His Highness’ Mercy

cw: violence, rape, pedophilia, gore.

As the night grew darker and the moon climbed higher in the sky, the Grand Duke slept with hundreds of thoughts running through his mind. Nevertheless, he took advantage of the comforting night beside the Luminaflora Tree. 

The dawn has peaked through the camp and The Grand Duke was the first to be awake before his troops. He donned casual attire— white, loose long sleeved blouse and the basic pantaloons. Though he lacked a few more 2-hour sleep, he didn't think it's more important than saving the lives of the hybrids and punishing the criminals. 

Before he could don his new gloves, he summoned General Casimir with a distinctive whistle, a signal that carried a sense of purpose and readiness as he leaned against the tree. The early breeze brushed against his solemn expression as it danced along with his earrings. Within a moment, General Casimir was before him, ever the embodiment of loyalty and discipline, and knelt as a sign of respect.

"General," the Grand Duke said with a resolute tone, "We'll raid the hideouts anytime soon, wait for my command. Ready the troops and the first-aids. Bring my scythe as well, just in case."

General Casimir nodded firmly, his unwavering commitment evident, "Your Grace, we stand ready to execute your orders. The Silver Hawks, imperial guards,first-aids, investigators, and the medical supplies are prepared for the mission."

The Grand Duke hummed, "Hmm no, leave the medical supplies in the treating tent." 

With their plans in place, the Grand Duke and General Casimir shared a final nod of understanding before parting ways to prepare for the upcoming raid.

The camp buzzed with activity as troops were assembled, weapons checked, and strategies reviewed. The Silver Hawks, clad in their gleaming armor, stood with an air of disciplined readiness. Imperial guards were poised and vigilant, ready to protect their leader and serve justice. First-aid teams, equipped with their essential supplies, were on standby to tend to any injuries that might occur during the operation.

Amidst the bustling preparations, the Grand Duke made his way to the heart of the camp. There, he retrieved his formidable weapon, a scythe that had been passed down through generations of Landroich's rulers, The Dämonisch family. It was a symbol of his authority and a reminder of the responsibility he bore.

With one final glance at the Luminaflora Tree, its shimmering leaves now fully illuminated by the morning sun, the Grand Duke knew that hope and courage were on their side. The raid was imminent, and their mission was clear: to rescue the hybrids, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure that the suffering would end at last.

Arama was also in the scene to lead the way, he sat on Amias, the Grand Duke's steed with the Grand Duke himself at Arama's back. Arama could smell the refreshing and fragrant scent coming from the Grand Duke, it almost smells like Aquaflora Blossom. The Aquaflora Blossom is a rare and enchanting flower found in the forest of Feigan It is renowned for its captivating fragrance and its unique ability to evoke a sense of freshness and rejuvenation.

"I know that you're not used to riding a horse," The Grand Duke started as they marched through the forest, "You can lean on me." 

Arama's heart skipped a beat at the Grand Duke's words, and he couldn't deny the comfort that the offer provided. He leaned back slightly, resting against the Grand Duke' chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath the layers of clothing. It was a moment of quiet intimacy amidst the bustling preparations for the impending raid. 

The Grand Duke tightened his hold on Arama, a silent gesture of support and protection. One hand tightly holding Amias's reins while the other hand was holding Arama. As they continued their journey through the forest, they were bound not only by the mission ahead but also by the unspoken connection that had blossomed between them, much like the fragrant Aquaflora Blossom they had left behind in their wake.

As they moved deeper into the forest, Arama observed the surroundings, his keen senses attuned to any unusual signs or sounds. The forest indeed took on an eerie appearance, with twisted trees and an unsettling stillness in the air.

The Grand Duke unexpectedly raised a hand, a gesture of holding the troops back. The Grand Duke's signal to halt was subtle yet effective, and the troops followed suit, their eyes trained on his every movement. The hand gestures conveyed his instructions perfectly – "Be careful and quiet."

