The King's Allies

Two figures sat down while overlooking the magnificent scene before them.

An endless blanket of darkness whose end could not be seen, dotted by lights that emitted different levels of shine.

Innumerable.

Unfathomable.

Scattered erratically over the endless darkness but still showing a pristine image that would make any lesser being marvel and feel truly insignificant at the same time.

Each light was encased in what seemed like a hazy space of its own, separating it from the others.

Behind the two figures, a massive wall whose end could not be seen from where they were emitted a dark purplish blue hue, the intricate design of indecipherable symbols that made up its colourful mass constantly shifting.

It was the Ordinate Boundary.

The two individuals sat on a luxurious floating mat with a red and gold tapestry watching the millions of streaks of bright lines that shot from the innumerable lights they overlooked, heading for the Boundary behind them.

Magnificent.

It was like watching an endless number of shooting stars flying away from the stars and into a grand sea.

"Look at this grand scene and tell me you don't feel a churning in your soul, my boy," said one of the figures on the mat who was an old man.

He had a full head of white hair, his deep set, honey coloured eyes reflecting the bright lines that passed them on their way to the Boundary.

"I have no interest in these at the moment. As you can imagine, I'm more concerned about the safety of my King," the other figure said.

He was a handsome man with overflowing purple hair that gave his facial image a dash of femininity. His satin grey eyes pulsed with a weak light as his vision locked on what was ahead.

The souls that passed them as they ascended to the boundary failed to garner his attention for even a second.

"King, is it? Oh, young Edmarch. I fear you have been tainted by your father quite a bit," the old man said. "I delivered him to safety as promised. A final debt repaid to a friend. I will not render any more help in the future."

Edmarch knew the old man beside him would say as much, but he felt lonely as a result. Who else was left who would stand with his King besides him?

"I am a neutral party in Existence, my boy. The concept of equivalent exchange may sometimes supersede my neutrality, but that is the order of the world. I had a grand respect for that boy," the old man said.

"Then why not repay the favour you owed in the a better form than mere reincarnation, Gadjkar?" Edmarch asked.

"You wanted me to save him? To intervene in a fight against him and his enemies? Save his lands? His family? I am not your King's subject. I am not his vassal. The ones accountable for fighting his battles are you and those that stand by his side," the old man whose name was Gadjkar, said.

Edmarch stealthily gnashed his teeth.

"Only I remain," he said.

"Indeed." said Gadjkar. "Your King was quite the man. I watched his journey as he embodied wrath, trusting his sword to cut down his enemies in a way I hadn't seen any other swordsman be able to. That's how he became a legend on both sides of the Boundary."

Edmarch listened to the recounting of his King's fame, feeling both proud and furious. Proud that the history of his power would be remembered and furious at the prospect of him fading into the annals of the history of fallen kings.

"However, it saddens me that he who had learned to keep a leash on his wrath, finding something good to come home to; an empire to be proud of and a tender love to last for millenia will regress into darkness, and possibly never return."

Edmarch turned to look at Gadjkar with an inquisitive look in his eyes.

"What should I do then? I can't simply hover over him, waiting for him to return," he said.

"Indeed you cannot. But, you can choose to live your life. The Mobius of Birth only promises a single chance at living within Existence. You have already provided a great service to your King. The rest is up to him. He will likely choose to live by the sword and descend into madness. You should have no part in it."

Edmarch's face turned sullen.

He had come this far.

He had remained loyal.

He had been persuaded by those that saw it fit for their King to die so they could share in the spoils.

But he had refused.

He honoured his father and his King.

He would have done more but there was only so much a single being could do against hundreds of thousands of similarly levelled enemies.

"What will happen if he becomes consumed by darkness and returns to the Immortis?" he asked.

The old man watched one particular line that streaked past to the Boundary. It was bright, with a shifting black mass within it that had tinges of red.

He pointed his finger at it and in the next moment, the bright line turned into shattered fragments that crumbled into nothingness.

"There are many mysteries in Existence, but darkness is a concept I have seen all too often. If Freidris should return with an evil that would swallow up everything, I shall put his soul to rest. As a friend would," said Gadjkar, the look on his face not shifting an inch.

Edmarch took a deep breath. He couldn't argue, especially not with someone like Gadjkar.

The one who founded the Ordinals.

"Can you at least make sure you remains safe within the Mortis?" Edmarch asked with a solemn expression.

"I wish I could," said Gadjkar.

"I am sure his enemies know where he is hiding. I may be able to stop any Immortals from crossing over to end his life as part of my duty in the keeping the peace but do remember, just as I had a debt to repay, so do the other Ordinals."