Chapter 25 - The Dead King's Journal

Inside the war room, the Holy Trinity sat in front of the King as Arkynn explained to them what happened during the battle. Ren and Akio both were calm about it, unlike Freda who was the hot-tempered among the three.

"So let me get this straight, you won because of that white hair and that slave?" She clarifies

Arkynn nods "I know it's difficult to believe considering their results in the knight selections but I guess you already knew about that right? You've been investigating Royce after the exam"

The three became quiet.

"You're right but we did not have the chance to confront him because news came of his death" Akio gave Leon a stare, Leon averted his gaze.

"Anyway, I'm glad everything has been resolved, with this your throne is not in harms way your majesty, the priest has been worried about it"

"Why would that old geezer worry about me?" King Ryu said while sitting on his chair, legs crossed, hand on his face and has a boring look.

Freda felt uncomfortable throughout their conversation because of him but she couldn't bring herself to question the said King everyone one hates.

"You know how he is your majesty" Ren casually converse

"Whatever"

"Well, that's done. Please stay here for a while" Arkynn offered.

Akio, "No, we shouldn't, we must go back to Abarith, we are hired by the duke to oversee the preparation for next weeks ball"

Leon and Arkynn's facial expression changes "Oh, is it that time of the year again?"

Akio nodded and handed out invitations to them.

"You know I don't attend parties especially his," said Ryu

"He said it won't matter but he's hoping you are to bring his highness, Prince Aiden and-" he paused

"And?"

"Your two new Knights your majesty"

"What does he need from them?"

Akio, "I don't know your majesty but he will be waiting. Now we must go so we can arrive there tomorrow afternoon"

"No, please let us send you in one of our airships, that way you'll arrive no later than midnight tonight" Arkynn insist

"Well if My Lord insist, we'll take the offer"

The four were about to go out when Akio stops and looks at Ryu.

"You're doing well Your Majesty," he said to him

King Ryu raised a brow.

"I guess Akio's noticing it as well," Leon smile

"Notice what?".

"Nothing your majesty, you should take a rest since you had a tough day" Leon suggests

"I guess your right"

---

It was already night time Gin woke up from his sleep. When he looked beside him Catori was no longer there. He stretches his arm and went outside, that's when he saw her already in knights uniform.

"Did I disturb you, Sir Gin?" She asks him

"Ah, no, no... Since when did you wake up?"

"Not too long ago. I'll be patrolling the area, want to join?"

"Ah, it's fine... The King summoned me tonight"

Catori just stares at him.

"What?"

Catori, "I did not know his majesty is you know"

Gin suddenly blushed "Wh-what the hell are you thinking!? We have something important to talk about"

Catori keeps on staring.

"P-please believe me, it's the truth, hahaha"

Catori smiled "If you say so, but if you want my opinion, I don't mind stuff like that"

"C-catori!" Gin yells

"Yeah, yeah.. I believe you, don't worry" she notice Ciar beside him "You want to accompany him?"

Gin looks behind him and saw the shadow "I guess he wants to, I don't mind"

"Very well, see you later Sir Gin" Catori left to start her patrol.

[Damn that woman. Does she really think I'm like that?] He sighed and looks at Catori who walked far already [She's too dense] then he and Ciar march into the darkness.

---

When Gin arrived at the King's bed-chamber Leon and Arkynn were present as well.

"Blessings to the Sun of Etilania" he greeted

"Did you sleep well, Sir Gin?" Arkynn asked him

"Y-yes, your majesty, thank you"

Arkynn, "I hope Catori slept soundly as well"

King Ryu raised an eyebrow " You slept together?"

"N-no! Your Majesty, I mean we have separate beds!" Gin defended himself

Arkynn couldn't help but laugh at the two.

[Why does everyone's teasing me lately?] Gin scratches his head.

The King sighed "Well, do you have something to report to me?"

Gin stiffens up and pulls something out from his pockets. A notebook.

"I believe some of our answers are here your majesty, this is King Gayu's notebook. I found it lying on the ground, it must have fallen off when his knights supported him"

Arkynn,"Oh? What's the content?"

"Well, I didn't read everything but there was one thing that caught my attention it was dated 30 years ago after your grandfather won the war, he and King Gayu met in his study room to talk about the treaty"

Gin now has everybody's attention.

"Should I read it for you, your majesty?"

"Proceed"

Gin started reading the entry.

*I finally got an invitation from the King of Etilania to talk about the treaty he wanted to make with my Kingdom. As a King like him, it is unfortunate that we lost the war because of a single man, what's even worse a Remiel. Their name was the only reason I accepted to side with Frederick Ward to go against their Kingdom*

Gin paused feeling uncomfortable.

"Don't worry about it Sir Gin, it's all in the past" Leon comforted

Gin continued.

*The Remiel household was known to be the firstborn humans blessed by the two dragons, although it is only a myth. I wanted to see it with my own eyes how majestic they were*

*The day of my visit finally came, it was Marcus himself who greeted me, he was no different than myself. Together with his two grandsons Ryu and Suoh, even their names mean Dragon, they gave me a warm welcome despite me taking part in killing their bloodline*

The room was quiet that made Gin regret suggesting to read the journal but there's no turning back, he continued.

