Retribution

The next day, at the royal hall.

Rohan and V burst into the chamber, aware beforehand that the king's schedule was vacant. The hall boasted a sky-blue interior with giant pillars. On the sides were auditorium seats arranged in four levels, each padded with soft cushions. In the middle lay a vast red carpet leading to the king's presence. However, the absence of a throne was notable, replaced instead by a wall with a sound box. The audience themselves weren't orcs but hybrids of human and orc offspring, along with pureblooded humans.

Rohan and V halted, surveying their surroundings in awe.

A human approached and snarled, "Who are you!? How did you get in here!?" Rohan's response was a harsh slap, sending the man crashing to the floor unconscious. Glaring at him, Rohan questioned the presence of humans in the throne room. The nobility quickly gathered, one among them admonishing Rohan for attacking a minister.

Ignoring the admonishments, Rohan demanded to know the whereabouts of the king, specifically the orc king. The nobility responded with contempt, refusing to divulge the information. Suddenly, the voice box crackled to life, a man's voice demanding to know who dared to disrupt the king's hall.

Seeing through the charade, Rohan's fury intensified. He swiftly approached the sound box, punching through the wall and pulling out the deceiver. It was a human man acting as the king of the orcs. Rohan approached him and growled, "Now it all makes sense. No orc would do what you have done. You made them suffer and killed all their hopes for a respectful life. You brainwashed them into thinking an orc holds the reins of this kingdom so that they won't rebel against you."

The fake king crawled back and screamed, "Guards! Guards!!" Rohan retorted, "You have no one to protect you; the orcs have returned to their homeland." Uneasiness and fear spread around the hall. The humans of this kingdom relied heavily on the orcs for protection.

V ran to the fake king and threw him at Rohan. Rohan caught him, held him by his neck, and said, "Killing you would be too easy. The orcs will decide your retribution." Rohan opened a sealing portal and threw the fake king into it. V crossed his arms and asked, "What will you do next, Servant Rohan? This kingdom has only humans now."

The nobility pleaded after learning their dire circumstances and begged to be left alone; they never mentioned anything about leaving. Rohan ignored their pleas and jumped out through the roof.

Rohan stood in the sky on a purple energy disk like a looming cloud of doom. V caught up and stood beside him in the same manner while silent.

Rohan stared at the kingdom and said, "I had hoped to make this a kingdom of mine, a capital for the faithful, but after knowing what we know, proceeding with my ambition would insult the orcs." V held Rohan's shoulder and said, "Destroy this miserable city. Turn it into rubble and erase the symbol of the orcs' shame."

Rohan conjured a purple energy sphere and aimed at the city. He muttered, "Good riddance." The sphere touched down and exploded like a nuke, vaporizing whatever landmarks were there and shattering the great dam nearby.

In the middle of the crater, a great stream of water exploded from the earth, and the water in the dam flooded the area. Soon, dark clouds gathered and poured rain onto the land.

Rohan looked around in awe and said, "This land hasn't witnessed rain for decades!" 

V laughed and said, "I guess this is a sign for you to never give up on your ambition, Rohan." He looked at him and said, "Once this land is revived, let's build the capital you dreamed of."

The two left.

On the ground, beasts from around the land gathered. High amounts of fresh water were now available, along with fresh human corpses floating on the water. They drank and ate, rejoicing in the abundance they received.

In the afternoon, at the orcs village.

Rohan and V walked together to the village's entrance. It was heavily crowded with cheering and joyful orcs. Chief Anders approached them and said, "Welcome back, Servant Rohan," followed by Limuru, who said the same. Rohan stopped before them, saddened. Anders became worried and asked, "What's troubling you, Rohan?"

Rohan inhaled heavily, looked at Anders, and said, "Gather everyone; a court will start."

Soon, in the village square, a wooden stage was set, and the people gathered. Rohan climbed atop it, faced the orcs, and said, "For those who wished to return, the kingdom was destroyed, and nothing was left of it." The orcs were saddened and burdened.

"It was rotten, soulless, and devoid of character. I've been there long enough to know it was never ruled by orcs, but rather by parasites known as humans," Rohan stated.

He opened a portal and brought the fake king before the crowd. He pointed at him and said, "This human you see before you was the true king of that kingdom. He ruled it behind a stone curtain and gave power to outsiders and impure orcs." He stared at the crowd and said, "You all know what I meant by that."

