YEAR 1658 A.C.E
"I was floating underwater, no… in a pool of blood, I was drowning for the first time in eight hundred years during the great world war X. At my left I saw fire, at my right I saw darkness… it was like staring into complete void, above me at the surface of the pool of blood, I saw light.
What was that… no… who is that? Who is that I see at the light source, is it me, is that me… Oh yeah it is just the me that died eight centuries ago, the me who was acknowledge and needed by someone, the me who could feel… Oh how lame I was… I wonder if he would accept me… wait… what is he doing… no, no, no… why is he stretching his hands towards me… is that what they call a hand shake a sign of acknowledgement and agreement… does this mean he acknowledges me". I swam towards him to shake his hands, at the moment I was a bit close to him, about emerging out of the water, I was pulled back down into the pool of blood… "Who was that pulling… oh it's just me again… myself who wanted to be needed by someone, myself who wanted to feel… if those were my personalities… then who am I?
YEAR 849 A.C.E
Sebastian a young boy was born into an era of war, when he was growing up, the war was more than ten years before he was born. Children at the age of five were recruited to get trained for war. In this era, children at the age of ten were already murderers. Sebastian was also recruited.
Lucky for him his mother is an empress, but that never changed the fact that he had to be recruited even though he was mother's only child, she still made him train ten times harder than the rest of his age mates.
Sebastian had gone through two years of intensive training when his mother in the act of the will to save her people from annihilation volunteered herself to travel wide and seek for a great weapon which would give them an upper hand against their rivals, for they had lost almost everything, the enemy was at an upper hand. One lives in a world where people possessed supernatural powers, according to legends, it was said that it was caused by a man who changed man's way of life after he put together some kind of crystal or something. Now some varieties of people could live for more than 5000 years.
THE 'X' DOMAIN...
"I cannot let my people perish, I can't let them go silently into the night" Elizabeth said (the Empress of Arcadia).
"And we can't let you join the fight, for you are a more powerful being, and they have others like you even more powerful and they know bringing people like you to battlefield will lead to the annihilation of both characters at war. You are the empress, if they take you out, we've lost" Ancient X no. 1 said.
"Do not underestimate the power of her clan, they have one of the most prominent control of Xen, when their names are mentioned, it gets people trembling on their knees" Ancient X no. 2 said.
"I can't just let my people perish, we've only got a thousand and seventy-nine soldiers left and they've got times seven of them" Elizabeth replied trying to restrain an inner grudge.
Ancient no. 3 then replied "Nonsense, military force doesn't all depends on how much they are, but by how much boulder individual soldiers can crumble".
"Trust us, we will have an upper hand, we can still win, we always do" Ancient no. 2 added. Elizabeth loses it and said...
"With all due respect, you X's haven't even learnt anything since all your lives, you claimed you've lived thousands of years but you are still foolish, your actions are stupid and absurd"
Ancient X no.7 feeling insulted and annoyed responded...
"How dare you insult our presence, we can wipe you out with a piece of our hair" he makes an attempt to stand up with a bit of rising rage.
"Silence" the Ancient X no. 1 said "this mortal knows not what we are, Eliza, we acknowledge your intense care for your people, but with your actions in mind… you will come crawling back to us in agony and regrets. Let me tell you something, we've heard rumors about a powerful weapon that was left over by the founder, we heard it enhances the physical abilities of a Xenian, find the weapon, study it carefully, surrounding yourself with no one, a peaceful place you shall be found until you have known everything about it because such deadly weapon can't be used with little knowledge of our time of technological advancement, as it is prone to potential explosion that could wipe out an entire kingdom and even kill its vessel, that's why you need a place free from distractions from the outside world, not a war ground with series of explosions… BOOM, a loud explosion from distance… like that one. Do not return until you've found and studied the weapon. It's located at North fifty degrees east from the middle of Atlantic Ocean at a distance of a hundred and fifty miles from where he first crashed. Be careful on your journey"
"now dismiss" Ancient no.1 said... as some kind of creature around the corners plays two large cymbals against each other.
