ã€ŠI Will Burn Up My Kingdom And Disappearã€‹


 Chapter 1: First Day as A King

    Gold, silver, robes, silk, servants, power, women, and eternal happiness¡ªIf you asked any ordinary person what kingship is their answer would always be confined to these elements. Their eyes would endlessly glitter in imagining such joy.

    But my view of kingship is different; I will explain it throughout, but kingship is greedy. It eats away your freedom, your thoughts, your time, and sometimes even your family and friends. This is why every life has its equal share of happiness and sadness, or if you do not view it in such a way, of pain and comfort.

    Last week marked the death of my father, king Justinian the Second. And as a kingdom, the next king will naturally be me, the eldest son, prince Rajid of the Djinn kingdom.

    I have just woken up to my first day as a king. The bedroom wasn''t the one I was accustomed to, for it used to be my father''s bedroom. Sure, the servants did religiously clean and changed the furniture to my liking, but the scent of my father still lingers. It is a smell I wish to forget soon. And if you are wondering about my mother, queen Listia, she was older than my father by seven years. She died five years ago when she was 67 years old. I sometimes wonder, will I also die in my sixties as my parents did?

    I heard a soft but a loud knock on the door, followed by, "Your Majesty, I am Ludik, may I enter?''

    After all these years I still do not understand how our servants precisely know when I wake up.

    "Yes, you may enter Ludik," I replied.

    Ludik opened the door, and as usual, his steps had no sound to them. He has always kept his head low while talking to my father, and now he treats me the same. I have no complaints about Ludik, besides the snow-white hair that signals his remaining lifespan.

    "I hope you had a good sleep Your Majesty?" asked Ludik. "Today will be a long day as all your viziers, and other followers are waiting for you in the main hall. They are quite eager to see you."

    "They weren''t that eager to see me before I became the king," I replied as I stood up from my bed.

    "Do not say that Your Majesty," retorted Ludik. "And do not forget to respond to other people inquiries. You had completely ignored my question about whether you slept well or not."

    I smiled, "Yes, I slept well Ludik, and thanks for pointing it out. There are a few people who can speak so freely to their superiors the way you do."

    "Oh, I beg your pardon," replied Ludik anxiously as he has gone down on one knee. "It is a bad habit that I cannot seem to get rid of after all these years."

    No, it is not like that Ludik. I lowered myself to his level, touched his left shoulder with my palm and said, "No, it is in fact a good habit. Do not you dare get rid of it; it is an attitude that helps your king improve as I still know next to nothing about kingship."

    "I understand," said Ludik with a surprised tone. "You and your late father are quite different from each other. Now that you are in the same position as him it is becoming clearer."

    I know what Ludik is implying. King Justinian the Second, or my father, would never accept such blunt words to be said to him. So despite being the King''s head servant, Ludik had suffered through sharp treatments behind the walls.

    "My father did change a lot ever since he had lost the Three-Year-War to the Lorope Empire fifteen years ago. He lost half of the empire''s lands, countless people, and turned into a puppet to the Lorope Empire. I realize what I am about to say is dreamy, but the public should not blame the unjust actions of my father on the Three-Year-War instead."A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "I see," said Ludik. "You still have a hard time hating people Your Majesty, always trying to justify their wrongdoings. But do you realize that this way of thinking may bring great harm to you and your people now that you have become the king?"

    "I do Ludik," I replied. "But it is hard to break a habit, the same way it is hard to break yours. It is just that any wrong habit that a king has gets amplified to affect all his people. It is an unfortunate notion and an unfortunate fact. In any case, let us keep this discussion at a later date for I do not want to keep my guests waiting for too long."

    "Very well," said Ludik. "I shall inform the guests that you will meet them very soon. In the meantime, we have prepared for you both a warm bath and a warm meal."

    The bath involved more scrubbing by the servants, and more flowers dipped in water than usual. Once that was done I went to have my breakfast in the dining room.The meal presented contained ten types of fresh and aged cheese. Ten types of thinly sliced meat each prepared in different seasoning. Ten types of crispy and chewy bread, followed by ten types of jam made from different fruits. Finally, the list ends with ten types of coffee at different grinds and bitterness levels.

    This banquet is enough to fill the bellies of at least ten adults up to their throats. So I asked the head chef Luti, who was standing beside the dining table waiting for my approval. "I will not finish even a tenth of all this food," I said. "What do you guys do with all the leftovers?"

    "Of course we toss them to the garbage, Your Majesty," replied Luti. "We would never dare to insult Your Majesty by eating from the food that we prepared just for you. I personally would never allow it."

    "Is that so," I replied. "Tell me how long has it been since you started working at the castle?"

    "Ten years Your Majesty," said Luti. "They are, until this very day, the best days of my life."

    "I am glad that is the case chef Luti," I said. "So how is your team? Do you require my assistance in any way, or are there any difficulties facing you these days?"

    "There is just a single matter quite unworthy of your precious time," said Luti. "It is about a disrespectful young man named Varwan who has been working under me for the past two years. He is talented but keeps complaining about all the leftover food that we toss to the garbage. I thought that time would stop his complaints, but it does not affect him."

    "And you would like me to punish him or fire him for his disobedience?" I asked.

    "I would not dare to suggest Your Majesty on doing anything," replied the head chef. "You have the foresight, the wisdom, and the experience but I have none. I only and humbly require your assistance on the matter in any way you find suitable."

    "Very well, bring him to me," I said.

    "Right now Your Majesty?" Luti asked.

    "Yes, right away," I said. "Varwan should be at the castle''s kitchen right now, is not he? If so then it would not take him more than a few minutes to be here."

    The young chef named Varwan had quite the common features. Brown hair, thin, and with a forward neck posture highlighting long focus sessions. I asked him as soon as he came to my presence.

    "The head chef Luti claims that you have been protesting against the uneaten food that gets thrown to the garbage, is that true?" I asked.

    "What you have uttered is true Your Majesty," said Varwan. "It is something that I have always wanted to talk to you about. I was born in a poor family where our bellies were always half empty. But thanks to my natural cooking capabilities I managed to make a strong name for myself, enough to work in this castle and I am most grateful for that. But after seeing how large quantities of food get thrown day after day without care into the waste containers, I could not help but feel enraged. There are at least hundreds of malnourished mouths in the city that would beg to have a bite of the wasted food. So I beg you Your Majesty, please stop this practice."

    He is not afraid to speak the truth. I like that.

    "Luti," I said. "What do you think of what Varwan had just said?"

    "It is always the same story Your Majesty," replied head chef Luti. "He recalls his hungry past to prove that eating after the royalties is correct. I would say it is disgusting and is a clear sign of disobedience."

    I stood up from my chair... disobedience huh?

    "Varwan is not a man who should be punished but rewarded for resisting against the castle''s unemphatic opinion. Varwan, from today you will receive the head chef title. You will also be responsible for distributing all the uneaten food in this castle to the poor, starting with these plates in front of me. And former head chef Luti, for the next six months you will act as an adviser to Varwan for his new role. Until then I will decide on a more suitable job for you."

 Chapter 2: The Three Viziers

    ¡°Why...¡± muttered former chef Luti.¡± Why are you moving me from my post Your Majesty? Had I ever disobeyed you? I was most faithful in everything you and your father had told me to do. Even tossing all the food to the garbage was a task that your father had required me to follow ever since I joined the castle."

    I know Luti, I know. But times are changing. If you are the kind of person who would blindly follow any order you are told to do, then you are no better than mere cattle. People could change, yes, but I cannot risk a critical position on chance.

    "Do not worry Luti," I said. "I still view you as one of our most influential and loyal servants. For this very reason, your new post will not be inferior to your former occupation as the head chef.

    "Oh is that what you meant Your Majesty?" Luti replied. "I apologize on my rude behavior for I misunderstood. And to tell you the truth I started to go bored in my previous role as the head chef. So your wise decision is nothing but most welcome."

    I am astonished. Luti switched his entire exterior mood after I clarified that I still have not forsaken him. If I did indeed forsake him, then a man with a tongue of his caliber would whip my name to everyone he knows.

    "Now that the matter is clear to you Luti, New head chef Varwan do you have anything you want to say or inquire?" I said.

    "Me? A Head chef?" asked Varwan in disbelief.

    He probably never thought of getting promoted from a simple chef to a head chef in mere seconds. It is a proof of a humble and unambitious mind.

    "Yes," I replied. "Take full advantage of this opportunity, you deserve it."

    After I finished with Varwan and Luti in the dining hall, I headed to the main hall where the three viziers were waiting. But before I entered, I wore the King''s official red robe, and a crown decorated with a great red jewel at its front. If you don''t wear them in public, then you are sending an insult to all that you are going to meet. It is an annoying custom that I will find a way to erase.

    Once I stepped into the main hall, four well-trained individuals on four corners of the rectangular hall blew their large golden trumpets. It created the usual noise that never failed to pierce my eardrums.

    As I continued walking to the dark blue throne and sat on its large cushions, the nine guests had gone on one knee. The three viziers were in front, and behind each of the three were two of their highest ranked followers.

    "It is quite a pleasure to see you today Your Majesty," the nine guests said in unison. They did train well, but it does not appeal to me.

    "I am also very pleased to see my most devoted servants in the kingdom," I replied. "Head servant Ludik had informed me that you all came quite early to see me today. It brings joy to my heart."

    The vizier on my left is Vold of Commerce, on the middle is Kaljar of War, and on the right is Lya of Agriculture who is the only lady amongst the three. And surprisingly, the gender of the viziers matches with the two followers behind them. Humans perhaps feel safe with those most similar to them.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    "I would love to start by bringing Your Majesty some great news," said the agriculture vizier Lya. "Our harvests this month, especially from rice, had almost doubled from using coal as a fertilizer. No other nation is aware of this valuable discovery. So soon we should be able to export the harvests in great quantities."

    If a male were to look at Vizier Lya, he would think that she is in her early thirties, where in fact she is in her early fifties. But females, for some reason, do not fall under this misunderstanding.

    Also, being the highest ranked lady brought Vizier Lya a natural female backup in any resolution she makes. She was smart enough to invest in her gender, that she slowly but surely dominated the entire agriculture industry with females. And yet she still did not get married... perhaps she is a lesbian in secret. It will be fun to confirm this assumption.

    "Using coal as a fertilizer is indeed an interesting discovery," I said. "I will make sure to reward you well on this achievement Vizier Lya. Now then, how is our commerce doing Vizier Vold?"

    "It has never been better Your Majesty," Vizier Vold replied. "The bank has a huge excess of cash from the public''s deposits. It is allowing all the companies short on cash to loan at low-interest rates."

    Vizier Vold of Commerce, on the other hand, is a person who is with a passion for numbers. He told me a few years ago that he believes everything in this world is a number. Vold keeps a small silver abacus calculator with him to calculate whatever peaks his curiosity at any time. The first time I saw Vizier Vold, he looked at me intensely while fiddling with his silver abacus, then concluded that my number is three hundred thirty-three. Vold is quite a different individual.

    "If the banks are behaving well then the kingdom''s economy is also behaving well," I replied. "So far two major fields are behaving wonderfully, which leaves me to you Vizier Kaljar. How is the situation at our borders?"

    "I would not exaggerate like the other two viziers did Your Majesty," Vizier Kaljar replied. "As you know the Lorope Empire surrounds our north, east, and west borders ever since we lost the Three-Year-War, leaving us with the Lorban Sea at the south. Now ever since King Justinian the Second had passed away, the Lorope Empire has been accumulating its forces all around its borders with us that it is becoming very alarming."

    "They are suspicious that I might make a surprise attack against them now that I have become the King. I will need to clean the tension personally. Kaljar, could you send a swift mail to the Lorope Emperor Lustratos that I will meet him in person next week?"

    "It would be my pleasure Your Majesty," Vizier Kaljar replied.

    Kaljar, on the other hand, is honest. Too honest that he doesn''t mind leaking secretive information about his own relatives. Once Father was aware of this feature in Kaljar, he assigned an exceptional individual for all secretive military matters known as Zadol. I will also need to meet him soon.

    "Very well," I said. "I beg you all pardon, but you will have to excuse me to end this meeting for my duties are growing ever so larger."

    "Your Majesty," said Kaljar. "I beg your pardon but would you mind sparing me a few private minutes of your time?"

    That is rare. Kaljar is not the kind of person who would bother speaking to people in private. It seems the matter is rather severe. I hope it is not about the Lorope Empire.

    "Of course," I replied. "As you have heard, everyone besides me and Vizier Kaljar please leave the hall."

    After I uttered the request, both Vizier Lya and Vold had given sharp glances to Kaljar''s back as they left the hall. What did they mean by these glances? Hate? Resentment? Envy?

    In any case, I returned my focus back to Vizier Kaljar who began to speak after everyone had left the hall.

    "King Rajid," said Kaljar. "Again I want to extend my apology for taking moments of your invaluable time. It is a matter quite dear to me."

    Quite dear to him? Then it would not be about the Lorope Empire now, would it? I wonder what it is about...

    "Do not worry about it," I replied. "A king must always have free time for his people. So tell me Kaljar, what is it that troubles you?"

    "I will get straight to the point because I hate to beat around the bush," Kaljar replied. "Your Majesty, would you like to marry my eldest daughter Mirya?"

 Chapter 3: Marriage?

    "I hope you do not misunderstand my Liege," said Kaljar. "My request of you to marry my daughter Mirya is in no way a route to benefit myself politically. I just want my daughter to lead the happiest life possible. And to prove it if you agree to the marriage proposal I will never request a single favor from you unless it is for another person''s benefit."

    I wish I had a father like you Kaljar, though I cannot utter such words for it will undermine the whole kingdom. But marriage huh? I am very sorry Kaljar, but marriage will do nothing but distract me from my duties as a king. A time spent on wife or family is much better spent instead on the countless poor and needy. That said, how can I decline Kaljar''s proposal without inflaming his feelings?

    "I would like to thank you Kaljar," I said. "For not only bringing me this precious offer but also for being a thoughtful father to your daughter. I am sure she is more than happy to have someone like you as her parent. But, at the present time, my mind is too preoccupied with managing the kingdom. So I would not be able to give her the attention a wife deserves from her husband."

    "Your Majesty..." said Kaljar, while blowing out a series of short breaths to gain control. ¡°My daughter is made of milk and honey... She rivals gold and diamonds that innumerable greedy men have tried to steal her away from me. Your reason for rejecting the proposal is most logical, but there is not much time left until one of these thieves steals her away from me... forever. Also, my wife is unable to differentiate between gentle and sore men in the presence of lavish presents. So could Your Majesty please reconsider your decision? I dare say that may spit at me in public if you do not find her appealing in both soul and body."

    I thought, as always, of keeping my thoughts to myself. But this time I could not help but leak it out through laughter. I never thought that Vizier Kaljar of War, a man known of strict order, would have this tender side to him.

    "Kaljar," I said. "Ever since you earned this post five years ago you have been a very bright and dutiful man for the kingdom. And for that, I would most gladly make an exception for you and agree to meet your daughter. I will also grant you the privilege to choose a time and date for the meeting, which should help you against the thieves you spoke about."

    The best way to gain a person is to do something so dear to him as a favor. Kaljar would never forget this gratitude.

    Kaljar replied with a smile that his muscles could not contain, "Then how about meeting her once you come back from the Lorope Empire? She will heal your soul from the degradation we all experience after coming back from the Lorope Empire."

    I hope so, in fact, she would be an excellent wife if that is the case. My father always came back from the Lorope Empire with dead, cold, and flat eyes. This is probably why he never allowed me to travel to the Empire while he was alive. No matter how dark a person is, there are always little holes of light in him.

    "Of course Kaljar," I replied. "The timing is suitable for me. But tell me honestly, why did you pick me out of all the men in the kingdom to marry your daughter? If it is for my status, then that is not an indicator of a happy life, for I could cheat or hit her whenever I want to. And if you are doing it for my manners, then you are a liar."

    Let us see how Kaljar will respond to this question.

    "Actually it is for both of these two reasons Your Majesty," replied Kaljar. And a third more important one that I am surprised you have not mentioned. To start off you have, not best, but very dignified manners along with the best status in the kingdom. And this is quite the coincidence, for money and pride are the best fertilizers for the growth of evil. If anything, this reveals your inner qualities that can resist such temptations, and this is why I am certain that you will not cheat nor hit her like what you have stated. The third reason relates to your history with Mirya, or have forgotten about it, Your Majesty?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    History? I do not remember a single thing. I was not even aware that Kaljar''s daughter name is Mirya until he stated it earlier...

    "I will be honest here," I replied. "But I cannot recall a single thing about your daughter. I was not even aware that her name was Mirya until you mentioned it."

    "Well," said Kaljar. "Mirya will be heart-struck if she heard that but I do not blame you. It is one of these minor incidents that ladies carve deep into their hearts. But you will have to know the story; otherwise, life will trouble me with a depressed daughter till I die. You do not know how long she has been dreaming of her Prince."

    I am starting to have my doubts about Mirya.

    "Very well," I said. "Tell me the story."

    "You gave her a flower about ten years ago Your Majesty," Kaljar said. A red one at a banquet held by your late father while she was crying."

    "Go on," I said.

    "That is the whole story Your Majesty," Kaljar replied. "I understand what is going through your mind, for it has been going through mine for ten long years until this very moment."

    Poor man, he had to suffer through a lot.

    "Well, we can still view it differently," I said. "That Mirya remembers the tiniest generous deeds done to her, which is a sign of a fine personality."

    And it means that she may remember the tiniest evil deeds done to her.

    "Viewing it in this way proves that you are all the more fit for her Your Majesty," said Kaljar with a beaming face. "I will be taking my leave on this good note. I am quite glad to have you as my King."

    Kaljar left the main hall with firm steps, leaving me as the only person in it.

    <hr>

    I have not been to the Lorope Empire. But I had read enough to visualize the Empire''s past, and to a certain extent, predict its future.

    Historians have surrounded the beginnings of the Lorope Empire with nothing but legends. But according to the most reliable and the great historian Herodomus, an ambitious man named Lorope sought out one of the three mythical beasts, Salamander.

    Oral story-tellers have always utilized these beasts in numberless stories for the public. All these stories surprisingly agree that any one of these beasts can eradicate a well-equipped army in no more than an hour.

    There is no any clear proof whether anyone had come across a mythical beast that is until Lorope had discovered one. He heard from a sage that the location of one of the three beasts is at the peak of a black mountain called Ebonite.

    The mountain was very active; the flowing lava covered its surface like veins and gave it unbearable temperature. Lorope still managed to climb the whole mountain through unknown means, and once he reached the peak, Lorope was startled at the sight of the sleeping beast, Salamander.

    Salamander''s size was equal to a hundred humans. It emitted boiling heat and covered itself in garnet scales that no sword can pierce through.

    Behind Salamander Lorope saw a cylindrical platform and on top of it was a red ring.

    While Salamander was sleeping, Lorope walked to the platform with the mysterious ring. And by the time he was beside the platform, Lorope noticed engravings written on it that read as follows:

    [Search for the other two beasts Azrath and Xeldar for the three exist for a more significant reason than what you might assume]

    After reading the engravings, Lorope felt that Salamander started to move. So in impulse Lorope took the red ring, wore it, and once he did so the whole mountain disappeared. It was miraculously replaced by a giant lake that still exists today at the very heart of the Lorope Empire.

    The ring that came to be known as Crimson allowed its user to exercise full control over Salamander. This permitted Lorope to conquer a thousand surrounding villages in six months, forming the base of Lorope Empire. All of this had happened 500 years ago.

    Now moving to when the Three-Year-War occurred 15 years ago, Father and everyone else believed that Salamander no longer existed. There was not a single trace of Salamander aside from Lorope''s ancient story. Thus, the public concluded that Salamander is a myth, or that it died many hundred years ago. The Djinn Kingdom''s army back in the war was 20 times larger than the Loropian, our victory was inevitable. But when our army saw Salamander, they then realized that myth is more dangerous than reality.

 Chapter 4: Salamander

    Salamander

    With a warcry that pierced the seventh sky, Salamander destroyed the whole Djinn army in the Three-Year-War in less than an hour. It was the same timeframe as in the stories of the oral story-tellers.

    Our Djinn army initially attacked the south, east, and western fronts of the Lorope Empire. The army was about to reach the Great Lake where the castle of Emperor Lustratous was situated. But that was when Salamander unleashed itself, rising from the depths of the Great Lake.

    Our army at the beginning of the war consisted of 200,000 men, whereas Lorope was only 10,000. By the time Salamander finished his massacre, our army''s size got reduced to a humiliating 1,000. This was one of the gravest war results that I had ever heard of in my life.

    One would naturally wonder, what did Salamander do to achieve such a monstrous feat? The answer would be evident from observing the status of the casualties in our army. They all turned into logs of charcoal.

    As far as we know, Salamander possesses three abilities. First, he can unleash rays of fire from his mouth that can be intense enough to melt swords. Every Lorope land that got affected by Salamander fire rays has turned black. So it could no longer grow any vegetation.

    Second, Salamander''s speed exceeds every living being that I know about. If it takes a week for a horse to reach a particular city, then Salamander can do the same in half a day. It quickly became known in the war, even for our horses, that evading Salamander is akin to an ant evading a human.

    The third feature relates to Salamander''s exterior, which is made of thick granite shells. If you order a hundred men to pierce a single granite shell with swords and spears, the weapons will bend before they can scratch the granite.

    When our army realized that resistance is futile, that Salamander even burned war veterans into charcoal, the whole Djinn army went mad.

    Some ran tried to run back to the kingdom. Others froze in place, and the rest acted dead hoping that they may outsmart Salamander. But all of that did not matter, they all died.

    There were only two survivors who had seen Salamander and survived the war. Though, they both committed suicide within a month after the war had ended.

    Reflecting on those days brought much fear and sadness. The whole kingdom went wailing. Wives of the men who passed away could not contain their anguish. They went out on the streets and cried and cursed the skies for hours, then days.

    Father, King Justinian the Second, could not allow the mourning to continue. He issued a decree disallowing anyone to cry or mention anything about the war in public. I still remember how often did Father wake up after the war unable to sleep from the nightmares.

    But it is still unclear on why did Salamander show up this time after disappearing for 500 years. Why now? Our military strategists discussed it. One suggested that Salamander appears only when the Empire is in danger.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    But this thought got nullified since 200 years ago the Jelvak Republic, located north of the Lorope Empire, had sent an army that reached the core of the Lorope Empire at the Great Lake. The Jelvak army had entered the royal castle and had killed the Lorope Emperor back then. If that theory was correct, then Salamander should have shown up at that more urgent time.