With a gentle squeeze of Amias's reins, the Grand Duke brought the steed to a halt, and he leaned in closer to Arama. In a hushed tone, he sought Arama's guidance. "Can you tell me if we are near the hideout?" the Grand Duke whispered, his voice barely audible amidst the hushed forest, "So far, this area of the forest seems... odd."

Arama strained his senses, his cat-like ears twitching as he listened for any telltale signs or scents. After a moment of focused attention, a pang of realization hit him, he replied in a barely audible whisper, "My lord.. forgive me for being in daze, but we've arrived in the hideout."

"That's great," The Grand Duke replied, "Where is the entrance?" 

Arama's cat-like eyes scanned the surroundings as he gathered his thoughts. The realization that they had arrived at the hideout struck him with a mixture of anticipation and tension.

"The entrance should be nearby," Arama whispered back, his voice filled with determination. He motioned for the Grand Duke to follow him as he gently guided Amias forward, leading the way through the dense forest.

As they advanced, the forest began to thin, revealing a concealed entrance amidst the twisted trees and thick underbrush. It was a camouflaged opening in the ground, covered by a carefully arranged layer of leaves and branches. Arama dismounted and approached the concealed entrance, crouching down to examine it more closely.

"The entrance is here," he whispered to the Grand Duke, pointing to the concealed hatch, "It's well-hidden, but we can access it. We must proceed with caution from this point onward. That's where they keep my friends inside."

The Grand Duke nodded in agreement, his plum eyes focused on the hidden entrance. With a shared sense of purpose, they were ready to confront the darkness that lay within and to bring hope and justice to those who had suffered for far too long. The Grand Duke dismounted Amias and tied it to a steady branch. He quietly went to a Silver Hawk, "Let me borrow your sword. You, guard Arama." 

The Grand Duke held the scabbard and inserted it to his pantaloon's hooks, it seems like the swords of the Silver Hawks were designed for pantaloons, it stands out unexpectedly good. 

As the Grand Duke pushed the door open with careful deliberation, revealing the darkened passage within, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of determination and trepidation. The scent of the fresh scent of the forest seemed distant now, replaced by the musty air of the underground hideout. 

Arama, standing by the Silver Hawk to his side, tugged at his loose sleeve, his gray eyes filled with concern, "My lord... please take care." Arama whispered, his voice laden with worry as his cat tail curled up to his side.

The Grand Duke offered a glance, his plum eyes reflecting his unwavering resolve, "I will, Arama. And we will bring your friends to safety. Stay close, with the good guard, alright?" Then he patted Arama's head before entering.

With that, he stepped into the hidden entrance, leading the way with the Silver Hawks at his side. As they marched quietly through the dark alley, there's a pungent stench wafting in the atmosphere of the valley. There's luminous light as they turned to the corner. 

Then there's a loud thud, The Grand Duke flinched in response. It is followed by the cries of a young voice, the silhouette clearly represents that it was a demi human as well, "Please.. I don't want to do it anymore, my body hurts.." the voice pleaded.

"I won't stop until you tell me, where is Arama?!" The loud and deep voice replied. It sounded like a man.

The young voice continued to plead, insisting they didn't know Arama's whereabouts, but their words were abruptly cut off by a sound that sent a shiver down the Grand Duke's spine – a resounding slap that echoed through the corridor.

"You were a great specimen," The man continued, "But if you refuse to tell me where Arama was, I will sell you to the auction and you will never see Arama again. There are many fishes in my sea anyway. It's easy to replace a specimen like you." The man's tone turned to a warning, hushed tone, "Where is Arama?" 

The captive's voice quivered as they spoke, "I told you, I don't know! Please, don't do this!" 

The man's threat had escalated, and his tone turned even more sinister as he leaned closer to the trembling demi-human, "Where is Arama?" he demanded, his words a low and ominous growl. 

The Grand Duke's heart surged with a mix of anger and determination. He knew they had to intervene, not just to save the captive from further harm but also to get the information they needed to find Arama and the other hybrids.