The empress walked out of the X's domain in anger saying to herself...
"I can wipe the enemy out, forcing them to surrender and they keep limiting me". Her seven years old son runs to her like being chased, shouting
"mother… mother" he shouted.
"I've been looking for you, all over the palace, I checked the garden you weren't there, the garden inside the garden, you weren't there either". Elizabeth cuts in, as they walked down the walkway outdoors saying...
"Son, I told you before, that is also part of the garden, it contains nursery ornamental plants".
"But why does it have that heading there saying garden and having it quite separated from the rest".
"Sebastian, I placed that sign because of you, because of this same thing, it is part of the garden" she said...
Sebastian stares at the sky thinking of the whole fact that he still finds it controverting, he then stops and said with a hyperactive aura…
"Well I checked the kennels, the stables, oh the pool…"
"Okay you found me son, what do you want to tell me?" she cuts in.
"I just wanted to tell you I was back from training" he said
"So, what did you learn?"
"I learnt this" he then raises his pinky finger and it brought out flame.
"You see mom I can't be in the dark anymore, once I find myself in that bizarre part of those bushes, bam! And there's light. When I learnt it, the kids in the room were like wow, how can he do that?"
Elizabeth looks at him trying not to give him an angry disappointing stare…
"Son, what grade were those kids?" She asked…
"They were grade one" he said with a low toned voice in diminished initial aura...
"Listen Sebastian, you're my special boy, you are meant for huge adventures that truly unites your fate, grade one kids will always be like wow when they see you do basic stuff like that and making them amused is not going to make you stronger, you've got to make your mates and seniors amazed. You should turn your flames from this…
(she lights up her pinky finger), into this...
(she then lights up a floating flame over her palm) and then this...
(she flings the flames into the fire lamps on the pillar one by one, lighting up the hallway) and that is why I subjected you to a more intensive training than your mates".
Syncing with the speed of sound, as gentle as the whirling wind, as quiet as a stalking predator, a man suddenly appears by their side as they walk down the hallway. To the sights of an ordinary observer, he looked like he appeared from nowhere, but for those that see beyond, well he ran.
He was a messenger dressed like the medieval soldiers, heavily armored with light rigid metal, a metal that tends to limit its weight but at the same time being rigid, giving a better option to be used as an armor to allow for the free movement of fighters during combats.
Messengers had to be protected with armor and possess good prowess in both obtaining intels (secret information) and regular but tough combat skills, as they are considered very important group.
He says "your highness" Elizabeth responds "what soldier".
"The commander… he's gone" he said.
"what do you mean he's gone" she said, giving the looks of her face filled with surprise… "He was killed at the war front… he inflicted a great damage to the enemy, I am sorry"
"its fine" (she spoke softly trying to hide her emotions, it couldn't help she was sometimes described as a woman with deadly anger tantrum, she had slight temper issues characterized with loosing something or someone that she cherished, she has a reputation of having a strong grip to her close folks, you mess with them, she trashes you.
She then attempts to punch and chatter a pillar in the act of instant displacement of anger, but she sights her son still standing there, then she stops, tightening her fist with her fingers tearing through her palm, causing her to bleed, she didn't possess claws, just brute strength)
"Your highness" the messenger said, seeing her bleeding, thereby shifting backwards to avoid getting hit, due to notorious eventual occurrence.
"I said it's fine" she said as tears drips out of her eyes, she then wipes up her tears quickly before she was noticed.
Sebastian noticed her and said to himself "I've never seen mother crying, all she does is yell, and sometimes renders the messenger disabled, afterwards staying close to the healing messenger in the hospital, rendering so much apologies, that last for months" Elizabeth stares at Sabastian and smiles softly…
"In spite of her anger display, she still cares so much for her people"
"Sabastian" she calls...
"yes mother" Sabastian answers…
"why are you staring at me like that?"
"Oh nothing".
