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Zeleos
I stared down upon the villagers of Kyronia in the air. The guardian beast of the palace slowly began to cease its flickering, as their dark, whistling, surrounding mist formed around it once more.
We were nearing the city of Kyrone again. There was an urgent discussion to bring to the capital of the kingdom.
For the world under us was preparing for war. And I heard about it all.
I analyzed the situation within my mind, as my hand steadily moved over to the sealed bloodstone pocket under the cape. Attached beside it with a rope was my brother's dusty dark-steel helmet.
Why, in the false gods' names, would Kallei decide to work for the Chronicle Order?
He was obviously never known for being the most useful heir. For one, Kallei had always hid his long nights of secret drinking parties, beneath the saying that he joins council and desires what's right for the people.
But a traitorous action to this degree, of joining the rioters that desire to destroy your own legacy? It just wouldn't make sense.
Unless, somehow, it was against his will.
Or he's the dishonorable scum he's been since the past decade.
For some reason, I didn't care to think about it all that much. There was a time and place for everything. And now was the time to take matters in my own hands.
I was still catching my breath as I pulled the Skollur down, to land within the gated docks, with other Drownei looking up to watch my arrival.
Using the bloodstone seemed to exhaust me physically, I noted to myself. The more I used it, specifically, just like other magic. But father's physical being seemed to have gotten familiar with the power-taking sensation.
There was a chance for me to do as well.
"He's back again!"
One of the leather merchant workers said to the others, carrying a concealed wooden wagon.
"You think Kallei is, too?"
The guardian beast landed in the middle of the crowds of scaly people on the shore. I studied all their sharp faces; excited but simultaneously on edge. Now, more than ever, they were anticipating my arrival.
I stood up with my cape flowing down. Removing the thin steel mask from my face, to speak at the large number. I knew what kind of information they wanted, and now, it didn't matter as much as the news I needed to deliver.
"The world of Midkyron will be declaring war on us."
My audience went completely silent as the loud, drastic words came out of my mouth.
More of our own people came from within the city walls to listen. Families, steel-armoured soldiers, and aproned townspeople alike.
The crowds slowly erupted into shocked murmurs and whispers. Almost as if they didn't believe the information. So I pressed further.
"It's true, and quite a lengthy story, but there is no need to fret." I continued while the desperate noises of worried Kyronians rose.
"I will inform Overlord Aeleric at once as everything is in control. They won't lay a finger on us."
After concluding that statement atop the Skollur, I began to sit back down to pull on the reins, and proceed with talking to father. That was all I had to say for now.
Until a voice from the horde yelled.
"But where is prince Kallei?"
And I stopped for a moment in place, the question repeating loud and clear to my pointed ears, as more agreed with the fisherman and his comrades.
"Yea', that's right!" Another worker called out.
"You were supposed to get him back, weren't you??"
Voices were beginning to raise in questioning, and almost in outrage with their forked tongues. I had one simple mission, after all, and yet I was greeted with the worse possible set of circumstances.
But it's not like it was my fault. The people merely didn't recognize me enough to realize the fact.
So I stood up straighter and spoke once more.
"Kallei is working for the Chronicle Order."
Gasps and confusion rose to its peak. To show them the truth, I unattached his steel helmet of a Drownei strapped from my waist belt, and raised it up above my head for everyone to witness. It was designed with dented lines of white; a specialized helmet for the next lord.
"The heir to our overlord has betrayed our kind, despite all the years of heroism he was known to give. And all the promises we've given him."
I stated like fact as they fell silent to my speaking.
"I witnessed him joining the order's quest to wage battle on the Drownei. I spoke to him, but he escaped our grasp. But whether or not he decides to truly return, Kallei's legacy will continue."
Through me.
I yanked on the guardian beast's reins once more, with no more time to waste. My brother's helmet wrapped beneath my shoulder.
Father should be having a council meeting right about now. Despite the tired leader, he should know this urgent information more than anyone.
So we soared up, leaving the crowds with questions unanswered.
