-- Sora’s Perspective --

Before we left, they offered me a seat in one of the carriages. I humbly declined their offer and stayed with the mysterious woman, and we’ll be riding the covered wagon, Vice Captain Jack paused for a moment before agreeing. The Mage came along as she didn't wanna be left out. The two guards earlier were whispering to the other soldiers, it must be about me offering the entire seat to the mysterious woman. During the trip, I took a peek at one of the tiny holes inside the wagon. There’s a lot of soldiers escorting us, there were just a few of them before.

We have arrived at the palace grounds. When we came out, the soldiers escorting us earlier were already gone. I don’t know where they went. Instead, we saw two groups of dark knights facing each other, around a hundred on each side, separated by the pathway leading to the castle. At the far end, there’s a giant canopy tent, people there are waiting for us. Judging by the atmosphere, they’re doing this in their utmost secrecy.

Three cardinals from the Church of Gaia came out from the carriage, dressed in blue robes with intricate symbols. One of them carried some sort of golden staff, must be a sacred staff.

Jack was on my right, the mysterious woman was on my left, while the Mage was behind me. Jack looks behind him and makes eye contact with one of cardinals. The cardinal shook his head making a “go ahead” gesture. Jack nodded in response.

“Let’s move forward, Princess.”

We began to walk forward.

I see the King, Siegfried, and The Financial Advisor waiting inside the tent. We’re the only people here.

At the tent’s front, two dark knights wielding a halberd guard the tent from side to side.

“Halt!”

** creak… gaching **

The dark knights crossed their halberds against us. Their joints rattled as they moved. The one who shouted was the Minister of Defense, General Kal Alexandria, my uncle. He’s bald, scar on the left eye, curly mustache, wide neck, with a muscular body. He wears dark blue armor without the helm.

The two dark knights returned back to their normal stance.

“Bow before His Majesty, the 130th Ruler of the Kingdom of Arcadia, King Hiroshi Alexandria!”

We all bowed except the mysterious woman. She remained standing looking at the lifeless body she claims to be his King.

“Does the Lady don't recognize our language?”

Uncle Kal asked and looked at me.

“... The Lady speaks our language.”

“Then wh…”

“That’s enough formalities.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Uncle Kal turned around and bowed to the King. The King raised his palm and nodded in response. Uncle Kal returned to his post.

“Have you recovered the lost knowledge we’ve been looking for?”

The King asked. His face is haggard.

“Yes. Your Majesty… I didn’t bring any books relating to the creation of Manikas but somehow...”

“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!”

The Financial Advisor intervened before I could finish. Pointing his chubby fingers at us.

“Ha! This expedition of yours is a total failure from the start, Seigfried!”

The Financial Advisor snorted in his nose like a pig and momentarily glanced at Seigfried with a smile. Seigfried turned away his head.

“Please, Financial Advisor. Allow me to finish my...”

“Enough!… your words are meaningless!”

The Financial Advisor raised his heels as he shouted.

“We have already heard what happened before you could even say it. We know the truth!”

My brows furrowed. I-I’m confused. What kind of truth is he talking about?

“Bring the witnesses here!”

The cardinals walked through us and went inside the tent, they bowed to the King before facing us.

“What was the princess doing when you first saw her?”

The Financial Advisor questioned the cardinals.

“She was terrorizing the commoners in the Holy Garden of Gaia!”

“It’s true, a number of men and women collapsed because of their treacherous actions!”

“Fortunately, the soldiers managed to stop them and brought them here as prisoners.”

The three cardinals said it with exaggeration, pointing their fingers like I'm some sort of criminal. So this is why they’ve gathered a lot of dark knights in one place.

“That is a lieeeeee! That is entirely fabricated!”

I shouted… I shouted my lungs out.

“See, Your Majesty, the princess’ sanity is already gone! You should have believed me that we’ll lose her out there.”

The Financial Advisor is silently laughing behind the King. The King looks at me with disappointment. Drops of sweat appear on Siegfried’s forehead while looking away. Uncle Kal is staring at the mysterious woman. Jack is looking away from me, same as Siegfried. I don’t know the reaction of the mysterious woman and the Mage, right now... Like I care anymore.

Their next words echoed in my ears.

“The princess even brought a demon beside her.”

No…

“Some of our soldiers died defending our people.”

It’s not… true...

“After the fight, the princess bowed before that demon.”

That’s a lie…

“I saw it too! The princess bowed to the demon after she was defeated.”

No… it’s...

“The princess is being manipulated by that demon!”

…

“That body right there, the Vice Captain killed it himself, isn’t that right Jack?”

…

“Without the Vice Captain, they might have already killed our gardeners.”

…

“After the Vice Captain showed his power, they went silent and obeyed right after.”

…

“I agree, Your Majesty, we should promote him or atleast give him a substantial reward for his heroism.”

…

“During the battle we used the Sacred Staff of Gaia to protect the people against evil.”

…

“That’s right, we also help during the fight.”

…

“But worry not, Your Majesty, we don’t want any kind of rewards. Defending the weak has always been our duty.”

My eyes have dulled. I look up at the sky with my mouth partially open like an idiot.

I wanted to cry but my tears couldn't come out. I wanted to run away but my legs couldn’t move. I wanted to shout but no one would listen.

