209 Sand Soldiers Versus the Holy Warriors

AFTERMATH (AUTHOR'S POV)

Inspite the absence of the King in the first few days of his reign, the Kingdom of Nether already suffered the sovereign of Galen's iron fist. King Galen took on the absolute power of the monarchy that the councils, advisors, and vassals of the kingdom for peace and law-making were abolished. There were curfews, and anyone who's caught beyond the hours are seized and imprisoned for twenty four hours with no food, water and visitors. No one is allowed to speak ill of the King. Any sharp tongues and false rumors with the intention to ruin the reputation of King Galen shall be executed publicly - something that was never been done for centuries. On the first day of the King's rule, an entire family was hanged at the town piazza after making fun of Galen's posters all over the castletowne.

Not one dared to oppose the extremely stern and cunning ways of the new king. Warriors were everywhere, under the command of Gallante who's the acting commander of the warriors. Despite in disagreement of the King's malevolence, Gallante imposed Galen's laws honoring his oath of loyalty to royalty. Hence, his movements were limited, for a dark healer still freely roams the kingdom.

Demoting Gallante to his former position, King Galen returned and kept his warriors at bay as he treat them considerably with ale, women and gold. His entire cavalry worshipped him at his feet for giving every single one of them great importance as they sacrifice their lives in many wars, instead of the vassals and nobles who were always favored for years and did nothing but attend tea parties or drink wine in their cellars.

King Galen succumbed in his thoughts of a joyless future after coming back without Helena. Along with his return were what he considered high priority prisoners, Atrius, Jacomus and Umbriel, who were all kept in an extremely guarded confinement, believing that Helena will positively come back for them.

Outrageously, Galen poured his extreme sadness and disappointment in governing the entire kingdom, to make him forget the longing that burdens him. The taxes were doubled. In a months time, some nobles became poor, and the poor became poorer. There were more labor given to the workers. More slaves were shackled to their deaths. Day after day, Galen drowned his sorrows in several bottles of fine wine. He welcomed amorous affairs with different courtesans every night. He attended multiple theatrical plays, and demanded musical performances to keep him entertained. He turned night into day, as he taste the bitter life without the woman he yearns for.

In the peak of his madness, he ordered his men to search for all women with grey eyes, much better with flecks of green. Women of all ages, and even children were forcefully brought to his chambers to satiate the emptiness in his hollow chest. He dispose of them eventually as soon as he's tired of their cries and demanding voices. Some never made it out alive.

Celeste discretely made a return in the palace in her own true physique. As she face Galen, she exposed everything she saw in Snow Mountain. From the paladins' involvement with the death of Aether and his men, to Stellan and Helena's affair… Galen pretended not to care despite deep inside, he have cursed and crushed the paladins in so many ways. Despite her unforgivable failures, Celeste gained Galen's trust when she tearfully revealed that she can still feel Helena's presence in Nether, and she can locate the celestial traveler in no time. She was all over the place as she beg for the King's forgiveness.

And he did absolved the sorceress. For Helena.

However, Galen didn't let Celeste get away with her share of failures. As Celeste lose the traveler's stone, she embraced the punishment given to her by Galen with open arms. Ten lashes on the back for the stone, and an additional fifty lashes for not taking Helena home. She smiled ridiculously as she kiss the feet of Galen afterwards. She was then hailed as the new high priestess in a new illusion of a younger woman and called herself Cintra. And at night, she would always wait for Galen to call her and warm his bed, savor his lips and give him the world as much as she can.

Until now, she kept the Syria and the Queen locked up in the chambers of the High Priestess that's still invisible to the naked eye of others. She needed Syria to channel more of her powers, and track Helena effectively. As for Queen Isavelle, who have gotten thinner and sicker… Celeste needed the her being the mother of the man she love with all of her heart, body and soul. She even calls her mother. They both plead everyday to be released, and as always, Celeste turns them down coldly.

