Two Birds With One Stone

Back within the capital, within the grandeur of the Palace throne room, an air of tension hung heavy. The king, his once regal composure shattered, stood upright in front of his majestic throne, gripping his sword tightly in his hand. His face contorted with anger, he cast a formidable gaze upon his subjects who knelt before him, trembling in fearful anticipation. The oppressive silence in the room spoke volumes, as everyone awaited the king's next move, unsure of what fate awaited them.

The king's anger blazed as he confronted his subjects in the grand throne room. His voice thundered, filled with fury and disbelief.

"So, what you're all trying to tell me is that the wretched traitor returned, failed in his task, and not only took the life of my son but managed to escape unnoticed by anyone ?"

His piercing gaze swept across the hall, searching for answers, but met only with kneeling figures, their silence speaking volumes. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, as the king grappled with the devastating truth, his heart consumed by a mixture of rage, grief, and an unwavering determination to bring justice to those responsible.

The king, seething with fury, advanced towards the kneeling men, his sword pointing ominously at one of them. His voice trembled with anger as he addressed Sir Jared, the knight responsible for guarding the Eastern gate.

"Sir Jared, you are assigned to protect the Eastern gate, are you not?"

Sir Jared, his head bowed in submission, nodded silently, acknowledging his duty.

"Then tell me, did you witness that wretched traitor entering through your gate?" the king demanded, his eyes burning with rage.

Sir Jared looked up at the king, fear etched across his face, and began to respond, "No, your majesty, I-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the king swung his sword with a swift and deadly motion. Sir Jared's head was severed, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground as his severed head rolled away.

The knights in the hall flinched, their bodies tensing with fear, as they witnessed the king's brutal act. Their heads lowered once more, their expressions a mix of trepidation and silent prayers for their own survival.

The king, his fury unabated, turned his attention to the knight standing beside the lifeless body of Sir Jared. His voice carried an icy edge as he addressed Sir Aram, the supposed guardian of the northern gate.

"Sir Aram, you claim responsibility for the northern gate, do you not?" The king's voice dripped with skepticism.

Aram, trembling with anxiety, desperately sought an escape from the same fate that had befallen his fallen comrade. His mind raced for a plausible explanation, and he lied through gritted teeth.

"No, your majesty. I wasn't present that day. I was back at my parents' house, attending a formal event," Aram uttered, his voice laced with deceit.

The king's gaze lingered on Aram before he called upon a royal knight standing nearby. Whispering a few words, the knight left the hall, granting Aram a sigh of relief as his head remained intact.

Turning his attention to the third knight, Sir Jonathan, who knelt before him, the king expressed his disappointment. Despite the gravity of the situation, he acknowledged Jonathan's reputation as one of his most trusted men. With a mixture of hope and urgency, the king posed his question, seeking the truth.

"Sir Jonathan, this situation saddens me greatly, knowing that you are among my most capable knights. Tell me honestly, did you witness any signs or receive reports regarding the traitor's entry through the western or southern gates?"

Jonathan, his unwavering loyalty on full display, met the king's gaze without a trace of fear. With resolute determination, he responded, his voice firm and unwavering.

"I have neither seen nor received any information from my men about his presence, Your Majesty. However, I humbly request your permission to venture forth and search for the bastard and his son. I promise to bring them back to the capital, where they shall kneel in front of you, before you pass judgment upon me."

The king's gaze bore into Jonathan, their eyes locked in a moment of intense scrutiny. Tension filled the room as the king raised his sword, a gesture that sent Jonathan's heart racing. But just as the blade neared his neck, the king halted its menacing descent.

"I knew I could count on you, Sir Jonathan," the king declared, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. With a few gentle taps of his sword on Jonathan's shoulder, the king conveyed his approval. Jonathan understood the weight of this moment, realizing the trust placed upon his shoulders by sparing his life.

Returning to his throne, the king settled back into his seat, his expression a mixture of authority and satisfaction. The fate of the traitor and his son now rested in the hands of Sir Jonathan, a loyal knight who had proven his unwavering dedication to the king's cause.

The king's command resonated through the hall, prompting the men to rise and depart. However, his voice cut through the air once more, halting their exit abruptly.

"Not you!" the king's voice thundered, his finger pointing menacingly at Aram. A chill ran down Aram's spine as he found himself trapped under the weight of the king's wrathful gaze.

"You will remain here until your entire family arrives to confirm your story," the king declared, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and suspicion. Aram's face turned pale, his heart pounding in his chest as he witnessed the king's fury directed squarely upon him.

Desperate to defend himself, Aram took a tentative step forward, attempting to plead with the king. But before he could utter a single word, two of the royal knights swiftly intervened, brandishing their spears to block his path. Aram froze in his tracks, his eyes wide with fear.

"And you had better pray to the goddess that your family confirms the tale you spun earlier. If they fail to do so, I shall hold you responsible for their demise," the king's voice dripped with a sinister edge, a wicked smile creeping across his face at the sight of Aram's tear-stricken expression.

*****

As the sun peeked through the forest canopy, casting dappled light on their makeshift breakfast spot, the three heroes sat together, enjoying the culinary efforts of Adam. The air was filled with the savory aroma of the delicious meal he had prepared, tempting even those with a distaste for vegetables.

Dean, his appetite insatiable, praised Adam's cooking skills between mouthfuls. "These vegetables are surprisingly tasty, Adam! You've truly mastered the art of seasoning. It's a welcome change from our usual fare of undercooked meat and bread."

Amidst the jovial conversation and shared laughter, Jasem's demeanor remained somber, his mind still entangled in the weighty discussions from the previous day. The cheerful atmosphere took an abrupt turn as Jasem's serious voice pierced through the air. "So, what's our plan now?"