Their vocal interrogations blurred and trailed off within my mind. I and the Skollur lifted away towards the palace.
Only one of the distant voices remained mentally echoing for me.
". . .how about the Unity?"
It stayed in my mind for a while, until the distant nearing view of the towering castle distracted my eyes; the overlord's once white palace washed with grey.
We landed past the security checks of guards, and settled in front of the drawbridge with the lava deep underneath. It flowed and bubbled in a circular fashion like a river that looped around. The large castle sat within the rocky terrain between, in its own secured island.
To my knowledge, none of the landscape was manmade, but instead this habitat was where the bloodstone originally resided.
The men of spiked armour nearby took in the Skollur for me, leading away with it by my orders pulling the reins.
I walked forward as the wooden drawbridge, with stone underneath, was lowered down to the surface.
The iron gates opened and I entered the empty throne room.
No soldiers but a few patrolling around. Not even father was there with lines of civilians before him, to seek his supposed wisdom.
I speedily continued walking through the halls of glossy tinted windows, and pillars of white. The orderly fashion of the soldiers marched silent in line, at a normal respectable speed. Despite this, I picked up the pace and strode across the red carpets, to my near destination.
Eventually, I arrived right next to a closed door of the usual polished wood. And then the bloodstone in my pocket subtly shook. As I unsealed it to stare at the weapon, I noticed the gem glowing darker once more.
Not only that, but it allowed me to feel a presence nearby. Father was definitely in that council room.
I used the metal door knocker for prior attention.
Then I waited for a moment.
After a few seconds too long, I reached out a hand to let myself in, until the entryway opened revealing one of the scaly Drownei in pale robes. I rushed to nod respectfully, stepping inside the wide windowless meeting room, with a lengthy table in the center. And as I analyzed each similiar looking figure sitting in the area, my eyes landed upon the one with the tallest cushioned chair, in the middle back. He leaned with the Crown of Infinity, still rested upon his silky head of barely-kept short hair.
"Father, I-"
"Ah, there's my silver child. Glad to see you return." The overlord greeted me with a sudden grin. "Has Kallei done so as well?"
I stepped further inside the conference space, while the others closed the doorway shut behind me. The war declaration could be discussed shortly after. With my idea in mind.
"He is not returning." I spoke to the room.
Then, unattaching my brother's specialized helmet strapped to my waist, I rolled it across the long table until it landed in front of father.
"Kallei has joined the other side. I attempted to reason with him, but he does not wish to return."
"Impossible." One of the white-robed council members exclaimed."That doesn't sound like prince Kallei at all."
The elder men and women surrounding him agreed verbally among themselves.
With a darkened look on his exhausted face, father reached his pale hand out towards me. I stared as I felt my sealed pocket open, and the bloodstone floated out of it, immediately shooting over the worktable into the safe palms of the overlord. Then he closed his eyes, attaching the gem to the rest of his crown like a magnet. His vision blinked open with a glow as he felt the power.
"Calm yourselves. My son tells no lies."
While everyone silenced, he tilted his head towards his older son's helmet placed before him.
"I can feel his pulse in my blood. Kallei certainly isn't dead. Nor is he in pain."
"And the people still need him." I added for good measure. "My 'quest' isn't over, father. I need to complete it."
He then slowly turned his head to face me, the mist in his eyes beginning to dissipate. Then father leaned forward with another forming smile.
"Well, you certainly haven't so far." The overlord stated."What makes you think you can handle it?"
I felt the rest of the committee's weight, and the world watching, as I reached out my right hand and linked the pressure onto the bloodstone above him. The weapon followed, darting back to my palm. Now holding it like the item was nothing.
"I am one of your blood."
I met his grin with a smirk slowly forming.
So I took a seat on the other end of the table across him, gripping the stone, as everyone else witnessed in a state of controlled shock.
"Now, then," My posture was straighter. I ran my other hand across my slicked hair, as I leaned forwards myself.
"What do you all think about an alliance with the Unity, against the world?"
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End of Episode II