Chapter 4- Artheians' Misfortune

Fourth Commander Alexander's face fling on the side as the Mother Queen slaps his cheek. Her body is trembling as she felt the sting on her palm. This is her first time hitting her younger brother, but he needed to know that he crossed his boundaries.

The other three commanders didn't show any expression from what they saw, but they retreated quietly and commanded people to call on the physicians.

The Mother Queen then didn't do or say anything after seeing the eyes of Alexander. She walks to her son and hugs his body near her. "Rutherglen, my child."

The nobles scream out of fear from the sudden turn of events, and knights running around, shouting and calling for physicians to come in the receiving hall at the palace; Artheians and the people outside have no idea of what will come to them.

Just then, Knight Hawkin and Emil just finished eating.

"It was a good meal," Hawkin compliments the female server standing in the receiving area of the diner.

The female server then smiled skillfully, she represents an excellent behavior of a big diner, before saying, "we are gratified for your visit; please come again," before closing the doors for them.

Emil knowingly looks towards Hawkin and teases the latter, "looks lie she's not buying that," and chuckles at his comrade.

Hawkin glares at him in return before walking away while sighing. "Let's go back to the military grounds. I've wasted quite a lot of fortune," making Emil laugh louder than ever.

They were strolling around the town proper going to the military grounds when suddenly, they felt a heavy sensation on their shoulders, making their whole bodies tighten. Such a massive resentful aura, this is the first time that they thought this kind of ambiance inside the Kingdom of Artheiaya, a feeling that only knights could understand, especially when they are in a war. Both of them turn around to inspect the area, having the same thoughts indie their minds, something is coming, and it is dangerous.

"Emil_."

"Got it."

Both started running around, causing bystanders to look over them. Their eyes look around with great sense to not miss a single suspicious thing. Hawkin is even bumping into someone.

"Hey, look out to where you're going!" The stranger yells at him before walking away.

Annoyed, he continues looking around before stopping after making sure that there is nothing wrong in the area.

"There is nothing in here." He mumbles to Emil while his eyebrows curled, nearing each other from what just happened. His left arm that bumped into that person hurts a little, which is weird because he has thick and trained arms that can certainly not hurt from a bit of bump.

"I also saw nothing," Emil replies without grasping the attitude of his friend.

"But what did we just felt a while ago?" Hawkin asks him.

"I've got no idea. Better, let us go back to the military grounds. For sure, they sensed it, too." He suggests to Emil.

"I agree," they then walk to the nearest carriage post to hire one, but when Hawkin touch his left pocket, he realizes that his pouch of money is gone.

"Ñietra!" He angrily utters a famous local Artheian profanity as he realizes that he's been robbed. "That man a while ago who bumped into me stole my pouch!"

Emil looks at his friend with an utterly surprised expression. "You've been robbed? And you only knew right now? You didn't even have any idea a while ago?" He cannot help but laugh afterward. It's fresh stuff to think that a Third Knight and Hawkin at that can be robed off without him even realizing it.

The carriage owner who is waiting for the payment before letting them travel couldn't help but ask them, "Our knights doesn't have any money with them?" He is petrified that they might give him a free ride. He cannot help but think how these knights continuously take advantage of their excellent impressions and always ask for free stuff. Yesterday, they also gave a knight a free ride, and the latter didn't even hesitate to accept their right and pure offer.

Hawkin and Emil look over the carriage owner before smiling, "certainly not."

"We will pay you, do not worry," Hawkin replies before looking over to Emil, making him chuckle.

The carriage owner shyly accepted the money after realizing his mistake before asking them to enter the carriage. Still, before they could even do so, a big rumble resounded in the whole kingdom.

The female dancers dancing on the Fountain Statue of Glyvecaruis God got scared that they stumble each other, causing a commotion as they fall on the ground.

Artheians could see how the thunder directly fires on the giant tree in the Kingdom, lighting it and bringing out an unbelievable green hue of flame.

"What witchcraft is this?" A woman cries as she comes near the tree.

"Don't come near it!" The man she was with then stops her before she could step any further.

Emil and Hawkin, who are in the carriage post near the tree, postponed their steps to enter the carriage but goes near it.

"What is happening here?" Emil asks the people around the tree.

"We don't know, but thunder suddenly strikes the tree. It's not good to come near it; a thunder might hit it again," someone answers.

"How can it be just a simple thunder? The fire's green on that tree is odd."

"How can fire be green?"

"Maybe, Glyvecaruis_."

"How can that be? That is not even real!" Then laughter surged to the people as they look with disdain at the person who says something about Glyvecaruis God. It is a young lady. Her name is Lady Vivian Boutemaize, the daughter of Viscount Allan Boutemaize.

When she recognizes the crowd's disdain, she just silently left while Emil and Hawkin also reserved stares at her back without uttering any words. They both look at the tree.

"I will immediately go to the military grounds. You stay here, Emil, and watch over the people as we do not know what this is." Hawkin suggests to the latter.

"Understood. You go now." Emil agrees and motions his friend to go.

Hawkin left immediately. He didn't ride the carriage as planned but just stole a horse nearby. He will bring it back, for sure. After minutes of the trip, he arrived at the military grounds to see the knights all workup.

"Something happened," he tries reporting to Lieutenant Commander Mainfroe but was given a scowl, which made him stop talking. "Lieutenant Commander?"

"What is it, Hawkin?" Mainfroe didn't have any choice but to ask.

"A thunder hit the giant tree in the town proper_," but he wasn't able to finish when Mainfroe shouted back.

"That is what you've been busy with while we are here needing assistance? Is thunder hitting a tree? Did you even know what happened today? Many of the knights have been poisoned, do you know this? The King was hurt and currently on the verge of death, and you're here reporting about a thunder hitting a tree!"

Hawkin, who doesn't have any clues of what happened, reveals a shocking face. Suddenly, it seems like he realizes how there are almost no knights around. His words got trap in his throat from what he heard. What is happening?