[Aegis, don't panic]
[Hello?]
[Can you hear me? Why aren't you thinking about anything? Hello?]
[Don't answer them]
Morgana sighed as she realized that her mental connection had been undone. It could be that either her spell ran out or someone had severed the connection by force. Either way, she had no way of perceiving her world anymore.
Unlike anyone, her world was dark. All she could feel was the cold floor on her back…. And the cold liquid dripping from the ceiling.
'Blood?' Morgana understood almost immediately. The smell of blood wasn't new to her anyway. She got up from her place, but her shackles defied her actions. She wasn't able to move her hands as they had been entangled in a tiringly awkward position. Soon, she'd start questioning her sanity.
'These shackles…' A weak murmur escaped her mouth as her blind eyes widened in realization, "They absorb mana essence…."
She shouted from her place,
"Aegis! Can you hear me?"
Aegis could most certainly hear her. He was even thinking of replying. But he was in a position to move an inch. He kept staring at the pinch of blood with a hypnotizing look on his face, almost as if he had developed a harsher feeling for blood.
He shook his head and was about to reply. But then, suddenly…
He heard footsteps drawing closer and closer. He was almost hopeful. But at the same time, afraid.
What were they about to do to him?
The cell door opened like a thunder, startling Aegis even though he had braced himself.
He tried to glimpse through the darkness, but all he could see were 2 figures approaching.
And with knives in their hands…
'Fuck.'
Finally, as they walked closer, Aegis was able to look at their haunting faces. Both of these men had deep scars on their faces, almost like a rough drawing of a map.
These men wore simple white tunics, but Aegis could've sworn that he saw them wearing red. He just got a better look now.
Their dresses were painted red with blood.
"Aegis Emporio…" The man on the right spoke with a crooked tone. "Not even your brother can save you this time. Now that you've been found guilty…"
"G-Guilty?" Aegis questioned, but who was he to do so? A slap came to his cheek.
"Silence, insolence! You who betrayed the continent are a dead man. And a dead man tells no tale!"
'Betray? Me?' Aegis tried to piece it together. But he was only left with numerous questions. Did helping Morgana result in treason? Was Morgana a spy from the other continent?
The man on the left put his dirty fingers on Aegis' pale face and threatened to cut his neck off,
"Ain't it a pity that your father left you?"
"No, he didn't," Aegis spoke softly.
The man drove the dull blade against his throat, drawing a bit of blood, "He never came from the business trip, did he? 10 days, Audel! It has been 10 days!"
'Audel? They didn't even get my name right this time. What a bunch of losers!'
"So? Fuck off, bastard!" Aegis pressed against the dull blade, now that blood had been seeping through his neck. But the man pulled away the blade. Seeing the action, Aegis laughed,
"What? No orders to kill me yet? How interesting! Tell your leaders to fuck themselves!"
And then he looked at them with a dark grin,
"Once I am out of here, I am gonna disembowel each of you and feed your intestines to your corpses!"
The crooked men glanced at each other and smiled in unison. One of them, the one on the right, said with an ugly grin,
"So, be it."
And then he looked at his mate, "Bring the nail picker, Jorv."
'Well, shit.'
….
The narrow corridor was a bustling sight. All of these people who had been standing on the grand red carpet and conversing like actual human beings were no mere humans.
They were demons in disguise. At least, that's the analogy Lieutenant Max had come up with. Sighing under the iron helmet, he walked with measured steps. Flanking him from his right was his peon, Sergeant Portia.
And on his left was the man who had been gathering some of the glances from the surrounding officers, Lieutenant Chronos.
Chronos perfectly ignored all the stares and whispered to Max,
"I am quite the charm, apparently. Just look at them!"
Max sighed, visibly this time, "Chronos. You are an outskirt rat. Just like me. So, I don't think they are looking at us with good intentions… "
Chronos chuckled, "Ay, man. You don't have to mention that, do you? Way to kill a mood!"
Portia walked a few steps faster and reached the doorknob before Max and opened it. Max nodded while Chronos smiled at the lady. They have entered the vast hall.
Intricately designed pillars supported the large hall as the warm sunlight had its way onto the white marble floor through the lancet windows. But as they gazed at the pristine hall…
The world gazed back at them.
Hundreds of officers stood still, each of them sparing the trio a piercing look. Portia felt something in his throat. The presence was suffocating, needless to say.
Max said in a quiet tone, "I don't like it here."
Chronos just chuckled, a faint chuckle this time, "They don't like us here. Well, let's see what's in store for us!"
Finally, among the countless sea of men and women, Max got to see the man on the throne. The man had a chiseled face and void black eyes. His long black hair could make him be mistaken for someone of the opposite gender, if it weren't for the beard.
And lastly, Max saw the crown. Except, it wasn't materialized. It seemed to be floating above the king's head and had been glowing with brilliant radiance. It was made of pure light.
'Why did the monarch call upon every officer of the kingdom?' Max thought, his worried expression hidden well behind the helmet.
And then finally, the door opened slowly behind them….
The last of the guests had arrived.
General Swordbreak, the brother of the monarch, and with him, Diviner Agrieveious.