The next day, Rea and the others were taken to the fields
Guard: Alright, you better work or else you'll become one with the earth!
Everyone was working , even the children.
Rea: whispers Elder.
Elder: Is it time?
Rea: Let's go. She threw a rock at the guard
Guard: Who did that ? He seemed mad
Rea: He ran that way she pointed to the forest
Guard: When I get my hands on him…he pulled out a whip and went in the forestInside the forest
Guard: I don't even see tracks , that brat tricked me! He turned around towards the fields
Esca: He snuck behind him and knocked him out Pff, another poor made set of armor
Rea: ESCA!! She shouted calling him
Esca: looks like she arrived he went back to his cave
Rea and the Elder were there
Elder: So this is where he lives?
Rea: yep, he said he made this place. He also wears hunter clothes that he……recovered…
Elder: I see, I wonder wha- Gasp
Esca appeared
Esca: Rea, good to see yo- he noticed the elder who's this old man?
Elder: Your ……he bows down
Rea: Michael!
Esca: Michael? You couldn't ….he backed away
Michael: Its been he had tears in his eyes far too long…..King Escanor.
Rea: King?
Esca: I remember you…. he had a nostalgic look you're the son of the blacksmith I trained with
Michael: yes…..I lived for 144 long years since I was born….he slowly got up
Esca: he helped him Michael ……
Michael: slight laugh you haven't aged a day Your Majesty.
Rea: Hey! She looked confused What are you talking about?
Esca: …..
Michael: he told Rea who's Esca
Rea: Selena's twin brother….but….you're good!
Esca: I might be , but….he seemed frustrated I'm weak….because of me the kingdom is now a land of pain
Michael: Your Maje-
Esca: Don't! ….call me that….I'm not a king .
Rea: The story you told me, was it you in it?
Esca: Yes, but……I won't be killing Selena. She's too strong.
Michael: Escanor……
Rea: then…..we'll keep suffering…she began crying
Esca: Rea…he reached out to her
Rea: Get away! She pushed him away You're right …..you're not a king…..YOU'RE A COWARDS!! She ran out of the forest
Michael: Rea! Forgive me Your Majesty , but I have to go. He followed her
Esca: …….he looked down a cowards uh? She got it. He went in his caveThe next day
Esca: cutting wood hmm, Rea is not here yet, maybe she's still mad at me for lying and giving her false hope he kept cuttingThe next day
Esca: Outside his cave She's not here today either. I really screwed up.
The same happened the next day as well, and again next week and again next month.
The time flew by as the trees changed their leaves and Escanor remained unchanged for 12 long years.
It was winter and Escanor put up a wooden cover to his cave , he was standing in front of a fire he made inside a hole in the cave.
Esca: Pff, I wonder what happened to those 2….I think Rea is a fully developed women by now.
???: Heavy breathing running
Esca: Well He got up I guess I should sleep he went and layed on the bed
???: heavy breathing
Guard: You're not getting away, girl! He was on horse back.
???: Try and catch me! She kept running -his cave is close-
Back at the cave
Esca: sign who am I kidding? She ain't gonna return.
???: Heavy breathing running Esca! She called him
Guard: No one will save you now! He was right behind her
???: ESCA!! She shouted as hard as she could
Esca: He heard her Someone's shouting my name! He grabbed a bow and went outside
The girl was running towards his cave with the guard behind her
Guard: YOU'RE MINE! He grabbed her hair
???: NO!
Guard: Now you're- GAHHJHHHHHHHHHJ An arrow flew in his shoulder
Esca: Shit. I missed. He prepared another arrow
???: Esca! She ran towards him
Esca: behind me miss!
???: -he doesn't recognize me?- she ran past Esca
Guard: Why you! He tried to grab his sword but Esca shot an arrow in his head
Esca: there! Now he turned to the women who and how do you know my name?
Rea: Esca! Don't you remember me?! It's me, Rea!
Esca: he was surprised Rea?! He got closer Good God , it really is you! He hugged her
Rea: she pushed him away slowly Don't think that just because it's been 12 years I forgot your lie.
Esca: oh, why are you here then?
Rea: the key
Esca: his eyes widened as a drop of sweat ran down his face what key?
Rea: DON'T PLAY DUMB! She was clearly impatient The key to the vault where the weapons YOU infused with magic are!
Esca: Michael must've told you, but why do you need the weapons?
Rea: To avenge Michael she was covering herself with a piece of cloak, but she turned around and showed Esca her back, full of scars.
Esca: he was horrified by them How….
Rea: How? Selena…..
Esca: What happened?
Rea: The day we return after I found out who you are, the guards caught us. Selena was there, she kept asking about a key and….you, but Michael did not talk, I had my mouth covered and they whipped me to make Michael talk she was furious , her eyes full with sadness , guild and anger. When they realized he won't talk, they dragged him in the middle of the market and killed him.
Esca: the news of Michael's dead hit him like a truck No….
Rea: I waited too much, if no one will free us then we'll free ourselves! That's why I need the enchanted arsenal you created
Esca was still processing all that , he was between a rock and a brick wall.
Esca: If you open the vault, Selena will have what she desired.
