The throne room was unusually empty.
Even Charlie, the king of Aethelgard, was nowhere to be seen.
In the middle of the room stood only one man. His long, dirty-blonde hair swayed elegantly from the sheer amount of Vyr present here. His velvet robes hung on his body in a way that radiated his presence further, giving off the illusion of a divine figure too inexplicably celestial for this plane of existence.
His eyes were closed shut, his hands intersected together behind his back. When the door opened behind him, he wasn't startled or immediately responsive. Instead, he sighed lightly before slowly turning to the figures who had arrived, his eyes opening to reveal the emerald-green pupils that seemingly sparkled in the emptiness of the room.
Before him stood General Vekas, his white hair flowing neatly and his bangs covering his eyes. He kneeled, showing his respect to the heir to the throne. Beside him was Revan, his ruby-red eyes drinking in the entire room before finally landing his gaze on the prince. He kept his hands in his pockets, not interested in bowing or showing any other form of respect—simply because he didn't feel the need to.
Seeing Revan's demeanor, the prince narrowed his eyes, his brows furrowing in disdain. He had expected Revan to know how to act in front of royalty, but it seems that not everyone tends to act as they are supposed to. He had learned that after observing several lowlives disrespect him and the king.
"Hmm, Revan, is it?" The prince began, his eyes sizing him up till emerald-green eyes met Revan's ruby-red ones.
"Correct. And you must be Prince Marcus." The enigmatic man replied, a small smile plastered on his face.
Observing him, Marcus noted the pristine yet unfamiliar dress he wore. A crisp white shirt with a black tie attached to it, alongside black pants, shoes, and a black coat. The sheer design, color, and exposition were unlike what he had ever seen. It was as if his dress was from the future, one where the clothing industry truly thrived.
However, just because he was noble-looking and had a good outfit, he wasn't going to excuse the lack of respect that the wanderer showed him.
"Hmm... you know me, yet you do not bow to me as you should. I sense much arrogance within you." Marcus remarked, his gaze clouded in a hint of disdain and displeasure.
His words seemed to have stiffened Vekas, who was still in his kneeling position. Unlike Charlie, Marcus wasn't one to take even the slightest of disrespect. This was because while Charlie was humble and forgiving, Marcus was demanding and strict.
"I don't feel compelled to bow down to anyone at all, let alone you," Revan replied, unfazed by Marcus's clear displeasure at his defiance.
"Hmm, you must not be from Aethelgard, I presume?" Marcus asked, his eyes further narrowing at him.
"If you're not from Aethelgard, then your defiance is understandable, though still outrageous."
Saying this, the prince began circling him and Vekas, the latter pursing his lips in nervousness. If Revan were to take offence to this, who knows what would happen?
"I wanted to thank you for helping Aethelgard as well as saving my sister from certain death... but how can I do that when facing such vile behaviour?" he asked, stopping behind him momentarily before moving to face him, their faces inches apart.
"Well, you're welcome!"
"... Are you not aware of proper manners?" Marcus retorted, prompting Revan's expression to morph into one of shock and confusion.
"Eh?! B-but weren't you—?!"
"You should understand when to speak and when to keep your mouth shut." Marcus barked, a vein visible on his forehead.
"God, and here I thought I was going to meet someone worth my time! You must've been the one in the background with Vekas and Cronos doing the main work at protecting Sofamy." Hearing this, Vekas—who was still kneeling—clenched his fists till his knuckles turned white.
Marcus's words couldn't be further from the truth, and yet he couldn't deny them at all. He may be the general of Aethelgard's military, but Marcus was the heir to the throne. He didn't even have the authority to stand without the prince's permission, let alone refute him.
Before anything else could be said, Marcus suddenly whipped his fist at Revan, aiming to punch him with the back of his hand, which Revan ducked under, his hair flowing elegantly as he did so.
"I see..." Marcus muttered, his eyes slightly widened. "Guess you have some ability, eh?"
The strike clearly broke the sound barrier. No, it couldn't possibly be even visible to the naked eye, even after attaining the speed of sound itself. And yet, he dodged without issue. There was no struggle on his face, showing Marcus that Revan couldn't be trifled with that easily.
"For your remarkable display of dodging my attack, I shall let you go. Vekas, guide him out." Marcus ordered, turning his back to them and walking towards the throne.
