Warning the chapter is quite dark in part. You have been warned.
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Inside the dwarf castle in one of the many tent made to house the extra soldiers and in one of the 2 biggest tent there sits the general Pyro. In angry from what was said by Cyro.
Fiery mana kept spilling out of him like lava leaking out of a volcano. Ready to erupt at any moment.
He sat by he's desk, contemplating to himself thinking how ignorant the world is.
'No one seems to understand what kind of man king Luther is. They don't realise how kind the king is. Oh how merciful he is, how mighty the power at his disposal is. All those citizen think of him as a tyrant, a monster, a creature unfit to rule. But had they known what kind of men he was in the past, what kind of reaction will they make'
The edge of Pyro lips perk up abit. But it dropped just as fast.
"Sigh" "Those greedy nobles ain't helping either. Spreading those rumor to reduce the king's reputation."
I was leaking out mana that's more intense, violent when mentioning the nobles. But the next second I began to retract the mana.
I can't go around destroying base of operation just because I felt mad.
"Sigh" another sigh but this was tired, exhausted. From the battle and the past.
I leaned back on my seat taking a comfortable position for a rest after a long day's work.
"How simple life was when we were little. Me, Luther, and Kiyu. Kiyu the oldest strongest, Luther he was younger then Kiyu by a few years but he's wise, intellect and social skills that was way ahead of his years. It's extraordinary even by the standard of adults and scholar. While I... Hahahaha was the problem child. "
Pyro let out small chuckles reminiscing about the past. A sad, lonely wash over his face. The overwhelming mana was long dispersed what remained in the room was a lonely, exhausted man. Not a general just a man who's tired.
'What happen to us,to Luther? Tho he's not the oldest or the strongest he was our leader. He cared for us when my clan and Kiyu's clan abondon us. We would have die for him and we still would.'
'All this reminiscing reminded me a fond memory of how the clans treated me and Kiyu. How cute they were to called us talentless, can't blame them really. I had a mana pool so little that the strongest fire I could manifest was the size of a single matchstick. Worthless they said. Made me a nickname fire camp maker because that's all the use I had. Hahahaha not even in their wildest dream could they imagine that I the one they called fire camp maker would destroy their life and rebuild the clan in my image in the near future. '
Pyro smirk at the memory of him destroying the past patriarch, the elders who followed him and those who mocked him. After destroying the foundation he had rebuild the clam in his image without the prejudice on the ones they called on untalented. Instead he helped them. Making the clan stronger then it was before. Ushering the golden era of the Pyro clan.
'Cant complain much since Kiyu had it worse. All he had was a strong constitute just a single speck of mana in him. With that little mana he couldn't even make a spell. They called him musclehead all brawn no brain. Always casting spell to hurt him knowing they do no real damage if they keep it first circle spells. '
' But now he's called the strongest man hahahaha how cruel fate is to evil people. I still remember their faces when when I kill my clan's patriarch and elder. They were scared kiyu would do the same. They even made him into the clan elder. Always wonder why didn't he do the same. The look of shock, awe and fear. Mostly there were fear.'
The happy memory didn't last long. He soon recalled a unpleasant memory. The story of king Luther.
'... Luther that poor prince. A bastard son bought to this world with nothing but kindness and hope. What did he get in return? Hate from the queen resentment from the other prince. The first and second princes were jealous. After all Luther was the favourite son. The king truly loved he's mother. '
' But could they accept this result? Of course they couldn't, how could they when a bastard was going to try to steal their birthright. A outsider nono they couldn't allow it so they paid a assassin to kill his mom while making him watch. This action was cruel so cruel that even the queen was disgusted. How I know for sure? Quite easy really. She killed her 2 child to repent for her sons sins. Atleast she had a heart even if it was poisoned by jealousy. Luther the first king to be crowned without any blood on his hand.'
'Thats when he brought me and kiyu up. Reviewed our training, taught us how to improve ourself, to not be weak. He knew being weak was a sin that we couldn't afford. We became stronger, harder to kill even with assassination. Then the 10 year quest happened.... Till this day I regretted what we did on that quest. All horror we done. Those 10 year changed all 3 of us. Made us even stronger and more mature sure but was it worth it? Luther changed the most in that quest, after all that's where it started. After the quest Luther started to change. Change to being more brutal, sly in his method of tactic unlike he's straight forward battle tactic. But it was manageable after all it was just his fighting style that changed he's still kind hearted caring for everyone even the enemy. Only did it became worse when he met that wretched witch of a queen. Those sly tongue of hers whispered unholy secret to Luther making him fearful, paranoid, distrusting and impulsive. This was emplify when we found existent of other creature.'
