《The Vanquisher of Kings Trilogy (Non-LitRPG/Dark Epic Sci-Fi)》


 Prologue

    The morning fog veiled two silhouettes standing on the upland. The taller figure, a muscular Celestian man in a green tunic held a wooden sword with ease. A ten-year-old boy took a straddle position, facing his older opponent. He gripped his sword with thick leather gloves, shifting from foot to foot. Strands of his golden hair stuck to his sweaty forehead and his waist-long ponytail resembled a jagged broom. His breath trembled, and his pupils dilated so much that his turquoise eyes became almost completely black. His pointy ears tensed up, listening out for every sound.


    Clumps of yellow grass and leafless berries poked out of the brown moss. They lazily wobbled whenever the faint wind blew around the nearby mountains and hills. Leaves of the tree behind the boy rustled and waved. Even though the spring has just begun, The Evergreen Tree still glistened with vivid green.


    The boy charged. His opponent lifted his sword and trotted forward. A dull clack echoed among the hills. Holding his weapon above his chest, the boy blocked the stroke. Feeling a little tremble in his leg, he relaxed his grip for a second. That was enough for the man to push his sword down. The boy recoiled and froze in a defensive position. With his mouth open, he glanced upwards at his opponent. Wiping the drops of sweat, the man swept aside his shoulder-length, brunette hair. He took a few, long steps back.


    "Erilaz, fight," he ordered, "as if I were trying to kill you!" He rushed at the boy, taking a wide swing with his sword.


    Erilaz reversed his weapon, the tip pointed backwards. He took a deep breath, squatted to gather momentum and sprung forwards. The man was approaching him, tensing all his muscles and getting ready to deal a blow. Gliding on the mud, Erilaz sneaked under the opponent''s blade. The man staggered, surprised by the off-target strike. Before he halted, Erilaz had stabbed his back.


    The man turned around with an underwhelmed expression. "That was a dirty trick, don''t you think?" he muttered.


    "But it was you, Brymir," Erilaz gasped out, lifting his hands, "who told me to fight as if you were trying to kill me."


    "Besides, it''s not your first time. Don''t bring your sword tomorrow," commanded Brymir. He pulled his thick gloves off. His hands sparkled with sweat and smelt like leather. Panting slowly, he ran his fingers through his wet, stringy hair. "I think I need to explain some principles of combat to you," said Brymir and tucked his gloves and sword into Erilaz''s hands.


    Erilaz crouched over a bag and threw the items inside. "Brymir, do you really think that," he mumbled and stood up, pointing at the sky, "everybody in this galaxy respects these principles?" He put his hand on his hip. "We can''t..."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Do you want to be like those dirty animals?" Brymir chimed in. "Who hunt and fight each other?" He pointed at the distant castle on a hill. Thin, feeble clouds twined its hoary-grey towers and the morning sunbeams reflected from its surface. "We are the royal blood of Helvetto." Clenching his fist, he continued, "We bring pride, prosperity and safety to this planet. As a future Vardir Commander..."


    Hearing this title, Erilaz rolled his eyes slightly.


    Brymir carried on, "you should learn something more than just how to swing your sword."


    "That''s what I''m talking about, Brymir." Erilaz pulled off his training tunic and spread his arms. "I don''t get all of these combat techniques, tactics, and moves." He narrowed his eyes. "I don''t want to be a warrior."


    Brymir was preparing a crisp response but Erilaz pointed at him. "Why can''t I be like you? A great king and a wise diplomat?"


    A few meters away, two kids sat on the grass. Andvari, a ginger boy with short hair fiddled with a long blade of grass, and Hefri, a girl with a long, black ponytail listlessly gazed ahead.


    Erilaz glanced at them. "Just ask my peers. They never have any serious conflicts," he said and stared at Brymir, "because of me."


    "Erilaz, you know this place is already taken." Brymir''s face softened. "When I get old or something happens to me, my cousin will take care of everything."


    Erilaz tensed up, putting his hands on his hips. "Ivendir won''t rule forever too.


    "So then we will see," Brymir said with finality. A gentle smile appeared on his face. "That''s all. You''re free to go."


    "Thank you," said Erilaz with resignation, turning around. He expected a response like that. Historical sovereigns and their ideas were his hobby horse since he could remember. Subjects like war bored him to death, and he was a good student just to make his adoptive father happy. Brymir always prided himself on a clever son. Dutifully, although with bad grace, Erilaz trained to be one of the best students in the Royal Academy.


    Before he walked away, he felt a touch on his arm.


    "Trust me," said Brymir in a soft voice, "I want to take care of you like you were my own son." He looked in Erilaz''s eyes. "Sometimes diplomacy may be trickier than you expect."


    "That''s fine, Brymir." Erilaz squinted, pulling off a hairband. His golden, rumpled hair flopped on his arms. "Next time I will try not to impale you by surprise." He walked away towards his friends with a catty smile.


    Brymir watched how Erilaz ran up to the kids. They discussed and laughed like there was no future to worry for. Brymir admired their levity. As a king, he had to keep his ears and eyes open wide. Wars always appeared in Helvetto''s surroundings, but thanks to clever and wary kings, this planet remained a peaceful place. That made Brymir feel an everlasting pressure. His predecessors kept this world in order and wealth, so he couldn''t be worse. He only worried a bit about his cousin. Ivendir had an enormous amount of great ideas, but their execution left much to be desired.


    Keeping Erilaz away from diplomacy is keeping him away from troubles, said Brymir to himself.

 CHAPTER 1.1. Battlefield

    Helvetto, just like every other civilised planet, couldn''t avoid wars forever. The inevitable has to come but no one expected that from the Moryans, a savage and primitive tribe. Or at least that''s how everyone imagined them to be. Their hackers managed to cause a small mess on the outskirts of Helvetto''s planetary system. What was considered a harmless attack of some desperate bandits, quickly turned out to be a rapid invasion towards Helvetto. Erilaz, a twenty-five-year-old, fledgeling Vardir Commander, quickly got a chance to test his skills in practise.


    All three units of Vardir, the Royal Warriors, were sent to wipe the invaders out. Andvari and his unit guarded the northern territories in the mountains while Hefri and Erilaz clashed with the enemies a couple hundred kilometres away from the capital city, where the most violent strife broke out.


    Erilaz and a few members of his unit stalked through a narrow crack. The early spring manifested itself with a persistent drizzle, melting snow and cascades of water streaming down the mountain peaks. Grey mud blended with blood almost completely covered the lower parts of his massive power armour. The brown root-like motives on his legs and fauld were barely visible under a thick layer of dirt. As the Commander of his unit, he wore navy blue pauldrons with an icy-blue crystal on them. Vardir''s armours were forged from coruscium, an almost unbreakable metal alloy, so only anti-tank bullets could hurt them.


    Erilaz leant from behind the walls of a narrow crack.


    "Five hundred meters..." he read the data displayed on his visor, his voice distorted by the helmet.


    Could have been worse, he added in his mind.


    He analysed the rest of the data and gave a sign with his hand. He darted out of the notch, shooting at the nearest enemy, his amethyst-purple cape fluttered behind him.


    Clothed in a grey bulletproof vest and dark red pauldrons, Nelphian could only glance at Erilaz with his large, black eyes. The bullet pierced his primitive vest, staining it with shimmering, blue blood. The birdlike legs buckled under the green-skinned individual and he tumbled down into the grey mud. The plasma sword he held fell into a puddle and clouds of steam swirled in the air, hissing and crackling.


    The Helvettian unit was already far away. Clothed in cheap, patchwork armour the Moryans were falling one by one under the defenders'' fire. Erilaz halted behind a rock when a group of enemies surrounded his unit. His armour ricocheted the obsolete bullets but each hit felt like an unpleasant nudging.


    Are they really that stupid? They have no idea about basic military tactics, wondered Erilaz, barely hearing his own thoughts. Even if his helmet muffled the deafening roar of military vehicles and blasts of gunfire, he still heard all the noises. After studying in the Royal Academy, he could distinguish almost every sound in the background noise, including some heavy steps that were approaching him from behind the cover. As he tensed his muscles, the pistons in his power armour murmured.


    Brymir''s voice resounded in his communicator, "I see you''re doing well Erilaz, would..."


    Erilaz ignored it. He sprung out of his hiding spot, battering the enemy Kehrian with his elbow. The enemy''s heavy armour absorbed the attack. He only lost his balance and squatted, propping himself against the ground. With his long, pointy ears strained backwards in a furious expression, the Kehrian growled, but Erilaz slammed his head with his boot. The blue face of the enemy turned into red and pink pulp that spread on the ground. Ignoring the fleshy scraps stuck to his sole, Erilaz ran forwards.


    "It''s not easy," said Erilaz, weaving between rocks, "but I cleaned a bigger part of the eastern slope."


    "Would you mind helping me a bit?"


    "Sure, Brymir..." Erilaz paused to send a hail of bullets towards a group of hidden Moryans. "I''m coming, send me coordinates."


    "I ca..." Brymir tried to respond but a screeching static silenced him.


    Damned Moryans, they block signals, thought Erilaz. He unclasped the magazine of his long, icy-blue machine gun. "Whatever...", he mumbled and reloaded the gun. He said to his communicator, "Hefri, I''m leaving my position for a moment."


    "That''s fine!" responded a feminine but also harsh voice.


    Erilaz turned towards his subordinates. "Plans have changed," he informed, pointing towards the cliff on his left, "Captain Ermdahr, come with me."


    Captain Ermdahr and his people followed their Commander. The Captains'' pauldrons were decorated only with the contour of a diamond. Each of the three Vardir led three companies, and each of them had three Captains.


    Erilaz speeded towards the nearby rock, jumping over the scraps of vehicles, corpses and puddles of mud or fuel. He hid from the enemy bullets and took out a dodecahedral grenade. Looking at the data on his visor, he and his unit were only a hundred meters away from a cliff. Red dot symbolised Brymir''s position which flickered on the top of the cliff, right between three steep walls. Brymir and his unit appeared to be trapped.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Erilaz wiped the dirt from his face. He pulled the pin and threw the grenade towards the group of Moryans.


