"Duke Vulcan, they have changed their flags to war banners," a white-haired youth said to Aiden, the latter sitting behind his desk.
"I expected nothing less from them," Aiden muttered under his breath, remembering all that the Marquis had said to him.
The elaborate plan to absorb the dukedom.
He gritted his teeth, the temperature of the room plummeted.
The white-haired youth shivered slightly under the invisible pressure, but kept his cool.
Aiden, noticing his aura was leaking, reined it in.
He was angry, furious about what the royal family had done to his family.
He would never have guessed they would have orchestrated all of this.
Most would have asked, questioned the King whether he truly had a hand in Alaric's elemental affinity, but he…
Decided to use his father's method: strike.
Force is the best way to find the truth. If they are at fault, strike harder, and if they are not, strike softly, but as long as they are suspected, strike.
Though he was angry, he had hoped the royal family would have at least requested an audience. Maybe there was more to the story, demons are running rampant after all.
Yet, here the war banners have been raised.
"Sigh." He sat up, brows furrowed in resolution.
"Get my generals, war it is."
The white-haired youth respectfully bowed in acknowledgement before taking his leave, meeting Raika and the sleeping Alaric at the door.
He bowed. Raika responded as she entered while he exited.
"I guess you are serious about following your father's footsteps," Raika commented.
"Yeah." Alaric walked closer, his cold expression breaking into a smile as he approached the two.
"You have to purge your house…"
"Say no more, I know what to do…" Aiden interrupted Raika. The latter was annoyed, but noticing the sadness in his eyes, she stopped.
He knew his wives were involved in this scandal, Elena Dominus Vulcan of the royal family.
Not to mention Zariah, who had shown her hostility to the pregnant Raika, and her gaze on Alaric during the birth ceremony did not go unnoticed.
"Take him to the Elven Kingdom, the war is about to begin…"
His gentle stroking woke Alaric up, the infant curiously looking at his father.
"Hey, my little boy," Aiden smiled as he took the baby from his mother's hands.
"Don't worry, I will fix this." He pressed his lips on his forehead, a visible frown appearing on Alaric's face.
His reaction brought laughter to Aiden.
"Take him, sigh." Aiden sighed once again.
Raika, who was one to talk, kept mute as she quietly watched her husband.
She might be a bit uncultured but understood the weight of betrayal and the bonds of comrades.
She was a warrior after all.
Having to fight those she fought alongside with would shake her no matter how strong her will.
She, in her own way, understood her husband's plight.
"Don't worry, I know the Hellflame will not be extinguished. You will emerge victorious…" She kissed Aiden, the latter allowing himself to feel her embrace.
Alaric stared at them intently, a slight blush of embarrassment appearing on Raika's face as she noticed Alaric's stare.
"We will leave immediately, don't fret, Hellflame." Her face as red as a tomato, she left with Alaric, Aiden left staring at the closed door.
"I won't allow anyone to look down on my family anymore…"
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BLAAAAOOOM!!!
The sound of war horn reverberated across a vast plain.
The wind stood still, clouds drifting slowly, the sun positioned in the middle of the sky, looking down on those gathered on the plain.
Two groups of people.
At the right, adorned in golden armor, an army stood: infantry, cavalry, and siege engineers.
Behind the main line stood the King of Dominus Kingdom.
Seated atop a pegasus.
He was adorned in heavy golden armor, embroidered with intricate runes, his helmet resting on his lap.
Leon El Dominus.
To the left, adorned in fiery red armor, the opposing army stood: infantry, cavalry, and siege engineers.
In front of the main line stood a young man, adorned in fiery crimson light armor.
His bright hair flowed to his shoulders, blazing red eyes peering through the great helm helmet he wore, its top vacant, allowing his hair to flow outward.
Duke Vulcan.
On the 23rd day of the seventh month, in the year 1011, a decisive battle was about to take place.
Not one against demons, as such had been going on for centuries, but against their fellow humans.
"I know those that you are about to face were once your comrades…" Aiden turned to his army, his voice booming across the plains.
"...I know it is painful to strike at a friend, so if you feel it is beyond you, you may leave." He added. The army stood quiet, looking intently at their Patriarch. No one moved an inch.
"If you have stayed, you are going to stain your hands with the blood of your comrades. They are innocent, unlike the greed-filled bastards who dared to touch your future Patriarch…" he gritted his teeth, a vein bulging in fury.
"Don't let... "
"Vulcan, stop your blabbering and let's bring it on, you arrogant prick!" another voice echoed through the plain, interrupting Aiden.
Aiden turned to it. Standing at the front lines, he sat on a crimson stallion, his gold-plated armor crested with the twelve wings of an angel, the crest of the Dominus royal kingdom.
Valentin Agni.
Aiden did not react, only turning back to his people.
"Let's bring glory to the Vulcan Kingdom. Let's bring glory to Eish Tamid by rooting out these vermin!" He turned back to the opposing army. The army behind him cheered.
"This f*cker," Valentin growled, annoyed for being ignored like that.
"Take the shot," he commanded, requesting the first strike.
According to the rules of war, the first strike comes from the challenged, in this case being the Dominus Kingdom.
As the strings of a catapult were cut, tossing with tremendous force a ball of flames, the battle commenced.
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A/N
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