    After suggesting and nullifying countless theories, we came up with the most valid theory. That is the Crimson Ring that is believed to control Salamander and is worn by every Lorope Emperor until today is fake. Someone else controls the real Crimson Ring, and that person or group had decided for some unknown reason to use Salamander this time.

    Whether Salamander is controlled by an unknown person or by the Emperor himself, the central fact remains that we are powerless against it and the Lorope Empire.

    Many amongst us have accepted this idea and gave up to become spies for Lorope Empire. Others feared Salamander with such intensity that they worshiped him hoping he would not harm them.

    We call this group Saladians, and this is where my next destination is before I travel to the Lorope Empire.

    <hr>

    It was midnight. A time where it is forbidden for any commoner to walk around in the Kingdom unless it is for an urgent reason.

    After reaching the destination my two armored guards and I left the carriage. It was a ten-minute drive from the castle that brought me to where I stood now, the Saladian Patriarch church.

    The church is one of the oldest religious structures in the Kingdom. Built about 500 years ago for an unknown religion. It was made of an oak wood that is still holding itself quite well despite a few cracks concentrated at the base. It should last for a few hundred years, and it is sad that time made us lose such durable expertise.

    I have already informed the Saladian leader that I will meet him today. So they have prepared a lady clothed in bright red robes who is standing now between me and the entrance to the church.

    "We thank you for meeting us today Your Majesty," said the lady in red as she bowed to me politely. "My name is Pia. Please allow me to lead you to Lord Salam. He is eager to meet you."

    So even leaders of shadowy religious groups use attractive ladies as secretaries. From where do they find them? From poverty?

    "Very well," I replied. "But I will bring my two guards with me."

    "We are fine with everything that our King desires," replied Pia with a wide, distant grin as she opened the main gate to the church. "Please come in."

    Once I stepped my foot into the entrance room, I had to clench my eyes in response to the large concentration of light coming from the room. Crackling bonfires were everywhere; at its four corners, at its four walls, and in a massive copper bowl at the middle of the room. The smoke did not linger for it escaped through seven wide holes at the roof.

    In front of the massive copper bowl at the middle of the room were ten people, clothed in blue robes, kneeling in front of a giant marble statue of Salamander. Despite our loud footsteps, they continued their religious duties uninterrupted.

    "Lord Salam is upstairs Your Majesty," said Pia. "Please follow me."

    After me, Pia, and my two guards ascended a circular stairway we were greeted by a door. Pia opened the door to reveal a tall plain room. At its end sat a man, possibly in his mid-forties, on a chair with his elbows on the table. He wore very dark red, almost black, robes.

    "Today is a blissful day for us Saladians," said the man sitting on the chair while opening his arms wide. "Welcome to our humble church, Your Majesty. My name is Salam. I am the head of this church, as you already know, and of the Saladian religious group. You asked us to meet you, and we complied. So how may we help you in this peaceful night?"

    "Guards, keep the door shut," I said in a swift, commanding voice. "Lord Salam, you have two choices: steal the Crimson Ring from Emperor Lustratous or die."

 Chapter 5: Lord Salam

    "Steal the Crimson Ring?" asked the puzzled Lord Salam, who had reclined himself back to his chair, and held the armrests very tightly.

    "Yes," I replied. "Will you do it? Be quick."

    Why am I resorting to such a rough, threatening conversation in the first place? The nature of the Saladians is the answer. They worship Salamander; thus, they are most responsive to pain and fear. I had only resorted to these two stimulations.

    My guards are ready to follow any command the instant I order it, including the death sentence. I hand-picked them for this purpose. And the assistant Pia was so shocked that she walked away from me behind her leader Salam. So my theory thus far is correct.

    "Can''t you think this through again Your Majesty?" asked Lord Salam. "I have kids and a wife who will die out of hunger without my suppo¡ª"

    "Be quick," I interrupted. "Taking care of your family is a basic task to me. Or have you forgotten who am I?"

    What I am doing is cruel. I can''t deny it. But sometimes one has to take a brutal route to avoid a much brutal alternative. What I am doing now is hitting two birds with one stone; harming Lorope and this church at the same time. The saladian church is destabilizing my country. The more it grows, the more people would side towards it and the Lorope Empire. An idiotic king would only allow this church to exist.

    "Can''t you spare me at least a day to think it through?" said Lord Salam with a stutter. "I promise to reply to you within a single day. No, I will reply to you by morning."

    "You have wasted your time and life Lord Salam," I said. "Guards, come here and kill him."

    The guards walked toward Lord Salam as they unsheathed their swords. Pia shrieked, and Lord Salam leaped out of his chair and walked behind Pia, hugging her waist tightly. I did not realize Salam was shorter than Pia.

    "No, no King Rajid," said the horrified Lord Salam. "I have not done anything wrong have I? Why are you doing this to me?"

    "Cut his head off," I said to the two guards. "But do not touch the lady."

    A learned man one written that its better for a king to be feared than to be loved. Perhaps I am doing the same...

    One guard grabbed lord Salam from his shoulder and pulled him away from Pia. The other guard readied his sword and immediately pierced lord Salam''s neck.

    Blood splashed everywhere; on the guards'' armor and on Pia''s face.

    The guard separated Lord Salam''s head from his body that fell to the floor. Pia shouted in a way that had probably awakened the whole neighborhood. So it should have startled the ten priests clothed in blue under this room.

    "Pia," I said. "I will repeat the same question I mentioned to Lord Salam to you; steal the Crimson Ring from Emperor Lustratos or die the same way your master did."

    "I will steal it," responded Pia as she walked and hugged my right leg while crying. "I will steal the ring and do whatever you want me to do. But please spare my life, Your Majesty. I am innocent. The man you have just killed forced himself on me and threatened to kill my parents had I not worked for him and obeyed all his orders. You do not know how much suffering I had to go through. How often did he kick me, punch me, and pulled my hair till I begged him to stop."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    "Fine," I replied. "If what you said is the truth then I will forgive and compensate you. But if you were, in fact, lying to me, you know what will happen to you. Now let go of my leg."

    It is sad that we live in days where I cannot trust anyone''s words without confirming them first. Human words are no more than an opinion, and everything we see is just a single perspective of the full truth.

    Anyone who had seen this brutal scene would call me nothing but a monster. But, the truth, the other perspectives is far from that.

    Lord Salam was a spy. He gave much information about my Kingdom to the Lorope Empire. Lorope surprised us by sending us many warning letters about every weapon or political relation that we tried to develop.

    Father simply obeyed and did not attempt to cut the root of the cause, like what I had just done.

    Lord Salam further stole from many, needy families with the help of the underground networking with the Lorope Empire. The more theft that happens in my kingdom, the more it benefits Lorope. Had I not killed him right now and jailed him instead, the Lorope spies around the city and perhaps even in my castle would find a quick way to free him.

    Pia is perhaps one of these victims which is why I have not done anything but pour fear in her. This should be enough for now.

    "Your Majesty." said one of the guards. "What do we do with the head?"

    "Give it to me," I said. "Follow me, everyone."

    I held the head with my left and opened the door of the room with my right. And once I stepped out of the room, I heard a feminine shout from behind, "Die!"

    I turned my head in time to witness a short sword heading towards my body by Pia. I did not expect this so I could not dodge the sword in time. It grazed my left arm, forcing me to drop Lord Salam''s head on the ground.

    I could not miss this chance. I swiftly kicked Pia''s belly with a force that made her fall on the ground and hit the pillars of the stairs. The guards restrained Pia and took hold of her sword.

    I quickly peered down the stairs. Luckily the ten priests in blue robes were still drained in their prayers to Salamander. The cracking bonfires worked wonders in absorbing all the noise that occurred thus far. This is a smart trick.

    I returned my attention to the restrained Pia. "Why did you attack me?" I asked. "I give you a chance, but you have broken it with your own hands."

    "I cannot live without Lord Salam anymore," she replied while crying. "The moment you killed him was also the moment you killed me. He treated me with such respect and generosity that I would have died for his sake. You monster."

    I was barely able to contain my laughter.

    But after Pia ended her words, she did spit on my face.

    The guards looked awestruck when they witnessed this. One guard immediately drew his sword and was about to stab Pia, but I could not let him do that.

    "Stop," I ordered.

    "But Your Majesty," objected the guard named Rayan who was about to stab Pia. "She worked for a criminal, lied to you, and spat on your face. I do not get it for it is a national offense. Why are you stopping me from killing her?"

    "When the offended forgives, all the charges applied on the offender gets washed away," I replied. "Pia you said that your master was generous to you. But was he generous enough to forgive your death sentence? Guards free your restraints on her. Pia, it is up to you now on what do you want to do with your life; you may either work under me or leave this church right away, and I guarantee that in both choices no harm shall reach you."

    The guards reluctantly obeyed and unrestrained Pia who herself was staring at me in confusion.

    "Are you sane?" she asked. "I could stab you again. I could leak everything that happened today and destroy your reputation as a king. I could even mention the matter to other nations who will use it as a reason to invade your kingdom.

    Blood dripped from my left arm from the scar, but I ignored the pain and said, "Pia, I believe in you."

    I lowered myself to pick up Lord Salam''s head, which was growing colder and drier as I continued descending the stairs.

 Chapter 6: The Priest

    I hope Pia does not come after me with a sword again. I have forgiven her more than I should so any further offense would be unjust to forgive.

    "You idiot," shouted Pia after I heard the sound of a robe getting torn. Pia walked beside me and bandaged my injured left arm with her torn fabric. "I won''t forgive you if you repeat this again."

    "What? How?" I objected in surprise. She did not reply but kept her head low with a faint smile. I guess one should not always look for logic but to the emotions underneath.

    In any case, I continued descending the stairs till I reached the last step. I am planning to terrify the ten priests by throwing the head of Lord Salam in front of them. Even though this fear strategy did not work well on Lord Salam and on Pia, I am still hopeful that it could work at least on some of the priests.

    Though to my surprise, the ten priests were not there. They were not praying beside the marble statue of Salamander. They disappeared. How come? I just saw them a minute ago after Pia had stabbed me... The two guards and Pia were standing behind me at the base of the stairs, waiting for my next orders.

    There were two other rooms that I have yet to explore. One room was on the right, and the other on the left side of this main entrance room. So they must have moved to one of these two rooms, out of fear or as a tactic to ambush us.

    How do I proceed? I cannot rely on Pia for information, I am not confident that she would betray her cult that quickly.

    "Those of you who are hiding from me know that I am your king, King Rajid," I shouted so they could hear. "Submit willingly, and I won''t harm you, otherwise, prepare to die."

    I am not planning to kill them. But I can''t have them spread the story of what happened in here to the public. So I can''t let any of the ten priests escape.

    After waiting for five minutes, one of the ten priests came outside the left room. His clothes were soaked in red, and he was holding a sword in his right hand.

    "Your Majesty," the priest said. "Rest assured, I have killed them all."

    What did he just say? It does not make sense.

    "You killed everyone in this church?" I asked.

    "Yes," the priest replied in joy. "You also killed their leader, well done. So except for the lady standing beside you, I have killed them all. I could also kill her if you want."

    The moment the priest said that Pia hid behind me. Just who is this guy?

    "No," I said. "And I did not ask you to kill any of the priests. What is your name?"

    "My name?" he asked. "I actually forgot."

    He is playing around.

    "Guards restrain him," I ordered. "You may do as you please to retrain him, but keep him alive."

    Let us see how far can he keep up with the best swordsmen in the kingdom. They are not guards but in fact elite soldiers in disguise.

    Rayan, the one who had almost stabbed Pia after she spat on me, had never lost a single spar against any soldier in the kingdom ever since he entered the military seven years ago. This feat became swiftly known all over the kingdom, giving him wide popularity. Deploying Rayan in any operation like this one assured its rapid success.

    The only apparent downfall in Rayan is in his family matters. Every lady that he had married, which totaled three, were disloyal to him and ended with them requesting a divorce.

    Of course, one would doubt Rayan instead of three ladies. But after further investigation, we have found out that Rayan is innocent. After the divorce, the response of the three ladies was the same, "He is just too plain and boring." And with that Rayan swore never to marry again, but if you ask me such an oath is fragile.

    "Heheheh...," uttered the mysterious priest. "Restrain me, Your Majesty? Now I am quite afraid."

    "Your Majesty," said Pia. "Please be careful, I have not seen this person before in our church."

    Rayan walked in front, unsheathing his sword, and headed toward the priest. Behind him was was the other guard, named Varian, who similarly drew his sword and followed.

    Varian, while not naturally gifted with the sword as Rayan, is currently the second best swordsman in the Kingdom. Varian earned his swordsman skills after sharpening it with intense training. One can''t help but appreciate Varian''s relentless soul. Because of that Varian sparred against Rayan spar daily, but Varian is yet to win against Rayan.

    I should also note that Varian is blessed with a great wife. She had a strong market. When she accepted his marriage proposal ten years ago, twelve young men and a single lady stood in front of Varian''s house in opposition to the marriage. It took him a whole year to freeze the opposition.

    These two were the reason why I was confident in invading this church. Even if twenty people attacked them at the same time, they would still beat them without receiving a single injury.

    "It would be best if you surrender," said Rayan. "I don''t want to harm you."

    "You will lose a limb or two if you don''t," said Varian.

    "Oh that would be very painful, would not it?" asked the priest in delight. "But it is fine, I will be careful."

    Suddenly, the priest leaped like a lion at Varian who did not have the time to react. The priest used his sword to struck Varian''s sword in a way that made it fall to the ground. Blood flowed from Varian''s right palm.

    "See," said the priest. "I told you I will be more careful."

    Rayan was outraged. The priest did not aim at him but at Varian who stood behind him. Rayan also was not swift enough to stop the quick leap of the priest.

    Rayan charged at the priest. He slashed him diagonally from the top left angle to the bottom right, but the priest blocked it midway with ease with his sword. This slash of Rayan attacked at a corner that is tough to defend for the right-handed swordsmen. Only a handful could block this slash, but it did not work on the priest.

    The two swords were grinding one another; Rayan was pushing the priest''s sword while the priest was also pushing Rayan''s sword. Sparks flew everywhere. The battle switched to a competition of pure strength. But anyone observing the scene could tell that the priest was not applying full force on his sword, unlike Rayan.

    We are, surprisingly, at a vast disadvantage.

    "What is wrong," the priest said, smiling, while still grinding against Rayan''s sword. "I thought I would lose a limb or two. I thought the Djinn Kingdom was better than this."

    I see, so he is not from the Djinn kingdom...

    "Do not you dare insult our¡ª" Rayan tried to say. But at that moment, the priest applied massive force on his sword that it had cut smoothly through Rayan''s sword like butter, and it did not stop at that. The slash continued to Rayan''s neck and separated it from his body.

    My brain could not register what had just happened until I saw Rayan''s head landing beside my feet.

    "One is down," said the priest with a smile, then he pointed his sword at me. "King Rajid, you are next."

 Chapter 7: Should I Use Regalia?

    It is funny and unbelievable on how fast did the tables turn. I started this small invasion on the church to destroy it and use it as a bait to steal the Crimson ring from Emperor Lustratos. Yet now, I am in the same position as Lord Salam, without anyone capable of stopping this abomination of a priest.

    Well then, should I use Regalia?

    It is quite likely that all of us in this room will die. I will probably regret this decision, this hasty decision against the church till the day I die.

    Rayan I am sorry. I thought you and Varian were invincible. I was quite overconfident.

    Yet a king regrets a lot; soon I might even regret sending thousands to battle. I have to keep my act strong.

    "I never thought that I will ever kill a king," said the priest with a mocked smile. Rayan''s fresh Blood dripped from his sword as he walked toward me. "I have killed many. Many that I have lost count, but you know, my memory of killing you will always be carved deep into my soul."

    So he is quite the killer. I have put my head unknowingly against an abnormal human.

    Definitely, I am afraid. But I can''t show this emotion to anyone. I will never show it.

    "You are from Lorope aren''t you?" I asked the priest.

    The priest stopped walking.

    "Oh, you have great deduction skills Your Majesty," replied the priest. "Indeed I am from Lorope. But it does not matter now, does it? You should worry about more important matters now like the fact that you are about to die. Tell me do you have any lasting wishes?"

    "Countless wishes, yes," I replied. "But could you tell me more about yourself? I want to know more about the person who will kill me. As a king, I deserve this much."

    The priest looked at me and kept thinking. Based on this reaction I would say he is not the smartest man, but at least a cautious one.

    All that I am doing right now is saving some time. Pia had grabbed a handful of my royal red robe and is shivering behind me. Guard Varian went to pick up his fallen sword. But once he had seen Rayan''s head flying, he dropped his sword again and was drowning in fear.

    I didn''t expect the second best swordsmen in the kingdom to submit to fear. So all that I have at my arsenal right now is my voice and two weaklings.

    And again I wonder, should I use Regalia?

    "This is the first time I have heard such a request," said the priest. "Fine, I will tell you a little about my past. But do not come crying at me."

    "Good," I replied. "We share the same thoughts."

    The more you become attached to a person the harder it becomes to harm him. I am betting that by getting to know more about the priest''s past, he would start to grow more attached to me. It is very risky to expect this reaction from an experienced murderer, but this is the best I can think of at this moment. Who knows it might work out.

    "My father was and is still a gambler," said the priest. "He cares about gambling more than anything else, especially more than his family. Because he kept on losing, and because he wanted to win so badly he started to sell his belongings. The furniture of our house was sold for extra gambling rounds, food was no longer a necessity. But all of this was still not enough to fill his greed. Greed and gambling controlled Father like a wooden puppet; he followed every order they asked him to do. He soon stole and did every other illegal act for extra gambling rounds. Then yes he sold his family to the black market, he sold me."

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    This priest burdens a lot, and it is quite an elaborate story to say for someone who is about to die.

    "So you are not fond of Emperor Lustratos nor his empire?"

    "He who kills daily can''t ever be fond of anything, even if he tried," replied the priest.

    This is a positive signal.

    "And how is your father now?" I asked.

    "You are asking too many questions you know," said the priest with an annoyed look. "I won''t answer any other question after this. He is homeless, living on the street beside his favorite gambling house. He deserves it. Now, are you satisfied? I have been patient with you because you are a King. Had you been a commoner I would have¡ª"

    "And are you fine with this?" I interrupted with a sharp voice. "Are you fine with seeing your father in this miserable state? He may be a gambling addict, but that is only one negative side about him. Have you tried helping him?"

    "Do not talk like you know anything about my family," shouted the priest as he leaped with anger at me and in an instant his sword was placed on my neck.

    "A king should not talk about misery," continued the priest. "You know nothing about it. You have never tasted it in your life. You have not slept freezing on the streets, hopeful to survive the next day. You never struggled against life. Life spoiled you, it drowned you in happiness. I have tried everything and sacrificed my own happiness to stop Father''s addiction, but nothing worked."

    He is crying.

    "And what if I told you that I can treat your father?" I said in a firm tone, trying to ignore the sword placed on my neck from sending me to panic.

    "Empty words," replied the priest. "Same words that anyone would say before they are about to die. What will you say next? Give me all the riches of the Kingdom? Or a very high office? Or perhaps both?"

    "I will heal your father in six months," I said. "And if you did not see any improvement in his status, you may kill me on the spot. You are stronger than my best men as you have experienced so I cannot stop you from killing me or anyone else. It is a good deal; you will gain your father and lose nothing. As for the riches and high office, I am not giving you any, I have no right to use them for personal reasons."

    I am telling the truth since this priest may even have enough experience to detect lies in this situation. Besides, what is nobler than telling the truth at one''s last minutes?

    In any case, life closed much of its doors at the priest that he cannot ever believe that it will one day yield him good fortune. Even though I cannot guarantee that his father will be healed as I had told him, I can still try with the expertise of the kingdom. I am not optimistic, but merely hopeful.

    "Even if I let you live do you think that Emperor Lustratous will let me get away with this?" the priest asked. "He will follow me to the ends of the Earth, kill and torture every close relative of mine."

    "What better position do you want?" I asked. "You have my support as a ruler against another ruler."

    "Your kingdom lost against Lorope," the priest said. "You are weak."

    "Who do you think I am?" I asked. I used my left palm to press against the priest''s chest, his body could not contain the impact, sothe priest flew backward till he collided with the wall of the church with a loud noise. The priest then fell on the floor unconscious.

    So I ended up using Regalia.

 Chapter 8: The Library

    Pia''s face regained its color after she saw the priest falling unconscious from my palm push. Her shivering was replaced by puzzlement.

    "Your Majesty," said Pia. "What had just happened? What did you do?"

    A few moments later, Varian, who was stunned after he saw Rayan''s head flying to my side, began to walk towards me.

    "Your Majesty," said Varian. "Are you alright? I apologize for not coming to your rescue earlier. I did not honestly know whether I could stand a chance against this priest after I saw what happened to Rayan." Varian kept staring at Rayan''s head.

    At least Varian is honest and somewhat wise; had he come to my rescue he would have lost his head like Rayan. Though I will need to teach him how to control his fear later on.

    "Do not worry Varian, " I said. "I would have done the same if I were in your position. The priest will not wake up for at least a few hours, so rest assured both of you. Varian, tie up the priest with care, he will be valuable. And Pia, I want you to show me around the last two rooms in this church."

    I avoided talking about how did I manage to push the priest all the way to the wall. They should not know about Regalia, for it is my last and final trump card against the Lorope Empire.

    I followed Pia to the room on the left side of the main entrance room. It is the same room that the priest had come out from.

    "This is the lodging room, Your Majesty," said Pia. "Since our prayers start from midnight till the sunrise we often fall sleepy. A quick rest allows us to return energetic to our prayers. But Your Majesty, I do not think I will be able to see all my friends massacred. It will be an image that I will never be able to erase from my memory. So you will have to excuse me that I cannot enter the room with you."

    I nodded my head in approval of her request. She had gone through a lot today. So I stepped into the lodging room, alone.

    The first thing that attracted my attention was the smell of stench. Nine bodies were piled up beside one another at the center of this rectangular room. The heads of the nine priest bodies were scattered; some were on top of the bloodstained beds, others were beside me and on the far corners of the room. Had I not experienced worse scenes than this, I would have thrown up and fallen unconscious on the spot.

    After I have confirmed the status of the room and that the nine priests were, in fact, dead I left the lodging room. It is not healthy to stay in it any longer.

    "I am done with this room," I said to Pia. "Let us move to the last one."

    "The next and last room Your Majesty is the library," said Pia. "Lord Salam told us that after the Third-Year-War had ended, he accumulated every book and manuscript he could find about Salamander. Oh, and there is also a private room inside the library room that lord Salam does not allow us to enter. He said it is for his private research about Salamander."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Private research huh? Interesting...

