42 Chapter 42: Blood for Blood

After hours of walking through the dangerous mountain at the north side of the Gandrian Range, they finally made it to the other side. The path was once welcoming and safe, but right now was a hunt month for the snake eagles, thus explained that the place was too dangerous for travellers.

But it was nothing to Prince Danico and his army. For years, they had been trained to become soldiers with the high-class of facilities and equipment, and the expert of teachers. And yet, it was never enough for him. He dreamed too much that he couldn't be able to remember some things.

And as expected, the other side wasn't pleasing at someone would expect it to be. After they past cold tall mountains, they were greeted by a low hot desert.

On the other end of the giant piles of golden sand was a tall wall, guarding something inside it. It wasn't that far, but going through the hot field was the same as walking a hundred miles.

They also realized that it was just beside the Gandrian Range, just a different mountain group than theirs. If they walked through that mountain, they should've made it faster. But this is better than none.

"There it is, your majesty! I can see it!" The talented tendrin said as he pointed the gigantic wall in the far distance, full of energy despite him using his ability earlier against snake eagles. Danico couldn't help but smile at the sight. "The Erimia Kingdom!"

The north part of the desert was narrower, thus it wasn't that far to walk from one end to the other. And the fact that they could see their destination is another victory for them.

The world of Arcania held three human kingdoms, and one of them is Erimia, a kingdom in the middle of the desert. What are they gonna do in the kingdom that wasn't theirs?

"Good. Let's give them a warm welcome… or a cool welcome rather." He said and they all decided to march through the hell.

***

His vision was filled with darkness. He couldn't be able to feel his whole body, and he couldn't be able to touch anything. His feet were touching the ground, but he wasn't sure if it was or not.

"W-What…" He muttered, turning around to see a sign of escape in the black space. His black beard, as well as his robe, was following in the motion of his body.

He was just sleeping in his luxurious bed the last time with the ladies he brought to feast, but right now, everything was gone.

Then, the whole setting changed into a large room. It was decorated using the palette of red and dark gold, as the crest of a fierce lion catching a small bird were displayed in every red banner.

The atmosphere, as well as the details of the room, was very familiar to him. He wouldn't mistake the portraits that had been plastered in the walls, in which the biggest one displayed him. It was the throne room.

And there, in the middle of it, was his seat of honour, as tall as the large windows were. The throne was glowing brightly under the chandelier above, as the golden trims were shining.

It was waiting for its king. But before he could reach for it, someone already took the chance to sit down on the red soft cushion it had. He was wearing a red robe made with rich silk, along with a crimson cloak trimmed with gold, wrapped around his body.

A crown with a red cushion caged in a flower-formed metal, decorated with colourful small gems, was in his head. It might just be a headdress, but it screamed power and glory.

They were very much had the same features, but the one sitting was younger, and more powerful than the other one standing. He released a smile that was big enough to frustrate anyone who will see it. His green eyes were taking a glance at him.

"Danico, what is this nonsense?!" He yelled at the sitting lad, anger was flowing in his veins. He was his son, indeed, but he would never like him. Every time he could see his face, he couldn't help but be irritated.

"Haven't I told you to not sit on my throne?" He added, after realizing that he was taking what's his. He raised his hand and pointed his finger at him. He kept glaring at him, showing how made he was. "It's mine!"

All of a sudden, after his speech of greed over the seat, Danico laughed maniacally. It echoed everywhere inside the room, and it was getting louder and louder every time. This made the other confused and frustrated.

He had been sitting in the throne ever since his father died, even before he was in the right age to being declared the king. Other than the crown, the seat was the trophy of him being the most powerful among humans.

But then, his son dared to sit down on it like it was no big deal.

"It seems like you don't have any knowledge, have you, dear Father?" The sitting prince asked, still sticking the mischievous smile. This gave the king more anger, as if though he lost against Danico without even playing the game.

"This throne…" He said as he was caressing the arm supporters with his hands. His face was more irritating than the previous one. He narrowed his eyes into slits, looking down at his own father. "…is now rightfully mine."

"All that's left of you were your title as… the former king." He added.

This made Gandior's eyes widened. Then, he started shaking his head no, stepping backwards, couldn't accept what he just said. He couldn't believe that this was all happening right now.

"No! Noo!" He yelled repeatedly, now holding his hair with both of his hands, revealing the rings that he had been carrying all this time. The seat was his, and his alone.

"I can't accept this! Nooo!"

***

"Ahh!"

He raised his upper body from the comfy bed he was in, and stretched his hand, reaching for nothing in the air. He was naked right now, but thankfully, the wide blanket covered most of his body.

The blanket reached the two nude ladies that were sleeping on both sides of the bed, covering up to their underarms. Each of them had their own style of beauty, but he didn't seem to care about them, and just focused on what happened to him earlier.

Was that a dream?

Dream or not, it would be dangerous if that will really happen in the future, and he was determined to stop it. He wouldn't let that son of his ruin all of his plans and desires.

He moved out of his bedroom, noticing that it was already noon when he woke up. It seemed like he had too much fun last night that he forgot the time.

He immediately went into the throne room and sat on his chair, letting out a sigh of relief. After experiencing that dream, that nightmare, he couldn't help but act cautiously about his throne. He wouldn't let anyone, even his son, to take anything from him.

"Sir Alfred!" He yelled, calling for his subordinate. Danico had the talented tendrin beside him all this time, but that doesn't mean that the king's knights were also loyal as him.

The tall door in front of him opened and came out the right man. His red hair was bouncing and her armour was clinging in his every step. His face was still hiding his true colours, and the only one who had seen it was Farin, but no one knew if he was still alive until now.

"Yes, your majesty." He kneeled down and lowered his head.

"How's Danico's army doing?" The king asked, his face had never been this disgusted after mentioning his name. He never thought of him as a son, he was more like his competitor that he couldn't kill carelessly.

"They were heading to the East, towards the Erimia Kingdom, your majesty," Alfred answered, after receiving the information from his unspoken affiliations.

After hearing this, his eyes widened out of shock and his whole body was shivering. His whole face shouted anxiety as he stood up from his seat, letting the rest of his cloak fall on the floor.

"What?!" He yelled, clenching his fist, as he gritted his teeth. He had never heard any worst news other than this. He didn't expect that his son would be going towards that kingdom through this opportunity. He trusted him too much about his actions.

Erimia might not be high as Deravon in terms of economic power, but they were not to be underestimated with, and it seemed like Danico wanted to take this chance to start his plans, but one was unsure if it was against his father or the runaway cursed being.

"Tell the spy to stop those imbeciles from going further!" And yet, he didn't hesitate to stop the army from going towards the kingdom, despite not knowing his plans. He stood up and ordered the knights beside him.

"Understood." He bowed and left by the door, leaving the room with the king and his fewer knights. But that didn't make the whole place quiet.

"They won't get away with this!" He bit his thumb as anxiety filled his mind. The vision of the nightmare he had, his son claiming his throne and declaring himself king, it might be a foreshadowing. "They must be stopped."

After a few seconds of silence from him, he finally calmed down and sat back on his seat, but his face was furrowed, still thinking about the possibility that Danico would turn against him.

"And my army?" He asked Alfred, who was still kneeling in front of him. After his son went into the mission of catching Meria, he also ordered another group of knights to catch her, having the feeling of betrayal coming from him.

"They were heading towards Zentra, and now aiming for an evaluation of the town," Alfred answered.

"Good." He said. But the king still wasn't happy, even though he was satisfied with the information. If his son would interfere with his plans towards evolution, he wouldn't have a choice but to get rid of him.