His question hung in the air, momentarily silencing the group. Adam, caught off guard, began to respond, "Well, we continue with our original plan of leaving this kingdom-"

Jasem interjected, his gaze fixed on Adam, his tone resolute. "And then what?"

Adam fell silent, searching for an answer, his brows furrowing in thought. Jasem's eyes shifted, focusing on Dean, who continued eating, Luna seated beside him, watching Jasem intently.

"What do we do once we cross the kingdom's borders?" Jasem's voice echoed with frustration. "All I see is a future of endless running until we're caught or perishing in some isolated corner."

Dean, finally chiming in, offered a suggestion, hoping to appease Jasem's concerns. "We can stick to the original plan and defeat the Demon Lord. After all, the king did mention that we must eliminate him to secure our return."

Jasem's face softened slightly, relieved to hear a suggestion that aligned with his desires. Nodding in approval, he continued, "Good answer, my perverted friend. But to take down such a formidable foe, Adam, what do we need?"

Adam let out a sigh, knowing where this conversation was headed. He set his plate aside, addressing Jasem's query. "We need to become stronger."

Resigned to the task ahead, Adam cleared his plate and rose. Jasem clapped once, a gleam of excitement in his eyes, as he outlined their next course of action. "Excellent response! We're on the same page. While we train to become stronger, we can gradually chip away at the church's power, launching calculated attacks to weaken them before delivering a decisive blow."

A smile played on Jasem's lips as he nodded, his gaze fixed on Dean, who had many thoughts swirling in his mind but opted to remain silent, unwilling to engage in a heated argument. Adam, still cleaning his plate, voiced his concerns. "So, now we're fighting two formidable forces?"

Jasem approached Adam, his determination unwavering, and replied, "Why not? The people of this world despise the Demon Lord and his army, and it seems that Luna's kingdom and others share a similar disdain for the church. We can recruit powerful allies along the way and confront both adversaries simultaneously."

Dean's smile wavered as he listened to the conversation unfold, mulling over the complexities of Jasem's plan. A slight shift in his expression signaled that he was contemplating the feasibility of the idea. Adam's initial resistance melted away, replaced by a thoughtful nod and a pat on Jasem's shoulder, a sign of unexpected admiration.

"This idea have some few problems in it that needs to be solved, but I'm not gonna lie overall it seem like an awfully good idea," Adam conceded, his voice tinged with a hint of respect for Jasem's audacity. However, Dean, who had been silently absorbing the discussion, couldn't help but interject.

"It sounds good when you say it like that, but have you forgotten that the Siriray kingdom hates the entire humans and not only the church?," Dean pointed out, his words injecting a dose of reality into the conversation. "And how do you think we can recruit strong people when everyone hates us as well?"

Dean's counterarguments struck a chord with Adam, who had been swept up in the momentum of Jasem's plan. As he walked back towards Dean, Adam began to address the concerns raised. "I understand what are you saying, 'BUT' we can work around these facts if we want to." he said, his tone earnest.

Initially puzzled by Adam's response, Dean suddenly burst into laughter, his amusement reverberating through the air. "Hahaha! Are you suggesting we buy slaves? After all the lectures you've given me about morality and shit?"

Jasem, taken aback by the unexpected suggestion, looked at Adam with a mixture of shock and disapproval. "You must have lost your mind!" he exclaimed, unable to fathom becoming a slave owner.

Adam quickly sought to clarify his stance, realizing the misguided impression his words had created. "I know it sound bad at first when you say it like that," he hurriedly explained. "But we can treat them good, like Luna. Look how much she's loyal to Dean after he helped her escape that hell"

Jasem, comprehending Adam's perspective, still found it difficult to fully embrace the notion of acquiring slaves. His moral compass urged him to explore alternatives. On the other hand, Dean, unfazed by the suggestion, continued to chuckle at the ironic twist of events, finding amusement in Adam's rapid change of heart on the matter.

Adam turned his gaze to Jasem, his eyes filled with determination as he attempted to sway his friend's opinion. He explained his plan in detail, emphasizing the compassionate approach he intended to take.

"Listen, we can go to these auctions and buy only the strong but injured slaves, of course they wont trust us at first so we have to treat them good and provide everything for them and earn their trust," Adam proposed, his voice earnest. "Once they see that we genuinely care about their well-being, we can offer them their freedom and extend an invitation to join us in our fight. Isn't it better to rescue them from the hardships of slavery, or worse, from facing a tragic fate as mere entertainment for the privileged few?"

Jasem, contemplating the idea once more, nodded in reluctant agreement before resuming his meal, his thoughts swirling with the weight of the decision.

Meanwhile, Dean, propped up on his side with his hand supporting his cheek, regarded the conversation with a serious expression. He interjected, voicing his concerns to Adam. "You know this can go south really fast if we fought these two groups together. Both of them seem very strong."

Adam, sensing Dean's apprehension, retrieved a bag of coins and began counting, acknowledging the shared concerns. "Of course, but we have to do it nonetheless, yesterday I couldn't focus on reading because I was thinking about these poor people the whole time." Adam admitted, a slight smile gracing his lips as he glanced at Dean, hoping to find understanding.

Dean, who had been preoccupied with his own thoughts, suddenly remembered Camellia and Carmen, the two girls from the village they had encountered. The realization hit him like a punch, reminding him that if no one intervened, those innocent souls could meet a similar fate.

"Aah, Fuck!" Dean exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice. He scratched his head forcefully, a sign of his annoyance, before rising from his seat to clean his plate. They had a new goal in sight, and he knew it would be a challenging journey ahead.

With the group now unified in their mission, they prepared to continue their journey, their commitment to justice and compassion propelling them forward.