...
Imperial Palace
Bodies littered the floor as blood polluted the once immaculate marble grounds.
The Imperial Knights, in their iron-forged armor, walked the halls. The clanking of metal reverberated between the walls as the thousands of them moved in unison.
Each step stole countless lives: maids, servants, royal guards, and bureaucrats. None of which were spared the mercy of death.
"General, have this… mess… cleaned up"
"Yes, your majesty." He said, leaving to order a squadron of soldiers.
The blonde, slim beauty; front and center; strode past the dead servants who used to serve her.
Seeing a familiar face, she halted; the knights following imitated immediately after.
"...Maria… I'm sorry you had to go," She whispered as she closed the maid's fearful eyes, remembering how she drew her a bath the night prior.
"But such is the game of politics."
The Empress rose, dusting her dress, and continued onward to her destination- the throne room.
Imperial Throne Room
A middle-aged man, with blonde hair and purple eyes, sat on the mighty throne. He wore clothes befitting his station, the Baharuth Emperor, yet his face wore a grim expression: darkness.
Another middle-aged man, donned in pristine golden armor, stood next to the Emperor's throne. They were relatively similar in appearance, except for his blue eyes.
He was the Captain of the Royal Earth Guard; Imperial knights who were under the Emperor's direct order.
Though the doors to the throne room were shut, it prevented anyone from eavesdropping; but the cries and pleads failed to be repelled.
He knew his time had come.
"Your majesty, it isn't too late to flee. If we take the-"
"No!" The Emperor rebuked the man. "I'm sorry, Rubin. Forgive my outburst."
"N-no, no, you don't have to apologize." The Captain replied.
The Emperor rubbed his sweat-laced forehead, praying to the gods-any god if there was one-that his last order to be carried out flawlessly, for the fate of the Empire rested on it.
"Sigh, If we do take the secret tunnels, we could escape. But an Emperor who flees in the face of tragedy isn't deserving of that title,"
Rubin-who knew the Emperor since they were kids-only had respect for the man on the throne.
"...It's just hard to believe, she would go this far."
"Yes, it is. I'd never thought her majesty would stoop this low."
"Such is the game of politics, huh." said the Emperor. "She used to always say that. I just hope he doesn't pick up after his mother."
Rubin's eyes lit with understanding.
"So that's why…" he murmured.
"You don't have to stay with me. I know you have a kid too."
The golden armor, for just a second, looked more proud. "I am the Captain, who swore to protect you with my life. What kind of example would I set for my boy, if I were to flee?"
"Haha, you were always like this. You and you're morales," The Emperor said. "Sometimes, it's better to abandon pride and live another day,"
He pulled out a bottle of exquisite wine, opening it, and pouring two glasses; handing one to his friend.
"But I can see you're not turning down, are you."
"Who? Me? You know me so well!" Rubin joked.
"Hahaha, Then you should know me well too." The Emperor raised his glass, for one last toast. "To a lifetime together."
"To a lifetime together." Rubin replied.
The two men drank their wine, waiting for the inevitable.
Imperial Palace
"Jii, where are we going?" a groggy young boy asked. He was no older than 12, but his purple eyes couldn't be mistaken.
"Young Jir, a lot has happened in the past hours you were asleep," The old, bearded man replied. "But all you need to know is that your mother has betrayed the Empire."
Despite his appearance, the man was well-known throughout all the lands, giving him the title: Tri Arts Magic Caster.
Fluder Paradyne, the tri arts magic caster, was escorting the young boy through the hidden underground tunnels.
Jircniv gripped the father figure's hand tighter.
"What do you mean? I don't get it."
Fluder bent down, looking the boy in the eyes, and patted his head. "I'll be blunt. Right now, the Empress staged a coup d'état and is currently working with the nobles to overthrow your father."
The old man pitied the boy; his ghastly face no kid should show.
"M-mother wouldn't…"
"Young Jir, whether you believe it or not doesn't make it any less true. Which is why we must hurry," Fluder said, picking up the pace. "The quicker we get our of range, the quicker I can teleport you to a safe place and return to help the Emperor."
For a young boy, he showed promise. His face filled with determination and the haziness of sleep faded. Kicking off his shoes, and rolling up his pants, Jircniv ran.
Faster than he had ever run.
The duo traversed the historic pathways, taking many turns, to finally reach the light.
As they stepped out, the young boy noted the stone walls; feeling the texture with his palm.
"It's wet?"
"Mmm. It is the sewers after all," said Fluder. "There! I see a staircase!"
The light descended as they climbed the stairs, finding themselves at the outermost-edge of the palace floor. The fires and stench failed to be contained; and the young heir, for the first time, felt his heart twist.
So many… dead…
His gritted teeth seethed with fury. If he was older, he would've charged into the fray-even if he knew he would die.
Mother… Mother did this… Mother caused this…
The inner dragon, dormant inside, awakened. And his amethyst eyes burned red. But-
"Calm down young Jir, now's not the time for rash decisions."
The father-like tone, and calming hand pressed against his shoulder, brought the young heir to reality.
I-I'll be back. I promise I'll come back. And I'll right these wrongs when I'm the Emperor. He told himself.
