Aleksdair's group prepare themselves up and do some quick rehearsals. After that, they're now heading to where Lucas is. They're hesitant to displease the King but they braced themselves up and give their all! Each of them has unique roles to play, and thankfully, at the end of their performance, Lucas looks rather amused than displeased!
That boost the group's effort to fruition. Lucas stood up and give them a round of a applause. "What a splendid and marvelous performance! Great job!" They looked joyful but maintained their formality towards their king by bowing. Starting that night, Lucas' felt better and so all things.
Later that day, Lucas starts implementing some changes he has planned before and achieved many things. One of the greatest things Lucas did to the Realm is the security of its citizens from the Rogue Infernals. Lucas noticed that the numbers of the rogue infernals increased drastically and they'll keep on pestering the citizens with their persistence. So, that's when the King made his ideas into reality.
He noticed that there are gigantic infernals who are adept to fighting. Their height towers that of the Mortal Realm's mountains. Because of their humongous size, they remained in the realm and lived peacefully without honing their battle prowess.
The Mountainous-sized Infernals, their number is limited compared to the rest. They're native to the Void Realm and is said their battle prowess exceeds each time they fight. Their size made them dangerous. When they tapped to their berserk mode, destruction is imminent. Their rock-like physique, binded by darkness, made them almost immortal for they reformed once crumbled. But unlike a phoenix infernal, they don't have rebirth making them immortal. Thus, these type of infernals has a life span of a decade.
To make things into motion, Lucas approaches their leader and convinced them about this idea. Surprisingly, the leader agrees. Later, they made a vow to him to eternally abide the said responsibility throughout generations. Therefore, the Realm's vicinity were guarded by 18 Mountainous-sized infernals and they take turns every half of the year.
The citizens were surprised by Lucas' ideas. Who would've expect that those mountainous infernals were assigned as Gatekeepers of the Kingdom. Not even the 1st and the 2nd Rulers could think about that?
Despite the presence of the Gatekeepers, there are still Rogue Infernals slipped pass them, especially those who are insect-like infernals and formless ones. Therefore, Lucas asked Nebulous, the Void Realm's Heirloom, to cast a protective barrier to the entirety of the Realm.
Only those of the Kingdom's citizens and the Mountainous-sized Infernals are allowed to enter the Kingdom's premises. They can go in and out except those of the Rogue ones. And to those who attempt to enter by possessing one of the blessed infernals, they'll perish once they enter the barrier.
This barrier will remain standing for eternity regardless its caster died. It will go on as long as Nebulous exist. These two insane acts of Lucas' gave change to the realm and applause. After all, the security level of his Kingdom increased by his ideas.
They extend their gratitude and honor whatever means and throughout these years, Lucas' merit exceeds that of the former kings and achieved many things.
But they didn't know that Lucas' disgust upon feasting flesh still lingers. He only takes 2-3 bites a day and he's done; not enough to sustain energy he expended. He collapsed frequently and the citizens starts to worry about their King's Health.
In a memorable moment, a special event is held, which means, all citizens are present. As for the Gatekeepers, they remained in their post but with Lucas' creative thinking, they were still able to witness how the celebration goes with a help of an Orb that projects the events throughout the kingdom.
Infernals are amuse but the most anticipated event or all is the Duskborne's Performance. It'll be held at central plaza which can hold a population of thousands. Lucas seated at the King's seat, visible by everyone's gaze. There, he receieved cheers and praises. Lucas don't feel well but still tries to stay strong.
When the Duskborne made their entrance, the cheers gone louder. Their performance is truly remarkable but in the middle of their performance, Lucas vision is blurring and then collapse which halted the said event and later, chaos breaks in.
Their concern towards Lucas stirred the chaos. Thus, Roquinito stepped in and encased the King's altar with his power, to keep everyone at bay. "Listen, all of you!" Roquinito speaks. "I understand your worry but please, I humbly ask everyone to stay calm and collected. Let me take the rest and nurse our King." The crowd still shows panic but later subsided.
Later....
At Lucas' room, he's resting peacefully and Roquinito thoroughly checks. "Wait, this is just like before." Roquinito expressed. "His Majesty is suffering starvation once again." He looks at the sleeping King. "King Lian Sui could somehow force him to eat but without him, King Lucas' life is in danger." Roquinito scratches his head. "If this keeps up, I'm afraid he won't last long."
