“Do you really need to be that rough on him?” he asked.
“He is Glaivel. I suggest you do the same when treating him,” Sevidon answered.
“I really don’t get you two,” Ravaen answered curiously.
Sevidon looked at him before walking back in, “There is nothing to get, Your Highness.” He saw Evangeline kneeling on Kaira’s side when she suddenly opened her eyes, startled.
“I heard a thump a while ago. What happened?” Kaira said as she slowly woke up.
“Nothing. Someone was just arguing,” Evangeline answered.
“Who?” Kaira asked.
“Glaivel and Sevidon,” she answered. Kaira rested her head back while Evangeline continued healing her remaining injuries. Kaira noticed something about her and she kept looking at her hands which Evangeline noticed.
“Is-is there a problem?” she asked. Kaira did not answer and rested her head back again. Suddenly, Kaira laughed for some reason.
“What’s so funny?” Evangeline asked again.
Kaira smiled, facing the ceiling, and said, “It’s just bothering my mind, but what kind of Orderian are you? What are you exactly?” she added. But Evangeline returned her smile.
“You’re not a Perpetualite, yet you possess their healing skills and abilities,” she said but Evangeline just quietly listened. “A first-class magister doesn’t have those kinds of abilities, yet your blow that knocked me out is one of theirs,” she added. Evangeline held her silence as Kaira stared at her, wondering. The only sound that both could hear was the one coming out from the healing orbs on Evangeline’s hands.
When the healing session was finished, Evangeline beamed, pulled her hands and rested them on her lap.
“You are right,” Evangeline suddenly spoke. “I’m not a Magister, but we call them Magis. Magisters are the very elite of the offensive mages in the Maroon Orderian, nor a Perpetualite, because, as you say, they only specialize in healing and recovery abilities. As far as the Orderian Council, Perpetualites and the College of Magus are concerned, I am an anomaly,” she added.
Kaira was confused and did not know what to say.
“Well,” Evangeline said, breaking the awkward silence, patted her lap and stood up. “You’re all fixed up so you are good to go.”
Kaira tried to stand up and test if there was still pain. She slowly stood up and Evangeline came back and held her in both her hands. With wobbling knees, she successfully stood and both smiled at each other. Slowly, Evangeline let her go but Kaira tumbled down and Evangeline caught her. Both look at each other for a moment and laughed. Evangeline gently laid Kaira down on to her sleeping mat again.
“So what exactly are you?” Kaira asked again as Evangeline still held her smile, face stared at the wall.
“You know, it feels good to have another woman around here. Being with the boys is really not working well for me,” she answered, changing the topic.
“Good for you then.” Both laughed. They went outside and sat near the entrance. Evangeline lied beside Kaira and stretched her legs forward. She stretched her ankle a little.
“No one knows why I can use both skill trees,” she explained, catching Kaira’s attention. “Not even my father nor the elders. At first I thought I was a freak of nature, but as I learned that I can use certain skills unlike the others, I felt somewhat, special,” she added, as she felt nostalgic telling Kaira about herself.
“So what do you call yourself exactly then?” Kaira asked, curious of her new friend. Evangeline chuckled, amused by her curiosity. She breathed deeply as she continued to emit her smile that began to hit Kaira’s nerves. “Well? You do have this thought out, don’t you?”
Evangeline just kept her cool as she looked at her. “I call myself, unique,” she said which seemed to lessen Kaira’s anxiety. She was a little satisfied but yet still hungry to know more.
“Princess, do you read books?” Evangeline curiously asked. Kaira looked at her and gazed upon her smile.
“Yes. I read every book that I can lay my hands on,” she answered as she turned her head and rested on her hands that she crossed behind her.
“So that’s why,” Evangeline said as she looked back at the walls. She kept examining the temple walls, from the ground up.
“Your hunger for knowledge fascinates me, Princess,” Evangeline added while Kaira stared blankly at her.