As Elizabeth intended to give the messenger a dismiss sign, a pigeon flies towards them, then perching on the messenger's hand with a scroll about the size of a pinky finger, attached to the lower leg of the pigeon, tied and looped with a red cloth. They make use of different cloth having diverse significance to deliver intels across distance.
There's an entire color combination they make use of depending on the nature of the information, there's one combination for internal communication as this particular civilization of the main headquarter of Arcadia spams across miles, and another for long distance communication, ranging from the moment you step out of the large gate of Arcadia, this way of communication isn't to be disclosed with outsiders, this is so because, once one knows the inside, he/she will therefore give a wrong interpretation to when the pigeon is seen outside, this allows the transfer of important intels in a secret and more formal way.
So, this time the red cloth signified danger, or an intense situation that may be life threatening. Outside the red signifies anything relating to importation, and exportation of goods.
The messenger opens the scroll and it says… "The attention of the empress is needed urgently".
There were some deadly deals and issues that needed the empress immediate attention or some certain civilians held hostage would be killed.
Till now nobody knew the actual cause of the war, but the basic thing everybody knew was that the rival neighboring empire attacked first and second time taking thousands of innocent lives including soldiers, children, none fighters… springing to an outrageous, brutal presence of war, people being ambushed on their intended quest for a peaceful travel… the rival still have no idea on the grass root of the cause, but due to past disagreements, well let's go for it is the case.
The actual cause of the war still now remains a mystery worth a thousand years old still to be uncovered by who seeks and quests for answers, this has several involvements with ancient kingdoms, deities and even large empires, from the long-lost past, all you could conclude is… this is an accumulated grudge…
"Stay here, Sabastian, I need you, go practice what I had taught you, I will be back" Elizabeth said as she bends a portal open from nothing, that wasn't transparent to other observer and steps into it with the messenger.
THE NEXT DAY…
There was a colossal amount of smoke emitting from large piles of woods being burnt, those that were lost the other day were being burnt, at list the one's body recovered… Elizabeth stands as the lead, in the front of a sort of private press meeting representing the entire people of Arcadia, they were fifty-six in number and she was giving a speech. They call this private press representative The Press Table, they are ranked from the 50s down to the top 10s. Several highly ranked soldiers were gathered behind her all coated in a black armor. There was a maid, coated in white garment by her side, in her hand was a pouch filled with diamond, she suspends it steady, a bit below her breast, placing both hands on it.
"These are the lives lost yesterday, some of them were our friends, families, our loved ones, tribute to them all, who put their lives in the line for a peaceful dawn, tribute to those that we love that are no more, may they rest in peace in the afterlife, may we meet again" Elizabeth then turns to the maid and took a piece of diamond in all were about the size of her finger tip. She places it in her right-hand palm at the middle and then, she squeezes it, enclosing it in her palm as it emits a bright light, bright enough to light up an entire room. She then opens her palm blowing bright saw dust, spreading it at the top of the burning ashes, including the wood and corpses of those people.
"As the leader of this land, I announce my departure to an unknown land to find a great weapon that will hit the enemy to the core and bring them to surrender. Commander Lee was from the Red knight team, for now the commander from the Dove knight team, would serve for both" Elizabeth stops took a deep breath and continues…
"At my return, it will be a return of peace, hopefully we could forget our painful past and reunite with our long rivals, and be one again as we were in two millenniums long in the past, we would end this mass slaughter and…" an angry man from the press then cuts in, yelling out…
"Coward, enough with your melancholic speech, you are running away, leaving us here to die, this is what we call a slow profounding withdrawer, they withdraw slowly to surrender, if you care about your people, why don't you go to the battlefield and wipe out their towns, their armies, by yourself since you were left with lord Sylvester's powers than rather let children get slaughtered on battlefields".
