Sebastian Fidusmark had a sinking feeling that his days as the "Captain" were coming to a close. He was walking through the gate of the inner walls of Avinea, into the area where the Palace and all the other noble residencies were. The whole space was located on a cliff, making it sit higher than all the districts outside the inner walls. It was one of the major marks of the city; the white cliffs, and the Royal palace on top of them, shining in the sun. It was a trait often exploited by the king to appear more regal and intimidating to those who questioned his rule.

After the fall of the Empire, the Third one to be exact, and the death of the last Emperor, the continent was left in chaos. Self-proclaimed emperors and kings were suddenly rising in every corner of every little town and village. Many saw that as an opportunity and tried to take advantage of the leaderless people and nations. Some succeeded, and after almost a hundred years of wars, now known as ‘The Wars of Kings’, four Kings emerged, controlling the 4 major nations, previously controlled by the First and Second Empire. The rest of the formerly conquered by the Second Empire nations became sovereign again, with varying degrees of hostility toward the newly formed kingdoms. The new monarchy, fifty years ago, declared a truce between the kingdoms. The need arose from the constant warmongering and change that came out of this chaotic period. It forced them to appease their own greed for power in order to ensure that there would be still something left to fight for.

The newly formed kingdoms had little power and influence outside the major cities. Towns and villages, and even some more remote major cities, had little loyalty towards the new rulers. Dissent and rebellions were as many as the battles with outside forces. King’s Clemen father and Clemen himself took it upon themselves to instill in the populace the vision of what a nation is and what a king is. This would in turn persuade the governors, barons, and the people living in those city-states to turn their gazes toward a common goal, a common enemy that is not inside their own borders, and also install more central control over the provinces of the new kingdom.

This policy was one of the reasons why Sebastian couldn't just arrest the daring mercenary and the princess on Main Street. An arrest means crime, and crime means danger. Everyone knows that Avinea is a safe place for all those who visit, especially Main Street. Not to mention that if he attempted to continue with the arrest, then the fight would inevitably ensue, causing even more fright and panic to the public, which was numerous despite it being very early in the morning. It would compromise the feeling of safety for all travelers and merchants that the king insists is present. If compromised, not only would people do less business but also point to the inability of the king to uphold his own policies and promises, and King Clemen couldn’t have that. And there was also an S-ranked adventurer present and taking their side, somehow.

He stepped into the Palace proper, heading to the Throne Room. The servants and workers averted their gaze, as per usual. The nobles and dignitaries always seemed not even to notice his presence unless in need of it. Sebastian never understood why. He thought that those highborn would look away in shame even more than the commoners, in fear of his powers, but it was the opposite. He didn't dwell on that thought for long; it wasn't his place to question those better than him.

The orange glow met his eyes as he entered the massive hall. The enormous window, stretching from the floor to the ceiling, allowed the morning light in, despite facing west. Apparently, it was an ancient enchantment made by powerful Light Elementalists of the Second Empire. Sebastian couldn't even fathom the power and skill required to complete such a task. It is said that Elementalists were stronger then, their strength being required in numerous expansions and wars. The Empire prided itself on educating magnificent mana users in the Tower's Academy. Those with the gift for magic were given more gravitas and prestige than simply being another warrior or general, just with more power, like most are treated now.

He passed multiple dignitaries and diplomats talking between the pillars in hushed tones in the massive room. Moving past the throne, he went into the small Council Room, like the last time that was just less than a day ago. The king was sitting alone this time, signing some documents or papers, still dressed in the regal white robe, like the emperors of old. He wasn't looking as pristine as the last time, tiredness and fatigue clearly visible on his face and the ruffled robes. His new most trusted advisor was absent this time.

Sebastian waited until the king acknowledged his presence and greeted him when he did.

“Ah, Sebastian.” The king took off his reading glasses and took his attention from the papers to Sebastian.

"Your Grace."

"Your face tells me you have failed in your task?"

"... Yes, Your Grace." He gritted his teeth.

"I haven't heard any commotion about someone trying to arrest a 'princess', so there's that at least," Clemen sighed.

Sebastian was surprised at the king for being so blasé about it. Especially after his outbursts of anger at him for calling the girl 'princess', while now he himself is using the term. Sebastian suspected that he would be fired immediately as soon as he said he had failed, or even be thrown into the jail cells underneath the Palace. Perhaps it was still to come…

"It was the second time you had failed in executing the same task, a task of much importance to me and my rule." There it is, thought Sebastian. "I wish I didn't have to do it, but punishment is in order." The king looked him in the eyes.

"I understand, Your Grace." He gulped, but was ready to accept his punishment, whatever it may be. That's the least he could do save what little honor he had left.

The king sat back, resting his back on the cushioned wood. "Do you know why I named you the Captain of the Royal Guard?"

This question took him by surprise, which he was getting quite used to in this conversation. "I believe it was because of my background and my unique specialty in Light, Your Grace," he replied, his back straight all this time.

