The air hung heavy with the saline stench of a brine-soaked fish market. Warm, humid winds carried the thick scent of sweat and scales as the overwhelming chaos of the bazaar pressed in from all sides.
Rui and his companions had finally arrived on the mainland of Wandland.
The public noise was a deafening wall of sound—shouts of "How much for this?" and "Hey, get off of her!" echoing through the narrow streets. Rui looked around in shock, his eyes darting through the suffocating crowd. People were frantically buying and selling; some haggled desperately over prices while others barked out their wares. The clamor was relentless, and the masses seemed to occupy every inch of space.
Suddenly, a man rushed toward Rui, his eyes wide with terror. "Help! Help me! Th... they have my daught... daughter!"
Rui froze in his tracks.
"Hey, why did you stop? Keep moving! Keep moving!" The men of Sai barked.
Rui stood like a statue, not budging an inch.
"The hell? You got a problem?" the men spat. "Lord, give us the order and we will drag him."
"No need," Sai said calmly. "King Rui understands very well that whatever he does carries consequences."
Rui tightened his fists, his knuckles turning white, and forced himself to move forward.
"Good. I knew you were smart, King Rui," Sai remarked.
"W... why are...?" Caesar spoke in a confused, shocked tone. "Hey, stop! T... they are committing a crime over there!"
"Can't you hear him?" Gloria added, her voice dripping with frustration. "They are forcing themselves onto that girl! You are the kings men, and you are the king—so stop it!"
They continued walking. Sai offered no answer, acknowledging nothing, moving forward as impassively as a stone. Rui ground his teeth, his fists clenching even tighter.
"Hey, Gloria," Rui said, his voice simmering with rage. "If I do anything in anger, please... knock me out."
"U... understood," she whispered.
The sensory overload was too much for Caesar. He grabbed his head, his face turning a sickly shade of green. "I think I'm going to throw up... agghh!" He doubled over, vomiting in the middle of the street.
"Get a hold of yourself," Rui muttered.
"But King Rui... it's just... aaaagh!" He retched again.
"Good grief. Lucas, y.. you were right," Rui sighed.
"How much further do we have to walk?" Caesar asked, exhausted and pale.
"We are almost there."
"King Sai," Rui said, his gaze fixed forward. "Do I have permission to ask a question?"
"Sure, ask."
Rui's eyes sharpened. He spoke in a voice that cut through the market noise. "What is a king's grace?"
Sai chuckled. "A king's grace is simply his way of handling his audience."
"I see."
"So, is that it? Is that your only question?"
Rui lowered his voice, the intensity remaining. "Yes. It is."
"Finally! Finally, we are here!"
"Brace yourselves," Sai announced. "We are about to enter the castle gates."
The group gasped. Before them stood an enormous, staggering fortress. It was a massive work of masonry, its white stone so pure it seemed to glow. The sunlight reflected off the walls with a blinding brilliance, making the entire structure shimmer.
"Ooh, good God, this is massive," Caesar breathed. "It's beautiful."
"Yes," Gloria remarked. "A white castle without a single speck of dust. What a wonderful work of craftsmanship."
"All of you, look forward and enter," the guards commanded.
Step. Step. Step.
"My heart is pounding," Caesar whispered. "King Rui, I have never seen such a beautiful castle. Look at the interior... it's even more stunning."
"Well, you are right about that, Caesar," Rui replied grimly. "It is a beauty to behold."
"Move, all of you!"
Step. Step. Step. The guards heaved open the towering doors. "Now, you may enter. This is the throne room."
The chamber was cavernous and silent. At the far end sat a throne—massive, obsidian-black, and shaped like a giant, grasping hand. Caesar looked on in fascination and dread. "B... but only a true king is worthy of that."
"True," Gloria nodded, her voice hushed by shock.
"Hey, where is King Sai?" Rui asked, looking around. The king had vanished from their side. "Where did he go? He was just with us."
"Look!" Ria shouted, pointing toward the front. "There he is!"
How we were looking at it the whole time, but we didn't see any one there, did we?
And he is suddenly there?
"And What is he doing?" Rui wondered. "Kneeling in front of the throne?"
Suddenly, the guards swarmed around Rui and the others. Two figures emerged from behind the throne; their eyes were pitch black, their faces and bodies shrouded in shadow, and their clothes were as dark as the void.
"All those who are here—humans or any other creation—if you can hear, hear the name of the first king, Solomon Fitzroy!" the guards proclaimed. "And the new king, Sai Solomon Fitzroy!"
"Sai Solomon Fitzroy!" the guards began to chant in unison. Even the man kneeling before the throne joined the rhythmic chant.
"Wh... what is going on?"
The guards lined up along the main entrance. A man stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. His eyes were a startling red with blue pupils, his eyelashes long and curly beneath thick eyebrows. His skin glowed a pristine white, and a well-groomed beard covered his jaw. He wore a white silk cloak and a ring around his neck, holding a staff in his left hand.
On his head sat a jagged black crown. He walked straight toward the throne.
