Chapter 26
King
Early fall of 845, It had been several days since King John returned to the Kingdom. He had been sad, and the people felt it. King John would sit on his throne and hear the complaints of the nobles. They wanted assistance to protect their territories. The demon armies have attacked and taken over. Sometimes the nobles would make King John angry.
"Sire, please, we beg of you; if you do nothing, my father's lands will be taken."
King John had enough of them and told them to leave. The nobles pleaded; King John drew Mana and scared them. He told his guards that he wanted peace. King John heads to his study. He enters the room and sits. King John looks at a picture of him and Queen Annabeth.
"Why did you have to leave me? I am falling apart without you."
Several days ago, King John learned about the passing of his wife, Queen Annabeth. He had returned from battle. One of his generals, Arthur Kingsley, gave him the bad news. Arthur had returned from his trip to the Beast Kingdom. Arthur is a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was about the same age as King John. He wore a heavy suit of armor.
"Why do you say that, Arthur? This must be some joke."
Arthur shakes his head. King John walks past Arthur. Arthur could see King John's emotions coming out. He tells him to relax and calm down. Arthur grabs King John's arm. King John tells Arthur to let go. Arthur said nothing. King John punches Arthur bringing him down. Cortez and Haddison were shocked by his actions. King John makes his way into the castle.
Haddison asks Arthur to explain what happened. Arthur takes a deep breath. They hear King John screaming for Queen Annabeth. Arthur began by telling him his mission to the Beast Kingdom failed. He didn't get an audience with King Sensha.
"I returned with my forces and got the news that you all went to battle; I knew John had his reasons, but I always told him to include my opinions when he was going to do something. I would have gladly offered my troops."
He continued; he said he came to the Kingdom and saw some problems. He had his troops hold order. He went to the castle where some citizens had gathered. Once they saw him, they let him through. Arthur went into the castle, and a maid showed him the way.
He went into the Queen's chambers, where several servants, the doctor, and Princess Annalise were crying. The doctor meets with him and tells him that Queen Annabeth has passed. Arthur said he froze and didn't know what to say.
Arthur said he learned that Queen Annabeth would leave the castle and make her way around the city to encourage the citizens. He showed them that she was with them when they needed her. On that day, as she made her round, she experienced some pain.
"The doctor told me she collapsed; some citizens panicked and called for help. A couple of mages cast healing magic, but it wasn't working. The guards brought her back, but it was too late."
A powerful blast bursts through the window from Queen Annabeth's room. Haddison became emotional as she left. Cortez calls to her, but she gets on her horse and leaves. Cortez looks at the broken window. He was going to go, but Arthur stopped him.
"Let him be; He will need time."
Arthur had taken over some of the King's duties. The Old Guard wanted some control, but he denied them. King John met with Princess Annalise, who was also depressed. Together they visited the late Queen's gave.
Queen Annabeth was buried in the royal cemetery beneath a tree. King John would stare at the monument for hours. He slowly avoided Princess Annalise after some time. As more time passed, Arthur got King John to listen to his citizens. The demon army continues its attacks through all this.
King John was sitting on his chair. Papers surrounded him. The door bursts open, and Arthur walks in. He tells King John to get back on his feet and lead his country. King John felt unmotivated. Arthur walks to him and picks him up.
"Listen, John; I can't be leading your country; I need to be out there leading my troops. I know it is tough losing the love of your life, but you need to move on; you have hundreds of people counting on you. You also have a daughter that needs a father."
King John looks at Arthur with a depressed look. Arthur, let's go of him. Arthur tells him that the Old Guard is planning something behind his back. They think King John is done for. King John slouches on his chair. Arthur gets mad.
"Annabeth would have been a shame to see how much you had fallen."
King John gets upset but says nothing. Arthur sighs and shakes his head. He tells King John that Cortez has been home since then, and Haddison has disappeared. He also tells him that King Sloan has not made any moves.
"Yoshi is waiting for you to take action. I am leaving with my troops in a few days. If you can somehow snap out of this, you know where to find me. The people will know that some still care."
Arthur leaves King John's office. King John turns around and looks outside his window. The city was looking peaceful. King John thinks about Queen Annabeth again. After a while of being alone, someone knocks on his door. A maid walks in with a box.
The maid tells King John that it was sent to him. He tells her to leave it on a table. The maid insists he opens it now. King John told her he was too busy and would do it later. She places it on his desk. King John gets mad.
"I said I will do it later; put it over there and leave me."
The maid does not move it. Kind John looks at her. She looked scared but stood her ground. King John sighs and asks who sent it. She then replied that it was Queen Annabeth. King John becomes surprised and stops what he is doing.
