Unfolding Chaos 2

Fire on his hand, he lights the pipe and inhales the evenly burning Cryshantum flower smoke. Contemplating under the moon, Ken finds himself drowning in thoughts about what happened two days ago. Though Ken is a rule-abiding person, several violations have been committed just so he can relax under the bright moon.

He shouldn't be awake since he just became conscious from his wound. His damaged lungs are also the reason he's prohibited from smoking the flower, and the last violation is that the hospital rooftop is off-limits to the general public. A perfect place for him to relax since nobody will find where he went, and the off-limits place is the impossible place for him to be. Except for that one specific person that he always admired since they both were little.

"What are you doing here, captain."

"Aldric, are you abandon your position again?"

The King of Arcaeloria stands beside him, looking at his friend pitifully while bringing him some more flowers for him to smoke. Aldric throws a box of flowers that he can smoke to recover the mana flux in his body. That being said, smoking the flower requires healthy lungs, which Ken lacks because of his wound. But he smokes it anyway, since Ken is entitled "the captain with horse lungs."

Aldric sat on the parapets in front of his friend to take in the same beautiful scenery as him.

A great kingdom built by humans lay vast before their eyes. The gleaming city, full of lights under the moonlight, looked magnificent as many people went about their activities. Some spent the night with their loved ones, while others provided a place to make their night beautiful. It was a beautiful civilization that Aldric wanted to protect.

A cold, breezing wind blows gently over them as they gaze at the beauty of a modern civilization.

"This chance are rare, thank you for protecting this city with me, Ken."

"Not a problem, it was my duty and pride to protect this city, directly." then, Ken inhales his flower pipe again, "And I don't want to lose my job."

"You won't."

Ken inhales the flower again, relieved that The King has guaranteed his job, "Speaking of which, any idea where that rat went?"

"Right here." someone replied from behind.

A man with a tall and mighty posture then arrived at their small hangout place. He is a very important person in the military world, the one who receives every report of chaos across the Kingdom of Arcaeloria: Narma Stallion, Major General of the Arcaeloria Defense Army Association, who is responsible for all military defense in Arcaeloria.

With long, golden, curvy hair, a scar across his eye, and a bright magenta eye, his mighty posture and intimidating face create a heavy atmosphere around his. This was his appearance before many. When the audience is gone, he reverts to his younger self, the same age as The King and The Captain. A small young man with a scar on his eye, wearing oversized clothing to match his transformed, mighty appearance.

"I heard you fought with Malakar, how's it going?" Narma asks in serious tone.

"Wait Narma, you can't just ask it out of nowhere! I mean, look at the situation." Aldric cut the conversation.

"It's okay, your highness. Thanks for your concern, but I should really face the reality." Ken answered.

"You shouldn't push yourself. I mean, all my efforts to keep silent will be done for naught."

"Seems you still doesn't change, your highness." said Narma like he was mocking Aldric.

"Your highness this your highness that, stop calling me your highness for a moment, we're on relaxation here, come on guys." Aldric grumbling.

Hearing his strange answer, Narma and Ken laughed as they listened to a petty girl complaining inside the manly-looking man. But that's just the everyday lives of the three when nobody is watching. Once they step into the real world, one cannot see even a hint of the deep connection between them.

"So, how was Malakar?" continue Narma.

"A legendary evil, I must say. He's out of our league. I can't even land a hit on him when he's in his vulnerable state. I cannot imagine what will happen if he's going all out."

Hearing Ken's testimony, Narma and Aldric fell silent. A new problem had arisen, and one of their trustworthy knights had lost in a more advantageous battle for him. Aldric's decision to eliminate Malakar must be reconsidered. However, Aldric believes that this is just the beginning; he has yet to unleash everything he could deploy.

"That's indeed what I was imagine when hearing that legendary name. However, one sample can't determine the whole. What do you think, Aldric?" ask Narma.