With a sigh of relief, Vekas stood up before gesturing at the exit, prompting Revan to turn to the door. However, as they headed there, Marcus's voice boomed throughout the room.
"Revan," he called out, turning slightly to look at him. "If I were to see your defiance against me again, I won't be as merciful."
Instead of turning back, Revan merely gestured a thumbs-up before exiting the room alongside Vekas.
Now alone, Marcus gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the Vyr-infused carpet. His brows were furrowed in frustration, his eyes glinting with hate and rage at what had just happened.
"That man... father must have gotten soft on him. I won't tolerate it. No man shall ever disrespect me like that." He growled, his gaze moving up to the throne.
"I am the heir of the throne. If I let one person defy me, thousands will follow. That cannot be accepted. Father may not understand that... but I do."
***
In another room, one near the throne room, was where Androma, Charlie's wife, and her daughter, Sofamy, resided. They sat on the bed, with Sofamy still leaning onto her mother, her eyes closed as she relaxed herself whilst enjoying the comfort of her pats.
"There there, my sweet daughter..." Androma hummed, her eyes narrowed as she held her soft gaze on her daughter.
At this point, all she could do was simply worry about her husband. A lot had invaded his mind. First, there was the failing military of Aethelgard that nearly cost them a victory, then an assassination attempt on Sofamy, and Marcus's demeanor further added to the stress.
She knew nothing was easy, and she hated how helpless she was about it. Her husband's plan to let the kingdom fall was presented with an obstacle. It was Revan, the stranger who was helping Aethelgard, who suggested that he simply reset the governing system of the nation rather than anything else.
Yet, she knew Charlie well enough to tell that he still hadn't abandoned his old idea. How could he? He has been thinking about it for years. The rebels weren't as anonymous as they thought, which showed just how aware the higher-ups were of everything that operated in the nation.
As night approached, she knew she couldn't simply sit here till morning. Although she would love to stay by her daughter's side, she couldn't let her husband face his troubles alone. Today was an extremely hectic day, so it was clear she needed to be by his side.
"Honey..." Androma began, slightly pulling her daughter away. "I'm gonna go to your father now. Are you alright being alone?"
There was clear worry in her eyes. She wondered if her daughter still needed some more comfort. She was about to be assassinated today. The only reason she didn't seem to be crying was that Androma held her close, whispering soothing words and comforting her.
Even then, a few tears were shed, but other than that, she was grateful that there were no heavy sobs from her, considering how gentle, innocent, and sensitive she was. That's how she had always been: sheltered, comforted, spoiled, and treated with care.
Such a harsh incident, suddenly harming her, would surely affect her psyche, making Androma believe that the trauma from this incident won't leave anytime soon.
"... mhm. If father needs you, then don't make him wait." Sofamy replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hearing her daughter's vulnerable voice, Androma's lips pursed, clearly unwilling to simply leave her. However, she loved her husband more, so she had no choice but to go to him.
With a heavy sigh, she stood up, adjusting her black gown before exiting the room, her violet hair swaying as she left.
A few seconds later, Sofamy heard knocking once more. She knew who it was. After all, he always knocked with that specific pattern.
"You may come in." She softly remarked, prompting the door to open as a man entered.
Turning her gaze to him, Sofamy's eyes drank in the man's short orange hair and pinkish-grey eyes. His skin was radiant white, and he was clad in a warrior's outfit, though he currently wasn't wearing his armor.
"Are you alright, my lady?" The man asked, his brows furrowed slightly in concern as he approached her and knelt before her.
"Yes, Cronos. Come, sit beside me." She replied, her tone a melody to his ears, as he got up and sat next to her on the bed.
Cronos was not only a Headguard, but he was mainly the one in charge of protecting Sofamy. He made sure that her needs were met, that she was never dissatisfied, and that she would remain safe from harm.
"I hope you weren't too affected by what happened today..." He bit his lower lip, regretting his words. Of course, she was affected. Why wouldn't she? She had never been assassinated before.
"Hehe..." Hearing her light chuckle, Cronos turned his gaze from the floor onto her spotless face, his eyes widening slightly and his cheeks flushing a tint of pink.