    "Very well, show me to this private room," I ordered.

    "It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty," replied Pia. "The key to the private from are upstairs in lord Salam''s room that we had entered earlier. I will go and pick it up."

    Pia ascended the stairs with passion. She seems curious if not dead curious about the contents of this private room. Well, it is human nature to love the unknown, and I would argue that ladies love the unknown more than men.

    In the meantime, I walked toward the library room at the opposite end of the lodging room where I am currently standing. I passed by the statue of Salamander, and Varian who is still religiously tying up the priest and entered the library room.

    Countless shelves were loaded with books, and the whole place smelled like old books. Parchments were squeezed between the books, and I could not find any accumulated dust on the shelves, nor on the large square table at the middle of the room. Four small statues of Salamander screamed terror at each corner of the large table, and a suspicious thick iron door was at the opposite corner of the library door.

    Most of the parchments and books at this room were written by those terrified of Salamander. It is sad. Some if not all of them could not sleep from overthinking that Salamander could kill them at any moment.

    But lord Salam, what killed you was not your god Salamander but your wrongful actions, and in the most common way, by a sword.

    What I have done today will break the hidden cult of Salamander in the kingdom and outside. They will realize that there are more severe and more ethical matters that could also bring their death. They will realize that humans are in fact more dangerous than their god Salamander. What happened to lord Salam will shout to their whole belief system and re-organize it once again.

    Now then, I returned my senses to my surroundings and thought of grabbing one of the books on the shelves.

    I found one that attracted my eyes, titled "Daily Rituals to Ward off the Evil of Our Benevolent Salamander" by Lashim Kashim. It was written before even Lorope had discovered Salamander 500 years ago. It mentions that:

    [Be sure to bless the benevolent Salamander in your heart while you are at animal markets. His evil is most active when animals interact heavily with humans.

    Keep a small statue of the benevolent Salamander in your house at all times. Then sprinkle the statue daily with fresh animal blood that your pocket can afford. And if you do not have any animal blood use your blood. Do not keep Salamander waiting for blood, remember his great wrath.

    Make sure you cry with tears for his superiority and majesty while you are covered in sweat and dirt. Our benevolent god does not like it when we humans, who are unclean, try to act against our nature.]

    I would have tossed this book in a bonfire had it not been critical historically. It follows nothing but assumptions and abuses logic.

    I heard soft footsteps heading my way to the library. It was Pia as expected, breathing heavily after sprinting through the stairs.

    "Your Majesty," said Pia. "I have the key to lord Salam''s private room. May I open it?"

    "It is a room with sensitive information," I replied. "I cannot let you enter the room or see any of its contents until I view it first."

    Pia gave me these sad and ''you are cruel'' looks as I snatched the key from her hand with a bit of force and walked to the mysterious iron door.

    I unlocked and opened the iron door. It was much heavier than what I had expected.

    No light could enter the room unless you had the door open. I have expected the private room to be full of books and manuscripts, or with weapons and gold. But there was none of that.

    The whole room had only three items: a wooden table, a wooden chair, and three strange cubes on the table.

    The three cubes were hexagonal, in green, red, and yellow colors each.

    Lord Salam you bastard... now I regret killing you.

 Chapter 9: The Sneeze

    I picked up the brown bag just outside lord Salam''s private room and put in it the three hexagonal cubes. There is something serious about these cubes. Otherwise, lord Salam would not have bothered himself to store them with such secrecy.

    I am not showing anyone the cubes for it is still too risky. If for instance, Lorope Empire turned out to connected to these cubes and knew that I had acquired them, then my connection with the empire would get muddy... Depending on the importance of the cubes they may even wage another war to get them back.

    As soon as I left the private room Pia asked in curiosity, "Your Majesty, how were things inside the room? Oh, and may I help hold the bag for you? You must be tired after this long and troublesome night."

    Pia with hungry eyes walked immediately without my response and tried to grab hold of the brown bag.

    A moment before she was about to hold the bag I grabbed her hand and said, "Pia, I have already told you that I won''t allow you to see the content of the private room have I? Anymore of these petty tricks will result in a severe punishment that you would beg me to let it end. Do not let me lower my expectations of you."

    Pia retreated her hands and lowered her head to the ground then said, "I understand... I am sorry for showing you this embarrassing side of mine. It won''t happen again."

    "Good," I replied as I patted her head twice then walked outside the library room.

    Pia remained in the library for some reason, and as soon as I left the library, I heard heavy pounding coming from it. Curious, I returned to the library to find Pia, with a red face like a tomato, punching the library table nonstop. Once she noticed me, she got startled, covering her mouth with one hand and said, "I am sorry, it is nothing."

    I did not get what was going on, but I ignored it and moved on.

    I walked to the main entrance room where Varian sat on the floor waiting for me. Beside him was the unconscious priest, tied up endlessly with a rope that he looked like a worm.

    "You are drenched in sweat Varian," I said. "What happened?"

    I knew that he spent all this time to hurriedly tie up the priest thus became tired, but I wanted to hear his response. There are some who will always lie, some who will always tell the truth, and some who are in-between. I wanted to test that.

    "I have tied up the priest as fast as I could Your Majesty," replied Varian. "Because surely you do not want him to kill one of us again. I also put the body of Rayan, and both his head and the head of lord Salam in a bag. It does not feel right to keep their them exposed to our eyes."

    "Fair enough," I said in approval of his response. "Looking at the dead all the time is said to kill one''s humanity... but what about the body of lord Salam? Even if he deserved to be killed, no, even if his sins are so massive that they cannot be washed off with his death, one must not disrespect the dead."

    "Oh, I have forgotten all about his body Your Majesty," replied Varian. "It will still be upstairs where I had killed him as per your orders. Would you mind if I went to pick it up?"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    "Do that," I replied.

    Once Varian stood up and was about to ascend the stairs Pia said, "But when I went to get the key to the private room upstairs I had not seen lord Salam''s body, Your Majesty. Not even a single drop of blood. I thought your guard have cleaned up the room."

    Pia mentioned such an alarming and dangerous fact so innocently that I could not help but raise my voice in frustration.

    "What are you saying?" I shouted. "Why have not you told me about it earlier? This means that there is another fourth person in this church that we did not know a single thing about him. Pia, is there any other way to get to lord Salam room upstairs beside going through the door that we had entered earlier?"

    "No, Your Majesty," she replied with fear. "The only way to enter the room upstairs is by walking through the same door as you have mentioned. But how can this be? Before Your Majesty came to the church, we were only twelve people; me, lord Salam, and the ten priests. It is impossible that there is someone else who could take lord Salam''s body then clean up his blood in the room."

    This had become a dilemma.

    Varian is not capable of hiding lord Salam''s body in time. He was busy tying the priest up, and his noisy armor would reveal that he went upstairs.

    But Pia seems the only person capable of hiding lord Salam''s body. She is the only one who went upstairs, that is to pick up the key to the private room. Pia even liked lord Salam so much that she did not mind stabbing me when we were about to descend the stairs. She has an incentive to hide the body. Perhaps the information she is telling us right now may even be faulty.

    "Varian, could you go upstairs and confirm Pia... No, we all should head to lord Salam room upstairs."

    We ascended the stairs and entered lord Salam''s room again. The status of the room is aligned with what Pia had told us. Lord Salam''s body was not there, without any trace of blood.

    Now, what should I do? Could it be something related to the cubes that I am holding right now in the bag?"

    "Your Majesty," said Varian. "Should I search the room?"

    "Fine, do that Varian," I replied.

    The room is dull. The shelves on both sides of the room were empty. The wall in front of the door had a painting of Salamander. The painting overlooked a table and a chair that lord Salam was sitting on when we first saw him. There is nothing else in this room, nothing else.

    I am becoming more suspicious of Pia. She is looking attentively right now to help us. But she could be hiding something, like a secret passage or a hidden door that allowed her to hide lord Salam''s body.

    "Pia, how come this room is empty?" I asked. "There should be some paperwork, books, statues, clothes, to somewhat fill up the room. Otherwise, how did lord Salam spend his time in this empty room?"

    "Lord Salam has always been this very mysterious person, Your Majesty," replied Pia. "Even though I have worked as his assistant for the past four years, I have never felt I knew him much as a person, not to mention his personal life. In fact, the other ten priests and I have talked about this often. But in time we got used to it and accepted it as the norm.

    So she had always been very curious about lord Salam. This somewhat explains why she was so furious to know about the contents of the private room.

    Now that I think about it, both this room and the private room were empty... Perhaps I should have delayed killing lord Salam till I had the answers to all these puzzles.

    In the meantime, Varian examined the shelves by knocking on them. He possibly thought that there could be something hidden. Varian then removed the painting on the wall, flipped both the chair and the table upside-down. He could not find anything besides dust.

    "Your Majesty," said Varian. "There does not seem to be anything worthwhile in this room. I think we should investigate the other rooms downstairs."

    "Fair enough," I replied. "Let us do that."

    Now then, the moment I have put my hand on the doorknob, I heard a sneeze. It would not even be a stretch to call it a cute sneeze. The sound came from above.

    How careless of me... To think that the three of us never bothered to look above our heads.

    There was a wide wooden platform below the roof of the room. There, a very young lady was squatting so that her head does not hit the ceiling. On her left hand was a silver dagger, and she rested her right hand on the headless corpse of lord Salam.

 Chapter 10: True Fear

    She sneezed again, that young lady squatting on a wooden platform above us.

    "I won''t give you my father," she said as she grabbed her dagger tightly. "You murderer!"

    She jumped to my direction with killing intent. But as she tried to slash my neck, Varian was already in front of me and blocked her slash.

    Great, she is a normal human. Had it been an attack from that abomination of a priest both my head and the head of Varian would have already been on the floor.

    The young lady backed away from Varian for a second then resumed again. She slashed Varian at every direction, but Varian blocked them all with his sword.

    Realizing that her offensives were futile, the lady retreated backward and stood still as if to wonder on how to continue.

    "You are weak," stated Varian as he walked to the lady while she retreated backward in response.

    The lady then suddenly clenched her teeth and shouted, "justice must prevail!". She leaped at Varian once again as he was ready to intercept her.

    Her strikes became swifter and heavier. Every time Varian blocked a thrust she recoiled with a swifter one; stabbing his head, back, thigh, chest. She was all over the place.

    The dagger gave her speed, while Varian''s sword had the broader range coverage. There were occasions where the lady''s stabs pushed Varian backward. But with his nimble footwork, one that he had spent almost two decades training and refining, Varian countered that by instantly switching and attacking to a more favorable angle. Thus, forcing the lady to retreat backward.

    So justice must prevail huh? Everyone is speaking about justice nowadays. It is all fine and good to search for one''s justice. But when people start stabbing you with a dagger at the middle of the night for no apparent reason, where is the justice in that?

    I do not mind having a conversation if people think that I, or even my late father, did happen to harm someone somehow. I would love to do so. I do not get why people resort first to the sword over a healthy conversation. Kings have millions of people to take care of. Another million issues to manage in each of these people, then kings get blamed if they ever rest.

    "Haven''t I already told you that you are weak?" said Varian after the lady backed off from another failed assault. "You have not trained enough. I will show you what intense training can do."

    Varian switched to the offensive. He lunged at her with a diagonal top-left angle slash. It is surprisingly the same move that Rayan had used against the priest.

    As mentioned before, it is challenging to block this skill. It took Varian a few months to defend it against Rayan whenever they sparred. But that abomination of a priest had blocked it with ease and chopped Rayan''s head along with it.

    I was not aware that Varian practiced this skill. Well, on a second thought Varian practices everything. Perhaps now that Rayan is dead, Varian found it somehow appropriate to use the skill.

    The lady used her dagger with the help of both her hands to block Varian''s slash. She placed all her attention on stopping it. Because if she did not, she could have received a severe scar on her chest that may have even cut through her bones.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    But I just noticed that Varian did not apply full force on his slash, is he acting?

    Once Varian confirmed that the lady fixed all her attention on his sword, he used his free left-hand to circle her neck tightly.

    She gave a feminine gasp.

    Then with sharp footwork, Varian unbalanced her foot and pushed her neck downward at the same time. The lady fell on the floor with a rough thud that the dust rose from its slumber, and her silver dagger fell to the ground.

    Pia hid behind me again. She can''t seem to handle conflicts well.

    Varian further tightened his grip on the lady''s throat. He pointed his sword at her face and placed his legs on top of her thighs to lock her from moving.

    "How about you surrender?" said Varian to the young lady.

    "Do not worry we will not kill nor harm you," I added. "May you let us know your name? and what about this justice you seem to be so proud of?"

    My words seem to have calmed her for she stopped resisting Varian''s lock.

    "My name is Kaya... Why did you kill Father?" she said with a tearful voice. "He fed, clothed, and sheltered me ever since I was born for sixteen years. I was not born out of marriage, but he did not mind. He was gentle. Who would murder a gentle person beside a cruel and a savage person like you?"

    I could only see Varian''s back so I could not view his expression. But he pointed his sword closer to Kaya''s left eye after he heard her insulting me.

    Pia stopped hiding behind me and stood to my left. She waited for my answer with crossed arms and dead-serious eyes.

    This is the moment where kings get judged by the public. Answer correctly Rajid and they will follow you, trust you, and die for your sake. Answer wrongly, and they will hate and will follow you to the ends of the Earth to kill you.

    People either hate their king to death or love him to death, with nothing in-between.

    "He stole more than a million gold coins," I said. "He killed more than a thousand innocent lives. He plotted for years with the Lorope Empire to undermine the kingdom. Kaya, these reasons are more than enough to justify anyone''s death."

    Both Pia and Kaya looked awestruck. It seems that I have answered correctly. They did not expect their benevolent leader to have such a dark history.

    This is a belief of mine. That it is always better to expect everything from everyone no matter how foul or pure their hearts may appear to be. But I have to admit that this thought It is hard to apply in every circumstance.

    "If Father is as cruel as you have stated," said Kaya. "Why would he bother to take care of a useless person like me? Until you answer this question, I cannot believe what you have said to ever be true."

    "Kaya, your whole existence is proof that what I have said is true," I replied. "Think about it. You are the result, the undesirable result, that happened during one of his unethical acts. Or do you need me to explain it in greater detail?"

    It is painful to talk sharp to a clean creature like her. But since lord Salam has brainwashed her brain for sixteen years, she needs a sharp, very sharp truth to cut through her thick illusions.

    "You still have not answered my question," said Kaya with a droplet of anger in her voice. "Why would he bother to take care of an unneeded condemned bastard like me?"

    "Well it is simple," I replied. "You are capable with the dagger. You can protect him, and all he needs to do for such trusty protection is to cloth, feed, and shelter you. It is a very cheap pay compared to what we pay for our¡ª"

    "You are lying," shouted Kaya. She was shaking her whole body in frustration, and to break free from Varian''s lock. "It can''t be true. You are creating stories and reasons to pollute the name of my father and cut my connection with him. I do not know what you are plotting, but I will make sure to stop you even if I die."

    "It is alright Kaya," I said. "It takes time to break the chains of belief. The roots are always deep. In time, you will get to realize what I am trying to tell you."

    A few seconds later I felt that my whole body was shaking. No, the whole room, the entire building was shaking.

    An earthquake?

    "YOU THINK I WILL LET YOU GET AWAY KING RAJID?!" said the hellish voice that brought shivering fear from within me. I soon fell to my knees.

    This was when I got to realize what true terror is...

 Chapter 11: Choose! (End of Church Arc)

    An angry wind shook the room of Lord Salam that the four of us were in.

    "I NEED TO TEACH YOU A LESSON, KING," said the devilish voice. "YOU HAVE KILLED A VERY BELOVED AND DEVOTED SLAVE OF MINE.''

    I had never heard such a terrifying voice in my life before, for it shivered my hands and knees once again. I looked at Kaya, Pia, and Varian in front of me and they were all weakened and under the same shivering state as me.

    The voice came from outside, possibly from the main entrance room.

    Suddenly, the intense wind opened the door of our room. It tossed me with strong force outside the room. I collided all the way against the thick walls of the main entrance room with a loud thud, and then I fell to the floor.

    My back was numb. I think I have broken a rib or two.

    "I AM STILL UNSATISFIED."

    The wind lifted my body into the air again as I realized that the voice came from the giant statue of Salamander. The white marble statue was now glowing in a red rage.

    This religion of the Saladians was actually tied to Salamander himself?

    "Are you Salamander?" I asked while I was getting slowly lifted into the air.

    "ADD AN HONORIFIC MORTAL."

    The wind pushed the two ends of my left leg, and the bone started to bend.

    "Stop it, it''s gonna break!" I shouted.

    "THAT WAS MY INTENTION."

    The bone of my left leg got snapped into two. I shouted from the bottom of my lungs while my left leg was hanging loose like a broken wooden branch. I then fell unconscious.

    <hr>

    I do not know how long has it been since I went unconscious. But it was not for too long since the holes of the roof were still showing a black sky.

    After this notion, I was greeted by an extreme piercing pain coming from my left leg... Now I remember, it got broken by some unnatural force. Or by the most natural being on this Earth.

    I looked around while trying to ignore the pain, and saw three half-burnt bodies beside me. I soon realized they were the bodies of Kaya, Pia, and Varian.

    "Your Majesty," said Varian with a faint and frail voice. "What have we been doing? We have been fighting against a being beyond our mortal capacities. Something beyond the powers of all the humans combined."

    I know Varian, I know. But what can I do now? I am powerless...

    "Why did you punish me and Kaya my Lord?" asked Pia while staring with blank eyes at the statue of Salamander. "We were worshiping you with lord Salam for many years now."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "YOUR HEARTS HAVE BEEN SWAYED BY THIS KING. I DO NOT NEED THOSE WITH WEAK DEVOTION."

    I cannot use Regalia at this moment for I cannot fulfill its requirements right now. No, even if I could use Regalia, what use would it be against the mighty Salamander?"

    "LORD SALAM WAS SPECIAL. HE DID EVERY CRUELTY I ASKED HIM, CRUELTIES THAT HAD HARMED HIM AND HIS OWN LIFE."

    "Then why did you let him die?" shouted Kaya suddenly. I could not comprehend how her half-burnt body could muster enough courage and stamina to shout at Salamander. "If you are this capable and benevolent then you could have stopped his deat¡ª"

    An explosion, followed by red liquid covered my view and most of my face. Kaya''s body was nowhere to be seen. Her body exploded and got scattered all over the room.

    "ONE MUST NOT SPEAK TO A GOD LIKE THAT. IT MUST BE IN A VERY FEARFUL, VERY HUMBLE, AND BEGGING TONE."

    Pia was about to shout instinctively after she saw the remains of Kaya on her body and all around this main entrance room. But Salamander''s voice replaced her shout with deep fear.

    "Please spare me, my benevolent lord," said Pia beggingly to Salamander. "I will do whatever you want, whenever you want. I will do more than what lord Salam did for you, but please spare my life."

    Did not she utter similar words to me after I had killed lord Salam? And after she said these words she stabbed me. So she could be trying the same trick. What are you doing Pia? These petty tricks won''t work on Salamander.

    "A TRUE GOD DOES NOT LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF MORTALS, BUT TO THEIR HEARTS. YOU ARE LYING."

    Pia''s body flew up into the air. She got terrified, yelling "No, please I apologize." But it was too late.

    Slowly but surely, Pia''s head got twisted, and her neck bones were snapping.

    After her head got twisted ten full circles and went loose, Pia fell on the ground, motionless.

    Why is all of this is happening to me? Why is this natural disaster always blocking our path? I am not even fighting for an ambitious, greedy goal like Father. I am only trying to get back what we have lost from the Third-Year-War. Unfairness always blocks my path, without any way to crack through it.

    "I AM LISTING YOUR SADNESS, KING. WHAT A JOYFUL MELODY. FALL INTO DESPAIR MORE AND LET ME HEAR MORE OF YOUR SADNESS. YES, I LIKE THIS GLARE, KEEP LOOKING AT ME WITH IT."

    "What do you want more?" I asked. "For a single human, you have tortured the four of us then killed two of my people. Is not that enough?"

    "LORD SALAM''S DEATH OUTWEIGHS THE SOULS OF YOU FOUR COMBINED. HAD I NOT BEEN SHACKLED BY THE CRIMSON RING, I WOULD HAVE BURNED YOUR WHOLE KINGDOM FOR KILLING HIM."

    The more time passes, the more I regret killing lord Salam.

    "BUT I WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE, KING. I WILL CURE YOUR BROKEN LEG AND EVERY OTHER INJURY YOU HAVE RECEIVED TODAY. YOU WILL LEAVE IN THE SAME CONDITION THAT YOU ENTERED THIS CHURCH. BUT FOR THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO AGREE ON THE DEATH OF THIS GUARD NAMED VARIAN. IF YOU AGREE YOU WILL BE CURED, AND IF YOU CHOOSE VARIAN THEN I WILL KILL YOU INSTEAD."

    So I will have to choose between my death or the death of Varian.

    "And I assume that you will also heal Varian back to his full health if I got to choose him?"

    "THAT I SHALL IF YOU MANAGE TO CHOOSE HIM."

    Even though my death may bring civil unrest in the kingdom and the demise of many, I just cannot favor myself over Varian. I will regret it my whole life.

    "I will choose Vari¡ª"

    A sudden sharp gust of wind cut my whole left ear and interrupted my sentence. I groaned in pain, and covered what remains of my left ear with a bloodied hand. What is Salamander doing?

    "WHAT IS WRONG, CAN''T CHOOSE?"

    Salamander''s voice was so petrifying that despite the severe pain my body forced itself to respond.

    "I choose Vari¡ª"

    Another sharp wind cuts my other ear.

    "CHOOSE"

    "Vari¡ª"

    The wind this time severed my whole left hand and then it fell to the floor.

    "YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW WHERE THIS IS GOING, KING. I WILL CUT YOUR BODY AND HEAL IT BACK AGAIN TILL YOU CHOOSE YOURSELF OVER VARIAN. YOU FIND THIS CRUEL? YOU SHOULD THANK ME THAT I HAVE NOT TORTURED YOU WITH FIRE INSTEAD. I WILL CRUSH EVERY RESISTANCE WITHIN YOU AND LEAVE YOU WITH NONE... CHOOSE!"

    <hr>

    I kept choosing Varian over myself for two suffocating hours, the longest two hours of my life. But Salamander interrupted my words by cutting through my body and healing it seven times over. And with that, I gave in.

    "I choose myself."

 Chapter 12: Bitterness

    The bitterness of the tea was a remarkable fit for my mood as the hot sun warmed my bed at the castle and my body.

