-Chapter Eleven-

Sombre - Part Four

“Why did you kill him?” Aelius’ low voice asked, a bloodied sword in his right hand, as he slowly took steps forward. Before him, battered, bruised and bloodied as well, laying on the ground was the pathetic excuse of a king. But the king was not also without backbone. Through his brown hair hanging low over his brown eyes, he glared at Aelius with a gaze of contempt. “I asked, why did you kill him?” The young warrior repeated, glaring back at the king with cold eyes.

“Who are you talking about? To be so brazen to attack my palace head on, and also break through the guards. It was all because I killed someone?” the king cackled at the audacity. “I’ve taken the lives of many, you’ll have to be more specific.”

“You don’t recognise me?” Aelius questioned him.

“You’re not so special, kid,” the king scoffed. Even with a broken tooth and gruesome slashes across his body, he could still scoff.

“Kael Kanaria. A man most loyal to you.” Aelius raised his blade. “Yet you had him executed. Why did you kill him?”

“Kwahahhaa!” the king erupted into laughter. “All this for him? You did all this, just for that?” Aelius inhaled sharply through his nostrils, his eyes flaring up with intolerance, and he smacked the king across the jaw with the hilt of his sword. The king’s head jolted from the blow and blood splattered onto the smooth, marble ground beneath them.

“Why did you kill him? That was the third and final time I’ll ask you,” Aelius asked him with ever-thinning patience.

“Well, was there any reason not to? Hahaha!” Aelius sprung forward and gripped the man by his hair, raising his fist menacingly.

“Do you think I don’t fucking know you’re trying to stall for time for the main forces of the Royal Guard to arrive?” Aelius growled, his teeth grinding. “It doesn’t matter if they get here. You and I have all the time in the world.”

“Well, you can hit me all you want! I’m not a king for nothing, I can handle a little bit of pain,” the King of Farrien taunted, but was surprised when Aelius threw him back up against the wall and turned away. “Ohhoho! You’re giving up? Did the thought of the Royal Guards actually frighten you? Kekeke,” the king asked him in mockery, but Aelius who had retreated a few steps away, merely stopped, picked up three of the scattered swords from the guards he killed, and returned to the king again.

“I don’t think talking to you is really going to get much out of you. Still, when the time comes, you will give me a satisfactory answer, or you’ll fucking regret it.” Aelius rose one of the blades and the king’s eyes widened in panic.

“Wai-” he could not react as the blade plunged through his shoulder and was left lodged in the stone pillar behind him. “Ahhhrghhh!” the king howled out in pain, but it was far from over. Aelius raised the next blade and did the same to the king’s other shoulder, and then the same again to his leg.

“Oh, by the way, you won’t be dying of blood loss. Thanks to a certain someone who hailed from this shitty hell-hole, I learnt some medical skills, you see.”

User is partially activating the skill Phoenix’s Love.

A warm and homely glow appeared around the king from Aelius’ touch, but it was by no means healing. All it did was close his wounds and fuse him with the swords to the pillar. “Heh, now, I’ll be right back,” Aelius lowly whispered in the man’s ears. “Sit tight until then.” He turned around, just in time for dozens of men to file into the Royal Hall, all showing off the crest of the Farrien Royal Family.

“Criminal! Let go of his Majesty in this instant and we can guarantee you a painless death!” The commander at the front was none other than the Aerianne Archduke. The valiant man stood tall with his light blue hair tied up in a ponytail, sitting in front of his chiselled chest.

“Whoa, you got promoted after my father’s death, huh?” Aelius reached up and pulled his hood down, revealing his bloodied smile.

“A-Aelius… Kanaria?” the Archduke was shocked for a moment, before his eyes steeled again and he raised his blade. “Release his Highness.”

“Ah, I hate people who don’t understand the situation. It makes things so tedious,” Aelius sighed, and unsheathed his sword.

User has activated the skill Path.

???

???