"You really have a habit of fumbling your words. Even back when we were kids, I remember you getting nervous like this after speaking." She remarked, her gaze softening as she observed his gaze avert from her, the blush on his face deepening slightly.
"My bad... I just get nervous sometimes..." He replied, a small smile creeping up his face as he turned his gaze back to her.
"As for how I am feeling... I am fine, don't worry. Mother took good care of me..." She replied, yet Cronos could tell the shock was still stirring in her mind.
"Still, I can feel that you are uneasy. It's not like you deal with this every day." He pressed further, leaning slightly to observe her striking features, her long, dirty-blonde hair that flowed to her waist whilst being tied to a tight bun, and her white dress that seemed to shine in the dark room.
Hearing his words, her smile vanished as she let out a heavy sigh, one filled with clear frustration and anxiety.
"It's unfair that you can read me this easily." She muttered, crossing her arms and averting her gaze as a pout formed at her lips. Seeing this display made his heart skip a beat as a slight chuckle erupted from his mouth.
"Haha, not really, my lady. After all, you can see through me as well."
"Not that easily, though." She retorted, huffing slightly as she closed her eyes and turned slightly, peeking slightly at him, to which he simply smiled wryly in response.
Both of them were seemingly good at reading each other, precisely because they had been by each other's side since childhood. Their bond was not one to break easily, and seeing her expression, Cronos couldn't help but be grateful for such a strong bond.
"Still, if you ever need anything, you can tell me, my lady—"
"—Sofamy."
"Huh?"
"Call me Sofamy when we're alone. I have already told you a thousand times." She told him, her brows furrowed as she gazed at him with crossed arms.
Despite her insistence, he constantly resorted to addressing her as "lady" rather than by her name. It was a frustrating factor, but Cronos couldn't help but stick to his duty as her bodyguard.
"... fine, Sofamy..." He relented, letting his head hang low, though his grip firmed onto the sheets as he felt his heartbeat grow faster.
"There, much better. Hehe~!" She muttered, her light chuckle making his breath hitch.
The moonlight seeping from the window seemed to illuminate her delicate features and further highlight the wide, sweet smile she currently wore—the one he had gotten used to after decades of spending time with her.
"Enough about me, though..." Sofamy began, her gaze softening. "You seem to be troubled as well. Are you alright?"
At this, Cronos pursed his lips, confirming her suspicions. "It's just... I failed to protect you myself against that assassin. Had Sir Vekas and that Revan guy not intervened... You would be dead... it would've been my fault."
He hung his head low, his eyes downcast, to which the princess responded by gently placing her hand over hers, the touch sending a chill down his spine despite the warmth of her hand.
"It's okay, Cronos. Sir Vekas and... umm... Sir Revan arrived late to help me. Had you not held the assailant off the entire time, I would've been dead before anyone could even know what was going on. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it." Her words made him narrow his eyes before turning his gaze to her ocean-blue eyes that seemed to be radiating with a special shine.
"That does not excuse my weakness, Sofamy. Last-moment rescues like this don't happen often. If a threat like this loomed at us in the future, I need to be strong enough to fend it off on my own, or... or..." His lips quivered, a lump forming in his throat, as he lowered his head, his vision blurring with tears he desperately tried pushing back.
Seeing him vulnerable like this, all because he was concerned for her, Sofamy reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his back, leaning onto his chest. Cronos widened his eyes in response, not expecting this course of action, but he didn't pull away either.
"Listen," she softly began, her voice as smooth as a soothing melody. "Don't worry about the future, but focus on the present. I am here, safe and sound. If you want to protect me better... then training is your only answer."
She then turned her head up to look at him, her eyes dazzling in the moonlight. "However, you should stop berating yourself and living in constant fear. It will devour your mind, and before you know it, you won't be capable of anything. I don't want that. I want my Cronos to be perfectly optimistic and stand courageously against all foes that dare to defy us."
Her words made his heart skip a beat. My... yes, he was her bodyguard. Her loyal servant. And he had no choice but to follow what she was telling him.
Plus, she wasn't wrong either. Simply complaining about it won't solve anything. He needed to stand tall, train harder, and reach unattainable heights to prevent such attacks from occurring ever again.
"Now stop crying and hug me back." She demanded with a pout that he found strangely cute.