Without a warning, The Grand Duke disappeared out of the Silver Hawk's side. Their eyes widened in shock. The next thing they knew was the man's heart-wrecking shrill cry. 

The Grand Duke had reappeared with astonishing speed, his eyes filled with righteous fury. He had struck the man's hand, which had been clutching the captive's neck, with such precision that it had been severed cleanly. The man's howl of pain filled the air, and he crumpled to the ground, clutching his severed hand. 

"Kneel!" The Grand Duke's command rang out, his voice unwavering and commanding.The sinner kneeled subconsciously as he clutched his severed hand. The captive, freed from the tormentor's grasp, fell to their knees, gasping for breath and clutching their neck. 

With one swift motion, he drew his sword and slashed the perpetrator's hand off at the wrist.

"Who else is involved in this barbaric practice?" the Grand Duke demanded.

The Grand Duke slashed the same wrist again, deepening it, "Admit it because there is no use of hiding it when this hideout is being raided." 

The Grand Duke's threat only seemed to rile up the perpetrator further, causing him to snarl in defiance, "You will never catch me alive! I'll take every damn scientist in this valley to hell with me before I reveal anything!"

He was not good at interrogating, because his patience was the smallest length above all, so he immediately slashed the scientist's throat, blood gushed all at once leaving the man's body limp and lifeless.

"Gather all the hybrids, call out the other imperial guards to help and search, as well as the first-aids to treat the hybrids." The Grand Duke commanded as one the Silver Hawk retreated to call for the standby imperial guards and first-aids. Then, the Grand Duke whispered to the hybrid, "Arama's waiting for you outside." and left in the scene.

The three searched through the alley. As the alley deepened, they turned to the left and saw a room filled with unconscious hybrids: half-bear and half-human, half-dog and half-human, half-bird and half-human, so on and so forth. They were all chained up in the large, steel table. 

Some of the hybrids were contained in oversized vials, each resembling a half-human and half-fish creature. The sight was both shocking, beautiful and heart-wrenching, a testament to the inhumanity that had taken place within these walls.

"Let's free the half-fish creature later, we need a scientist to help it. Release the ones who are chained first." The one Silver Hawk commanded, "I'll search more." 

The other Silver Hawks immediately got to work, using their expertise to unlock the chains that bound the suffering hybrids. They carried the hybrids through their arms as they moved to exit the room. Soon, many more imperial guards went to rescue the cuffed and chained hybrids.

The Silver Hawk had been searching through the maze-like alleyways of the hideout, and with an unexpected turn, he stumbled upon a shocking scene that left him stunned and horrified. There, he saw the Grand Duke, his once-pristine white blouse now stained with blood, giving him the appearance of a ruthless murderer.

The Grand Duke was cradling a half-dog, half-human hybrid carefully in his arms, the sight of which caught the Silver Hawk off guard. Overwhelmed by the gruesome scene, he fell to his knees, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The Grand Duke's sword was likewise stained with blood, and remnants of the crimson fluid trickled from it as he approached the Silver Hawk. His voice was cold and unyielding as he commanded, "Get up on your knees."

"You need a scientist to unlock the large vials, right?" the Grand Duke spoke with a chilling calmness, "I got a scientist, I cut off his penis for good. He can still talk, don't worry." 

The Grand Duke's stern voice startled the Silver Hawk, who hastily got up on his knees, a combination of fear and concern etched across his face as he stared at the half-dog, half-human hybrid cradled in the Grand Duke's arms. His expression softened as he recognized the Grand Duke's pain-stricken gaze and the hybrid's fragile state, realizing that the Grand Duke had likely rescued it from a horrifying fate.

He nodded in response to the Grand Duke's question, offering a brief summary of his findings, "Yes, My Lord. There's a large vial that's been chained to the wall," he said, motioning to the center of the room, "It's guarded by a group of scientists who appear to be in a state of panic. We may have an opportunity to capture them if we act quickly."

