3 Chapter 3: End of the Line

The king of Valencia sat at his throne as his finger tapped the armrest repeatedly with sweat coming down from his forehead. His expression was not that of an seasoned warrior like he was in the past but rather, a decrepit old man with his injuries catching up from his life long battles. The old king was waiting for the results of his sons mission. Though he initially gave the order, he still felt the immense guilt as he had no choice but to attack Lombard first.

Before they attack his kingdom.

He would not let a single hair of his people get in the crossfire of their acts in the name of chivalry. So he decided to make a decisive blow, as advised by a man in a mask.

King Gadea did not know where he came from or who he was. He just showed up and gave him and his children warning about the ensuing war Lombard will create. He thought it was best to keep the Valencian nobility in the dark about the information and ordered them to strengthen relations with neighboring islands. At first he was skeptical, there was no way that Lombard would go back on their word but as the masked man kept talking, the evidence kept rising. The letters that the king regent wrote to transfer weapon supplies and the young prince's leading an army was all the evidence he needed. They needed to act fast. They needed a bargaining chip.

To think they would stoop as low as Bolsung just so that their kingdom could thrive. Where was the chivalry in that?

He thought of himself as a fool for believing a complete stranger, but he would never forgive himself if anyone dare harm his kingdom even if it only has the slightest of chances.

King Gadea looked out at the window to see that it was already nightfall. If he just follow the masked man's words, then this upcoming war would be but a mere scuffle by tomorrow.

"Good evening, Your Majesty..." A low yet distorted voice whispered into his ear.

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While Charlemagne already went to invade and rescue Sophia.

He promised him to stay at Castle Maine so that any attempts to reclaim it would be futile.

So Roy really had nothing to do but wait.

Or...

He could poke his nose around the castle. He wondered if Sophia wouldn't mind him going through her room...

"Hey Roy, I need to talk to you about something." A beautiful woman wearing multiple jewelries in her armour asked him. The lady of house Macbeth was his right-hand woman, a valuable ally and friend.

"What is it Bianca?" He was curious to what she wanted to discuss. She was the type of person who loved to gossip. Maybe it was something interesting.

"Why did you decide to help them?"

Roy looked at her slightly surprised. He didn't expect her to gossip to him about... him.

"I was curious." He simply said, not looking at her as if he was interested in something else.

She blinked at him with wide eyes. "You dragged my men, Emilia's and Cynthia's, to help invade Valencia, just because you were curious?!"

"I wouldn't say invade but—"

"You let the prince borrow Emilia and Cynthia and their soldiers to attack Valencia. You know what that entails, right?" She had a goblet full of wine courtesy of the servants of the castle.

"I shouldn't leave a friend hanging, right?" He shrugged off her accusation.

She looked absolutely annoyed at him, she couldn't read him at all. This was always the case ever since they met three years ago. He was always a slippery one.

"Don't you think it's strange?" He spoke, his voice a bit distant.

She raised her eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"After our graduation at the military academy, we all went back to our respective nations. It's been a week since then but Adelaide hasn't returned to the empire and before you say anything, I have connections. And now, two kingdoms are at the brink of war. Not only that but Bolsung has been making their move." He said to her, his eyes became distant. It wasn't full of mischief anymore but it was more akin to a cold tactician.

Bianca relaxed, she knew Roy always had good intuition so she decided to listen to him.

"It might be a stretch, but what if those three incidents are connected?"

She gave his words some thought, normally if someone said something so outlandish, she would have just laughed at them, but Roy was different, that mind of his was a weapon and he knew how to use it efficiently.

"I can't say yet, but do you have some proof?" She asked him.

"No, Not yet. Like I said, it's a stretch. For all I know those three aren't connected, since reports says that Bolsung is trying to invade Valhalla, Bolsung wouldn't have the resources to wage war with two other kingdoms nor is it possible for Valencia to supply Bolsung even though they're right next to each other. I lack the necessary information to conclude something." Roy said.

True, without evidence, no one could prove its validity and even then, evidence could be manipulated.

Then it clicked to her. There was no way he was that selfish, right? Not unless he really wanted something... her eyes widened. "So that's why you sent Emilia and Cynthia with Charlemagne! To get proof!"

Roy's distant look disappeared, replaced by a cocky smirk. "That's right. I told Cynthia to report to me on what happened and gather some information, while I left Malcolm to deal with what's happening with the empire through their trade business."