Gloria, Rui, Caesar, Ria, and Jain stood frozen. Their pupils dilated in shock, reflecting the image of the man ascending the dais.
"I am the king," he announced, his voice echoing. "Son of Eon Solomon Fitzroy—the one you killed. I am his son, Sai Solomon Fitzroy."
"Y... you? You are King Sai? Then who is he? What is all of this?"
"I am shocked," Sai said, settling into the black hand of the throne. "I have heard of your intelligence in battle—how you destroyed our army in the previous war and killed my father—yet you don't recognize me?
But I think you are not so good, in identifying peoples,
I've told you... I am Sai... Sai Solomon."
He leaned over and spoke softly, almost breathlessly. "And this here... this is my right hand. My love. His name is Hemhom."
"My dear," Hemhom said in a seductive, melodic voice. "Shall I go?"
"You may," Sai said, grabbing Hemhom's hands and kissing them tenderly.
"I will be waiting," Hemhom replied in a feminine tone. "We have things to do, so finish this quickly."
"Yes, I will. Just wait a little longer."
"Very well."
As Hemhom left the room, Sai watched him with an intense, lingering gaze. "I must finish this quickly," he muttered to himself.
Confused, shocked, and visibly repulsed, Rui and the others stared in silence.
"What the fuck," Caesar whispered. "I think King Sai has lost his mind."
"I agree," Gloria added, her face twisted in disgust.
"But it could be that King Sai is simply into those kinds of things," someone suggested.
"No," Rui said, his eyes narrowing. "It's more than just that."
"Tell me, why did you bring us here? And why was that m... person disguising himself as you?" Rui said in a sharp, calm voice. "What is happening in Wandland?"
"Ahem," Sai cleared his throat, turning back to them. "So, sorry, what where you saying, and why are you all here?"
""You..." Gloria shouted in rage. "Your men are the ones who brought us here!"
"Oh, yes. Well, sorry for that. You... you can leave."
"Leave? What? And what about all of this?"
"What about this?" Sai said grimly.
"The destruction of Drakaar," Gloria demanded. "And why was no help sent?"
"I'm tired right now. I can't answer any of your questions. But yes, we didn't send any help, because it would have brought more casualties."
"So..." Gloria trembled in rage, tears pooling in her eyes. "So you didn't do anything because you thought it would bring more casualties, but you locked us in there so we would die?"
"No, no, I didn't. It was you—the people of Drakaar—who wanted to do fucking research on that tablet. I warned you, and now you know what happens when you ignore warnings and try to do your shit, expecting no serious harm." Sai chuckled.
"Now get lost!"
Gloria ground her teeth, barely holding herself back, clenching her fists. "We should leave then," she said calmly.
"But Gloria," Ria questioned, "what about our suffering? And our losses?" She grabbed Gloria's hand.
With tears falling silently, hiccups of grief escaping her, and trembling hands, Gloria looked at Ria. "I know. But we can't do anything now. They are gone, and that's it!"
"Yes, we should leave," Jain said, supporting Gloria. "Besides, there is no point."
In the midst of their talking
A guard hurried to Sai's side and whispered urgently something into his ear.
"Then we should go," Caesar said, confused but eager to leave.
"No, no, no, no," Sai interrupted, his tone shifting instantly. "You can't."
"But you just said—"
"I said no! Guards, take them to the prison. Do not let them escape. We will deal with them later."
Ria flew into a rage. "The fuck? We didn't do shit! You fucking pervert bastard, who do you think you are?"
"Guards, take them quickly!"
"Hey, Rui, why are you quiet?" Gloria yelled. "Say something!"
"Let me think..." Rui muttered. "...It's better if we go to prison for now. It's more dangerous outside."
Gloria's fury boiled over. "Are you fuck—"
Rui shot her a cold, sharp glare. She flinched. "A... alright."
The guards marched them toward the cells. Rui remained silent, lost in thought.
"So what now? What do we do?" Gloria asked, pacing the stone floor of the prison.
"Wait," Rui said, stretching his arms over his head. "Actually, we should rest for a bit. I'm tired."
Gloria snapped. She lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar. "What the actual fuck is wrong with you, Rui?" She shoved him to the ground. "'King,' huh?" she scoffed. "So this is what you kings are. Lazy, tired, bored, and fucking perverted. Answer me, Rui! Are you just like him? Maybe you're just like him—different girls in your bed every night, sleeping the days away while the world burns around you."doing absolutely shit for your people! Oh, did I strike a nerve?"
Rui said nothing, letting out a long, weary sigh.
"Oh, and yes, I heard about the Mitheren tragedy," she continued, her voice trembling with spite. "People died. There were casualties. And why? Because of the collapse of the resources and a loss of faith in their king! They struggled for a piece of bread while their king was probably 'fucking tired' and sleeping! But you know what? I'm not like you. I have goals. The first thing I'll do is get out of here, and the second is to kill that fucking bastard. You can sleep and rest here forever for all I care."
"Ahem. Well said," Rui said, standing up. He walked over until he was right in front of her. "Well, Gloria, tell me... do you know who I am, besides a king?"