"How dare you speak to the Empress in that manner, you want your tongues stretched to the peak and used as a suspension for your body, you have no respect" said one the guarding soldier…
"Back down soldier" … Elizabeth said referring to the raging soldier and then turns to the man from the crowd in the hall-like gathering…
"Youngster, you're right, I am gifted with the strength to do those great things, but I have superior authorities, whose command I must obey… here is a coward standing in front of a brave youngster like you, making decisions as priceless as diamond and as fragile as a shell, they are sacrifices that are needed for a peace reign, our enemies…" A woman cuts in from the gathering…
"You mad woman, you made kids murderers, children are dying at the forefront of war, you see…" (she switches to a yelling tone, giving an outburst of tears and agony)
"I lost my two kids during those attacks yesterday, and also some of us and you climb up here saying, you're leaving like a coward, this is bullshit" then another from the press added almost simultaneously
"this is madness" … and they began ranting, some murmuring, some Whispered, at some point it felt like a dark aura of evil and clear resentment, was posing its presence around.
The Empress folds her fist in rage, her vein pops up, then she replied in anger saying… "Haven't I done enough for you all, before the war we were all working like sloths but eating like lions, we had surplus, and you all seemed to acknowledge it, I treated everyone as family, avoided executions of crimes punishable by death, giving everyone second chances for corrections, now in the difficult times, you all seem to loose bound the bonds forged, causing internal disunity, in this difficult times we need each other's backs, support one another, I am not backing down, I am rising with the force of our predecessors, trust me on this one, like you always have…" For a few seconds this speech seemed to have calmed them down until a man speaks out…
"Your highness, you know the best way to solve this, let us surrender to the enemy than rather perish, at list we get to live and not going extinct" The gathering mutters… "That's a good idea, at least we survive" a woman chants from the gathering
"Yeah, at list we survive… at list we survive… at least we survive" and the press of fifty-six chanted along.
The Empress steps down in anger departing from their presence, as they all continued chanting again and again… her guards followed her.
"These people are crazy, they are the true cowards" said one of the guard.
"yeah, you're right… (she laughs softly) well I am going to drop the Press High Table by seventy percent".
SIX HOURS LATER…
The top twenty most highly ranked people of Arcadia major headquarter which includes Xenians and non-Xenians (normal humans with no supernatural abilities), fighters and non-fighters (obviously soldiers or warriors), were seated round the table eating as they talked business, they were having a crucial meeting with Empress Elizabeth.
"I have gathered you all here to tell you about my departure, I know you all have heard" Elizabeth said as they replied... "yes, your highness".
"Very well, during my absence I shall be visiting I presume twice a year and I shall stay for close to thirty days…" she takes a few breathing cycles and then continued…
"The game of chess was invented for strategy development, manipulation and control of the board, fusing into reality the battlefield, in other words it was made for war purposes, it consists of The Pawns, The Bishops… The Knights… The Rooks… The Queen… and The King.
Us decision makers, we make drastic application of the concept of chess, navigating the battlefield is like navigating the board of chess, with an exception that the pawns are living and their lives are important to us. In reality we engage this game with a ratio… a ratio of reality… and that's how we strive through wars… as one of our qualification of being a commander of a region, this test of cognitive thinking is given to the fellows who aspire to become a commander.
Commander Christine from the Red Knight team shall therefore be the one to take my place as an acting-Empress, her being one of my assistants and also the top player in the game of chess and plays crucial roles in decision making… although she is not here with us, as we all know her, she is always training… assisting her would be sergeant Lugard from the Violet Knight team… please Sergeant Lugard signify yourself by standing up" Lugard then took a stand…
"We shall be recruiting soldiers from other regions under this empire, which are far away to join us for the fight…" Elizabeth said gasping alongside.
"This was the X's order right, your highness" Amon said one of the High Table attendants.