    A deafening explosion boomed, echoing between the mountain peaks. Orange light blinded the enemy survivors. Pieces of rock, bits of bodies and fragments of armours projected in the air.


    Erilaz raised his head. With disgust, he brushed off a piece of reddish bone from his pauldron.


    Covering the last hundred meters, he and his unit finished off the remaining Moryans and reached a narrow, vertical crack in the cliff. They began to climb up one by one, while others observed their surroundings. The crack protected them from the eyes of their foes but the walls were wet and slippery.


    As Erilaz arrived on the top, he wiped his hands on his fauld and looked around, trying to spot Brymir.


    This isn¡¯t good, he thought.


    A six-meter wide gorge separated him from the large plain where Brymir and his decimated unit fought for their life.


    A thought about surrendering didn''t even flicker through the king''s mind. He stood firmly, blasting the enemies away. His armour, despite smears of mud and blood, shone in an icy-blue colour like it was forged of real diamonds. A deep, scorched scuff mark covered his face from his chin to his forehead. All that remained from his left eye was a black and maroon crust. His crystal blue helmet lied on the ground. The paint on its whole left side turned black and a long slash reached the inner layer of the helmet, because somebody just had to attack the king with a plasma weapon.


    "I see you," said Erilaz. Despite the helmet distorting his words, a tinge of anxiety sounded in his voice. "Give me a minute."


    He charged forward. Flashing under a wall, he shot up at the enemy Ifrit. The orange reptile with horns only coughed when a bullet pierced his heart. A female Kehrian, creeping behind a rock, collapsed a second later.


    Erilaz squatted next to a twisted wreck. The black smoke soared around him, creating additional cover.


    "I..." said Brymir, panting, "I see you too."


    Their gazes met for a moment. Erilaz felt how his stomach turned upside down. He has never seen his adoptive father in a state like that. He could rush through the middle of a battlefield, duck under bullets and clash with every foe on his way, but that view horrified him.


    "Faster!" ordered Erilaz, running towards the rift. His heart rapidly pumped blood, thundering in his chest. The pistons of his power armour whizzed as he sped up. His finger mechanically squeezed the trigger of his gun.


    Brymir bashed an Ifrit with his elbow and pinned a blue-skinned Kehrian to the wall. He broke free and reached to his belt pack to grab a magazine. Before he could reload, a large bullet struck his head. The back of his skull fell to pieces and his lifeless body collapsed on the ground.


    Unable to believe what he sees, Erilaz stripped his helmet off his head. The blue paint under his eyes and on his cheeks was slightly smeared. The mountain wind tugged his messy hair, uncovering his earring made of a long animal tooth. He opened his mouth to say something but all words he knew faded away. A shadow loomed in a cave behind him but his eyes remained bored into the his father''s body. Holding his helmet in shaking hands, a shocked, almost defenceless Helvettian Commander looked like an easy target to a dark-skinned Celestian.


    Cold mountain air dried Erilaz''s mouth but he couldn''t move his jaw. He took only short, shallow breaths when his chest became too heavy.


    The foe creeping behind him seized the opportunity. He emerged from the cave and took a swing, directing his plasma blade towards Erilaz''s head.


    "Erilaz, behind you!" roared a feminine, distorted voice. A burst of fire from above wiped the enemy out, tearing huge holes in his body.


    Hefri jumped down with a loud thud. She also wore a Vardir Commander''s power armour but she was shorter and slimmer than Erilaz. She clipped her long rifle to her magnetic belt and rushed towards her companion. With all the momentum she gathered, she had pushed Erilaz behind a giant stone before bullets tore the air.


    "Did you see that?" she yelled and banged at Erilaz''s chest with her fist. He didn''t react.


    "Erilaz, did you see that?" she repeated but he just stared ahead. "Erilaz?"


    A swarm of voices alternately with cracking, white noise resounded in their communicators.


    "What just happened?"


    "Did you guys see that?"


    "I don''t see the king''s signals, what''s wrong?"


    "Don''t play around, that''s not funny!"


    "Erilaz, move!" ordered Hefri, yanking his arm. "We''re gonna die if you stay here! Move!"


    Erilaz limply staggered after her, his gaze still vacant and unfocused.


    "I saw..." he mumbled but his trembling voice sank in the blasting cannonade.


    Hefri raced a few meters under the completely vertical mountain slope, trailing Erilaz behind. She turned towards a little, shallow cave and ran inside.


    "Damn it, Erilaz, run!" she muttered, weaving between short stalagmites.


    Erilaz tripped a few times and almost slipped on the damp rock, but Hefri hoisted him up every time.


    "Then stay here," said Hefri and an echo repeated her words.


    She stopped sharply, and Erilaz tumbled down, splashing the crystal clear, spring water.


    "I know what happened," she growled and pointed at her companion, standing over him, "but I''m not going to wait for death in the middle of a battlefield."


    She trotted towards the entrance, the whizz of her power armour and her heavy steps reverberated in the cave. "Unlike you," she added, glancing at him, and ran outside.


    Hefri halted and looked around. She realised her error¨Cshe left her unit without a thought to save her friend. However, she trusted her people. They could execute the orders on their own.


    A voice in her communicator interrupted her thoughts, "Andvari here, to everyone."


    Hefri gazed at the distant plain where the last survivors of the Brymir''s unit disappeared in a sphere of fire. The explosion reflected in her visor and little stones bounced off her armour.


    Kilometres away, Andvari stood on the mountaintop, following the fleeing enemy ships with his weary, jade eyes. He held his helmet in one hand and a plasma axe in the other hand. The stream of plasma on edge of the blade flickered as the battery was running low. Almost completely black stains of charred blood covered his weapon. His ginger dreadlocks reached below his waist, and little snowflakes settled on them. His breath was fast and deep, and puffs of white steam swirled around his mouth whenever he exhaled.


    "I don''t know if it''s a trap," he informed, panting, "but it looks like we won."


    A little tear streamed down his cheek, blurring the blue war paint on his face.


    "Before they all retreat," he said and swallowed with an effort, "kill as many of them as you can."

 CHAPTER 1.2. Grief and acceptance

    Three days later a plain under the Royal Kurgan was flooded with Helvettians. Citizens from almost the whole planet arrived there to pay a last tribute to their beloved king. Only those who lived in the attacked regions stayed home to repair the infrastructure and take care of the wounded. They could still watch the live transmission from the drones, which flew above the hill.


    Ivendir and three other individuals stood on a stone platform, and an obsidian ossuary rested on wooden brackets behind them.


    "I don''t know if we ever recover from this loss," said Ivendir in a soft voice, "but I promise to do my best." He, just like all significant figures that gathered here, wore long, grey robes. The bronze clips on his belt depicted the deepest roots of the Evergreen Tree. This traditional decoration symbolised a renewed connection with the earth of Helvetto.


    "Brymir was always my greatest inspiration," continued Ivendir, his shoulder-length, crimson hair swaying in the wind, "a guide and a teacher..."


    Heavy banners waved gently, each of them symbolised a different group of officials. The aquamarine one with a diamond represented Vardir, but Erilaz, Andvari and Hefri didn''t even raise their eyes to admire their insignia. With grey hoods covering their faces, they stood behind Ivendir, gazing at the ground. Andvari, the tallest and strongest of them, held his head so low that Hefri almost matched his height.


    Ivendir''s sea-green eyes swept the gathered Celestians. "...so I will do everything to make him proud." He raised his fist. The falling sleeve uncovered his tattoo of a green snake coiled around his arm. He inhaled the cold, fresh air and called, "Helvetto will prevail!"


    "Helvetto will prevail!" responded the crowd, raising their fists and waving their flags.


    Ivendir turned towards the obsidian ossuary, his hair danced around him in the wind. The two Celestians standing behind him lifted the ossuary. Their exoskeletons hidden under their robes buzzed quietly. The third man carried a bowl with incandescent herbs. Ivendir took a place in front of them, and they headed towards the entrance to the kurgan.


    Erilaz spent this whole time at a standstill. The three days between the battle and the funeral seemed to him like an eternity. He couldn''t remember simple things and it took him a few moments to understand who says what. His only food was cream soups and shakes because his stomach tightened itself as if an iron vise squashed it. Sleepless nights left dark circles under his eyes, and his hair resembled a sheaf of hay. Thick veins appeared on his hands, deforming his tattoo with a triskelion symbol. He could easily get some strong sleeping pills but after taking one dose his nightmares escalated. His visions didn''t remind him of anything particular. He only experienced overwhelming helplessness that turned into fright and ended with the feeling of his own death.


    He suddenly took a few steps forward and stood in the Ivendir''s way.


    "Ivendir... wait," he breathed.


    Ivendir stopped, and the expression of confusion flickered on his face. Erilaz was much taller and more muscular than him but now the Vardir Commander lost all his grace and proud posture.


    Ivendir raised his eyebrow. "Did I say something wrong?"


    "No, can I just..." responded Erilaz, trying to find the right words, "spend some time here before you, you know..." He exhaled nervously and looked into Ivendir''s eyes. "Let me spend these final moments with my father."


    Ivendir tightened his lips, glancing at the Celestians behind him. Unlike Erilaz, he just wanted to finish this ceremony and hide in his chamber to distract his overburdened mind. Every minute of thinking about his cousin consumed a fair bit of his energy.


    "Fine," he responded listlessly, shrugging as if he was talking to himself. Motioning to the Celestians, he commanded, "Stub the fire out."


    Ivendir and the hooded individuals walked inside and left the ossuary on the ground. The man with a bowl put it next to the obsidian chest to burn out. Only a thin wisp soared over the charred herbs, leaving a subtle scent in its wake.


    Ivendir marched out of the crypt first. He managed to maintain the appearance of a serious, impassive official all along but when he walked away from the kurgan, he released his true emotions.


    It had to happen, he thought, sniffing. He lowered his sight, his eyes shining like perfectly polished crystals. Sorry Brymir, it was unavoidable.


    As he trotted down the stairs, a thick lump swelled in this throat. Damn it, Brymir, I''m so sorry...


