Jorish adjusted his new cloak as he followed behind Fredek. His old cloak ruined after his duel with Dyce, he was surprised as Jorish gave a spare. He is always prepared, huh.

He followed silently as Fredek walked, besides him were Anise and Dyce, each deep in their own thoughts. Jorish sped up slightly as he caught up to Fredek, who smiled. “Friend! Jorish, I believe it was? Got something in mind?”

Jorish wrestled with his thoughts for a moment before deciding to just let it out. “Why do the people here hate the dwellers of the cities so much?”

Fredek stayed silent for a few moments before sighing. “Its illogical, isn't it? We are supposed to be all fellow southerners, yet that hate exists. Jorish, do you know of the history of the free cities?”

Jorish shook his head as Fredek spoke. “A few hundred years ago, the south was rough as it was a group of tribes and villages, people moving as they survived our rough world. It might not have been as tough as the sun-touched cities in here, yet survival wasn’t so easy.”

Fredek cleared his throat before he continued. “Then, a king appeared. He conquered, and dominated. In a sense, it was a time of prosperity, yet terror. As time moved and the world changed, people began wanting more. They wanted to be free from the rules of that king. The king, mad in his own delusions plunged the city into chaos. He went as far as working with the witch, Qotru, the most dreadful thing a human could do.”

Qotru… Jorish thought about the name, his hand itching to check it out in his book. He resisted the urge as he knew it was not the time to do so, as Fredek continued.

“The witch brought death and destruction, it all felt inevitable as the King’s grip got stronger over the country. Until he appeared. Reinold, the free blade. He freed the cities, as his blade plunged into the king, ending his terror. Yet, the witch still stood as her terror increased, reaching all around the south. Reinold, with many strong candidates, as well as the three Monarchs of the south fought a deadly battle against the witch. At the cost of almost all their lives, only one Monarch survived, as well as two candidates. Reinold was one of them!”

Jorish, now engrossed in the tale, asked hesitantly. “Reinold, is still alive? Is he a Monarch now?”

Fredek shook his head. “He still lives, yet he is not a Monarch yet. None really understand why he hasn’t became one yet, but he is one of the five who are known as pseudo-Monarchs.”

“Pseudo… Monarchs?”

“They are the strongest Candidates alive, many of them almost reaching a Monarch’s powers. While not Monarchs themselves, many of them have lived longer, or experienced some events that drove them to the peak. Your friend, Traves, is another one of them.”

Jorish didn’t feel too surprised hearing about it, remembering the scene of Traves as he faced off against the Sovereign… it was a sight he would not forget in his life.

“Ah, going back on topic. Well, after the south was freed from the king’s grasp, with the approval of Reinold, the free cities were formed. Many cities were the people would have the right to choose. The right to choose their leaders. We now wear those two feathers as our emblem. A sign of our freedom to fly. The people here built those cities, yet where the sun-touched cities laid was a cruel world. None truly wanted to take care of it, leaving it in the same state our free cities used to be at.”

Hearing Fredek’s words, understanding dawned on Jorish as he spoke. “So, They felt the Tyrant’s reign was similar to the old king’s rule?”

Fredek nodded. “That is partly true, the Sovereign of the sands actions reminded many of the king of the past. Yet, it is regrettable. Unlike the king of the past, the Sovereign truly had good intentions. After all, he was one of the two candidates who fought the Witch at the time, and survived.”

Jorish’s eyes widened in shock as he heard Fredek. Even after letting go of his hatred, he would be lying if he said he thought any good of the sovereign.

Fredek interrupted his thoughts as he spoke. “The true reason is that the people do not understand. Dwellers of the cities had suffered the most. We were all once one people, yet people forgot that this freedom was earned. They look down upon the dwellers as savages, ones who couldn’t understand their ways.”

Even though he spoke calmly, Jorish could feel bitterness from Fredek’s voice. His hands were clenched, as he spoke involuntarily. “If you have the will, you will regain the freedom of your cities. And we will gain ours as well.”

Fredek looked surprised for a moment, before he smiled. “Indeed, Friend. Indeed.”

The group walked on, as they exited another of the corridors, to be invaded by free space as Jorish and Anise froze in shock.