With a light chuckle, he wrapped his own arms around her waist, holding her close as a rush of protectiveness surged in his veins. That's right. His duty was to protect the princess. If he didn't do that, then there was no purpose in his life.
That's the purpose he was raised with, and that's the mission engraved into his heart from the moment he first laid his eyes upon the princess. He closed his eyes, seeking more of the warmth she emitted.
Butterflies seemed to be soaring in his stomach, though he had no idea why. What is this feeling? Understanding that one question was seemingly beyond his abilities. Everything seemed far too confusing.
After a while, the two pulled away, and neither of them could remove the wry smile that had formed on their faces, as well as the blush that decorated them further.
"Very well, my lady. I hope you remain alright. Both physically, mentally, and spiritually." He remarked before bowing and turning to the door.
As he exited the room, her pout persisted at the fact that he resorted to calling her "lady". It was a habit he always fell into, so she wasn't even surprised at this point.
Walking back to his own chambers, Cronos kept his gaze towards the floor. His body seemed to be acting weird in her room. It was almost as if it was excited to be with her.
He froze mid-step, his eyes widening as he placed his hand over his chest, feeling his heart beating. Am I... in love with her? The question dissipated as quickly as it had arrived.
Of course not. Why would he? He wasn't allowed to feel love for the one he was supposed to protect. And even if he did, it didn't matter. He wouldn't marry her... more like he couldn't.
Why would the princess of the greatest kingdom in Varkana possibly think of marrying her bodyguard, a nobody who would've been living in the slums had he not been destined to watch over said princess?
It was something he couldn't deny, no matter how much he wished. He realized that while his feelings for her seemed to be true, life was still cruel. He would never be with her, and that's that.
That's right... I am too unworthy to be by her side. He thought to himself as he entered his room, a neatly decorated expanse that would charm any noble who entered it.
***
"Whoa! This place is neat!" Revan exclaimed as he entered the room he would be staying in.
It was one booked for him by the king himself. A large room with several decorations, portraits, a gold-plated dresser, and even a bed that had edges coated in gold and silver.
What's more is that the room seemed to be filled with Vyr. Any magical lifeform would thrive in here due to the sheer amount of Vyr.
"I hope you like your temporary abode, Sir Revan." Vekas, who guided him here, remarked.
"Oh, like? This place is pretty fantastic! I mean, this place is huge for just one person despite the king-sized bed. Not to mention the amount of Vyr here could sustain a normal magitroph for decades, if not centuries."
Magitrophs, also known as magical lifeforms, were beings made entirely out of Vyr. Their existence requires nothing more than the ambient Vyr from the surroundings or from another being who possesses large Vyr reserves.
As Vekas mulled over his words, he narrowed his eyes, noting Revan's analytical prowess and how he was instantly able to tell the level of Vyr in the room.
Such an absurd amount was gathered here because of the several objects that were fused with Vyr, such as the carpets, the gold, and even the mattress where one was meant to sleep.
It was all done to increase the comfort of the room, and it certainly seemed to do its job pretty well. Revan explored the room, flinging here and there before collapsing on the bed, a dreamy smile on his face.
"Damn... this feels so comfy..." he muttered, eyes closed, before suddenly sitting up. "Hey Vekas. I wanna ask you something."
Closing the door, Vekas approached the seat nearest to the bed and sat gracefully on it. His bangs seemed to be swaying with the Vyr around them as his eyes drank in Revan's relaxed yet ethereal form.
"What do you wish to know, Sir Revan?"
"Back before I met up with the assassin girl and the burrito guy, you were about to indulge me on your past. Care to continue?"
Vekas's breath hitched, suddenly remembering that moment. He was, indeed, about to reveal everything, going back to the time he didn't wish to explore once more.
He glanced at the window, witnessing the moon shining over in the night sky. "It's pretty late, Sir Revan. How about—"
"—Nope, no backsies. You're gonna spill all the details, no questions asked." Revan cut him off, clearly defining his stance as firm and obstinate.
"I see... well, I hope you are ready for a pretty boring tale." He replied, a wry smile curling his lips before dying down immediately, his eyes narrowed as he felt his gut wrench at the thought of remembering the past.
