by Jackson Bale
Scarlet---turns---to---look---towards---the---body.---The---man---seemed---to---have---been---bleeding---from---his---head,---though---it---is---clear---that---the---bleeding---stopped---since---the---blood---is---already---starting---to---dry.
Which---only---raises---her---next---question.
“How---long---was---this---brawl?”
Rathic---takes---a---moment---to---answer,---“about---five---minutes---long,---give---or---take---a---minute.”
Fast
Scarlet---had---seen---bar---fights,---many---of---which---had---taken---up---to---half---an---hour,---usually---only---stopping---when---the---city---[Guards]---came---to---enforce---order.---Garrus---tended---to---be---one---of---the---last---few---still---standing.
Taking---a---moment,---Scarlet---looks---at---the---bodies---seemingly---splayed---in---a---half-circle---around---Roth.---[Guards],---[Soldiers],---those---usually---the---hardest---to---put---down---using---fists.---All---of---them---are---on---the---floor,---unconscious,---each---with---only---a---bruise---on---their---faces.
They---had---been---knocked---out---from---only---a---single---punch.---Not---even---her---dad---could---do---that.
Scarlet---gulps,---remembering---her---[Lady’s]---warning.
She---takes---her---cup---and---chugs---the---contents---down.
“Roth,---I---think---it---would---be---best---for---me---to---escort---you---home,”---she---says,---standing---up---and---picking---up---her---helmet.
Rathic’s---grunts---in---acknowledgment---and---stands---up.
Scarlet---notices---that---the---man---is---drunk---considering---the---reddened---face,---but---his---eyes---tell---a---different---story.
“That---would---be---best.”
Scarlet---and---Rathic---stride---towards---the---exit,---only---stopping---momentarily---for---Scarlet---to---give---orders---to---her---[Guards]---before---walking---up---towards---the---cities---center.
The---night---air---is---cool,---crisp,---and---Scarlet---is---starting---to---feel---it.---Apparently,---the---alcohol---was---stronger---than---she---expected---as---she---wobbles---slightly.
And---then---she---steps---on---a---stone,---trips,---only---to---be---caught---by---Roth---who---moves---with---exceptional---speed.---He---picks---her---up---in---a---bridal---carry.
Anyone---with---a---keen---eye---who---saw---the---scene---would---immediately---be---amazed---at---what---happened.
Roth---had---just---picked---up---a---two---hundred---pound---woman---wearing---three---hundred---pounds---of---armor…---with---ease.
Scarlet,---red---faced---and---is---still---holding---her---helmet,---look---up---surprised---as---a---bearded---face---looks---towards---her,---confused.
“You---can't---hold---your---liquor,---can---you?”---Rathic’s---asks,---his---eyes---matching---hers.
Scarlet---goes---bright---pink---and---gives---the---man---a---cheeky---smile.
“I---gained---a---couple---of---points---in---constitution,---I---figured---it---would---be---enough.”
Rathic’s,---intoxicated,---continue---walking---upwards,---but---takes---a---slight---left---instead,---heading---instead---towards---the---castle.
“With---your---heavy---armor---on,---I---doubt---a---fall---will---only---end---in---a---bruise.---I’ll---take---you---to---your---room.”
“Oh!---[Knight]---Roth,---you---are---such---a---gentleman,”---she---says---aloud,---laughing---with---delight---and---moving---her---arm---around---the---man.
Rathic---grunts,---strengthening---his---grip---before---increasing---his---pace---towards---the---castle.
Scarlet---puckers---her---lips,---“You---don't---talk---too---much,---do---you?”---she---asks---after---a---couple---of---minutes---of---silence,---the---castle---entrance---in---view.
Rathic---subconsciously---looks---around,---taking---in---his---surroundings,---constantly---checking---for---threats---while---his---conscious---mind---attempts---to---make---sense---of---his---situation.
He---is---carrying---a---[Watch---Captain],---formerly---a---[Captain],---to---her---home---so---that---she---doesn't---get---hurt.
But---something---feels---wrong---with---that---logic---and---Rathic---is---attempting---to---figure---out---why.