"Queen Annabeth said she had something made for you. On her final days, she said it would help you when she is gone. She had a local artisan make it. It was just finished."
The maid smiles and bows. She then takes her leave. King John looks at this small wooden box. He opened it, and inside there was a neckless. King John takes it, and at the end, there is a locket. He opened the locket, and inside there was Queen Annabeth's ring.
King John began to shed tears and remember Queen Annabeth again. He felt very depressed. After some time, he notices a letter in the box. He grabs it and opens it. It was a letter from Queen Annabeth. King John sees an inscription; it reads, forever with you.
"Dear John, Let me start by apologizing for leaving you at a crucial time. I want to tell you how much I love you. Marrying you was the happiest day of my life; you drove me mad the first time we met, but I came to love and understand you. I knew you were the one for me; continue to live like the proud man who won my heart. Please live for the Kingdom and its people; bring back the peace so Annalise can live a carefree life. Take care of her and tell her how much I love her. John, whatever happens, don't stop without a fight; I wouldn't be happy seeing you on this side before Annalise grows old. I permit you to do what is necessary; I will always love you and be with you forever; forever your love, Annabeth Umbridge."
King John cries and holds the locket close to his heart. He apologizes to Queen Annabeth. He has flashbacks of him meeting her. He was young, and he was trying to impress her. She ignores him. In another memory, King John was holding her. She gets mad and punches him in the face. Cortez, Haddison, and some others were there laughing.
King John looks at the map. He looks at all the paperwork. He gets up and goes to the door. He looks at the painting of him and Queen Annabeth. King John smiles and leaves his office. He orders a guard to call all available generals to the throne room.
"I have failed you already, Annabeth; now is the time for me to rise and show you the man I used to be."
By a forest-covered mountain, Fillan and General Musashi walk up a trail. It was getting cold, and most of the leaves were changing colors. It took them some time, and they eventually got to a cabin. The cabin was old and covered in moss. General Musashi takes a step and a magic circle break.
"Protection from thieves, come, let's go inside."
They stepped inside, and it was more spacious than it looked. It was also clean and tidy. General Musashi sets his things down and shows Fillan his room. He tells Fillan to unpack and meet him in the living room. Fillan unpacks what little he has and looks around the room.
The room was nice and roomy. It was kept clean; there was a table and bed. The window shows the back and a clear view of the forest. Fillan gets ready and heads to the living room. General Musashi was sitting on a chair. He looks at Fillan.
"I am your master now; tomorrow, you will be starting your training. I will teach you all that I know. In a year, we will see if you have what it takes to survive on the battlefield. If you cannot master or use magic, you must choose a different path."
Fillan could not show it, but he was nervous. He takes a deep breath and tells Master Musashi that he is ready. Master Musashi nods and tells him to relax and look around. He must get familiar with his new home. Fillan leaves and looks around.
"I hope that I am doing the right thing; I will save…."
Fillan got used to his new home. The following morning was cold when Fillan woke up. He smelled the aroma of fish and vegetable soup. Master Musashi told Fillan to get dressed in some new clothes. Fillan gets up.
The new set of clothes was made of some lovely, soft fabric. Fillan got dressed and went to the dining room. Master Musashi had prepared breakfast. He had the table ready. They ate, and Master Musashi asked Fillan to follow him. They go downstairs to another room. This was a study that Master Musashi made by making a hole in the ground.
The study had many books and several tables. There are other things like crystals and weapons. Master Musashi tells Fillan to sit. He goes over to a shelf and gets a box. He brings it to Fillan and sets it on the table.
"How much do you know about magic?"
Fillan took his time answering. He told him everything he knew. It was when he was younger that he learned about magic. He told Master Musashi what Father Williams told him. Master Musashi took out several crystals from the box.
"As your master, I will teach you the importance of magic. I will also teach you other essentials to survive. There is much to learn about the world."
Master Musashi hands Fillan a book. He said they would start with learning about the races. They began with the Elves; proud and noble, the Elves live long lives and are loved by the Mana. They excel in spell casting and archery.
Next was the beast men, physically strong; a child beast man can easily overpower a human adult. Their animal characteristic plays a role in their combat ability. Some can transform, which makes them unique.
Dwarves don't get much love. They are a rowdy bunch, but they are formidable. They are skilled artisans and deadly with weapons. For being small, they have much power. The humans are next; they are fearless when cornered.
Humans can be cunning and brave. They are skilled tacticians and use powerful magic. They outnumber all races. The last ones are the Demons, great with magic and strong. They resemble elves but have horns. They said the Demons were the first race to live in the world.
Master Musashi gave Fillan a notebook. Fillan began to write some notes about each race. He also looked at the book Master Musashi handed him. It talked about each race and their living environment. Master Musashi was surprised by Fillan's ability to absorb knowledge.