She had to admit, he was definitely cunning. He used both Charlemagne's goals and house Duncan's relationship with the empire to his advantage.

"I'm surprised Malcolm actually agreed to this plan of yours." She said in resignation she was now seating with her hand on her cheek.

Roy was still smirking, he took the pony tail of his hair, letting his long brown locks flow.

"Well it wasn't easy, but I still got an earful saying that 'You are not setting a good example of nobility' yada, yada, yada." Roy did his best to sound incredibly pompous.

He turned to her with a serious look, one that he doesn't let out often. "Bianca, something big is happening. I can feel it. First, Valencia and now Bolsung is making a move? This is no coincidence."

"I hope you know what you're doing Roy. And I pray to the goddesses that you're wrong."

He dropped his smile and instead, looked out the window.

"I do too..."

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"We're almost there Sophia."

She was anxious about her baby brother. She hope that they didn't do anything to him. But she has to wait patiently, the current of the water might be a bit calm but Cidel is only a man.

Despite the dark, she can make out a tall tower, uplifted by some huge and sharp rocks.

When they reached the prison tower, they entered it's gloomy halls. She couldn't explain it but it felt she was being suffocated by the air itself. The torch that they lit up didn't help in the matter.

"Your brother's below this tower, we need to find the stairs down."

She grabbed his hand, tightly. Cidel grabbed back. She was grateful for his consideration.

She could see the cells as they walked through the cramped walls. They were damp, small, and dirty, it looked like it hasn't been maintained for a long while. She could practically smell the corpses that rotted in each cage.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally found the stairs at the end of the hall.

The staircase seemed to be spiralling infinitely as they continued to go down.

After reaching the bottom, which had an even worse odor of blood and rotting bones, they walked through the hall of cells to find her brother.

Thet reached the end of the hall and found him. His body was bruised but not severely, thank the Goddess.

"Andriodos!" She opened his cell and ran up to the young boy, hugging him tightly, tears running down her cheeks.

"Sophia..." He muttered.

"Yes, it's me your big sister!" She was incredibly ecstatic to see him alive.

"Are you alright?" Her brother asked, his eyes are filled with concern despite is numerous injuries and ragged clothes.

"I should be asking you the same thing!"

"I hate to break up the reunion but we need to get out of here, it's not safe to stay around anymore."

She nodded at him and prepared to carry her brother on her back.

Andriodos glared at him. "Sophia, he's one of the guys that locked me up down here."

"Don't worry Andri, he came here to help us, he's gonna return to us to Lombard." She said to him.

"You can trust me." He offered a little smile to ease him.

Andriodos still didn't trust him but the least he could was let him help since he saved them both.

Cidel was glad that all went according to plan, they needed to get to the main land soon to talk to prince Charlemagne about his father. The sooner he could convince the prince the better the chances are to save his kingdom.

And put an end to this madness.

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It was a hard battle. But it was far easier than he expected.

There must be something going on. Valencia wouldn't just drop dead once they were invaded. He thought that they would put up more of a fight with their abundance of sellswords.

"Cynthia, what's your take on this matter?" He asked the mage for her tactical input.

"We could follow the route and head straight to to the kingdom capital, Taifa, though casualties will be inevitable." She replied looking at the map of Valencia.

He thought about it, with his army growing with the help of Roy, they could try to do that, but using the gift he gave them in order to win for more senseless slaughter was a crime to his honour.

"Any more alternatives that doesn't involve a the citizenry?"

Cynthia merely raised her eyebrow, "You're surprisingly naïve for knight and a prince who spent a lot of time with Roy."

Charlemagne scratched the back of his head. "I just don't want to involve any more innocent lives in this conflict. Please do understand."

"Last time I checked, if nations are going at it with their armies, that means they're going to war. And this is a war both parties started."

"I know but... I do not want to sound childish but they kidnapped Sophia and Andriodos! What am I supposed to do?"

"Diplomacy seems like a good idea but you threw that out of the window the moment you decided to attack them."

Charlemagne blinked at her. He almost looked like an owl with how wide his eyes were, "Surely you jest right? If I see someone who needs help then it is my duty to help them! Words with people who torment the weak will only fly over them."

"It is also your duty as a prince to navigate your way into this mess aside from combat. Not everything can be solved with a sword, you know."

The prince glared at her but she didn't seem to care. "Take a rest milord. Let's resume when your mind is not clouded with anger." He watched as her petite frame raised the flaps of the tent to go outside.