“It makes me feel safe for a reason that I do not know,” Kaira answered. “If you get my point, Evangeline, I know almost everything about this world. Well, not everything,” she added, Evangeline suddenly smiled.
Sevidon was right behind the wall listening to the conversation of the two maidens. He released a breath of sigh, wondering the exact same thing. He felt though, that somehow she knew exactly what she was.
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Ravaen was looking for Glaivel around the temple when he found him on top of the roof. He summoned his wings and slowly flew towards him.
“Easy there, fellow,” Ravaen said to Glaivel.
“What is it, Falcon?” Glaivel rudely asked as he walked to the other side.
Ravaen followed him, softly landing on the roof, “Oh. So this is how a Viris elf is when he is angry?”
Snobbishly, Glaivel faced Ravaen who had a grin on his face. “Do not annoy me, Prince Ravaen.”
Ravaen held his annoying smile and walked towards the ledge while Glaivel followed fiercely. “So, you two are close, huh? Well that’s, rather intriguing if you ask me,” Ravaen said while he gazed on the morning landscape. “How is that possible when you two are from different races of elves?” he asked.
Glaivel was silent for a moment while Ravaen tormented him with such questions. He recalled his wings and slowly walked around him and continued asking questions.
“So Viris Elf or Prince Numenesse, can you enlighten me with my question?” he asked with a force of tone that not even Glaivel could tell. Glaivel walked away for a moment to the other side of the roof.
“Come on Glaivel!” Ravaen suddenly shouted to him. Glaivel was stunned and glued to his ground, “We’re all here! Time for you guys to open up! If you two are hiding something, you might as well tell us now. How can we even trust one other if we are this secretive?” Glaivel’s eyes closed and his fists shook.
“Tell me, at least. You can worry about the others later,” Ravaen said, his tone much warmer now. “We need to start working together, Glaivel.”
Ravaen could see Glaivel’s hands loosened up, his gaze stuck to the floor. Ravaen held him by his shoulders. “My friend, this is the era of change. And please change along with it,” he said then let go of his shoulder. He called out his wings then flew up, “Think about it, Prince.”
He flew back down, leaving Glaivel to his thoughts on the rooftop.
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Sevidon kept on walking straight to the heart of the forest, trying to find where the scent from last night came from. He scoured the forest by floor up to the very top of the trees. He looked at the birds in the skies, just above the forest, checking if the flying creatures showed any signs of dead creatures nearby.
He followed the mysterious scent, for he knew that another visitor was near their doorstep and to avoid any more mishap, which meant Evangeline. He would be the one to greet the new guest while the others waited for their arrival. He encountered the creatures of the forest. The long-eared, the white -furred, the three-horned little critters followed each other as they seemed to tour around the forest. He also stumbled on an unusual tree in the middle of the forest. A tree that was alone with golden leaves, bushy top with different features. It didn’t bear any fruits but it was bountiful in life from the birds that took shelter on its branches.
He stopped in front of it. He looked around and noticed the surroundings of the tree were all but empty. It was not that far from the other fruitful trees. He thought that he should be in the middle of the forest. It was much cooler there. The sun barely penetrated the canopy. And th
e only things that lit up were the golden leaves.
He slowly walked around the tree as he gazed up, as he stared at the leaves that sparkled with the sun’s weak rays. He placed his hand on its trunk and it felt soft yet rugged. It was soothing as he slid his palms around the tree. He noticed something on its trunk and focused on the peculiar symbol. It was high up on the trunk so he looked around to find something he could step on. He saw a suitable rock that looked good enough to step on. He pushed it with both hands. It was heavy but he managed. He put one foot on it and reached up. He could now see the mysterious symbol at eye level.
It was glowing, like it was flowing gold and yellow light. He was impressed, astonished to be exact, yet a little baffled by the ominous glowing mark. He got down from the rock and drew his sword. He sliced a small piece of trunk with his sword which dropped to the ground. He grabbed the sliced piece. He looked again at the glowing symbol and took a small knife from his left boot. He spun it on his hands a couple of times then he started carving the symbol on the piece of wood. He looked at it carefully, copying with precision. He had a feeling that he saw this symbol somewhere but was unable to remember it fully.