“You,---halt,---reveal---yourself”---one---of---the---[Guards]---manning---the---castles---front---gate---exclaims---as---a---figure---approaches---in---the---night.
The---other---[Guard]---moves---towards---the---individual,---waving---his---torch.
“[Captain]?”
Scarlet---frowns---and---points,---“I’m---a---[Watch---Captain]---now---Manos---and---this---[Knight]---is---taking---me---home.---Move---aside.”
She---waves---her---hand,---seemingly---expecting---to---sweep---the---two---confused---[Guards]---out---of---the---way.
Manos,---an---older---man---and---the---[guard]---with---the---torch,---frowns,---“---It---is---night---Scarlet,---rules---dictate---that---only---you---or---other---[Guards]---may---enter---the---castle.---He---must---leave.”
Scarlet,---annoyed,---pouts,---“who---made---that---stupid---rule?”
Manos---shakes---his---head,---confused,---“You---did.”
Scarlet---takes---a---moment---to---think---about---that---before---pointing,---“Well,---I’m---making---a---rule---that---this---[knight]---is---allowed---too.”---she---says---hugging---Rathic---who---looks---deep---in---thought.
Manos---shakes---his---head---before---folding---his---arms,---“You---are---drunk---and---I---won't---let---him---enter.---Those---are---the---rules,---”he---says---adamantly.
Manos---then---looks---to---Rathic,---“We---will---take---her---to---her---room---for---you.”---he---says---before---looking---back,---“Norris,---help---me---with---Scarlet.”
Rathic,---having---zoned---out,---frowns---as---his---muscles---start---to---strain---from---carrying---Scarlet---who---is---now---pouting---angrily---at---the---[Guards].
Rathic,---having---ignored---the---conversation---so---far,---looks---to---the---[Guards].
He---opens---his---mouth.
“[Guards],”
Norris---and---Manos---stop---in---their---tracks,---their---complete---and---utter---attention---turning---towards---Rathic,---eyes---glazing---over---as---they---straighten---their---backs---and---stand---firm.
“I---am---taking---Scarlet---to---her---room.---Open---the---gates”
A---[General's]---aura---filled---words---escape---Rathic---lips,---filling---the---air---with---his---presence.
“Yes---Sir,”---both---[Guards]---immediately---exclaim---before---turning---and---running---towards---the---gate,---opening---it.
Rathic---starts---to---walk---forward.
“Ohhhhh,---you---are---so---authoritative,”---Scarlet---says,---looking---at---her---[Guards]---stand---expressionless---at---the---sides---of---the---open---gate,---seemingly---waiting---for---further---orders.
Rathic,---calm---and---collected,---walks---deeper---into---the---castle,---the---night---staff---moving---out---of---his---way---as---though---he---were---[Lady]---Rose.
He---stops---in---front---of---a---room---and---slowly---sets---down---Scarlet.
Scarlet,---giggling---now,---reaches---under---her---armor---and---grabs---a---key.
She---opens---the---door,---turns---around,---gazes---at---Rathic---for---a---moment.
And---just---as---Rathic---is---about---to---turn---and---leave,---she---grabs---him---by---the---collar,---his---eyes---widening---as---she---pulls---him---into---her---room.---Her---lips---touch---his---as---the---door---slowly---closes---on---its---own.
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The---forsaken---lands---is---one---of---various---names---used---to---describe---the---southern---continent---of---Orbis,---a---place---known---for---its---excessive---low---levels---and---an---Inadequate---food---supply.---As---for---this---specific---name,---it---describes---the---lack---of---presence---of---any---godly---po
wers---with---the---exception---of---the---goddess---Eir.
But---even---her---presence---is---waning---now---as---the---far---south---becomes---embroidered---into---an---all-out---war---born---from---the---poor---food---supply.
None---are---sure---what---is---happening---or---why,---but---any---decent---level---[Mage]---would---tell---you---that---the---ambient---mana---had---decreased.---This---had---resulted---in---various---passive---skills---like---[Fast---Crops]---or---[Abundant---Harvest]---to---weaken---drastically---in---the---area.
