HOORAY A NEW CHAPTER! Thank you guys for your reviews. Love getting those. As always I don't own anyting WKC related except for Eredos. ENJOY!
Leonard POV
It was the day after the attack. The whole kingdom was silent. Everywhere you go, people were depressed and just barely recovering. After an attack like that, the death of two of the most powerful figures in the world, and the high number of casualties would leave a huge impact here. I walked through the silent kingdom, seeing all the damage that was left behind, and I would understand why everyone was like this. Yesterday was a day where everyone was supposed to celebrate. The whole kingdom was having fun and it all went up in smoke. Yulie and I walked past all families mourning over their loved ones. Yulie grabbed onto my arm, her hand shaking as we see everyone grieving.
"So many deaths." Yulie tightened her grip on my arm
"No one saw this coming." I replied "There's nothing we can do now. Just standing here won't solve anything."
"You're right, but still I don't think anyone will recover from this."
"So much has happened in so little time."
"How do you think Eredos is doing?"
"He's a tough guy. I think he'll be fine."
Flashback
Yesterday near the Gates of Balandor's Castle
The fiery monster and I continued to clash outside the castle. That last punch must've knocked off some of the armor off it. Its head has a crack on its mask and the armor on its stomach and legs were gone. Smoke was coming out of the cannons. I guess the fall caused it to break. My sword should be capable of doing some damage now. I swung my sword and was only able to hit its leg. I heard it yell out in pain as the blood started to drip down its leg. Even with the damaged leg, it still had a lot of fight left in it. With its damaged leg and broken cannon, all I could do was charge at me. It wasn't as strong as the previous attempts. I can't let this go to waste. I grabbed it by its horns and lifted them high to reveal his unarmored stomach. With just one swift move, I stabbed the monster right in the center of its chest. It let out a loud cry until it drew its last breath. I pulled my sword from the dead monster and watch it fall and never get up again. I feel so tired, probably from using the Knight's power too long. My vision became blurry and the next thing I knew I was back to normal.
"It's over? But how did I…? Where did I?" Was this all a dream? There's no way I could've done this.
"Leonard! Are you alright?!" I turned to see Yulie running toward me, with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah just a little tired." I felt sort of dizzy as I stood up. I probably used too much energy in that fight. Out of nowhere, she wrapped her arms around me. I didn't see this coming at all. Before I could even respond, she let me go and punch me in the arm, hard.
"OW! What was that for?!" That actually hurt! Why did she have to hit me that hard?
"For scaring me earlier! I thought you died!" Her face was red with so much tears running down her face.
I didn't know this would happen "I'm sorry. I really am. I promise I won't do it again, alright. You don't need to cry anymore."
She wiped her tears away with her sleeve and started to look around. "Where's Eredos?"
Now I think about it, where is he? We all looked around and couldn't see that guy anywhere.
"The princess isn't her either. Where did they go?" Before all of us could regroup, a loud crash came from the bailey. A giant black airship was right above us. Everyone ran toward the bailey to see where that sound came from. Once we got to the baily, the anchor was already off the ground leaving behind a small crater in the center. There was no way we could've ever get to it. Once the anchor was out of sight, the airship flew away. The guards went over to check the bodies to make sure they were dead as Yulie and I went over to the small crater. At the center of the crater laid Eredos. Yulie and I ran over to him as fast as we could. He has a couple cuts on him, but no major wounds from the look of it. He probably has some broken bones just from looking at the size of the crater. He was still breathing but the look in his eyes looked lifeless.
"Hey Eredos. You alright? What happened?" I said as kneeled down to him. By the looks of it, he's about to pass out soon.
"Cisna….she's….kidnapped…" after he spoke, he passes out on the spot. The guards came to us and carried him away. The captain of the guards came up to us soon after.
"Return to the Castle tomorrow we have much to discuss."
Present
Eredos POV
I woke up in a very strange room. I tried getting up but my body doesn't agree with me. Every time I tried to get up, I can feel pain shoot down my back. How could I not feel this yesterday? I just have to endure the pain. I looked around the room, and see wounded guards and civilians all over the place, looking in a worse shape than I am. No doctors were around us at the time, probably against doctor's orders, I got out of the room as fast as I could. The pain from just moving around is pretty bearable. I don't think I'll have any problems with this. Looks like I'm still in the castle. After walking around for so long, I found my way to the main hall of the castle. Leonard, Yulie, the old man, and a few other guys I've never seen before were meeting in the hall. Two coffins were in front of the throne, one with Balandor's flag the other with Faria's. The man in armor fell to all fours, crying his heart out in front of the two.
'It cannot be! The King cannot be dead!" He cried out. The mood was very gloomy. The death of a loved one always hurts. An older man kneeled down to the guard. He was well dressed with silver hair.
"Sir Cyrus, I share your pain, but we must accept this." The silver man said in a sincere tone "Sadly, we are the only ones who can hold this kingdom together. Think of Balandor"
"Sarvain, you do not share my pain. The King was like a father to me." Cyrus said "He cared for me since I was a child. There is no Balandor without King Valtos."