They moved on to talk about Mana and the flow of energy. Master Musashi starts by telling Fillan about the five significant attributes; Fire, wind, water, earth, and thunder. He also mentions the two unique attributes; light and darkness.
Master Musashi explains how magic works. He tells him that people are born able to harness the energy the world creates. He said that drawn energy is called Mana. The body draws Mana and converts it into magical energy. A person has an affinity with one element. This means that one element is already vital inside the body.
Master Musashi also explains that a person can learn all magic types with hard practice. He said that physical endurance is the key to using magic. He also said that light and dark attributes are special within the three races.
He continues by telling Fillan how the elements work in the body. Fire magic is used to enhance your magic power. Wind magic is used to change the weight of your body; water magic is used to heal your body. Next is earth magic, used to harden your body for defense. Thunder magic is used to enhance your reflexes.
Master Musashi's tone changes. Fillan knew it was serious and listened. Fillan asked about light and darkness. Master Musashi explains them and their unique abilities. Light magic was said to be used to cleanse magic effects. He said that there are other uses for them. Dark magic is creation, the ability to create something that does not exist.
"Magic may be beneficial, but there are dangers to using them and can cause some problems further in life."
Master Musashi said that using magic has negative effects on the body. He says that over time some practices have changed, and only warriors and some lines of work still use it within the body. He tells Fillan about the impacts of magic.
Fire burns the body; it begins to leave burn marks on the body. Wind weakens the bones and affects your balance. Water affects the health of your body; you get sick easier. Earth petrifies the user; the skin becomes hard as stone. Thunder damages the nervous system; it becomes hard to control the body.
Fillan touches his face and realizes that Thunder magic has affected him. Master Musashi explains that the use of magic has changed over time. He talks about the last two elements. Light magic steals the user's life force. They may look healthy but slowly die. Darkness destroys the user's mind. They begin to lose sight of reality.
"Then why do we use magic if it causes problems?"
Master Musashi tells Fillan that it makes life easier and helps people live in conditions not suitable for them. He also tells Fillan not to worry because, over time, they have found alternatives to harness magic. He said that they discovered how to imbue certain items with magic.
"Some people also found it hard to learn other types of magic, so one race found a way to help them harness and use other elements without training."
Master Musashi shows Fillan several crystals. He tells him that the crystals have Mana trapped inside. The crystals were all different in shape and size. The glow to them also differs. Master Musashi tells Fillan about each crystal.
"Red is fire, blue is water, white is wind, brown is earth, and yellow is thunder; These crystals can also be used to enhance the body. Dwarfs found a way to create them."
Fillan was confused about the dwarfs creating them. Master Musashi would explain; he had brought some more crystals. These crystals glowed brighter and had a unique shape to them. He told Fillan that these were natural crystals.
"Natural crystals?"
Master Musashi first explains that crystals that absorb Mana are found deep inside the earth. He then explains that dwarfs dig and transport them to the city known as the Workshop. He follows by telling him that it's their number one source of income.
"They create and sell crystals to the public. Some nations and Kingdoms also buy from them because they are the only ones who can produce them."
Fillan takes more notes. Master Musashi talks about natural crystals. He explains to Fillan that a crystal is made by nature under some circumstances. He tells him that some creatures absorb Mana, which hardens into a crystal. These crystals are rare and take a long time to be created.
"There are those who go and look for them. If they are lucky, they can sell it for a large sum. Elves use natural crystals in most parts, so it's dangerous because they know where to find most. Elves are territorial and don't like trespassers."
Master Musashi explains to Fillan the tiers of the crystals. He tells him that depending on the glow and size, some crystals are one-time use or can be used multiple times; He also tells him that some are time-based. This means that the effect of the magic lasts longer or for a short time.
Fillan asks about the difference between natural and dwarf-made crystals. He said Dwarf-made crystals are good, but they have their defects. He added that the dwarfs have to infuse the element into it, which is dangerous. Master Musashi tells Fillan that genuine crystals are long-lasting and could power something for years.
After taking more notes and looking at all the crystals, Fillan noticed that two elements weren't there. He asks Master Musashi about light and dark crystals. Master Musashi tells him that light and dark crystals haven't been made or found.
"In all the years, the dwarfs have attempted to make both but have failed. Even looking for them has brought negative results. Some have stopped searching while others still believe it to be possible."
Fillan asks for his opinion. Master Musashi says nothing, but Fillan notices he is hiding something. It was afternoon, and Master Musashi told Fillan they would move on to the next training. They head outside.
"Aside from reading and gaining knowledge, you will work on your physical endurance. As I stated before, using magic takes a toll on the body. It would be best if you were physically in shape. That does not mean that someone with no training can be an easy challenge; remember that."