"Hmm, yes, those were among the reasons." Clemen looked to the side, thinking. "But none of those are the main reason. There were many more candidates being considered by me and my council when your predecessor died. Many had even more impressive backgrounds, greater achievements, even more skilled in magic." He looked at Sebastian once again. " I pushed for you because I knew you had honor and were loyal to a fault."

Sebastian blinked. "I'm not sure I follow, Your Grace. How can a candidate for a Captain, or any soldier, not be loyal?"

Clemen gave a hearty chuckle as if he was expecting to hear this question. "Oh, I'm sure everyone is loyal when they need to be and when times are easy. What makes you different is that you see loyalty and serving as an absolute state of your being. There is nothing else in life for you except serving your lord." Clemen put his hands together on his belly and sighed wistfully. "I thought you would change on your own given enough time but it seems that your grandfather must have done too much of a good job training you."

"Change, Your Grace?" he asked, confused. "Should I not be loyal?"

"I had hoped that you would see beyond just serving and be someone who can also lead. Captain of the Royal Guard is a position of a bodyguard after all, despite organizing guards in the Palace being one of your tasks. It is a position that can acquire many political favors quickly and has access to delicate and grand information being passed around in the Palace. I hoped that you would use that to rise through the ranks and become a general on your own. I couldn't convince my council to give you a higher position otherwise. They needed to see proof of what I said you are capable of." He looked to the side. "Perhaps I put too much expectation on you, and too little help.

Sebastian didn't know what to say. The king thought that he could be a general. He? Without any real battles under his belt or exemplary military achievements? He was already happy being a Captain. He thought he would spend his life at this post, Gods allowing. He would be delighted in spending his life in servitude to the most important man in the kingdom, be it King Clemen or one of his sons. He had a purpose there and didn't think of anything beyond that.

"I see I've given you much to think about." Clemen slightly smiled.

"...Yes, Your Grace." He nodded. "I didn't know you had such expectations of me, to be frank."

"I did, and I still have." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers before his face. "But as I said, punishment is in order. I remember Rudi suggesting that you should find the girl personally and I still agree with this proposition. He may be an insufferable snake, and he may have suggested this idea just to get rid of you so that I would be easier to manipulate, but in the end, it isn't such a bad idea."

"You — you were aware of this, Your Grace?" Sebastian asked, dumbfounded.

"Of course I was." He snickered. "You not trying to warn me is one of the things I hoped would get fixed in time. I suspect it must have been because of something like not daring to question the actions of a lord, wasn't it?"

Sebastian nodded slowly.

"You can remember that then, as a lesson for the future." He pointed a finger at Sebastian, then continued, "I may be old, but I'm not stupid. I play up my incompetence for him, especially because I need him working at full capacity, and he works at full capacity when he knows he can gain something. I bet he dreams about marrying one of his daughters to my son." He chuckled. "His talents at managing my kingdom and finances are too valuable to lose just because I'm afraid of his ambitions."

"I see…"

"Anyway, back to the topic at hand. This situation needs resolving, and the one good thing that emerged from your failure is that we've been given more time to do it."

"More time, Your Grace?"

"Yes, the 'princess' has been kidnapped by a heinous criminal after all, and we don't know where they might have gone. We may as well reveal to the public her existence. The rumors would get only more intense, even with you not causing a scene. The nobles, who know about her, would hear about your attempted arrest and would also start talking louder about her.

"We will post a bounty on the head of this adventurer you hired to kill her, we will paint her mother as someone beautiful and pure whom I met during a campaign to one of the northern provinces to quench a rebellion and who died before I could marry her."

"Are we to let her go then, Your Grace?"

"No, of course not. She poses too much of a threat on her own or as a puppet. I can't have that. She needs to die, and you are going to make sure of that. You are going to track her, and the one who saved her and kill them both, preferably without anyone knowing it was you, or if there would be witnesses present, pass it off as an accident when she dies. I don't care how you deal with the adventurer, but he also needs to die; he knows too much." Clemen was lost in thought for a moment. "Your already strained reputation will be in tatters soon. The best way to fix it would be to bring her back alive, for everyone to see, and then have her die of an unfortunate illness. But that would be just a perfect situation for you. As long as she dies, consider the task completed, and your position restored." He stood up and his voice took more of a formal sound. "As of this moment, you are stripped of the position of the Caption of the Royal Guard. Your duties will be temporarily performed by the City Commander until you return successful, or die trying."

Sebastian paled but bowed deeply, nonetheless. "I will not disappoint you this time, Your Grace," he said with determination but also pondering on all that King Clemen said to him today.

"Good, prepare yourself and be ready to set off. No help will be offered aside from the bounty posters in most cities of Aldunis. You are on your own in this task." His hard but expecting eyes bore into Sebastian, who bowed again and left the small room, taking the first steps on the journey that he didn't know would change his life forever, in many ways that he couldn't have predicted.