The same, corrupted Divine power Aelius had just acquired engulfed his sword, and with a crazed look in his eyes, he shot forward headfirst into the crowd. Though they were all elite, trained warriors at the Sixth tier, with the exception of the Archduke who was at the Seventh tier, they still could not fend off a single attacker. His ominous, black power shredded through them like paper. It didn’t take long until there was a bloodbath, and most of the fighters had been disabled. Some of the deceased corpses littered the ground, others who had survived were left unable to move up against the walls, like the Aerianne Archduke. “You should be thankful I’ve got unfinished business with you,” Aelius leaned forward and whispered to the man with a frightful smile, and he pulled away again.

“Father!!” Two young voices came from the entrance of the Hall, and Aelius turned his head to see two young adults his age standing at the with worry. One was a young man wearing a cloak with the Royal Family crest on it, and the other was a young woman with a matching shade of raven hair to him.

“You fiend!” the First Royal Prince unsheathed his sword and stepped forward. “Why have you committed such terrible crimes? You deserve death!” Aelius began to laugh uncontrollably to himself at the words.

“Wow… you’re so fucking cringe, Prince,” Aelius took a breath to regain his breath, eyeing the young man. He was visibly well-trained, with muscles bulging through his sleeves as he clenched, but the naivety in his baby-face eyes could not be hidden. The King from the back of the room remained silent, as Aelius looked over his shoulder at him. The man wore a stone-face, his eyes still glaring at Aelius. The young man returned a smirk.

“You can act all you want, I know you actually care about them a lot. Don’t think you can fool me just by staying quiet.”

“How dare you look away from your opponent in a situation like this!” the Prince roared as he lunged forward with a surprise attack.

“Hah… thank goodness you came to me,” Aelius shook his head.

User has activated the skill Authority of Anemos.

Become one with the wind.

An irresistible wall of wind seized the Prince, and he floated to Aelius almost like telekinesis, delivering his neck straight into Aelius’ grasp. Behind him, the Princess turned around and quickly tried to run, but he was faster than her.

“Oh no you don’t.” Immediately tossing the Prince further into the Royal Hall and ensnaring him in a wind trap, Aelius seized the girl next.

“Ah! Let go!” the thin, pale girl struggled violently, but had no hope as Aelius dragged her across the Hall to the King.

“Well, what will you do now?” he asked the king coyly as he looked down at the Princess. She returned a fierce glare back at him as he pulled her by her long hair. “Your two eldest children are now in my hands!”

The king remained silent, glaring back at Aelius.

“Heh. Okay, well, might as well get started.” He turned around and sealed the entrance to the Hall with the ominous black power, and turned back to the king.

“Here, you can wait for your turn,” he dropped the Princess and she hit the ground before quickly scuttling to her feet, panting harshly.

“Why are you doing this, you fiend?” she demanded from him.

“Shh. It’s not your turn yet. You keep talking and I’ll slice that mouth off,” he told her coldly and she froze from his menace. “Now, dear old king,” Aelius sighed deeply and put a hand on the Prince’s shoulder. “What do you wanna do now? Talk? Or keep prowling on with your bullshit?” The king took a long moment to think. But as soon as he spoke, it was more lies.

“What reason do I need to-” Aelius shook his head and grabbed hold of the Prince’s arm before twisting it. A gruesome snap echoed out and the Prince let out a howl. The Princess screamed in horror as tears formed in her eyes, and she quickly realised Aelius was not someone to be messed with.

“Got anything else to say?” Aelius asked smugly, while the king kept his face under control.

“Isn’t this too far? Your father gave his life honourably for the country-” Aelius grabbed a finger on the hand of the remaining unbroken arm, and snapped the first he could find.

“Try again?” Aelius asked as the Prince shook violently, roaring out. “Actually, no. Since you tested my patience…” He quickly snapped another two fingers. “Now, got anything to say?”

“You don’t know the forces you are messing with!” the king desperately shouted at him, his face now properly moved.

“Wow, to think you still could threaten me in this situation,” Aelius narrowed his gaze and picked up his blade.

“No- no… what are you doing?” the Prince asked in fear through his tears, starting to struggle violently in the hold of the wind trap.

“No! It wasn’t a threat! It was the truth! Much greater forces are at work here-” A clean swing sent the Prince’s arm flying and he cried out. Aelius gave a deep sigh as he looked to the king who was too stunned to speak anymore.

