The gentle cool evening breeze felt good on the skin. The town of Madew was bustling with activity, but one man felt unnecessarily uneasy, or so he thought. It was in the town hall that Carl Newman tried to shake the nagging feeling of unease away. He felt that something very bad was about to happen.
Being near the center of the empire, he couldn't think of any danger that could befall him.
Carl was the leader of a very powerful and highly specialized military unit called the Blistrix. They were those called upon for very difficult missions or missions considered impossible. It was no secret that many army officials were not in support of Carl being the captain. He was neither a noble nor someone with a strong background. Rather, he had no background since he was an orphan. Furthermore, he was too young to head such a unit at nineteen. His achievement in battle, however, kept most of the naysayers mute. It was one of these achievements: the assassination of the emperor of the land of Mann, that caused them all to gather in the Town Hall, to celebrate Carl's success.
The Town Hall was a massive structure put up by the Duke of the province 300 years ago but was now too small to serve the purpose of housing the town during town meetings. However, it was big enough to house this party. The Town Hall was surrounded by trees and well-kept gardens. The pleasant scent of the flowers drifted into the Hall.
Although almost everyone was in a festive mood. Carl could not help but notice that some of the attendees were casting furtive glances at the members of his unit. This was very common considering the occasion, but somehow, Carl felt that these glances were different, and in a negative way. He caught a number of them looking at him the same way. He found it hard to wrap his head around that, and the fact that all military personnel were armed to the teeth for the occasion. He would have realized something was amiss had he not been in his home kingdom and knew he was under the protection of the emperor. The clinging of cups, the sound of music, the dancing of feet, was all that anyone could hear.
A waitress in a white and black appealing dress presented Carl with a tray of special Madonna wine. He picked one glass from the tray. The wine was specially prepared only for the Blistrix as a means of recognizing their efforts. No other guests could drink it, no matter how distinguished they were.
The Madonna wine, named after the patriarch of the Madonna family, was the pride of Madew and the whole empire. Patrick Madonna single-handedly raised his family from being a simple peasant family to a much-envied wealthy family. The wine was so expensive that only the extremely rich could afford it.
One pot of Madonna wine cost a thousand gold coins. The Madonna wine had a huge demand throughout the continent and beyond.
The Madonna family was involved in all decision-making in Madew and beyond, due to their deep pockets. The power they wielded was immense. They were even recognized by the emperor. Very few families could consider themselves as their equal.
On second thought, Carl decided to place his untouched goblet of Madonna wine back on the waiter's tray when he was interrupted by Nathan.
"Cheers to you, my friend," He said.
"Cheers," Carl replied but did not drink. "Since when did we become friends?" he thought.
Nathan sipped his drink with his eyes on Carl.
"Why don't you take a sip?" He said.
"I don't feel like it," Carl replied.
"But it is your day. You, of all people, need to loosen up today since we are all here due to your victory," Nathan said with a smile that was almost convincing.
Carl looked at him intently. Something told him that Nathan had no good intentions towards him.
As he brought the goblet to his lips, someone else caught his eye. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he recognized who she was, the woman of his life.
Carl's fiancée, Hope, winked at him from a distance and walked outside. The swaying of her hips and the jiggle of her ass caused an uncalled-for response in Carl's groin. Hope was the only one who could make him happy with just a wink.
She was what one would describe as the epitome of beauty. She had cute, piercing eyes that sparkled with an inner light, drawing people in like moths to a flame. Her adorable face, framed by cascading locks of hair, radiated a youthful charm that seemed to defy time. Her huge, perky breasts, coupled with her curvy hips, accentuated her alluring body, creating a silhouette that was both captivating and unforgettable. The way her curves flowed seamlessly together made her an embodiment of femininity; her well-sculpted body was a masterpiece of nature.
Her large breasts matched perfectly with her well-rounded hips, creating an hourglass figure that left admirers breathless. Her shapely backside, round and inviting, left very little to the imagination, making it impossible for onlookers to look away. None of her attire could perfectly hide her voluptuous bust and ample curves; even the most modest outfits seemed to accentuate rather than conceal her assets.
Her slender legs, though beautiful and graceful, were dangerous in battle—a testament to her strength and agility. Each step she took was a blend of elegance and power, with her broad, rounded hips drawing the envy of many women and men alike. The way she walked was natural yet imbued with a sexy appeal that turned heads and stirred hearts. Men were left drooling after her on several occasions, captivated by her presence and the magnetic energy she exuded.
But it was her facial innocence that seemed to be her most attractive feature. It was a delicate balance of sweetness and allure, making it hard for anyone to resist her charm. Her pleasant, appealing voice was notorious for causing men to hunger for her; it flowed like honey and had the power to enchant anyone who heard it. With every word she spoke, she wove a spell that left them wanting more.
The influence of her godfather kept all those with wicked intentions at bay, serving as both a shield and a reminder of the strength behind her beauty. His protective presence ensured that while she captivated hearts, she remained untouchable—a goddess in a world too often filled with darkness.
Carl placed his untouched goblet on the tray that the same waiter was passing around. He would soon realize that not drinking the contents of the goblet saved his life.
"Hey!" a man called out and strode towards Carl.
This man was no other than Clark. He was one of those who hated Carl with passion. He never spared a moment to try to look down on Carl. He was in charge of a thousand-man troop, whose achievements were second only to the Blistrix.
"You left many witnesses, didn't you?" he said in a condescending tone.
"And who is asking?" Carl retorted irritably.
"Why did you leave women and children alive?"
"Is there a need to kill innocent non-combatants?"
"Innocent non-combatants, you say? It is these so-called non-combatants who grow to become combatants. By being heartless as you think I am, I solve both present and future problems and prevent unnecessary loss of lives from our end."
"No one is guilty unless proven guilty. So, I suggest they grow up and decide for themselves before I cut them down. That way, I don't need to kill unnecessarily. Please excuse me, the love of my life awaits me."
Clark grimaced on hearing that. He was very jealous. He had tried all he could to woo Hope but had failed miserably. Nothing he said or did worked.
"You just wait. I will have her either by my charm or by force," Clark thought.
As Carl moved aside and went towards Hope, he wondered how true Clark's statement could be in the future. Could his decisions bring doom to the empire in the future?
He could still hear the voice of the army general he was to kill in the last mission. The determined look on his little daughter's face.
Carl had just entered the general's wing when he spotted her. She was a girl of ten, extremely beautiful with a fair figure considering her age. Her face radiated with mesmerizing beauty. Her hair extended below her waist. Though very young, she was appealing to the eyes. The look on her face softened Carl's heart.
The young beauty drew out a dagger and held it to her belly. "I will kill myself if you come ne
arer. I won't let you take me alive.''