Master Musashi tells Fillan that he will need to gain some muscle. He told him he already had some strength, but it was uneven. He asked Fillan if he had done some physical labor before. Fillan doesn't remember. Master Musashi told Fillan that he would need to work hard.
"Within half a year, I need you to make some progress; your final test will be after winter. If you can, show me some results, you can still choose what you want to do after."
Master Musashi told Fillan that he would start with the basics. Sit-ups, push-ups, and squats; he then will be running to the base of the mountain. When he reaches the bottom, he must pick up a boulder and bring it up. The following day he will need to return it and run back up. He tells Fillan that on his rest days, he will be studying. Fillan then begins his training.
"Will you succeed or fail?"
At the Umbridge Kingdom, King John was waiting in the throne room. The doors open, and Arthur walks in. He sees King John looking better. Arthur smiles and asks about his summon. King John wanted to wait for the rest. A few more minutes and the doors open again.
The Old Guard walks in, demanding an explanation. King John gets mad and unleashes a wave of Mana. He tells them to quiet down. The older men quiet down and stare at King John with angry expressions. King John looks at his locket; he smiles.
"I have summoned all of you today because there has been some trouble. I have been neglecting my duties as king, and I apologize for it. During my moment of sorrow, there have been complaints, and the Kingdom has not been helping its citizens…."
One of the older men tells King John he has been a terrible king. He said to him that he needed to do something about the refugees. King John gets up from his chair and walks up to him. The older man gets scared.
"Interrupt me again, and I will show you what kind of king I can be; I know we have a problem, and I am working on a solution. First, we need to talk about the demons."
The Old Guard didn't seem interested in them. They began to bring up some nobles whom they had ties with. Arthur gets mad and tells them to listen. King John tells them he will be taking over all decisions moving on. This upset the Old Guard, and they told him it would not happen.
King John told them he would have more next time. He dismisses them, angry, they want to discuss more, but Arthur escorts them out. Arthur sees them out and returns to King John, sitting on his throne.
"They sure were scared; now, what do you plan on doing?"
King John said he was unsure and only planned to keep the Old Guard on guard. He thinks about what to do. He asks Arthur for some advice. Arthur hesitates and asks King John if he truly wishes to take control of the Kingdom.
King John tells Arthur that he needs to if he wants to save its citizens. Arthur wants to tell him something, but King John says he needs to visit someone. He tells Arthur to get his troops ready. He wants to start defending some of the people.
King John gets up and asks Arthur to get a carriage ready. King John leaves the throne room and heads to his study. King John enters and looks for some papers. After finding them, he heads out. He stops by Princess Annalise's room.
King John was nervous; He closed his eyes and left. He tells the guards and maids to keep watch over her. Annalise was lying on her bed. She felt his presence but did nothing. King John gets to the front door.
His carriage was ready. Arthur was waiting; he asked where he was going. King John smiled and told him he would visit the most outstanding advisor in the Kingdom. Arthur laughed and gave it some thought. He asks King John if he wants to rule all.
"Arthur, I would."
Arthur said he would have his troops ready to move. King John told Arthur he wouldn't be long. He gets on the carriage. Arthur said he needed to talk to him when he came back. King John tells Arthur to move his troops to the dwarf territories with human villages and have them evacuate.
Arthur agrees and sees King John leave. Arthur calls some of his troops. He gives them the orders. Arthur calls for his horse. He gets on and heads out. King John rides his carriage for several days. Some guards escorted him.
King John's carriage enters a lively city. It was brimming with joy and entertainment. The building architecture was that of Mexican design from the Spanish conquests. There are Spanish traditions everywhere. This was Hispaniam.
King John didn't stop there and continued to the city's outskirts. He was making his way to a house on a hilltop. As he approached, a group of guards came to meet with him. King John shows himself, and the guards let him through.
He gets to the two-story house. A garden surrounded the house, and so servants were tending to it. The carriage arrives at the front door. King John gets off and is greeted by some maids. They bow to him and ask him to follow.
He is taken to a room that looks like the living room. The maid asks if he would like anything to drink. King John asks for some coffee. The maid bows and leaves. As he waits, he looks around. He then hears the sound of footsteps.
The door opens, and another maid walks in. She holds the door open, and an older woman walks in. King John gets up and bows to her. The woman laughs and tells him to sit. She greets him and sits.
"What honor do I have that the King of Umbridge is here to meet me."
King John laughs and tells her he was there for some advice. The woman looked disappointed. She tells him that he rarely visits and wants to hear from her. She said she was done with the kingdom's affairs. King John pleads with her.
"Mother, please, I need your guidance."