Walk Sounds Nice

With a determined resolve, I rose to my feet and turned away, hastily wiping away the tears that threatened to consume me. When I turned back to face the children, my eyes widened in astonishment as I recognized them from my dreams, being dragged by Emberocks. They stood before me, a few meters away, their faces beaming with recognition and gratitude, and in that moment, I knew that I had to do everything in my power to help them.

Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as I watched the children seek refuge behind us, their innocent faces filled with fear and uncertainty. Despite the chaos unfolding around us, I felt a sense of relief wash over me knowing that they were safe, their lives spared from the perilous fate that had threatened them.

Before I could comprehend the situation fully, a sudden influx of Fae warriors surrounded us, their armored forms and menacing weapons adding to the tension in the air. The children clung to me and Lily, seeking comfort and protection in our embrace.

As the commotion subsided, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd, his gaze meeting mine with a mixture of caution and concern. It was Ludwig, his voice calm yet laced with underlying fury as he addressed a tall, muscular man standing nearby.

"Is this what you've done, Commander Leonel, as per my orders?" Ludwig's tone was measured, but the intensity in his eyes betrayed his simmering anger, causing the commander to shrink back in fear. It was clear that Ludwig was not pleased with the situation, and I could only wonder what had transpired in my absence.

Commander Leonel's shoulders sagged in defeat as he faced Ludwig's stern reprimand, his expression reflecting a mixture of shame and remorse. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice tinged with resignation, "We did not anticipate..."

Ludwig cut him off with a sharp gesture, his features contorted with frustration. "You are a seasoned commander, Leon," he interjected, his tone laced with disappointment. "Your eyes are trained to discern threats, yet you failed to see the plight of these innocent children?"

With each word, Ludwig's voice grew more intense, his anger palpable in the air. He locked eyes with Commander Leonel, a silent challenge passing between them. "Do not deceive me," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "If you value your honor and the lives of your loved ones, speak the truth."

A heavy silence hung in the air as Ludwig's words sank in, the tension thickening with each passing moment. The knights shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. As Ludwig's gaze swept over them, a wave of apprehension washed over the group, exacerbated by the sudden rise in temperature that seemed to mirror Ludwig's escalating anger.

"Know this," Ludwig's voice rang out, cutting through the stillness like a blade. "Any betrayal of my trust will be met with swift and decisive action. My duty is to protect this kingdom, and I will not hesitate to root out any threat."

"Your Highness…"

Ludwig turned his attention to the man who had spoken, acknowledging him with a nod of his head. "What's the problem, Commander Rivalz?" he inquired, his tone authoritative yet composed.

As Commander Rivalz began to speak, I observed the tension in the air ease slightly, replaced by a sense of anticipation. It was evident that his companions were taken aback by his boldness, their expressions a mix of surprise and trepidation. But despite their apprehension, they remained attentive, awaiting his words with bated breath.

"Your Highness," Commander Rivalz began, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment, "I believe there has been a misunderstanding."

His words hung in the air, prompting a collective murmur among the knights as they exchanged uncertain glances. It was clear that Commander Rivalz's assertion had caught them off guard, their surprise evident in their reactions.

Ludwig listened intently, his expression unreadable as he awaited further explanation from Commander Rivalz. It was evident that he was considering the commander's words carefully, his posture reflecting a sense of authority and command.

"With all due respect, Your Highness," Commander Rivalz continued, his voice steady and unwavering, "we recognize you as our King, regardless of your possession of the Ones. You are the rightful heir to the Throne, according to your bloodline."

Commander Rivalz exuded a commanding presence, his stature and demeanor befitting of his position. Standing tall and imposing, he possessed a physique honed for battle, his muscular frame a testament to his strength and resilience. In contrast to Commander Leonel, who appeared weathered by age, Commander Rivalz emanated a youthful vigor and vitality that was palpable in his aura, reminiscent of Liam's formidable presence.

As he continued to address Ludwig, Commander Rivalz's words carried a sense of reverence and unwavering loyalty. "You have always prioritized the welfare of the kingdom, a trait that sets you apart, Your Highness," he affirmed. "When we took our oaths as knights, we pledged our allegiance to the crown, swearing to defend our homeland and its people at any cost. Your leadership, Your Highness, embodies the values we hold dear, and our devotion to you and the kingdom knows no bounds."

A solemn silence followed his proclamation, punctuated only by the sound of rustling armor as the knights paid homage to their king with a solemn salute.

"We are aware that we were not able to accomplish your order, and we wholeheartedly accept the appropriate punishment, but before you do so, we wanted to explain," Commander Rivalz said with a serious tone.

Ludwig nodded firmly, indicating his willingness to listen and discern the truth from their explanation.

"We immediately set out to fulfill your order, Your Highness, but we encountered an unexpected obstacle: there was a witch among the children," Commander Rivalz explained, his voice tinged with urgency. "The children, having lost their parents to Emberocks, mistook us for their attackers and retaliated."

Ludwig's eyebrow arched in surprise at this revelation, signaling his interest in hearing more about the situation.

"We didn't dare to fight back to avoid harming any of them," continued Commander Rivalz. "They were accompanied by a witch who wielded powerful illusions. We believed we had apprehended them and taken them to the new orphanage, but it was all merely a deception we hadn't foreseen. It wasn't until this morning that we realized the truth. When we visited the orphanage to check on the children, we found it empty. In fact, we hadn't brought any children there at all."

Ludwig suddenly massaged his head. "Do you mean, Commander Rivalz, that fifteen powerful and strong knights were outwitted by child Faes and a young witch?"

Commander Rivalz nodded solemnly. "Yes, Your Highness. We underestimated the power of the witch's illusions and the determination of the children to protect themselves. We were caught off guard, and it took us some time to realize the extent of the deception."

Ludwig sighed heavily, clearly frustrated by the turn of events. "This is unacceptable," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. 

Commander Rivalz lowered his gaze, his expression a mixture of regret and determination. "We take full responsibility for our failure, Your Highness. We are prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."

The other knights bowed in shame, while the children around us laughed, particularly the girl with orange hair, who was the witch among the group.

Then, the knights knelt on the ground and spoke in unison. "We're sorry, Your Highness. We promise this won't happen again."

Ludwig remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then, with a decisive nod and a sigh, he instructed his knights to escort the children to the orphanage.

I approached the children first to prevent any further retaliation. Engaging them in a lengthy discussion, I found they had many questions. They were intelligent and cautious, not quick to trust, so we had to be patient and deliberate with our words. They had been through a lot, and I felt it was the least I could do to assist them.

Eventually, our discussion concluded, and the children finally agreed. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to be done for these children. Nevertheless, for now, we had taken the first step in helping them rebuild their lives.

As the children were sorted, I noticed that some were brighter than others, while a few weaker ones couldn't keep up, so they were escorted to another carriage the knights had brought.

Once the children were parted from us, I realized that only Ludwig and I remained in the forest, at the foot of Helios Mountain. I scanned the surroundings for Lily, but she was nowhere to be seen. It seemed she had gone with the knights and the children. But she had been ordered to accompany me, so why hadn't she stayed?

"Is it okay," Ludwig began as he walked towards me. "If we take a brief walk alone before returning to the castle?"

As Ludwig approached me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at being alone with him in the forest. However, his calm demeanor reassured me, and I nodded in agreement to his suggestion.

"Okay," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "A walk sounds nice."