014- When the kingdom falls
It was twenty-three past midnight of the 7th of that month. More than a dozen people had rushed towards the King's chamber having heard the scream of the chamber maid. It was the hourly visit that was scheduled for her throughout the night, Maria opened the chamber door holding pot and towels in one hand.
The night had an uneasy calm, the sky as clear as it could get and given that it was raining an hour ago, made the night even more peculiar for Maria. But little did Maria know that she would have the misfortune of delivering the worst possible news one can think of.
For the past two hundred years the world had been at peace, making it the first in a millennium that a King had been killed, not died but killed by someone or something.
Pericious was a kind king. Ruthless to the threats, enemies and criminals but kind to his subjects. Everyone loved and respected him; the criminals feared him and the officials obeyed him. Pericious was an effective, strong and efficient ruler, one of the best The Kingdom had had in a long time.
Maria moved towards the side table to check and refill the jug of water but the familiar image of bulging linen sheets under which the king used to lye, was missing. Trying not to panic, Maria slowly walked to the other side.
The moon was bright and the particular setting of the drapes brilliantly illuminated the room, if only it wasn't for the pool of dark red liquid reflecting the moon in itself.
Within minutes, the Heads and some of the faculty arrived at the scene of crime. Everyone had similar thoughts of the situation. How could someone get into the king's chambers and who could have been able to do such a thing.
Pericious' body was very carefully picked up and sent for the preparations of the final rites. And it was then that the Aydenbell, a giant bell even older than the academy itself was rung and there were summons for every person in the premise of Aydenhall.
"Tell me Paleto." The short and bulky man walking next to Leon started talking soon after.
"His highness was killed thirty-seven minutes before he was discovered, there are signs of struggle and there are burned skin cells on his fingers indicating use of magic but nothing else in the room was burned, which would mean either he was interrupted before or something even more unlikely, that the killer is capable of absorbing magic. Now that won't be possible…"
Leon Abrupted his train of information. "Do not dismiss the possibility. It is Pericious we are talking, it would take an angel or a Devil to have done him in."
In Aydenhall, orphans were known to have seemingly random abilities but could not transform, which was something all of the Kingdom's families could. From medics to strategies, orphans' abilities came in handy in the most unexpected ways one could think. Yet they were objects of ridicule amongst the Five Families.
Paleto Salone was one of those few orphans possessing a divine gift. He was blessed with the ability to gain any and all postmortem information. It was amazing how he could know all there is to know about a crime scene. His abilities would be a dream for the detectives of all worlds.
Born to an average middle-class family Paleto, he had to sever all his ties with his family like all the other orphans had to. Twenty-five years of his life he had given to Aydenhall, never questioning anyone or anything.
The two walked the corridor of the main building leading to the Throne room. It was nearly three in the morning. Their walk was momentarily interrupted by Saphyrous Epirus, the Dean of Aydenhall. "Sir, this is said to be given to the King's advisor in the event of his death." Epirus handed an old, partially torn, decaying scroll tied with a purple ribbon decorated with gold embroidery.
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[Throne room]
Malik and Joan amongst the entirety of Aydenhall stepped into the throne room anxious and scared of the second terrible thing they had witnessed within a day's time. The Heads of the Five families were already seated on their respective thrones. Only Zoaran Family's throne, only the King's throne was empty.
Leon stood up in front of everyone and was tasked with breaking the bad news to those who did not understand the significance of Aydenbell. "Tonight, we lost our leader, our King and my dear friend. Our King was murdered in his sleep, in cold blood." Hiding his tears, Leon opened the ancient scroll in his hand that said…
When the Kingdom falls
For the King's adviser. When the Kingdom falls and you have lost a King, heed my word for all may be lost. If I am not wrong and hope to God I am, if demons and angels are back, roaming our world, there should no more be a king nor should there be a Kingdom and its subjects. There should only be mankind and its army.
Find the greatest of warriors, arm any that are able and prepare to bring any and every willing soul to Doritis. Store at least six years of ration, save nothing for losing the war would very well be the end of everything you know.
There is one thing I can give you that could be of help. 'It would be people you least expect that will be of your saving.'
Wishing Mankind best of best of its fortune, The Oracle.
Everyone's eyes were on Leon as he read through the letter from the Oracle. Malik and Joan, still weak, barely standing waited for next set of instruction. However embarrassing, Leon could not help but be at a loss for words. No one knew what to expect from the weird scroll and in the generation of books and rewritable tablets, it was even weirder
Leon began explaining the situation, leaving a few important details here and there where he felt appropriate soon to be interrupted by a messenger. The increased tension and terror the messenger bought to Leon's face indirectly increased the anxiety of everyone there.
There was visible panic on Leon's face. The other three Heads inquired about the message but it still took a while before anyone heard anything from Leon. "It has begun." He said under his breath. "Children!" he yelled, making sure to grab the attention of everyone in that room. "Get ready to fight, because we, people, are at war!"
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"We leave tomorrow at the break of dawn." Zail suggested knowing that his limiters will wear of till then.
Zail had taken a minute to finally lay down and reflects on all that occurred that day. His tiered eyes gazed at the night sky. The moon so bright it dominated all the little glimmering stars and the sky, cloudless like an empty slate.
"How were they?" Idris' question interrupted his gaze. Zail looked at her in confusion. "Our parents, how were they?"
With a warm smile he begun, "They were a perfect couple. Brave, loyal, compassionate, powerful, there isn't enough words to describe them."
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