"You see... I am a being who is over 500 years old. Back then, Aethelgard was only at the first few stages of its decline, so no real rebellions were formed. Everything seemed to be peaceful... except for me."
He then went on to explain a specific faction that existed back then. The Trihawk Faction. They were a family of nobles who were great contributors to Aethelgard's administration, to the point that the king at the time had appointed the head of the family, Stephen Trihawk, as the duke of Manoruth, a notably large province of Aethelgard.
Vekas was later born to a knight under Stephen's authority and a maid who served at the duke's manor. They lived peacefully, setting their duties on one side and their family life on the other.
"Our family was... ideal—at least for me. It was nothing thrilling, to be exact, but it felt... right." He explained, a small smile plastered on his face as his gaze softened.
It was clear that Vekas adored his parents more than he would like to admit. He didn't have any siblings, but he didn't mind that. He didn't feel the need for much companionship at the time, except that of his parents, of course.
There were some tribulations, such as Vekas being alone when his parents were on duty, but they weren't really struck by a horrific situation, such as poverty or loss. Everything was as it was supposed to be, and there were no complaints.
However, as the saying goes, nothing good lasts forever.
"One day... when my mother was cleaning the duke's chambers, she accidentally dropped an artifact on the ground, shattering it. What went wrong was that this artifact had an evil dragon's soul sealed inside it, and after the object shattered, it was free."
Vekas, with a solemn expression, went on to explain how the dragon, who was merely a soul without a body, decided to possess his mother's body. Despite the maid's resistance, a mere human's soul was no match for that of a dragon that could destroy several nations in a breeze.
In the end, his mother's soul was devoured, the dragon taking full control of her body. However, just because it got a body didn't mean that it had regained its former strength. It tried attacking the duke, but Stephen simply responded by using [Hollow Erasure], a technique utilizing Dark Magic, to completely remove the dragon and its vessel from existence.
"The duke had initially sealed the dragon in hopes of using its power in the future, but then found it irksome after seeing that it had revived," Vekas revealed further, his lips pursed into a thin line as he remembered how he heard the news.
It was sudden... too sudden for him to process without getting overwhelmed. Being alone the entire time, the immediate rush of soldiers in house, the short-worded news of his mother's death, and the quick escort to the center of the town; all worked together to leave him flabbergasted.
"As I was exiting the carriage, I was brought in, and I witnessed a sight more horrifying than anything else. My father was kneeling, his hands tied in chains, and his head lowered... his clothes were no longer those of an honorable knight, but those of a slave in the lowest ranks of Varkana, let alone Aethelgard."
At that moment, things seemed too confusing for Vekas. His eyes were wide, his mind was still clouded by the news of his mother's death, and the shock of seeing his father in such a state had practically paralyzed him.
"As for what was happening... my father had offered to pay the consequences for my mother's actions. Even though the dragon had been dealt with swiftly, the manor was still in total shambles because of the dragon's rampage. Many lives were endangered, so my father gave himself up."
It didn't make sense to Vekas at the time, but it fitted his father's hardworking and selfless nature. The duke stood before him, glaring daggers at him, his sword at hand.
At that moment, Vekas had realized that his father was about to be killed in front of everyone. A rush of rage and desperation ran through his veins, his blood boiling as he stepped forward.
He yelled, claiming that his father was innocent, had done nothing wrong, and didn't deserve to die like this. Yet, his claims were ignored, as guards held him by the shoulder, urging him to be silent.
Still, Vekas was only eight years old. How could he care about what others said at a time like this? As the duke raised his sword to strike, Vekas quickly freed himself from the guards, picked up a chunk of stone, and threw it at the duke with all he had.
Sadly, it didn't work out for him. The stone merely bounced away from Stephen before it could even touch him. Vekas couldn't understand how this was possible as the guards restrained his arms and legs entirely, ignoring the constant screaming and yelling that came out of the child.
"Seeing my pathetic state, my father spoke hastily just as the sword was inches away from his neck. The duke listened, so he requested to spare me... even in the time of death, he was still concerned for me. Perhaps, he offered his life so that I wouldn't be harmed... perhaps..."
The duke agreed to his suggestion before decapitating him mercilessly, making the eight-year-old Vekas witness the death of his father with his own eyes. He had officially become an orphan, having lost both parents.