    "Are you sure that tea is all you need for today Your Majesty?" asked my chief servant Ludik who stood beside my bed. "It is unhealthy to ignore breakfast."

    "Yes Ludik, and thank you for being considerate," I replied with a sad smile. "My sad thoughts are killing my appetite. My experience at the church will bring me many nightmares in the future."

    "I respect your desire to keep the story of the church to yourself," said Ludik. "But remember that it will only get worse Your Majesty. As more days pass, you will keep observing all the flavors of sadness and atrocities that humans can do. That is sadly why many kings throughout history had retreated to their castles and let their viziers take rein of their nations."

    "But what is troubling me Ludik is not the atrocities of humans but Salamander," I replied.

    "It does not matter," Ludik bluntly replied. "It really does not matter whether the atrocities come from humans, Salamander, or another inhuman. Your reaction to them is all that matters."

    I looked at my hands thoughtfully. "But I am no longer sure if this body can handle all of this. I thought that as a king my life would be easier. I thought that nothing could stop me. But I was wrong, very wrong."

    "The weight of kingship, I think, is unbearable for any human to hold Your Majesty," Ludik replied. "I agree with you. A common mistake of a commoner can only bring scars, but a common mistake of a king can only bring death. It is quite an unfair fact that I hate it. And commoners, unfortunately, do not understand this. They will blame kings for every mistake they make thinking that they are supposed to be perfect. They forget that kings are imperfect humans."

    He did not deny my statement but soothed it...

    "I see," I replied. "It is always calming to talk to you Ludik. I am starting to get why Father was so reliant on you beyond your duties as a servant."

    "And you may also rely on me Your Majesty," said Ludik with a kneel. "I would be happy to lift some of the kingship burdens from you, even if a little bit. I am also sure that your three viziers would be joyful to do the same... Oh, I forgot."

    "Hmm, What is the matter Ludik?" I asked.

    "Vizier Vold of Commerce had asked for an immediate meeting with you Your Majesty," said Ludik in a hurried tone. "He said it is about the millionaire Vin Chaldoon."

    I rested my tired head on my right-hand palm. "Oh my God, not again. What has he done this time? Bring Vizier Vold to me immediately."

    "I will in a minute," replied Ludik. He then left my room in quick footsteps and closed the door quietly.

    The conclusion of the church incident has been more favorable than what I had thought.

    After the torture I had received from Salamander I woke up at this very bed. I saw Ludik staring at me with an anxious and sweaty face.

    Ludik informed me that the cart driver, the same one who had delivered me to the church, had found me unconscious just outside the church.

    My body had completely healed as Salamander had promised. The cart driver then had carried me to his cart and brought me to the castle. He could have abducted me for a vast ransom, but he did not... I should reward him.

    Now once I received this story from Ludik, I issued quick orders to stop anyone from entering the church. If the public saw the massacre inside, an uprising may occur in the kingdom to butcher those who did the cruel deed.

    Instead, I ordered the army to clean up the whole church and bury all the dead in secrecy outside the kingdom. The families of the deceased will still be under the assumption that none had died. So they will be told that the missing people had left the kingdom, and until we could find them, I will soothe them with a constant stream of gold coins.

    After about a year or two, they will get used to them missing. I will then tell the families that the missing people were found dead outside the kingdom.

    I am lying to them; I do not deny it. But I am at least giving the relatives a temporary hope instead of sharp terror and frustration. This is the most peaceful solution I could come up with.

    At a personal level, I can still feel the endless torture I had experienced from Salamander. If I recall what happened vividly, my body shivers once again.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    But what pains me more is the death of all the misfortuned ones at the church.

    Lord Salam had brainwashed Pia and Kaya. But ladies could still be quickly disciplined. Salamander twisted Pia''s head till her neck went loose, and exploded Kaya''s body like a balloon.

    Varian died because I chose it. I chose it against my will after Salamander sliced my body seven times over and healed it back again. It was something outside my control, yet for some reason, I still blame myself for it.

    Rayan was a sword prodigy, a symbol of skill at our army. But he died with a brutal and arrogant slash from that abomination of a priest.

    Yes, the priest is the only one who is still alive besides me from the church incident. Salamander had completely ignored him and kept him tied up. I have currently locked him in an underground jail for I am still hopeful that he could change.

    Their death daggers my heart and swells my bloodshot eyes. But the incoming footsteps forces me to ignore my emotions, lock them in and face what is in front of me.

    After a few door knocks, Vizier Vold entered my room with Ludik behind him.

    "I apologize for interrupting you so early in the day Your Majesty," said Vizier Vold of Commerce with a smooth kneel. " "The matter is about Vin Chaldoon as Ludik had briefed you."

    "Do not apologize, Vizier Vold, for I understand that it is urgent," I replied. "Tell me what is the issue?"

    "Yes, but before that and I do not mean to disrespect you Chief Servant Ludik," said Vold. "Could you please leave us alone? I want to ensure full secrecy."

    "Of course Vizier Vold," replied Ludik. "That was my plan."

    After that note, Ludik left the room and Vold began to talk.

    "As you may already know Your Majesty Vin Chaldoon has plenty of dark history behind him. He had inherited inns, metal, and wood production houses from his late father. He also inherited vast piles of gold amounting to a million gold coins. After five years of his father''s death, Vin Chaldoon had bought half of the banks in the kingdom. This allowed him to dominate the movement of money in the capital."

    A hundred copper coins equal a single silver coin, and a hundred silver coins equal a single gold coin.

    A million gold coins can buy a thousand luxurious and vast houses. It is also equivalent to purchasing ten million young and fast horses.

    In the military, Vin Chaldoon could use his million gold coins to raise a hundred thousand well-equipped soldiers. They can annex any small country that he wants in no time.

    "I am well aware of his financial position Vold," I replied. "Last year he secured unfair deals with many companies. Whenever they borrowed money from banks, Chaldoon tripled the usual interest rates on them until they agreed to his unfair deals. It took Father months to clean these disputes. But what about this time?"

    "His wood and metal production houses buy thousand tons of iron and timber from his suppliers monthly. These suppliers are the major iron miners, and forest wood-cutters in the kingdom. Vin Chaldoon''s production houses have been buying from these suppliers for thirty years, back from the days of his father. The problem now is that he is delaying his monthly payments to these suppliers."

    "For how long?" I asked.

    "Usually he has to pay within thirty days after the iron and timber orders get delivered to him by the suppliers. But now he is only paying the suppliers once every six months. They also agreed on giving Chaldoon a discount on his payments since he complains that he is short on gold, in which he is not."

    I tossed the teacup I was drinking to the wall in front of me in anger, shattering it.

    This bastard is causing poverty. Cannot Chaldoon imagine how painful it is to sleep on an empty stomach?

    "And what have you done about it Ludik?" I asked.

    "At first I received complaints from his timber and iron suppliers," said Vold. "Then I spoke with Vin Chaldoon himself three times. For the first time, he ignored what I had said claiming that he is busy. In the second time, he shouted, arguing that he has gold shortages. He said that had helped them a lot by purchasing from them for years. So there is nothing wrong if they helped him this time."

    Vold went suddenly silent which surprised me.

    "What is wrong Vold? What happened in the third time?" I asked.

    "He gave me a warning Your Majesty," said Vold. He then folded his right arm sleeve, revealing a deep scar.

    It looks like I have to apply the teachings of Salamander on Vin Chaldoon.

 Chapter 13: Lupus

    "Bring me Vin Chaldoon this very instant to my room," I said to Vold.

    Delaying his payments is one thing. But when Chaldoon gives a scar, a deep one especially to my Vizier, then my treatment to him will completely change. He is disrespecting me and the whole kingdom.

    "But Your Majesty," said Vold Vizier of Commerce as he unfolded his arm sleeve, hiding his scar. "Harming Vin Chaldoon can be very damaging to our economy. He controls most of the banks, and has many contacts in the shadow market."

    The shadow market is where the illegal transactions happen. These transactions occur away from the eyes of the public and the market regulators. You can buy and sell anything you want in this market; slaves, human parts, drugs, weapons, you name it.

    "Cleaning up the shadow market and Vin Chaldoon at once would be great," I replied. "It would be like hitting two birds with one stone."

    "Your Majesty," said Vold. "If a hundred people are getting harmed by Vin Chaldoon right now, then by the time we get revenge out of him he will avenge and harm millions instead. It is too risky,"

    "Vold, your assumptions are not facts," I replied. "There are a million other alternatives. And if it did happen, we will manage it."

    "I understand," Vold replied in doubt. His brain is still processing what I had just told him. "I will summon Vin Chaldoon as you have desired. Also, one of his timber suppliers named Lupus wanted to meet you. It is about the late payments that he endures from Vin Chaldoon. He is, in fact, the first person who complained to me about the matter."

    "That is quite brave of him," I said. "If Chaldoon knew that he was the first person to leak this issue, he would crush his timber company in less than a day."

    "Indeed," Vold replied. "I suggest you meet him before Vin Chaldoon. Lupus had been trading with Chaldoon''s companies for more than three decades. He knows a lot about them."

    Three decades? That is more than my age.

    "Fair enough," I said. "Summon this timber supplier before Chaldoon. But how old is he? I want someone with a reliable testimony, not someone who can barely walk and talk."

    Vold looked at the floor and scratched the back of his head. It seems my guess was correct.

    "Well, he is old Your Majesty," Vold replied. "Eighty-five years old, and he relies on a stick to walk."

    "Are you mocking me, Vold?" I asked.

    I did not expect my assumption to be this accurate, and I am not demeaning those of old age. But we need quick and reliable words.

    "No, absolutely not Your Majesty," said Vold with a stutter and sweaty forehead. "Despite his age, Lupus is the head of a major timber company. He is of a sharp memory and a strong mind. I guarantee it,"

    "You''d better be saying the truth Vold," I replied with a sigh.

    $$$

    "Oh, so much light in this hall, and the place smells like roses," said the timber supplier with a childish smile as he entered the main hall of my palace.

    The brown stick he was holding allowed him to stand up despite his shaky legs. His smile was horrible for half of his teeth were gone.

    I was sitting on my throne in the main hall of the royal palace. I had to wear my red royal robes in public as usual.

    When commoners visit a king, the first thing they are supposed to do is to greet him and go to their knees. But this supplier had completely ignored me and instead is gazing at the colorfully decorated tall windows.

    I looked at Vold, standing on my right. He understood the meaning behind my gaze and responded by looking apologetically downward.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    I can whip this old man for disrespect, but how can I do such a thing to an 85-year-old?

    "You are the timber supplier Lupus aren''t you?" I asked loudly. "Vizier Vold me that you wanted to speak to me."

    The old man Lupus got distracted from gazing at the windows and looked at me with surprised eyes.

    "Who are you?" Lupus asked me. "Why are you here?"

    Alright, I give up.

    "Guards, take him away," I ordered.

    The guards, who were standing like statues at the four corners of the main hall began to move toward the old man.

    Then suddenly, Lupus raised his right hand. "How would you punish a young orphan kid that steal?" he asked me.

    The guards stopped going after Lupus after his question and looked at me for any change in orders.

    "Wait," I ordered the guards. "Are you testing me, Lupus?"

    "Indeed I am my king," Lupus replied with a toothless smile. "After all, I need to confirm if are worthy of my knowledge, regardless whether you are a king or not."

    So staring at the glass windows and ignoring my presence was an act or rather a test. I do not hate people who do not differentiate between kings and commoners. But it is not appropriate to disrespect a king in front of his people. I cannot allow this practice to spread.

    "I will answer your question," I replied. "And after that, I will punish you for disrespect."

    The old man Lupus did not respond but waited for my response to his question with serious eyes and shaky legs. It is quite a weird image if you ask me.

    So how would I treat an orphan kid who steals? Quite a tricky question. It depends on the financial situation of the young kid, and on what he stole and how did he steal it.

    "I do not know," I replied. "How could I take any decision without knowing the story behind the kid''s theft incident?"

    "I see," replied Lupus with a warm tone. "So you are not hasty, but a patient and a careful king. This is good. Fine, I will tell you all that I know about Vin Chaldoon and his gentle father, Barion Chaldoon."

    "Hurry up," I urged him. "You have wasted enough time from me."

    "Of course, but before that," said Lupus. "What about my punishment? You said that I would receive it after you answer my question."

    Was he waiting for the punishment? Or perhaps he knew that I could not give him a harsh punishment until he tells me what he knows about Chaldoon.

    "Guards, tickle him till he falls from laughter," I ordered.

    "Wait, what¡ª" Lupus words got interrupted by the four guards pocking their fingers on the old man''s armpits and belly.

    Soon enough, tiny tears began to form at the corner of Lupus eyes as he started to laugh hysterically. He soon lost hold of his stick, and it fell on the ground.

    "No, please have mercy on me," the old man pleaded between his laughter. "Not my armpit!"

    The guards did not hear Lupus pleas and instead worked hard to finish the humiliating job. I could feel the guards emitting disgust despite being fully armored.

    Telling someone you have tickled an 85-year-old will bring you mockery all the way to your grave and will leak to your descendants.

    After half a minute, Lupus fell on the ground with a grin that reached his ears and said, "I have not laughed like this for 50 years."

 Chapter 14: Vin Chaldoon

    "Woah, that was refreshing my king," said the old man Lupus while stretching his arms. I ordered to bring him a chair after the guards had tickled him, for his legs won''t be able to support the weight of his whole body for long. "I feel like I am ten years younger."

    "There is not much difference between an 85-year-old and a 75-year-old Lupus," I replied. "They will both die very soon."

    One should not bother to talk formally to a man of this kind. This is why I switched to more casual words.

    "True," The old man replied. "But I will get to see my grand grandchildren if I am ten years younger. It is priceless."

    "Sure," I admitted. "And you will also get to see the grandchildren of Vin Chaldoon."

    "Oh, I never want to see the grandkids of this little bastard," Lupus replied while swinging his brown stick left and right. "If I ever got to see them, I will encourage them to kill their grandfather."

    I knew he was joking, so I ignored it.

    "Alright," I said, ignoring his complaints. "So tell me what started the issue of Chaldoon''s late payments."

    "It sparked because of Vin Chaldoon''s past my king," said Lupus with a serious gaze. "Five years ago, Vin Chaldoon was so fat that his two arses were clapping each other whenever he walked."

    I gave Lupus eyes of boredom. "And how is this related to him delaying his payments?"

    "This is what made him delay his payments," Lupus replied while trying to hold his laughter. "Your Majesty, when he ran his arse sounded like war drums. I still remember the grins of those who walked behind him. I mean who would not laugh? Anyway, six months ago I said it to Vin Chaldoon, and he went mad and spat at me."

    "Well, this is becoming childish," I said. "And until this very day, he is delaying his payments for this very reason?"

    "Yup," Lupus replied. "He said that he would pay on time till I beg his pardon with my whole family in public. Like hell I am going to do that for a clappy arse."

    Yesterday was a day akin to a nightmare. It made me think that kingship is no different from hell. But now, I am babysitting a stubborn old kid talking about another rich kid who cannot handle jokes.

    "Lupus," I said while covering my tired eyes with my right hand. "How about you go apologize to him? Not receiving payments is not a joke to the other suppliers, and you are the one at fault here. You began insulting him."

    I do not get it; Lupus came all the way to my palace to tell me, his king, that he insulted a person? This old man is not functioning properly...

    "I will do it," said the old man Lupus. "But before that, I want you to say to Chaldoon right at his face that he got a clappy arse. Man, I cannot wait to see his angry face."

    "No," I replied.

    If I did it, I would forever be called the clown king.

    "Do not be shy my king," said Lupus. "It will be fun I promise."

    I ignored Lupus and turned my head to Vold, who is still standing to my right, "Had Chaldoon arrived?"

    "Yes, Your Majesty," said Vizier Vold of Commerce. "He is waiting for your presence outside this hall."

    "Great, bring him here," I said.

    "Right away Your Majesty," replied Vold with a bow and walked toward the guards to let Chaldoon enter.

    "But my king," said Lupus. "Will you tell him that he got clappy stuff?"

    "You will see what I will do to both of you and Chaldoon," I replied.

    Perhaps my father had not disciplined his people very well. They do not mind harming other people over the most primitive matters. I will have to fix that and make sure that it never occurs again.

    <hr>

    "It is a great pleasure to meet Your Highest Eminence," said Vin Chaldoon after he entered my hall while rubbing the fur of his big white cat on his arm.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The silky clothes he wore were professional and a tight fit to his slim body. The ten rings he wore at his ten fingers were each of a different gem color. The white cat on his arm was busy licking one of the gems at a time.

    At least this more of a natural response for a millionaire. Unlike the way this toothless man entered my palace, who is now looking at Chaldoon with such joy.

    "It would have also been my pleasure to meet you Chaldoon had it not been for the recent acts you were doing," I replied. "You have gotten all worked up over a childish insult and delayed all your payments to your timber and iron suppliers. Then you proceeded to even scar my Vizier Vold for the same childish reason. This had become a very severe matter, in which I have to make sure you never repeat it."

    Vin Chaldoon chuckled in response to my words.

    But soon Lupus interfered, shouting, "Clappy! Clappy!" with a few claps toward Chaldoon. This old bastard is enjoying it.

    Chaldoon knew what the old man meant behind his words and claps that his face had taken the color of rage.

    "Just listen to him Your Majesty," said Chaldoon with a heated voice. "Every time I meet him as one of my key business partners he keeps shaming me with my dark past. I have all the rights to punish him with the late payments."

    "Not that I care much about your cheap gold," said Lupus with indifference. "I will die soon anyway."

    "Lupus, If I ever hear you talking again without my permission I will cut your tongue," I said. "Now then Chaldoon, I understand your logic behind stopping your payments to Chaldoon. But why would you stop it to the other suppliers and further scar my vizier?"

    "Initially, I only stopped my payments to Lupus company," said Chaldoon. "But all the other suppliers met me to convince me to return paying Lupus company''s normally once again. They had ignored all his insults to me, so they deserve it. Anyone who sides with Lupus evil acts deserves a harsh treatment."

    "Fine," I said. "And what about scarring my Vizier''s arm?"

    "He pressured me so much to release the late payments to my suppliers," Chaldoon said. "He left me no choice but to stop him with a little bit of pain."

    "Oh really?" I said. "Then I will also have to teach you not to repeat these childish acts anymore, with a lot more pain."

    Chaldoon chuckled again. "But Your Highest Eminence. You surely know how much influence I have in the kingdom. The economy of the whole kingdom is in my hands. It is doing much better now in production, imports, and exports after I have come up with new ideas like the credit guarantees. It would be very damaging to your economy if I decided to remove my support and move my money outside the kingdom."

    Credit guarantee assures that the seller will receive his money from the bank if the buyer went bankrupt and did not pay the seller for his purchase. It requires a small fee before the sale occurs. But this guarantee reduced the rates of bankruptcy ten times in the kingdom which is impressive. Other banks and countries tried to imitate the model, but they were not successful like Chaldoon in implementing it.

    "So you are threatening me that you will ruin the economy of my kingdom if I harmed you?" I asked.

    "Oh, not a threat at all Your Highest Eminence," said Chaldoon. "Just a simple warning. I could do a lot more than stopping the bank guarantees, but the decision is totally up to you."

    I would have backed off and thought of an alternative had it not been for what I had experienced yesterday from Salamander.

    Then suddenly, the door to the hall was flung open. The Vizier of War Kaljar looked tense and exhausted. He did not arrange an appointment to meet me... Did something happen?

    "Your Majesty, grim news," said Vizier Kaljar as he was catching his breath. "The Lorope Empire had declared war on us."

 Chapter 15: War Preparations

    "Lorope Empire began a war against us?" I asked Kajar, disbelieving what he had just said.

    The old man Lupus, opened his eyes wide at the news. Vin Chaldoon almost choked his white cat. While Vizier Vold began estimating the future war expenses with his silver abacus.

    "Yes, Emperor Lustratous sent us a letter confirming it," replied Vizier Kaljar by handing the letter to me. "It is sent to you."

    I opened the letter, and this is what it said:

    "You will not remain a king for too long." - Emperor Lustratous

    What a bold letter.

    "Though the surprising fact is that a mere army of 5,000 soldiers is marching toward us," Kaljar said. "The whole Lorope Empire army is about 100,000 or ten legions. Yet they are only sending against us half a legion. Are they mocking us?"

    A single legion equals 10,000 men. A legion is a square block of sturdy men that follow a precise formation. Inside this square block are ten other square blocks called cohorts.

    The cohort blocks at the front of a legion usually carry a heavy shield, and a are heavily armored. This protection guards them against the initial clash of swords and arrows of the opposing legion. We call these cohorts the shield cohorts.

    The cohorts behind the shield cohorts are the sword cohorts. And behind the sword cohorts are the bows cohorts. As their names imply, they wear light armor and are equipped with swords and bows of every kind to deal as much damage as possible to the enemy.

    This legion formation I have described is the standard formation we use in the kingdom. Obviously, the structure of the legions and their composition differs widely from one general to another, and from one country to another.

    "It could either be a mockery or a strategy," I replied. "Do you know the location of the rest of Lorope''s army?" I asked.

    "The remaining 9 legions are close to the Lorope capital. Quite far away from causing any immediate danger," Kaljar replied.

    "This is good," I said. "If Lorope''s 10 legions were to march against us we would be in trouble for our whole army size is 5 legions only. Isn''t it Kaljar?"

    "Yes Your Majesty," Kaljar replied. "The army was undergoing naval training. Three legions are currently on the south-west shore while the remaining two legions are on the south-east shore. Because of this, we need about a month for the whole army to be fully equipped and ready to battle."

    So we will have to drag this war for a month to use our full strength. This is not looking good.

    "A whole month is too long," I said. "How much time do you need to bring up a single legion to the war?"

    "I can arrange a fully-equipped legion within a week," Kaljar replied. "But I will need 100,000 gold coins to prepare a single legion with arms and horses and pay its salaries for a single year."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "So we will need 500,000 gold coins to maintain our 5 legions each year," I said. "Vold, how much can we use from our treasury for our legions?"

    We need to know for how long we can entertain this war before we run dry.

    Vold fiddled with his abacus for a minute then said, "We can use half of our gold coins for the legions, Your Majesty. We currently have about 2,000,000 gold coins at the treasury, using any more than half of it will harm our economy."

    "This means that this war can only last for two years before we get into debt," I said.

    "Wars usually last for five years and more. We may enter into debt rather quickly," said Vold.

    "So we need to find another source of income," I said. "But what about Lorope Empire''s financial standing?"