“Well, this was pointless, except for a little warmup I guess,” Aelius shrugged as he released the Prince from the wind trap, letting him topple onto the ground and wriggle in pain, crying out. Ignoring the horrid, wretched sounds, Aelius started walking toward the Princess.

“N-no… don’t come close to me!” she cried in hysteria.

“Fathers are always harsh on their sons, but soft on their daughters, right?” Aelius asked the king. “Not that I would know, ‘cause you had my father beheaded.”

“Stop before you go too far, boy!” the king roared.

“Is the arm of your dear son not too far? Oh, you don’t get it. This so-called ‘too far’ is really nothing at all.” The Princess spun around and tried to run again, but Aelius simply swiftly pulled her back to him with wind.

“No!” she shook as he pinned her by an arm and grabbed her face forcefully by the chin, pointing her face up to him.

“Wow, you’re quite the beauty, aye? Surprising that you’re a descendent of filth like this man right here,” Aelius pulled the Princess back to the king.

“Please… not my daughter.”

“Oh, don’t worry, she’s too pretty to waste on something like gruesome torture. Your son was an ugly bastard, so I was fine with it. Here on the other hand…” he cackled and looked her slender figure up and down. “I wonder, hmm?”

“You can’t mess with them, boy! They’ll wipe out us all!” the king insisted, but it was not the answer Aelius wanted.

“Well then, don’t mind if I do.” The Princess still thrashed about but Aelius exerted more strength, stopping her from moving before he forcefully put his lips to hers. She struggled but was pinned tight by his grasp as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She was completely unable to resist as he freed one hand and tore the front of her shirt off, reaching in and feeling up her smooth stomach and her palm-sized breasts before he pulled away again.

“Heh, I guess I am a little messed up to enjoy making love to a pig like you,” he scoffed as he pushed her to the ground and reached down to undo his belt. The Princess was completely silent now, tears falling from her eyes as she looked away.

“It was the Aerianne’s! Goddess damn it, the Aerianne’s pushed for me to kill your father!” the King finally confessed, and Aelius sighed. The Princess was still shaking, bracing herself, but was surprised when Aelius pulled her up to her feet, took off his coat and placed it over his shoulder.

“Well, thanks for your cooperation, Princess,” he smirked as he left another soft peck on her forehead and turned away, leaving her barely remaining upright, trembling intensely.

“And why the fuck did you listen to them? Just because my father killed a Saint commander?” Aelius asked, diverting his attention to the king.

“No, no, no,” the king cried. “Nobody cares about the death of a single Saint commander. It was all set up for conveniences. I had no choice. The people- no… the things backing the Aerianne’s. I was forced, I cannot resist them. I did as they asked for the good of the Kingdom! For the people!” The king pleaded. Aelius felt the urge to beat the man to death right there and then, but resisted it with a low growl.

“One more question. The Holy Knights who you and the Queen handpicked. The Fourth one, Quarren Leos. Where the fuck is he?” Aelius asked, this time with infinitely more rage than before. The entire room was dead quiet in tension.

“Quarren Leos, the fourth Holy Knight?” the king asked in confusion. “The Holy Knights disbanded two years ago. They’ve all gone their separate ways.” Aelius felt frustration gathering within him, but he finally gave a deep sigh and pulled the swords out of the man’s body before turning away.

“If you’re lying, I will come back for you. Oh, and your daughter, hah!” Aelius sneered as he stepped past the Princess.

“If you have to blame someone for what happened today, blame it on your old man. But, he’s free now, so go do whatever the fuck you want, I guess,” he mumbled to her as passed by.

“My father killed your father? That’s why you did this?” the Princess asked through her shaking voice.

“My mother too, which ruined my sister’s life. What, you’re saying it wasn’t good enough of a reason?” Aelius asked provocatively in response. The Princess thought about her words for a moment before she finally dipped her head.

“On behalf of the Royal Family… I’m sorry.”

“Tch, whatever. It doesn’t mean shit but… Well, good to know at least one of you has some sense,” he shook his head disapprovingly as he turned away again and left them. As the Princess joined her father’s side with Aelius’ cloak still around her shoulders, she reached up to touch her bruised lip, her face slightly flushed in a blush.