“Ah, must be your first time in the city center!” said Fredek as Jorish and Anise stared wide eyed.

The density of people who stood, walked around or just haggled with the random stalls all around was staggering, almost reminding Jorish of the way people grouped at the burning. Except, it was more mystical when you see tens, if not hundreds of people navigating and moving through the crowds as they went with their business.

The group followed behind Fredek, trying to not lose track of him or collide with any of the people walking all around them. Moments later, Fredek stopped as Jorish eyes tightened as he saw the person in front of them.

“Martin! Fancy meeting you here.” Fredek spoke.

“Ugh, Fredek. What do you want? I…” Martin froze for a moment as he looked at Jorish and Anise, before continuing. “I don’t have time to play with you. Go bother someone else.”

“Well, dear Martin. I really think we have something really important to talk about. And for your own sake, I really think we should discuss it in private.” Fredek spoke.

Martin’s look straightened as he looked at Fredek, before nodding as he followed him, a few guards joining him.

A few minutes later, they were all in an isolated alleyway. Martin stopped as he spoke. “What do you need?”

Fredek’s eyes turned cold. “Minister Martin. I accuse you of harming my guests, and most of all, I accuse you of grand treason against the free cities of Tenes!”

Martin froze in shock for a moment before he turned into anger. “Fredek! What kind of rubbish are you spewing? I will not stand by this! We must settle this in court!”

Fredek smiled as a gleam sparked in his eyes. Taking an object from his pocket.

“Impossible. A recording stone. How did you get this?” Martin stuttered as the stone shone very slightly, showing a video as Martin spoke to some of his men. Jorish felt that the men he saw were familiar.

“… I want those savages who dared defy me dead! Deal with them…”

Martin’s face grimaced as he snorted. “You take me into an abandoned alley and show me that. Do you have no fear, Fredek?”

A few more guards appeared behind Martin. Jorish and Anise stepped in front of Fredek, as Dyce stood near him, not moving. Jorish held his spear as Anise’s skin started turning gray. Fredek stood calm as Martin’s men started charging towards them.

Suddenly, as they almost reached Jorish and Anise, earth shook as a shockwave hit the guards, sending them all back to the floor. Jorish saw the shockwave, feeling confused, it was not a wind-based attack. He felt pure, untainted energy from the point of impact. He turned his head, looking at their helper.

He stood, wearing an armor similar to the guards. Yet the armor stood out, a size larger and scarlet. On his chest plate an image of two feathers crossing was itched. He wore a red helmet that covered the top of his head. On his left hand, he held a shield, while on his right he had a red sword pointed forward, smoke rising from its edge.

Martin and his guards froze, as he muttered. “Reinold… Why is he here?”

Reinold spoke as a rough sound left his mouth. “I see he wasn’t lying. You, for treason against our freedom, shall be sentenced… to death!”

Martin’s eyes widened with a crazed look as he shouted. ‘My men! He is but one man, drown him in your spells!!”

Reinold stood still as Martin’s guards started casting all kinds of spells, Jorish could even recognize some of them being as strong as the senator they had fought in the cities. No, at least one is stronger, A candidate?

Jorish watched worried as flames, thunder and other spells flew towards him. Reinold spoke calmly.

“You all are tainted. But I shall stand here… Unstained!”

As he spoke the last word, Jorish could feel a gentle energy emit from his body. A pure energy untainted by any element. As the spells struck the thin layer of energy, they froze. The endless mass of energy didn’t explode. It slowly vanished, almost if it has failed to the touch the pure energy, convinced that it was inferior, and disappearing in shame.

A moment later, Reinold appeared besides Martin. His sword slowly going back to his sheath as Martin’s lifeless head fell to the floor. Blood sprayed all around, yet refusing to touch Reinold or his armor. A few seconds later, Jorish heard clapping as he looked at Traves walking towards them.

Jorish stepped towards Traves as he asked. “Traves, just what is going on?”

Traves smiled as he spoke. “Well, young Jorish. A lot of things have happened and, it seems like we have involved ourselves in a small civil war!”

Jorish shook his head and he sighed. Thoughts which he never thought he should be thinking flooded his mind. Man, this will be fun!