Aldric crossed his arms, thinking deeply before expressing his solution. After much consideration, Aldric made his decision, "I can't more agree with Narma. That being said, I've planned on how we defeat him and claim our peace once again. Your movement that day wasn't needed, however, we got nice sample thanks to your bravery and rational mind. Also, thanks for staying alive for me."

Hearing Aldric's compliment, Ken inhales the flower again and exhales heavily, "Without me, who's ever going to take of our crybaby king."

Narma then laughs, as he had always expected Ken to say those words someday, "Hahaha... Nice one Ken. However, if it's not for the relax time Aldric gave us, you'll be in jail right away."

"Yeah, you heard him Ken, better you watch your mouth since this kingdom is basically mine." Aldric show off his authority with proud.

"Then, your highness." Ken stop inhaling the flower then stare at Aldric's eyes deeply, "Will you keep leading us even without your limbs and visions?"

Seeing Ken get serious out of the blue, Aldric stepped down from the parapet and faced him with equal seriousness. "Your question is a mistake, Ken. First, I am your king and it's only natural if I am the one who lead. Second, without vision, no man should be ever to lead. Forget about limbs, with a reliable ally, you can be certain you won't lose one."

"Then, what if you don't?"

"Just make a new one, delicately or even forcefully."

Aldric's answer is clear to Ken; he has no doubts about his friend, who has become The King of Arcaeloria. There are no ill intentions, just a pure and honestly naive ideology to shape the world as he wishes to see it. Ken inhales from his flower pipe again and averts his eyes to take in the beauty of the modern world they live in, signaling his satisfaction.

Narma also nodded, smiled, and agreed with everything his friend said. He knows what kind of man his friend is and is glad that he hasn't changed much. The only thing that bothers him is the one called Malakar and that other person who doesn't seem to be coming back anytime soon.

"Then your highness, you also promised that the four of us will hangout like this in the future, right?" Narman's turn to ask.

"Four? Heh, The Evil King must've makes me forget about the crisis we're having before he even awoken."

Touching on a sensitive topic, Ken inhales from his flower pipe even harder and exhales as if he holds a grudge against the smoke. Narma smiles at him, waiting for his decision to resolve the long-standing burden in Arcaeloria. Aldric is also confused about having to deal with two crises at once, but he always has a trick up his sleeve.

"Right, Captain of Fourth District?" Aldric suddenly shared his burden.

"Wait, why you pass it to me?" Ken is shocked, but seeing his smiling face, Ken has no words to say except to accept his fate, "Yeah, we can still keep them at bay. However, this won't go anywhere if it keeps stay like this. It should be your turn, Major General."

"Oi, oi, oi! No way someone as skilled and rational as you would throw the responsibility onto me. Am I right, The King of Arcaeloria?" Narma then throws it again at Aldric.

His tricks have backfired, and now Aldric can't dodge the question, even if he wanted to, as he would be marked as a one-eyed leader, "You're right, Major General. It is my responsibility to take care of the outlaws and make them realize that what they are doing is wrong. However, the tide will soon turn, and I'll be the one calling the shots when the time is right."

The King then snapped his fingers and disappeared into the night with Narma, leaving Ken alone once again with his thoughts. The door to the hospital rooftop opened, and one of the nurses, who had been searching for the lost patient, finally found him by accident. She hurried to the rooftop, likely having forgotten something there.

Seeing Ken inhaling from the flower pipe while his lungs are nearly bursting, the nurse immediately grumbled about how his health might be affected by smoking the pipe so soon after waking. But Ken cared little about his health problems, as he was already feeling better while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the kingdom.

Ken removes the bandages covering his surgical scars on his chest. Surprisingly, the nurse doesn't find any scars from the surgery that repaired his ribs. With confidence, Ken hands the used bandages to the nurse and adjusts his clothing. As he walks toward the rooftop door, he hides his pipe inside his clothing.

"If it were you who stood in my position that day, things would have been different."