"Yes Amon, it was, I am to go look for a weapon that will help end this war, is every one cool with my choice of representatives" Elizabeth said and the Table replied… "Yes, your highness" Simone one of the female High Table attendant then said raising her left hand…
"Your highness, if this becomes too unbearable, we should break free from the X's control, our trust has begun to wax cold" Elizabeth looked at her, having a disappointed look as she sighed therefore replying saying…
"I agree with you Simone, we shall talk about that after the war, no one has ever trusted the X's, meanwhile, we should focus on breaking free from the agony, the X's has guided us in the past through victory in some past conflict…" She continued
"Now this weapon is no ordinary weapon, and that is why I need some space during my time of quest, there should be no one from any Sensory team come looking for me or any team at all, I need all army force devoted to surviving this war, as this thing may hurt them, although I may have not made any sight of it, but it is some form of technology left by the founder. I was trained to decode most form of codes and pattern, under a short time, so I would be devoting all my time to this. You know it was recommended by the X's so it is definitely dangerous. I need you all to fight for one another, never leave your comrade behind… we must not surrender, surrendering means we are weak, surrendering means, commander Lee, our friends, families lost in battle all died for nothing, it means our sacrifices are waste…" she yells as she speaks out her last statement before sighing taking a gentle breath.
"We must understand, we've come too far to surrender… now dismiss" They all disconnected their mind from the front, while some finished their meal, some didn't lay a finger on it, some left it half way, the presumed hungry ones cleansed their dish… it was a custom they adopted during their crucial meetings; there's a glass of water by their sides, the meal is served in a luxurious manner, not excessive, but enough to get them comfortable and be able to remain calm during the gathering, free from all outer overwhelming thoughts, so they divert all their attention from outside to the meeting.
While High Table members dismissed from the scene, Sebastian walked in to the hall comprising of wooden chairs arranged in a form like an array, both left and right leaving a center for walk way, and a circular large table with an opening omitting a segment of arc for entrance for those who would love to speak to the High Table all from the center, this is what they made use of with the Empress sitting at the very center, opposite the main entrance, the chairs were for other reasons. Sebastian had just woken up from sleep, it was an hour before midnight, he walked slowly towards his mom through the long distance of the hall, he was sweating and slightly panting, he looked stressed out and troubled, while he walked down towards his mom whom seemed to be speaking to one of the High Table members and completely devoted to the conversation and didn't notice Sebastian, his head was lowered, staring at the laces of his shoes, as he walked, he was quiet, he muttered unknown words to himself that sounded like nonsense, his eyes were still so focused on his shoes, finally he reached Elizabeth… she then noticed him, telling the member that they would talk some other time. She then rushes down to Sebastian going almost on her knees like she squatted to suite the height of her son.
"What is it son" she said…
"Why are you awake"
The moment she touched Sebastian she froze for like a second, immediately tears dripped out of her eyes, as she tried to maintain a straight look, it was as if she just experienced or remembered something in that split second, she wasn't sure but she felt something, something overwhelming when she touched Sebastian. She then opened her mouth trying to say something as she stammers…
"A… are… are… u…"
intending to complete the statement "are you okay" Sebastian then cuts in saying…
"Mother, you are leaving?" he asked.
Elizabeth then went away with that feeling thinking it could just be some sort of dispensable feeling… she then replied… "What are you doing here, you're supposed to be in bed, go to bed son" …
"Mother, I'm scared" Sebastian said still staring at his shoes.
"Don't be such a baby, you're scared of the dark" Elizabeth said feeling relief base on her initial assumption.
"No mom, what if you don't make it, or maybe we all perish before your return, what if…" Elizabeth then cuts in… "Sebastian don't say that, okay, don't say such a thing, we are all going to be fine… you remember the story I told you about how peaceful and pure Arcadia and the rest of the world was like before this all started the story that made you cry out having you saying that you've never experience a peaceful reality and you've been born into an era of war, on my final return we shall end this war and Arcadia would be once like that again and you shall then experience freedom for the first time, we all will too, and it shall remain that way"…
"Mom, I've been having this dream… mom don't go, don't leave me, stay, stay with me"
Sebastian said bursting into tears hugging his mother, as he cries on her shoulder;
"Sebastian, I would always be with you, stop crying, be strong, you don't stare deeply at your past and let it overwhelm you, you use it to make amendments, you learn from it, use it to make you stronger… take this…" She then takes off the necklace always dangling on around her neck, and she puts it on Sebastian's neck
"Take this necklace, it will keep you safe, it signifies 'self', it has those symbols you always find on the wall of each lobby in the palace and sacred places of the kingdom, Fire, Darkness and Light, is the symbol, it is a symbol of peace with the mind, with this, you would always feel my presence, I would always be with you… now go to bed okay" She kisses his forehead, she stood up while holding Sebastian hand, and then she turns to the opposite direction as a guard came by to escort Sebastian to his room, they both faced opposite directions, as Elizabeth slowly let's go of Sebastian's hand, this moment painted this scene, of like a scenario where two friends walks away from each other, going their separate ways, never to see each other again.