Suddenly he felt something. He sensed something from the surroundings. He turned on his spot as he tried to look for it. The feeling gave him chills and tingles in his arms. He was almost done copying the mark. He quickly looked at his carving and compared it with the one on the tree.
He added another swish using his knife and then he was done. He quickly put it in his boot and the knife on the other. He walked back, turned and focused again on his search for the mysterious scent.
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Graveloth was wide awake and was preparing to tie up the dead boar. He grabbed some vines and tied it up. He wove knots until it became a huge net, wrapping the large beast that was soon to be their feast. He tightened the vines, stepping on the dead boar to cover the top. He started to sweat and breathe heavily as he struggled to finish. Behind him, he heard the leaves move and the bushes also made a soft sound.
Graveloth froze. He scanned the surroundings and tried to check if someone, or something, was watching him. He looked in every direction but found nothing.
He continued tying the ropes around the enormous boar. The bushes rustled again behind him but this time he ignored it. He kept calm but stayed alert for any sudden movements around him.
The wind breezed and he turned around with his left sword, spinning and pointing towards his back. There was a man in red armor with red eyes and with his sword barely grazing his neck.
Graveloth withdrew his sword from his left armlet and continued his work. The stranger walked around, eyeing what Graveloth was doing. He looked down and grabbed more vines and helped in wrapping the dead boar. Graveloth wondered the unexpected help from the red armored stranger.
Both dropped to the ground heaving as they finally finished. Graveloth was tired but he kept an eye on the stranger. He stood up and handed his water sack to Graveloth.
Graveloth stared at the standing silhouette holding the fresh water bag. He grabbed the water sack as the man sat beside. He didn’t finish the whole water sack. Graveloth kept heaving and gasping as the stranger just sat curiously beside him.
“What a catch you got here,” the man began. Graveloth glanced a moment at him while he drank the remaining water. “What’s your name boar slayer?”
“My name is Graveloth Demio of the Iron Kingdom. Judging by your accent, you’re an elf, am I correct?” Graveloth asked.
The man just smiled weakly and closed his eyes.
“You’re judgment certainly deceives your looks, Graveloth,” he answered. Graveloth showed a grin of his own.
“And because your armor is red. You’re a Venis Elf,” he added. Before he could even react, Graveloth stood up and approached the dead boar. “And because of the emblem on your armlet. You must be General Sevidon Borinvegeard,” he added.
Sevidon was stunned by Graveloth’s knowledge.
“Well, will you help me bring this to the temple? General?” he said as he smiled sharply.
It took them almost the entire the day to transfer the boar on to a wooden plank. It took them more moments to rest.
“So, still have the energy to pull this, General?” Graveloth teased Sevidon.
Sevidon stood up and stretched his arms up high. Graveloth watched the General lift up one vine and pulled the body. Sevidon tightened his grip on the vine. Sevidon grinned at Graveloth and with one jolt and pulled the boar an inch further. Graveloth could not speak.
Sevidon kept his arrogant smile and said, “Well?”
Graveloth snapped back, grabbed a vine and said, “How strong are you guys exactly?”
Sevidon took long before he answered, “Well, how smart you guys exactly?” he jokingly asked. Both laughed pulled the boar towards the temple.
“How is the king of the iron realm?” Sevidon suddenly asked.
“To be honest,” Graveloth paused but continued, “We really aren’t that close.” Sevidon was completely caught off guard with this.
“Why? You and your father have troubles?”
Suddenly Graveloth laughed at his question and Sevidon realized he came to another puzzling situation. “That was hilarious really. The Kra’en King is not my father.”
“Then who are you?” Sevidon asked, confusion written all over his face. Graveloth just smiled at him and cracked his neck.
“I’m just the greatest blacksmith who made the best weapons in the entire kingdoms, except yours off course,” he said.