The crowd became furious, as inbreeding with humans was a significant crime in their society. Rohan grabbed the fake king and said, "The moon's pact with the creation states that no servant will render judgment on behalf of anyone. Each race has its own laws and full authority to implement them." He lifted the fake king and asked, "So I ask you, orcs. What judgment will you render upon this scum!?"

"The ropes!" the crowd yelled. Rohan threw the criminal to the crowds and shouted, "Take him, Orcs! Inflict your justice upon this leech." The guardsmen of Anders caught him and took him away.

Rohan raised his hands and said, "This court is not over yet! We shall end it by making an example out of this traitor!" He opened the portal and brought out Casper.

Casper grunted, stood on his knees, and glared at the crowd.

Rohan pointed at him and shouted, "This heretic whore!! Has sold his sisters to humans for dishonorable materialism!" He pointed at the crowds and said, "All those who lived in the capital know who he is. Casper, the king of sensual pleasures. You all do not know that he lied in a servant's face! Betraying the moon's pact with the creation."

The angry crowds remained silent, as most were filled with shame, like General Erik after the infamous incident that led to the death of the previous servant, Leth. Rohan approached the stage's edge and asked angrily, "What's your judgment, orcs?"

Anders approached, glared at Casper, and snarled, "The orcs forsake this infidel! Punish him as you see fit, Servant Rohan!!" The crowd roared in agreement.

Rohan approached Casper, grabbed his face harshly, lifted him, and started his execution. Casper slowly and painfully had life sucked away as his flesh slowly melted like butter until what remained of him was a red glob. Rohan faced the crowd and shouted, "Have I brought justice to the orcs!?"

"Yes!!" they roared. Except for one who shouted no.

The crowds looked at each other in awe, searching for the one who disagreed. Not a moment passed, and he showed himself to the masses. It was General Erik.

Erik stood at the front line and said, "There's one criminal left among the orcs. That would be me." Rohan stared at him worriedly.

Erik climbed onto the stage and shouted, "You all know me by General Erik." He looked at the crowd and yelled, "I was a puppet for our enemies and made no effort to save our people, let alone the kingdom." He looked at Rohan and said, "I demand of you, Servant Rohan, to cast me as a criminal before them and invoke judgment upon me."

"You're not a criminal, Erik. Only a victim of compulsion," Rohan said. Erik grunted and growled, "That is not an excuse! I am a warrior who should've prioritized honor over life." He faced the crowds and shouted, "I demand my people to judge me! So, my dishonor will not be inherited!"

Rohan stayed silent, even though he wanted to pardon Erik. He doesn't have either the sway or permission to do it. He stared at Anders and found him as conflicted as he was. So was the rest of the orcs. Many held General Erik in a great position in their hearts, but one cannot obstruct the flow of order and justice nor deny a man from seeking salvation. Painfully and sadly, the beloved General had to face retribution.

Anders looked at the saddened masses and asked, "Is this what you want, General Erik? Many here, including me, would not object to pardoning you. The disfigurements on your face and body prove you're no languid traitor."

"Damn you, Anders!! Do you want people to have an excuse to slander my kin!? No! Let me face judgment before the people and the moon's servant," Erik snarled.

Anders looked at the floor sadly and muttered, "Damn your pride, Erik!" He looked at Rohan and said, "Servant, let Erik's punishment be a swift, painless execution."

"The only option is decapitation, Chief Anders," Rohan said. Anders unstrapped his sword, held it out, and said, "None dares to harm, Erik. Please, Rohan, deliver us from this torment and execute him for us."

Rohan sighed sadly and muttered, "Damn you, Anders!" He leaned closer and took the sword while Erik knelt and exposed his neck. Rohan stood beside him and said, "Why did you make me do this, Erik? You know a servant's bond to the faithful is greater than that of a mother to her child."

"Only by your hands would my name and my clan's name be purified. It saddens me that I'm not going to see the end of your mission, but knowing my people are free puts my soul at ease," Erik said.

Rohan lifted the great sword and asked, "Any last words, moon's beloved?"

"Thank you, Rohan. For everything," Erik said. Rohan ended Erik with one swift strike. He fell on his knees, stared at Erik's corpse, and began to weep while covering his face.

This day marked the start of the faithful's unification and the beginning of Rohan's burdens, as his journey had only just started.

The End