Crows circled above the courtyard as Eriessa strolled through, brushing her hand against the soft flowers. The crisp air relaxed her mind and body. She stopped at a bench and sat down, breathing in the fresh air. The gray sky gave her peace as she dozed off. A soft smile crept across her face as rain gently began to fall.
"My Lady! Please get inside!" a knight called out to her.
She sat there in silence.
"My lady! You must get out of the rain!" he shouted.
She didn't move.
"Please, My Lady. Your brother will worry!" he yelled.
She stood up and slowly walked towards him.
"Thank you, princess." he said.
She smiled and continued to walk, ignoring his words.
"My Lady, are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded and walked away, further into the keep.
"Princess! You are soaked!" a maid exclaimed.
Eriessa smiled and sat on her bed.
"What were you doing outside in the rain?" the maid asked.
"Daydreaming." she replied.
The maid shook her head and helped Eriessa out of her wet clothes.
"You should take a hot bath and get warm." the maid said.
"I will." Eriessa said.
Klouse walked through the halls and bowed his head as he passed the servants. He gently knocked on a door at the end of a hall.
"Come in!" Ragar shouted through the door.
Klouse stood at the table and interrupted the commander and the king.
"What is it, Klouse?" Ragar asked.
"My apologies, my lord, but we have a problem." Klouse said.
"What kind of problem?" Ragar asked.
"The humans are getting restless." Klouse said.
"How so?" Ragar asked.
"They are attacking the guards." Klouse said.
Ragar looked at Commander Zovlor.
"Harvey... where are they?" Ragar hesitantly asked.
"They are in a prison that I made them build. If it is not to their liking, then they are the ones to blame." Harvey said.
"Where?" Ragar emphasized.
"Outside of the city. Near Hollow Cove." Harvey answered.
"Good. Not by any village. The arena will be finished next week. Round up all the ones causing trouble and separate them and tell them what they will have to do. Klouse, any information on Wetherden?" Ragar asked.
"Destroyed by Sage, son of-" he was cut off.
"I know who Sage is. He's a son of a bitch, that's who he is." Ragar said, pounding his fist on the table.
"Sir-" Harvey began.
"You know what is crazy? There are millions of people in Elysian and only one person wanted change and look at what has happened. Opius is a strong and wise man, but also terrifying. Johan's father united all of them and gave them everything they could ask for- well I guess not Golden Gate. Golden Gate changed drastically. But other than that, everyone else was content with serving under him. Why now? What changed Opius' mind? Johan is not weaker than Dython, no. I'd argue he is much stronger." Ragar said.
"Another reason why I wish you would have talked to us about these new rules and this... arena. I think it is a terrible idea and will give us a lot of unwanted attention." Klouse said.
"What you said was wrong. It is a great idea. Dra-*ahem* My friend told me what will happen if we do this, and he said we will prosper." Ragar said.
"Who? Who is this friend of yours?" Klouse asked.
"Watch your tone." Ragar said aggressively.
"Forgive me." Klouse said.
"Harvey, go to Hollow Cove and sort out this mess with those disgusting creatures. I want you back here in two days." Ragar commanded.
"Yes," Harvey said, "excuse me."
Klouse bowed his head as the commander left the room.
"I feel as if our roles have changed." Klouse said.
"The others... I had them killed." Ragar said.
"What? When?" Klouse asked.
"I don't remember. I heard them talking about reaching out to Dusk or even Elysian. So I had them killed in silence. And their family." Ragar admitted.
"What am I now if Harvey is the commander?" Klouse asked.
"You both are technically commanders, but you lean towards all the other positions..." Ragar said.
"You want me to be the hand and the treasurer?" Klouse asked.
"Yes." Ragar said.
"What about Noral? I saw him a few days ago." Klouse asked.
"Well... um... To be honest there isn't another one of us that can control Energy like him. Torg wanted to see if his son could be the next, but I went to see him in secret. I cut off his arm and told him to heal it. All he did was fucking scream and cry like a baby." Ragar said.
Klouse remained silent.
"Listen, Klouse, I'm going to be honest with you." Ragar said.
"Ok, I'm listening." Klouse said.
Harvey rode through the woods with his men, soon arriving at the prison. They rode to the gates where soldiers grabbed the reins and let them dismount.
"Tie up the horses over there." Commander Zovlor said, pointing at a fence.
"Yes sir." they said, leading the horses.
"Where is Captain Jade Dorret?" Harvey asked a guard.
"He is inside, sir. He should be at the cafeteria with the humans." a guard said.
"Thank you." he said.
He walked through the halls, looking for the captain. He found him yelling at the humans.
"You will do as I say! You filthy creatures!" he yelled.
"Fuck you!" a human said, throwing a tray at him.
Jade punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Get up!" Jade screamed.
The human stood up and spat blood on the ground.
"Do you understand why you are here? I said: Do YOU understand why you are here?" Jade's voice got louder.
