter 1 - Turning Tides

In the dimly lit halls of the court of Everflame Island, a messenger would be running through the halls of Eleich Castle, a old and medieval place compared to the rest of the island. The messenger ran into the throne room, a place which for all intents and purposes wasn't meant to be used, with more modern offices for bureaucracy being created before. However, as the messenger entered the room, it wasn't as abandoned as many would expect. There were a group of four people in the room, two kneeling before the throne, one standing next to the throne, and one sitting in the throne itself. The man in the throne had white fur coat on, with long, slicked back black hair which descended past his shoulder. Black tattoos flew across his uncovered chest, ending below his abs. He wore skin tight white denim pants. The woman standing next to the throne seemed to wear more military-esque clothes, with long black hair, a black cloak, with a white combat shirt and white pants, both of which seemed to have Kevlar or some equivalent beneath it. The three other people in the room could be recognized as the nobles of the island, members of the Frei family, and while the new laws which had been instated on the island were to do away with formal power of the noble families, clearly something was up.

The messenger hid behind one of the pillars within the room. The man before him in the throne began to talk. "Would you all like to grace me with the reasons regarding the reports I am hearing?" The woman who was kneeling said, "My King, It was only a accident, please forgive us." The man referred to as King responded, "You are implying attempting to violate secrecy is a lie? Please, spare me the tears. We both know that was not a accident." The woman shivered, before saying, "I was just worried. If you do not mind my foolish opinion, the actions you do and what you commit may not be the best way of showing your place as King. Wouldn't it be more beneficial and showing of your rightful lordship and strength by showing kindness and humility to the populace?" King replied, "I disagree. I believe my actions do show that strength and right. A kind king is well loved, but love is difficult to keep, emotions can change. A cruel despot is hated, and hate is easy to keep, easy to control. That hate drives their predictability. For, those who hate you, either are too weak or fearful to do a thing about it, or, are rebellious mites who are removed. As long as those who hate are weak, and those who are hated strong, no amount of insults behind closed doors will change the status quo."

The woman replied, saying, "Yes, I did not think about it that way. You are correct, as always." The man kneeling next to her would grimace, before saying, "I am done with these charades! This won't go on any longer. Don't you see what you're doing? You're my son, goddamn it! You need to end this sick power fantasy right now, Victor! I'm your father, not your slave! You even have your poor sister in on it too!" He pointed to the woman next to the throne. The man raised his hand, formed a fist, and said, "Electric Magic: Blitzschlag" He launched a powerful punch at King, but the woman standing next to the throne would grab the punch and stopped it. The man, under a deflated voice, said, "Emilia, why?" The woman who had stood next to the throne, Emilia, says, "What would be the point of doing all of this if I stopped now?" King says, "Thank you, Bishop, but I don't think I needed help to stop that attack. You may hold him, if you do not mind." The man says, "See, Emilia! He doesn't even refer to you by name! He just thinks of you as a weapon, a sword to wield!" Bishop replied, "As you have shown so far, you don't have a clear understanding of operational security." She then held the man in place.

King stood up from his throne, as he launched a slap on the man in front of him, making a bright red mark and brusing. King then said, "Father implies that you are related to me. Father implies you are above me in any way. Father implies you mean anything to me beyond a means to an end. All I am doing is striving for more freedom. A common saying, that money cannot buy happiness, I believe to be partially incorrect. Power, specifically control, and money, can buy happiness, and even more, freedom. This island is along a important trade route into the northern lands. If we exploit it, the money part of the equation is finished. With total power, and control of the island, then I believe freedom is achieved. The freedom to do as you wish, to live as you want. People from the highest echelons of society to the workers who live paycheck to paycheck strive for this freedom. Am I wrong for wanting it myself?" King continued his assault on the man, beating and brusing him, before saying, "Bishop. Let him down." Bishop dropped the man, as the man himself said, "You're a madman. You want freedom at the cost of everyone's lives! You're just a psychopath!" King replied, "I can assure you, many people who you call citizens of this island would do the same in my shoes. Are you brave enough to deny that? Or, are you stupid enough to claim that this place was a paradise before me? Which type of excuse will you choose? I'm dying to know.

As the man tried to conjure a statement, the messenger ran out from the shadows. "King, I have important news to give!" King replied, "What is the news?" The messenger says, "We have intel that Lena Frei is currently on track to this island?" King's facial expression would darken, while the man in front of him had his expression lightened. King glared down at the man, before slamming his hand into his stomach, knocking the man out instantly.

"For her sake, let us hope she diverges from her path."