"Ours was not the only lost. Do not forget, Sir, that Archduke Dalam of Faria is also dead. It is very likely that Faria will hold Balandor accountable for the archduke's murder. Presumably the"ir governing council is still dominated by the War Faction, we must prepare the city for an almost certain invasion. Though it pains me greatly to say it, we have no time for grief." He walked away from the caskets and walked past Leonard and Yulie "For now, we have two priorities: rescue Princess Cisna and restore the kingdom. Put your sadness aside and remember, your duty as Captain of the Castleguard comes before your personal emotions." Sarvain turned to Leonard who was just sitting on the stairs. "As for the boy—Leonard, if I'm not mistaken? You hold the Knight's ark and know how to control its power. That means you have made a pact with the Knight." How does he know about pacts with the knight?
"Me? A pact?" Leonard said
"It is said that the knight is a weapon of war crafted long, long ago by our predecessors, the Ancients. In their writings, they referred to it as the Incorruptus. When the great Cataclysm seventeen years ago opened the ground, long buried ruins were uncovered. Among them was the temple in which the knight was found. We recovered it, and brought it here to the treasure vault. The King's scholars and scientists spent years studying the artifact, but for all their poking and prodding, they were never able to unlock its secrets. What we learned was that only people the knight deems worthy have the right to wield its power; these are the Knight's pactmakers. The ancient books would tell us no more than that."
Cyrus, who was already standing during Sarvain's long speech (A/N God damnit he talks too much!) yelled out "Sarvain, he's just a boy."
Leonard looked back at Cyrus "Hey… Don't ask me how I unlocked it. I just did."
"Then the Knight has chosen you, lad, and there must be a reason. But that is a question for a later time, I'm afraid. Right now, I have a far more important task to set before you. You must hurry after the Princess at once, and use the Knight's power to rescue her from her captors."
Everyone was shocked at that announcement. We all stared at Sarvain, hoping he was joking. Sure, Leonard got an upgrade, but this is still a dangerous task.
"Are you mad?!" Cyrus yelled
"Just a darned minute!" Yulie yelled as she came face to face with Sarvain "Leonard isn't part of the royal army. Why send him?"
"The circumstances demand it. The villains who attacked us are part of a group who woship the Ancients." How do they know them? "We call them Magi, because it is ancient magic they use to summon forth their vicious beasts. They are powerful, but not powerful enough to stand against your Knight!"
"So what? Solve your own problems!" Yulie yelled.
Leonard POV
I was about to stand up to say something but a voice from back came up first. "I'll take the mission."
We all turned around to see Eredos walking toward us. They said he was hurt to the point where a normal person wouldn't be able to be walk for a while and here he is just walking toward us as if nothing happened. Is he a monster or something?
"What?!" Everyone yelled.
"Young man." Sarvain said "You are in no condition to take a mission of this magnitude. You are better off going home and resting. In your condition, you can't save the Princess." He shouldn't have said that. In a flash Eredos came up to Sarvain, dagger right up to his throat. He had a sadistic smile on his face as he pressed the dagger to his throat.
"As you can see, my body is fine. Whether or not you say I can't go, I'm still going and there's no way you can ever stop me."
"Seeing as how there is no way you will not back out of this, I'm going too." I said as I came up to Eredos, who just put away his dagger.
"Leonard!" Yulie yelled right behind me.
"Someone has to keep this monster in line." Eredos punched my shoulder just for the comment.
After composing himself, Sarvain spoke "I am glad. Your kingdom will be grateful."
"Then it's settled, is it?" the old man said as he walked past us, toward the caskets "We'd best hurry. The longer we tarry here, the further away they'll get."
Sarvain just stared at him "And you are…?"
"The name's Eldore…Just a humble traveler, I can swing a sword and cast the odd spell or two. I'd wager I can be of help. Surely you weren't going to send these two by themselves?"
"Then allow me to join you." Cyrus said to Eredos
"No, impossible." Sarvain said. "Your place is in the capital. I will need you and your men to help control the populace. People are frightened; with both the King and Princess gone, you must be there to reassure them."
"And leave it to strangers to decide the Princess's fate?" Just from the tone of his voice, you could tell that he is pissed. I would be too if someone very close to me was taken away and I have to rely on others to save them for me.
"Whatever must be done. War with the Magi began the moment they beset the castle. Sir Cyrus, we must prepare to defend the realm!"
"Sarvain-!" Cyrus didn't seem too pleased to hear Sarvain's answer, but what choice do we have. With the King dead, the people need new leaders to guide them. I can't blame him for wanting to go, but the situation calls for him to stay. "Very well."
Eldore gathered all of us together as we walked outside the castle.
"We leave on the morrow, Tonight we rest in town. Gather all the supplies that you need and prepare for the journey. It's going to be a long one."
I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! I just got Mortal Kombat X and I just couldn't stop being cheap with scorpion (best character in MK!). I really hope you guys like this chapter. so...much...dialouge... As always please Review, Follow and Favorite this story (if you like it) don't have to, but it brings a smile to my face everytime i get an email about it and it also inspires me to continue this story and give you guys another chapter. so thank you for reading and HAVE A NICE DAY!