"Yes." the poor man said.
"Tell me!" Jade shouted in his face.
"Because I am a disgusting creature." the man said, tears forming in his eyes.
"Yes, you are." Jade said, nodding.
Commander Zovlor stood in the corner and watched the scene unfold.
"Captain Jade. We need to talk." Commander Zovlor said.
"Yes, sir." Jade said, walking over to him.
"In private." Harvey said.
"Of course." Jade said.
They walked outside and stood by the doors.
"What's going on, sir?" Jade asked.
"I heard that some of these pigs are causing trouble, is that true?" Harvey asked.
"The ones who cause a problem are thrown outside and forced to dig." Jade said.
"Dig? Dig what?" Harvey asked.
"Their graves." Jade said.
"Holy Kayotic..." Harvey said quietly.
"Well, I imagine it's better than why you are here." Jade said.
"Hm, you may be right about that one, walk with me." Harvey said.
They walked out of the prison and over to the cliff. The whole area was on a coast and the prison was built inside the cove itself and had a beautiful cliff behind it. The waves crashed into the side as they talked.
"The arena may be finished ahead of schedule." Harvey said.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Jade asked.
"Well.. you see..." Harvey struggled to find the words.
"No, no... I see what you're saying. Is this morally correct? Am I right?" Jade asked.
"Yea, don't tell anyone this, but he killed his counsel. Only Klouse remains. Sorry and Noral, he's still alive."
"Noral is valuable."
"He is. The only monster that can use Energy like a human. Why, I wonder? Tell me Jade, what do you think about our current situation?"
"Honestly... I feel like it's shit. We lived peacefully for years but once the big man dies and a new one takes its place, then it all crumbles down. Not just here. Over there too. I heard many rumors, are they true?"
"Probably. I sent a scout out to Wetherden earlier today, so we will see."
"Hey, Harvey."
"Yeah?"
"I have a terrible feeling."
"Me too, kid. Me too."
"Commander! Captain!" a knight shouted from afar.
Harvey waved his hand and gestured for him to come. The knight ran over to them.
"What is it?" they both said.
"A letter addressed to both of you." he said.
"Give it here." Harvey said, reaching his hand out.
"Thank you, now leave us." Harvey said.
"Sirs." he said, bowing his head.
"Open it." Jade said.
Harvey carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. He began to read it.
"Oh no." Harvey said.
"What is it?" Jade asked.
"Wetherden, it's gone."
"Shit. So Opius really did start a war, huh?"
"It seems so. Jade, isn't this timing a little strange?"
"What do you mean?"
"Opius is keeping Johan busy while we are about to make humans slaves and fight each other for our own amusement. Do you think Ragar's friend is from another country?"
"It seems possible. What if it's Opius?"
"Now that would be something, but I don't think so. He seemed scared of him."
"Oh?"
"There are many types of people here, but you know what is strange?"
"Tell me."
"Opius, Sage, Johan and few others are the only ones who can use Energy on a large scale. Most people can heal paper cuts or heat up logs and furnaces. Or pick up a cart full of barrels. Small things. But Johan and Opius... they could rip apart cities. Johan could cut you in half and regenerate your entire lower half. Opius could kill you just by looking at you. I heard stories of Sage. His father teaches him extremely well. Jade, you get what I'm saying?"
"That only there or so people know how to use Energy effectively?"
"Not just effectively, but professionally. If Johan wanted, I feel like he could kill all of us on his own."
"But that's just from things you've heard. We don't know how powerful they really are."
"That's true. But still, it scares me too."
Jade looked at Harvey for a second.
"Let's go inside, Harvey. There's a prisoner I want to beat."
The sun rose over the horizon as Eriessa woke up. She got out of bed and walked over to her window. She looked out at the city and smiled. She loved the view from her bedroom. She then heard a knock on her door.
"My Lady, are you awake?" a maid asked.
"Yes, come in." Eriessa said.
The maid opened the door and placed a tray of food on a table.
"King Ragar seems rather happy with his new wife, doesn't he?" the maid said.
"What did you say?" Eriessa said, slowly turning her head to look at the maid.
"I said the king seems happy with his new wife." she said with a happy smile.
"Oh, does he now? Like he doesn't need me anymore? That he abandoned me here? Left me for her!" Eriessa said.
"Now now, that is-"
"Get out." Eriessa said.
"But-"
"Get out now!" Eriessa shouted.
The maid quickly shuffled out of the room.
"You said you loved me! You said you wanted MY child! How could you lie so easily? Twist your words so that I would be pleased by the sound of them?" Eriessa cried out loud.
"My Lady." a voice spoke through the door.
"Go away." she snarled.
"It's me Noral. I have urgent news." he said.
"Come in." she said.
Noral sheepishly entered her chambers.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's- um- You're pregnant." Noral said.
"What?" she said, with a tear streaming down her cheek.