The Grand Duke nodded, his expression set in determination as he gently handed the half-dog, half-human hybrid to the Silver Hawk. The hybrid whimpered, its eyes darting around the room, likely searching for any trace of the pain and suffering it had just endured. 

The Grand Duke's eyes seemed more luminous and vibrant and his aura felt very dangerous, as if he was somewhat about to explain what he had seen. The little boy who was in the Grand Duke's arms, he has blonde hair with a hint of freckles. Based on The Grand Duke's point of view, it resembles Elias's features.

This little dog hybrid was being molested, and being assaulted in front of the Grand Duke's eyes. The Grand Duke felt a surge of emotion, an urge to kill as he couldn't bear the sight anymore. In result, he acted out of repulse, yet it was good enough that he actually didn't kill the offender and cut off his penis instead. As the Grand Duke cradled the unconscious hybrid in his arms, his eyes locked onto the child's innocent face, tormented by the horrors he had just witnessed. There are remnants of his tear stained his puffed cheek. 

The Grand Duke's embrace tightened while they exited in the hideout. 

The most thing he hated was rape above all.

The Grand Duke's plum eyes burned with a fiery resolve, and his jaw clenched with determination. Among all the injustices he had witnessed in his life, the act of rape was the one that fueled his righteous fury the most. He loathed it above all else and vowed that those responsible would face the full extent of his wrath.

The Silver Hawk, his face a mask of stern resolve, dragged the injured man towards the area where the half-fish hybrid was held captive. The man, now thrown onto the ground and writhing in pain, groaned pitifully as blood stained his clothing.

"Can you not see that I'm bleeding?!" the man protested, his voice trembling with pain and fear.

The Silver Hawk's response was cold and unforgiving. He stood over the fallen man, his expression unyielding under the mask, "You should've thought about that before even starting to breed the hybrids and abuse them." he retorted, his voice dripping with contempt.

The man's pleas fell on deaf ears as the Silver Hawk remained resolute in his duty to bring justice to those responsible for the unspeakable cruelty inflicted upon the hybrids. The path to redemption was a long and treacherous one, and it was time for those who had perpetuated these horrors to face the consequences of their actions.

"Now tell me how to free these half-fish hybrids," he demanded, his words dripping with malicious intent, "before His Majesty burns you alive." 

The captive's face contorted with a mix of pain and terror as he realized the gravity of his situation. He knew that the Silver Hawk's threat was not an idle one, and the prospect of facing the wrath of the Grand Duke and the kingdom's justice was a fate he desperately wanted to avoid.

The man, sensing the gravity of his situation, swallowed hard and stammered, "I-'ll tell you... just please, spare me from His Majesty's wrath." 

The Silver Hawk's eyes narrowed, his resolve unshaken. He leaned in closer, his voice a venomous whisper even though he's wearing a mask, "You should've thought about that before you committed these heinous acts. Now, speak, and perhaps you'll find some measure of mercy."

"Marinettes could live in the body of water.. but they can't last long in the air." The man started to speak, his voice faltering as he continued, "You could pull them out on top of the glassware, or just break it.." 

The Silver Hawk's expression remained cold and unyielding. He nodded once, acknowledging the information, but his voice remained as chilling as before, "Thank you for your cooperation. Your fate lies in the hands of His Majesty now."

"What do you mean?!" The man started to shed tears, "I've already told you what you needed!" 

The Silver Hawk didn't waver, "You've given us the information we sought," he conceded, "But you must answer for your crimes. You will face judgment for the horrors you've inflicted upon these hybrids."

With that, the Silver Hawk signaled to his comrades, and they secured the man, ensuring he would face justice for the unspeakable acts he had committed. The path ahead was clear – the hybrids would be freed, and those responsible for their suffering would be held accountable for their actions.

One Silver Hawk reported to the Grand Duke with a kneeling position, "Your Majesty, according to the captive, we can rescue the half-fish hybrids by breaking the glassware, however, the hybrids wouldn't last long in the land and need to be in the body of water where they belong." 