Suddenly, a knock is heard. "Sir Roquinito, it is I, Leader of the Duskborne Performers, Aleksdair. May I ask to enter?" The door opened and he then rushed to Lucas side. "Oh no, King Lucas! What happened to him Sir Roquinito? Did someone aftering his highness' life?" Aleksdair gone angry resulting to unleash his feral form (Sharp bones sprouting from his arms, acting more like a weapon.)
"Speak who and I'll torn them to shreds!"
"There's nothing in Kingdom aiming his highness' life, Aleksdair. You can rest assured and dropy that murderous intent. That doesn't suit you." Roquinito shakes his head. "I'll go out of character if it means for his highness' sake."
Roquinito smiled. "Ahh.. youth." He sighs in relief. "Anyway, like I said, there's none in this Kingdom out for King Lucas' blood." Aleksdair's murderous intent subsided. "Then, how did his highness turned this way?" Roquinito paused and realized that he shouldn't reveal the secret of Lucas, therefore, he told the half truth. "He collapsed due to exhaustion."
Aleksdair's doubting but tend to believe him. "Well, it's true that his highness been working non-stop for the sake of the Kingdom." The boy returned to his neutral form. "Sir Roquinito, I beg of you, please help our King. We may not be related by blood but he is like a father figure to me. And I'll do anything, if it means sacrificing myself, just for his sake." Roquinito felt glad to hear such words from him. So, he pats his head and smiled. "I will, Mr. Aleksdair."
"Anyway, your group's performance still ongoing, isn't? Don't you think the star of the show should be there instead?" Aleksdair scratches his head. "Well, there's 20 minutes break due to commotion and my team agreed that I must visit his highness to check on his condition. So, yeah. There's nothing to worry." Roquinito rubs his chin. "I see, I understand."
"Anyway, after knowing his highness is fine, I should get going now. Farewell, Sir Roquinito and please take care of our King." Aleksdair bows and disappeared.
"What a grand exit that boy in his sleeves." Roquinito expressed. "Anyway, I must resolve this issue regarding King Lucas." He crossed his arms and look up, trying to remember how to resolve the problem. "His Majesty used his blood to temporarily satisfy King Lucas' hunger. Now that he's no longer here, I don't know how to resolve this." Roquinito's troubled. "No, there's a chamber where flesh & blood preserved. Perhaps I could take King Lucas there." Roquinito carried Lucas on his arms and headed to that specific chamber with his powers.
At the Chamber....
Roquinito arrived and the guards opened it. He went inside and there, he saw a pool of blood dripping from a variety of dead infernals. In it's center, there lies an elevated platform. So, he put Lucas down and positioned his face to the dripping blood. "This chamber is specifically created to create a drink for Royalties, such as his high ess. Every day, a rogue infernal is brought here for constant supply of food. But during your reign, it's been closed for some reason. I don't understand why you decided to stop it It's been running for 2 generation but it seems I understand now."
"At first, my infernal instincts don't understand your avoidance of flesh for it is our essential to live but later, I finally understand." As Roquinito wonders, the blood keeps dripping unto the unconscious king and he is slowly regaining consciousness. "Your mother, Queen Alsierra Anherion, you inherit her traits, especially her dislike of flesh. She'd rather eat squirming insects than feasting on fellow infernals."
"Due to that trait, her body became a substitute for sustaining nutrients for you, resulting her death during your birth." — Lucas slowly regained consciousness and now drinks blood like a thirsty mortal. Just then, a rogue infernal is escorted by the guards and put him inside the chamber. The clueless infernal walked towards the laying Lucas, thinking food. Therefore, it madly charged to Lucas and is going to feast but Lucas woke up and lunges unto the rogue infernal.
Lucas bared his teeth and feasted on the infernal like an hyena. "Though, regardless of that trait, you also inherit your father's, the Royal Lineage of Anherion, who are known to have insane appetite." — Ahead, the infernal screamed for help but Lucas, like a hyena, enjoys feasting on flesh to satisfy his starvation. "You are indeed a unique breed, King Lucas."
Screams of pain and terror filled the chamber and those who are outside cannot hear what is happening inside.
Later...
