Armin looked at the floating screen in front of him, his fingers passing through it like it did not exist. While fidgeting with the odd floating screen that nobody else could see, he recalled the day he had first witnessed the manifestation of this screen, along with a message from the Sun.
"He… after so many years, the promised reward will soon fall upon my kingdom. It will still take about 20 more years. I might not live long enough…" Armin glanced at his frail and wrinkled hand that was fiddling with the invisible screen.
He had spent all his life conquering the surrounding kingdoms, not only to protect his own kingdom, but also for the promised reward his kingdom would receive at the end of 100 years.
Unfortunately, he had already reached the end of his life, living perhaps a few months to a year or two at most.
"Death is the end. Birth is the start. Life… is but a moment. It is what we do in that moment, the memories and legacies we leave behind, that give meaning to life…" Armin's eyes glistened over as he recalled the passing of his wife during childbirth, taking his potential thirdborn with her. He recalled the second wife that was forced upon him by circumstance, and the two children he had with her. He recalled how he ended up falling in love with her over the years, and how she always cared for him, no matter how much they fought. He recalled how his firstborn died to war, and the fourth-born to some strange disease.
He recalled how his second wife tried to force her right… her only remaining child's right over the throne, how he had mediated between his own second-born, and his thirdborn sons to achieve the peace of the kingdom.
And now, near the end of his life, he would finally have to make the decision. The decision that would either shatter his kingdom in two, or lead to the death of one of his sons. He had no grand illusions that after his death, his children would not fight to the bitter end.
All he could do now was hope.
And hope he did.
"Bring my children!" he demanded, his aged voice booming across the open air castle.
…
Soon, his two remaining sons were standing in front of him, with respect in their eyes for him. But they refused to even acknowledge the presence of the other, a gesture Armin understood rather easily.
"My children. I have built this kingdom… for our people. I built it from what I received from my father, and it was something he received form his father…" Armin took a moment to catch his breath, the strain in the action was understood by both his children, causing them to wait silently as their father recovered himself.
"And today, I must pass it onto you. I know what you will want to do. Whoever will become the next king will kill, or at least imprison the other, perhaps even both… And thus, I have decided to let the Sun decode on the next king."
"Father-" both the young men began to speak, but a wave of Armin's hand, together with him activating his Berserk trait caused them to shut their mouths.
Armin felt invigorated once more, his muscles moving with his newly regained breath. His hearts beating as though he was born anew. He knew this was only temporary, and the longer he kept it active, the closer he was bringing his death.
But it mattered not to him. He stood up, and walked down the stairs with heavy steps.
When he reached his children, his figure stood about half a head above either of his children, their gleaming bald scalps visible to him.
He paused for only a moment before embracing both his children, his forehead touching those of both of his children in a sign of filial affection he had not shown in many years.
After ending the embrace, he began to deactivate the berserk trait, and felt the strength in his body slowly leave him, and his condition quickly worsen that what it was before he had used it.
As he collapsed to one knee, a scene that caused both his children to rush forward to hold him up, Armin looked up at them with a serious expression.
"I know you are born of different mothers. I know you do not like each other… no, hate each other. I know you cannot live together under one roof. But please, for my sake, for the sake of the kingdom, for the sake of your mothers and your wives and your children, for the sake of this father of yours who built a kingdom, but failed as a father, please, do not kill each other. Whomever becomes the next king between the two of you, please let the other go," Armin paused here, taking in a deep breath and clearing his through of the weight that had settled inside it, like tree-sap, unwilling to move.
"Banish them if you must, but make sure their safety is ensured and give them somewhere to live, in peace," Armin's breath became increasingly laboured, as his eyes moistened.
"I beg you… I am on my knees, I beg you, take care of each other. I have… always ordered things of you. I now realise… that was the king ordering you around, not your father," Armin wheezed as a tear rolled down his reddened eye filled with regret and longing, "Today, I ask you. I beg you. I plead, as a father. As your father. Please…"
*Huff*
The two princes remained silent, as their father took his last breath. Both their eyes were reddened, but neither cried. Neither uttered a single word. Neither moved, or cried.
*Drip*
But moments later, a thick red liquid dripped from both their knuckled as their hands trembled ever-so-slightly, veins bulging in strain from being clenched to hard.
{AN: Damn emotional chapter. I hope I was able to convey the feelings in this chapter. Do give me suggestions. Next arc will begin soon. But before that, we will have a short time skip for the 100-year benefit the leading kingdom would get, and then a longer time-skip until the arc will begin. It will likely involve a more technologically advanced civilisation that the current medieval era. And a War… a Great War…}
Word Count: 1073 words