' Unknown creature with unknown purpose. We couldn't predict if they were hostile or not. It doesn't justify Luther desicion of starting another war tho. Must be the queen again. Scared she will lose her privileges if the enemy were to attack. Attacking first and dismissed any plan of attack king. '
'Can't imagine I'm saying this but that's smart even tho it's cruel and without any honor. But a sly fox doesn't have honor that I know for a fact'
After 30 minutes of sitting there reliving all his live choices and the result of those choice. He can't help but feel a little down.
But he stood up all he's negative feeling was gone.
"Well the past is the past. No what ifs, I did the best I could with the most I knew and that's the end. Now I just have to win this war and save Luther my king just like how he saved me."
Pyro fired up his spirit walked out of his tent making way to the fortress wall seeing what to do next
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The room next to the interrogation room. Cyro's office. Sits a man who's cold to the touch, Cyro.
" Hmm seems like Pyro finally let go out his anger. Didn't expect such a reaction from him when I talked about the king. I knew they were close but not this close. Seem the rumor of him, kiyu and the king being childhood friends are true."
' I don't regret what I said. It's true the king is mad. It doesn't matter how much Pyro knew him as a kid. People change no matter how well you knew them, they will always change with time. Not to mention I seen real side of the king. '
Cyro stood up and walked over to the window. He looked at the scenery, eyes darting around like it's looking a enemy or a prey but to no avail. Since there were no enemy in sight. Looking around searching for enemy is a habit from the experience he has under his belt.
He thought to himself as if he remembering something.
'That day.... The day we now call the dawn of a new era. The day where king Luther destroy the final enemy kingdom of the human race making him the undisputed king of human making he's already large kingdom to a empire. It's also the day I call the end of a beginning.'
' That day everyone was fighting their own battles. Me and the other general went and fight all the remaining generals it was a brutal battle we emerged victorious but not without injuries. That slash from the previous strongest man still sting me till this day.'
' I finished my enemy first and went to support my king and what I saw was madness. The defeated king asked for mercy for he's wife and unborn. What did king Luther do? He respond by sliding the queen and then use magic to forcefully drag the baby out of the womb letting the baby chocked on he's own blood. He was in delight seeing the horror lasted on the fallen king's face. The fallen had no voice, no words but pure unfiltered rage.But he mustered up he's last energy He screamed at the top of his lung swinging his sword wildly. " HOW DARE YOU KILL MY AND MY CHILD IN SUCH A WAY you MONSTER"
'I remember how Luther sidestep and stab the king in the heart. Giving him some time to hear what Luther had to say.... "You don't get it do you? THIS IS THE REACTION I WANT!! SCREAM DESPAIR! Struggle like the ant you are. Hahahah how fun."
He looked at the dying king and mocked "You should have laid there and accepted you death without any reaction. That would have pissed me off more. Hehehhee but you and your alliance of kings are such predictable people, so dumb that's why I liked killing every single one of you kings. But here have some peace of mind. I killed your family the less brutal way. The others wasn't this lucky." Luther face was so pleased with the fear that was displayed by the king.'
Luckily I was outside of the door looking in. He didn't saw me. Hand that day tremble for the first time.
'my first thought wasn't how could I serve this cruel king, not how should I kill him this monster. My first thought was to run.'
'Me the person who just killed the last era' s strongest men first thought was run.'
That's how frightened I was. I mustered up my courage and went in. I saw the other was coming after finished their battle. They wouldn't believe me and with what I discovered I knew the king will do everything to kill me or worse. I asked him what happened here. He just say the king killed his wife and child. He lied with a straight face no reaction. I tried my best to not show any reaction hoping him didn't realised what's wrong'.
Cyro left hand started to tremble but he stop it with his right hand. "He is a monster no matter what Pyro says. He is a monster without a shred of humanity."
After so many years that scene still scares me. Throughout 20 year of military service I've seen rape, torture, action that will make any human puke and lose faith in mankind. But that day was one that truly broke him.
It made me paranoid distrustful, wondering if anyone in the empire is just like the king, a mad man.
Rumours of me being a cold hearted general started to come up. I don't blame them really, always staying in my office and staying a away from society turning cold in nature. Funny that it made me understand my magic even more making me stronger. Hehehe making I should thank king Luther... That left a bad taste in my mouth
Maybe this is my true nature to be alone, cold to others. If that's the case,then fate has a twisted humour making me see king Luther true side.