Notwithstanding the people who have turned a blind eye on the current obscure and cruel situation under Galen's Monarch, there are some who are brave enough to step beyond the fine line drawn by Galen. Even if he's deprived of societal roles, Lord Nero chose to remain in the palace at the disposal of the new King as a promise to the late King Silvius. He kept all loose ends tight. From time to time, he tries to persuade the young King to be more considerate and kinder to his people. Hence, the king became deaf and blind from all of his unsolicited advices. Keeping things in order, Lord Nero took the responsibility of housing some royals who couldn't flee because of one dark healer roaming the kingdom which no one can get rid off. Princess Eira chose to stay in Hesam, and wait for Stellan who haven't came back since he left.

Lady Octavia confined herself in Aria, refusing to meet the eyes of the delusional King. She lost her moxie after the incident in the palace believing that she was lucky to have been spared when Galen threw a fit. Upon the return of Lady Vesta, it was then she gained more of her wit, but still chose to stay locked in her room.

Lord Axis planned for treason. He gathered everyone who'd join his ploy, yet no one dared to stand up against Galen. And so, he ended up imprisoned and tortured everyday. Alesso came back to a leaderless home, unable to release his uncle from prison.

Alesso and Vesta met Galen in the palace as if nothing happened. The King's devious smiles hid his vexation towards them as he hear their excuses of their absence when he needed them to find Helena. Their words just pass through his one ear to the other. For some reason, he appointed them as commanders of their own battalion for an upcoming war that he anticipates. The two agreed, thinking it is best to be on the good side of the King for now while Stellan haven't returned yet. They left bearing their suspiscions after dealing with Galen's placid look and calm voice. The King didn't even asked about Stellan, as if he already where the paladin knight is.

After the avalanche in Caluso, the paladins, Alesso, Vesta and Stellan found themselves alive with minimal injuries. They never found Helena, even after hours of digging in the deepest snow and yelling her name that echoed throughout the tomb of trees. It was their first time to see Stellan so lost. He had no tears and no words, yet, they could sense his scrambled mind and longing in his trembling hands and hard face. He tirelessly looked for Helena despite their many utterance that she may have drifted her soul elsewhere... not mentioning that she could also possibly be permanently entombed in the ice underneath. They endured the cold, the hunger and the sleepless nights. Still, no Helena. Vesta insisted Alesso to convince Stellan to go back home or else, they will all end up dead. Stellan refused, and asked his friends to leave him be. Alesso thought Stellan needs time alone to process what happened. And so, Stellan was left by himself in the foot of the Snow Mountains with his restless heart.

Brandenburg was left abandoned. Galen had no one in mind to lead the academy. He appointed Alesso to take charge of the prestigious school for warriors, yet the paladin archer respectfully declined. And so, darkness and wild grasses took over the academy waiting for its new lord.

High Priest Bertram rebuilt the Holy Land. Starting anew, he desired a new safe haven for all the priests and scholars clear of all rotten thoughts that would also cause the decay of others. He wanted to build more schools for poor children, and offer livelihood activities to all mothers. King Galen agreed in his plans like how he did in all of Bertram's other proposals, but then again, he demanded more fees, making Bertram's visions shatter into pieces. When the high priest learned of Umbriel's arrest, he tried to talk with the King into letting the young priest go. However, the King refused to talk about his valuable prisoners, as what he call.

Upon Atrius' arrest, the Kingdom of Vierme have been constantly communicating with King Galen. They demanded the exchange of prisoners for the life of King Desmun's heir. However, with strong decisiveness, King Galen refused to make amendments that he suggested war instead. King Desmun thought it was a ridiculous idea, for they invoke peace rather than having a pointless war that leads to the death of the innocent and possibly destruction of a kingdom. He just want his son back, alive. Thus, King Galen's ears were close for negotiations. And with no other choice, a war between the two kingdoms ignited. The sand soldiers of Vierme versus the holy warriors of Nether.