The next morning, Drake rose from his sleep, stretching with a tremendous yawn that drowned out the silent room. "Ahhh," he grumbled, the wave of sleepiness fading from his body. "I need to empty my bowel," he grumbled and got up, rubbing his eyes as he moved gingerly around the room. "Now, where is the restroom located?" He ambled downstairs, flinging door after door open in his quest for relief.
In his dazed and confused state, however, he mistakenly opened a door where King Axel was deep in discussion with his two generals. Drake's face reddened with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry; please disregard me. Please, continue." He started to back out, but King Axel's firm voice cut into his awkwardness.
"Drake, come in. We actually need your attention here as well," King Axel said with a hint of urgency.
Drake winced, shifting from side to side, clutching at his belly. "Uh, I. I really need to empty my bowel first, Your Majesty. I got a little lost, and, well, here I am."
King Axel nodded toward a small door nearby. "There's a restroom here for officials, just in case. Go in and relieve yourself."
And with that, Drake plunged into the restroom as if he was grateful for a merciful heaven. He sat down, letting out a wave of exhaled breath as relief washed over him like the calm after a storm. "Ahhh… finally," he muttered, feeling tension drain from his body. Yet, his mind itched with curiosity. "But why would they need me here? I hope it's nothing too dangerous," he murmured with a slight shiver running down his spine. He came out after cleaning up, then headed back to King Axel and the generals.
"I'm back," he said, rejoining the group in one graceful motion with a sheepish grin.
"Take a seat," King Axel said, nodding toward a chair around the table. Drake sat, the tension in the room jabbing into his skin like an increasing storm.
"Alright, let's resume," King Axel began after a short cough into his hand. "We've been discussing a storm on the horizon—a war. It's coming for us." He looked toward Drake.
"But is it proper for a stranger like me to be here?" Drake asked curiosity overcoming good manners.
King Axel gave a dry snort. "Funny, they said the same thing before you rejoined us." Crossing his arms, he leaned forward; his gaze hardened. "But you're already woven into our fate, Drake. Like it or not, we need your strength."
King Axel walked back to his seat and introduced the generals. He gestured to one: "This is General Darius, a 4-circle aura user and quite skilled. And over here," he pointed to the second, the more muscular man with a fierce look, "we have General Orion, also a 4-circle aura user. You may introduce yourself, Drake."
Drake stood, his words spilling out with a hint of nervousness. "I'm Alexandra Drake, 18 years old, though my circle tier is, well… unknown."
King Axel waved him off with a nod. "That's all right. Please, sit."
King Axel cleared his throat and started anew, "We know little of our foe, but one thing is for sure: they are using some type of accursed mana that makes them stronger than any ordinary man and twists their minds. In battle, they are no better than animals-mad and merciless." Then his tone turned hushed and intense. "Our guards will be monitoring their movements, but we must come up with a plan in how we will protect our people and minimize the number of our casualties.
The doors suddenly burst open and a breathless gatekeeper bowed before King Axel. "Pardon the intrusion, Your Highness, I have urgent news."
King Axel's eyes fluttered in impatience. "Skip the formality and tell me."
The guard swallowed as his voice shook. "The main gate has been breached-the villages nearby are under attack!"
The room filled with one large, collective gasp; General Orion's fist struck the table with a force that seemed like thunder itself. "What did you say?!"
King Axel raised a hand to stay his men. "Orion, hold your fire. Now," he turned to the guard once more, "can you give us an estimate of their strength?"
The guard nodded, his voice tight. "No more than fifty, but… they're not like regular soldiers. They're something… else. It's as if their sanity has been scooped out, leaving only madness."
King Axel's face clouded over, and steel crept into his voice. "Pass word to the captain. Evacuate civilians from the affected areas at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty." In a flash, the guard was gone. Generals Darius and Orion rose to their feet, stalwart, ready to withstand the storm that would soon behead them.
"Prepare for battle," King Axel commanded, releasing the generals.
Dismissed, Drake now turned to King Axel; his eyes reflected a flicker of bewilderment. "But you still haven't told me why you needed me here."
King Axels' face fell, shadows lacing around his eyes. A slight dribble of blood escaped his lips as he wiped it away with his hand and exhaled a sigh. "Drake… I have a selfish request. Once I'm no longer in this world, please. take care of my daughter for me. She is rash, and without me, she might get hurt doing something unnecessary."
Drake's jaw worked, the weight of the request settling over him. "I cannot promise to protect her against everything. I could only handle those Frost Lions because of luck….
"I do not ask you to be her guard," King Axel reassured him, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Only keep her from recklessness.