Chapter 10- Serpents Demented

That was the day that changed many things on Artheiaya. Other royal members were executed continuously after the second prince, Baltrune. Every noble who believes in Glyvecaruis God and is loyal to the throne were assassinated. Among all of these nobles was Commander Justine's family, but his loyalty exempted him.

Justine grew up from being a gentle friend of Prince Balt to a promising young lieutenant who will kill anyone on his way. He planned to fight until death in that battle. As soon as he saw his father died defending the King, he was also ready to die. That day, he was a meter away from the King as the latter died. It was like he felt an invisible stone wall falling onto him when he saw the king being killed. He ran as fast as he can and killed anyone on his way, but he still failed to protect the king. After that, he just forgot what happened after. He just woke up in the royal prison cell, chained on both hands and feet. Then, the revolutionary leader approached him suddenly with a proposal for his future that he cannot accept ever in his life. But seeing his sister and mother's headless corpses, he then decided on something. Something that he is pretty sure he will regret.

Realizing that the royal members were all executed, he realized that at this point, it is survival rather than being loyal to someone or something. For the first time, he forgot his principles because of fear of death and pain. It was cowardice that he fully embraced. It earned him his father's previous rank, the commander position. Sometimes, he finds it funny. And now, it feels like karma is coming onto him. The Glyvecaruis God appeared in here? Why though? After so many years, the God he prayed onto that day only appeared now, when no one wants to see it. He had mixed emotions about this. But then again, is it even true that God or maybe just a trap planted by the Kingdom's enemy?

He takes a glimpse one more time on that corner and felt that aura surrounding it again. He looks at Commander Cheistian and cautiously asked him, “Commander Cheistian, we should probably go,” the latter should know what he meant by that. This room is full of people who are against Glyvecaruis and that God is right there in front of them, and though not visible to everyone's eye, they still have to be careful as the royal family is in this hall.

“Right,” Commander Cheistian turns to look to his Lieutenant Commander Valoir, “you go assist the queens to their chambers. Make sure to guard them to safety. Where is Stephen?” He asks the latter after seeing some of his lieutenants not present.

“I have told them to assist the other nobles to somewhere safe, Commander.” He reported to him.

While everyone was busy looking over that corner, he persuaded them to do as he commanded as he knew the danger in the hall. Everyone in the lobby is all great nobles that cannot be harmful, or it will create chaos in the Kingdom.

“Great.” Commander Cheistian saw the knights carrying the King as Queen Victoria worriedly follows them. “You go with the Mother Queen and the King.”

Lieutenant Commander Valoir never hesitated and heeded to do his task while Commander Cheistian continued keeping an eye on that corner. He veers over Priest Overmiere and Queen Adelina, who is still in shock as they stare at it.

“Priest, Queen Adelina, we should go now as well,” only the Priest responded as if wanting to respond when he suddenly stopped and seemed to faint. Cheistian instinctively reached out to the old Priest as he kneels to the floor. As he runs to him, Cheistian saw the rapid changes on the priest; his arms' skin slowly changes to scales, appearing inch by inch as if slowly consuming himself. He subconsciously steps back from the unexpected phenomenon. “P-Priest, w-what is happening?” he asks as he stutters from panic, but the priest didn’t respond. He has never seen anything as peculiar as this.

Priest Overmiere has certainly seen Glyvecaruis God in that corner of the hall. He is sure of it now as the Queen also seemed to see God. He didn’t know what to feel even though he has expected such a thing to happen. But for God to make a move by itself was a shock to him. He has never thought that Glyvecaruis would take all of these into its own hands. To come down on the land to put its people into their places. There must be something more significant than what occurs on the surface.

Then, he has abruptly been sucked into the darkness. A familiar setting like his premonitions that night, but this time, it is as if he is watching above everyone. He is in the sky watching the Kingdom. A light was flashing below him, within his own hands, which certainly looked like claws as he takes a glimpse of them. Who's visions are these? What do these mean?

The light coming from this body's hands gradually traveled down to the Kingdom, seeping to every corner of every wall; soon, it outlined the whole Kingdom's land, which creates an image of hurdles serpents. Then, his soul suddenly got shook of the body and fell to the ground in a fast-paced fall to see streets of this Kingdom flooded by blood, underneath are serpents swimming in them, as corpses of Artheians scattered throughout.

Without any proper explanations, he woke up from this trance and saw Commander Cheistian looking at him with concern and alarmed expression. But he never tried explaining to him, and he grabbed his sturdy arms with his wrinkled skin due to aging.

“Artheiaya is in great danger! God is angered! We must warn the people! God has made its move! The people _”, but Commander Cheistian cut him off.

“Priest Overmiere, what are you talking about? Did you know what happened to you? Your skin! It_. It_” but he cannot continue explaining the things he saw; it was undeniably strange.

“There is no time to explain! We must warn the people! They are_”, his words were cut off again but now by screams coming outside the hall.

“What is happening?” Commander Cheistian stands up and runs towards the large entryway of the hall, and stopped for a moment. “We must get out of here,” he calmly concluded, making the priest inquire him about the things outside the hall.

“Why? What is happening?” He asks him.

But Commander Cheistian didn’t reply. He grabs Queen Adelina's hands and looks over the other nobles who are still in the hall. “There are several serpents outside. They are swarming the hallway. We must get out of here as they could reach the inside through the holes of the wall.” He explained to them before looking over Queen Adelina, “My Queen, we must evacuate. Your safety is our priority.”

Queen Adelina gazes at him before her eyes squinted from a distant look, "make sure to protect the other nobles to safety first, Commander Cheistian. I don't want to be implicated by trivial things", she said before walking towards the door.

He cannot help but sigh with relief from the Queen's actions. It seemed like she didn't plan to make things difficult for him this time. " Let us go!"

They gathered the nobles and surrounded them to protect them from the danger.