They went their separate ways, as a cold chilling wind blows through the wooden windows left ajar therefore opening them wide, as Elizabeth walks away, tears drips out of her eyes, same as Sebastian, the wind then carries the droplets of them both blowing them towards each other as they gently touched and combine into one droplet and then falls slowly to the floor as the wind slips away.
COMMANDER CHRISTINE'S TRAINING DORMITORY… This was some kind of simulation created by one of the Xenian soldier, a Xenian that possesses the ability to reform reality, being able to create realistic scene that tricks the observer to thinking it is actually real, he can turn an entire room into a pool of lava, and you would think you are actually burning… making it a very deadly ability that few Xenians possess… This simulation was displaying a battlefield with corpse scattered around, explosions everywhere, showing how devastating Xenians fight can be… there were boulders being torn apart, displacement of concentrated Xenic energy large enough render a forest free from its vegetation, blasted towards each rivals from both parties, you could see flashes of light emitted from those moving at speed normal humans couldn't experience, flinging swords and other weapon so fast… in reality when this particular phase of war subsidizes, they would have to look for a new land to express their violence.
Back in reality, they were all just in Commander Christine's training room sitting on a mat, taking a posture for meditation, those that were hurt severely in the simulation but still intend to stay, the side effect comes by causing them to bleed from the nose, ear, and sometimes their eyes, this doesn't mean that if you die in the simulation, you die in reality, that depends on the intention of who applies the illusion.
In this instance on easy mode the soldier sets it to one waking up whether you like it or not, when you die, but if you intend to stay, you bleed, and have a bit of headache.
The soldiers taking this training are those that have the ability to withstand those side effects and possess the ability to regenerate and heal, as not all Xenians have the ability to regenerate… and also, they are trained to also find their way out if ever trapped in a simulation created by an enemy if worse probably escape with a good level of sanity, well that is if the caster allows it…
"Commander Christine" said the messenger "The Empress wants to see you" the messenger concluded.
"Alright soldiers that's all for now… Jordan, you can stop the simulation" Christine said referring to the guy that does simulation and somehow kind of a psychic, Jordan obviously is his name.
"Yes ma'am" Jordan replied.
"Don't call me that"
"Understood ma'am… I mean commander"
While they were still on the mat, in the simulant world the whole entire reality came converging into his eyes as they all woke up to the real world, taking the exit with each taking some kind of sealed little jar containing some amount of glucose to revive their lost energy.
"Where is she?" she asked.
"She is on her way here".
Immediately the door opens…
"Don't you knock" She asked without thinking, as their trainings sometimes are meant to be in private.
"Oh, Christine my sweet girl" Elizabeth replied, as she opens the door slowly. "Oh, your highness, I thought it was someone else, I am really sorry" Christine apologized bowing her head down, Elizabeth then places her hand beneath her chin, slowly lifting her head up…
"Don't worry kid, just because I am the Empress, doesn't mean I should come in without knocking, my bad"
Elizabeth using the word 'kid' shouldn't give you the insight of Christine being one, she says that, because she is actually pretty old, recalling Xenians tend to live for ages, and the older they get, the stronger they become. Plus, the fact that Christine and others were grown and brought up as Elizabeth children, trained and taken care of, some from their infant some being mere average kids, while some being adolescents. Most of them being war orphans. Elizabeth from the people she knows, she always forms this close circle relationship with them including the people of Arcadia, before the war, she plays with their children, somehow free with them.
