Monarch's Rebirth: Chapter 13

LUKAS' POV

What's this madness! Where did Arnold and his son come from!? How did they manage to bring ships across the land!

I had many questions but no answers. The sound of war brought me back into reality. I couldn't figure out an answer to what's happening.

"Sire, this seems like a losing battle. I warned you!" Vincent shouted out from beside me.

I grit my teeth and think of what to do. "Shut up… There is something we can still do." I muttered under my breath.

"There is nothing to do. It's finished. Your century-long war with the Faunus Kingdom ends here."

"SHUT UP-" I shouted before being cut off by a loud explosion.

"W-what was that." Vincent stuttered.

"What can make such a big explosion…" I thought to myself.

In the midst of all the chaos and fires I see a figure. A slender and tall figure with long hair. His hair blew in the war's constant wind. His head resembled the skull of an animal and his left eye glowed a shining red light.

"Finally… The main show has arrived." Vincent says as he storms off from me.

ARTORIUS' POV

I left Blizzard with the last line of defense and came into the battle solo. It was finally time to unleash hell on Lukas.

A sword swung at me from the left and nearly sliced my head off. I parried it and threw the sword away. The soldier tried to run but I shot out an earth spike and impaled him.

I found Vincent in the midst of all this chaos coming straight towards me without a weapon. He finally reaches me and smiles at me. "I have been waiting for your arrival, General Artorius." Vincent speaks out.

"Where's your weapon? Aren't you here to kill me?" I asked him.

He looked at me and let out a big smile. "Sir Alexander and I made a deal. I would leave the Aberdeen during the war and leave the empire itself." He explained while scratching his small beard.

"Very well. Go to the bridge with your hands up, my troops have morale and won't kill you."

His eyes lit up and he raced past me, leaving me in the smoke filled battlefield.

I slowly walked towards a clearance from the smoke, killing any that attacked me and helping any that were in a tight situation. Lukas did not expect this and is probably hiding somewhere.

I finally found a clearance where I looked for Lukas. Unfortunately I was surrounded by a group of soldiers with spears and swords.

"Haha! You are surrounded, King Artorius! Come with u-" I cut the soldier off by shooting a beam of fire to my left, killing whoever was standing in the shot's path.

"Am I surrounded or did you just line up for an execution instead?" I threatened the soldiers.

They charged at me, expecting to take me down just from outnumbering me. I grew earth spikes out of the ground once more and impaled all the soldiers that surrounded me,

I walk past the dead bodies, still looking for Lukas. By a stroke of luck I found him, trying to flee the battlefield.

I couldn't wait to fight him and propelled myself forward with wind burst. He turned around from the sound of the wind burst and saw me coming at him.

I go past him and land in front of him, stopping his escape. "A king shouldn't flee the battlefield. Shameful." I mocked him

"We finally meet, Artorius, son of Theo Dorman." He says confidently.

Lukas comes down from his horse and takes his sword out. "Let's have a duel then."

I take my stance and get ready to attack. We circle around each other, taunting each other. I start to become irritated by this dance I am having to do with Lukas. I hated this man since the very beginning and couldn't wait to end it here.

I charged at him and he parried, unsurprisingly. "You have quite the strength still." I say with a smirk on my face.

"Just because I am old doesn't mean I'll be any weaker. I fought your father and he nearly died at my hands." Lukas taunted.

I break off his parry and circle him once more. Suddenly he attacks but it is weak. I parried and he was stunned I saw my opportunity and took it.

Unbeknownst to me he was planning for this to happen since as I went in for the strike he conjured an earth spike to impale me. I barely dodge and become alert once more.

"Quick, nimble and powerful. You truly are Theo's son." Lukas said as if it was a compliment.

"I thought this was a sword duel not a mixed duel."

Lukas smirks and lunges in for an attack. "It's war, naive boy. Nothing is fair." He says as I parry his attack.

"Is that so? Then I won't hold back from here on out."