After all I have done for this country.

I lost my companions along the way.

I lost Sir Alfred.

I lost my knights.

And right now…

I’ve lost everything.

I’ve been marked as a criminal.

I shouldn’t have declined their marriage proposals.

I shouldn’t have believed Siegfried.

I shouldn’t have brought Sir Alfred.

I shouldn't have gone there.

I should…

I should have just died with the rest of them.

… is it starting to rain?

I couldn’t see the sun anymore… I’d like to see it one last time.

In an instant, I got a full view of the sky. This is… much... better. I feel calm now.

-- End of Sora’s Perspective --

Sora collapsed and lost consciousness.

It began to rain.

The King partially stood up.

“The demon’s curse has been removed. Quick, take the princess away and seize that demon!”

The Financial Advisor shouted and ordered Kal.

“Hey you, carry the princess and send her to her room.”

A dark knight carried the princess and went away.

“Imprison that Mage, she might be cursed as well.”

The cardinal pointed his hand at the Mage. Kal nodded.

“Take her to jail.”

A dark knight dragged her away by the arm.

Kal looks up at the woman standing three-meters tall. He noticed from start to finish the woman just stared at the lifeless body. She didn’t look away, not even once. He thought that the cardinals were telling the truth. But he has some... doubts.

“Dark knights, seize this… woman.”

The dark knights immediately surrounded Freya.

“Take that body she’s carrying!”

“Don’t push your luck, mortal.”

An intimidating voice was heard. Freya stopped staring at the Demon King’s body and slowly glared at Kal.

“Seize her already!”

The Financial Advisor shouted.

“What’s wrong, General Kal?”

“The dark knights aren’t moving.”

The dark knights are trembling; this phenomenon never happened before.

“You, quick! Seize her!”

Kal ordered the dark knight beside him but it didn’t respond.

“I-imposible! Quick, gather around me, the Sacred Staff of Gaia will defend everyone!”

Kal retreated next to the cardinals.

“Oh merciful, God! Grant us your protection.”

The Sacred Staff of Gaia shined brightly and a spherical barrier was made.

“This staff can withstand the strength of the dark knights. Don’t worry, Your Majesty, God will protect us.”

Three dark knights came forward in a row, in front of Freya.

“Carry the Demon King with utmost respect and care, and move away from here.”

Freya caresses the Demon King’s head before handing him over. The rest of the dark knights dropped their weapons.

“D-demon King! By the Gods!”

“I told you she’s a demon! She’s even controlling the dark knights!”

“Don’t worry everyone, God won’t let a mere demon touch us!”

She walks slowly towards them. The dark knights clear the way for her.

“Stay away, demon!”

“Ha! Even if you use the dark knights against us, they wouldn’t be able to destroy this barrier!”

“Give up, demon! God is with us!”

The three cardinals mocked her.

Close to the barrier, Freya crossed her arms and looked down on them. Because of her enormous height of three-meters, all of them tilted their heads up. They look like children from her eyes.

“The princess... made a promise to me that she’ll revive the Demon King in exchange for letti…”

“We won’t liste---”

“SIIIIIILEEEENCE!”

** vooooommm **

A flash of light followed by a shockwave burst out.

** tremble **

The ground trembles.

--

After the blast, the King regained his consciousness. His ears are throbbing, he could hear his heart pulsating.

“My eyeees! My eyeeees!”

The King saw the Financial Advisor shouting not far from him, rolling in pain.

“Aaah!”

The King was surprised after seeing the cardinal’s dead body lying over him. He pushed him away. Debris from the shockwave went inside the cardinal’s body.

Kal was able to recover and immediately stood next to the King. He managed to survive because of his dense armor but he lost an arm. Kal attempted to unsheathe his sword but it got stuck inside the scabbard due to the dents made after the impact. He searched for a weapon nearby, but they all flew away along with the dark knights.

“Glad we managed to survive, Your Majesty.”

“...”

“We flew ten meters away from her. Without that barrier we'd all be dead already.”

Seeing Freya far away from them, he looks at the King.

“Quick, Your Majesty, run away!”

The King’s eyes were wide open while his mouth agape, Kal saw his expression and looks back.

… Freya is already in front of them. It was fast, he didn’t hear her wings flapping.

Freya looks down on them. She wields a thick golden spear that stands taller than her.

“My eyeeessss!”

“Silence!”

** chuckkk **

She stabs the Financial Advisor in the neck. He gurgled in his own blood - dead in an instant. She clicked her tongue in disappointment and sighed. Her attention focused on the two below her. The King gulped while Kal stood on guard.

“As I was saying before... The princess made a promise to me that she’ll revive the Demon King in exchange for letting her live… and possibly receive the lost knowledge you… pests are looking for. ”

“...”

“Mmmmmh.”

Her words are calm yet intimidating, she’s acting like nothing happened. She looks away for a moment and rubs her chin, trying to remember something.

“She also promised that she’ll be using every inch of her power to revive the Demon King. Mm! That’s right.”

She nodded and looked at them.

“I’ve been restraining myself recently... I believed that pests like you won’t follow like the others, right?”

Kal looks at the King behind him. The King nodded several times while looking at her.

“Do it again and I won’t hesitate to kill you.”