The Archduke of Aerianne was looking at Aelius with fear in his eyes now.

“What sort of monster are you…?” his voice laced with gravity as he spoke but the other young man quickly sent his blade into the wall behind the man.

“I’m the one asking the questions here.” With uncontrollable anger, the young warrior’s clenched fists trembled. “He treated you like a brother… and you killed him?”

“You mean what the King said!? I don’t know anything of the sort! I desperately tried to dissuade him of Kael’s death!”

“Wow… you really have it in you to lie to me after what you just saw I was capable of? Should I drag Aria here and behead her in front of you? I can’t tell if you’re stupid or brave,” Aelius scoffed, pulling back.

“I really don’t know of a thing! It’s the King that’s lying! I came to the court daily to ask him to take back the order of the execution!” The Aerianne Archduke desperately insisted. Aelius took a deep sigh and turned his head back to the King across the Hall.

“Well, your highness? Did you lie to me?” Aelius asked, and the king who was kneeling at the side of his son looked at him with regretful eyes.

“Once I tell you, I want you to never come after my family again. You can take that wretched power and get out of this nation!” the king’s voice shook with uncontrollable emotion.

“Fine, I don’t want to stick around this shithole for any longer than I have to,” Aelius smugly answered. The king was broodingly quiet for a moment longer before he answered.

“The Aerianne Archduke indeed did beg me desperately to take back the order, saying the Kanarian Archduke was like a brother to him. It’s the truth…” the king clenched his fists, clearly hesitant to speak words he needed to follow up with. “The man you are directing your anger at,” the king finally continued, giving the Aerianne Archduke a pitiful gaze. “He is nothing more than a mere puppet. His wife is the orchestrator of it all. Go direct your anger at her,” he finished and turned away, leaving a shocked look on the Aerianne Archduke’s face.

“Huh… looks like you were clueless through it all then…” Aelius put the tip of his blade to the man’s neck. “Tch, I would say ignorance is a sin, but it seems I was fooled just as well.” Coldly, the young man whipped his blade away and sheathed his sword before turning away.

“You won’t have the audacity to defend your wife after this, will you? If she has you wrapped around her finger that much, I won’t spare you a second time,” Aelius growled before leaving the Hall, leaving the Archduke seated in disbelief.

Though parts of the world were in turmoil, burning away in the fires of war, there were also sanctuaries living out in peace. It was on such a day of clear blue skies and the bright sun, a twenty-two year old girl with long, light blue hair sat at the window to her large room. She gazed out into the country-side and the world from the fourth floor of the large manor she lived in, her golden eyes sullen with disheartenment. On such a beautiful day, she found it all meaningless. Aria Aerianne spent hours simply gazing out the window, torn between knowing what she cannot have but wanting it regardless. Two years ago, the Kanarian Archduke was executed publicly. Aelius did not appear at the execution nor to his funeral. There had been no talk of him ever since many years ago. Whenever she entertained the thought that he was dead, she would feel tears well up inside her. If it wasn’t for her family poisoning him, he likely could have been stronger. He could have survived. But instead, his body was probably out in a ditch somewhere. How else otherwise, would he have been missing all this time? In her sombre thoughts, the door behind her to her room was thrown open, stealing her attention. She turned to see her mother entering, wearing a stern look on her face. It had been routine.

“Aria!” the Archduchess shouted as she entered. “I just spoke to the Royal Family of the Lesh Kingdom. What the hell did you do to screw this up so monumentally!?” the woman asked, seething with anger. Aria sighed, returning a gaze of disdain to her mother. “They said you gave the Prince a cold shoulder, and now he’s objecting to the marriage!” She fell silent, waiting for Aria to answer, but the young woman never did, simply looking back at her mother. After all, she didn’t have much to say anymore. “Aria…” the mother sighed. “He’s a Prince. A real Prince, not like that wretched family from the South. You could become the ruler of a nation! Don’t you know how good that is for you? Think of the power you would own!” She tried to convince the girl, who was unmoved by the temptation.

“Mother…” Aria turned away again. “You would never understand. My happiness disappeared years ago.” Along with him.