The Grand Duke's eyebrows narrowed, he turned to Arama and asked, "Are there any nearby rivers here?" 

Arama's cat ears turned in the distance, then he answered, "Yes, My lord, me and my friends bathe there, it's pretty close." 

"Very well," The Grand Duke nodded, "Then, I have a little mission for you: lead the masked men in the river when I said, 'now'. Arama, you need to be quick because you and the men will be running to the river, got it? You needn't worry, they'll be right behind you." 

Arama nodded in response.

"Break the glassware at once and follow Arama when he runs. He'll lead you all to the river nearby." The Grand Duke commanded.

As the Grand Duke and his Silver Hawks moved deeper into the hideout, following Arama's lead, they were met with a haunting sight. Glassware containers of various sizes lined the room, each containing a Marinette, their forms suspended in the strange liquid within. 

The Marinette, their features a unique blend of human and aquatic traits, floated listlessly within the glass prisons, their expressions filled with a mixture of fear and longing. The room was dimly lit, and the air was heavy with the pungent scent of the liquid that surrounded them. 

The Silver Hawks approached the glass containers carefully, their expressions masked by determination. They wielded tools designed to shatter the glass without harming the fragile creatures within.

With swift and precise movements, the Silver Hawks shattered the glass, releasing the Marinettes from their watery prisons. As the Marinettes were freed, they gasped for air, their gills struggling to adapt to the newfound freedom of the land. 

The Silver Hawks scooped the hybrids in unison as Arama and the Grand Duke waited for them outside, peeking from a distance to see a glance of the Marinettes on the way. The Silver Hawks moved quickly despite the narrow way from the hideout.

"Arama, now!" The grand Duke commanded and Arama started to run. Arama's speed is impressive, his speed is comparable to a cheetah. The Silver Hawks were already from Arama's behind as they ran, the creatures were clearly struggling to adapt to the exposure of the air, their gills working overtime and their tails twitching with discomfort.

The sound of rushing water grew louder as they approached the river. Arama, with his extraordinary senses, knew the way well and led them to the water's edge. Without hesitation, the Silver Hawks carefully lowered the Marinettes into the river, where they could finally find the solace of their natural habitat. 

As the Marinettes were submerged in the cool, refreshing water, a collective sigh of relief escaped their gills. They began to swim and frolic in the river, their tails and fins propelling them with newfound freedom. The sight of their joyous return to the water brought tears to Arama's eyes.

A Marinette swam up, popping their head up to the water's surface and waved to Arama as if beckoning him close. Arama went near the water as the Silver Hawks stood close to the riverbank, their eyes widened in awe behind the mask.

"Mr. Hawk!" Arama yelled, "My friends wanted to see you!" 

The Silver Hawks, hidden behind their mask, were taken aback by the unexpected invitation. However, they couldn't resist the allure of meeting these remarkable creatures up close. With a nod to his fellow knights, he approached the water's edge, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. 

One of the Marinettes swam up to the water's surface and waved at Arama, signaling for him to come close. Arama went near the water's edge, where the Silver Hawks stood watching from the riverbank. The two sides made eye contact and shared a look of understanding and gratitude. Soon, more Marinettes began to emerge from the water, stretching out their hands to their saviors.

"I think they wanted to say thank you, Misters, please crouch to meet them." Arama said. 

The Silver Hawks crouched down to the water's edge, their masked faces now at the same level as the Marinette. The Marinettes stretched their webbed hands towards their rescuers, their eyes filled with gratitude and a sense of connection.

Then, the Marinettes touched their masks with a smile on their faces. One could see their gratitude with just a single glance. 

FOOTNOTES:

"Marinette." This name combines the French word "marin," meaning "of the sea," with the diminutive suffix "-ette," so instead of "Mermaid/man", we'll call the half-fish hybrids as 'Marinette'.