    "This is what makes the war even more peculiar Your Majesty," said Kaljar. "If they used all their 10 legions, they can only fight this war for a single year before they fall into debt. I suspect this is why they had only sent half a legion to against us, to get a sense of how strong is our army. Then based on that they will deploy more legions as needed."

    Is this even a proper strategy?

    And as we were focusing on understanding the situation, we received a spear of negativity.

    Chaldoon who was listening to us with an open mouth spoke up. "Your Highest Eminence, let us give up this war. We cannot win."

    "And why is that?" I asked.

    "They have Salamander," Chaldoon replied. "Or have you all forgotten about what it did in the Three-Year-War?"

    Chaldoon''s hands shivered.

    "Fine," I replied then eyed the two viziers. "What do you think about Chaldoon''s argument?"

    "Salamander is certainly a major threat," Vizier Kaljar replied. "But we cannot give up our kingdom to Lorope after the massacre they did to us in the Third-Year-War. We must avenge."

    The death of the 190,000 out of the 200,000 soldiers in the Third-Year-War is still recent. Countless wives had lost their husbands. Some cowered in fear, and others leaked their rage to their kids. Opening up the topic of the Third-Year-War to the kingdom''s public is always accompanied with boiling hate and anger.

    Kaljar had lost his father, general Laiman, in the war who was shining with many successful campaigns. Surely Kaljar was waiting for this moment to avenge him.

    "I agree with Kaljar," replied Vizier Vold. "Also, just because Salamander had appeared in the last war does not mean that he will appear in this one. Salamander''s last appearance before the Third-Year-War was 500 years ago. So it would not be illogical to say that he will only appear after another 500 years."

    "And what if he appeared in this war?" said Chaldoon. "What can we do besides wait for our inevitable deaths? If we give up, Salamander may spare us."

    "Chaldoon you misunderstand," I said. "What you should be afraid of is not Salamander, but humans. Remember, I still have not punished you."

    I stood up from my throne.

    "Vin Chaldoon, I hereby confiscate all your possessions; gold, banks, production houses, and other assets for harming my Vizier and delaying your suppliers'' payments. You will remain in jail until further notice."

    Chaldoon looked awestruck. "What? Do you realize what you are doin--"

    "Guards take him away," I interrupted.

    Two guards dragged Chaldoon from his legs outside the palace hall, while his white cat followed him.

    "And as a reward for being silent, Lupus shall only be whipped 10 times," I said.

    A single guard dragged Lupus from his leg while the old man shouted to get his brown stick back.

    "Well then, back to the war," I said. "Since the public is afraid of Salamander I will have to give a speech to clear things up."

    "A great idea Your Majesty," said Kaljar. "The soldiers looked anxious after they realized that Lorope started a war. Your words will soothe and steel their hearts."

    "I hope so," I replied. "Vold, with Chaldoon''s gold how long can maintain this war without debt?"

    "Chaldoon has 1,500,000 gold coins," Vizier Vold replied. "So we can sustain the war expenses for three more years to total five years."

    "I am glad Chaldoon did his wrong deed," I said. "With this, we are done with the war expenses."

    "But the manpower difference remains," Kaljar said. "It is difficult for an army of 50,000 soldiers to win against 100,000 soldiers. But I have a suggestion, Your Majesty."

    "Say it," I said.

    "How about we start military conscription?" Kaljar asked.

 Chapter 16: Military Conscription

    In my palace hall, I sat on the throne discussing with Vizier Kaljar the upcoming war against the Lorope Empire.

    The four guards at every corner of the hall looked tense. They realized that we entered a new war, against the same foes that did best us fifteen years ago. It is a natural behavior, I do not blame them.

    "Imagine how large our army would be if we adopted military conscription," said Vizier Kaljar. "Our current population in the Kingdom is at about 5 million. If we use at least a tenth of this population, we will gain an extra 500,000 soldiers. It is ten times larger than the current size of our 5 legions, and five times larger the size of the current Lorope Empire army."

    "It is an attractive number Kaljar," I replied. "But conscription is not attractive for the people. We are forcing them to die protecting us."

    "It is their duty, Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

    A duty... Since the country is providing its people with safety and many rights, then it is equally fair for the country to ask its people, or to force them to defend it.

    "Kaljar, I had just become a king yesterday," I said. "It won''t be very appealing."

    "I agree," Kaljar replied. "But the urgency of the war and the size of Lorope''s army requires it."

    "Conscription also requires tons of gold coins and manpower for training," I said. "That would put a strain on the war expenses that we have just secured from Vin Chaldoon''s money. Even If we managed to deploy 500,000 extra soldiers from the conscription, how can we maintain them? We cannot pay them 5,000,000 gold coins each year."

    A single soldier requires about 10 gold coins each year for arms, equipment, and salary. Multiplying that by 500,000 men we can deploy from conscription will equal 5,000,000 gold coins.

    The money that we can spend for the war, from the treasury and Vin Chaldoon''s capital, totals 2,500,000 gold coins. We do not have enough money for the conscription.

    Kaljar looked at the floor thoughtfully. "If money is the only problem then how about we increase our taxes? It is common for nations to deploy a war tax whenever it gets enters a war. Surely, the public would understand it. In fact, even during the Third-Year-War, the public was taxed an extra 10% on all their purchases."

    "If we do raise taxes along with starting conscription," I said. "The public will be scared, poor, and afraid of losing their lives. Together, these elements could destabilize the country."

    "Your Majesty, if we win this war all these constraints will be justified," said Kaljar.

    "Very unlikely," I replied. "In any case, Lorope will also think of starting military conscription the moment we start it. Otherwise, they will not be able to counter us."

    "I see," said Kaljar, who seemed to show signs of defeat. "So your suggestion is to close the idea of military conscription?"

    "Not fully, let us re-discuss conscription after a year from now," I said. "We will have a more clear image of whether we should use it or ignore it."

    The clouds outside the palace covered the sky and dimmed the palace hall.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Very well," Kaljar said. "What do you suggest for intercepting this half legion lead by Lustratous Your Majesty?"

    Did I mishear him? Lustratous is commanding the half legion?

    "Did you just say that the half legion is lead by Emperor Lustratous?" I asked.

    "Indeed Your Majesty," replied Kaljar. "I am inquiring about your--"

    "IS HE MAD?" I shouted.

    An Emperor leaving his Empire is not a trifling matter. In fact, during the whole Third-Year-War Lustratous never left his capital. But why now? With such a fragile half of a legion all of a sudden... What is happening?

    "Oh, didn''t I tell you about it? Kaljar asked. "Lustratous is leading this half legion as we speak. He kept his trusty Vice Emperor Karban in the capital to take care of the Empire."

    Karban and Lustratous have a strong bonding. Lustratous was never the man who could trust anyone. Yet, Karban managed to gain Lustratous confidence during the Third-Year-War as the general-in-command of the army back then.

    There were many occasions at the war where Karban could use his army to start a mutiny and side with us the Djinns. We were winning in every clash, so it was a beautiful opportunity for Karban. Yet he kept on following Lustratous orders till they won the war with Salamander.

    If I were in Lustratous shoes, I would definitely trust this guy more than anyone else in my nation. He is irreplaceable.

    "It is still unclear," I said. "Why on Earth would Lustratous put himself in such a risky situation?"

    "Lustratous wants to prove himself," Kaljar said. "The Lorope public believes that Lustratous is a weakling without Salamander''s blessing. And that Karban outsmarts so Lustratous and relies on him in every decision. Lustratous wants to prove that he can beat us with a small army first, and without Salamander second."

    I laughed.

    "We shall see. We shall see," I replied with a grin. "So, I assume that Lustratous half army will need three days to enter our kingdom?"

    "Yes," Kaljar replied. "Since our Eastern and Western borders with Lorope is blocked by mountains, Lustratous will have to march to our lands southward. He will face a few villages until he gets blocked by the large Castle of Remna."

    Our Kingdom is blessed with natural fortifications. At our Northeast and Northwest borders, the tall mountains make it almost impossible for anyone to pass through them. This leaves only the North as the only passage for any traveler or army to go through.

    This northern area is protected by what we call the Castle of Remna. It is vast, as large as a city, and with thick walls that siege weapons pale against it.

    "Lustratous half legion will arrive at the Castle of Remna a few days earlier than our first legion," I said. "We need a plan for this difference."

    "No one can enter the kingdom unless they pass through the Castle of Remna," said Kaljar. "Thus, I suggest deploying the few hundred troops we have ready at hand to guard the Castle until the first legion arrives."

    "So be on the defensive for a few days until the first legion arrives?" I asked.

    "Right, this is the safest approach Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

    At the north of the Castle of Remna are a few villages that opposing armies do not usually bother fighting against. The focus of the opposing armies is on the Castle of Remna. Once they secure the Castle, the whole kingdom will be open for invasion.

    "So the key location in this war is the Castle of Remna huh?" I said. "It will be very sensitive... Kaljar, you will be leading the first legion once it arrives at the war scene next week."

    "It would be my pleasure Your Majesty," Kaljar replied.

    It uncommon to deploy the Viziers of War to lead the legions. It is risky and losing them brings chaos. But since the opposing half legion is small in number, and that securing the Castle of Remna is critical I do not see the harm.

    "Fair enough," I said. "Let us end our talk with this note. Anything besides that?"

    "Nothing... besides a minor point," Kaljar replied. "You remember yesterday I discussed with you if you would be willing to meet up with my daughter... Are you still willing to meet her with the war approaching us?"

    The recent church incident made me forget all about it. Yesterday Kaljar did open up the topic of me marrying his daughter, and I agreed to meet her after a week.

    Now that he will be commanding a legion it is obvious that he will think about his children. Once you enter a war your life becomes cheap, you never know when you will be thrown in the garbage.

    "It is not worth delaying my meeting with her for a war," I replied. "So yes I will meet her, after six days as promised."

 Chapter 17: War Speech

    A large flag showing a red lion surrounded by a black background flapped wildly above my palace. The white balcony below the flag overlooked masses of people waiting for my speech.

    Yesterday, I talked to the two viziers, Kaljar and Vold, about preparing a speech for the public.

    My father died a few days ago, and I became a king two days ago, and we entered a war yesterday. So I had to wrap all of this up in today''s speech for the public. At least this is how we do it in the Djinn Kingdom.

    In other nations, a public official becomes the ruler''s mouthpiece and quotes the king''s words on any new matters. Many rulers do not like to speak in public. But for us, this indicates a weak king who cannot hold his own feet.

    "Are you ready Your Majesty?" asked my Chief Servant Ludik. I was about to step outside to the palace balcony where my three kings stood there waiting for my entrance. "It is your very first speech. It will be a memorable day."

    "I am ready," I replied as I walked toward the balcony. "And I do not believe in memorable days."

    I opened the door to the large balcony.

    The bright sun assaulted my eyes, while the heavy wind fluttered my red robe. The three viziers bowed their heads in unison. The public, which was noisy with their daily gossip, turned dead silent.

    I waved my hand to the masses under me once my feet touched the end of the balcony. Shouts, cheers, and cries shook the area while men with trumpets began to sing the national anthem.

    Once the trumpets went silent, the people likewise were quiet and waiting. With this, I began my speech.

    "Citizens of the Djinn Kingdom, I welcome you all to this beautiful day and beautiful era in our kingdom."

    The claps were going on like mad; I waved my hand to stop them.

    "But in the midst of this beautiful era, a few days ago we lost a great man and a father, King Justinian the second."

    Thankfully the crowds did not clap this time. They understood that what I said is tragic.

    "King Justinian the second uplifted our nation during his reign of thirty-two years. He converted our country from an ordinary nation to one with strong and solid might. The other nations today associate the Djinn Kingdom with pride and respect."

    I noticed a few darkened their faces in disagreement, but I moved to my next point.

    "But the Three-Year-War was an unexpected fall to the might of our kingdom. Despite losing it, we learned from this war ten times more than all the wars that we have won under the reign of my father."

    Beside the Third-Year-War, Father had initiated seven wars in total to widen our lands. They all succeeded except for the last one.

    "We have learned from the Third-Year-War that no matter how strong you are, no matter how smart you are, there is always an unexpected factor that lies beyond anyone''s control. By that unexpected factor, I am talking about the mythical beast Salamander."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Salamander''s name has such a magical effect on people. The crowds turned pale as if the god of death had passed by.

    "A myth, a legend, a creature that exists only in fantasies. This is what Salamander was to all of us. But the Third-Year-War blurred the difference between myth and reality. And who knows, perhaps another myth might descend upon us tomorrow. This is why we sharpen ourselves. Regardless of how many myths we will face tomorrow, we have to remain sharp. We have to show every other beast and myth out there that they should not underestimate humans."

    A few who were daydreaming returned their gaze to my face.

    "Yesterday I received a letter from Emperor Lustratous of the Lorope Empire. He began a war against us the Djinns."

    The eyes of the men grew large, while the ladies gasped. The different responses between genders amaze me.

    "We have confirmed that half a legion is heading our way as we speak. They are heading to the Castle of Remna and lead by Emperor Lustratous himself. Lustratous plan is obvious; he wants our Kingdom to be under Lorope. Here I ask you all, ladies, gentlemen, guards, soldiers, ministers, and viziers, will you accept this? Will you accept another disgrace and humiliation after the Third-Year-War? Will you accept seeing your families and fellow friends massacred by the hands of greed and evil?"

    Many shouted, "No!" and "Never!"

    "I cannot accept it as well. My father would curse me if I did. Until my last drop, I will endure it all. I will endure Lorope''s whole army, Lustratous, and even Salamander himself. Even if it turned out to be a 100-year-war, I would still endure it."

    Between the shouts and cheers, one person shouted, "But we can''t stop Salamander!" His voice stopped the cheers, and the public instead waited for my response.

    "Salamander cannot leave the Lorope Empire. Salamander is weaker than what you all might think. Our army died back in the Third-Year-War because they were all inside the Lorope Empire lands. Had they been outside it, none would have died. The war this time is on our land, so forget about Salamander."

    Doubts and relief appeared on the faces of the listeners. I have to press further.

    "And to prove that, if Salamander did ever appear on our Djinn lands, I would resign my role as the king at that same moment. I am this confident with what I am stating."

    Risky words, I know. But I have to solidify the hearts of my people. I cannot take chances.

    "Though a major fact cannot be ignored, that my hands alone are not enough to win this war. This why I am asking all of you, all my people, humbly, to lend me your strength and patience in winning this war. A war that I will thus call as the War of Revenge."

    A curious little child asked among the crowds, "War of Revenge?"

    "We are avenging all the men that died in the Third-Year-War. We are avenging all the ladies who wept for years on the loss of their husbands. We are avenging the children and the orphans who slept with empty bellies at the middle of the streets, buried under the snows of winter. We are also avenging and taking back the lands of Jandra and Mandra that the Lorope Empire took brutally from us."

    Jandra and Mandra are areas located North of the mountains that currently border us with the Lorope Empire. Their size together was about one-fifth or 20% of the total land in our Kingdom. We lost a lot.

    "The people living in Jandra and Mandra today are akin to prisoners of war. The Lorope citizens see them as inferior humans. They have little to no rights and are heavily taxed as a punishment for being once under our Kingdom. I have even heard many of them were sold as slaves to the nobles of Lorope. I dare not imagine the disgrace they did to them. Therefore remember everyone, if we lose this war, we will receive the same treatment if not a worse one."

    The faces of the masses turned ugly imagining the hellish lives that await them.

    "And on this note, I am ending my speech; be patient, be disciplined, and be kind to your fellow citizens in these upcoming harsh days."

    I raised my hands to the masses once again. They responded with claps and aggressive cheers as if they are ready to face the enemy.

    I walked to the door that I had used to enter the balcony. The three viziers were still standing beside the door. As I walked by Vizier Lya of Agriculture, she said, "It was a great speech, Your Majesty."

    The wind breezed strongly once again.

 Chapter 18: The Choked Villages

    The five villages north of the Castle of Remna were shouldered by two long chains of mountains at the East and the West. Thus, the five villages came to be known as the Choked Villages.

    Travelers used to call them the Green Villages because wherever they walked, they were always grass, bushes, and trees. The locals were always willing to give tons of fruits for free. The villages were an asylum for the poor.

    In one of the houses in the villages sat a group of four people. Two middle-aged ladies were cheerful, while a young lady and a young man beside them were both looking downward. The youngsters had just reached eighteen years old. This was an age where they had to marry, sadly even if by force.

    The four sat on a wooden floor around a fireplace. The fireplace was busy heating a copper kettle filled with water and jasmine leaves. The tea was reserved for romantic occasions. Its smell and taste brought back passionate memories.

    "Going shy you two?" said the middle-aged lady sitting beside the young lady. "After a week or so you two will be arguing nonstop, so forget about shyness."

    "Oh, let them," said the other middle-aged lady, sitting beside the young man. "If they are not shy now when will they be?"

    "There is a better time for shyness if you know what I mean," replied the other middle-aged lady. She covered her mouth with the wide robe of her orange sleeve. "Shaiva, speak up already. I want my daughter to be the initiator."

    "But..." Shaiva looked back at her mother for she did not know what to say. Shaiva then looked at her future husband in front of her. But after a moment she retreated her head down to the fireplace with red cheeks.

    The other mother pushed the side of her son named Valik with her elbow. This was the ''agreed-on'' move to begin.

    "Mother-in-law, I have a question," said Valik.

    "Sure, sure, ask, ask," replied Shaiva''s mother as if she was waiting for this moment.

    "Why is your daughter wearing makeup?" Valik asked. "Why someone so beautiful like her wears it in the first place?"

    The body of Shaiva shook and grew redder by the second.

    "Good question future son-in-law," replied Shaiva''s mother. "Shaiva, answer him."

    "it... is... because..." said Shaiva then paused.

    "Oh my God, girls these days," said Shaiva''s mother as she turned her head left and right. "She was shouting a few minutes ago in the house, and now she forgot how to speak. This is what happens when you read so many romantic stories."

    Valek''s mother pushed her elbow to her son''s sides once again.

    "No, Mother-in-law," said Valek. "Let her be shy, for my eyes are feasting on her shy face."

    "Stop it," shouted Shaiva at Valek all of a sudden. "I am going mad!"

    Shaiva''s shout was about breaking Valek''s acting mask, but his mother''s elbow push put it back in place.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Oh please, let me drown in your madness," Valek replied.

    "Hey boy," said the amazed mother of Shiva. "How about you marry me instead? My husband died two decades ago, so I am open for business."

    "No! He is mine!" shouted Shaiva at her mother unconsciously. And once Shaiva noticed that she looked around her and shouted, "I hate you all!"

    Shaiva ran away outside the house.

    "Valek, continue," said his mother swiftly. Valek obliged and followed after his future-wife.

    "Youth these days, they never realize we manipulate them like toys," said Shaiva''s mother.

    "It is better this way," replied Valek''s mother while blowing her steamy jasmine tea. "If we do not decide who loves who divorce rates would skyrocket."

    As the old ladies chatted, the smoke coming from the fireplace heated the wooden roof and hardened it. It also warmed the silkworm cocoons on the upper floor. They created the needed silk for the dress of the new bride, Shaiva.

    Silk has been a vital commodity that brought plenty of gold for the five villages. Traders from both the Djinn Kingdom and Lorope Empire bought tons of silk from the five villages at a modest price. The traders would then agree with the tailors to sell it to the nobles at six times the cost.

    The marriage also required the village men to gather water from the nearby caves. It is a tough and cold journey yet it has been a sacred practice for 500 years. The snow on top of the mountains slides down to caves once the weather gets hotter. When the snow water enters these cold caves, they turn into columns of mild ice, which gets picked up by the villagers.

    The next night was the night of the marriage. Decorated candles were lit on every road and on every house. All the five villagers that day circled the newly-wed couple.

    A musical instrument of 108 small wooden bars was tied on one side with a leather belt. Once shaken, these 108 wooden bars hit each other and created a snappy sound. 108 is an important number for erasing bad luck. Dozens of people were snapping this wooden instrument around the villagers and the newlyweds.

    Shaiva was sitting on a decorated chair at the center of the commotion. She wore a silky-white dress and a white veil that covered her mouth and neck.

    Valek sat beside her, wearing a deep blue robe with yellow stripes. The robe was loaned by the chief of his village and felt new after getting used for over twenty marriages. Adjusting the size of the robe was cheaper than buying a new one.

    "Once we are done with this ceremony, I have something to tell you," said Shaiva to Valek amidst the noise. "And many beautiful things to show you."

    Shaiva did not want to lose to Valek after his steamy words around the fireplace. Her brain was packed with arrows of passionate words after many years of reading romantic stories.

    "Please be gentle with me my princess," said Valek. "If you keep saying this my heart--"

    Valek coughed violently. It did not make sense for a vast outdoor area to be full of smoke. The villagers around him complained so a few of them searched for the source.

    But that was not needed for the explanation came with a sharp yell.

    "Enemies! Run away!" said one of the villagers. He spotted a well-armored army approaching him. The soldiers held a burning stick that lit the houses of the villages.

    "It is the Lorope Empire!" shouted a villager after he saw their flag. The women wailed, and the men ran to a small weaponry store. They opened the store but found it empty.

    The smoke mixed with cries, and soon enough, they were mixed with blood. The army of Lorope stabbed the crowds one after the other. Piles of dead bodies lied on red grass. The villagers did not resist; they did not know how to resist.

    When a person is surrounded by such calamity, it is normal to protect what he treasures the most. One villager hid his gold and silver from the Lorope army. Another hid his children in wooden barrels or abandoned storage houses.

    Valek instead turned his eyes to his new wife. Shaiva turned into a statue, her body could not accept what surrounded her. Her warm memories bled, and her future evaporated.

    Valek held her hand shouting, "We are running away!". He pulled her with a strong force that returned her to her senses and made her feel safe.

    But the moment Shaiva stood up from her chair a black sword dug itself into her back and appeared on the other side of her chest. Shaiva''s hand slipped from Valek''s, and she fell on the grass unmoving. Her silk clothes were dyed red.

    "How... did this happen... my dreams," said Shaiva while crying.

    The world around Valek turned dark and painful. He immediately looked with fiery eyes at the one who stabbed her.

    "Happy marriage," said the one who had stabbed Shaiva. It was no one other than Emperor Lustratous himself.

 Chapter 19: The Lone Wolf

    The black hatred within Valik''s heart surfaced like a lion. With his lover lying halfdead beside him, Valik leaped barehanded at Emperor Lustratous. Lustratous responded by slashing at Valik with his black sword. The sword cut Valik''s right eye and forced Valik to fall beside Shaiva.

    "Have you went mad?" Lustratous asked. "What could you achieve barehanded? It would be best if you died with your wife. Her loss will bleed you to death."