    Erilaz waited until they leave and the crowd below thins out. Then he entered the crypt. His slow steps echoed inside and his robe shuffled quietly. As he approached the ossuary, his heart pounded louder and louder. Nothing seemed real to him and the echo of every sound compounded this feeling. He fought the dizziness, but his shallow breath only exacerbated it. The interior of the kurgan was colder than the air outside, and yet his hands felt clammy.


    When he stopped next to the ossuary, he sniffed deeply, unable to restrain himself any more. The psychological pain transformed into choking in his throat, a numbness of his legs and squeezing in his stomach.


    The first tear streamed down his cheek. He slumped down, leaning on the cover of the ossuary. He hid his face behind the loose sleeves when the next tears appeared. Panting, like after exerting a huge effort, he gripped his sleeves to at least soothe the inner tension but it left no effect except even stronger stinging in his muscles.


    Forgetting about eating, sleeping and other necessities, he spent the next three days inside the crypt.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Helvetto slowly began to deal with this tragedy. Life returned on the streets and everyone had to take care of their own business but the gloomy atmosphere loomed over this world like a vulture.


    Andvari and Hefri spent these days on more or less important activities. They were doing everything to keep their minds occupied. Andvari sat in his chamber, tinkering with his unfinished tiny robots while Hefri gazed through the window. Her dark blue shirt dress matched her eye colour, and her black ponytail shone like an onyx carving.


    Everything suggested that life returned to the castle roofs. Green leaves and buds began to enliven the brownish grey roof gardens. Birds returned to the dwarf trees, nesting between their naked branches.


    "He''s still there," said Hefri and crossed her arms, her sight boring into one distant hill.


    "Hefri, I understand he''s completely shocked," responded Andvari, soldering little wires and cables, "but I think it''s a little bit too much."


    Whenever he touched the wires, the pen he held cracked, scattering sparks. A wide grey box stood on the table and it was filled with a fair number of cords, cogs, jars of paint and other tools for precise jobs. A few sparks reached his loose shirt, leaving tiny dark dots. Two silver beads on his dreadlocks flickered when the sparks jumped around. His spiky piercings in his ear and eyebrow contrasted with his oval face and a triskelion engraved on his bead symbolised his friendship with Hefri and Erilaz. Hefri always wore the same symbol too¨Cit decorated her silver necklace.


    Andvari emerged from behind the box. "He almost got killed there." He spread his arms. "And if they didn''t retreat, we would need to carry on the battle without him." Scratching the machine with a soldering pen again, he added, "And you had to risk your life to save him."


    Hefri glanced at him. "There were enough deaths for those two days."


    Andvari looked at her with gentleness. "Not that I was angry at him, I just think it was a bit..." he raised his eyebrow, "...incompetent? Unprofessional?"


    Turning towards him, Hefri put her hands on her hips and snarled, "I wonder what would you say if your father got..." She covered her face. "Oh wait..."


    "Don''t judge me for that," snapped Andvari, wrinkling his forehead, "we all knew my father was a traitor. He had to die." He put his fist on the table. "By my hand." He buried the soldering pen so deeply in a metal plate that a wisp of black smoke swirled over it. Sighing deeply, he propped his head with his hand, and his sight become vacant. "And overall, he was a trash parent."


    Hefri looked out of the window again.


    Ironic, she thought, watching the nature waking up from its winter slumber. The spring was supposed to be a happy time on Helvetto, but this year everyone seemed grief-stricken. A large, blue bird with four legs landed next to its partner. They greeted each other by a cheerful chirp while a group of royal officials walked the pavement below with gloomy expressions on their faces.


    "Anyways, maybe we should go and check on him?" she proposed.


    "Fine," said Andvari and stood up, "just hold your breath before you enter." He put a lid on the box. "You know, the ossuary. It''s not sealed yet."


    Hefri only rolled her eyes, even though she knew how her companion deals with difficult situations. Andvari used pointless jokes to dissociate himself from the pain. Every banter was for him like a brick necessary to build a wall around him, something that could isolate him from the harsh reality.


    Andvari tucked the box under his bed. He approached Hefri and together they left his chamber.


    They got off their quads and began to climb a steep, rocky footpath. The ground dried a bit after the recent rains, and the hillsides bloomed with all shades of green. More and more colourful flowers grew between bushes and grass. Most insects still hibernated but those that woke up didn''t waste their short life and flew around the flowers, seeking the tasty nectar. Trees released their leaves from buds and the bald hills turned lush again. The last remains of snow marked the higher slopes with dirty white smudges.


    Hefri and Andvari reached the kurgan. A little stab of uncertainty stopped her for a moment, so Andvari approached the entrance first.


    "Erilaz? Hi," he said, peeking inside. "Are you ok?"


    Erilaz still leant on the ossuary, hiding his face behind his sleeves. Hearing the voice of his friend, he turned around. Andvari stepped back, hiding the concern on his face. Erilaz''s appearance unnerved him. Greasy, tousled hair uncovered Erilaz''s face and the dark purple circles made his weary, red eyes look even smaller. Smudges of dust stuck to his grey rumpled robe and his sleeves shone with his dried up tears and nasal discharge.


    "What happened?" he mumbled with a hoarse voice.


    So it went that far, thought Andvari, looking at his friend with compassion. He was still angry at Erilaz''s reaction to this tragedy but this sight clutched his heart. He just wanted to hug Erilaz with all his might, but he knew it may be too sudden of a move.


    Hefri stood next to him, trying to phrase the least hurtful response. All words seemed to be too harsh. She sympathised with him, but time didn''t stand still.


    Scratching her head, she began hesitantly, "We see how much you are suffering but...hmmm, this crypt can''t stay open forever."


    "I know," muttered Erilaz. He curled up his legs and leant his head on his knees.


    Hefri continued in a gentle voice, "Let him rest. He deserved it. And..." she spread her arms, "...it¡¯s hard for us all, but there''s going to be a lot of changes." Counting on her fingers, she began to list, "Ivendir''s enthronement, the whole mess with pen-pushers, maybe some local riots and so many other things."


    "That''s fine, I get it," said Erilaz without any emotions. He propped himself on his hands and stood up. Faltering on his trembling legs, he leant against the ossuary. He sighed deeply as if this action cost him too much energy.


    And that''s all? wondered Andvari. Erilaz''s resignation surprised him a bit. He expected his friend to argue and stand his ground. He was sure Erilaz would want to stay here even longer.


    Trying to relieve the tension, Andvari swung his hand, saying, "Would be nice if you could join us for the big show Ivendir is planning." He shrugged with a bleak expression. "Sad Vardir''s duty."


    Gazing vacantly at the floor, Erilaz brushed his sticky hair aside and straightened his earring. He acquired this ornament when he was a teenager. He was hunting with his friends and was the first one to catch an aggressive aquatic reptile.


    "It''s tomorrow so we came earlier, we think you need some time to pull yourself together," added Andvari.


    "You''re right, " responded Erilaz, mindlessly spreading his arms.


    "Come on." Andvari folded his fingers in an encouraging gesture. He waited until Erilaz left the cave and together with Hefri, they headed towards the trail.


    They walked down the hill in silence. All they heard were the swoosh of the wind and sparse squeaks of birds. Andvari felt a slight discomfort. He could have said something more, comfort his friend or thrown in a few nice words.


    Well, he wondered, maybe keeping my mouth shut was a better choice than saying something close to the bone.


    He glanced behind. Erilaz tagged along beside Hefri and him, his expression remained lifeless and fatigued.


    "That was pretty easy," he murmured to Hefri, making sure once again that Erilaz wouldn¡¯t notice it.


    "Maybe he''s just sick of it all, and dealing with us is the last thing he needs?" she said, looking around at the distant snowy mountains.


    Andvari shivered and clenched his teeth. "It''s still better than letting him sleep in that crypt..."


    "Yeah," she muttered. "Let the funeral guys just burn the body and seal the crypt. It will be better for Erilaz. And maybe for us too."

 CHAPTER 2.1. The King

    The enthronement took place in a large assembly hall right before the sunset. A crowd of officials and other important Helvettians gathered inside in numbers so vast that the door barely closed behind them. The hall was dark, aside from the large circular platform in the middle, where Ivendir stood majestically like a diamond sculpture. A swarm of drones hovered over him emitting almost no sound. Some of them recorded a live transmission while other machines held bowls with burning herbs.


    Ivendir''s silhouette reflected on the wooden floor in a faint, aggressively orange light. A long, arctic-blue robe with a diamond brooch and a light purple belt with a scabbard attached to it discreetly masked his rectangular, stubby build, giving him an appearance of a slimmer and taller man. His crimson hair flickered like fading embers and his face expressed no emotions. For the last hour he just calmly gazed ahead, waiting for the right moment to perform his ritual duties. Steady, deep breaths slowed down his heartbeat, only his hands dripped with sweat but he could covertly wipe them in his long, loose sleeves.


    He kept a tight rein on his thoughts. His task for the current moment was to flawlessly perform the enthronement ritual and he stuck to that. Despite his concentration, two feelings fought a battle in his mind. The first of them, an irresistible euphoria, tried to force a smile on his face but a sharp grief and self-blame efficiently silenced all signs of glee.


    A hooded person dressed in similar but more modest clothes approached him. The individual held a pillow in front of them, and the only sound that quietly echoed in the hall were their steady steps. An oblong, cerulean blue diamond lied on the pillow, shimmering and glittering.


    Brymir, trust me, repeated Ivendir in his mind when he slid his sword out of the scabbard. Its cross-guard was made of a translucent coruscium, forged in the shape of icicles, and the carvings on its grip mimicked roots. The blade, although produced of the same material, resembled a real aquamarine. Ivendir unscrewed the grip like a bolt. Grips of all plasma weapons served as battery holders too. The soon-to-be king put the crystal inside the grip and screwed it to the sword again.


    ...please, trust me, Ivendir continued, his wet finger shifting around the grip, searching for a button, I will make Helvetto a better place than everybody expects. He raised his sword, uncovering the snake tattoo on his arm. Trust me, please. He found the button and pushed it.