“He was a country bumpkin! I just… I didn’t want you to end up like me. Trust me, my dear daughter. Mother knows best, right?” The Archduchess put a compassionate hand on Aria’s shoulder, firmly gazing at her. “When you grow older, you’ll see how much better this choice was. If you end up settling down and grow old somewhere you found out you actually didn’t like, it’ll be too late to regret it by then!” she insisted.

“Because I’ll grow old with regret is the precise reason I’m not doing as you say! Good for me?” Aria snapped. “Good for me!? You mean good for you! Has living as an Archduchess never satisfied you? You think Dad doesn’t have enough power? Do you regret marrying him?” Aria asked with spite in her tone. The mother stared at her in silence for a long moment before she clicked her tongue and shook her head in disapproval.

“You’re still young, and the young are foolish. Just do as I say and everything will be alright,” she turned away. “I’ll try to talk to the Royal Family again. Though the Prince doesn’t like you very much, his family is eager to join with our’s. You possess the God Eyes, Aria. It’s a huge advantage. Don’t let it go to waste. Ah, if I had been born with it instead, you would have no doubt I’d be doing so much more than just gazing out the window all day like a silly girl,” she remarked spitefully as she left the room, and Aria turned back to the window, unfazed. I should’ve told him the truth. I should’ve told him everything.

It was yet another peaceful night. Uneventful, with no change, and utterly meaningless. That was how it began. But part way through the cold, dark night, Aria’s slumber was quickly disturbed from frantic knocking at her door.

“Young Lady! Young Lady!”

“Mmm…” her eyes slowly opened as she awoke and she first looked out the window to see it was in the dead of the night.

“Young Lady!” The voice urgently called again.

“I’m awake,” Aria answered, pushing herself to her feet and quickly throwing on a cloak over her sleeping gown. “What’s going on?” she asked as she opened the door. It opened to reveal the head maid wearing a look of horror. A woman slightly older than Aria who had taken care of her for many years, with modest brunette hair and freckles across her skin.

“We’re under an attack! The Lady needs you right now!” Aria pursed her lips as she fetched her staff from beside the door.

“Fine. Let’s make haste.”

The maid led Aria to the lobby of their manor. As soon as they reached the entryway, the maid backed away, wearing a horrified look on her face.

“It’s just through there,” she gestured as she kept her distance. Aria could see the gaze in her eyes that she absolutely did not want to enter.

“You’ve done well. Make sure to get yourself somewhere safe now.”

“Please, Young Lady, be safe,” the head maid asked her with a shaking voice. Aria did not falter as she entered, though she felt apprehensive as to who exactly was able to attack their esteemed residence. She found her answer soon enough as she entered to find her mother on her knees at the centre of the room. In a kneel, the so-called Archduchess had her head pressed to the ground, her entire body shaking intensely from pure fear. Aria’s eyes scanned the room from her mother to the back wall where her gaze landed on a dark figure seated at a chair. Though years had passed, she would never forget that presence. Her face lit up at the sight of the invader. He’s alive! She thought with glee as she quickly hopped forward into the centre of the room.

“Aria!” her mother exclaimed as she heard her approach, quickly sitting up and looking to her daughter. “You’ve finally come to save me! Quickly, kill this bastard! He’s so brazen enough to attack our household! How dare he!” She pointed an accusing finger at him. “Go now! You’re finished now that my daughter is here. She’s a prodigy!” Aria pursed her lips as her eyes settled to meet Aelius’. His glowing purple eyes met hers, and she felt her entire being froze. The messages being sent to her mind from the God Eyes almost melted her entire being. The sheer killing intent, the amount of hatred enough to fill an ocean. Instinctively, she began to tremble. She was a prodigy at the Seventh Ring but he was already somehow at the Eighth Ring?

“Aelius…” she mustered the effort to softly call his name. “You’ve finally come.”

For a moment longer, he remained in a brooding silence, until she heard him take a soft breath.

“Archduchess of Aerianne. Why did you push for the king to have my father executed?” he asked without another look in Aria’s way.

“Hah… Aria, kill him already!” the mother exclaimed.