He let out a heavy sigh. She was right. He needed to cool off, he couldn't lead a campaign with a foggy mindset. He didn't really know what their intentions were but he had a few guesses that he didn't want to find out. Since it was the only reason why Valencia wanted Sophia in the first place. But for now he had to take a break, night time was soon upon them.

He went to the make shift dining quarter, there he saw his friends relaxing a bit, he saw the determined Judith eating silently with the laidback Inigo, flirting with Cynthia and Emilia without much success—

"How are you holding up?" His dark haired friend asked him.

"Lyon! Yes I'm fine, just... a bit stressed out." He sighed tiredly. Lyon and him had known each other since their were in diapers. He became the closest thing to a brother that he got alongside Alexander. The three of them would often get into trouble, especially the prince himself since he was the perpetrator when something was destroyed in the castle.

Lyon sat down across him and began eating his food. "We'll get them back, so don't get your hopes down."

He looked at the swordsman and smiled. "We still have three hours until we depart. Do you want to spar with me?"

He looked at the prince and smirked at him. "As battle hungry as we are, we ought to hold back or else we'll have no equipment left."

He grinned at the thought, they always did get into trouble because they always destroyed weapons used by the knight order.

During their peaceful meal, a scout returned and reported to Charlemagne. "Sir! We have good news!" He said, gaining the attention of his friends.

"What is it?"

"Lady Sophia and Lord Andriodos are safe. We began escorting them alongside someone who saved them."

Everyone at camped jumped at news. Even the normally stoic Lyon had a relieved smile on his face and but the one who was elated by the news more than anyone was Judith who was excited to see her best friend and her little brother safe.

"Wait, do you know who saved her?" Inigo turned his attention to the scout.

"It was me." A smooth voice came just behind the scout. Alongside him was the siblings, Sophia and Andriodos, who looked mostly unharmed despite the dirtied clothes.

When Charlemagne saw his face, he immediately grabbed his lance, and pointed it at the man. Lyon and Inigo pinned him down to the nearest tree with almost blinding speeds with their weapons.

"Prince Cidel Albatross. What the hell are you doing here?" Surprisingly, Lyon was the one who asked him a question with his signature coldness.

Cidel merely raised his hands in surrender. "Relax, there bud. I'm not here for a fight. I came to talk to the prince."

"He's right." Sophia's voice came to his rescue. "Cidel saved us, so please hear him out!" She pleaded to the trio.

Charlemagne remembered Cynthia's words earlier and lowered his lance at the man, he will try diplomacy for now. "If so, then speak. What does an enemy prince want from me."

Cidel's eyes were cold but it wasn't malicious funnily enough. Charlemagne could tell that something was bothering him and his instinct to help and pry kicked in as he order his friends to lower their weapons.

"Thank you. I see why these men would follow you to war." The Valencian prince commented.

"This was a request from my friend and I value them immensely. I'm not too keen with you being here after what your family has done but—"

"But nothing. You have every right to be angry at me and my family. Your distrust is understandable."

Charlemagne didn't really like the idea of trusting the enemy but listening to his plight when he save his friends and risked his life just to get them here was his mercy to him.

He saw the disheveled look of Sophia and the state that Andriodos. To think that they were people among the nobility who would resort to such methods. Just thinking about it made his blood boil. They need to answer to justice.

"You look fierce there friend." Cidel's voice almost echoed through his head.

"Do I?" He wasn't sure himself, maybe it was the stress of war taking its toll on him. "I apologize for my dour mood prince Cidel." the Valencian prince merely hummed as they went over to his tent.

A lot has happened within the span of hours. A kidnapping turned rescue mission and now a brewing war between their nations. He still believed that his decision was the right one but he couldn't help but feel the unease about the situation.

"This seems like a good place as any." Cidel said. "So will you listen to my pleas now?"

Charlemagne nodded for him to continue, giving him all his attention.

"Please, help me save my father."

Charlemagne was shocked, he didn't expect to be asked by an enemy prince for help.

"Tell me one thing, why do you want my help?" He inquired.

Cidel straightened his posture befitting of a prince. "My father was being influenced by someone. I don't know who he is and where he came from but he was the one behind Sophia and Andriodos' kidnapping!"

He looked at him confused. "Do you at least know his name?"

"He was called Hel."

"Called?"

Cidel noticed his confusion. "That's what he calls himself, I never liked the guy and never interacted with him but he is my father's current advisor. He's always wearing a mask so I couldn't tell what he looked like."