"Whatever or whoever you are, I don't give a fucking shit."
Rui chuckled. "Sure you don't. But still, I must tell you—no, I must show you."
Rui lifted his hand, his eyes beginning to glow with a radiant, piercing blue light. Caesar's eyes widened. "Holy fuck''.
"What is this energy?" Gloria fell to the ground, shaking and sweating. "This is like I'm witnessing the birth of the universe. This is heaven...ly energy. I've read about this..."
"This is," Jain whispered, "pure code energy."
"Every creation, everything before me... God's Rule. COMMAND." Rui snaps
his fingers. "ALL AUTHORITY."
Back in the throne room, the air suddenly vibrated.
"Wh... what was that?" Sai muttered, looking around. "Well, no matter. For now, this audience is dismissed."
"But King Sai, the matter still remains—"
"My ministers, we shall discuss it later. I have a headache right now, so it is best we postpone this."
"S... sure."
The king turned and walked toward the exit.
The moment the king left the throne room, the atmosphere shifted.
Suddenly, the dark, shadowy figures emerged again from behind the throne. They positioned themselves in front of it, standing as guards.
Their eyes—their black pupils—locked onto anyone and everyone!
In King Sai's private chambers, he and Hemhom were alone.
"You know how much I love you," Sai whispered.
"Yes, I do."
Sai lay beside a naked Hemhom, leaning in to kiss him. "I love you. I love you so much, Cremel..."
"Yes, I am yours."
As they began their night, Sai removed his clothes. In the flickering light, the face he saw looking back at him from Hemhom was that of a woman.
"Outside the throne room, near the flowing fountain, the ministers began to huddle and whisper. "This is getting absurd. It's like King Sai is being controlled by him. Since he arrived, the king has totally changed. He sees him as..."
"Ew, don't even say it."
"Suddenly, before another word could be uttered, the shadow of a two-horned man with elongated teeth loomed over them, masking their faces in darkness."
"What don't you want to say?", he said, in a terrifying voice, which could scare even the braves.
"N... nothing, Lord Harel! It was nothing!"
"This is the flowing fountain of the castle, isn't it?"
"Y... yes, Lord!"
Harel grabbed a minister by the back of his neck. "And you know we don't lie here, he growled,
As He plunged the minister's head into the fountain. The water of the fountain reflected Harel's eyes—bright, predatory green—while his head and face remained partially obscured by a torn cloth. After a moment, he yanked the man up. "So, did you like it?"
"I... I'm sorry, Lord Harel!" the minister wailed, gasping for air. "Forgive me!"
"Aaaah," Harel sighed, dropping him. "I hate it when people cry." He crouched down on his toes, peering at the shivering man. "This was your last warning. And that goes for the rest of you, too."
He stood up and began brushing the dust off the minister's clothes. "Now, get up. He chuckled, We can't let people see our ministers like this, can we?"
"Yes... Lord."
"Good boy," Harel said, hugging the man briefly. "Sweet boy. But remember my warning. Now go." He gave the minister a sharp pat on the backside. "Go and work hard. I also have somewhere to be."
Back in the prison, Rui stood before the bars. "Now, move aside," he told a shaking, stunned Ria.
"Y... yes."
Rui reached out, his fingers glowing. He squeezed the air, and the heavy iron gate of the prison crumbled, shrieking as it was compressed into a tiny, metallic ball.
"Now," Rui said. "It is time to attack."
On the other side of the map, in Koha, King Yami was preparing to march towards Velvet.
"King Yami, think about it," an advisor pleaded. "If we launch an attack on Velvet, the North will come after us. You know the rules."
Yami chuckled, his grin widening. "North and South... always interfering in our matters."
They are the Elders of Heldiem! And they judge the nations within it! King Yami, please reconsider!"
"We are not launching an attack," Yami clarified. "We are simply paying a visit to Rui and his kingdom. Either we come to terms, or..."
"Or what? K... King Yami?"
"We'll see. All of us will see. Now, men, hold on to your horses, and move forward! Velvet, here we come!"
King Yami marched toward Velvet with his 200 men.
They rode Solier Horses—beasts specially bred for war, though sometimes used by royals for long-distance travel. These horses could move at a speed that a common person couldn't correctly perceive. It was said that if you saw a shadow pass you by, it was likely a Solier horse... which meant either the signal of war, or that you were already in one.
"
In Velvet, the sun shone brightly, brighter than usual, Its rays filtered through the branches of a large tree, casting a cool shade over Lucas, who sat under it with his eyes closed.
Lucas snapped his eyes suddenly open, gasping for breath. "What the fuck was that? A dream? It felt like more than that..."
He looked toward the horizon. "Rui... Velvet needs its king. The throne cannot be empty for too long, or it will lose its meaning."
Far away, in a place untouched by man, a door creaked open. Light spilled inside, highlighting the torso of a figure sitting upon a distant throne.
"You speak the truth," another shadow whispered from the darkness. "I wonder, too. But we shall take everything he holds dear. Will he still be the balance of the three kingdoms... or will that balance finally crumble?"
"We shall see."
"We shall. Soon enough