I jump backwards and jump up. I keep my distance and height from Lukas so that I can start his torture.

I begin with a flurry of high pressure water that could send anyone flying. Lukas realising the mistake of letting me off the hook started to panic and dodge my attacks.

I followed up all of that with fire beams as well. I kept him dodging and parrying my sword till he tires out. My plan seems to be working as he became more and more tired and sluggish with his dodges.

"Anything else? You said it's war and nothing is fair! Now face the consequences of your words!" I mocked him as he tried dodging my electricity bolts and fire balls.

He finally got hit with a fireball that took him off his feet. He became badly injured since he did not cover his body with a single layer of mana. I mocked him by shooting a high pressure water cannon at him for a few seconds.

"Wake up! I'm not finished with you!"

A small crowd slowly gathered as I beat Lukas to his senses with a water cannon. I finally came down from floating in the air and looked at Lukas' sorry state.

"Not much of a tough guy after being hit with a fireball now are you?" I mocked as he lay on the ground, barely conscious.

"I… Expected… nothing less…" He says quietly, trying his best to stay awake.

I started to laugh hysterically seeing his sorry state. "HAHA! Look at you! Call yourself a king when you get caught trying to run away from me."

Lukas tried to shoot an electricity bolt at me but he missed poorly.

"Come closer… Let me tell you one last thing…" Lukas spoke out once more, slowly getting off the ground and bending over, trying to stand while using his sword as a balance.

I came closer and squatted down next to him. His face became disfigured and burnt and his white beard had become dark and burnt. The rest of his hair that he had was also gone and his clothes were in a similar state to mine.

"I am the reason… Your mother died… I should let you know before I go…"

My heart felt heavy again. I felt a sudden rush of anger and bloodlust overwhelm me. But I kept the feeling from making me take action.

"I poisoned her… I had to admit to this… Before I died…" He says, coughing up blood and breathing heavily.

I bite my tongue and try to not cut his head off that instant.

"Why… Why did you?" I asked as I got more emotional.

"I wanted to drag you down. Without a mother… You would be trash…" He explained.

"You stupid old man!" I shout, out of anger and despise.

"Let this war be the last between Aberdeen and the Faunus Kingdoms… Hold nothing against my family…"

Even though I hated his guts and everything about him… I couldn't throw away his last wish as that would make me and him equally horrible.

I looked around to see the crowd of people that had gathered. Lukas' soldiers and my soldiers all stood around in a circle as I held the old king upright with my own hand as he coughed and bled.

I find Felix staring and also getting emotional from what he said of killing my mother. He was evil all the way through but he still had a heart for his family, like any other human.

I looked at Lukas once more as he slowly died in my arms. I held him like a comrade rather than my enemy in my hands as his life drained out of his body. "Your final wish will be granted. No matter how much I hate you, you are still a human and a king like me. Rest easy now. This is the final chorus to our symphony. Our families' symphony."

Lukas lets out a gentle smile and closes his eyes. "Kill me with your father's sword. That's the best way to pass away on this battlefield…"

I lay him down on the ground and unsheathe Warrior's Ballad. I aim towards the middle of his chest and take a deep breath. "Goodbye Lukas. I'll see you on the other side…" I said before driving my blade through his chest.

Lukas smiles at me as I drive my blade through. He starts to cough up blood but does not groan or shout in pain. I went through his entire body and pulled out.

He starts to bleed out slowly as blood flows out from his body, making a pool of blood around him. His body stopped breathing and I was left there in the middle of a circle made by my soldiers and his soldiers.

I stood on the puddle of blood and fell to my knees. My clothes cut open, revealing the multiple bleeding scars from swords and halberds. My hands had blood on them and I was soaked in it as well.

"It's… Over…" I muttered out.

FELIX'S POV

I watched as Master Artorius talked to Lukas calmly, even though he was what caused all this bloodshed to happen in the first place. Lukas even told him about who killed his mother and yet… he did not act harsh with him to the very end. He accepted Lukas' requests to the very end.