*They gave me a tour inside their Kingdom and when the time came that it was just me and Marcus in his studies, I was surprised that he had no knights with him and I did the same. Marcus was already an old man, but he insists to let me call him by his first name as proof of our friendship. Friendship? Don't make me laugh if only he knew my plans to kill him after this visit. There's no way I can accept the treaty.*

*He told me he already learned to forgive everyone that has harmed his family and wanted peace not just to my Kingdom but to other countries as well. I was the first he approached for my Kingdom was near to his, I told him that I'll sign the treaty only at my Kingdom with his presence and he agreed to my conditions. I got the courage to asked him what did he do to win the war and he answered he did not win alone but with the help of a few friends. I ask him who were these friends of his and he answered they were a group who call themselves 'Creed'*

"What? You mean His Majesty already met them before?" Arkynn asked

Gin nodded "Yes, this will get interesting My Lord".

"Then proceed..."

*Creed was a famous tale among our children, to scare them if they wander at night. They were a group of skilled assassins who would kidnap kids and torture them, that was all there is in their name but Marcus explanation peak curiosity within me*

*He told me the Gods gave the dragons to humans as a gift to bring balance to the world. It did come true, for hundreds and thousands of years different races from the tiniest magical creatures to the mighty elves and the humans live together peacefully but not all humans were kind, some were tainted with greed and betrayed their own. They wanted the dragons for themselves, to be able to control them means controlling the world, so a group of skilled humans whose strength can par with the demons and the elves made a vow to protect the two dragons at the cost of their life. Their strength was not God-given but these people trained themselves and grew in large numbers for that sole purpose thus they called themselves the 'Creed'*

*The 'Creed' has been successful in protecting the two dragons. For the dragons were grateful they bestow a gift to their leader named 'Clay Ashger De Remiel', a Kingdom of his own thus Etilania was born, all creatures of the Kingdom were in agreement for Clay to be King even the confident dwarves and the prideful elves gained him their trust. The story of Marcus was hard to believe in for I'm not more of the old ways but he did show me proof below his studies lies a hidden door that leads beneath the palace, I decided to follow him and we went into an area that he calls the graveyard of the fallen and there I saw him the first King of Etilania Clay Ashger De Remiel, although dead his body was turned into stone and was put on top of a beautiful pedestal made of black and white crystal as if he was just sleeping with all the tombstones of his family and comrades surrounding him. I asked Marcus how he was preserved but he did not know as well, generations of the Remiel bloodline protected this sacred place and just when he was about time to tell his son it was already too late*

*A few days past after my visit from Etilania arrived today. The day of the promised I gave to him to sign the first treaty of peace in my Kingdom, what he doesn't know that for the past few days I have prepared my army to ambushed Corhall where all of Etilania's majestic knights were stationed after I'm done killing their King. Marcus finally arrived and he was alone this time, he was talking cheerfully to me as if we have finally become 'friends', I went through with it. When the time came we were finally alone I asked if the 'Creed' still live despite not showing themselves for a thousand years. Marcus laughed and told me the 'Creed' still lives and they were with him all the time. I said I could not see them that he must be joking when his expression suddenly darkens and told me he already knew about the army and my plans. I lied at first but then someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere and brought to me the heads of all my head knights in charge. It terrified me when I finally saw 'Them', three members of what he called 'Creed' appeared, their presence was so overwhelming with their black cloaks and electric blue eyes that I find it difficult to breathe. I don't understand how scary they can be when they were just human beings like me. Marcus told me that what happened today was a warning to never go against them and if I wanted to sign the treaty it will be in His Kingdom. So he left along with them*

*As I am writing this entry now, my hands are still shaking from what I saw, it was because of them that the King won the war and they can only serve the King of Etilania, if that is so, what would happen if I could become King? Just imagine an army of them! I have now decided to prolong signing the contract until the time comes for me to attack them once again and rule Etilania and have my own 'Creed'.*

"That was the end of the entry, your Majesty" Gin closed the notebook and hands it to Ryu

"I believe he researched well about the 'Creed', you might find some answers there"

"Very well, then let's go meet the First King of this Kingdom shall we?" He stands up, Leon, Arkynn, and Gin followed him outside.

---

Inside King Ryu's studies, the three started searching for keys to unlock a hidden passage somewhere but much to their excitement they couldn't find it.

"Where could that key be?" Asked Arkynn

"We've been searching for a while and there's none, what did the journal say?"

The King who was reading closed the notebook and sits where he usually sits if he's inside "It did not say how my grandfather opened it, Gayu just simply saw a door opened before his eyes" he observed his table and chair "My grandfather was sitting here and that dead King was there" he points to where Leon was standing"

"If it was His Majesty, I believe the key is not some sort of object" Gin said

Ryu nodded and below the King's armchair, there was something beneath it. "How odd, I don't usually touch this part here" then something clicked and the bookshelves in front of them opened and a visible stairway can be seen leading underneath the palace.

--- end.