“She can’t, so stop wasting your breath.” He pushed himself off the chair at the end of the room and slowly, step-by-step, encroached upon them. “If you won’t talk, I have ways of making you,” he said with a small smile. “Just wondering, before we get started, do you feel like you have anything to tell me?” he asked the Archduchess as he stepped up to Aria and put his warm hand up to her cheek.

“Aelius…” she leaned into it, feeling her face heat up, indulging in his touch.

“Aria…” the mother looked onward with shock. “Why…!? Why do you let filth like this touch you!?” she exclaimed.

“Ah… filth you say,” Aelius’ gaze dropped to the ground, and his hand clenched into a fist. “Don’t tell me the reason you did all these things was simply because I was ‘filthy’?” his tone dropped low to a threatening manner. “For such a petty reason?”

“Hah! That’s right! The son of that whore of a woman. She deserved to die alone from sickness on that bed!” The mother saw Aelius’ face waver and took a small pleasure from the torment she was inflicting on him. “Having your father beheaded I was already willing to settle for. I didn’t realise I would hit two birds with one stone and get rid of Leislette as well! It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done!” At her mother’s words, Aria felt her heart begin to tear and the world around her begin to shatter. Tears slowly dropped from her eyes. “Mother… what have you done…!” she dropped to her knees beside her mother. “Don’t tell me the death of the Kanarian Archduke was all your doing!?”

“Of course it was!” The Archduchess grabbed her by her two shoulders. “That stupid family wanted my daughter to be wed to their stupid son? Over my dead body! Who do they think they are?”

“No way…” Aria looked up at Aelius to see him wearing an apathetic face. “Mother…” she turned her head back. “Even the Goddess can’t save you now.”

“It was all for your daughter? That’s what you’re saying? Why didn’t you just annul the engagement? Wouldn’t that have been fine!?” Aelius shouted back in anger, shaking as he tried to hold himself back.

“A cancelled engagement is a stain on my family! As soon as it was officially confirmed, I only had the choice left to me to eradicate you all!” the Archduchess spitefully snarled back.

“Is that the same reason you poisoned me?” he asked.

“Of course! And look how well it worked! With that miraculous poison, you were gone for so many years. It’s just too bad it didn’t kill you completely! Now, Aria! What are you waiting for? Get rid of him.” Aria looked at her mother’s eyes with pity as she rose to her feet again and backed away.

“I should’ve realised earlier you were this delusional,” she shook her head. “You’ve dug your grave, now you have to lie in it.”

Aelius grit his teeth. “So all the damage you did to me? To us? Was all because of your stupid little superiority complex?”

“It’s my right to trample over you!” she snarled back again and there was a quick flash of light before blood spurted out her throat and she collapsed onto the ground in a gurgling mess. Aria looked at her mother’s dying corpse with a harrowing expression for a moment, before she turned her gaze to Aelius.

“So, are you going to kill me too? I know it won’t ever be enough to make amends,” she said and saw him look at her with detest on his face.

“You were in on it. For all these years. You didn’t do anything to help, and now, you want to act like the good guy?” he growled. She felt a tinge of guilt stab at her.

“I was just a young girl, how could I go against my mother? By the time I realised, it was already far too late,” she admitted, clutching her arm.

“Tch.” He turned away and made his way to the exit. “I’ll spare your life, I guess.” Aria watched as he left, and the only thing she could feel was that she would regret it if she didn’t take action now.

“Aelius!” she called and he stopped, looking over his shoulder.

“What?”

“I-I… I love you! I’ve always loved you. I love you dearly,” her voice dropped away. She wasn’t sure of what else to say. Nervously, she raised her eyes from the ground, only to see a glare of fury on his face.

“You have the audacity to tell such a blatant lie after everything that just happened? I’ll forget I ever heard anything, just because I can’t be fucked.” Without any other words, Aria watched his back figure with disheartenment. Her meaning couldn’t get through to him. She tried, but failed. If anything, she made him hate her even more. Would they ever meet again? So she could right this wrong? Her beloved Aelius. Her yearning cannot be stifled.

Rekindling has ended. The skill Phoenix's Love has successfully rejuvenated all wounds.Determining efficacy…

The user’s psyche is…

Compromised.

Partial integrity remaining. The system recommends the user to exercise caution.

The Dream has now ended.

Welcome back to the real world.