On---top---of---that,---abundant---mana---is---required---for---beast---and---monsters---to---level---with---age.---With---the---mana---levels---being---too---low,---the---beasts---become---weaker,---so---much---so---that---[hunters]---have---an---easy---time---hunting---and---killing---them.---Normally---not---a---problem,---but---when---even---a---[Farmer]---or---[Slave]---can---take---such---weak---beasts---down,---then---meat---quickly---becomes---a---scarcity---due---to---overhunting.
Which---leads---us---to---the---crux---of---the---problem.---The---south---has---easily---one---of---the---largest---populations---on---the---continent,---all---thanks---to---the---[Slave]---trade,---the---only---true---commodity---exported---from---the---south---to---the---north.
Well,---mostly---the---central---east.---That---is---where---the---Coliseums---are---abundant---and---the---highest---profit---to---be---gained---through---the---[Slave]---trade.
Unfortunately,---the---lack---of---food---and---an---overabundant---population---is---quickly---causing---revolts,---revolts---which---low---and---even---mid-level---[Slavers]---cannot---stop.
Former---[Slaves],---lacking---funds---and---food,---quickly---resort---to---banditry---and---thieving.
Farms---are---looted,---towns---and---villages---start---to---starve,---all---creating---an---ever---present---cycle---which---quickly---turns---human---against---human,---even---demihuman---against---demihuman.---This---extends---throughout---the---lands,---causing---strife---and---chaos,---not---even---the---few---[Kings]---and---[Queens]---are---exempt.
[King]---Henceforth---is---fighting---a---dire---war---against---[Warlord]---Dominus---who---is---also---dealing---with---a---rampaging---[Bandit---Lord].
But---that---is---a---major---conflict.---Further---south,---on---the---other---hand,---is---where---many---minor---conflicts---are---going---on.---Towns---fighting---other---towns,---pillaging---each---other,---even---enslaving---the---victims---to---use---them---as---disposable---infantry.
Even---the---city---of---Sanavil---that---is---located---extremely---far---south---is---not---exempt---from---such---chaos.---They---had---been---attacked---recently---by---a---couple---of---towns---worth---of---militia---which---had---failed---miserably.
Cities---have---big---walls,---big---populations,---and---in---Sanavils---case,---a---not---starving---population.---All---this---and---more---played---a---part---in---the---cities---ability---to---defend---attacks---effectively.
But,---that---was---only---a---couple---of---towns---worth---of---people---compared---to---the---several---hundred---scattered---around---Sanavil…---and---the---two---cities---that---are---also---nearby---and---further---north.
Not---Skalag---or---Anteros,---which---are---at---war---much---farther---north,---but---minor---cities---near---Sanavil.
Cities---lead---by---[Kings]...
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Near---the---lofty---walls---of---a---pillaged---town,---two---armies---meet,---one---wearing---the---colors---of---gray---and---yellow,---the---other---gray---and---red.---The---armies---wait---outside---the---walls---of---the---town---on---opposite---sides.
They---are---waiting,---not---for---hostility,---though---that---is---still---a---possibility,---for---their---[Kings]---to---meet---and---plan.
In---the---town---center,---within---a---small---fortified---inner---Pavillion,---two---[Kings]---sit---across---from---each---other.---Three---[Knights]---stand---behind---each---[King],---followed---by---five---[Captains]---and---a---dozen---[lieutenants].---These---men---and---women---wait---anxiously,---hands---ready---to---grab---weapon---or---shield---if---the---other---party---turns---hostile.
So---far,---it---seems---that---the---two---[Kings]---are---sizing---each---other---up.
Only---after---another---minute---does---[King]---Tersus---break---the---silence.
“Gravitus,---must---we---meet---in---such---a,”---the---gangly---man---waves---his---gloved---hand---around,---“in---such---a---dirty,---unclean,---rat-infested---building?”---Tersus---exclaims---with---a---frown.
