1214-06-01
Adrian Kundra:
Chirp!
It's late. I glanced toward the window.
The room smelled faintly. A smell that I don't recognize. My eyes wandered across the room.
A small desk sits next to me. I'm not sure where I am. The room looks nothing like mine. I keep hoping everything I experienced is just a bad dream.
I look to my right. Lillian holds on to my arm. She sleeps in a chair beside the bed. A small smile crosses my face.
I try to move my left hand. Nothing is there. A sharp stinging pain shoots through me.
My body feels sick. My head continues to ring. What happened? I remembered.
I remembered the fight with the emperor, the fight with her general, but not from my own eyes. It feels like I watched it from a third person view. I saw the dragon land on me. I saw it rip my arms from their sockets. I saw the armor encase my body.
The pure white armor. An ability I have never seen before. An ability I have never heard of before. Something we can use to fight against the dragons.
I struggle to sit upright.
I look at Lillian. I feel feel happy that she cares about me. Her blonde hair falls across her face.
"I still wonder how…"
I look down at the left side of my body. I lift my shirt to see the damage. A stump where my arm should be. Even if the pain is faint now, the memory of it still lingers. I ease myself off the bed.
It takes effort just to pull my shirt back down. The thought of wearing armor again feels almost impossible.
I decided to risk it.
I leave the room, writing a small note in case Lillian wakes up. My handwriting is awful. It will get better with practice.
I walk through the halls of the castle we fought so hard to obtain. I notice missing paintings and shattered walls.
They really beat this place up. I sigh.
I need to find Voss. I need someone.
I fell to the ground. The pain overwhelms me. My heart begins to pound. I feel weak. I feel worthless. I want to get up.
I am like this after only a few days. What happened? Is this the cost of the armor?
I finally got back to my feet. I place my right arm on the wall to steady myself as I walk.
I am about to fall once more. My feet begin to tremble.
I passed a few windows. I see nothing in the courtyard. The city feels silent in the wake of our victory.
My feet buckle and a familiar voice catches me.
"What are you doing out of bed, Commander Adrian." The voice scolds me.
"Lucius." I smile. "I thought you were dead."
I fall to my knees. "Thank you for saving me."
"This is not a good look for you, Commander," he says as he helps me to my feet. "Why do we not get you back to bed."
"No." I interject. "I need to see my men."
"I will take you," Lucius sighs. "Just promise to rest."
We walk down the steps of the castle, with Lucius taking most of my weight. He sits me down before running off to get Voss or another general.
As time passes and the generals begin to organize everyone, I slowly realize how many of us survived. Even though I am injured, the people are safe, and not many of my men have died. That thought brings me comfort as I watch more and more of my soldiers arrive. All I can think about are the families who will see their sons again because of the actions we took.
Other rulers can call me foolish. They can say I am young and unwise, but seeing these men makes me happy.
I struggle to my feet so I can face my men.
"Young men of Ahk, soldiers, generals, and conductors, you all did me a great service. You are the reason we were able to take this city back. It may seem small. It may seem unimportant. But this territorial war we fought means more to the people of Ahk than you can imagine. We showed Wara. We showed Tobe. And most importantly, we showed Maranona that we do not end them, that the weak and divided Ahk is no longer here. We stand united under that name.
But more importantly, we now see that the old ways are wrong. Relying on a single man to be our anchor should have never been the case.
I will be renaming Ahk to Pallas, in honor of the city we are all from. The city we all fought for. We all fought to defend our family, friends, and those who supported us, regardless of our differences or age. You will be rewarded for that.
Each of you will be granted nobility.
The people who died will also be honored. A monument will be placed in Pallas to remember those who sparked this change.
Thank you for believing in a foolish general. I know you were probably scared, but you still believed in me. Let us return home, not as your young king, but as your new Chancellor."
Cheers erupt through the city as soldiers shout that this war is finally over and they can finally relax.
A pressure rests on my back. A weight. I turn and see Lilian standing behind me.
"Thank you," I say with a small smile.
"For what?"
I don't respond.
The troops' yelling drowns out our talk.
"Why did you not wake me up?" she asks.
"I am sure you were waiting for me for nights on end."
"I…" She does not respond.
"I am sorry that the dragon attacked you."
"Why. Am I really that much more ugly"
"No, no, no." She stutters. "I just did not think they would go that far."
"We should report them to the World Court for using a dragon in combat."
"Like anyone would believe us," I say. "Now that we know they are willing to cross those lines we need countermeasures."
"By the way how many days was I out"
"Only a few," she replies. "You mean that white armor"
"Yes. I continue to think about it. I am coming up with a name for it right now."
"What about Kundra's Armor"
"That is too arrogant," I say, shutting down the name. In truth I think about it. I like the sound of it.
I sit back down as my heart stirs. I wonder what Liora will say now that we are king and queen. Now that my father is dead.
The soldiers erupt again.
"Alright" Voss yells, grabbing everyone's attention. "That is enough. Go back to pretending to be busy. We will celebrate later."
Voss walks up the steps and smiles. His long dark blonde hair shows his age and his grey eyes look exhausted. "I will let you love birds get back to it."
The soldiers disperse and time passes.
"Lili," I say, "what name do you truly prefer."
"Whichever you like better," she smiles.
"I am too mature to fall for traps like that."
"It is not a trap," she sighs. "I truly do not care. I have changed my name more than enough."
"Then I will ask again. Which do you prefer."
"I guess Lilian would be better. I will blend in more."
"Again with blending in. You don't need to worry about that. If you have any problems at the castle then tell me. I will prove that the cries of the weak will not fall on deaf ears."
"And that is why I love you," she replies. "With your vast wealth can you help Lucius. I mean he saved your life."
"Of course. What happened with Lucius"
"I will let him tell you."