    Despite the pain in his right eye, Valik leaped at Lustratous once again. But before that trembling hands of his wife, Shaiva stopped him.

    "Run!" Shaiva said amidst the smoke and blood.

    Lustratous readied his sword to stab Valik. But before doing so, two middle-aged ladies blocked Lustratous. They were the mothers of Valik and Shaiva.

    "Run! Leave Shaiva!" they shouted at Valik.

    It was too painful for Valik to leave the three ladies. How would he face himself, his friends, upon realizing that three ladies had saved his life? That he had ignored the glimpse possibility of protecting their lives, and saved his own life instead.

    "I can''t do it," said Valik and he jumped at distracted Lustratous once again. With his heavy armor, the weight of Valik was too much for Lustratous to bear. Lustratous fell on the ground with Valik on top of him, and his black sword fell from his hands.

    Valik kept punching Lustratous'' face left and right until he received an iron kick from a soldier that knocked him backward.

    Valik then saw two other soldiers stabbing and slashing his mother and Shaiva''s mother. It was too late to save them. It was also too late to save Shaiva, or even tear up.

    "My Emperor, are you alright?" said the soldier who kicked Valik as he helped his emperor stand on his feet. "Haven''t I told you not to run alone like this? You could have killed yourself."

    "I know Lamzaz," said Lustratous to his general. "My age has taken its toll on me that an untrained kid forced me to fall... Kill him."

    "Absolutely," replied Lamzaz.

    Valik saw Lamzaz running his way. This time Valik had nothing to protect, for everything he loved was dead beside him.

    The young man ran away.

    A huge long sword came at his face. Valik managed to lower his face in time, but the sword sliced a bit of his black hair.

    Valik jumped to startle the soldier and continued his run. Luckily, the Lorope army was fully armored, that slowed them against Valik''s fast village legs.

    The atrocities were everywhere. More villagers fell on the grass and stained it red. Female villagers were abducted, and none of the men nor the boys were spared. Valik''s bleeding right-eye was still throbbing, and it throbbed more, the more he saw such atrocities.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Valik felt as if his world was at its end. But he still had to run for the three ladies that sacrificed themselves to extend his end. He had to do so. It was his only drive to keep on running.

    After running for thirty minutes, Valik reached the borders of the village to the south. He received four additional scars after running away from other Lorope soldiers. But It was still a pleasant conclusion compared to the villagers who lost their lives.

    A few minutes Valik left the last village and ventured into the dark black wilderness. His eyelids and the rest of his body showed signs of heaviness. Valik understood the message and thus searched for the safest place between large bushes and gave in to sleep.

    Valik woke up after a few hours and did not bother to count the time. He was surrounded by the vast bushes of the forest. The gentle sun warmed his body, and the sound of birds tickled his eardrums.

    The forest was located between the five villages at his north and the Castle of Remna at the south where he is running towards to.

    Valik was not aware of where he was heading. But he knew he had to be as far away from Lorope''s army as possible.

    He knew nothing about what surrounded him beside the mountains around his village. That his village belonged to the Djinn Kingdom who once fought against the Lorope Empire. He only knew about this back from the village elders who probably died at this point.

    In any case, Valik decided to ignore this notion and continue southwards.

    The walls of the castle that faced Valik were tall. They were very tall in his eyes that was only used to the humble houses of his village. Its size was equivalent of a city, and the thick walls made it one of the most solid structures known today.

    The Castle of Remna was built by my father King Justinian the second after the success of his first war expedition. He believed that many enemies would swarm at him for expanding his land.

    Thus, Father spent about 500,000 gold coins back then to complete this castle. On a side note, the father of Vin Chaldoon, Baron Chaldoon, supervised building the Castle.

    The grass gave way to Valik''s fatigued footsteps as he approached the mighty castle. He saw about a dozen guards patrolling the entrance of the Castle of Remna.

    About half of them noticed him. Startled, five guards with spears walked toward Valik and placed the tip of the spear close to his skin.

    "Who are you?" they asked, ignoring the weak, bruised condition of Valik.

    "Valik, I ran away from the massacre of the Lorope Empire to my hometown, the Chocked Villages," Valik replied.

    "They have already reached this far?" wondered one of the guards. The guards lowered their spears, knowing that he posed no harm, except for one guard.

    "Not so quickly," said the only guard who kept his spear against Valik''s neck. "Prove it."

    "Oh, he is right," said an absentminded guard who returned his spear back against Valik''s head.

    "What do I have to prove?" said Valik in a pained tone. "Do not you see me suffering? I have lost my wife, my family, and my right eye. I am hungry, burdened by fatigue and you guys are bothering me with a prove!"

    The guards seemed at a loss on what to do. They did not want to harm an innocent. But they also did not want to be blamed for bringing a spy from Lorope into the Castle.

    "How about we let Vizier Kaljar see him?" suggested the same guard who first doubted Valik. The guard avoided the blame by throwing the judgment on his commander.

    "But you think Vizier Kaljar would accept this?" asked another guard.

    "Are you an idiot?" replied the guard who suggested the idea. "It is a major incident that the chocked villages were massacred by Lorope. This was against our estimations, remember Vizier Kaljar''s briefing? This boy would bring invaluable information if he proved his innocence."

    "I do not get what you are saying," said the guard who first doubted the idea. "But since you talked too much I think you are correct."

    And with that Valik went to Vizier Kaljar. Valik still did not know the vast difference would he make in the future. He is still a lone hungry wolf, looking to satisfy his hunger, lick his wounds, and fill his revenge.

    Two days remain until the Siege of Remna begins.

 Chapter 20: The Castle of Remna

    Inside a large room in the Castle of Remna, Vizier Kaljar sat along with two men. The first is his trusty Vice Vizier Lajek. The second is a bandaged man named Valik whom the guards had brought to Kaljar.

    The guards told Kaljar that Valik is a villager from the Chocked Villages. He ran away from the villages as Lorope massacred them. The guards could not confirm whether he is a spy or an actual villager.

    "So you are saying that the Chocked Villages got massacred," Kaljar said while thinking about the consequences of such words.

    "That is correct," replied Valik. "They first burned the village and proceeded to slash everyone they saw, but abducted a few ladies."

    Initially, Kaljar thought that Lorope would rush to invade the Castle of Remna because of two reasons.

    First, no one could enter the Djinn Kingdom unless they passed through the Castle. The mountains beside the Castle are too tall to climb, so there is no other way but the Castle. Second, it is almost impossible to invade the Castle thanks to its thick walls.

    Hence, Lorope''s safest bet was to invade the Castle before the Djinn army reached it. This meant Lorope had to completely ignore the Chocked villages to save up time. But they did not do that.

    But Kaljar, along with his 10,000 soldiers are already inside the Castle... What could Lorope hope to achieve now? Not to mention that the current Lorope 5,000 army is half the Djinn size.

    "Lorope does not seem to be taking the correct chess move, do not you think so Lajek?" Kaljar asked his second-hand man, who had also listened to Valik''s story. "They wasted their time on the Chocked Villages instead of spending it on the castle."

    "It is quite a basic mistake for Lorope to make," replied Lajek. "I feel like they have another plan... Also, the common tactic of starving us inside the Castle is impossible because they only have access to the northern gate."

    The Castle of Remna has two large gates; one at its North and another at its South. Lorope can block or siege the Castle as long as they want at the Northern gate. But they cannot access the southern gate due to the blockage of the mountains.

    "So you are saying they might surprise us, but In what way?" Kaljar asked.

    "I cannot tell exactly," Lajek replied. "But do you not find weird that Lorope sent just 5,000 soldiers? Attacking the first villagers instead of the Castle is also another weird element. If it is a single mistake, I understand, but if it is more, then most likely it is not a mistake."

    Lajek is a well-studied person. Despite being 25 years old, he possessed a sharp mind well beyond his age. He often broke up all the complexity of the war situations to their original aim or purpose.

    "Thank you Valik, I find your words trusty enough," Kaljar said as he noticed that Valik was going more fatigued and sleepy. "I asked the soldiers to provide you a room to rest in."

    But Valik''s eyes did not seem satisfied.

    "I want to fight," said Valik. "I need to avenge."

    It is quite a sight to hear such words from a person who had just seen his heaven get burned down. That despite being tired and wounded, Valik still showed a glitter of light and confidence to fight.

    "Being a soldier is one of the toughest jobs Valik," I said. "What you have received are just a few bruises and lost an eye, no big deal for us. Instead, it is more common in a war to lose your life in either the quickest or the most brutal way you can imagine."

    After thinking for a few seconds, Valik replied. "My current life, my future, and my past had been heavily indebted to the villagers and my family. This body remained alive thanks to their sacrifice. So, the only way I can think of to repay this debt is by avenging them."

    "Why on Earth would their sacrifice put you in debt?" Kaljar asked. "I had enough with this childish heroism. Once they see you killing another person, staining their name, they would instead curse you in their graves."A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    "Then what should I do? What can I do to repay them?" Valik shouted.

    "It is too late to repay them," Kaljar replied. "But you could do what makes them happy. And if you have no idea what that is, you will never be wrong in doing good to others."

    Valik started to lose his light of hatred and instead got drowned in thought.

    "Do not be hasty," Kaljar said. "It could be the most important decision in your life. Relax in your room and think about it."

    People''s eyes often turn blank they receive such words, for their brains are too lazy to process them. They instead let their hatred, their emotions return them to this typical revenge cycle. Time only can tell whether Valik will be among such people.

    Valik stood up, thanked Kaljar for the advise, and left his quarters.

    "Well then, we need to rethink about our defense plan Lajek," Kaljar said.

    "There is not much of a change to our plan," Lajek replied. "The Castle will do all the job."

    "But with the irregular moves of Lorope relying on the Castle alone is insufficient," Kaljar replied.

    "True," Lajek replied. "But what extra precautions can we make? We have all the useable manpower in the Kingdom, the 10,000 soldiers, residing inside the Castle. Along with the equipment and the food there is not anything left to do."

    "Lajek, you are cornering your thoughts inside a box, I do not like that," Kaljar replied.

    "I do not get what you are getting at Kaljar," Lajek said.

    "Think of how Lorope would act based on their actions thus far," Kaljar replied. "They had a reason for pillaging the Chocked Villages as you have mentioned. I think it is linked to the same reason for sending just half a legion."

    <hr>

    Valik left the room of Vizier Kaljar and kept on descending the stone steps. Some of the soldiers ascending and descending the stairway eyed him with jealousy. As on why would a stranger spend so much time with the Vizier but not with us? Others gave him eyes of pity, they knew his story, and it had touched their heart.

    The Castle of Remna was composed of a long stairway made of large stones. The stairway starts once you open the gates of the castle until you reach the roof. The stairway leads to all the rooms, large and small, that could hold up to 50,000 soldiers.

    Vizier Kaljar had given the rooms at the beginning of the stairway for the scouts and the guards who patrol outside the Castle.

    Above that are the rooms for other lower ranked soldiers. Followed by the food court which is placed at the center of the stairway. This helps keep it at around the same distance for everyone.

    Just beside the food court is the jail. It allows for quicker food transportation, and if the prisoners ever thought to run away, they will be trapped by soldiers above and below them.

    Above the food court and the jail, we reach the rooms for the cohort leaders and vice cohort leaders. Each cohort leads one of three cohort groups; a sword, a shield, or a bow cohort. These people interact more with other cohort leaders like them. Thus it is most logical to place them close to each other. Though the only downside to this placement is that the cohort leaders are placed far from their subordinates.

    The rooms of the highest men in the army like Vizier Kaljar is at the very top of the Castle. Why? Privilege is one aspect that can''t be denied. But placing Kaljar''s room in the accessible ground rooms would bring him endless noise of soldiers running back and forth. They would further greet and talk to him all the time to gain his favor.

    Despite all the noise of armor and chatting at the stairway, Valik''s brain was elsewhere. His brain was chewing the last words of Vizier Kaljar while his right eye throbbed.

    It would be better, as Kaljar had said, to help the poor for instance or do good for the people instead of killing the Lorope army. In fact, if Valik ever murdered the Lorope army, would not he be the same as them?

    But what about your own sake Valik? A dark thought spoke to him. What about your loss? You lost your love, your family, and your village. Is it fair?

    The thoughts of good and evil surged within Valik as he entered his room located just below the food court. Valik immediately collapsed on his bed and succumbed to his overflowing thoughts.

    But life did not plan the same. Within a few minutes, the door to his room was flung open.

    A soldier shouted at him, "Are you from the Chocked Villages? What happened?"

    "Who are you?" asked the surprised Valik.

    "My name Laiban," replied the soldier. "I am from the Chocked Villages like you. I left to join the Djinn military two years ago."

    Laiban? The name sounded familiar.

    "It can''t be," said Valik. "Are you... Shaiva''s big brother?"

    There is a firm rule in the Chocked villages that everyone followed; they could not use the same name for more than a single individual. So when Valik asked about Shaiva, both him and Laiban knew they were talking about the same person.

    "Yes," replied Laiban. "Do you know her? Do you know what happened to my family?"

    Laiban was unaware that he was talking to the one who had married his sister.

    Deep inside Valik did not wish to respond. It was bitter to resurface these memories that he was about to bury deep in his soul. Though, as one of the few survivors of this massacre Valik had a duty to say what happened.

    "They were massacred," Valik replied. "All of them. Lorope killed and burned everything they saw. Nothing was spared beside a few ladies whom they decided to abduct."

    "And what about you?" shouted Laiban as he grabbed a fistful of Valik''s shirt. "You ran away?"

    "Yes," responded Valik. "You think it is a disgrace? Dishonor? No, if I were to defend them nothing would have changed. We were too weak. It would have been nothing but idiocy."

    Laiban tossed Valik, shouting, "Those bastards... Shaiva!" as tears appeared on his cheeks.

 Chapter 21: Laiban & Valik

    Inside a room around the middle of the Castle of Remna sat two youngsters, they recalled the memories of their villages that ceased to exist.

    "Do not worry about it Valik," said Laiban to Valik as he slapped his back. "You sure faced a lot."

    "Perhaps," replied Valik while touching the cover on his right eye. "Though I think the future is worse."

    Laiban gave a stronger slap to Valik''s back in response.

    "Do not let your brain wonder too far in the future and make up negative thoughts about it," said Laiban. "Do not underestimate the future."

    Valik still had not told Laiban that he had married his deceased sister, Shaiva. Valik felt It is too late to say anything now, that nothing will change even if he said it.

    "So what are you going to do now Valik?" asked Laiban.

    Valik''s road boils down to two decisions. Stay in the Castle to fight Lorope. Or head southward and live somewhere peaceful within the Djinn Kingdom.

    Both decisions to Valik were bitter. Enlisting in the army would mean that he will kill and plunder. And if he took the second choice and went southward, then his heart would be enraged, on why did not he avenge his wife, family, and the villagers.

    "True, but I do not know what to do at this point," said Valik. "Tell me, why did you enlist in the army Laiban?"

    "I like the army life," replied Laiban. "I like the struggle. The unity behind camping, drill training, and the discipline when everyone follows that single order is enticing. I admit it is a rough life. Yet, once you succeed in this struggle, it tastes like honey."

    This guy is quite the animal, Valik thought. But at the same time Valik envied him, Laiban was unshakable.

    "I see," said Valik. "It is my first time hearing that someone from the Chocked Villages enlisted in the military of the Djinn."

    "Well, it was a bumpy road," said Laiban. "Of course my whole family and friends were against this military idea. I was seventeen at that time, and my marriage was a year away. So my mother was heavily against me going to the military. But I could not. I had and still have this mad passion for the military life."

    "If I had this passion of yours for the military, I would not have been so conflicted in my decision," said Valik.

    "Well I still had to make lots of tough decisions inside the military," replied Laiban. "We have this saying that in the military you have to either lie or die. It took me a while to accept this saying, but it made me realize that lying is not that bad. But there are still simple choices in the military, like on what kind of cohort do you want to join. For me, I chose the shield cohort."

    "A cohort?" asked Valik. "What is that?"

    "It is the building block of a legion," replied Laiban. "A legion is composed of ten cohorts. Each cohort is led by a leader, and they all use the same weapon, like a shield. There are two other main cohorts; a bow cohort, and a sword cohort. And I tell you man the training of shield cohorts is akin to hell."

    "What training? You just have to hold a shield," said Valik.

    "Dude, you keep lifting heavy objects all day. Then they test your shield skills against the largest wild boars you have ever seen," replied Laiban. "By the way, there are three levels of training in the military. In summary, it starts with general training, followed by specialization training, and ends with cohort training. It takes most people two years to finish the three levels."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "And on which training level are you right now?" Valik asked.

    "I finished my cohort training about a month ago," replied Laiban while showing his thick arm muscles. "This means I am a full-fledged military man right now!"

    "Well that is great," replied Valik.

    The two villagers talked for hours, and from hours to a whole day. This helped Valik recover some of his physical and mental wounds. It also helped Laiban remember the old days of his village life.

    Meanwhile, at the top of the Castle of Remna, a scout spoke to Vizier Kaljar and his second-hand man Lajek.

    "What? An additional 30,000 Lorope army is heading our way?!?!" said Kaljar.

    "Indeed sir," replied the Cheif Scout named Javet. "I still do not know how we did not notice them earlier."

    "So they had certain ways to hide from our eyes...," said the second-hand man Lajek.

    "Whatever the case may be," said Kaljar. "This means that Lorope army will be more than triple our current army size."

    The Lorope army would total 35,000 men once the 3 legions meet up with the 5,000 men under Lustratous. It would put the 10,000 Djinn army residing in the Castle of Remna at a great disadvantage.

    "So they wanted to surprise us," said Lajek. "We will have to avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy from now on. The resolve of our soldiers will also be weakened once they realize that we are at a manpower disadvantage."

    "The enemy also has an additional 65,000 men. Is it also heading our way?" Kaljar asked the Chief Scout.

    "No sir," replied the Chief Scout Javet. "I have placed two scouts around each of the ten Lorope legions. They confirmed that 35,000 are marching at the Castle of Remna, and the remaining 65,000 are still residing back in the Empire. So we can safely say that we do not have to worry about the 65,000 for now."

    "How long until these 3 legions join up with Lustratous half legion?" asked Kaljar.

    "It would take about a day sir till the 3 legions group up with Lustratous'' half legion," replied the chief scout.

    "And Lustratous half group will also need another day to reach the Castle?" Kaljar asked.

    "That is correct sir," the Chief Scout replied. "In total, it would take two days for the 35,000 Lorope armies to reach the Castle of Remna."

    "But there is no need to be troubled by the numbers," said Lajek. "Even if they outnumber us they still won''t breach the Castle."

    "Lorope knows how sturdy is the Castle," said Kaljar. "Why would they surprise us with three additional legions despite knowing that they can''t breach the Castle?"

    "I cannot tell sir," Lajek replied. "I would say it would be best to scout every sensitive area for additional safety. Perhaps they are hiding new legions that we are yet to notice."

    "Good idea," replied Kaljar. "How many scouts do you presently have Javet?"

    "Fifty men sir," replied Javet. "Twenty scouts are currently scouting Lorope''s ten legions. So I still have thirty remaining within the Castle."

    "Great," replied Kaljar. "Scatter them north of the Chocked Villages and around the mountains. Reply to me tomorrow by sunset for any findings. We do not have much time left."

    "Gladly," replied Javet. "I shall order them right away."

    Javet swiftly headed outside the quarters of Kaljar to dispatch the orders.

    "That should do sir," Lajek replied. "If they have extra hidden spots to move their army, the thirty additional scouts should be more than plenty to notice them."

    "I hope so," replied Kaljar. "Lorope should expect that we will send additional scouts. They should have prepared some countermeasures."

    <hr>

    After the coming of the next day, the situation was growing tense at the Castle of Remna. Kaljar and Lajek were weary from waiting for the findings of the scouts.

    By midday, the Chief Scout Javet knocked on Kaljar''s door. It was later than the agreed time on sunset.

    "Come in," Kaljar replied hurriedly. "Why are you late Javet? And what about the findings?"

    "Sir... I do not even get what happened," replied Javet.

    "What now just tell us!" urged Lajek.

    "I agreed to meet the scouts for the findings at sunrise here at the Castle. But none came," Javet said. "I was surprised and confused. So I immediately sent for backup scouts and ran around myself to see what happened. All the scouts I managed to find were lying dead. It is as if Lorope is mocking us."

    Kaljar''s face looked as if hell fell on him.

    "They are up to something," said Kaljar. "And we are many steps away."

    Throughout this campaign, Kaljar''s thoughts were always centered around avenging his father''s death back in the Three-Years-War. But upon realizing this, he began instead to think about the safety of his daughter.

    "We do not have to think that far sir," said Lajek. "With the Castle standing sturdy and solid we still have the upper hand."

    "I do not think so Lajek," said Kaljar. "The signs are clear."

 Chapter 22: The New Weapon

    It is very common for the disturbed and the anxious to be devoid of sleep. Sleep requires a calm mind and heart. Why? That is unclear. Perhaps our bodies want to remind us that no matter how hectic our lives are, we should always break and bring calmness to our minds and bodies.

    Such was the case for Vizier Kaljar. His body became restless upon knowing that the detested Lorope army is hours away from the Castle of Remna. He could not sleep despite forcing its body to do so for more than an hour.

    Kaljar knew that once the Lorope army reached him, he will be deprived of sleep for god knows how long. Kaljar did not mind even if he managed to sleep for at least a few minutes.

    Kaljar had many worries; taking care of his 10,000 men, predicting and planning against Lorope moves. But more importantly, Kaljar was worried about his single child, his daughter Mirya. If Kaljar died in this conflict, who will look after her?

    The snakes who proposed to his daughter Mirya, those who eyed her body with impure lust brought neverending fears to Kaljar. He wanted to stab them, but too bad the law forbade it.

    Kaljar''s only hope was in King Rajid; his eyes were pure. Should the king marry his daughter, Kaljar would die peacefully.

    The next moment proved that the external world of Kaljar overpowered his internal. Just as the sun was about to show itself, a giant metallic ball was shot loudly out of a cylindrical object never seen before.

    The metallic ball was accurately aimed at the very top of the Castle of Remna. The target was the room of the unfortunate Vizier Kaljar.

    The metallic ball crashed against the sturdy walls of the Castle. The walls were young and confident, but their confidence paled against the might of this ambitious metallic ball.

    The ball cracked its way through the wall of the Castle with a loud roar. Thick stones that were once part of the sturdy castle walls fell inside Kaljar''s room, and loudly on the grass outside the Castle.

    Kaljar jumped in surprise, and his bed was luckily away from the impact. He was thus unharmed but coughed from the resulting dust and debris.

