Volume 2

Chapter 12 – Friend and Foe?

My valiant commanders if you would be so kind as to give me your reports.

Yes, my liege!! (Diden, Aluvia, and Kiria altogether.)

Ughh I have told you so many times to drop the “my liege”. Ah, forget it just give me your reports.

Well, I would like to start then. I along with the group of Minotaur’s have been patrolling and eliminating any monsters in sight. The only odd thing was one of the monsters seemed to be intelligent.

He could just be someone trying to get into the city, right??

Well, he could have been someone like that but he just seemed odd.

Okay next up Aluvia.

Okay my report… in the six months since the throne was taken, we have been able to free all slaves. That is not all we have also imprisoned all the slave traders. On the topic of imprisonment, Zexious is still in prison and he is still denying knowing about where the former King’s little sister Zystaria Loklowe is.

She is still on the run… huu don’t bother torturing Zexious any longer I don’t think he has any idea about where she is.

I understand… next we managed to convince our population to co-exist with each other the smooth road is still far away but it is getting ever so close. We have with your help and strategy gotten everyone in the monster/demi-human races jobs, as for the kids we have built houses for them to stay in temporarily. Our countries economy has taken a huge blow but we have managed to keep up with that. Unfortunately, though we have not found a way to get the enslaved monsters back to their families.

*sips* (a specially created coffee replica) everything is going as I would expect on the surface… but my real concern is the situation under it.

*chokes* umm.

Tell me.

It would seem talks about the exchange of crowns are growing. I believe that most people know about “it” but they are just turning a blind eye to it. The reason is most probably.

They hated Lionel.

Yes, I think that is the case exactly as for the soldiers they have sworn loyalty to you after the little act we put up.

hmm… come see me a little later in the day. I want to do more for the kids and demi-humans, we can discuss this then.

Well as it stands, we are done, for now, please continue to serve this city and its people.

Master I actually found something while exploring the castle.

Really what did you find??

It was another one of Lionel’s secret caves I believe. I did not try going deep into the cave it was pretty scary… weird noises were coming out of it.

Geez, another one how freaking paranoid was this guy.

If your information is correct this would be the ninth cave found.

Actually, it would be the tenth, Diden.

Ahem yes, ten that’s what I meant.

Ninth or tenth it is all the same. I will go check it out Kiria come with me.

Yes, master, and should I bring a few of my pack.

Nah that will not be required.

Okay!! Bye, you guys.

Please be careful Sir. Storm and Kiria protect him from any danger OKAY!!

Well, I should get back to the forest. I still have a few things to take care of before I depart.

Oh, that’s right you are going to nearby villages in the kingdom right. Yes, Storm wants me to scout the villages and establish friendly relations if possible.

Well, good luck on your journey Diden... be careful.

***

*Step**Step*

*Crack*

This is it.

Hmm, this looks like it’s going underground. You said you heard noises coming from here…

Yes, I am sure I heard someone scream.

(Just how many caves did the stupid guy leave behind what was their purpose?? Hiding? Aargh)

*Screech*

A loud screech emerges from the cave.

Well, you were right about the scream.

What should we do, Master?

(Can you notice a prominent threat, Myu?)

(No, I do not sense a threat.)

Let’s go in and see what is making that sound.

!!Yes, Master!!

Strom and Kiria entered the cave. They went down and after wandering around for a few minutes, they discover a hallway.

*Screech*

Another loud screech we must be getting close to. But this place seems a bit odd.

Master, I think you should see this.

What’s wrong… Argh, rotten corpses this was the wrong I was feeling. (What are these corpses Myu.)

(I think they are actually summoned, creatures. Can you get a bit closer to the ground… Ha from what I can tell these were unsuccessful summons, the faint traces of magic indicate there being a circle of restraint here in the past.)

So, these were rogue summons whose summoning he did not want to cancel. What do you think about this Kiria?

I hate the previous king even more!!

Let’s keep moving we might be able to save at least one of them.

Walking deeper in Storm and Kiria feel an intense pressure coming from one of the cells. A pressure-filled with anger and hate. They walked forward together and laid their eyes upon something that neither of them had ever expected to see…

***

A jungle in the Kingdom of Balance…

How much longer do we have to wait Mr. Shen.

Patience my boy it is a virtue you really need to learn.

Just thinking about my fellow kin getting tortured and forced to do horrible things… pisses me off.

You say all that Yota my boy but what do you exactly plan to do that cannot wait.

I want to sever the head of King Storm and hoist it like a flag as soon as possible. I want to make him pay for his crimes. I will make him a symbol, a symbol that tells the people that we are not to be messed with.

I understand your frustration and anger but we must wait… We will attack once the commander of defense Diden departs. Once he does, we will move in and defeat the King. After eliminating the King, we will free our kind from their shackles. Do you understand?

Yes, I understand.

My boy looks at me… I promise we will save all of them! So, until the time is right, I beg of you do not to do anything that could jeopardize the safety of our kind.

I trust in your words. I promise I will not do anything stupid. But I do have one request when the time comes to fight the King Storm… please let me be the one to kill him.

– END