For the Good of the Country

The next morning I was awoken by the savory aroma of fried eggs and bacon.

*Groooooowwl*

'I guess I haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning. So much happened yesterday I didn't even have time to eat'

Caving in to my stomach's complaints I followed the scent out of my room to the bar area.

Two lone wooden tables filled the small room, both of which were occupied by other guests.

"Can I help you?", the barkeep asked me as I stood behind one of the guests and stared at their food as my mouth watered.

"I'll take what they're having."

"Sure thing! Anything you want is on the house. King Markien himself is picking up your tab, after all!"

Free food is all I needed to hear. I ate three platefuls before I was satisfied.

Once I had my fill I made my way back to the King's 'Castle', if you want to call it that and was greeted by the same guards from yesterday.

"I'm here to see the King."

"Yes, he told us that he was expecting your return. Please, wait inside while I check to see if he is ready for you."

I followed the man inside and waited near the entrance. A couple minutes later he returned.

"King Markien is ready for you."

I got up and walked up the stairs to the same room I remembered from yesterday. As soon as I reached the large, stone door another guard opened it and motioned for me to proceed.

"Ah, Ghislaine! You look well. I hope you were able to get a good rest at the Inn last night."

"I slept fine. I'm ready to leave for Asura. I just wanted to see if you heard word about Lady Eris or Master Rudeus before I left."

"Well, no, it hasn't even been a day since we gave word to look for them."

"I see. In that case, if you do happen to find them, please send them back to the Fittoa Region in Asura."

"Very well. I still think you should stay here a while longer in case they are found, but if you insist, I won't try to stop you."

"King Markien!", a young woman could be heard yelling from behind the closed stone door. "I have urgent news from our northern border!"

"Enter", the king commanded.

A young female knight rushed into the room and stood beside me to address the king.

"We've just received word from one of our spies in Helios. It seems that they have captured two Asura children from the noble house of Greyrat!"

"What!?"

I grabbed the woman by the shoulders and demanded she explain further. She only shrunk back in fear instead of responding.

"Ghislaine! Calm down! Let her go!"

The king managed to snap me back to my senses and then directed the young knight to continue her explanation.

"One of the two children is described to be an adept magician. Apparently Helios lost several soldiers while trying to capture them."

"That's Rudeus! That has to be them!", I yelled out. "Where are they!? Where is this place you call Helios!?"

"Helios is the largest and most powerful nation within the conflict zone. They can be found directly north of us, but I would caution you against charging in there all alone without a plan."

"That doesn't matter", I growled out. "Anyone who gets in my way will be cut down. That's all there is to it."

"I understand how you feel, but I don't think that even you could take on the entire nation of Helios on your own."

"Perhaps not but I have to try. I am but my master's blade. I will not let any harm come to Lady Eris!"

"Give me time to gather my forces!", the king yelled out. "March out with my army. I'll prepare a selection of my finest soldiers for you to command. We'll take out the Helian scum together!"

"We don't have time for that! I know how noble children are treated when they are captured by another nation. I won't let that happen to them!"

I turned around and flung the stone door open.

"Do you even know how to get to Helios!? At least take Sophia with you to guide you to Helios."

"Fine! Hurry up and ready your horse!", I commanded her. "We leave in five minutes!"

"Y-yes ma'am!"

The two of us rode out towards Helios that morning. This might have been a suicide mission but I didn't care. I'm going to save Eris and Rudeus even if it costs me my life!

***** Narrator's POV ****

***** The night before after Ghislaine left Bigott alone with King Gallus Markien *****

"Bigott. Do you think you can convince Sword King Ghislaine to join our cause?"

"No. That isn't possible. She is completely devout to her current master."

"I see. That's unfortunate."

"She's already done so much for us though. I can't stress enough how critical she was in our victory over the Broze and Dikuto armies today."

"Indeed she has. That's exactly why we need her to stay here with us."

"But Gallus, you saw how insistent she is on finding those kids. She won't stop until she's found them!"

"Then we need to use that to our advantage."

"What!? You want to deceive her!? I can't condone that!"

"Don't be a fool, Bigott! Small kingdoms like ours rise and fall like the tides here in the Conflict Zone. If we want to survive we need to make use of every opportunity that comes our way!"

"That may be so, but what good is a kingdom built on deceit and lies! Don't you see my old friend? This is exactly the kind of thing we rebelled against! This is why we formed this great country in the first place! Markien is a place that fights for the good of its people."

"She isn't one of our people! She's an outsider! An enemy even! You just said it yourself. She is devout to the Greyrats of Asura!"

"Gallus... She saved my life. We fought back to back. I can't betray her like this."

"That much I can understand. Guards!"

The three men who were standing guard outside the room rushed in.

"Take Bigott here and hold him in the cells to calm down. Don't let him out under any circumstances. He's not to leave until you hear from me directly, do you understand?"

"Yes. Yes sir!"

"Gallus, don't do this!", Bigott yelled as he was being apprehended. "You're better than this! Please!"

***** Later that night *****

'It really is a shame that I can't have her', King Markien thought in his personal quarters. 'Sword King Ghislaine... She is exactly the type of person we need. A name that strikes fear into our enemies and will make them think twice before attacking us...'

He took a sip from his wineglass and rested his chin on his hand.

'If I can't have her, then I'll have to simply use her. Helios is the last major obstacle in my way of conquering the Conflict Zone. If I could just point her sword in their direction...'

"Guards", he called out.

"Yes, sir?", a man called out as he cracked open the door to the king's quarters.

"Send for Sophia. I have a special mission for her."