A Glimpse on the Madness of the King

"Where is this place?" I asked.

He was so quiet and im eager to know everything, so I gathered my courage to start the conversation.

"It is somewhere outside the Fortress but still within the realms of Istria"

"I never thought there's a place for us outside the walls..."

Then it hits me. I  am outside! I'am now walking on the dirt behind the walls! But I don't feel any better..

"It's because the customs of Istria has blinded you since the day you were born"

He sat down on a long block of stone stratigically located in the middle of the forest.. I hesitated at first if I can sit beside him but did it anyway. He doesen't say anything so it means I'am allowed.

"Magus Reilegh.. I want to know everything.. the covenant, the mission.. "

"The covenant is a spell that binds us together". He answered.

"Like marriage?", I immediately regretted that I spoke out loud what supposed to be just in my mind.

There was his grim face again.

"I ...I mean, no! I never thought of that! You said it was some sort of assurance right?"

I was hoping he will not emphasize what I had just said.

He looked at me in the eyes and sigh.

"Our souls were now entwined. You kill me, you die, same goes if i kill you. So we cannot harm each other"

"And how is that nessesary?"

"There is a lot of Trust needed along the way and for the mission to be fulfilled, entrusting each other's life is the best bet"

I still cannot grasp his point.

"I still need enlightenment".

"For a servant, you sure is demanding".

I didn't reply but waited for what other things he will say but he stops. Instead, he holds my cheeks and slowly leans his head into my forhead.

I want to panic, my face felt hot and I don't know how to react. I was about to stand up but it was too late. His forehead leaned into mine and everything went white.

.................

Solom, the Chieftain of the Maru tribe was dragged by two warriors into the top of the high altar, there standing and waiting was our Great Leader in his majestic war armor. 

Our leader wears his Jade mask, a sign that they will be performing the annual sacrificial offering. He was shouting incoherent words that I cannot understand.

Zepah, the youngest daughter of Solom emerged from the line of warriors but immediately held by a Master that I cannot recognize. She was crying and resisting the strong hands of the master but I cannot hear anything.

When I look back on the high altar, The great leader has slit the throat of Solom and the Golden Cup full of blood was raised high to honor the war God. He then pushed the limp body of the chieftain on the grand stairs and it falls straight to the bottom of the high altar. I wanted to look closely but my body was not moving so I waited what will happen next.

After a while, other chieftains have arrived and similar fate have been given upon them, not only chieftains, but also the young females in their bloodline was also offered to the Gods.

Soon after, the bodies piled up at the bottom of the altar and at the center opening that leads to the burial chambers emerged a cloaked man holding the book of registry for the sacrificed and began the ritual for the purification of the souls.

It was Magus Reileigh.

I can almost smell the blood of those people. The dirt turned into red as well as the grand stairs leading to the high altar. It was a bloody mass massacre.

Nausea overwhelmed me, this sick feeling drowns me making my knees tremble and kneeled on the dirt.

There was a throbbing pain in my palm, my nails were burried in my own flesh, I didn't realized how angry I'am to what I'am witnessing now until I saw Magus.

I want to kill him, and the Leader.

Still not able to move, I painfully watched as  our Leader Amon-gar descend to the bloody stairs and began to perform the triumphal dance that is usually performed after the victory on war.

The dance usually begins with chants of the sigils of all the tribes, the past warlords that leads the kingdom into victories, mimicking their moves and re-enacting he fights on the battlefield and lastly, bathing in the blood of the defeated enemies. This is the sign that the war God has blessed us with the most precious thing the enemy could ever have, their own life.

But there was no war nor enemies, these were his own citizens, chieftains who protected and lead their tribes, childrens, daughters whose some were still not of the budding age.

I gritted my teeth in exasperation. Focusing my remaining energy on Magus, he was the only person who could explain this. But he too was involved in this madness. I couldn't think straight anymore. There's too much events i can only handle.

Before I could fully analyze anything, there was this blinding light again and with that I'am now sitting in the stone block with Magus' Face just barely a breath away from me.