A Plead for Innocence

Romeo knew something was wrong the moment he saw the Templars. They looked tense and ready for a fight, and as he watched their eyes dart across the room towards him at any time, his heart skipped a beat.

He has seen them plenty of times before, but he never would believe that these people would enter his home. From what he knew about them, they always moved in secrecy, bound to whatever duty they had at hand. He still couldn't forget how one of them publicly slashed off the neck of the man who possessed Dark powers.

He was just returning from the mall one afternoon, when a man was spotted throwing and destroying whatever he found on the busy street. There were remarkable red markings all over his skin that signified the dark powers taking control over him. Romeo pitied the man for the fate that befell him.

If most of them were given the opportunity to choose, they wouldn't have chosen something that would destroy them completely. It was just nature. That was how it had been from the very beginning. They must be good and evil.

Why some of them chose to be corrupted by their greed, they awakened to dark powers, while few of them were just bound to meet their destiny. Romeo stood behind the large group of men and women who had gathered around the site.

When the Templar's arrived, the crowd who had gathered around the man dispersed slowly, and the Templar took charge of the place.

The Templars moved closer to the man, who began screaming and thrashing against them. Romeo watched in horror as they surrounded the man, chanting something in an unknown language.

Romeo stepped forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the man's face. The last thing he wanted to do is be left out of this spectacle. He heard the man scream again, as another Templar conjured droplets of ice that was projected towards the man, which binded his hands and feet with a painful sensation, resulting in the painful cry from the man. Romeo tried to keep count of the figures circling the man, each person standing next to a different Templar.

This was just an innocent man who did nothing wrong. The only crime the world thought he committed was because he was different.

When they saw the man was kneeling before them, one of the Templar's brought out his sword and plunged it into the side of the man's head. A horrible shriek ripped its way from the man's mouth and he fell forwards onto the ground convulsing, and then he was still once again.

It was like watching the world's worst nightmare take over your body and soul.. The Templar pulled his sword back out, wiping the blade clean of blood and dirt. When they had confirmed him dead,The other members of his squad followed suit as they exited the place.

Their faces were emotionless and stoic as if they hadn't just killed someone. While their bodies were obscured by the shadows casted by the sun, their golden mask seemed to glow brightly in contrast as they walked away from the scene of destruction. This man was so young, yet his life had ended there.

The Templar slowly entered his home in two's, till he counted four of them in number. The other Two remained outside the door to keep watch.

"Take him! he would have murdered me if you haven't come." Romeo said while pointing at the unconscious man, his voice filled with disgust.

It was at this moment his master weakly stood up from the floor, clutching his head with one of his arms while he supported himself with the order on top of a desk to keep his figure from falling.

"You're here already. What took you so long. Take him... He's the one who stole the sacred book" Luca's words faded in and out of consciousness as he staggered forward, only to be caught by one of the Templar's as he was about to fall.

"It's a lie. He's the one who stole the book. He just wanted to cover up his crime by using me as a scapegoat. I demand justice" Romeo pleaded.

One of the Templar's slowly walked towards him and Slapped him across the face as soon as he finished speaking, leaving him dazed. His vision went blurry for a few seconds.

" How dare You try to demand justice after being caught" The Templar spat.

Romeo felt a surge of anger and desperation wash over him. He was sure they weren't supposed to hurt him. He wasn't going to allow his master to use him as an alibi for his innocence.

"He's an Aeon... a very powerful one at that.." his master lied.

" That's why he was able to inflict these injuries on me Despite my defense. Look at his blue blood. It's proof that this filthy leech is an Aeon." His master pointed at the blue liquid flowing down Romeo's shoulder. His master crumpled to the ground smiling mischievously. Putting up a fake attitude, he barely held onto consciousness as he let out small whimpers;

"Please... Save.. Me" he fainted. One of the Templar's bent down and held Luca's figure in his arms while he tried to startle him awake. Not knowing Luca had casted a sleeping spell on himself for the moment, to make it look like he really fainted.

Romeo's mouth hung open as he continued to stare at his master's limp form. The reality of the situation hit him hard, and it took Romeo everything in him not to break down and cry right there and then. But instead, he focused on the fact that Luca could be lying to everyone around him, including him.

He could tell his master was lying. And the reason Luca spilled the liquid on Romeo was to frame him, in case the situation never went as he had planned, or if the council failed to believe him. Lying that his apprentice was an Aeon who stole the book for his selfish reason was enough proof that Luca was sure the council would believe that he never stole the book and his hands were pure. At least, he won't lose his title as a Nuanam, nor would he get killed. Romeo wondered if this whole ordeal was planned out beforehand.

The Templar's started murmuring among themselves as they grew tense around Romeo. They stealthily held their swords nervously, waiting to strike if they noticed anything suspicious.

"Am not an Aeon. I can prove myself" Romeo protested, pulling his arms forward. He reached for the knife strapped at his thigh, intending to cut his own arm to prove his innocence.

He pulled the blade and sliced his skin open. Fresh crimson droplets oozed out of the place of the cut. He didn't know if this would work. The blood trickled slowly down his fingers and onto the marble floor beneath his feet. He winced as he waited for the Templars' reaction.

"Do you think you can deceive us? We were trained to know your magic of disguise. I know it's one of your disguising tricks! Show us your real identity " one of them snarled.

"You're mistaken! I am telling the truth!" Romeo raised his voice as loud as he could.

"Your word does not count anymore when we found this book on your shelf" another spoke, raising the old book with the symbol of power etched on it.

"I told you that I found it by accident. I swear it" Romeo cried out.

The other Templars didn't reply, and Romeo felt tears forming in the corner of his eyes. The Templars kept staring at the book which had the inscription "The Endless" on it. They looked as though they might attack at any moment.

"We haven't seen an Aeon for centuries now. This is my first time seeing one" another Templar exclaimed in excitement, trailing his hands on Romeo's silver hair.

"Bind him," Their Leader ordered. " We'll deliver him to the Council.

At his command, one of them stepped forward, drawing symbols with his fingers in mid air of which Romeo couldn't decipher.

Immediately, he felt a burning sensation spreading throughout his body. He tried to resist the sudden force, but he couldn't do a single thing, as felt like he was being bound with hot chains. He felt as though his entire body was being ripped apart. It was unbearable. This was his first time experiencing what it felt like to be dealt with magic.

He fell on the floor in agony, rolling about with every move of his body. Each movement he made sent waves of pain through him causing him to cry out.

Romeo lay there with his chest heaving. It had taken all his energy to fight off the Templars who were attempting to bind him with their magical abilities. He tried desperately to fight it, but there was no strength left in him.

"I'm innocent.. I'm innocent" his pleading cries filled the air as he felt his body weakening, almost completely losing control over it.

"What about him? '' one of the Templar's asked, pointing at Luca.

" Take him to the infirmary. Let the healers treat him" their leader replied with a cold expression.

Romeo stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting aimlessly between thoughts. A tear rolled out of his eye as he recalled the events. In all honesty, he wished that his life wouldn't have turned out like this, but unfortunately, things happen for a reason. Everything had become too overwhelming that he felt a wave of helplessness washed over him.

The last thing that the young boy remembered before slipping into unconsciousness, was the feeling of a sharp cold sensation of metal shackles on his skin. Even though it hurt tremendously, he welcomed the darkness that swallowed him up.