Alexander and his father looked at what just happened and became emotional. Sir Arnold shed a tear as Master Artorius fell to the ground beside Lukas' body.d

None of the soldiers said a single word as all of this went on. They understood it was a talk between two kings who hated yet respected each other to the very end, a battle of honour.

Even after he muttered out that the war was over no one seemed happy. Everyone seemed gloomy and sad even though this war which could've gone on for days only ended in a day.

Clouds covered the battlefield and made it dark. Rain would pour any minute but we all stood in silence, taking in the moment of peace that has returned after a decade.

I slowly walked towards Master Artorius as he kneels down next to Lukas' body. He had a single tear rolling down his left cheek and an emotionless expression.

I knelt down beside him and spent a moment staring at Lukas' body. Bloody, disfigured and unrecognisable.

"What will I tell his daughter…" Master Artorius muttered slowly. "He has a wife as well…"

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. "There is nothing else to do. This is what war is. It's mindless chaos and bloodshed for nothing. We kill and take away thousands of lives for our own conflicts. War… it ruins people."

Master Artorius gets up and looks around the crowd. "Go home. It's over. This mindless war of ours is over. You all saw the last act of a saga that played out for over a century. Now it's time to write a brand new book and forget about this." He said with power in his voice, reaching the ears of every soldier in the battlefield.

"The Aberdeen soldiers. Take your king's body home in a carriage we will send. Respect him throughout the way and bury him with honour."

The soldiers understood and came to pick up the body. They take his sword and put it on top of him and fold his hands on top of the sword. They wrap him around in a white cloth and pick him up, taking him away to a nearby camp to let him rest.

I take a look at Master Artorius and see how badly he was beaten. "War has taken a toll on you hasn't it?"

"It has. Let's go back home, Felix."

Hearing these words I felt an odd feeling overwhelm me. I couldn't tell what it was but I knew it was something good. "I will get the bath ready."

Alexander came up behind us as we watched the army carry away Lukas' body. "A true king through and through, just like your father." Sir Arnold says out of the blue.

"Like father, like son." Master Artorius mutters.

ALEXANDER'S POV

I felt the emotions right in my heart. I heard every word Artorius said to Lukas and Lukas said to Artorius. I understood what being a monarch is. It's not glory on the battlefield or keeping the kingdom stable. They may be important aspects but the most important is to respect everyone equally, be it enemy or friend.

I gave a warm smile to Artorius as he turned around to face me and my father. A tear hung from his chin as he smiled at me. "You're a genius, Alexander." He says suddenly

I become flustered and confused on how to answer. "Y-you think so!?" I blurted out

Artorius laughs which lightens up the mood between the four of us. "Haha! Why are you acting so odd suddenly? It's just me, your friend."

We all share a laugh together and start walking back to the city.

"You are… Sir Arnold Damian, correct?" Doku asked my father.

"Yes, I am. I am Alexander's father." He says with a smile

"I am sorry to meet you in such conditions. I would shake your hands but I have blood on them." Artorius apologised.

"No worries. Mine also has blood."

They both laugh and shake hands. I didn't understand what that meant and walked away.

ARTORIUS' POV

All four of us walked back to the city where I left Blizzard. I wanted to go back as fast as possible and take a nice, cold, bath.

"Since you are already here, why not spend the next few days here?" I asked Arnold as I already planned on meeting him.

"I cannot do that. I planned on coming here with the army and leaving. I am going back right now actually with my army as I did not tell my wife about this either." Arnold says with guilt.

"You didn't tell mother!? Dad, run!" Alexander said in a panic.

"I actually should… It was nice meeting you King Artorius! I will meet you at my kingdom with my family then! I expect you to take care of Alexander in my stead!" Arnold says before running off.

"I understand! Have a safe trip back!" I shout as he gathers his men.