Sevidon breathed heavily and they both continued dragging the boar. “Well, we certainly have to know more about each other then. And because of the situation we’re in now, we have a lot of time to talk about it.”
It took a while for them to reach the temple. It was nearing dusk when they got a good glimpse of the temple doors.
Behind the two warriors, in the nearly orange sky, an unknown twinkle suddenly sparkled on the forest roof. And the only one who saw this was Glaivel.
End of chapter XIV
XV: CLOUDED HEART
TAMARA, ONCE A BASTION OF hope and prosperity of the Trasidar Empire, now turned into the largest castle known to the west home of almost the entire army of the Empire. The Prime Minister declared martial law over the city, the capital region of Barceneim, due to the outbreak of civil unrest caused by the devastation of the Red Prince in Huertian and Go’Renhor.
While the remaining regions remained under civil law and under unwatched leadership of the governors, the largest city in the entire empire had now undergone a massive renovation. The streets became workshops for the additional reinforcements of the enormous walls that surrounded the entire metropolis. Soldiers patrolled the streets and Phalanxes guarded prestigious city buildings, with its citizens prohibited to leave the city. Women and children alike roamed the streets with fear, frightened of the change that was happening for the past months. The city echoed the beat of hammers from factories that used to be only in the Northern region of Malatur’Aren and the Iron Kingdom. The skies above the city became black of smoke from the workshops. From an agricultural-industrial capital city, Tamara became a massive ore hungry refinery.
The Imperial Trasidar Phalanx was the strongest military battalion in the entire empire. It was composed of well-built, well-trained soldiers trained by Prince Tamiron Lluch himself. Only soldiers with exemplary skills and attitude, with a fearless heart and undoubted loyalty to the Trasidar Monarchy were eligible to be one of the Trasidar Empire’s fiercest warriors. This was the questionable move by the Trasidar monarchs in the past until Prince Tamiron’s coming of age. Since then, the battalion radically changed and shifted the balance of power in favor of the Imperial Trasidars. The Prince trained the once pitiful soldiers into well-built, disciplined warriors that the entire kingdoms had ever seen.
Separate from the Trasidar Phalanx were the Royal Phalanxes. These were regular Phalanxes that had proven thems
elves worthy of directly associating themselves with the Monarchy. Royal Phalanxes served the empire but answered directly to the Lluch Monarchy and only to them. The soldiers became a symbol, an embodiment of Prince Tamiron’s ideals.
However, because of Prince Tamiron’s absence, the Royal Phalanx General report directly to the Prime Minister. And the council thought this could be a problem.
Outside the highest walls of the city, the only gate was temporarily closed and guarded by a heavy battalion of both the Royal Phalanx and with the Phalanx Archers atop the walls, standing firm and looking only forward as they exercised the highest discipline ever attained.
In the middle of the city was the Royal Palace. It stood atop the edge of a large rock barely touching the cliff of the large earth structure. It was the center of governance, diplomacy, economics and power in the entire empire. The palace was more heavily guarded than before as the Royal Phalanxes guarded it.
The palace was divided into several towers and buildings to house its monarchs. In the heart of it all was the royal palace – residence for the royal family, also for meetings of councilors. And now, a meeting was being held by the Prime Minister to address other serious issues within the kingdom.
Inside the throne room, the throne stood at the end of the room and above it was the banner of the Trasidians. Prime Minister Menoich stood in front of it as he addressed the calls and pleas of the councilors. Behind him were Phalanx General Aragrad and some other royal phalanx guards under his authority.
“Remind me again why you replaced the previous Phalanx General, Menoich?” a councilor asked.
“We are in a very delicate situation, councilor. The security of the royal palace is of utmost importance. And I think it is in the best interest of the empire for me to place one who I believe I can trust my life with,” he answered.
“Who would be in their right mind go straight to the heart of the Trasidar Empire? This is outrageous, even for you,” the councilor retaliated.
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