He contemplated what he should do. They already accomplished their goal, rescuing Sophia and Andriodos. If he gets involved any further, things might get complicated.

But...

His heart doesn't really listen to his brain often.

Cidel saved the siblings, he was not like his brothers, brigands in royal garbs. He owed him. Saving his father was the least he could do.

"I'll help you. As thanks for what you have done." Charlemagne smiled at him

Cidel was a bit surprised that he agreed to help him so quickly, despite being a prince of an enemy nation.

'This guy...'

The Valencian prince smiled back. "Thank you Prince Charlemagne."

"Haha, no need for thanks and please call me Charlemagne, a friend of Sophia is also a friend of mine." He grinned at him.

He really was what the rumors said. Kind-hearted, courageous and stalwart. A model prince through and through.

"Prepare yourself Cidel, we will march through Taifa at dawn, Then head through the forest and into Albatross Castle. Make sure you're well rested."

"Right." Cidel then excused himself to get some air. Launching an attack against his father left a bad taste in his mouth, but he knew it had to be done.

It was the right thing to do.

_______________________________________________

Judith was in her own room preparing for the attack.

Apparently, Prince Cidel knew that the Valencian Capital is wide open for an attack since his father scattered his army throughout out his kingdom.

Forty-five more minutes until they depart. She decided to check up on her best friend to see if she was doing okay.

She knocked on the door. Once. Twice.

"Come in!"

She opened the door to see her sitting on her bed, reading a book. Tales of Roland and the Paladins. It was about a book of their shared adventures after Lombard was established.

"Hey Soph, are you doing okay? Can I get you anything? I came to check up on Andriodos. He just needed some rest." She walked up to her bed side and sat down on a chair beside her.

She smiled softly. "Thank the Goddess. No everything's fine... It's just that, I'm worried."

"About what?"

"You and everyone else." She said a bit guilty. She knew her friends had the pride of noble knights, knights that fear no death and wear their honor on their sleeves. Judith included.

"Hahaha, don't worry about it, everything will be fine." She smiled at her.

"Yeah you're right. Let's change the topic, I heard Roy came to your rescue at Maine Castle." She began teasing the knight.

She blushed slightly and laughed at her curious gaze. "It's not like I'm the only one he saved, he even saved His Highness, Lyon and Inigo."

She heard her giggled. "Speaking of Inigo, how is it going between the two of you?" She loved to tease Judith about her own love life. It was one of the few times they felt like real girls and not someone that was put on a pedestal.

"Why am I the only one getting grilled here? How about you and Prince Cidel, I noticed how you look when you told us what happened." A smirk came to her face, now it was her turn to tease the maiden.

Now it was Sophia's turn to feel embarrassed. "O-oh, w-well it's only natural to think fondly of the person who saved you!

She laughed at her embarrassed state, and soon after the golden haired woman followed.

They talked about for nearly half an hour about their current affairs. Even when they were kids, they would always be attached to the hip when they went to play with other kids. They loved each other like sisters and they couldn't have it any other way. Judith will first and foremost be her friend and protector.

Sophia noticed that Judith's hair was sloppily tied up. "Hey Jude? Can you turn around for a bit?"

She raised an eyebrow but decided to let her have her way.

"Your hair is a mess, let me fix it for you."

Sophia removed Judith's hairpin, letting her beautiful golden locks flow onto her back. She then put her locks up and turned it into a bun, putting her hairpin at the middle of bun.

"There! Let me see how you look."

Judith turned to her and her best friend's eyes shimmer with awe.

"Oh my, you look magnificent!" Her green eyes and blonde hair tied up nicely complimenting her white armor. She was a natural beauty. Judith was always oblivious to her own looks, Sophia tried many times to dress her up but she was too adamant on her path of knighthood. "You could charm the entire kingdom with those looks of yours."

Judith turned embarrassed by her compliment. "Thanks Soph, but was that really necessary?"

"Mm-hmm, You're all going out there to fight, The least I could do is to not let your hair get in the way."

The lady knight smiled at her. "Well, thanks again Soph, and rest well. We have to prepare for the battle."

Sophia nodded to her and smiled at her. She doesn't want her friends to continue but it was Charlemagne's decision to press forward.

"May the goddesses grace shine upon you."

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The route they took allowed them to sneak past Castle Naverre. The Castle Albatross was at the most northern part of the country.

Going north through the forest was surprisingly a breeze since the territory north of Naverre was owned by Prince Cidel, Taifa.