"I came to tell you about my departure, since you were not part of the meeting, but I believe you've already heard, and probably know why" she asked…
"Yes, your highness" Christine replied…
"But what you don't know is, on my absence, you will take my place and be an acting Empress"
"Why me, how are am I worthy of that position, I am only a commander…" Elizabeth cuts in
"… and my assistant, remember?"
"Yeah"
"And what do assistance or vice do on the absence of the head?"
"They take over" Christine replied...
"Don't worry, you are not made an Emperor or Empress without those coronations and besides, you are the only one I can count on"
"Yes, your highness" "Please call me Eliza when we are alone, 'your highness' is becoming too much of a cliché, it sounds like you are an engine programmed to say those specific words"
"Alright, will do Eliza" Christine said… "Don't… don't say it like that, you know what, just keep it the same and simple, okay?"
A WEEK LATER…
Empress Elizabeth, sergeant Lugard and Commander Christine were all standing at the exit point of Arcadia, where an eight-feet gate, nine-feet wide was left ajar, this exit point was only used by the Emperor or Empress, not very often, so it is kind of unkept, having vines covering it… "My departure should not be spoken to anymore, it should not be mentioned to our people… on my arrival, it shall be unannounced to no one, I have told them once, I'm not going to repeat myself again, this is so, to keep the news dead down, away from potential traitors. Ever since the war, I reduced my presence to the outside world and even the civilian's residence, so I would be almost unnoticeable" "Sure, your highness" Lugard said…
"I know this is not the best choice to make, leaving my people behind in the presence of war, what if they were attacked, what am I doing?"
"It might just be the only way, we need to act quickly on what we have before it is too late. You can count on us to keep the dorm safe. Thanks to commander Lee, before he died he made a big hole to the enemy opening us to more opportunities that could buy us some time before you resume fully after your travels, may he rest in peace" Christine said.
"Lord Sylvester once quoted, it is better to die fighting… than to die sitting back letting the rivals attack and pushing towards the edge of annihilation" Lugard said as Elizabeth repeated simultaneously the last part of the statement together with him.
"Sylvester…"
Elizabeth said staring at the ring she has on her left finger, immediately before the pinky… on hearing that quote, she felt a nostalgic grip within, a little bit of sadness, as she tried not to go emotional.
"I miss him so much…" she took a pause for like ten seconds while the cold wind blew by…
"Alright my friends it is time" Sebastian then replied… "Mom, don't leave me behind, I want to come with you" Sebastian said staring so desperately at Elizabeth…
"No son, it is too dangerous, I can't underestimate the weapon, I won't make that mistake again"
"what if…"
Sebastian said attempting to complete his statement as Elizabeth cuts in
"No, no, no, no…, not that, don't say so, I will return, alright, I will come back for you, I'll come back for all of you, remember the necklace I gave you, with that I would always be with you, I love you son, so see you when I return back…"
"Psst, sergeant" she calls on Lugard and he replies…
"Yes, your highness" "Please keep Sabastian safe, protect him okay, you're his uncle, you appear to be the closest person to him, you know him more than anyone, please keep him safe"
"Okay" Lugard replied
"Thank you… I need to go now, when I am back victory will be ours" Elizabeth said.
She then walked some distance away from them, to the point when her voice became completely vague, then she turned her back looking back at Arcadia, staring deeply at it, as she sows through viewing everything from within as she sees through all walls, all obstacles, then she smirked, and then waved Sebastian, Lugard and Christine goodbye, then she suddenly vanished with a superhuman speed.
There were three most trustworthy fellows that witnessed my departure that night, my son, Commander Christine and Sergeant Lugurd. They were fellows I usually sit with under a tree shade, drinking, laughing, until we get exhausted, falling asleep, Lugard being my stepbrother… Christine a marvelous daughter and Sebastian my little boy… I hope to see them all again on all my arrivals"