All Hail The King

After killing Graknar, Ragon didn't stop there; he vowed to annihilate the entire orc race.

In a matter of minutes, he had successfully wiped out all the orcs in Elenadrom, driven by the fierce desire for revenge for his parents' deaths.

Now, Ragon stood at the center of the village, where the statue of Graknar was. He stared at the statue, his anger bubbling over, as he shouted, "Noooooo!"

With that, the remaining divine energy within him surged forth, erupting in a blinding white light that shattered the statue into countless pieces. Ragon was exhausted as he collapsed to the ground.

"Yaaaaaah!" the joyous cheers of the villagers could be heard as they had witnessed the destruction of their oppressor.

"Ragon!"

"Ragon!"

"Ragon!" they shouted, lifting his unconscious body in celebration. They rejoiced, unaware that the despair that fueled Ragon's fury was also a source of sorrow for him.

After nineteen long years of captivity, freedom was finally theirs.

*************

Few Days Later...

Ragon awoke to find himself in a chamber filled with gold, lying on a king-sized bed. His head throbbed painfully as he sat up, disoriented.

"Where am I? Mother! Father!" he called out. Then the harsh reality struck him: as he remembered that he had lost his parents.

Tears streamed down his face as memories of that horrific day flooded back.

Just then, a girl entered the room, carrying a bowl of water and a towel. As she approached Ragon, she was surprised to see him awake, but to her surprise she never thought that a young man like him would be crying.

"He must be going through a lot" she thought as she hesitated to go closer to him, but she finally summoned the courage.

The young girl went closer to him and gently patted his shoulder, out of reflex, he held her neck instantly.

"Please... you're hurting me," she gasped, her breath labored as she tried to break free from his grasp.

Immediately, Ragon realized she was not an orc, but a human. Instantly, he released her, as he felt a little bit embrassed.

"I'm sorry," he stammered with tears still in his eyes.

The girl, Thera, was a beautiful young woman with bright pink hair. She was the one who had been caring for him since when he was unconscious. And she understood it wasn't intentional.

"Please, Master Ragon. I feel your pain, but you don't have to dwell on the past. You need to rest. I'll take care of your injuries. Please," Thera urged. After all, he was now their savior, having single-handedly defeated the orcs—a feat they never dared to dream could be achieved.

Ragon wiped his tears, determined not to appear weak before her. He stood up from the bed, with a serious expression.

"Where are my parents?" he asked, gripping her shoulders tightly.

"Your parents have been set to be burned on the boat in a few hours," she explained gently.

"Why would anyone do that? Without my permission?" Ragon was furious hearing that.

Thera placed her hand on Ragon's, as she wanted to calm him down and it happened to work.

"Master Ragon, you've been unconscious for a week. The villagers couldn't delay honoring your parents any longer. They believed it was the best way to show their respect."

Ragon's chest tightened as the words sank in. He pulled his hands away, staggered back, and darted toward the door. His legs wobbled under him as he tried to run, but his body was too weak. He collapsed to the ground, as he was completely exhausted.

"Please, let me help you," Thera said, rushing to his side. She carried one of his arms over her shoulder, holding him steady.

"You'll hurt yourself more if you push like this."

Reluctantly, Ragon allowed her to support him as they moved toward the door.

A Few Hours Later

The sun was setting, casting an amber glow across the village. At the riverbank, a boat filled with flowers drifted gently on the water. On it lay the bodies of Ragon's parents, surrounded by the finest offerings the villagers could muster.

The entire village had gathered by the shore, their chains discarded, their faces were all moody. Freedom had come at a heavy cost, and they owed their lives to the couple who had raised Ragon.

Ragon stood at the edge of the water, his knees trembling. He fell to the ground, tears streaming down his face as he knelt before the boat.

"Mother, Father… You sacrificed everything for me, for this village. I should've been stronger. I should've protected you."

The villagers watched in silence, some of the kids couldn't hold back there tears they began crying too.

For years, they had known suffering under the orcs' rule, but this moment was their moment of liberation.

Ragon stood, his hands trembling as he took the ceremonial bow and an arrow from a villager. With shaking hands, he nocked the arrow, aimed at the boat, and whispered, "Rest in peace. I will make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain."

The arrow flew, igniting the boat in a blaze of flames that danced against the darkening sky. The villagers bowed their heads as the boat drifted away, as the glow flame reflected on the water.

When Ragon turned back, he saw the villagers looking at him with admiration. No longer were they bound by chains, they stood tall, their shackles broken both physically and spiritually.

An old man, leaning on a wooden staff, hobbled forward. He had lines on his face as they were extremely wrinkle which could tell that he was extremely old. He bowed down before Ragon, as he said in a low tone. He was no other than he patriarch of Elenadrom. It was still surprising how he had survived during this Nineteen years of slavery

"Master Ragon…I'm sorry for your loss, you are our savior. We owe you everything. All Hail The King" he immediately knelt down bowing his head

The villagers followed suit, bowing in unison. Their voices rose in a chorus, chanting,

"All Hail the King! All Hail the King!"