    A blue beam of plasma surrounded the blade, brightening the hall with a light so glaring that many observers blinked or narrowed their eyes. Despite the sudden brightness, the Helvettians began to cheer and swing their flags.


    The silent and grieving world finally found a reason to feast and rejoice. Pubs in the remote villages and exclusive restaurants in the capital city resounded with common calls of joy. Street people and individuals of good families drank toasts on the market squares and open-air cafes. The upcoming night was going to stay bright, illuminated with fireworks and campfires.


    The most important part of the celebration has just ended. Ivendir sighed with relief, knowing that the cheering crowd will drown it out. He wiped his hand in his sleeve once again and turned off the plasma sword. He slid it into the scabbard and strolled down the platform at a smooth pace.


    Brymir, I won''t disappoint you, he thought, leaving the last step.


    The first observers were walking out of the hall when Ivendir threw the robe off and trotted towards the exit for the elite.


    The loose tee-shirt uncovered Ivendir''s real silhouette. He was younger and weaker than his cousin, Brymir. His muscles and body fat merged together, making him look stocky but not fat in any case. The green snake tattoo on his arm was made by a most skillful artist and the hyperrealistic scales reflecting the cold glow of the lamps¡¯ light only confirmed the tattooist''s precision. The vertical pupils in the yellow eyes of the creature seemed to react to the light intensely.


    A row of giant, dark brown pillars supported a slightly curved, sand-coloured ceiling. Each of them was just a tree trunk decorated with relief carvings. The carvings presented plants and forest animals on the bottom, and treetops or birds on the higher parts. Ivendir stopped behind one of the pillars, carefully keeping track of the walking nearby Helvettians.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Seeing the three Vardir Commanders walking out of the hall, Ivendir called on his cousin, "Erilaz..."


    Erilaz didn''t react, slowly following Hefri and Andvari. The long sky-blue robe distinguished the Vardir Commanders and Captains from the rest. Erilaz brought his outward appearance to order, his braided hair mimicked a golden wheat spike, and a thick layer of powder masked the dark circles under his eyes almost entirely. Nevertheless, his weary gaze still revealed his inner emptiness.


    "Vardir Erilaz!" repeated Ivendir, raising his hand. "Do you have a few minutes?"


    "Yes, Ivendir, I do," responded Erilaz, halting suddenly. "Sorry."


    "Come on." Ivendir pointed to an empty corridor with his head.


    Without any questions, Erilaz followed him.


    They crossed the corridor and stopped in a wide, empty hall. A tall, arched window let the last sunbeams in, paining stretched shadows on the peanut-brown wooden floor.


    "Now you''re free to call me Your Highness," said Ivendir with a little smile.


    Erilaz only awkwardly raised a corner of his mouth.


    Ivendir took a deep breath and looked upwards at the tall Celestian. "I need your help," he declared, "even if it''s hard for you."


    Erilaz sighed. Ivendir''s problems weren''t in his field of interest but since he was fated to work under the new king''s orders, he nodded in agreement.


    "That''s not a problem. As a Vardir, I''m always here to assist you."


    Ivendir looked deep in Erilaz''s eyes. "I need you to focus, understood?" He glanced at the corridor behind. It was still empty. He continued in a quieter voice, "Did you see who took that shoot?"


    Erilaz stepped back as if the flashback of the battlefield punched him in his guts. His heart sped up straight away. He felt invisible claws clutching his throat.


    "No, I have no idea," he recited rapidly. "If I could only get there faster..."


    "I''m not here to blame you," Ivendir broke in, raising his hand, "or act as if I''m better than you."


    Looking meekly at Erilaz, he waited a moment. He wanted to let Erilaz catch his breath and calm down the surging anguish. Speaking gently and clearly, he asked, "Did you see that person or device?"


    Digging this memory up was for Erilaz like a vivisection. He mobilised all his muscles to appear impassive. The longer he recalled the view of shattered Brymir''s head, the stronger spasms he felt in his stomach. He really didn''t want to be angry at Ivendir for reopening this wound. Questioning the witnesses was a completely normal, necessary procedure, especially when the victim used to occupy the most important position on the whole planet. And yet he experienced anger. Ivendir still dredged up the worst moments of Erilaz''s life.


    "No," he answered.


    Ivendir sighed and lowered his eyes. "It''s too bad. That could really help us with the investigation."


    Erilaz only nodded slightly. Ivendir glanced through the window, seeking the right words for a follow-up question. When an important thought eluded his mind, he turned his head towards Erilaz again, hoping that the Commander will take up the conversation.


    Erilaz didn''t even consider that possibility. All he wished for was to turn around and walk away. Ivendir''s questions convulsed his guts, but he still tried to act professionally. Vardir''s duty was to listen to the king.


    Ivendir shifted his weight from foot to foot, while the silence became more and more uncomfortable.


    "I asked many of my people who were in this area and..."


    Your people? thought Erilaz, crossing his arms.


    "...nothing." Ivendir shrugged. "It feels like we were searching for a ghost."


    "I wish you good luck..." said Erilaz, covering his lips with his fist, "¡­Your Highness, but I can''t do anything."He clutched his fist stronger, thick veins bulging his triskelion tattoo."I was too late," he added, tightening his fingers on his diamond brooch.


    "We all made some mistakes." Ivendir relaxed his muscles. "I could go and fight too, but I thought it would be better if I stay there and defend the city walls." He was always good at hiding his suffering, but the long conversation about Brymir''s death finally took the floor. His real emotions flickered through his face. He quickly resumed, "This investigation is the only thing I can do to seek justice."


    Erilaz began to gradually zone out. He invested all remnants of his energy into listening to Ivendir''s words but he was simply worn out. A buzzing noise resounded in his heavy head and the veins in his eyes remained red. He tightened his fingers on his arm, staring at one point on the floor.


    Clearing his throat, Ivendir pulled Erilaz out of the reverie.


    "What should I do now?" asked Erilaz.


    "Just be on standby and keep your eyes open," explained Ivendir. "The Moryans left our world in a few hours, but they may be planning a return." Turning towards the exit, he narrowed his eyes and added in a quieter voice, "Just a rumour... but it''s better to be careful."


    He walked away, and his steps remained the only sound in the hall.


    Erilaz gazed through the window. The setting sun cast warm, comforting beams but Erilaz was too exhausted to enjoy them.


    A few seconds, he thought. That could be enough. He raised his sight ponderously. A few seconds to avoid it all.

 CHAPTER 2.2. A few seconds

    Ivendir barged into his chamber. As the door slid shut behind him, he leant against the wall in the hallway and sighed. The walls were panelled with hazelwood, and an arched doorframe surrounded the dark brown door.


    Ivendir ran his fingers across the panel. He felt a little dimple. He pulled it, opening a secret compartment. A gun lied inside it. Ivendir nodded to himself.


    He moved on and reached his bedroom. His quarters weren¡¯t grand by the standards of a typical monarch but Ivendir preferred more modest rooms. Big, open spaces made him feel uneasy. Here, in his bedroom, he could keep an eye on everybody and everything.


    A few paintings, a pair of antlers and a carved animal skull decorated the light brown walls. Ivendir approached the biggest painting in a sculptured wooden frame. It depicted two brown-haired Celestians in elegant tunics. The taller one held a fur on his shoulders and his hand rested on a sword. It was young Brymir on the first day of his reign. A ten-year-old Ivendir stood next to him. Back then he hadn''t dyed his hair red and the flicker of vigour gleamed in his big, round eyes.


    Ivendir tilted the painting a bit. Another locker with a plasma dagger was hidden behind it. Ivendir closed his eyes and exhaled.


    Went better than I expected, he thought with relief.


    Then he crouched next to his bed and looked under a mattress.


    "Huh?" he muttered in a shaky voice. Fear squeezed his stomach. A rush of adrenaline ignited his veins. He jumped to his feet, clenching his fists.


    Where is it!? he cried in his mind. He looked around the room. His heart pounded harder and harder with every second. He fell to his knees and stuck his head under the bed. He breathed a sigh of relief, noticing the gun lying on the floor.


    Here...


    Ivendir groaned, reaching his hand, and picked the gun up. The top part of the weapon was dark blue, and the grip shimmered with all shades of silver.


    He stood upright. Brushing his hair aside, he propped his head, thinking, I need a better place for it...


    A barely audible steps caught his attention. He tensed his ears. Somebody was approaching his chamber from a narrow emergency passage. His heart went wild again. The fright seemed to stab his stomach and lungs, taking his breath away.


    He turned on his heel, pointing the gun towards the unexpected guest.


    A bald, hefty Celestian in a long, brown coat casually entered the main hall. As he lifted his calm sight and saw the gun pointed at him, he halted and raised his hands.


    "Your Highness, it''s me," he said in a deep, throaty voice.


    "Oh," mumbled Ivendir, drooping his arms. He turned his head. "You surprised me." As he passed by a wide window with a stone frame, the snake tattoo on his arm seemed to narrow its golden eyes.


    Ivendir walked between a large, dark blue armchair and a coffee table, where he put the gun down. He approached a stone fireplace with a drink cupboard next to it. Undrawing its door, he reached for a blue bottle.


    "Sorry, Your Highness, but you wanted me to follow you quietly," said Thelrim, taking a few steps ahead. As the rays of the setting sun illuminated his rectangular face, his sky-blue eyes appeared even smaller. He wore two sapphire earrings on each ear, giving him a respectable look but his hand tattoo of the blue-and-white bird with a long tail contrasted with his massive silhouette.


    "That''s fine, Thelrim." Ivendir waved his hand in passing and took a bottle of amber liquor. "Even if you''re the only person I honestly trust, I have to stay cautious." A loud pop resounded as he pulled the cork out. "Just in case."


    He poured the dense, glimmering liquid into a glass. At that moment the chilly feeling of looming threat returned to him.


    "Brymir wasn''t cautious enough. He didn''t keep his eyes open," Ivendir whispered to himself but Thelrim heard his concern anyway. "And you see what happened to him."


