183 King Galen

AUTHOR'S POV

"Do not blame yourself, Prince Galen. These all happened offhand", High Priest Bertram comforted the sullen prince. He tries to read the Prince, by getting on his good side.

"It's those wretched soul travelers!", one priest shouted.

"They just cannot make this kingdom peaceful.", one vassal angrily said.

"And as the only heir to the throne, I promise that I shall keep this place safe for the people of Nether", Prince Galen assured his people. "But please… do understand that Argus unleashed dark healers and we do not have any kind of weapon to destroy them. No paladin could even win against them... Greatly, I found myself a celestial soul traveler who could vanquish them all", Galen entailed the importance of a celestial soul traveler by his side. It was only then that Bertram was able to understand. Strangely, the prince wants to enforce the coexistence of soul travelers and Nether through its magnates.

"You mean.. Haelan?", Lord Callaghan sputtered at Galen's thought. "How sure are you that Haelan is trustworthy and wouldn't follow the steps of Argus? He is even wanted for the murder of Harlan in Brandenburg!!", he bitterly yelled.

"My Lord, that is quite an allegation.", High Priest Bertram couldn't let such statement go. He didn't like Haelan as a soul traveler, but he knew that Haelan is not a bad person either. "A person shan't be called guilty unless with proof and proper investigation", he said that left an impression on the prince.

"I saw it with my own eyes, High Priest! Are you calling me a liar?", Lord Callaghan sharply snapped back.

"We all know that Haelan is a soul traveler. If he indeed put blood in his hands, he should be a dark healer by now", High Priest Bertram looked at each vassal and priest in the eyes. He then averted his gaze to the Prince, who's listening to his sentiments on Helena. "Prince Galen, I met Haelan in Holy Land. He didn't turn to a dark healer, and I doubt he would turn to one soon. It only means, he didn't commit the murders. Accuse him of many things but you cannot change the fact that he led a fight that us priests cannot do on our own. He's our savior", Bertram revealed.

"It doesn't mean that Haelan didn't influenced someone to do the murders. I know what I saw. A soul traveler isn't welcome here ", Lord Callaghan continued to savagely detest Helena. "If the prince and the highpriest chooses to believe a soul traveler over me, the jokes on you both", he firmly stand.

Prince Galen gave a half smile at Lord Callaghan. He never liked the old man, including Harlan. They were both cunning and righteous who easily speaks their mind in all ways. "Seems to me, you're belittling my character, Lord Callaghan", Prince Galen tilted his head to the side. The royal knights stood on attention when the prince sounded out displeasure in the tone of his voice. Lord Callaghan was surprised at the alertness directed at him. He suddenly felt his mouth run dry, while the others feign ignorance of the situation. "Do I look.. too easy on you? Am I some kind of a mediocre? You have probably forgotten that I'm the Prince of this kingdom. Some of you does", he said as exhaled sharply with a sardonic smile. The priests kept mum. The vassals felt awkwardly silent.

"Forgive the lord, Prince.", Lady Octavia blurted out.

"Fair enough", Galen smiled uncomfortably, as if he felt something burn his skin. "You all do not know Haelan as much as I do, so I shall grant you all with a benefit of the doubt. With that given, soul travelers are rampant these days... I cannot simply trust anyone. Imagine my mother has been Argus all these time. Ain't I right High Priest?," Galen squinted his eyes at Bertram.

"Th-that's.. absolutely correct, my Prince!", Bertram who didn't like where the prince is going, nervously clasped his hands together.

"Besides, I wouldn't want to reign a kingdom with treacherous soul travelers in the pretense of my council and vassals", Galen darkened his eyes as the royal knights unsheath their swords.

"That's absurd! You're not King yet", Lord Callaghan bravely claimed with a nervous laugh that brought ringing in Galen's ears.

"The King doesn't even bother you being the crown prince", another vassal provoked. Edgy, Bertram shook his head at the vassal, and mouthed to choose his words wisely. He still the prince, after all. When he look at the prince, he was just botheringly smiling.

