Chapter Five: The ruler amongst leaders
As the instructor was about to say "finish,"
Valen thrust the ricasso of the sword at Milover's stomach.
*Cough, *cough*.
Milover dropped to the ground as Valen jumped on his chest.
*Thud, *Thud*, *Thud*, *Thud*.
Valen started to punch him again and again.
Milover then looked at Valen in pain"how could I lose to you,how could??????????,i am a geniusi should never lose to you,Why the hell are you looking at me with those eyes you monster"he shouted.
Valen looked at him blankly and stopped punching. Blood dripped from his hands as the bones from Valen's knuckles became visible. Blood dripped through his hands into Milover's face.
And finally Valen spoke: "You're right, you're a genius; you shouldn't lose to someone ordinary, but like you said, you aren't a monster, but I am... You will never be my equal; I'm better than you."
Valen inhaled the fresh air of Victory, then exhaled and spoke once again "You are below me, like a peasant to an emperor...yet you dare defy me, your emperor; you should be punished."
Valen gripped his sword tightly as he spoke those words; he then proceeded to kick Milover in the air—thwack.
He jumped with his sword to midway when Milover was falling.
*Slash*
Milover fell to the ground as his dominant arm was separated from his body. He screamed in pain, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it hurts, it hurts like helllllll."
As he was on the ground bleeding, Valen stared at him and spoke, still in a blank voice, "Does it hurt? If yes, then why don't you stand up and fight me and do the same to me, big brother? Why are you so weak? Why can't you fight back?"
Milover passed out from blood loss.
*Swoosh*
The butler and Duke Diable Veridian appeared in front of Valen.
"Enough," the butler, Lephious, said.
"You have already won the battle, young master Valen; perhaps you could stop now, as he is your family, your elder brother after all."
As Valen felt the words sink into his ears, he looked Lephious dead in the eye and said, "If he is family, why did he try to kill me?? My...my mother was also my family. Why did I kill her then?...Why?????."
He looked at Lephious and questioned, "Just what am I? Am I truly a monster?"
Hearing his words, Lephious was stunned. He looked at Diable Veridian and thought to himself, "My lord, just for how much time are you going to pretend that you are doing this for the Veridian family or glory...even though I have been with you since the day you were born? But still...I still can't figure you out."
Hearing the words of his son, Diable commanded Lephious, "Take Milover to the medic, Lephious. I need to talk to my son."
He placed his hand on Valen's shoulder and teleported them to their castle hall.
He looked at Valen and spoke: "You are not a monster, Valen, but you are a ruler. What you did there was simply punish those who disobeyed and disrespected you, son. Be a dictator, and people will not revolt as long as they don't see you as one...but if they do, be powerful enough to destroy rebels."
Valen looked at his father and spoke, "But Father, is that right? Is it really right to punish them? After all, they all feel pain like me, like Brother Milover felt today. Won't they be in a lot of pain if I unleash doom upon them?"
Hearing the words of Valen Diable, smiled and replied, "They indeed will, my son, but will you not if you are not able to fulfill your mother's dying wish?"
Hearing his answer, Valen stood shocked and frozen as if his brain were no longer functioning. He slowly spoke, "M...my mother's last wish—what was it, Father? What did she want me to do?"
Hearing his words, Diable Veridian smiled once again as if he had found a treasure trove. "She wanted you to conquer Kiel, Valen; she wanted you to be the emperor."
Valen shook more from his answer and spoke in fear, "Mother wanted me to unleash Doom and become the Emperor. How do you know it, Father?"
Diable Veridian chuckled as he heard those words and continued, "I was there, Valen. I was there... I still remember it clearly."
"As your mother was growing weaker second by second, she looked at me, then at the newborn, and all her weakness vanished from her face as if she saw the Grace of the God in you. She held you in her hands and spoke, 'I want you to conquer, my little boy, to rule. You are the greatest gift I received; please use it for the God. Make the Veridian family's banner loom all over the empire.'"
Valen, upon hearing this, looked at the window outside the castle; the light of sunset dawned on Valen as the night was approaching.
Valen stood there and announced, "I, Valen Veridian, will be emperor of Kiel."
After that, Diable sent Valen back to his room.
As Valen reached his room, he opened the door and jumped on his bed; then a voice came from a distance.
"Careful, Valen, you will hurt yourself."
Upon hearing the Voice, all of Valen's sorrow was depleted like light depletes darkness; his face dared to shine as much as the sun. He tilted his head to where the voice was coming from and said, "Big Sister Ellara, I can't wait to tell you what happened today; quickly come."
Then Ellara Alderwood, nanny of Valen Veridian, went to him and spoke in shock, "Oh my grace, what happened to you, Valen? Did you get in a big fight? Tell me who it is; I will go and beat him right now."
After her words left her mouth and reached Valen's ears, Valen told her about everything that happened during the day.
Upon hearing his experience over the past day, Ellara quickly bandaged him and treated his injuries and said, "You will need to drink the soup I prepare for you—no candies and other sweets, okay?"
After she finished speaking, Valen pouted his mouth and said, "That's not fair. I beat Brother Milover; I should get more treats."
End of Chapter Five