    Fright crept into his mind akin to a nasty tick crawling under the thick fur of an animal. A chilly shiver pinched his back, and his stomach slightly shrank. Ivendir put quite a lot of effort not to think about this tragedy again. Every new thought fueled another horrifying image, engulfing him in an endless cycle of nervousness. Despite this, he couldn''t drown his mind in regret, dismay and mourning. The future of Helvetto depended on him.


    He raised his head and spread his arms. "So you, as my personal guard, have one job."


    Thelrim looked at Ivendir questioningly without fully understanding his intention. Even though he was a head taller than Ivendir, he nodded with humility, ready to hear the order.


    Ivendir narrowed his eyes. He pointed at Thelrim. "Don''t let me end up like him," he said in a quiet but adamant voice and sat down in the armchair.


    "I get it," responded Thelrim.


    Ivendir motionlessly gazed at the glass of liquor. His breath was steady but too deep for a relaxed person. Thelrim could only wonder what thoughts billowed in the king''s mind.


    Ivendir grabbed the glass. "I survived two assassination attempts," he said. Still gazing vacantly, he gulped down half of his glass. "Both because of you."


    He clenched his fingers on the armrest at the very mention of these incidents. Everyone on Helvetto knew who was next to the throne after Brymir and not everyone liked it. The last attempt happened over ten years ago when Ivendir was thirty but it imprinted in his memory and was still visible in his instincts. Prudence, alertness and perceptivity became his primary traits already after the first attack. He was only fifteen then and he needed a sense of security more than everything else. He began to obsessively hide different weapons in every corner of his bedroom and he never let anyone lull him into a false sense of security.


    "There will be more," he added, and his eyes narrowed with bitterness.


    That was the first night since King Brymir''s death when Erilaz had slept for more than a few hours. The dark circles under his eyes remained, but he managed to get up and pull himself together before midday. He put on a silver fur cape and tied his hair into a sloppy bun. After all, the title of a Vardir Commander still belonged to him, and neglecting his physical condition was terribly inappropriate. The complex supplements alone won''t keep his muscles in good shape.


    Slow march through the mountain track let him fully breath again. The chilly and fresh air softly pinched his nose, refreshing his fuzzy mind. The smell of grass and flowers soothed his racing thoughts. Instead of brooding about his adoptive father''s death, he focused on the movements of his body. Every step he took brought him closer to the hilltop and every muscle flexed and relaxed time after time.


    The lack of wind let him hear the chirping and chattering animals. Tiny, light brown rodents leapt from branch to branch and hung on their long tails, licking nectar from the flowers. A pair of avian reptiles flew around, picking up dry grass for its nest. This day was free from work so only a few freight spaceships with the essential goods crossed the clear sky.


    Erilaz reached a meadow. A tiny cottage stood on the edge of it and a circle of smoky stones marked the place of a recent campfire. Hefri sat on the chair next to it. She covered her mouth with a tissue, and strands of hair stuck out of the two buns on her head. Andvari stood in front of her, discussing something. His ginger dreadlocks were tied up, and muddy smudges covered his trousers. They both wore training tunics, but they didn''t use any weapons.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    They stopped talking and looked at Erilaz.


    "Oh, you''re finally up!" called Andvari, waving. "It''s almost noon..."


    Erilaz raised a corner of his mouth.


    Andvari added, "Come here!" As Erilaz slowly approached him, he put his hands on his hips and asked firmly, "Didn''t you neglect some skills during this week?"


    Erilaz tilted his head. "...No?"


    "Prove it." Andvari squeezed his fingers, cracking his joints.


    Sighing helplessly, Erilaz answered, "I''m not in the mood."


    Listening to them, Hefri raised her head and shouted, "Come on Erilaz, avenge me!" She wiped the blood from her upper lip and sniffed, but the sticky red liquid still oozed from her nostril.


    Erilaz raised his eyebrows in a worried expression. "Hefri? What happened to you?"


    "Eh, an accident," broke in Andvari and carelessly swung his hand, "during the training."


    "Listen here, pastahead!" growled Hefri, pointing at him. "Next time you are going to have an accident!"


    Andvari spread his arms. "But it was you who didn''t dodge quick enough!"


    Erilaz only stood next to them, following each of them with his eyes.


    She sniffed again. "You were quicker than a laser shot!"


    "That only proves I''m the best!"


    "I had no chance to react..."


    "So you admit that I won?"


    Ignoring the blood smearing on her upper lip, Hefri put her fists on the table. "Never!"


    Andvari stopped her, reaching his hand. "I''m not fighting you in that state."


    "Coward..." mumbled Hefri, wiping her mouth.


    Acting like an old professor, Andvari continued, "According to the royal codex, the training has to be stopped after the first drop of blood."


    "I know..."


    Andvari propped his chin and looked around. "Hm..." he muttered after a while. He approached Erilaz with a brisk step, smirking. "Actually, that was a good idea. Avenge her."


    Erilaz sighed. His friends behaved as if the mourning was over. Their moods were way too good while Erilaz had just begun to get back on his feet. The wound still bled. On top of that, he slept through the night for the first time in days. Dull sough still echoed in his head, and his eyelids closed on their own.


    "Can''t you just..." he shrugged and spread his arms, "...I don''t know, grow up? Calm down?"


    Sniffing loudly like a vacuum cleaner, Hefri cleaned her mouth again. She gulped and sized Andvari up with her gleaming, ominous eyes. "Not until I punch his crooked face!" she shouted, pointing at Andvari.


    "Fine..." groaned Erilaz, drooping his arms. He unbuttoned the fur cloak, adding, "I will fight you."


    "Nice..." said Andvari, rubbing his hands and smiling wickedly.


    Erilaz approached the table to put his cloak aside, but a growling sound from above made him recoil like a wild cat. It was Andvari. He swung his fist to punch Erilaz but his opponent ducked.


    "Huh?" mumbled Erilaz but before he turned around, Andvari pounded him in his back.


    Erilaz stumbled and landed on his knee. Andvari jumped towards him again with his fist ready to blow another strike. Erilaz made use of his low position and sprung up, punching Andvari in his stomach. Andvari hissed, losing the air from his lungs, and gripped Erilaz''s hair with all his might. Despite the twinging in his torso, he tugged Erilaz, ruffling his already messy bun.


    With his hair floating behind him, Erilaz tripped towards the table. Hefri recoiled, gritting her teeth. Her friend landed on the tabletop, muttering something under his breath. He dragged himself from the table and grabbed his stomach.


    Andvari stopped, and concern flickered in his eyes. "Are you ok?" he asked.


    In response, Erilaz leapt towards him, kicking him his underbelly. Andvari tumbled on the ground, squeezing the young blades of grass.


    "Ouch..." he moaned with his eyelids tightened. He opened his eyes slightly and blinked, blinded by the midday sun. At one moment the sun disappeared behind Erilaz''s back.


    "Yes, I am," Erilaz replied.


    Andvari rolled on his belly and lifted himself up.


    "King Brymir never taught you fairness..." he grunted, rubbing his head.


    "And he never taught you caution," said Erilaz.


    Andvari growled, narrowing his eyes. He charged at Erilaz. They sprinted towards each other and began to scuffle. Andvari tried to punch Erilaz. Erilaz banged the fists of his opponent and tugged his sleeves. They locked their arms, struggling to push their rival down.


    Gasping, Erilaz braced his feet against the ground, putting up resistance. His fraught muscles stung after a sudden effort but the surge of adrenaline softened the tension. All his misery left him, leaving free space for fervour and deep focus.


    Andvari was always physically the strongest of all Vardir apprentices. He only messed with Erilaz, trying to loosen him up. "Erilaz, look," he said, barely relaxing his grip.


    "What?"


    "My victory."


    At that moment Erilaz took a step back, stepping into a puddle of mud. His boots lost their traction, and he collapsed on the ground, splashing brown water around him. Andvari recoiled, avoiding the falling drops of mud.


    He approached Erilaz with a sneer on his face. "See?" he asked, "I''m undefeated." He raised his fists in a triumphant manner and yelled, "Undefeated!"


    Erilaz lifted his head. Because of the sleepless nights, he couldn''t comprehend what happened for a few seconds. He blinked and rose to his knee. Sighing with effort, he stood on his feet. His light brown shirt was covered with darker stains and thick lumps of mud stuck to his boots. He sighed once again. His hair flopped on his drooping arms. He grunted under his breath and swept the wet hair strands away.


    Twisting the corner of his mouth, he marched next to Andvari.


    "That''s what I''m talking about," he grunted. "A few seconds."


    "Next time Hefri and you can fight me together," said Andvari, unzipping the training tunic. "Maybe," he added in a soft voice, "just maybe, you can defeat me."


    Erilaz pointed at the ground, narrowing his eyes. "I would have defeated you if I noticed this mud earlier." His jaw began to tremble as the fighting fervour subsided. "The same as if I had noticed the rifleman faster..."


    "No, not this discussion again," broke in Andvari, closing his eyes and raising his hands. The tee-shirt he wore was soaked with sweat under his armpits and a few veins bulged on his enormous muscles.


    "You can''t just blame yourself for everything all the time!" he added, clenching his fists.


    "Here we go again," muttered Hefri, stretching out on the chair. Since the king''s death, she was torn between letting Erilaz live through the mourning and going back to the old life. Her job required her to be tough and strong but now, during the peacetime, she could feel a little bit of sympathy. She lost her king but he lost his father.


    A sound of steps on the grass caught her attention. She turned her head towards the hill.


    A muscular Celestian in a blue shirt was approaching them. Wind tugged his loose trousers and shoulder length, sandy blond hair.


    "Commander Erilaz!" he called, raising his hand.


    Erilaz and Andvari broke off their discussion and looked at him.


    He nodded, adding, "Commanders Andvari and Hefri." He trotted down the hill and stood face to face with Erilaz.


    "Captain Ermdahr?" said Erilaz and nodded too.


    "King Ivendir couldn''t contact you. He needs you in the industrial district." With a slightly disbelieving smile, he swung his hand and declared, "You won''t believe what''s happening..."