After passing through the capital, they saw the Valencian Castle.

To get through there, requires the process of entering a dense forest, it acted as a safe guard for intruders.

Oddly enough, when passing through the forest, there was a lack of soldiers, Charlemagne's army was prepared for an ambush yet, non came.

'What the hell is going on?' The thirdborn prince thought.

"It's quiet." Charlemagne said.

Cidel agreed to the sentiment, it was unlike his father and brother to not set up some sort of tra—

Only then when they found out that they fell into a trap.

As a third of the Valencian army appeared out of nowhere, hidden in the forest as they immediately sensed their intent to kill.

'What the-? Did they use a Teleportation powder?!'

Cidel noticed that both armies' mobility became hindered, because they were riding horses and because the enemy were ironically, on foot.

Still the enemy had the terrain advantage due to being Valencian soldiers. Still this was doable. It was a good thing they only took half of the army.

"Charlemagne! We need to keep moving north! If we passed through this forest as fast as possible, we can mobilize our army faster!"

"Right! Defensive unit! Form a barrier around the mages and healers! Defend them with your lives! Cynthia!"

The mage heard the order. "Alright Mage Corps.! If they hit at us, hit them as hard as you can! Emilia! You and your healers are in charge of the wounded!"

And so, they pushed through. They were lucky, the enemy can only approach using bow and arrows, which can't penetrate the defensive wall they had.

They managed to got out of the forest with only few injured. All they have to do was to keep the defensive wall while their mages cast their spell.

Suddenly, a Meteor spell came down in front of them while they tried to advance, the traces of magic seemingly came from the forest. The horses were startle by the sudden explosion.

'Shit! They have mages of that caliber?!'

Just then, Cynthia casted her own spell, Wisp. A spell that can track down the traces of a spell and reverse it on them.

"That should take care of that!"

'To cast an advance spell like Wisp almost instantaneously... truly a wonderful ally.'

"Goddess of light, I heed your call and bestow upon me the power to guide others to live, let your power heal those in need!" Emilia casted her White magic.

Suddenly, all of the injured soldiers began healing their wounds.

Charlemagne looked behind and smiled at her. She noticed him looking and she smiled back.

After getting through that onslaught, they finally arrived at the Castle.

"Listen up everyone, I will only take a few soldiers with me! Cidel, Lyon and Emilia will come with me, the rest of you guard the entrance. We might get ambushed again from behind, so stay vigilant!"

All four of them entered the castle. Quite like the Carolingian Castle. For a country with over ninety percent of mercenary work, their struggles were far easier than Charlemagne could've anticipated. Like it was a play of some sorts.

"The throne room is just up ahead." Cidel told them. His hand gripped his bow tightly with another knocking an arrow. Unbeknownst to Charlemagne, Cidel also found the atmosphere weirder than usual.

Like it was painted in blood.

They opened the door of the throne room...

"AAAAAHHH! Father!" Cidel run up to his father who was sitting on his throne.

None of them were prepared for what they saw.

"Father!" Cidel looked with horror at what happened to his king.

The king's head was being held by his decapitated body on his throne. The lifeless eyes were smiling in a maniacal grin that reached his ears.

They all looked horrified, they expected a battle. A battle to save his family. Mercenaries left and right, all for the sake of a losing king.

And yet all they could do was listen to the Valencian Prince's quiet sobs. The odor of blood was covering the entire room. It made some of them vomit, especially Emilia who couldn't look at the sight of the king's defiled corpse.

"Hel..."

They turned around to see Castile, beaten and scarred. His tendons were full of cuts, it seemed like he crawled his way to the throne room.

Cidel rushed forward to his brother. "Hel did this?!" His eyes still filled with tears. His bow was now forgotten at the lonely and cold floor of the castle.

A harsh cough came to his brother. He tried to grab his brother's arm. "A... venge.... us... little.... bro... ther...."

"Castile? Castile?! Wake up you bastard!" He began shaking his brother's corpse.

"Don't do this to me! You still need to be punished for all your crimes! Wake up! Please..." He couldn't control his tears, he hugged his brother's dead body.

Many emotions swirled within them. Some with grief. Others with disgust, but the one emotion that encompassed all was anger.

That night, only the cries of the only living royal of Valencia can be heard echoing throughout the castle. The mutter of revenge seeping through his bloodied palm as he clenched his fist tightly.

"I'll fucking kill you Hel!" The mercenary prince's declaration has begun.