Lucas finally satisfied his bottomless appetite and now, finally regained his consciousness. He looked at his bloodied hands and noticed a bloody mess. "Ho— how? I .. I was at the plaza... Watching Duskborne's Performance. When did I—?!"
"You fainted due to starvation, your majesty." Roquinito draws near. "Why did you do it— again?" Lucas shivers. "I—" The young king couldn't answer. "Is it because your father, the one who you'll only listen to, isn't here anymore? Is that it?" Roquinito lectures him. "Didn't you hear what his majesty told you about your mother's cause of death? Starvation...!"
"Don't tell me you're going to waste your life just because you dislike living as an infernal?" Lucas flinched. "No! That's not— it..! I just don't like the scene of— eating fellow infernals." The young King's shivering. "Well? What can you suggest then? Feast on those of the living? The Mortal Realm? That sounds a greatest idea!"
"No!" Lucas yelled. "Mortal realm has its own rules. Tampering that realm is like trespassing." Roquinito crossed his arms. "If feasting Rogue Infernals & Mortals is against your will, how will the dwellers of this realm survives? What can you suggest then? Starve ourselves to death?" Lucas' mouth is cemented.
"King Lucas, let me tell you something. How the mortal worlds behaves reflects similarly here in Tophet. We eat to live. Humans killed animals to sustain their needs, so as the Infernals killed the Rogue ones. Humans don't eat their own kind, true. But here in our realm, the Rogue Infernals are like animals to us, a food supply!"
"We can't pasture creatures from the mortal realm, such as cows, goat, and any other livestock there for Tophet is the very Domain of the Doom Deity who governs Death. True, we possess life but these are a mere mimicry of what the Nativity Deity can do. In other words, a flop." He added. "Surprisingly, decomposers such as insects and worms were only creatures from the living that are allowed to prosper here in Tophet. And I don't understand the logic behind that."
"Your mother, Alsierra, the corpse infernal, can live with minimal consumption for she's behaving alike of an undead. Perhaps, that's one of the reason you are able to survive starvation for a minimal time but— the time your mother became in union with your father, the Royalty, that's where things get worse for your mother, resulting to her death in childbirth." Lucas look away, feeling guilt somehow.
"Your mother's demise is not your fault but his majesty. His negligence resulted to her death, and that's why your father became strict towards you in terms of consumption. He's aware you inherit your mother's traits and is forcing you to eat regardless how it disgust you." Roquinito pats both of his shoulders. "Your majesty, no, Lucas.... I may have no rights to lecture you for I am not tied by blood but please, after all those long session of lectures, drill those advices into your head."
"If you kept ignoring those underlying hunger, what you'll get is this— a bloodthirsty mess that you, yourself, aren't aware of. Your state right now, you are a disgrace as those from the Rogue ones, no— lowest of the low. Please... Even if the sight of flesh repelled you, I humbly beseech thee to not ignore that other trait which belonged to your father's." Lucas didn't speak for a minute but later, tears starts forming in his eyes. "I will."
Starting in that moment, Lucas heeded what Roquinito told him. For a day, he consumes twice every now and then. His health for the last week improves and he's gotten stronger than ever. His father, Lian Sui, and his grandfather, Lian Mark, eats 8 times a day for they have strong appetite, but Lucas on the other hand, having twice meal is enough than nothing.
Surprisingly, the more he feast, his appetite increases and it demands to have at least 4 times a meal, hindering Lucas and worsening his disgust of flesh. When night has fallen, he is lying in his bed but Lucas felt hungry. "Again??!" He's annoyed. "I just ate a while ago...! And I'm hungry once more?! What's with this appetite!? The more I forcibly listen, the more it demands!"
Lucas' frustrated but he remembered what Roquinito's lecture before so he calmed down. "Fine! I'll do it." He stood up. "My father and grandfather eat 8 times a day, that's the worse thing than I have." He touched his tummy. "Heading to the Chamber and drink blood isn't enough to satisfy this ravage stomach. I have to go to the Unbound Zone to feast there."
Unbound Zone is the term addressed to the kingdom's outside perimeter where Rogue Infernals resides.
At Unbound Zone....
Lucas battled madly, releasing his frustrations, creating a messy battlefield. The bloodied and fleshy surrounding made his hunger takes over. He can't stop drooling and later, in a small portion of the area is cleared thanks to Lucas.
There, only 1 rogue infernal's left, and it's a Succubus-like type.