    "Captain Ermdahr," asked Erilaz, propping his chin in misgiving, "What''s going on?" He opened his eyes wider, his turquoise irises shone with anxiety. "Moryans?"


    The warrior''s instincts stimulated his nerves. His muscles tensed. He got ready to throw himself into a whirl of battle again.


    No," the Captain smiled, waving his hand carelessly, "just a riot."


    Erilaz sighed. He thought he overreacted again. Crossing his arms, he asked, "He calls us for a common riot?"


    "Only you for now."


    "Is it really so serious that he needs a Vardir himself?" Erilaz raised his eyebrow.


    Ermdahr spread his arms. "No, but that''s his order."


    "...Fine," said Erilaz, raising his hands and closing his eyes. "Weird but fine."


    Ermdahr climbed up the hill and Erilaz followed him.


    "Just don''t kill each other, understood?" Erilaz pointed at Hefri and Andvari, and they responded with taunting smirks.


    Erilaz didn''t worry too much about this unusual order, he only wondered why this riot needs the presence of a Vardir Commander. Vardir warriors, especially their Commanders, were called only for the most dangerous situations and states of emergency when the good of Helvetto or the king were threatened. Erilaz stayed calm. If the risk was serious, he would know about this first. On the other hand, no sane person calls Vardir for a trifle.


    They crossed a meadow and reached a small spaceship. It''s pristine dark blue plating shone in the midday sun. Its wings were light grey, just like the surface of the nearby mountains. Ermdahr entered the ship first and took the pilot seat. Erilaz jumped after him and sat on a bench in the corridor. The engine of the vehicle whizzed and howled, releasing a giant puff of steam from the tiny hydrogen reactor. It soared completely vertically for a few meters and then flew away.


    Hefri and Andvari followed the ship with their eyes until it disappeared behind clouds. She took her tunic off and left it on the table, blowing her nose at the crumpled, stained with blood tissue. Her well-fitting tee-shirt with wet spots emphasised her angular and hefty but athletic figure. She came from the northern regions of Helvetto, so she was naturally used to difficult living conditions, and years of training and taking supplements made her body even more muscular. That didn''t stop her from wearing the most sophisticated clothes and jewellery for special occasions. Even so, she valued graceful but comfortable clothes on a daily basis.


    "As Erilaz said, weird but fine," commented Andvari, still looking upwards.


    The clouds have gained some volume since dawn. Instead of thin, nimble smudges, they resembled ruffled clumps of wet wool.


    Andvari leant towards Hefri and covered his mouth, whispering in a conspiratorial tone, "Don''t tell anyone, okay?"


    Puzzled Hefri glanced at him.


    "I have an impression that the king acts pretty... um... unusual," he continued.


    Hefri stood deeply in thought for a moment, after which she responded, "Hm... If I were in his position..." She shrugged and nudged a little rock with her boot. "...I would be careful too."

 CHAPTER 3.1. The unexpected order

    Erilaz sat in the spaceship''s corridor, lazily gazing through the small window and propping his chin. His tousled hair was tied untidily, and a few strands hung over his face. He scratched off the dried bits of mud and wiped his face but his shirt remained blotchy. The monotonous view lulled him to sleep as if he completely forgot about the upcoming task.


    The industrial district had no atmospheric streets, charming tenement buildings or green belts full of flowers and old trees. Each block of flats was rectangular, grey and symmetrical. Only the rows of windows reflected the sun, brisking this forest of concrete. Like mountains among the trees, a few factories towered over the blocks. The streets seemed almost completely dead because the residents were in their workplaces. Usually even in the middle of the day some vehicles and individuals hung around the buildings but this time no one show up.


    Pretty odd, thought Erilaz when a small explosion flashed between the blocks.


    He blinked and turned towards the cockpit. "How bad is it down there?" he mumbled.


    "Commander Arnorsson says it''s a bit violent," responded Ermdahr, tapping the touch pad icons on the console, "but nothing too special."


    "Are there any orders only for me?"


    "No, I''m gonna ask if he has anything new." Ermdahr chose the communication icon and said, "Captain Ermdahr here, any orders for Vardir Erilaz?"


    A voice from the speaker replied, "The king just gave more info about Vardir''s assignment." After a second of consideration, he continued, "It''s a negotiation mission."


    Ermdahr raised his eyebrow and glanced aside in puzzlement. "That... makes more sense now, thanks, Arnorsson."


    "I''m waiting under the communication tower," added Arnorsson, "we''re on standby."


    Erilaz listened to their conversation, trying to figure out the whole point of his mission.


    They flew for a few more minutes. A tall tower soared over the blocks like a skeleton in the museum. Clouds of black smoke throttled the air of the settlement behind it. Larger or smaller explosions surrounded the blocks with yellow and orange halos.


    "Here," Ermdahr said to himself, heading his ship towards a straight road. Since he didn''t trust the board computer a hundred percent, he strained all his senses and moved his fingers over the touch pad like a surgeon. "Damn, that''s narrow," he added, leaning over the console similarly to a creeping predator.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "What?" asked Erilaz but he got the answer when the ship zipped between two tall blocks. The g-force pushed him at the backrest and fuzzy lines flashed behind the window. The engines of the ship bellowed, jiggling the floor. The vibrations flipped Erilaz''s breakfast all over his stomach.


    Descending and slowing down, the ship scratched a balcony with a stabiliser on its wing and spread little sparks. When the vehicle touched the ground, Ermdahr slogged the brake icon. The ship throbbed once again and the engine began to grumble monotonously. A puff of a stream left the pipe and the hatch slid up.


    "Nevermind," breathed Erilaz with his eyes closed.


    "Come on, Commander!" called Ermdahr and threw a LiqWatch and a holster with a gun at him.


    Erilaz caught it, regaining control over his body. Small meals, insomnia and wild g-force weren''t pleasant to his stomach or brain.


    Ermdahr jumped out of the vehicle first and Erilaz followed him. They crossed the street and stopped on a square with a communication tower in the middle of it.


    A group of armed Celestians ran from the opposite side. They wore grey suits and dark blue armoured vests. Helmets with shiny face shields protected their heads, giving them quite a mysterious aura. They held dark brown rifles and leg pads with the same coloured boots.


    One of them had his helmet in his hand, showing his oval face and pointy ears with round, hollow earrings. His purple mohawk still stood straight despite streams of sweat on his skin. An aquamarine image of an eagle in the nest decorated his chest and his rifle distinguished itself from the rest by its sky-blue colour.


    He halted in front of Erilaz and Ermdahr, waving his hand in a rushing gesture. "Vardir Erilaz, Captain, follow me," he recited, turning around.


    "Commander Arnorsson, wait," said Erilaz, raising his hand to stop the Commander. "What am I supposed to do?"


    Arnorsson, the Commander of Metropolitan Militia, spread his arms. "Make those folks stop throwing things at us, so we won''t need to deal with arresting them and the whole mess around it." He pushed the helmet on his head, sighing, "Paperwork..."


    Erilaz nodded. He buckled the holster to his belt and put the LiqWatch on his wrist. This device resembled a thin wristband and could be easily hidden under a sleeve.


    "Come on," said Arnorsson.


    He and his people ran into the concrete jungle again. Erilaz had no time to rethink this situation. He followed the group, recalling all he learned during training.


    A group of the militia members and workers in dark green boiler suits stood on the square in front of the factory. The militia used air pistols and fake bullets to keep the enraged crowd away, covering themselves with shields. Cans, fragments of pipes, bricks and other items were falling on them from above. The crowd pushed against the barricade, yelling and threatening the officers.


    A caterpillar freight vehicle stood behind the militia group. It was previously used for transporting cargo but now it looked like the only safe place among the fighting Celestians.


    Arnorsson led Erilaz towards the vehicle and climbed on it. He waited for Erilaz to join him and looked around. The situation didn''t change much. The workers rioted with anger but he couldn''t do anything serious without Erilaz. That was the king''s order.

 CHAPTER 3.2. The negotiator

    Arnorsson raised his hand and called, "We''re here to negotiate." He waited until the furious shouts silenced. His cautious glance swept the gathered workers. They closed their mouths but their faces still expressed rage. Hundreds of furious eyes stared at Arnorsson from under the celadon hoods.


    Arnorsson pointed at Erilaz. "Vardir Erilaz, the king''s emissary, honoured us with his presence."


    Erilaz looked at him warily, keeping an impassive expression.


    "You, boy!" yelled one of the workers with a large, old scar on his face. Pointing at Erilaz, he continued, "Tell your king that he''s a common thief!"


    More voices repeated this statement. The Celestians began to swing their fists and beat at the barricade.


    Great... thought Erilaz with discouragement. He bent down and reached his hand in an inquiring gesture. "Well... tell me what happened."


    "He doesn''t know," said the scarred rebellion leader, looking at his companions with a cheeky smirk. "Will we tell him?"


    The voices resounded again but one of the workers, who stood next to the leader, stayed silent. He grabbed an empty can of paint, but the leader grabbed his hand on the sly.


    "Wait!" the scarred Celestian whispered harshly and forced him to put the can into his pocket.


    The leader raised his sight at Erilaz again and explained, "Your beloved king wanted to buy my factory." He waved his hand. "Fine, you might say. What''s wrong with that?"


    The Celestian who held a can gazed vacantly but he woke up from the reflection when the leader shouted.


    "The problem is, he offered a price five times lower than it should be!" He slammed at the barricade. "And he wanted to cut our wages!"


    Erilaz raised his finger. "You..." He tried to outshout the angry crowd, but the leader continued.


    "And he said that''s the final offer! I have to accept it or he''s gonna arrest me for..." He paused to take a breath. "... nothing, some frauds or whatever shit I''ve never done!"


    Arnorsson leant towards Erilaz. "Don''t believe everything he says," he whispered.


    Erilaz lifted his eyebrow but in a moment he nodded knowingly. He scratched his chin and turned towards the crowd. "Are you really sure he meant that?"


    "No, I''m blind and deaf," responded the leader, tapping his forehead. With his fist clenched, he continued, "It''s not even been a whole week since his reign began and he''s already trying to ruin us!"