    Kaljar stared at the hole in his room. It filled him with amazement and fear.

    Did Kaljar''s memory fail him? Was there anything that could blow the castle''s walls? With such ease and force? Did Lorope invent a new weapon? When and how? This mindblowing weapon would spark a significant change in the entire globe. It would mark perhaps the death of fortresses, thick walls, and castles... And it also meant that the death of the Castle of Remna is neigh.

    The bastard Lustratous aimed for my neck from the very start, Kaljar thought. But too bad, my neck is much tougher than what he thinks.

    Kaljar left his room and shouted all around the stairway, ¡°Soldiers prepare yourselves!¡±

    Kaljar¡¯s shout and the noise of the metallic ball had awakened the soldiers in the Castle. Valik, in particular, did not know what to do. He was not a soldier, and he knew that remaining in his room was dangerous.

    Valik opened the door of his room and saw swarms of the Djinn soldiers, fully prepared with their gear and weapons to strike the enemy. They were running down the long stairway of the castle to the ground level.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Valik squeezed himself between the marching soldiers to enter the stairway and ran downward as quickly as he could.

    Suddenly another metallic ball struck the Castle. The soldiers stopped their stairway march in surprise, a few whispered as to what is going on. This time it hit the northern gate, but it remained standing.

    Lajek stood at the ground level, waiting for the soldiers to finish their descent. He looked frustrated. Lajek did not expect Lorope to possess such a deadly weapon that could topple the castle he was so proud of.

    Kaljar, on the other hand, was still at the top of the stairway making sure that all the soldiers had left their rooms.

    After a few minutes, most of the soldiers were on the ground level, standing in the standard square formation.

    Valik had also reached the ground level with the Djinn soldiers. He noticed that Laiban was at the second row of the army, surrounded by units equipped with a shield like him.

    Lajek quickly noticed Valik amongst the crowds because his attire was different from the soldiers.

    ¡°Valik what are you doing here?" Lajek shouted. "Run away to the southern gate. This place is not for civilians.¡±

    After a few seconds, not one but two metallic balls hit the northern gate at once. The right door of the gate fell loudly on the ground. It fell on a few unfortunate Djinn soldiers who lost their lives due to its extreme weight.

    The two armies were now visible to one another.

    Valik noticed that Emperor Lustratous was at the very front of his army. His armor was entirely black, with yellow carvings of Salamander on the chest''s armor.

    The other elite soldiers beside him instead wore white armor and had blue carvings of Salamander on their chest. The rest of the army behind them wore a typical pale grey armor. But they distinguished themselves with a tabard that resembled the Lorope flag.

    Emperor Lustratous raised his hand, and both Lorope and Djinn soldiers went silent.

    ¡°Soldiers of the Djinn kingdom, I am giving you a chance to surrender,¡± said Lustratous. ¡°You are surrounded in the northern and the southern gates. We outnumber you thrice, and the Castle you are so proud of is useless against our cannons as you have witnessed. Surrender, and I shall guarantee you no harm.¡±

    A large noise echoed throughout the Djinn army.

    ¡°We are surrounded?¡± said one soldier.

    ¡°How come they reached the southern gate?¡± said another.

    ¡°I thought we doubled them in size!¡± shouted a terrified soldier.

    But before the situation became worse, Vizier Kaljar took charge.

    Despite it being a dangerous move, Kaljar stood between his army and the Lorope army to deliver his speech. Kaljar could easily be wiped out by arrows, spear shoots, or even the so-called cannons. But he did not mind for he had to set up an example.

    It was in a way similar to what Lustratous was doing, for he had also placed himself between the two armies.

    ¡°Stand firm!¡± Kaljar¡¯s shout echoed throughout the castle. ¡°You let an enemy toy with your minds? The battle had not started yet, and you doubt yourselves?¡±

    The tension of the battle was heavy on the Djinn soldiers. After all, they have not fought a single war in their lives and had very few war veterans from previous wars. Almost all the Djinn veterans back in the days of King Justinian the Second had perished under the might of Salamander during the Third-Year-War.

    Lustratous had placed the Djinn army at a cage that they can''t escape from. The Djinn army is surrounded by enemies that triple theirs. Lorope also had this mysterious weapon called cannons by Lustratous that could collapse the whole Castle with unbelievable force.

    Lorope still had many war veterans from the Third-Year-War. Lorope''s army was also more confident because they had won the previous war against the Djinn. Thus, it was normal for the Djinn army to feel overwhelmed.

    All in all the future was bleak for the Djinn army.

    This is why Valik looked at Kaljar with awe; how could he muster this much courage?

    "How many times in history did smaller armies beat larger ones?" shouted Kaljar as he looked at the Lorope army. "Countless times. And this conflict will set another example of that. Have you forgotten the fear we brought you in the Third-Year-War? You have forgotten how your armies, your forefathers kept on retreating for their lives? And you think you can win this war? Do not make me laugh!"

    Instead of raising the morale of his army Kaljar instead lowered the enemy''s morale. This helped ignite the Djinn army at the same time.

    Cheers and shouts were heard from the Djinn Kingdom''s army.

    "Let us piss on them."

    "Let us eat them alive."

    Kaljar rose his double-sided axe to the sky, intensifying the excitement of his army. Kaljar was the only person in the Djinn army who used axes.

    But before Kaljar ordered his soldiers to march on the enemy Lajek, Kaljar''s right-hand man shouted, "I surrender!"

 Chapter 23: The Strategy of Lustratous

    The Lorope army waited on a vast grassy field for the Djinn Kingdom to either surrender or fight.

    Emperor Lustratous looked at the confused Djinn Kingdom with joy. He had spent five years preparing for this war, and the progress thus far went according to his best scenario. The fruits of his long plan tasted so sweet.

    Lustratous plan over the past five years was focused on three areas.

    The first was to gather up spies within the Djinn Empire. It turned out to be a much easier task than what he had expected. Many Djinn citizens were very enthusiastic to spy for his empire.

    Initially, Lustratous did not get it. Why is the kingdom''s public that he defeated is so willing to spy for him? Usually, they should be enraged at such a request. But the answer was simple, they were afraid of Salamander.

    The Djinn army was well-known before the Third-Year-War to be made of fire and iron. They were unshakeable.

    Usually, soldiers flee once they realize that the odds are heavily against them. But the Djinn army had never done that. Instead, they had stood solidly together fighting the enemy until the last drop of blood. It made Lustratous jealous.

    The only time the Djinn army fled was when they saw Salamander. Even the Lorope army, whom Salamander was friendly with, ran away from this mythical beast. A single look at him forced their bones to scream.

    Luckily, the Djinn''s fear for Salamander intensified, enough that people inside the Djinn Kingdom began to worship him. The best example of that was lord Salam. He was the most devoted human to Salamander and the best spy Lustratous had ever seen in his life.

    Lord Salam gave Lustratous volumes of information about any person he requested. The information was so detailed that it went up to the private lives of these people. Lustratous even knew how often did King Justinian the Second sleep with mistresses, and the specifics of it. King Justinian the Second probably did not remember that much detail about himself.

    But all of that still was not enough to win Lorope this upcoming war. Lustratous had one other difficulty to tackle, that is, the Castle of Remna.

    King Justinian the Second faced three massive sieges around the Castle of Remna. The enemies in those three sieges each tried a different siege weapon.

    The first siege they used was a catapult. It used a wooden winging arm to throw heavy objects like stones to topple the castle. The second siege weapon they used was a ballista. It was a giant crossbow, at least ten times stronger than a regular one. And the third siege weapon they used was a trebuchet. It was akin to a catapult but utilized ropes instead of wood as the swinging arm for the thrown objects.

    Out of the three siege weapons the trebuchet was the most successful. The trebuchet back then had managed to crack the walls of the Castle of Remna. But that small crack took them many attempts and two weeks to achieve. Thus, the armies could not keep up the siege and retreated from the castle.

    But all these failed attempts paled against the might of the cannon. It began when Lustratous sent two hundred men to search every country for a better siege weapon.

    What one of his men discovered was a military genius known as Phinan. He proposed that concentrating gunpowder explosion in a large cylindrical tube would produce enough force to topple any castle. Lustratous liked the idea. He brought Phinan to his Empire and set him to work on what would be known as the cannon.

    After four years Phinan produced first bronze cannon. Phinan made it with secrecy that only five people in the Lorope Empire knew his research.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The cannons worked well but had a major issue. The gunpowder explosion shattered the whole cannon after the third shot. The people who tested the cannon also died from the heat of the explosion.

    Phinan could not accept this. He spent the fifth year making the cannons useable for at least ten shots. By the end of the fifth year, Phinan found the solution; oil. By covering their inner cannon barrel with cold oil, cannons now could be used ten times before they shattered. The soldiers had to reapply the oil after every shot, but the trick nevertheless worked.

    Finally, the last and final problem was the Chocked Villages. The five villages welcomed every traveler, and never entered a single war. But the villages were still under the protection of the Djinn Kingdom. Thus they posed an annoying threat they decided to defend the Djinn Kingdom.

    After a thoughtful day, Lustratous decided to burn up all the Chocked Villages and kill all its males. It was the easiest and safest solution to ensure that they would not bother him in the war.

    But the problem in this plan was his army. The veteran soldiers were all fine with the slaughter. But the new soldiers were reluctant to harm the innocent villagers. In any case, Lustratous knew a good solution for the issue.

    Lustratous gave his soldiers full freedom to do whatever they wanted to the Chocked Villages. Absolutely anything, and from that point on one complained.

    All humans are evil, Lustratous thought.

    Lustratous received invaluable information when his troops eradicated the Chocked Villages. In despair, the villagers told him about a secret passage to enter the Djinn Kingdom without having to go through the Castle of Remna.

    It was a narrow passage between the mountains that only a few villagers knew about. Barely two people could enter it at a time, that made it ineffective for large armies.

    Lustratous brought three more legions once his troops finished pillaging the chocked villages. He thus accumulated an army of 35,000 men. Lustratous then moved 5,000 men through the secret passageway to block the southern gate. At the same time, his main army blocked the northern gate of the castle. With this, the Djinn army in the castle will be locked without any escape route.

    When Lustratous'' main army of 30,000 men reached the northern gate of the castle of Remna, he immediately ordered them to use one of the cannons. The cannon was aimed at the room of Vizier Kaljar. The primary goal of this move was to strike fear in the Djinn army.

    Lustratous wanted the Djinn army in the castle to surrender. He did not want his troops to clash against the Djinn army this early. Lustratous wanted to save up the strength of his forces until he reached the capital of the Djinn Kingdom. This was where the main battle would start.

    Thus when Lustratous gave his speech to the Djinn forces, he gave them a choice to surrender. And it seems that it worked well.

    Lustratous did not expect that Lajek, the second-hand man to the Vizier of War, to be the first to surrender. Lustratous even noticed the soldiers behind him chuckle when they heard Lajek surrender. It was unbelievable. They expected the ordinary soldiers to yield first, but not Lajek.

    It seems like the Djinn army had lost its edge, Lustratous thought. Oh, how I wish to fight the old Djinn army when it was made of steel and fire. It is sad that it is no longer there.

    The Djinn army looked at Lajek as walked toward the Lorope army to surrender. Kaljar was enraged.

    "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!" Kaljar shouted. Kaljar then suddenly punched Lajek in the face with such force that it tossed him on the ground.

    "BUT WE CANNOT WIN!" Lajek replied. "LOOK AROUND YOU, WHAT IS LEFT FOR US TO DO? WE CANNOT BEAT THEM, AND YOU KNOW IT... Any further resistance will bring unnecessary bloodshed."

    Vizier Kaljar looked like his soul had left him. In response, Lajek stood up and likewise punched Kaljar in the cheek.

    "WAKE UP," Lajek shouted at Kaljar.

    The army of the Djinn Kingdom was in shambles. Their confidence got shattered.

    "YOU ARE A DISGRACE," shouted Kaljar as he punched Lajek once again.

    The two hit one another, while the rest of the Djinn army looked at one another. The army had no idea on what to do, everything around them fell into chaos.

    This is where the individuality of the army showed up.

    "I will surrender," said one of the soldiers.

    "Me too," said another.

    Other Djinn soldiers who disliked such words argued and hit those who surrendered. It was as if they mimicked what was happening between Kaljar and Lajek.

    Kaljar''s mind began to change.

    "Who wants to surrender?" Kaljar asked his army as he spat blood from receiving many punches. "I won''t harm you. Whoever wants to surrender raise your hand."

    At first, they a few hands went up. Then more gathered up courage and raised their hands. In a minute the majority in the Djinn army had their hands up in the air. Even those who did not want to raise their hand did it to not be in the minority.

    Lustratous laughed; he did not expect his plan to be so perfect.

    Perhaps I have grown too wise now that I turned sixty years old, Lustratous thought.

    "Very well," Kaljar said as he spat blood again. "Let''s surrender. No point if none wants to fight. What a disgrace..."

 Chapter 24: The Art of Surrender

    On the plains north of the Castle of Remna stood the Lorope army facing the Djinn army that had just surrendered.

    "You want to surrender Vizier Kaljar?" asked Emperor Lustratous. "You want your whole army to surrender?"

    Lustratous could not believe his ears that Kaljar had surrendered.

    "You heard me once," said Vizier Kaljar. "And I will repeat it. Yes, all my 10,000 troops will surrender."

    Kaljar then looked at his army behind him. "Any complains?"

    None of his troops protested, save a few who dropped their heads downward in apology.

    "What a joke this army of mine," Kaljar complained.

    Kaljar did not seem happy about the conclusion of this battle. His heart still burned to avenge his father who died back in the Third-Year-War. But at the same time, this meant that Kaljar would still be alive to look after his daughter Mirya.

    "Very well," said Lustratous. "Drop your weapons."

    "No," replied Kaljar.

    A protest? Why? Lustratous wondered. Who surrenders without dropping their weapons down?

    "We agreed to surrender," said Kaljar. "But we did not agree to die. If we drop our weapons you will slaughter us on the spot would not you?"

    "You doubt my words Kaljar?" said Lustratous with fiery eyes.

    "Yes, your history is filled with lies," replied Kaljar. "But I still believe that you will keep your words on unharming us. You would not risk it."

    This is troublesome, Lustratous thought. The Emperor did not mind to break his words and Kaljar was smart enough to catch it.

    But keeping the weapons of the surrendered army is dangerous.

    "Are they joking?" said general Lamzaz. He wore white armor and stood beside Lustratous. "Do not listen to them, My Emperor. If they do not agree to drop their weapons, we won''t accept their surrender."

    "Do not worry," said Kaljar. "We know we are weak and outnumbered. We won''t harm you if you do not harm us."

    Lustratous army began to chatter. Some were with, and other was against Kaljar''s demands.

    It would bring a great dissatisfaction in his army if Lustratous accepted Kaljar''s terms. What should he do?

    "Fine," said Lustratous. "You may keep your weapon but on certain conditions. You will drop both your shields and armor and surrender yourselves all the way to my empire northward."

    Without their shields and armor, the Djinn army would stand no chance if by any chance they retaliated. The remaining 65,000 soldiers of Lustratous was still in the Lorope Empire, and the Chocked Villages no longer exist to aid them. Thus, sending the Djinns northward to his empire is as if he got rid of their whole army at once.

    This is the middle point between Lamzaz''s and Kaljar''s demands, Lustratous thought.

    The Djinn army, however, complained.

    "Do not fool with us," said one Djinn soldier.

    "I will kick ur arse Lustratous," said another.

    Another Djinn soldier spat on the ground while keeping eye contact with Lustratous.

    "Lustratous, we would be fools if we agreed to such terms," Lajek said. Despite agreeing to Lustratous initial surrender, Lajek was surprisingly against Lustratous terms. "You will still massacre us."

    "See, My Emperor," said general Lamzaz. "They are plotting something. We cannot accept their demands."

    I should finish it up with an oath, Lustratous thought.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    "Kaljar," said Lustratous. "Give me an oath. As the Vizier of the Djinn Kingdom, that if you surrender, your army would never fight mine."

    "Yes, you have my word," Kaljar replied. "If you let us keep our armor, swords, and shields, we will surrender northward in your empire."

    "So be it," Lustratous said. "The Djinn army will surrender, and they will get to keep all their weapons and equipment."

    The Lorope army roared in disagreement.

    "SILENCE!" shouted Lustratous at his army. "I trust Vizier Kaljar, despite being my enemy."

    It is indeed mysterious on why trust exists between commanders. They both resort to trickery and deception to beat one another, yet somehow trust blooms between them. Even when a commander is well-known for his savageness in war, he still trusts the other commander.

    "You have my thanks Emperor Lustratous," said Vizier Kaljar.

    "Make way for the Djinn army," shouted Lamzaz.

    Lamzaz disliked this outcome but found it his duty to follow the orders of his emperor.

    The Lorope army created two empty lines for the Djinn forces to pass through. Then from that, they will walk all the way to the Lorope Empire finish agreed-on surrender terms.

    "Lajek, lead the army," said Kaljar. "I will remain at the back... Or perhaps you prefer not to listen to my orders anymore?"

    "Not at all," said Lajek. "It is just that when my death is at stake, I tend to ignore the orders of a mediocre commander."

    "I see," Kaljar replied as he walked to the last row of his army.

    Lustratous and his elite white-armored men laughed at this conversation.

    "I have never seen such a messed up army in my life," said Lamzaz.

    "Indeed," said another white-armored soldier. "They talk like teenagers."

    The Djinn army walked at its usual formation; shield cohort at the front, sword cohort at the middle, and bow cohort at the back.

    The Djinn troops were then split into two columns. They walked through the two empty lines that the Lorope army had made for them.

    The Lorope forces shouted bitter and harsh cries at the Djinn army as it marched beside them. The Djinn forces responded by keeping their heads low, save for a few who glared at them.

    Kaljar also received mockery from the Lorope army like, "Rat," and "Scared cat," but he ignored them.

    There are at least many good parts to surrendering, Kaljar thought. You keep your army alive, and you get to see your children.

    It took the Djinn army a long while to walk to the very end of the Lorope army. At this point, the Djinn army filled the two empty rows from its beginning it until the end of the line. Lajek stood at the beginning of the Djinn army line, while the very end of it stood Kaljar.

    And this is where it happened.

    Lajek and Kaljar unsheathed a shortsword hung behind their waists.

    "FOR THE DJINN KINGDOM!" both Kaljar and Lajek shouted.

    This was the agreed sign to begin the counterattack.

    Every Djinn soldier, each one of the 10,000 Djinn soldiers unsheathed the shortsword on their waists and immediately, in the quickest manner they could, stabbed the closest Lorope soldier beside each of them.

    In these mere seconds, 9,000 Lorope soldiers got stabbed and fell on the ground. The remaining 1,000 soldiers either dodged or blocked the surprise stab in time.

    Kaljar leaped to stab Lustratous, but general Lamzaz blocked it with his sword.

    Ignoring the 5,000 Lorope soldiers sieging the southern wall, the Lorope army at the northern wall was composed of 30,000 men. Within these few seconds, the 30,000 men got reduced to 21,000 men.

    The 9,000 stabbed Lorope soldiers were either about to die or heavily injured to fight. The remaining Lorope army grew terrified.

    "What is the meaning of this Kaljar?" Lustratous shouted. "What about your oath?"

    "I sold my oath to protect my kingdom," replied Kaljar as he unsheathed his double-sided axe. "All of us sold our oaths to protect our kingdom."

    Lustratous was furious but glad; the Djinn army was still made of steel and fire.

    "But you are still outnumbered," said Lamzaz as he tried to stab Kaljar, but Kaljar deflected Lamzaz sword with his axe. The deflection was weighty; Lamzaz almost lost his grip on his sword.

    "So what?" said Kaljar as he pulled his second double-sided axe from his back. He entered a double-handed mode.

    A Lorope soldier tried to slash Kaljar from behind. But with a single axe swing, Kaljar knocked the slash and bled the soldier''s chest.

    <hr>

    "Cohorts, get into formation," shouted Lajek.

    Upon hearing the command, most of the Djinn army backed off from the Lorope forces and arranged itself in small groups.

    About each hundred Djinn soldier gathered up in a square formation. The shield soldiers were at the front, followed by sword soldiers, and bow soldiers at the back.

    About half of the Djinn army was in a formation, while the rest were either trapped fighting solo or in informal groups.

    The Lorope army was scattered and in chaos. With about one-third of its forces wounded or dead, the Lorope army tried to fight off the Djinn ambush while tending their wounded soldiers.

    The two chief commanders of Lorope Lustratous and Lamzaz were still occupied with the fiery assault of Vizier Kaljar. They could not turn away from Kaljar to command their troops like Lajek.

    Kaljar''s dual-handed axe swings brought a sharp pain on Lamzaz wrists as he barely blocked them with his sword.

    It is as if I am fighting a wild leopard, Lamzaz thought.

    Lamzaz had no time to initiate a counterattack. He placed all his attention on keeping up with Kaljar''s axe swings and keeping his Emperor away from danger.

    A few soldiers tried to attack Kaljar, but he quickly tossed them bleeding with a single axe swing. Soon enough they all backed off except for Lamzaz.

    "Mind if I get serious?" Kaljar asked Lamzaz.

    Kaljar jumped high enough that he fell in full force with both his axes on Lamzaz.

    *Crack*

    Kaljar broke Lamzaz sword into two, sliced through his white armor like paper, and cut deep into his chest that blood gushed like a river.

    Lamzaz coughed blood and fell unconscious.

 Chapter 25: The Six Elites

    At the north of the damaged Castle of Remna, Vizier Kaljar was surrounded by the metallic sounds of sword and shield of both his allies and enemies.

    Below him was one of his fallen enemies named general Lamzaz. His blood kept on flowing after the Vizier dug his two axes deep into his chest.

    "You lost your general quickly Lustratous," said Vizier Kaljar to Emperor Lustratous. "Perhaps you will lose your army quickly as well?"

    The whole siege formed a chain of unexpected events to Emperor Lustratous. While his plan to topple the Castle of Remna worked flawlessly, Lustratous did not expect Kaljar to break his surrender oath. That is, by ordering all his 10,000 men to stab the Lorope enemy in one go.

    Lustratous knew that he will be mocked by every nation and by his own people for trusting an enemy''s false oath.

    "An oathbreaker should keep his mouth shut," said Lustratous to Kaljar. "Elites, surround Kaljar and kill him!"

    There were six soldiers clad in white armor who stood beside Emperor Lustratous. They were called The Six Elites. The group was created by Lustratous five years ago. He handpicked them as the best men in his entire 100,000 soldiers.

