And The Misery Begins

To the city of Aethos did the remainder of the Fabians head to. Twenty seven out of the fifteen thousand were lucky enough to return to see the eyes of their beloved, and the light of the living. Fabius knew not of what words to use for announcing the defeat against Curasus. As they entered the city gates, the people gathered with hopes that the Fabians would bring glory and great news. But, once they saw the twenty seven, their faces expressed grief and sorrow for their loss. The foul aura that the men brought within the city was unwanted by the people, and they demanded answers. Fabius did not dare to look at any face for he knew it would only cause them more sadness. As the men approached the palace, King Heraeus beheld himself before them. A crowd started to gather behind the Fabians, some even mocking the prince.

Heraeus called out, "FABIUS!" The eyes of the people were opened widely, but soon went back to reflect their sorrow. "Fabius! You have brought an ill feeling among my people! What have you to say?", said Heraeus.

Fabius told the people, "Forgive me, citizens of Aethos. For I have brought sadness and anger among you! I have no intent to bring you to the sight of an army of your's that was defeated, but only for the best."

And Fabius kneeled with his men facing the crowd saying, " Pardon us! PARDON ME!" Fabius ordered his men to return to their homes and families so that they would see the ones who they truly cared for. The king walked down the steps to the ground and ordered the Fabians to stay. Heraeus ordered his men to take the wounded to the hospital, one of which was Fabius himself. And when the wounded were well inside the hospital, he ordered the Fabians to stay within the walls of the council chambers. Heraeus was not pleased, he saw this as an act of disgrace against the glory of his kingdom. He walked to the hospital so angrily, even the creatures and creeping things bowed down before his majesty. The crowd dispersed, and the Fabians ran toward their homes.

Fabius' wounds were treated well, but the comfort he sought did not reveal itself to him. It was crushed by his fear toward the king. He knew for a fact that the flame that lived inside his father's heart spreaded like wildfire, all due to the spark which was his failure in Mathog. The nurse that tended to him felt the fear and unrest of the young prince, and called out to the sorceror - a young recruit named Magnis Ralfus. The sorceror entered the hospital quarters with a stale look; almost as if he knew what went on.

"This dear nurse sensed your unrest, my prince, and I will do what I must to bring you the comfort you seek! What sets you above Nathulus' mouth, o Prince Fabius?", Magnis asked.

"I ought to keep such matter to myself, sorceror; for I am in grave danger from my enemy, who lives within the walls of Aethos!", Fabius replied.

'And who is this enemy, if I may ask?'

Alas, King Heraeus entered the scene. All the able stood up and knelt before the king's presence, and Fabius, who was in guilt and fear, did so too.

"Who is the enemy that lives within the walls of my kingdom? Chant his name so I may bring him out of these walls, and offer him up to the beast that is Nathulus!", Heraeus exclaimed.

"The enemy does not stand against Aethos, neither does he stand against you and your rule! He stands against my defeat and my failure. He stands before me during this very moment! Father, forgive me for failing to give glory to my land! May the brave souls that died in my name and yours be uplifted to the hands of the god, Cathon! Let it be me who would stand in the other side of the scale, let it be inadeqaute to suffice for the deaths I have caused! Bring shame to me, O father!", Fabius pleaded.

"Son, for I so love you, I shall spare you from the curses you have set upon your fate! My wrath and hate has been turned into mild anger for what you have said lamented those who have fallen. However, you will not be allowed to be set free from your guilt; for out of fifteen thousand, you have only allowed twenty seven to be spared! What may the reason be? ", Heraeus asked.

Fabius hesitated, and fainted out of fear. Heraeus was eager to know what caused the deaths of so many. He took himself out of the hospital quarters and ordered the nurse to tend to his son.

"Justinian, my humble minister, summon the Fabians before me in an instant. Let the able walk and the wounded be carried. Exclude my son, for I sense his fear. I must know what brought them defeat", said Heraeus. The king rested on his seat, awaiting the presence of the Fabians. He was alone during that time, and his only companion was the image of the god Cathon. And so he stood up from his seat and walked to the idol.

"O great Cathon, the creator of gods and mortals. I put onto your palm my son, Fabius. Behold his untruthful actions! He hesitates whenever I ask the reason to the defeat of his men! Bring to me, o Cathon, the truth!", the king prayed.

And it was then when the twenty seven beheld themselves inside the palace. They heard the king cry for the truth, and they for sure knew what he was going to ask. Heraeus sat on his seat, and asked the men, "You all know what happened when the men of Curasus crushed your fellow Fabian brothers. Unfortunately, my eyes were not there to witness such events and so I ask of each of you, the truth!"

The men, whose hearts feared their leader, Fabius, opted not to answer, be it the king, their elders, or even a god asking. However, three of the Fabians, the trinity of strength and bravery, knew of the truth and were bitter to what their leader did. One of them, General Ioanus, went forth and stretched his left arm toward the image of the god Cathon and knelt down.

"I, Ioanus, the right hand of Fabius, did pledge my allegiance to the prince; for I am indeed a Fabian warrior. But I fought for my kingdom, and so now I hereby remind all these Fabians - witnesses, that I pledged my superior allegiance to King Heraeus of Aethos. The truth shall shine before you, o great king! ", proclaimed Ioanus.

Another two, Generals Herrus and Linus, seconded Ioanus' proclamation, Linus himself revealing the sought-after secret of Fabius.

"My king, you are not deserving of this horrible truth! But it was your order for us the Fabians to reveal what happened at Mathog. The deaths of the fifteen thousand will be avenged, my king! Your beloved son, Fabius, did not fight and command his men, for when he saw the giants of the Caucasus that Curasus had in his side, he also saw his strongest men being killed one by one. Perhaps to him, we were no threat! And so Fabius hid himself under a rock for his own safety!", said Linus.

"However, though our leader the great Fabius had abandoned us, a young man with a heart cast with iron and bronze had stood up in his name! Untrained was the boy, but he was indeed brave! He lives by the name Adeus!", Herrus told Heraeus.

"Who is this 'Adeus' that you talk about? Is he a Fabian as you are? Bring him forth so I may commend his bravery!", Heraeus requested.

The young man who was Adeus Vestia stood up behind Linus, and beheld himself before the king. Adeus was trained in the art of swordfighting, but had never been to battle against another man. It was only by the orders of Heraeus that Fabius were to be supported by fifteen thousand strong that Adeus were to join. And it was his obligation! Heraeus looked at Adeus with guilt; he did not expect such a young man to be sent to war under his order, and he knew that there were for sure other brave men as young as Adeus who were slain at Mathog.

Heraeus asked Adeus, "At Mathog, what feeling did your heart give your body at the sight of the giants of the enemy? For even a young untrained man like you was braver than the Champion of Aethos!"

"My king, may you understand that for I vowed to ought to die for my kingdom, I did what I must!", replied Adeus.

"And the words that came forth from your tongue are precisely what I wanted to hear from my son! From what household do you go out from!", asked Heraeus. Adeus explained that he was the grandson of the great General Iacobus Vestia. Though Heraeus did not know who Iacobus was, he did however commend Adeus.

"Adeus Vestia, may the people of Aethos bring to you their praise! You shall replace Fabius as my right hand and heir! Adeus Vestia, Champion of Aethos!", exclaimed Heraeus