Rea: What do you mean?
Esca: When I made the weapons, I put pieces of my magic in each of them. She doesn't give a crap about them , what she wants is my magic that's sealed in each and everyone of them.
Rea: What if we take the weapons first?
Esca : I'm sorry, but it's far too risky.
Rea: whispers so you're still a coward….
Esca: sign look , the night is falling , so come to my cave and you can leave tomorrow.
Rea: fine.
They went to Escanor's cave
Rea: Hard to believe you dug this place…..
Esca: took me 10 years, but I did it he prepared a bed Take my bed , I'll sleep on this one.
Rea: Ok…..she went to sleepLater that night
Rea: she opened her eyes a bit – good, he's asleep. What's that?- she noticed something shinning around his neck -is that?- she slowly went out of bed and got closer to him -the key….-
She looked at the key, it was tied with a chain around Esca's neck.
Rea: -No way I'm just pulling it- She slowly raised Esca's head and starting taking the key -a bit more..-
She managed to take the key without waking Esca .
Rea: -Now it's time to free ourselves, goodbye Escanor- she went outside , but she quickly backed away as she was being waited
Guard: There she is!
Rea: ES- A guard covered her mouth
Guard: Does she have it?
Guard 2: yes he took the key from her hand Lady Selena will be pleased he smiled
Rea: -NO!- she stepped on his foot and tried to take to back the key , but
Rea: gasp a guard stabbed her Esca…..
Inside
Esca: Wha….wait he noticed she and the key are gone DAMN IT! He rushed outside where he saw Rea on the ground and the guards
Guard: You must be the bastard that killed the guards who came in this forest he smiled Fallen King Escanor
Esca: he looked furios Still hiding behind dolls , Selena?
Guard: the voice of the guard changed and his eyes were glowing you know it brother a female voice was mixed with his And now that I have the key to your precious vault, your power will be mine. Everyone fall back!
Esca: I WON'T LET YOU he started attacking the guards
Guard: Take the key back at any cost!
A guard ran with the key on horse back.
Esca: SELENA !!! He shouted, he saw Rea oh no he went to her.
Rea: Esca…she was bleeding from the wound so..rry…..
Esca: Don't talk! Keep your strength. He picked her up and started walking deeper into the forest I know who can help you.
He carried her deep within the heart of the forest, the fairies were coming out to check what happened.
Esca: Almost there. Hold on!
Rea: she was unconscious and her wound was still bleedingHe continued walking until he reached an old tree
Esca: TITANIA! He shouted desperatelyA strange women appeared from behind the tree
Titania: Oh my. The iron prince, I see you're having trouble.
Esca collapsed on his knees
Esca: I beg of you queen of the fairies, save her. He put Rea at her feet.
Titania: hmm she looked at Rea she's still alive, bring her to my lair
The old tree opened, revealing a staircase going down .Esca carried Rea down the stairs and reached a place surrounded by roots , but full of light and life . He put Rea down on a bed of flowers and green light surrounded her.
Esca: Its my fault…he clenched his fist
Titania: Honestly Iron Prince, you need to stop blaming yourself.
Esca: I'm no prince….I disappointed my people, I couldn't even protect one person and she thinks of my as a coward. His voice was low and sad
Titania: sign I remember when you first stepped into my forest. You were hurt and you lost your will to fight. We fairies helped you when you need it and you recovered your will to survive, but you're will to fight never returned.
Esca: what is there to fight for? A kingdom I left? A hope that does not exist? He was hopeless, no will to fight was left in him , he was broken
Titania: she looked at him with sadness anyway, she'll be fine. She should wake up in 3 days then another 10 days of rest.
Esca: Thank you. He bowed his head
Titania: -Its not right- she looked at him with pity – its not right for a king to bow down-
Escanor stood by Rea's side day and night, then on one night.
Rea: she opened her eyes a bit Esca?
Esca: he heard her Rea! He grabbed her hand Don't worry you'll be fine.
Rea: Michael she was still weak from the wound his last words….
Esca: Don't push yourself! You have to rest. He was extremely worried and scared
Rea: no….you must know….she slowly started speaking Michael's last words….
-flash back-
After Michael and Rea arrived back, the guards assaulted them the next day and took Michael and Rea .They tortured Michael to tell them where the key was , and when he won't talk , they tortured Rea.
Guard: This old man is tough!
Selena: If he won't talk then kill him, make it public so the people know not to defy me.
The guards dragged Michael who was full of wounds and bleeding in the middle of the market and one of them pulled out an axe
Executioner: Any last words old man?
Michael: I do. He looked at Selena , who was standing far in front of him When I was a young boy, a war threatened our kingdom. Everything seemed lost, but even in those dark times , even a young son of a humble blacksmith . I saw a flame that burned with hope and when we needed it the most , it burned so bright I was left amazed. You Selena, you put that flame out , but hear my words, that flame will burn again and it'll shine on us , all of us . Knowing its shine will cover my grave as well , makes this old man sure. Your days are numbered! Selena!
Selena: she was furios and scared by his words CUT HIS HEAD
The Executioner put his axe down and Michael's head fell , but in that moment , Michael smiled.
End of the chapter