[King]---Gravitus---takes---a---moment,---staring---at---the---other---[King]
Tersus---is---clean,---impeccably---so.---His---gray---cloak---with---yellow---stripes,---white---gloves,---even---his---skin,---and---complexion---are---clean.---His---[Knights],---[Commanders],---[Lieutenants],---even---the---regular---[Soldiers]---are---far---cleaner---than---is---normally---expected.
A---clear---result---of---a---skill---Tersus---has---which---extends---his---preferences---to---his---entire---kingdom.---The---city---of---Mundus,---[King]---Tersus---capital,---is---easily---the---cleanest---city---of---all---those---in---the---southern---portion---of---the---continent.---Even---the---walls---of---the---city---are---painted---white---every---month---so---as---to---look---clean---and---spotless.
[King]---Gravitus,---back---straight---and---in---perfect---posture,---sneers,---“because---you---refused---to---allow---the---meeting---to---take---place---in---my---castle.---[Kings]---need---to---meet---in---a---proper---setting.”
Tersus---rolls---his---eyes---as---he---inspects---Gravitus.---Strong---jaw,---perfect---posture,---a---man---who---knows---how---to---exude---order---with---his---mere---presence.
Even---those---behind---him---are---in---perfect---and---proper---gear---and---standing.---The---[Knights]---are---in---full---plate---mail,---each---identical---to---the---other.---They---stand---firm---and---ready,---not---even---moving---a---muscle---as---though---they---are---statues.---Even---the---[Commanders]---and---[Lieutenants]---are---in---similar---dress---and---form.---They---all---look---alike---and---act---similarly.
Tersus,---as---much---as---he---hates---to---say---it,---finds---the---army---far---better---organized---than---his---own,---though---far---dirtier.
“Ah---yes,---just---so---you---can---plan---an---ambush---to---have---me---killed---in---your---city.”
Gravitus---frowns---at---the---disrespect,---“I---am---a---[King],---I---would---never---use---such---an---underhanded---tactic.---Such---tactics---are---for---[Brigands]---and---[Bandits].---Only---a---coward---would---use---such---techniques.”
“Yes,---unfortunately,---trust---like---that---is---not---easy.---And---though---you---are---known---to---always---be---held---by---your---word,---I---cannot---risk---my---life---on---mere---trust.”
Gravitus---squints,---“If---there---is---no---trust,---then---this---meeting---is---useless,”---he---says---bluntly.
Tersus---nods,---“---Indeed,---trust---is---important,---and---I---doubt---you---would---be---here---if---you---did---not---have---some---level---of---trust---in---me,”---he---says,---placing---his---hand---on---the---table---before---frowning.
Tersus---sighs---as---he---notices---the---smudge---of---dirt---on---his---glove.
He---raises---his---hand---and---one---of---the---knights---steps---forward,---taking---out---a---handkerchief---and---rubs---Tersus---glove---clean.
Tersus---smiles---and---gives---his---[Knight]---a---nod---in---recognition---of---a---good---job.
Gravitus,---unmoving,---frowns---at---the---the---display---but---says---nothing---as---it---happens.
“I---do---so---hate---dirt.---It---is---unseemly---for---a---[King]---to---be---dirty.”
Internally,---Gravitus---completely---agrees,---but---he---would---never---voice---it---aloud.---Especially---not---now---when---his---patience---is---wearing---thin.---He---is---already---disgusted---at---the---complete
---lack---of---formalities---for---this---meeting,---and---more---and---he---may---as---well---just---leave.
“Tersus,---as---much---as---I---hate---to---say---this,---let---us---dispense---with---the---formalities---and---come---to---the---crux---of---this---meeting.---Will---you---ally---with---me---to---take---overtake---the---city---of---Sanavil?”
A---meeting---of---[Kings],---[Kings]---who,---as---much---as---they---dislike---each---other,---cannot---help---but---notice---the---exceptional---success---[Lady]---Rose---is---having---with---her---city.---She---is---gaining---power,---respect,---but---most---importantly,---wealth.---It---is---the---only---city---that---doesn't---have---to---resort---to---violence---to---survive.