2 The Challengers

"Around three hundred confirmed dead, three outposts completely destroyed and the rescue team didn't make it back."

A young man's voice echoed through the dimly lit corridor that leads towards the governor's hall. Only guided by the thin streaks of sunlight breaking through the small openings of what they considered as windows, their group of three moved forward after a moment of silence with nothing to fill their ears except for the sound of their boots scraping the brick floors as well as the occasional shouts coming from some men outside as if they were rallying their troops.

"Man, I really did wish that the writer of this article to draw like a picture for this one," he said, giving one final glance at the page before he turned it to the next.

"What, do you like to see more dead bodies?" One of them scoffed with a deep gruff voice as they all continued to brave the path before them.

"I don't know Mister Tom, I wanted to like at least see their faces so they won't be forgotten. These guys are the stuff of legends, I heard that every one of them could handle a pack of noctems on their own. I wanted to be like them someday."

"Jerry… At this point… you can't expect anything anymore and you know, a lot of people die out there but hey," The old man covered his mouth to clear his throat and followed, "the Heyamkris Company announced that their incoming play would be free for all to help those who lost their loved ones."

"Oh gosh, really!" The young man shouted with a wide smile on his face.

"Yes, so don't worry. The hawks are already spreading the news and word has it that they've already sent one to the capital."

"For the incoming play?"

"Hell no. It's for help probably, our city is rounding up its soldiers and they've been recruiting some strong ones from the slums and the local taverns as well. Some friends told me too that a Green Knight might come."

"So, not minding your sentiment there about telling us your dream, Jonatha- Je- Jerry right?" The man behind them clad with a violet cloak knitted his brows and leered at him. Jerry looked at his side by instinct and when he found out that no one was there, he gave him a nod to which he replied with a smile. "Yeah, Jerry… the higher-ups are planning something and that's why they called me. Sure, it might get worse but help is gonna come. Green Knights aren't to be treated as jokes, if the people of the vanguard could handle a pack of noctems, I heard that they could even decimate entire armies of it on their own. So with that, the company would handle the ones lamenting and me, together with the strongest attack force they're building will enjoy ourselves in the upcoming revenge party for king, and country."

"Oh… I see, si-sir." Jerry lowered his head and looked to his side once more.

"Charles," said by the man with pride behind his lips. "Sir Charles."

"Si-Sir Charles, thank you very much for sharing with us your insight," Jerry said, taking a deep breath to lock his chattering jaws.

"Taking it there with a little grain of salt but no matter, you're very much welcome and don't worry, I'm sure that the vanguard would welcome such an enthusiastic person like you to their ranks," Charles said as he stepped forward to place his hand over his shoulder.

Jerry blushed. "Well, thank you… thank you Sir Charle-"

"Yes, a lot of them just died apparently and now that's out of the way, lead the way, Mister Tom." He then took out a pocket watch from his pants to check the time. "I'm a little behind my schedule so let's make haste. "

Jerry stepped back and Tom replied with a nod. They moved through the straight path once more and little by little, the savory smell of salted meat filled their noses until they were stopped a guard standing by a huge door.

Tom gave him a nod accompanied by a smile. "Good day sir, his name is Jerry and my name is Tom. We've brought Sir Charles with us by the governor's request, may we come in?"

The guard returned his gesture and went inside. He opened the door that let out a wave of noise along with a sweet scent of meat and mead, making the two of them bite their lips on about what was happening while Charles kept his composure. Soon, the noise died down and the guard welcomed them inside.

The two of them stopped by the door as Charles welcomed himself further into the middle of this huge sunlit room with his chin raised and his hands clasped together like a poet about to announce his words. His steps were light and filled with grace as he danced across the carpeted floor. He slipped through the shadow of a knight as well as the crowd of servants surrounding their lord with his right brow raised and his eyes half-closed until he stopped with a slow bow.

"I thank thee for requesting mine audience, milord, how can I serve you?"

"You… you guys… are you still doing this?" Perplexed, the governor leaned back in his chair with his palm covering the bottom of his head. He looked at them with his eyes full of contempt as he waited for their answer.

To that, the knight who he was talking with earlier pushed his thin dark brown hair to the side and stepped forward, raising both of his slender arms and resting one over his chest while the other remained in the air. He clenched his bearded well-defined chin and asked, "What could you mean, my lord?"

"Roland... Roland, please stop, we just talked about this," the governor said with a tone that was angry and slow. Roland, on the other hand, gave nothing except for a smile. He then lowered his head as a response and after scratching the back of his head, he raised his finger and said, "You know what, Roy, come here…"

"Sir," Roy replied with his voice almost breaking as he walked towards him with a pen in hand.

"Remind me to ban all the theatrical plays for this month…" the governor said and the boy began taking notes.

Roland stepped back for a moment and lowered his posture. He then swallowed his saliva and pleaded, "Oh please, sir, please reconsider. The plot of that story is nigh at its peak and it would be such a waste to postpone its glorious end-"

"And, make it a decree for everyone that if anyone where to be heard talking like him, that person would be jailed."

Charles then raised his head and shouted, "Oh, mine sir, please do no-"

"Right now!"

He shouted. Both of them bit their tongue and the last thing that they heard was the sound of Roy's pen drifting across his tablet.

"Dude, the ending was supposed to come out after this one… what are we supposed to do no-"

"Did you just get my favorite play fucking banned?" Charles asked Roland calmly with his eyes twitching as he moved his arms to unify his trembling hands. He took a deep breath through his nose without removing his gaze in a conscious attempt to stop himself from setting the man in front of him on fire. Roland's face despite being clad under the guise of a young adult looked pure as if he were a child that didn't know what he was doing.

"No...pe? No. Look man I-"

"Alright, are we good? Are we going to converse like proper men here?" The governor's voice rang, gathering everyone's attention that soon brought a moment of peace. He glanced to his left then to his right and despite watching the others eating their words, he nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. "So gentlemen, now we get that out of the way… "Roland, this is Charles and Charles, this is Roland. I need both of you to do something for me."