"General Aether", Galen called. "Will you do the honors?", he said with one hand on the hilt of his sword and the other inside his pocket.

"With my honor and loyalty", General Aether lifted his bladed hand as he turn to Lord Callaghan. Six of the palace knights followed the general with a swords on their hands.

"N-no.. no!", Lord Callaghan trembled as he walk backwards. He clenched his fist, while he channel his magic - ready to send blows to anyone who'd attack him. The other vassals and priests widened their eyes as they distance themselves from the lord.

"Prince Galen, please stop this", Lady Octavia plead with her eyes fixed on the general and his men. She held her breath with a hope that the prince would stop such madness. Reluctantly, she held on the ax hanging by her waist. However, the pince just stood there like a child watching his favorite stage play.

Lord Callagan gathered his powers in his palms as he prepare to send blows, but General Aether was quick enough to lunge his bladed hand from Lord Callaghan's throat upto the top of his head. Everyone was too stunned to scream. The general removed his blade as the body of the lord drop on the floor which was instantly painted red.

"That's more like it.", Galen clapped his hands as he relinquish the smell of blood. "General Aether here have been observing everyone, specifically those who spoke ill of me, taunted me and disgraced my name. They are most likely soul travelers since I am the son of their mortal enemy, right General? He shall continue until he's finished", Prince Galen ordered as General Aether move on to his next target. The priests and vassals plead for their lives, with an understanding that Prince Galen is ready to annihilate anyone who'd go against his will. High Priest Bertram thought this isn't winning the favor of the majority, it's the Prince showing his true power. Suddenly, a loud shriek was heard from the outdoors. It was followed by terrorizing screams that shook the entire palace.

"What's that?", they looked out the window and were all left astounded at the sight of two dark healers on a killing spree outside.

"Dark healers!!", Lady Octavia couldn't figure out now which is more dangerous - inside the palace or outside its premises.

Galen walked his way to one of the exits of the great hall followed by a couple of royal knights and the high priestess. He gave a delightful smile as if he was expecting such deadly visit from a dark healer. "Ohh! Just in time", Galen said.

"Do not worry my prince, I have restored the apotropaic spell protections in the palace. You are safe inside the barrier", Syria whispered while keeping her head down.

"Wonderful, High Priestess!", Galen exclaimed. "Now let's make this more interesting. To all of you those who doesn't welcome Haelan, and me as the new King, you can now step out of the palace. Go on", he said as he stood by the door followed by the knights who widely opened them revealing the ashen bodies killed by the dark healers. He then nodded at General Aether, who clearly understood the next task even if it's commanded without any words.

"Right away, your Highness", General Aether led himself with a few knights to three more vassals and five priests, who violently resisted forceful arrest with all their might.

"Prince Galen!! Stop this madness!", one priest plead painstakingly.

"High priest, please do something!!", another one desperately begged as he drop on his knees. Bertram stood frozen. He couldn't even blink in fear.

Dragged away, the priests and the vassals were a few more steps out of the great hall. One priest peed on the floor. "I-I agree, I agree!!", one vassal who's almost outside the barrier yelled. "Forgive m-me Prince!! I ne-never saw you as anyone inferior!! No-no one is rightful to become the-the King, a-aside from you!", he insinuated to where everyone agreed fearfully with tears and snot.

Galen waved his hand that immediately. halted the general and his knights. "Looks like we're now on the same path", Galen smiled as he walk back to the throne. "I was almost killed by a dark healer before. Haelan, or should we start to call her Helena now?", they heaved in shock at the Prince's revelation. "She saved my life, and if there's anyone I'd rather be with at this very moment… that'd be beside her.", he gladly said. "High Priestess, assist the High Priest with whateveer he needs. Make me the King now", he ordered. Bertram was still in state of shock as he stood in a trance. The prince snapped his fingers that woke him up. "Hurry up! I don't have all day. I have matters to attend to Wicce at dusk", Galen ordered as he bring out the traveler's stone from his pocket, grasping it inside of his palm.