4. King's Heartache

The news about the death of Hans Demesio spread like wildfire. Even Fellenberg heard of this news and pitied on them.

Nobody knew who the culprit was, but it didn't matter anymore. Zalazar needed a new king, and there Samuel stepped up to become the new king.

He was crowned and respected. his brother, Caesar, had high hopes for him to fix things up. Samuel's first goal was to take care of Fellenberg. Zalazar's military forces bolstered secretly, the people acted against the Fellenberg. And as soon as they had enough power, Samuel hesitated.

"The garrisons are well defended, our soldiers are prepared, the people is at your side, and the generals, though young, are ready to send your orders!" Caesar said deliriously.

But Samuel frowned and felt like he was being watched. "I... Tell them there will be no war..." he said in a gloomy way.

Caesar was confused and asked, "And why is that? We've done everything to take those good for nothing Fellows to their knees and suddenly you say that they can stay!?" he said in an angry manner.

"I don't feel like it—"

"'I don't feel like it.' are you mad!? You have this apportunity to be free once again and then you give up on it!?"

"No! It's not like that... Something doesn't feel right about this whole thing..."

Caesar calmed down, "If your unsure about our victory, then don't worry! Leave it to us, more specifically, Leave it to me. I've been training myself for this my whole life!"

"Caesar... Just do what I said..." Samuel said to Caesar as he walks away.

Caesar was upset about this sudden change. His heart was suddenly filled with hatred.

Samuel kept walking on the halls, reliving the happy times of his childhood. And remember the horror he faced without his father. "Things have changed..." he said.

After a few minutes, Samuel saw Christine looking outside from the balcony, wearing a beautiful orange gown while she's covered in jewelry. "It's been a year since your father died. Just a year and yet you changed drastically!" she said to Samuel seemingly noticing him.

Samuel replied, "You've changed aswell."

The wind gently blew as Christine's long, lush, blonde hair danced with the wind. "I changed, because you made me to." she said.

"What do you mean?" Samuel asked.

"Look at me, I'm filled with jewelry with this fancy outfit. You treated me like a queen. Yet I don't want to be..."

"Why? Isn't that a good thing? You and me, sitting on the throne together."

"I don't want to be a queen... And I don't want to be, your queen..."

"W-Wait, What?"

"I'm a doctor, I want to get messy while helping the ones in need, not being glamorous...! Also... My heart belongs to someone else."

"Who? WHO!?"

"The man who was with me throughout the challenges, The man who adored me and supported me. The man, I will not speak of." after that, she walked away.

The next thing Samuel knew, was that she left. Leaving everything he gave her. "What did I do wrong?" Samuel sorrowfully said.

Then one fateful night. The moon was bright and full, the sky was littered with flashing stars. Samuel was heading towards the throne room, until a faint sound called upon his attention. "Good evening... Your 'Majesty.'" someone said with a very deep voice.

Samuel looked around, "Who's there!? I demand you to show your face!" then all of a sudden, his heart rapidly beated.

After that, Samuel walked further. Then, on the ledge of the balcony, a dark figure was crouching. "It was I... Sin...!"

Samuel recognized that voice and that name. After that, It was clear. The dark figure was Darkness' assassin, Sin. "You! You were the one that murdered my Father!" he shouted.

"You knew this... From the beginning... Yet you failed... At the end...! Your father was... Fated to Die...!" Sin replied.

"What are you doing here!? Are you going to kill me too!?"

"Soon... I'm just waiting... For you to... Kill...! I would remind you... If you kill... In anyway possible... Darkness will slowly consume... You...!"

"I knew that! Now leave me be!"

"Oh young King... You've lost love... And you'll lose... Even more...! I suggest to... Get yourself prepared... Young prince...!" after that, Sin jumped off from the balcony. But Samuel couldn't hear a thud. He ignored this and proceeded onwards to the throne room.

Once he arrived, Samuel saw Caesar sitting on his throne. "Caesar? Why are you awake so late at night?" Samuel asked.

Caesar replied, "I was about to say the same thing to you..." he clapped his hand, then his men surrounded Samuel. "Tell me brother, Why are you up so late at night?" Caesar said in a sinister manner.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Samuel asked furiously.

"Can't you see!? This is a coup! So surrender now, or you'll face a greater pain than death!"

Outnumbered, no strength, no weapon. Samuel had to surrender, he put his hands on the air and kneeled. Caesar's men walked up and grabbed his arms sending him away. "Why are you doing this Caesar!? I've trusted you!"

Caesar replied, "Me too. I did everything for you to be in this position, I even went on great lengths to do it, no matter what it takes! Killing, pretending, all those stuff I would do! Just for you to be in this throne to make it right... But you threw all of those efforts away and mess it up! You know? I, clearly am the one that is rightful for this throne. Don't worry, Samuel, I've been training myself for this my whole life!"

So Samuel was locked up on a dungeon, he was left there to rot and die. He lost his love, his brother, and his position, there couldn't be any more that could make him sadder. He accepted his fate, being locked up in the dungeon.

Then one day, he could hear a thud, he could hear someone coming towards him. the rusty cell door creaked as it opened, waking Samuel up. When Samuel opened his eyes, he saw a girl, same as his age. She was wearing a formal soldier uniform, she had short hair and she had this sassy attitude.

The girl offered Samuel a hand, and Samuel took that offer. "Ready to bust out this dungeon, your 'majesty?'" she said.

Samuel nodded and followed the girl as she leads the way. "What's your name? Why are you doing this?" Samuel asked.

The girl answered, "My name is Kia, and no, I'm not doing this for you or anything. I just have a reputation to maintain!" after that, she opened the exit. "There, now tell your 'Friend' to keep his mouth shut about my secret!"

Samuel suddenly hugged Kia tightly and said, "Thank you very much! I appreciate someone to help me right now!"

Kia blushed for a bit and replied, "Uhh... Your welcome? Anyways, get out of here before anyone sees us!"

"Thank you again!" he said as he ran towards the exit.

When Samuel got outside, he realized that the dungeon was hidden in a pile of vines and other leafy objects. He walked further and got himself upon the plains of Zilos, and there he saw he saw a cloaked person who looked exactly like the other person a year ago.

"your majesty, come with me..." said the cloaked person. Samuel followed the cloaked person deep into the woods of Zilos. The cloaked person stopped and said, "Go further beyond this point and you'll meet her with the boat."

But before he continued, he asked, "What's your name? Who are you?"

On which the Person answered, "I am Garris, that's what you only need to know."

Samuel nodded and continued on. After a few minutes he stumbled upon a small beach with a single boat on shore.

"Once you board this boat, you must keep going until you land on shore. All the supplies you need are in there. Food, water, money, and more." said Christine.

Samuel was surprised, "Christine, is that you?"

Christine gave Samuel something round, like a big coin. "Keep this, now go."

"But Christine—"

"Go! It's for your own good!"

Then suddenly a voice was heard in the distance, "A prisoner escaped! Search everywhere! He might be still here!"

"I'll be fine," Christine said. So Samuel boarded the boat and set off. The boat had a sail so it went out so fast.

Samuel looked back, and thought about why he didn't said "Goodbye." Samuel was saddened by leaving his home. He looked at the coin and soon realized that it was a Crest. On the crest he could clearly see the image of a hooded person in the center and roses on the side. Whatever it was, it somehow lifted his spirit up. An Event would occur that would change Zalazar forever.

—To Be Continued—