Shard In The Eye

Twenty seven days have passed since the return of the Fabians. Fabius, in his quarters, was still surrounded by the guilt he caused himself to possess. Interrupting the quiet sound within his room was a knock that covered the whole of his chamber.

"Could it be my father?", Fabius asked himself. As he stood up, he trembled cowardly, fearing what could happen to him in the following moments. Nevertheless, he opened the door and alas, it was Justinian Rectus, the king's minister.

"My prince, I have come to visit; for you have not been visited by any man, or woman, any person of Aethos, within this palace or not - you were lonely in my eyes. How were you in solitude, o Prince Fabius?", the minister asked.

"Ah, yes... during my time here in solitude, I have contemplated about what choice I have regarding myself. I ask you, Rectus, where does my fate bring me? I have committed such a grave mistake that my life is tied by the neck by it!", Fabius replied.

"It seems to me that you are afraid! Afraid of what fate would punish you with, not where it brings you! You must have a talk with your father the king!", suggested Justinian. "Anyhow, let me set aside your sorrow with the intent to bring you a touch of peace. To remind you, o Fabius, Queen Iocaste your beloved mother will be arriving soon. Her pilgramage to the temple of Cathon at Zobaro would have done her many good! I suggest you greet her at the gates; let the sun's rays shine upon your skin once again!"

" I am afraid to say that I am afraid! I cannot let the people be in full sorrow at the sight of their prince who failed them! Tell me, Justinian; why must I talk to my father? What happening could offer me the confidence I require to face the anger of King Heraeus?", asked Fabius fearfully.

"Fabius, strike me down with all your rage but I plead you, spare my life; I pray that I may leave not slain! You see, your father has deprived you of your rights to command the only remaining Fabians! The Fabian band ceases to exist!", Justinian explained. By then, the prince's fear and being scared had turned into anger and even hate at it's fullest extent. He did, however, try not to cast an eternal flame on the minister.

"A young man, brave but not powerful, had apparently assumed command of your army! Your father commended him, Fabius, and has replaced you with him as the right hand and heir to the seat of power, and as the Champion of Aethos! He is Adeus Vestia, my prince!", said Justinian.

"I now have the feeling of shame, Justinian! But for I have failed myself and my king, I shall take the defeat. I fear that your king's only son would now be led into exile!", Fabius requested in a sorrowful manner. "Go, Justinian! Go back and tend to your duties! I must now contemplate further for my own sake."

Justinian left the chamber; his face showed the ever existing sadness that his prince had. The minister knew that Fabius was hiding his anger and rage from him, but for he was spared, Justinian did not push his prince off the cliff.

Meanwhile in the Aethian barracks, Adeus who the people praise as the king's 'Untrained Champion', was training with General Linus. The general saw the strength and potential of their new champion, and gave him the very best of his abilities. Now after a lengthy amount of rigorous training, Linus decided to bring Adeus to Magnis Ralfus the sorceror with the intent to give the young champion an enlightening with the dieties.

Magnis was also in the early steps of adulthood, as Adeus was. He used to be an apprentice in the Head Temple at Zobaro, under the guidance of the Zobari sorceror, Janus. He once told the general, Ioanus, that 'Janus the Sorceror had sent him to Aethos because he felt a disturbance.' Magnis looked at Adeus with hopes that he would cause such disturbance to vanish. Adeus told Magnis upon entering the chamber of idols, "Great Sorceror of Aethos fair, I have yet to see the reason to why I must come and enter the chamber of Cathon! The intent to praise does not stand by my side; and I ask of you, Ralfus, what is my purpose here? Yes, Linus brought me to you for the reason of enlightenment but... enlightenment for what, if I may?"

Magnis gazed at the curious eyes of Adeus, and he refused to answer. They then proceeded to praise the god Cathon. Magnis took the pot of frankincense, and burnt its contents before the idol of Cathon. Adeus, who did not know of the practices and sacred traditions, knelt behind Magnis. He stared at the idol blankly, thinking of whag importance the moment gives him. Magnis turned around, and stretched forth his right arm toward Adeus' left temple. With two fingers on the temple and the thumb on his chin, Magnis chanted out words from the sacred texts which were written in the ancient language. Adeus was intrigued by this, yet he could not understand a single word the sorceror was saying.

"I shall now allow you to enter the realm that forever exists until the end of eternity! The unseen reality that always was there!", Magnis cried out. Adeus closed his eyes, believing that he were to see the dieties.

Alas, the sound of the wood creaking surrounded the chamber. The sound was followed by twenty seven knocks on the main door. Magnis and Adeus stood up and looked toward the source of the knocks. It was King Heraeus! "Ah is it not the Sorceror and my brave Champion!", said Heraeus. "What brought you to the Chamber of Idols? "

Adeus answered, saying that "Linus brought me to Sorceror Ralfus with intent to enlighten me!"

"What he says is true, my king! ", Magnis responded as he hinted out to Adeus to bow before the king, and they did so.

"Well, pardon me for interrupting your enlightening. I have come to visit the temple so that I may be guided by the gods! The loss my son had brought the kingdom knocked out both of my lower limbs, I for sure have no idea on how to resolve all this! The families of the fallen demand supplications, and I have provided them with silver. The treasure of Aethos has run out, and it is no longer plentiful! The army of the kingdom no longer stands strong, and only half of the armed are living! ", explained Heraeus.

The two young men did their best to comfort and help with resolving the conflict within the kingdom. It was then when another sound came from the hallway. They were much slower than those of the king. It was Fabius!

Fabius looked at the three men standing before the altar; Magnis, who knew that a confrontation was about to take place between the father and his son took Adeus and walked past Fabius. Fabius took a glance at the person who he was replaced with, yet he did not know who he was looking at. However Adeus felt guilty at the sight of Fabius. Nevertheless, the two walked out of the chamber. Heraeus stood boldly before his son; his face casted a winter storm on Fabius.

"Father, my intended purpose in the chamber was to pray for forgiveness from Cathon! But now that I see you before me, standing as bold as you can be, I kneel before you!", Fabius cried out.

Heraeus, who then knew of the reason for the deaths of so many, physically casted the shadow of his rage on to his son. Fabius, now considered a man of disgrace, was hit in the head with a glass lantern by his father; his eye, pierced by a shard from the broken glass lantern.