    Whenever one of the six died, another had to replace him so that they always remained as The Six Elites. And since then, many soldiers, especially those at the top of the Lorope military pyramid trained harder to enter this group. The prestige of being part of The Six Elites was at another level. Thus, it raised the morale of the entire Lorope army with ease.

    Now that Lamzaz, a general and one of The Six Elites, had fallen under the hands of Kaljar, the group temporarily became The Five Elites.

    Upon hearing Lustratous'' call, The Elites stopped fighting the Djinn soldiers and surrounded Vizier Kaljar. But they were only four, one of the Elites was missing.

    One had a giant mace, another had a spear that doubled his length, a third had two shields, and the fourth had a typical sword.

    "Where is Manu?" Lustratous asked the four Elites.

    "We could not find him," said the mace Elite named Lurt.

    "Very well," said Lustratous. "The four of you should be more than enough to kill Kaljar."

    This would be quite a dangerous fight to Kaljar. While he beat an Elite one on one, beating four of them at once seemed nearly impossible.

    "Finally... A decent fight," said Vizier Kaljar while kicking the unconscious Lamzaz on the floor. "This one was not decent--"

    Before Kaljar could finish his talk, he noticed a large mace heading his way and was about to break his skull apart. Kaljar stepped backward, and the mace made a wild noise once it hit the ground.

    He is quick, Kaljar thought.

    Upon stepping backward, a long spear was aimed at Kaljar''s head. Kaljar reclined his head back in time, but the spear grazed his left cheek.

    The sword Elite then tried to slash him, but Kaljar dodged it by leaping to the spear Elite and swung his two axes at him. But the fourth Elite with the two shields blocked his attack.

    This is growing troublesome, Kaljar thought.

    Kaljar had no time to breathe; another large mace came dropping at his head. Kaljar blocked it, but before he could start a counterattack the sword Elite thrust at him. This forced Kaljar to block the sword Elite and the mace Elite attacks simultaneously with his two axes. Kaljar hands were fully occupied.

    "Do not forget about me," said the two-shield Elite behind Kaljar. He forced Kaljar to the ground with a massive push from his shields.

    Kaljar''s back bled from the shields'' attack.

    "Very well," said Kaljar as he stood up from the floor. "I will have to get serious."

    Looks like I got into some deep trouble, Kaljar thought.

    "This is good," said the satisfied Lustratous after he saw Kaljar bleeding. "I shall head back to the army. Make sure you kill him, if you don''t, I will kill each one of you."

    Lustratous rode his horse and galloped deep into the battle shouting, "Cohorts, get into formation!"

    Thus far the Djinn army made impressive progress. The small cohort groups that Lajek commanded had swallowed the lonely Lorope parties and sliced them one after the other.

    The usual tactic Lajek followed is that once the Djinn shield cohorts circle the Lorope enemy. They make a safe route for the sword and bow cohorts to start their full assault. Thus they fell as easy preys for either of the two attacks.

    Laiban, a former villager of the deceased Chocked Villages, had defeated three irregular Lorope groups with his cohort formation.

    "Oh this is steamy," shouted Laiban in excitement on how the battle had unfolded thus far.

    About a day ago, Vizier Kaljar and Lajek had told the whole army about an "act."

    That is, if by any chance the enemy forced them to surrender, Lajek would surrender alone first. Then after a fist fight, Kaljar would the surrender all the Djinn army. After that, the two commanders gave each of the 10,000 Djinn soldiers with a shortsword. They told the army to use it to stab the enemy at an agreed-on sign. Thus, when Laiban followed the "Surrender & Stab" tactic and saw how successful it was, he almost teared up.

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    I am working under two amazing commanders, Laiban thought.

    With Lajek commanding the small cohort groups the Lorope forces declined from 21,000 to 16,000. Omit, the Djinn forces dropped from the original 10,000 to 9,000.

    The lorope army suffered a greater loss in manpower. But the total manpower still favored the Lorope army.

    Suddenly, orders from the Lorope cohort leaders were heard all over the battlefield.

    Lorope started to arrange itself. Not in many small cohort groups like what Lajek did, but in a single large block composed of their whole army. These were based on Lustratous orders to regroup the scattered Lorope forces. The Lorope army retreated temporarily from the Djinn forces and began to form a single large formation.

    Upon realizing that, Lajek countered with the same. "Cohort leaders, group up!" shouted Lajek.

    Where is this Vizier of mine now? Lajek thought. I hope he is not alone.

    Each of the two armies grouped up in a single large formation. Those that have not regrouped like Vizier Kaljar will be in a dangerous position of getting swept by the concentrated masses of enemies.

    <hr>

    Blood and sweat ticked from the shoulders and chest of Vizier of Kaljar.

    "This Vizier is quite stubborn is not he?" said the mace Elite named Lurt.

    "I hope he dies already," said the spear Elite named Rajar.

    "My hands are numb," said the two shields Elite named Ritra.

    "Can''t we finish this already?" said the sword Elite named Ivra.

    The four Elites grew weary fighting Vizier Kaljar who did not seem to be giving up. Emperor Lustratous had already ordered the Elites to kill him no matter what happens. So they cannot leave their current positions until they kill Vizier Kaljar. And if by any chance they could not kill Kaljar, Lustratous would instead kill them.

    The battle seems to be getting worse after every second, thought Vizier Kaljar. I have to kill at least one of the Elites to regroup with the army.

    Vizier Kaljar was not also sure how capable Lajek would be in leading the army at such an outnumbered position. Lajek was bright and sharp. But he may not be sharp enough to pierce Lustratous age-hardened strategies.

    Kaljar had to swiftly return to his army and lead it.

    I will have to go all-in, Kaljar thought. Even if I lose a limb or two, or get severely injured, I have to go back to my army.

    Kaljar screamed from the bottom of his lungs. He signaled that he is not holding anything back, not even to his own injuries. Thus entering what he loves to call as a berserker mode.

    The intensity of Kaljar''s scream raised the heartbeats and shivered the bodies of the four Elites. They felt that Kaljar''s next move is going to be destructive.

    Kaljar jumped at the spear Elite named Rajar. He launched a barrage of attacks at Rajar who called at the rest of the Elites for support. Though suddenly, Kaljar turned his body in a circle and used this momentum to initiate two heavy swings with his two axes at once.

    Rajak''s spear could not handle the speed nor the heavy weight of the axes. Thus, the axes dug deep into Rajak''s right waist and tossed him a few feet away from the other Elites.

    Rajak groaned in pain and could no longer stand.

    Meanwhile, the shield Elite Ritra, the mace Elite Lurt, and the sword Elite Ivra launched a simultaneous attack on three angles at Kaljar. Kaljar had no way to dodge the three attacks at once, they locked him up.

    Each of these three attacks were fatal. The mace aimed at his head would crack his skull. The sword pointed at his chest would pierce his life. And the shields aimed at his back would force him to the ground, and make him easy prey for the other two Elites.

    "Mirya," said Kaljar in a desperate whisper, her name powered him up.

    Kaljar twisted his whole body and jumped. He spun his body like a whirlwind and parried all the three attacks with his axes and forced the three Elites to back away. Themace Elite Lurt tripped on his feet, and that was what Kaljar was waiting for.

    Kaljar threw an axe while in midair at Lurt''s head like an arrow. Lurtnoticed the axe heading his way but his mace was too heavy to react in time. He clenched his teeth and closed his eyes hoping for a miracle while the axe cracked his skull and drilled into his forehead.

    Lurtfell dead on a bloodied ground with Kaljar''s axe stuck inside his forehead.

    Kaljar screamed a victory war cry, while the remaining two Elites froze in fear.

 Chapter 26: The Triangle Formation

    The clash of swords and shields kept going between the Djinn Kingdom and the Lorope Empire north of the Castle of Remna.

    The hands of the remaining two Elites trembled. Their feet were also afraid to take any step further against their foe, Vizier Kaljar.

    The Vizier had beaten three Elites despite being outnumbered four to one. His body was covered in exhaustion, sweat, and blood, but his spirit shined.

    "Hurry up," said the Vizier. "Do you want to fight me or not?"

    Vizier Kaljar was not in the best position either. He was too exhausted to fight the remaining two Elites. Sure he could beat them. But at this point, Kaljar would rather save his energy for the rest of the conflict.

    The two Elites wanted to run away from Kaljar as fast as they could. But Lustratous had ordered them to kill the Vizier at any cost. If they could not, then he would kill them instead.

    If they attacked Kaljar, they would probably die, and if they ran away from him, then Lustratous would still kill them. Both routes lead to their death. What could the two Elites do? Is there a third option?

    The two remaining Elites looked at one another, nodded, and tossed both their weapons on the ground at the same time.

    "We surrender," said the two Elites.

    The words took seconds to process in Kaljar''s brain.

    Surrender? He thought. What a surprise...

    "I did not expect this," Kaljar said with a grin. "So you realized that fighting me is futile."

    "I hate to admit it," said the shield Elite Ritra. "But you are correct."

    "This is our only option to stay alive," said the sword Elite Ivra.

    "You have also tossed your weapons down..." said Kaljar. "That is the correct way indeed to surrender."

    "Tell that to our Emperor," said the sword Elite Ivra. "He does not know the basics of surrender."

    "Do not blame the emperor," said the shield Elite Ritra. "I blame myself for serving someone like him."

    Kaljar laughed.

    So there is a great division within the Lorope Empire, he thought.

    "Come with me," said Kaljar as he pulled up his axe from the head of the deceased mace Elite Lurt. Kaljar had drilled it into his head a while ago.

    Kaljar climbed into a horse and ordered the surrendered Elites to do the same. The Elites followed obediently. They had no choice since returning to the Lorope army would result in their deaths.

    Lustratous you have made another mistake, Kaljar thought. You gave me two of our best men for free. You should not have threatened to kill them.

    Kaljar got a sense of how the battle had unfolded thus far as he rode his horse to reach the banner holder of the Djinn army. Very few Djinn soldiers were slain compared to Lorope, yet the size of the Lorope army was still higher.

    The armies were barely clashing one another at present. Instead, each army gathered itself up to form a single large formation. The Djinn army was quicker with its formation since it was smaller and already organized in small cohort groups.

    Kaljar noticed that the Djinn army followed the normal formation; shield cohorts at the front, sword cohort at the middle, and bow cohort at the back.

    So far so good it seems, Kaljar thought.

    Things were different on the Lorope side. While they gathered themselves in a single formation, it was unlike anything Kaljar had seen before. The shield cohort was at the front, but it did not form a horizontal line.

    Instead, the shield cohorts formed two diagonal lines to create a V-shape in front of their army. Thus, looking at the Lorope army from a birdseye view would make it look like two sides of a triangle. In it, the shield cohorts occupy the two horizontal legs of the triangle. Behind the shield cohorts were the sword cohorts and the bow cohorts in the usual formation.

    What is Lustratous planning? Kaljar thought.

    Kaljar had obviously read about Lustratous strategies. Lustratious liked to create new army formations that were never seen before in previous conflicts.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Even fifteen years ago during the Three-Year-War Lustratous divided his whole army into thin, separated lines ordered them to intercept the Djinn enemy. It did not work out, which made it quite a laughable idea.

    The current shape of the two armies would thus be triangle shaped for the Lorope army, with its tip aimed at the standard square-shaped Djinn army.

    Lustratous is planning something new once again, Kaljar thought. I hope that it is not something devastating like the cannons that he used to topple the Castle of Remna. And if that is the case, I will have to quickly command the army for Lajek is still inexperienced.

    Kaljar reached the back of his army. The bow cohorts were cheerful on seeing him alive.

    "It is Vizier Kaljar!" shouted a Djinn soldier.

    "He got two Elites with him?" wondered another.

    "He beat those invincible Elites?"

    "Our Vizier is unbeatable!"

    After about a minute Kaljar reached the banner holder of the Djinn army. The banner looked the same as the Djinn flag.

    It is normal for soldiers sometimes to lose the location of their army. The tall banners exist to guide those lost within the conflict to where their core army is located.

    Beside the banner holder was the lion statue holder and the top commanders with Lajek leading them.

    The lion statue is a sign of good luck. It has been in use ever since the first campaign of King Justinian the Second thirty years ago.

    If the banner holder and the lion statue holder were captured by the enemy, then it meant that the whole Djinn army is in terrible shape. Thus, the banner and statue holders must be protected at all costs.

    "Vizier," said Lajek with a subtle kneel. "It is great to see you alive. I will bring someone to treat your wounds."

    "Thanks, but too bad I could not kill Lustratous," said Kaljar.

    "Are you mad?" shouted Lajek. "Why did you fight alone? What could have happened to our army if you died?"

    "Sometimes one has to go mad," said Kaljar. "I managed to kill three and capture two of The Six Elites. Look behind you, look at their sad faces. Also, bring someone to chain them."

    The two Elites looked at Lajek and the rest of the Djinn army with ashamed eyes as if they have never done something right in their whole lives.

    Lajek looked glad but was pissed off. He wanted to lecture his Vizier about not fighting alone like this ever again. But he could not deny that Kaljar had delivered a major blow to the Lorope army. Beating five of the six Elites will ruin the morale of the whole Lorope army."

    "Now what is the war condition?" asked Kaljar.

    "Better than expected," replied Lajek. "After the surprise stab I swiftly organized our army into small groups, but theirs was scattered. I think it is because Lustratous was busy with you. That gave us a large advantage to kill a few thousand. While they currently outsize us by just a half army, it is way better than when they tripled our army size."

    "Good," said Kaljar. "But do you have any idea what is that?"

    Kaljar pointed at the unusual triangle formation of the Lorope army.

    "This is what I have been discussing with the rest of the strategists beside me," said Lajek. "We think it is a formation designed to break up our own formation into two separate groups."

    The tip of a sword can separate a stone into two. Lajek likewise assumed that the tip of the Lorope triangle formation is also meant to separate the Djinn army into two. Doing so would put the Djinn army at a much weaker position.

    But achieving such a feat is difficult and quite risky.

    The tip of the Lorope army has to be unshakable to be able to divide all the Djinn forces into two. If the Djinn army managed to create a single crack in the tip of the Lorope formation, then the Lorope army would end up in a huge mess. Lorope may even end up losing the conflict.

    "Can they achieve that?" asked Kaljar. "Can they split us into two?"

    "That is unclear," said Lajek. "They used this unusual weapon called the cannon to overthrow the Castle of Remna. So they may have another unusual weapon in their sleeves."

    "If that is the case then we are doomed," said Kaljar.

    <hr>

    On the Lorope side, Lustratous shouted orders about the new triangle formation. It was almost complete.

    "What is left now is Elite Manu?" said Lustratous. "Where is he?"

    Elite Manu is the last Elite under Lustratous. The rest have either surrendered or got killed by Vizier Kaljar.

    Manu is always off somewhere, Lustratous thought. I wanted to demote him, but he is the key to this formation.

    Suddenly large foot was heard shaking the ground. Most of the Lorope army turned left toward the sound, including Lustratous.

    Calling Manu a giant would not be an overestimation, for his body was double the size of a large human. Putting Manu side by side to normal adults would make them look like children.

    "Aaah, Manu slept well," said the giant Elite Manu while rubbing his belly. "But next time lower your voices."

    "Manu where have you been?" shouted Lustratous. "Do not you know we are in a war?"

    "Manu knows, but Manu was sleepy. He slept behind a large stone over there," Manu pointed at a large stone far away from the war.

    "Whip him thrice," said Lustratous to a soldier named Balkan beside him.

    "Yes sir," replied Balkan as if he got used to it. He untied a very thick black whip from his shoulder and whipped Manu three times as Lustratous had ordered.

    Manu can only be disciplined by a very thick whip, thought Lustratous. A regular human-sized whip cannot harm him.

    "Ouch, no, ouch," Manu complained. "Manu is sorry. Manu never sleeps again."

    "All the better," said Lustratous. "Give him the Link Shield."

    "Yes sir," answered Balkan.

    After a minute, Balkan came with three other soldiers holding a huge V-shaped shield. They dropped the Link Shield near Manu like a large stone.

    It was huge, designed to cover most of Manu''s oversized body. It was also thick, about four times the width of a standard shield. It can withstand a lot of punishment from the enemy.

    The Link shield was essentially two large metal plates welded together to form a V-shape, or two legs of a triangle.

    "Oh Manu''s old toy," Manu said with a joyful face. "Can I keep it Lusto?"

    "It is Lustratous," said the Emperor. "Whip him twice."

    "Ouch, sorry Manu never forgets your name again," said Manu while rubbing his swollen back. "Lustratous, Lustratous, Lustratous..."

    It is as if am babysitting a kid, Lustratous thought.

    "Train on saying my name elsewhere and wear your armor," said Lustratous. "Then head to the front of the army and attach the Link Shield to the cohort shields."

 Chapter 27: The Great Shield

    "Looks like the conflict had turned into a pushing battle," Kaljar said.

    "HEYAAAAA," shouted Elite Manu as he led the Great Shield and penetrated the Djinn army formation. The Djinn shield soldiers flew backward and fell on the ground.

    "It feels like a large elephant is pushing us," Laiban thought as he tried to push the march of Lorope forces.

    Elite Manu used his Link Shield to connect the shields of his army. On Manu''s right and left side were two long diagonal lines of shield soldiers. They had attached all their shields with a hook to form two long lines like a fence that bordered the Lorope triangle formation. Lorope called this massive combined shield as the Great Shield. Each Lorope soldier pushed his shield forward which helped advance the rest of the thousand shields that formed the Great Shield.

    The Lorope forces at this point did not aim to kill off the Djinns but to split their army into two halves. Then the Lorope army will surround and kill one-half of the Djinn army at a time.

    The Djinn soldiers clenched their teeth as they tried to push the Great shield backward with their shields. Those without a shield pushed it with their bare hands.

    "Overweight soldiers go push the Great Shield," yelled a thin Djinn soldier after he had grown weary from pushing. He ran to the back of the Djinn army to recover his exhaustion.

    "Why everyone is looking at me now?" complained a fat Djinn soldier not pushing.

    "Ignore him. He will take too much space at the front."

    "Instead of pushing cut these shitty hooks that connect their shields," shouted another soldier.

    "No use, the hooks are too sturdy."

    "Dammit."

    "This is getting worse,"

    "How come Lorope soldiers are not tired? I am done."

    "Because they practiced? idiot."

    "Even our arrows can''t hit their shield soldiers," said Lajek to Vizier Kaljar. The two were standing at the back of their army behind the bow soldiers. "I was curious about the unusual new shape of the Lorope shields. I did not get why the shields were curved at the top, but now it makes full sense. It was all for this triangle push."

    "True, the Lorope soldiers hid their bodies under the upper curvature of their shields to block our arrows," Kaljar replied. His chest was covered in bandages after his battle against the four Elites.

    "What do we do now Vizier?" asked Lajek who seemed clueless. "Can we stop Lorope from splitting our army?"

    "There must be a way," said Kaljar. "But give me some time to think about it. This decision may win us the conflict or lose it."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    So far you have done it well Lustratous, Kaljar thought.

    "Our sword cohorts will not be able to block the Great Shield for too long," said Lajek. "Their bodies are not trained enough like the shield soldiers to withstand it. It will even be worse once the Lorope Great Shield reaches the bow cohorts at the back. We have to plan quickly."

    "I know," said Kaljar. "Perhaps we should send our whole army behind the Great shield?"

    Since the Great Shield resembles a V-shape shield, its back is not covered by shields like its other two sides.

    "I think Lustratous placed some protections at the back of the Great Shield," said Lajek. "But it is worth a shot if pushing the Great Shield is no longer a valid option."

    "So it risky bet but still worth a shot," said Kaljar. "Fine, order the soldiers to spread and attack the rear of the Great Shield."

    "Right away Vizier," said Lajek.

    "Everyone spread! Attack from the rear!" shouted all the cohort leaders of the Djinn army. "Avoid the Great Shield but maintain your formation!"

    Clouds of dust and metallic noise covered the field as the Djinn army ran with the Shield cohorts at the front. A few Lorope bowmen sniped the Djinn soldiers as they ran to Lorope''s rear formation, but the losses were minimal.

    "Why is everyone running away from Manu?" he wondered. He was still leading the triangle push at the tip of his army. He then turned to the shield soldiers who pushed the Great Shield with him. "Hey, where are the Djinn going?"

    "No idea," replied one shield cohort who seemed half-asleep.

    "There is no point in charging forward anymore," said another shield cohort.

    "True, the front will soon be empty."

    It took most of the Djinn soldiers about ten minutes to reach the base of Lorope triangle formation or the rear of the Lorope army. The Djinn soldiers saw the bow soldiers once they entered inside the Lorope triangle formation. This was a valuable opportunity for them to crush the bow cohorts quickly. If the Djinns killed a sizeable amount of them, then they will have a much better position in the battle.

    The Lorope bowmen seemed shocked.

    "Are these Djinn soldiers?" said a confused Lorope bow soldier.

    "Idiot what else will they be? Donkies?"

    "Do we run away?" asked another Lorope bow soldier.

    "Switch! Switch with the sword cohorts behind you!"

    The leaders of the Lorope bow cohorts and the leaders of the sword cohorts agreed to switch the positions of one another. This way Lorope sword cohort will be facing the Djinn army. The Lorope shield however cohorts could not intercept the incoming Djinn soldiers because they were busy pushing the Great Shield.

    "The conflict is at its end," said Kaljar. "The Lorope soldiers are not ready to block our rear ambush. Their shields are also stuck as part of the Great Shield. They won''t have enough time to detach the shields against our rear attack."

    "Lustratous had failed this time," said Lajek. "While he did work it right with the cannons this tactic had a major flaw, Lustratous did not defend his rear properly."

    "But let us be patient," said Kaljar. "After all, this is Lustratous we are talking about."

    You think I had not anticipated this move Kaljar? Lustratous thought with a smile. He stood at the center of his army inside the triangle formation, and alongside his banner holders. The Lorope army had three banner holders instead of one. Lustratous believed that a single banner holder which is the usual practice is not enough and quite retarded.

    Now is the time to show final trump card, Lustratous thought. I am betting everything on this card.

    "Shield soldiers close the Great Shield!" yelled Lustratous at his army. "Prepare the forty large stones."

    The shield soldiers who heard the order looked blank, and a few shield soldiers whispered to one another.

    "What did he mean?"

    "No idea. Close a shield? What the heck?"

    "This big shield is not a gate to be closed."

    "Guys, could someone hold my shield for me? I am tired."

    As the shield soldiers murmured one another, the shield cohort leaders clarified the order.

    "Soldiers," said the shield cohort leaders. "Hold your shield firmly and run to the other side of the Great Shield!"

    A few shield soldiers spent some time imagining the order. Once they understood it, they said, "Ahaaaaa."