Wiping his eyes, he turned around to face Fluder.
"Jii, let's go." said Jircniv.
"Mm." the old man gave a nod of approval and channeled his mana into a spell.
"[Teleportation]"
In that instant, they were no longer surrounded by chaos.
Plains
Fluder teleported to an open scenery of nature. He had been here before, and he knew it was quite safe. But-
There were no structures.
Nothing but an endless row of grass could escape the eye.
"Where are we?" the young heir asked.
"Somewhere safe, for now."
Jircniv bathed in the peace he found himself in- the complete contrast to the moment prior- and he felt the rage inside slowly sink. He would have ran freely in the flowers, but the circumstances prevented him from finding that child-like joy.
"[Fly]" Fluder called out.
"You'll be fine here if you don't travel far," the man said. "I'll scout the area for any monsters, and then I'll take my leave."
Fluder began to rise into the star-filled sky.
"You're going to save my father now, right?" the young boy asked. Hope leaked from his eyes as he gazed upon the strongest mage in history.
"I'll do my best. But he requested I prioritize you first." Fluder said; and flew off, leaving the young master behind.
Father, hold on a little longer.
Jircniv knew who Fluder was- everyone did. He was the only human known in history to reach the 6th tier. Nobody could compete with him in a fight, and certainly not the Imperial knights.
Wanting an escape, Jircniv closed his eyes as he lay in the grass; hoping that when he opened his eys, everything would return to the way it was.
"Still here, huh."
I guess this is the reality now. Where do I go? What do I do? He thought.
Searching the boundless waves of nature, he decided.
As long as I don't go too far, I should be fine.
Picking himself up, Jircniv began walking in a random direction.
One minute…
Two minutes…
Five minutes…
Time passed by, and the scenery remained the same. He walked, he ran, he skipped. He did everything to be entertained, yet for all he traveled, the grass always surrounded him. Then-
"Gruuuh"
He placed his hands on his grumbling stomach.
I guess I should find something to eat. But what exactly can I eat?
His eyes shifted to the ground below- luscious greenery.
"Ahh noo! I'm not a goat!" he complained. He may be desperate right now, but he was still part of the Imperial family; the heir to be precise.
"Gruuuh"
Another grumble roared, and his stomach sank into hunger.
Well, it is edible... And it would only be one time… It's not like I'll make a habit of this…
"Aaarhhh! Fineee!" He yelled, pulling at his hair.
Jircniv bent down to sit, and he began picking the grass to eat.
His clothes were torn, and he looked a mess. But what else would you expect from someone dragged out of bed in the middle of the night?
Still, he showed the years of practice he had in the upper-class.
Jircniv looked through each strand of grass; examining it. He surely wasn't going to eat one if it had dirt, or was rotting.
After he sifted through, and found a bundle of 'good grass', he threw out the bad ones into the air; and he began his snack.
Not the best. But it's not as bad as I thought.
He watched the stars twinkle as he ate.
Beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful.
Gazing at the sky, he saw many miracles he had never seen before. Flashes and traces left marks in the night, as the stars danced a show just for him.
"It sure is peaceful." he whispered. Tracing over the hems of his clothes, he knew he was gripping onto the last remanents he'll ever own from his childhood.
If only...
Amidst the calm he got lost in, a dreaded wind rushed through the atmosphere; sending a chill of goosebumps up his spine.
"What-" he started to say- but it was cut off by the wave of terror.
Jircniv jumped up to get a better look, but his height prevented him from seeing it all; however, he saw enough to understand.
A sea of black crashed onto the shores of peace he was stranded on.
First, it was the lining trees, then it was the grass. It all bled black.
A wave rushed out from the forest lining and unleashed dread; taking all the life it consumed.
He watched for a while, as the plains died; but then he thought:
It's coming here! It's coming this way!
Panic coursed through his veins as the thought of withering placed a seed of fear into his chest.
Run! Run! Run! He yelled at himself.
But he couldn't find the strength to move.
Why can't I move!?
Frozen in place, the young master could only watch as the line of death passed him by, consuming him to darkness.
Imperial Throne Room
"It's finally done, your majesty." Bouldor said. He was the General of the Imperial Army's 5th legion.
"Hmph! You got some blood on my dress." The Empress lamented. She stepped up to the throne, where her husband sat- headless.
She took his body and rolled it across the floor like his head had done prior.
Taking her seat, she breathed a long and heavy breath.
"It's over. It took quite some time, but it's finally done." said the Empress. "Kukuku it feels better than I imagined."
Her subjects, and aides, who assisted her all knelt down in servitude; except one man, who held a bloodied sword and stood next to the throne where she sat.
"Now presenting, the new monarch of the Baharuth Empire, her majesty, Empress Rosaline Irlan Chev Hosier. If there are any objections, do say so now." he said.
Nobody moved.
"Very well, thank you Rubin." said the Empress. "Then if there are no objections, my former house, the Hosier family, will become the new royal bloodline. The rein of Nix is now over!"
Cheers and laughter filled the air as the palace celebrated the birth of a new era- except the Empress.
She wore a forbidding expression as her aide whispered those ill-fated lines into her ear again.
"So he lives." she muttered to herself and walked out.
...