    Erilaz glanced at Arnorsson and murmured, "They''re angry. I think we should solve it quickly..."


    Arnorsson only spread his arms. "I''ll help you but... it''s your mission now."


    This response gave Erilaz a shiver of annoyance. He contorted his mouth. That made no sense to him but for some reason, the king wanted a Vardir Commander to take action personally. Since there was no chance for a peaceful conversation, he decided to put all cards on the table.


    He took a firm position and asked, "What are your demands?"


    "Two options." The leader showed two fingers. "He gives me back what belongs to me or he pays the right price."


    "I will speak to him," declared Erilaz, glancing stealthily at Arnorsson.


    "Good luck!" called somebody from the crowd.


    Erilaz theatrically rolled up his sleeve to make sure that everyone sees what he''s doing and tapped the LiqWatch a few times. He stood in this position until the red dot on the screen turned green.


    "Ivendir? I mean, Your Highness," said Erilaz to the LiqWatch, "I''m speaking to the rebellion leader. I know his demands."


    "I know them too, I''m watching you from above," a voice resounded over Erilaz''s head.


    Vardir looked up.


    "He''s a bit too confident," spoke Ivendir through a speaker in a drone that soared above the square all along. "I know the value of what I want to buy."


    The worker who held a can in his pocket hasn''t spoke a word all this time. He listened to the discussion with his eyes bored into the ground. No one noticed the tension rising in him. The thick coat masked his trembling arms and large veins on his hands. The conversations around him drowned out his rough, weak breath, so he had only one idea how to get attention.


    "You know nothing!" he cried, throwing the can at the drone with all his strength.


    The machine dodged, and its rotors buzzed during a rapid manoeuvre. All speech fell silent as the eyes of the workers directed towards the man.


    He continued, hurling a metal pipe, "Your big palace isn''t enough for you!" The falling pipe hit the ground, twanging and interrupting his helpless plea. "So you want to take whatever you can from us!"


    Erilaz tried to say something but the worker broke in, "He wants to take everything from me! And not just from me. Look a them!"


    Observing the crowd warily, Erilaz let him continue. The worker clenched his fingers on the barricade, leaning towards the Vardir. "He won''t be able to make this factory prosper. We need it to survive!"The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I need this factory too," stated Ivendir from the speaker in the drone. "I will take care of..." A brick thrown by the worker hit the drone, silencing the king. The falling machine whirled and scattered sparks. It crashed to the ground and flickering flames surrounded it.


    The worker observed it with a mass of different emotions billowing in his tired eyes. He and his companions had reasons to be afraid, to hate the new king and to fight for their uncertain future.


    When the black smoke swirled around the wreck of the drone, the worker demanded, "Bring him here." He pressed his finger to the barricade, pointing at the spot right in front of him. "He''s only so brave because he''s speaking through this scrap."


    The spite in the worker''s voice stirred vigilance in Erilaz. His muscles tensed. A spark of ferocity flashed in his eyes while his pupils widened. He knew he shouldn''t do it, but his hand instinctively reached towards his hip where he had a gun.


    The worker hid his hand behind his back. He touched a gun he had in the holster on a belt.


    Erilaz scratched his flank not to arouse suspicion and stood stiffly. The worker did the same. Erilaz still watched him with his ears strained.


    To calm the crowd down, he raised his hands and said, "Very well. I will speak to him."


    "When?" asked the scarred leader with his arms crossed.


    "Soon," stated Erilaz, fiddling with his sleeve. "This week, maybe?"


    The leader opened his mouth but the worker, who reached for his gun earlier, leant against the barricade and drooped his head.


    "It''s useless," he growled.


    The leader looked at him, raising his eyebrow in confusion.


    "Vardir or not, they are all the same!" the worker screamed and pulled his gun out.


    "Calm down," hissed the leader, grabbing his hand and tugging it downwards.


    Erilaz stepped back. He stood astride, taking a combat-ready position. His fingers brushed his shirt, reaching for a gun, but Arnorsson tapped his forearm.


    "Don''t to this," whispered Arnorsson in a commanding tone. "Don''t make them even more pissed off."


    "That''s right," added Ivendir from the communicator on Erilaz''s wrist, "but don''t get yourself killed too."


    Erilaz relaxed his muscles and exhaled quietly. He restrained his fervour to appear neutral and harmless. His instincts alerted him but he ignored the warning. Despite the cold and distant judgement, he knew somewhere inside that it won''t end well.


    Ivendir continued, "Take care of yourself, please. But shoot only when it''s necessary."


    "You don''t see it, but I can''t wait months!" the worker interrupted. His voice was turning more and more aggressive with every word. Glimmers of wrath and woefulness shone in his eyes. "I have to survive from one payoff to another. He can''t cut our wages!"


    Erilaz lifted his hands in a calming gesture "You can..."


    "Shut up!" the worker yelled, ignoring the Vardir Commander. He pointed his gun at Erilaz. The leader tried to stop him but he wrenched his hand free. He kept talking, "Who''s gonna pay for the meds for my wife? Three days without them and she''s dead. What about my daughter? My only child?" he asked in a faltering voice. "Do you see any future for her without this pittance? Should she be a thief? Or a drug dealer?" The words he spoke began to merge together. "Or sleep with some old creeps?" He paused, panting and clenching his teeth. No one else said a word. The workers watched him all this time with concerned, uneasy or anxious expressions.


    Erilaz didn''t let him out of his sight even for a second. He stood firmly, slightly leaning forwards in a vigilant pose. His stiff hands were ready to grab the gun. The dull but rapid pounding of his heart resounded in his head.


    "Erilaz, please, be careful now," said Ivendir. "Shoot only if you have to. You have a right to do it in this situation. He is dangerous."


    "No," interrupted Arnorsson. "Wait. Don''t show them any weapons."


    "It''s about his safety, Arnorsson. And yours too."


    Erilaz didn''t listen to them too carefully. He knew what to do. He only hoped it would be solved without violence. Killing a civilian won''t improve his reputation.


    "Let us handle this,'' added Ivendir.


    Before any of them answered, the worker broke in, his sight bored into the ground, "I knew it. You can''t do anything about that." He sniffed, choking the tears back. ''"You will just sit on your golden couch and watch us starve." He took a few deep, quick breaths as if he was suffocating." Looking from above like you were some kind of gods!" He raised his gun and shot.


    Erilaz drew the gun and pulled the trigger too. He focused on this action so profoundly that he didn''t pay attention to the impact he felt on his chest.


    Two gunshots echoed among the blocks. One of them was muffled, and the other one pierced the air with a shrill bang. Erilaz staggered but Arnorsson caught his arm. Only then he noticed the searing pain around his heart. He clenched his fingers on his chest. More shots blasted out and within three seconds a wall of rumbling noise reached his ears.


    "Get back!" shouted Arnorsson and pulled Erilaz towards the ladder. He helped Erilaz climb down and then he jumped from the vehicle.


    "You killed him!" somebody''s voice pierced through the thunderous cannonade.


    "Are you ok?" called Arnorsson, holding Erilaz''s arm. The Vardir Commander was bending forwards, still gripping his shirt.


    Erilaz growled with pain and looked at his palm. It was covered in a green slime. The same substance stained his shirt.


    "A slime gun?" he wondered out loud. "A fake bullet?" He raised his eyebrows with anxiety when he discerned the situation.


    "Hide!" ordered Arnorsson. Little drops of drizzle began to fall from the sky and specked on his face shield. Clutching his rifle on the alert, he hunched over and trotted towards a pile of scrap. Erilaz followed him.


    A few bullets struck the blocks behind them. The roar of the firefight filled the whole district. The rebels fell one by one but those who survived fired at the officers from their guns, rifles and anything else that could inflict damage. Burning cans of oils, paints and other substances landed in front of the militia members. Flames embraced a few of them similarly to snakes strangling their prey. Their coruscium armours and suits were bulletproof but the high temperature itself boiled fragments of their skin.


    Both sides ignored the raindrops splashing on their heads and the sky darkening over them. The officers forged ahead, blasting the rebels away.


    Arnorsson and Erilaz sneaked behind the scrap and hid between two blocks. The dark grey clouds spewed out more and more raindrops. The hydrophobic coating of Arnorsson''s face shield made the water stream down but Erilaz''s soaked clothes stuck to his skin. The Vardir''s golden hair now resembled tufts of swamp grass.


    "I was sure it was a real gun..." muttered Erilaz, running behind Arnorsson in the maze of blocks.


    "Too fucking late," growled the Militia Commander.


    Erilaz halted. "Listen," he demanded. He focused on the sounds to check if somebody followed them but the firefight seemed to still take place on the square in front of the factory.


    "I''m not some kind of peacekeeper." Water streamed down his hair, reaching his earholes and mouth. His light brown shirt became dark and clung to him, revealing his fair-sized muscles.


    Arnorsson stopped too and turned around. He was ready to tell Erilaz off but the Vardir Commander continued.


    "I''m a Vardir. I''m taught to react quickly. I see danger, I fight back..."


    "Go back to Ermdahr''s ship," ordered Arnorsson, pointing at the street next to him. "Don''t fly too low."


    He sprinted back towards the firefight without looking back.


    Despite the disagreements, Erilaz followed his order. Arnorsson was way more experienced so he knew what he was saying. Piercing through the walls of water from the sky, Erilaz ran down the streets where Ermdahr landed earlier.


    I''m taught to kill, was his last thought before he jumped into the vehicle.


    Arnorsson was approaching the square. Even though his helmet muffled the loudest blasts, he heard how the gunfire slowly died down. Fury ripped him apart from within. He never tolerated when somebody pried into his job.


    The king should stay away from my fields of operation, he thought. Right before he charged on the square, he added, Brymir or Ivendir, I know what to do better than them all...

 CHAPTER 3.3. Necessary evil

    Ivendir watched the raindrops scurrying down the window. Roaring thunder illuminated his hunched silhouette. He stood with his arms crossed, and he wore his casual clothes¨Ca long beige shirt with linen, dark brown belt.


