Pawn VIII

In the hush of the morning, Aden was abruptly jolted from his slumber by the disconcerting cry that pierced the tranquility of the household. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he ventured to the window, only to be met with a chilling sight that froze his heart.

An army from Xess had descended upon the household grounds, a formidable presence that loomed ominously. Below, he witnessed the lord of the house, his family, and the household staff, including his mother and the head maid, all gathered with tears streaming down their faces, pleading for mercy. Their desperate pleas fell upon deaf ears, the lord ignoring their anguish.

Aden's young heart clenched at the scene unfolding before him. The recitation of the king's decree echoed through the corridors, a memorandum that spelled doom for the household of Lord Ivan. "As the King commands, men and children from the household of Lord Ivan will be given to the king to enter the army against the neighboring invasion," the soldier's voice echoed with a chilling finality.

As Aden reached the lower floor, unconsciously, his heart pounded with trepidation at the sight before him. Evelyn, his father, and several men servants stood in somber groups, their expressions a mix of uncertainty and resignation. The army had corralled them into distinct formations, segregating the children and the men servants.

A different decree was announced for each group. The soldiers read aloud to the children of Xesses, a decree that held their fate in its words. "For the children of Xesses above seven years old, each of you will be assessed for your compatibility with the flow. Those with high compatibility will be ushered into the Academy, while those with lesser affinity will be positioned in the front lines for the departing army."

Turning to address the men's servants, the army issued another decree that determined their destinies. "To the men of Xesses, your placement in the army will be determined by your compatibility with the flow. Your assignments will be based on this assessment."

The weight of the decrees hung heavily in the air, casting a pall of uncertainty over the gathered individuals. Aden's gaze darted between the two groups, his heart-wrenching at the prospect of their uncertain futures. The gravity of the situation bore down upon him as he grappled with the imminent separation and potential peril that loomed over those he cared for.

The callous remark echoed through the tense atmosphere, the soldier's derisive chuckle slicing through the anguish and fear. "They are servants, what more contribution can they give?" The soldier's disdainful words added a cruel layer to the already distressing situation.

Without Aden noticing, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with suppressed anger. The soldiers' disregard for the value and worth of those standing before them, treating them as expendable pawns, fueled a burning sense of injustice within him. His gaze swept across the faces of the servants and children, the people who had been his silent companions within the household.

Their humanity, their dignity, was being callously dismissed, reduced to nothing more than mere labels of servitude. The degrading remark only fueled something inside Aden.

Lord Ivan's voice cut through the tension, a sharp edge of impatience coloring his words. "Hurry it up already! I have matters to attend to after this," he barked, his tone laced with urgency and disdain.

His disregard for the plight of those being assessed and the gravity of the situation sent a ripple of dismay through the gathering. The urgency in his command clashed with the uncertainty and fear etched on the faces of those standing before him.

As the tension in the air thickened, one of the soldiers stepped forward to deliver the final decree, his voice quivering with the weight of the proclamation. "It is time to bid your final farewells to your respective families," the soldier announced, his words echoing through the courtyard.

The gravity of the decree struck a chord of despair among the gathered servants and children. Tears flowed freely as heartfelt embraces and whispered words of love and sorrow filled the air. Families clung to each other, their bond a source of solace in the face of the impending separation.

Aden watched the heartbreaking scene unfold before him, the wrenching farewells etching themselves into his memory. The collective anguish and raw emotions painted a poignant picture of love and despair, a testament to the depth of the bonds shared by those facing an uncertain future.

Despite the soldiers' stern presence and the looming threat of departure, the sense of familial love and solidarity prevailed, their final moments together etched with an indelible touch of profound affection.

His mother enveloped him in a tight embrace, seeking solace and reassurance in the face of impending separation. Aden felt her arms around him, her silent plea for strength echoing through the embrace. Nearby, David embraces them both, his eyes mirroring a father's concern.

"You are smart kids, right? Take care of your mother while I'm away, okay? You're the man of our family now," David's voice quivered with emotion as he spoke, tears glistening in his eyes. His fatherly advice carried both a sense of responsibility and a plea for strength.

Aden nodded stoically, his emotions carefully guarded behind a facade of composure. However, David, as a father keenly attuned to his son's character, discerned the underlying turmoil beneath Aden's outward demeanor. Despite the apparent lack of visible emotion, David knew his son well enough to understand the depth of Aden's feelings, and in that understanding, he trusted his son implicitly.

Despite the emotional turmoil, Aden's gaze fixated on Evelyn. As she hugged her mother, the head maid, his eyes discerned a subtle exchange between them. He observed closely, trying to decipher any unspoken words or gestures. However, she didn't seem to disclose his secret during this poignant moment, maintaining a stoic facade even in the face of impending separation.

A pang of regret seized Aden's heart as he realized the finality of the situation. He lamented the missed opportunity to discuss yesterday's revelations with Evelyn, recognizing that this moment might be the last chance for any kind of conversation.

As Aden stood there, watching his father and Evelyn being escorted away by the imposing army, an unsettling feeling began to creep inside him. Yet, for him, as a former Demon Lord, he still doesn't understand.

A chilling premonition lingered in the air as the soldiers warned of their inevitable return before departing. "We will come back," the ominous warning hung over the household like an impending storm, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future.