Chapter 13: The separation (2)

A Royal Decree

The Queen turned to face them, her expression serious and ominous. "I have come to deliver the King's decree: General Iras, you are to be deployed to the war front."

Hylos's eyes widened in shock, and he turned to Iras, who remained silent, his face impassive. Iras bowed his head in acceptance, and the Queen departed, leaving Hylos reeling.

Hylos rushed into Iras's chambers, finding him already preparing for his departure. "You can't go to war," Hylos exclaimed, his voice trembling with anxiety and desperation.

Iras's gaze was deep and unwavering. "I am the General of the Valley of Kings, Egypt. I must obey the King's orders."

Hylos fell silent, his anger and frustration palpable. He stormed out of the room, feeling helpless and unable to change the course of events. Iras watched him go, his expression a mask of calm determination, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of sadness and concern.

The Queen's Sinister Plan

In the palace, the Queen was in high spirits, surrounded by her attendants. One of them spoke up, "You seem particularly joyful today, Your Majesty."

The Queen rose from her seat, her face alight with excitement. "I have every reason to be. Tomorrow, I will finally have Grand Duke Hylos right where I want him, and I have a plan to ensure he won't refuse me... ah hahaha!" The Queen's laughter echoed through the halls, sending a shiver down the spines of her attendants.

Her words hinted at a sinister plot, one that would stop at nothing to achieve her desires. The Queen's obsession with Hylos had reached a boiling point, and she would do whatever it took to make him hers.

A Bittersweet Farewell

The palace of Iras was serene and peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil that lay ahead. As Iras prepared to embark on his perilous journey to war, his thoughts drifted to Hylos, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

Iras decided to visit Hylos in his chambers to bid him farewell. As he entered the room, he found Hylos lying on his bed, his face etched with sorrow. Their eyes met, and Hylos swiftly rose to his feet, his gaze locked on Iras as if awaiting his every word.

Iras approached Hylos, his voice calm and steady. "I wanted to bid you farewell. I'm leaving now."

Hylos's eyes welled up with tears as he wrapped his arms around Iras, holding him close. "I'll wait for you here," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I want you to return alive."

The air was thick with unspoken words, and the weight of their impending separation hung heavy on their hearts. As they stood there, locked in a tender embrace, the fate that awaited Iras on the battlefield seemed to loom larger than ever.

The Brutal Battle:

Iras marched into war alongside his troops, a diverse group of skilled warriors. As the battle raged on, Iras fought valiantly, but his men began to fall one by one. Iras himself suffered numerous injuries, and the scarcity of food and water began to take its toll.

As they traversed the scorching desert landscape, they were suddenly ambushed by the enemy. Iras and his remaining men fought bravely, but their strength was waning. Iras's exhaustion was palpable, his body weakened by hunger and thirst.

Despite his fatigue, Iras continued to fight, but he was eventually struck from behind, a sword piercing his back. He coughed up blood as he fell to the ground, his vision blurring.

As he lay there, helpless and dying, Iras watched in horror as his comrades were slaughtered around him. His thoughts drifted to Hylos, and the promise he had made to return to him. Iras's vision darkened, and his world went silent.

In a dream, a man with long, curly hair and golden eyes sat upon the king's throne, his gaze fixed on the figure kneeling before him. The man's voice was low and menacing, like a demon's.

"Farewell, my beloved General," he said, his tone dripping with sadistic pleasure.

As the man's eyes gleamed with malevolence, his gaze shifted, and he beheld the face of the one kneeling before him. It was Hylos, seated upon the throne, his eyes frozen in a mixture of shock and horror.

The man's grin grew wider, his golden eyes flashing with triumph. The scene was set, the players in position, and the game was about to unfold.

A Sudden Awakening:

Iras's eyes snapped open, and he was met with the bright smile of a young boy sitting beside him. The boy's eyes sparkled with joy, and he exclaimed, "You're awake! You're awake!"

Iras's mind was foggy, and he struggled to recall his surroundings. The boy's words were like a splash of cold water, jolting him back to reality. As he sat up, he saw that he was in a small, rustic hut, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

The boy's voice was like music to Iras's ears, and he felt a sense of gratitude towards this young stranger who had nursed him back to health. Iras's memories of the battle and his injuries began to flood back, but for now, he was just grateful to be alive.Here's the translation:

A Glimmer of Memory:

Iras asked, "How many days have I been unconscious?" The elderly man replied, "You've been asleep for 10 days. We found you in the desert, left for dead."

Iras's eyes widened in shock as the memories came flooding back. He recalled Hylos, who had been waiting for his return, and the haunting vision he had in his dream – Hylos sitting on the king's throne. Iras's mind reeled with questions and fears, but one thing was certain: he had to get back to Hylos.

A sense of urgency washed over Iras, and he struggled to sit up, despite his weakened state. The elderly man rushed to his side, supporting him. "You must rest, warrior. You're not yet strong enough to leave." But Iras's determination only grew stronger, fueled by the memories of Hylos and the ominous vision that lingered in his mind.

A Shocking Discovery:

As Iras approached the palace, he was met with a shocking sight: the palace was in ruins, reduced to rubble and ashes. Iras's heart sank, and he felt a wave of panic wash over him. He quickened his pace, desperate to find out what had happened.

As he approached the entrance, two guards blocked his path, their eyes cold and unyielding. Iras identified himself as the General, but the guards didn't believe him. They laughed, mocked him, and eventually, they lifted him off the ground and tossed him outside the gate.

Iras landed hard on the ground, his body aching from the impact. Tears of frustration and worry streamed down his face as he thought of Hylos. What had happened to him? Was he safe?

The young boy who had helped Iras earlier appeared by his side, concern etched on his face. "Come with me, General," he said gently. "You can recover with us. We'll take care of you." Iras nodded, still reeling from the shock of the palace's destruction. He followed the boy, his heart heavy with worry for Hylos's fate.