Still, the duke wasn't done with him. While he had agreed not to punish him severely, Stephen knew he had to teach Vekas some respect. After all, his reputation depended on it, especially when he was being watched by thousands of people.
Hence, he appointed the boy as his servant, offering him food and shelter in return for his service. Vekas had no choice but to agree, his heart still heavy from the incident.
"And from then, I began serving under Duke Stephen Trihawk. I was only responsible for cooking and cleaning, yet it was only through this that I found out who this man really was, as well as the true nature of the Trihawk family." He revealed, his gaze suddenly turning cold as his eyes locked with Revan's.
The first few days of service weren't too worrisome. He was already used to cleaning his house and cooking food for himself, so it wasn't too much trouble. Yet, the other servants wouldn't really get along with him.
Why would they? He tried to attack the duke, one who was respected by the whole nation. To the other servants, the duke was an angel, and Vekas was a mere trial from the devil sent by the Supreme Amor to test them.
Hence, he was entirely ignored. Vekas himself didn't like being here, so he preferred the loneliness. However, things took a turn for the worse two years later, after a maid bumped into him and fell, colliding with one of the shelves in the living room and causing all the plates and other accessories there to be heavily damaged, some even shattering into a million pieces upon impact.
When the duke asked who was responsible, the maid immediately accused Vekas of the crime. This was all a ploy to put the poor boy in trouble, and in trouble he was.
"That night, the duke called me to the basement... there, some masked servants restrained me and tied me up, the chains attached to the poles in the area, whilst my immobilized body was tied up in the center of the basement." He revealed, lowering his gaze at the horrible memory.
After a long silence, Vekas continued his story, revealing how he was then aggressively tortured by being punched, whipped, and being inflicted with several magical attacks that affected both his physical and mental state.
After it was done, the wounds were healed, but the pain wasn't removed, and the mental torment remained. Vekas was then led back to his room before the duke placed a special enchantment on him.
This enchantment, also known as [Vow of Secrecy], made sure that he would never reveal what he faced to anyone. This left Vekas alone and seemingly helpless in the manor that he thought to be hell from the moment he entered.
"From then on, he would be tortured every night by the duke. It was clear that he had been looking for an excuse to torture me for a long time, and he had now finally found it."
When Stephen's relatives visited the manor, they would accompany the duke in the torture sessions, often helping him torture me and attain pleasure out of it.
It was sickening. Vekas thought. He saw the true nature of the prestigious family that everyone loved before him, a secret only he knew yet couldn't reveal to anyone. In the end, the Trihawk family was nothing but a pack of beastly humans who took pleasure from hurting others.
Despite all the physical, mental, and spiritual torture he was enduring, he hadn't lost his spark of defiance. In fact, it only grew further. He began to fake unconsciousness in the basement whenever the duke and his family would discuss secrets no one else must know.
It allowed him to discern and understand everything he needed to know about the Trihawk family and how to destroy them completely in the future.
It turned out that they were heavily invested in Dark Magic and Demonic rituals. Their passion for studying the Demonic Realm was worth looking into, and their power had actually been built from using tactics of demons and darkness.
This explained why they were so proficient in Dark Magic, which made them a force to take note of, and Vekas knew full well that he could exploit the information he had inferred from their conversations for future use.
However, the only way he could truly put an end to them was by revealing their true nature to the public, but due to the [Vow of Secrecy], he was currently bound.
He began to scour through many books in the manor's library, one of the few places where he was mostly undisturbed. From there, he learned many forms of magic, being able to cast several attacks such as [Fire Ball] or [Water Blade] like it was nothing.
This was because he had learned how to interact with the Vyr around him and also use the Vyr in his own body to generate fire and water like it was nothing. This alone wasn't a small feat, as not everyone was capable of generating fire or water (especially water) using Vyr, but mainly relied on a supply of fire and water or other physical factors in their surroundings.
Still, his search for a way to break the [Vow of Secrecy] was in vain. At the end of the day, nothing could really help him. The only thing he had gained was more knowledge of Varkana and the use of magic.
Long after he had turned twenty years old, Vekas was assigned to go to the supermarket alongside a guard for an errand. A guard was always sent with him in case he tried running away.
As Vekas continued his story, a small smile curled upon his face, remembering what had happened.