Chapter Ten: The Lesson Written in Blood
Valen screamed in agony as he was sent flying backward by the shock.
The dust cleared up; a few of Valen's bones were broken.
Valen looked up and saw two hooded figures with dual blades in their hands.
Their face was covered by their masks, but their hands were pale, their body structure looked exactly the same, tall and slim, and their eyes were shining like gold; their physical attributes revealed them to be masculine.
Those figures stared at Valen emotionlessly as if they were puppets of some kind.
Valen looked around with his body trembling, his face soaked with sweat.
He saw Ellara lying on the ground unconscious.
Valen looked up, his body trembling, face pale; the sound of Milover's voice filled his head.
"You deserve to die, monster."
One of the masked figures lunged at Valen with high speed, but he was blocked by the driver of the carriage.
The driver blocked his two blades with his sword and then slashed at the masked man.
The masked figure retreated back to his companion.
The driver looked back at Valen and said.
"You are not hurt, young master, are you?"
Valen replied while wiping sweat from his face.
"I'm alright, although I think a few of my bones are broken."
The driver looked at him worryingly and thought to himself.
"What do I do now? I can't escape from here with young master Valen or Ellara."
The two masked figures attacked once again; the driver blocked one with his blade but was stabbed in the chest by the other masked figure.
The driver stumbled.
Blood leaked from the wound on his chest, soaking his uniform as if the blood were still biting him, yet he did not want to fall—he wanted to protect.
He breathed heavily, forcing his body to move by his will.
The masked figures stood there watching him as if a hunter were watching his prey.
The driver gripped the sword tightly; his arms were shaking from exhaustion. He stood between the masked figures and Valen.
Valent was shaking in fear watching the battle unfold, but he questioned.
"Why is he still fighting? Shouldn't he run away?"
One of the masked figures tilted his head to signal the other to move.
Then they moved.
Their steps aligned perfectly with each other, blades flashing under the bright sun.
The driver screamed in defiance of the attack.
Their blades roared against each other; they clashed.
He blocked one attack, yet the figures separated each other's attack.
One aimed his blade at the head—blocked by the driver.
And one aimed at the legs—low—too low.
The blade pierced through his leg as if through butter.
Blood poured from the leg.
The driver screamed in pain.
And then.
He fell.
He looked at Valen one last time before getting unconscious and said.
"Run away as far as you can."
Then the body gave in to the urge to rest.
The next moment followed silence.
Valen shook with fear in front of the foe.
The fear shackled his body like chains.
Then suddenly
One of the masked figures lunged at Valen.
He tried to run, but the fear didn't allow it.
The masked figure aimed the blades at his throat.
Slash
Valen sat there, his eyes blank, his body shivering in fear; he whispered slowly.
"Ellara,Ellara."
The blade pierced through Ellara's shoulders like a knife through butter.
The dark red blood spilled from her shoulder, soaking the skirt in red.
She fell to the ground unconscious.
Valen looked at her in disbelief.
A murderous intent started to swallow him.
Then
He heard a voice inside his head.
"Valen, kill them all."
Valen retaliated.
"I shouldn't—I shouldn't kill them. What good will their death bring me?"
The voice spoke in a cold tone.
"Their death will protect those you hold dear, and if you don't kill them, they will kill her, and you will watch."
Valen looked at the Ellara before giving in to the voice.
A cape of light started to form near Valen as if it were the mark of something heavenly.
The masked figures looked in awe; the first one spoke to another.
"I never thought I would see something so divine."
The other replied in agreement.
"Yes, by the looks of it, it looks like a god is about to descend."
Valen then carried on his sentence and said.
"Yes, the God of Death has descended."
In a flash, the masked figure was on the ground.
The God of Death, Thanatos, incarnated in Valen's body, walked up to them.
He stretched out his hand and healed Ellara's shoulders, returning her body back to normal.
"Well, this one's death will be far more interesting than letting her die here, huh?"
As he stretched his other hand out to devour the masked figure's soul.
The backlash from possessing Valen's body came.
He screamed.
"Uhhhhh, this body is still a child."
And so he retreated.
Now Valen looked at the figures lying unconscious in disbelief.
He could not deliver a word.
ClapClapClap
Duke Diable Veridian walked out of the trees.
Looking happier than ever.
He walked up to Valen and said.
"Well done, son; you are a genius, the one destined to overthrow the empire and bring Veridian rule."
Valen stood there in silence and then.
He finally cracked.
"You were the one who ordered them to attack me.... weren't you?"
Even the forest watched, holding its breath.
Diable smiled.
Just smiled
He did not deny it.
He said.
"Indeed, son, your senses do not betray you."
Valen didn't take a moment to hesitate.
"Then why?"
Diable sighed and replied.
"Because I needed to teach you what an emperor does to assassins, and you seem to know it: the emperor kills them." -----He held his breath and continued.
"Now tell me, will you kill them, Emperor?"
Valen stood there looking blank; he raised his head and asked a question few dared to ask.
"Kill, kill, kill. Why is it always about killing people? Tell me I need to kill...but look at me, Father." He screamed.
"I don't even know what killing means, so tell me, Father, why should I do it?"
Diable answered.
"Killing is when you make something or someone die, like when the guard Owen died from a beast."
Valen stood there; he let the answer sink in his mind and asked more.
"Death...Uncle Owen. Yeah, now you mention it, I heard from someone he died...Then why didn't he come to the post again? Why didn't I see him, nor did I hear from him..."
Silence
He screamed.
"Tell me, Father, whyyyyyyyy."
Then he fell unconscious.
Only Diable stood there grinning as he said to himself.
"Indeed you are an emperor chosen by heaven,⁸ and it is in the nature of the leaders to question everything and not follow."
End of Chapter Ten.
Author's Thoughts.
"Hey guys so in a busy schedule I really did manage to stay consistent beacuse I am super busy it took me few days but overall good in the weekend there will be two chapters so rate this one please."