Felix chuckles seeing Arnold run off and Alexander's panic. "Your mother must be strict." He asked Alexander.

"Strict? That's a very light way to put it!" Alexander exclaims.

I chuckled alongside the others but then remembered something. Wilhelm.

"Felix, where is Wilhelm?" I asked Felix in a panic since I haven't seen him the entire time.

Felix looks at me with concern. "He… He got injured during the battle. When I arrived with my army I found him being taken away. He was bleeding out rapidly and had to be taken to a clinic as soon as possible. "

A rush of fear dawned over me as Felix explained the situation. "Is he okay?" I asked Felix, panicked that I might lose my closest general.

"I'm not sure. Let's check."

I rush towards the bridge and head inside the city. Inside were countless wounded soldiers that were getting treatment. There were a number of soldiers that also lost their lives and were covered in a white cloth. It was a disturbing sight but this is the aftermath of war.

I rushed to the clinic where I found dozens of people standing outside and mourning. Many had lost their family and friends to the war and they started to mourn.

The clinic was filled with healers and alchemists running around trying to help the wounded. "Where is General Wilhelm!" I shouted as I entered the clinic.

A healer came to me and explained the situation. "He has been badly injured in battle. He is being operated on by the best healers. Please wait while we heal him as soon as possible."

We all became concerned and anxious. The war was over yet we were worried of losing a close comrade. I couldn't allow this.

"This can't be… Not like this…" Felix muttered.

I sat down on a bench, near the room where they were operating on him.

"Everything will be okay. Don't worry." Alexander told me, trying to consult my anxiety.

I sat and pondered for who knows how long and slowly felt my eyes become heavy. I felt weak and I could barely keep my eyes open. Alexander stayed by my side while Felix laid down on the bench opposite to us.

Hours passed and no news on Wilhelm. I started swaying and losing my consciousness. I fell on Alexander's lap and before I knew it I fell asleep.

ALEXANDER'S POV

Artorius fell asleep on my lap, all bloody and tattered from war. I let him rest as he has had it harder than anyone during this war. He carried through the entire war, going to every battle and ending it within ten minutes and going to the next.

Felix started to groan and sob slowly, thinking Wilhelm had passed. I had hope left in me that Wilhelm would be alright.

I felt tired from the adrenaline rush that I had during the beginning on the longboat. I was about to fall asleep myself but I kept myself awake a bit longer. It was tiring and horrible. The smell of blood wafted into my nose and made me really irritated.

Another twenty minutes passed. Artorius was sound asleep and I laid back. I waited for someone to come out of the ward and give me good news but nothing. No news.

The chaos inside the clinic annoyed me and it was deafening. People rushing and healing, multiple tray carts being carried around and more soldiers being rushed inside. The sound of sobbing from people outside made me feel emotional and made me realise how terrible war is.

Time went by slowly, as if it was slowing down. I looked up at the ceiling and pondered to myself. "How terrible could war be?" I asked.

Another hour goes by. I kept thinking about all the killing I did. The soldiers had families but now they lay dead on the battlefield, unknown to their family. I shed tears thinking of the families we tore apart due to some uncalled for war.

Suddenly the ward door flings open and a healer comes out. I become anxious and scared as to what news he might have.

"What's the situation?" I asked him while gently patting Artorius' head.

"Too close… We were too close to failure… We barely kept him alive. He's beginning to heal slowly but surely. A lot of blood was lost but they are giving him blood. He will be good by tomorrow other than minor fractures on his ribs and arms.

I smiled in excitement at the news. "Thank you. Thanks for saving the man that did as much as Artorius."

"I suggest getting him and Sir Felix onto a bed. It will be most comfortable for them there rather than on the benches."

"I'll start doing that for them and myself.

The healer chuckled as he took off his gloves and coat that was covered in blood. I breathed a sigh of relief as Wilhelm was recovering.

With Wilhelm recovering, Artorius and Felix sleeping, I was left alone to deal with the sleepy king and his butler.