    As the calm, steady steps resounded in the hall, a rapid shiver ran through his spine. He raised his pointy ears and glanced behind. Seeing how Thelrim crosses the doorway, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Was that necessary," asked the guard blankly. He rested his hand on his hip, sizing Ivendir up.


    Ivendir gazed at the floor. "Killing my people is the last thing I want to do," he admitted, turning his head towards Thelrim, "but we really needed this factory." He raised his sight for a moment. "Especially... the profit it generates."


    Thelrim reached his hand and said in an instructive tone, "This one factory won''t save us. We will need more and more."


    Ivendir blinked as the lightning flashed outside the window. "It should be enough for two or three months." He showed three fingers and turned towards Thelrim again. "Then we''ll see."


    Thelrim swept his gaze across the floor and unhurriedly raised his sight at Ivendir''s face. "I don''t want to judge you, Your Highness," he paused, watching the king''s reaction, "but I think this... pact... was a mistake."


    As Ivendir clenched his fist, his joints cracked. He bored his eyes into Thelrim and declared in a fierce tone, "I won''t let them feed on our world."


    Thelrim nodded with respect, seeing the audacious attitude of the king.


    Ivendir walked away from the window, knowing that his threats were idle. "At least not for too long."


    A LiqWatch on his wrist beeped and glowed blue. Ivendir caught a glimpse at it.


    Erilaz? Not now, he thought and tapped the discard icon. "Speaking of necessity..." he said, crossing the hall, "I think it was necessary."


    Thelrim nodded. He understood the king''s decision. The good of their planet was of greater value for him. Since he was a child, he strived to serve his world as best he could, even though his family constantly underestimated his efforts. Now, when Ivendir became king, he had a chance to prove himself at any cost.


    "I promised that Helvetto would prevail," Ivendir continued, clenching his fist, "and it will be more powerful than ever..."


    The sound of his own words comforted him a bit. He observed the previous riot with swift heartbeat and spasms in his stomach. He secretly hoped that this situation would be resolved bloodlessly but when the first gunshots resounded in the speakers of his LiqWatch, he panicked. The strike of dread was so forceful that his heart almost stopped.


    The thought of his next steps filled him with fright, but he couldn''t just throw away his last efforts.


    It''s for the good of us all, as well as this planet, he thought. He stopped under a wall in the corridor and said, "I think Erilaz wants to speak with me." He reached his hand towards the door. "You''re free to leave now."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "As you wish," responded Thelrim and headed towards the exit.


    Right before he left, he glanced at Ivendir. The king watched the rain, holding his hand near his mouth and waiting for Erilaz''s response. A blue light of his LiqWatch reflected in the window, illuminating the tiny drops of water.


    Thelrim walked out of the chamber, wondering how to process the new, unstable situation.


    Thelrim left the chamber and headed towards the exit a floor below. As he walked out at the small, outdoor square, a chilly wind blew at his face, and the smell of rain filled his nostrils. The square was surrounded by a wooden walkway and pillars carved from tree trunks propped the sloping canopy. The water splashed out of the roof gutters, while the thin blades of grass bent down as large raindrops fell from the gloomy, dark grey sky. The leaves of decorative bushes grew bigger and bigger, and their pale green buds gained more vivid colours.


    Only the Evergreen Tree under one of the walls didn''t change. It still grew at a snail''s pace, serving as a pillar for the canopy. The moss and lichens on it looked like flaked skin or soft green fur speckled with raindrops similar to round diamonds.


    Thelrim narrowed his eyebrows as he spotted the silhouette resting on the root of the Evergreen Tree.


    Hefri sat on the root, leaning on the trunk as if it were a backrest. Her long, emerald green dress waved as she swung her leg with boredom. She wore a rosy brown corset with darker plant ornaments and her wavy hair was tied up in a ponytail. A silver triskelion necklace proudly presented itself on her chest like it was the highest honour.


    "Your co-worker made a little mess," muttered Thelrim, passing her by.


    Hefri looked at him with aversion. "Maybe that''s because he didn''t receive any clear info? He didn''t know any context of that situation." She relaxed her face and averted her sight. "And overall, he''s Vardir." Her expression changed to dismissive. "There''s one person who''s responsible for giving him orders," she said in an instructive tone.


    Thelrim raised his eyebrow. "Did he..."


    "No disrespect," interfered Hefri in a fully disrespectful voice, "but that was a pretty half-baked action."


    Thelrim took a step back. He raised his hands and closed his eyes. "Who am I to argue with mighty Vardir Hefri''s opinion..."


    A little smile flashed on Hefri''s mouth. "I get it." She sighed deeply. "It''s been over two years, and you still can''t deal with being rejected..."


    "It''s not about success or rejection," reproached Thelrim, resting his hands on his hips. "King Brymir was unfair."


    Hefri fell silent. She only raised a corner of her mouth. "Unfair?" She looked at him in disbelief. "You were too clumsy during the final exam." Before Thelrim responded, she closed her eyes and shrugged. "You lost, I won, the king chose me, the story is over."


    Thelrim frowned subtly, and a flare of wrath flashed in his eyes. Hefri was right. He never recovered from this failure. When the results of the final exam saw the light of day, his family turned their back on him once and for all. He became worthless in their eyes.


    Hefri was always one step behind him but somehow she managed to win the Vardir Commander position. Thelrim couldn''t get over his weakness, so he tried to find a theory that would explain his lapse. He appealed against that result or sought evidence of Hefri''s dishonesty but all his efforts were in vain.


    "You were cheating," he muttered through clenched teeth, "I know you added something to my drink."


    Hefri stretched with her hands behind her head and leant on the tree. "I didn''t need to do that. You were weak enough without any magic powders."


    Thelrim snorted with a gloomy smile. Gazing away, he said dreamily, "I wish we could do it again... under more fair terms."


    "I see," began Hefri but a blast of thunder interrupted her. "I see no objection." She looked at him with sympathy. "But this still won''t make you the new Vardir Commander. This place is taken." She raised her eyebrow. "By me."


    "It''s only about making things right between us."


    "Cool." Hefri followed him with her eyes as he strolled away. She raised her wrist to her mouth as if she was talking to a LiqWatch. "We''ll be in touch."

 CHAPTER 3.4. A symbol of authority

    Erilaz marched along the castle corridors like a battering ram. Water dripped down his clothes and he left wet spots with every step. Soaked strands of his hair stuck to his face and his ponytail dangled behind him like a worn-out mop. The castle visitors and residents usually greeted him kindly but this time they only nodded and got out of his way. Everyone noticed his frustration.


    He approached the Ivendir''s chamber and tapped the display board next to the door as if he wanted to stab it to death with his finger. He stood there for a few seconds, clenching his fists.


    The door opened.


    "Erilaz?" Ivendir raised his eyebrow, standing in the doorway.


    Erilaz encroached inside. He waited for the door to slide shut and said, "I killed an innocent person." He pointed at Ivendir. "Because of you, Iv..." He exhaled deeply, calming his voice down. "Your Highness." He spread his arms. "I wasn''t prepared for this action..." He clenched his fists again and added, "I''m Vardir, not a peacekeeper."


    He tamed his nerves with a few slow breaths. Relaxing his hand, he asked in stride, "What was that about?"


    "I couldn''t prepare myself either," explained Ivendir in a gentle voice. "The call was sudden and the crowd was angry."


    Erilaz raised his ears and tilted his head slightly. "Why me? Didn''t you have enough forces responsible for it?"


    "You''re Vardir. Your voice is important."


    Erilaz narrowed his eyes with resignation. A strand of wet hair dangled in front of his face. "Is it still that important after killing that man?" He stood face to face with Ivendir, towering over the king. "I should know some background of it. What are their requests? Who were they talking with? Anything."


    "Didn''t the militia commander tell you?" interrupted Ivendir.


    "He tried," began Erilaz, wringing his hair, "but you rushed him like he was too stupid to tell me that personally." Drops of water from his hair dripped on the floor.


    "He''s not unerring," the king cut off. He raised his finger half-heartedly. "I decided that this action needs to be quick."


    Erilaz shook his head with a disappointed expression. "He''s the militia commander."


    "And I am the king."


    Erilaz sighed. He had no energy to argue, and he didn''t want to add fuel to the fire but according to him, Ivendir''s decision wasn''t exactly correct. In the end, getting conflicted with the new king wouldn''t help anyone so he decided to get a grip and stay silent.


    Ivendir lowered his head and closed his eyes. He brushed his fingers through his hair. "I''m sorry for that," he breathed.


    Erilaz hesitantly raised the corners of his mouth.


    "No, really." Ivendir reached his hand towards Erilaz. "I rushed this action a bit too much." He put his hands up in a defensive gesture. "Next time I will keep you away from the centre of events. You will be my... symbol of authority."


    Vardir lowered his eyebrow questioningly.


    Ivendir spread his arms. "Just stand still and look down at them."


    "And how about that man I killed?" asked Erilaz, glancing at the floor. "And the other victims?"


    "I plan to help their families, pay compensation..." Ivendir narrowed his eyes. "But we can''t just say sorry."You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    He didn''t have time to rethink the long term consequences. Compensation won''t silence the people forever. Some of them may start dwelling on the subject, and severe accusation won''t help him rule Helvetto in peace. He had had to stop the bloodshed before it gathered steam. He wanted to make Helvetto prosper, not suffer.


    He continued in a quieter voice, propping his chin in reflection, "We have to make it look like that was a necessary evil."


    Erilaz bit his lower lip in confusion and nodded with hesitation.


    Ivendir muttered, looking down, "They attacked us... we accidentally killed some of them... and then they will find something else to talk about."


    Erilaz''s expression became more gloomy. He averted his gaze. "And... that''s all?" he asked. Realising that getting angry won''t help him solve the problem, he relaxed his fingers. "But... yeah. We can''t risk a world-wide riot."


    ...Since I''m on thin ice too, he added in his mind.


    "That would ruin the reputation of us both." He shrugged and shook his head.


    Ivendir took a step towards Erilaz and raised a corner of his mouth. "I''m glad we understand each other." The king''s eyes beamed with mildness and understanding. "The procedure allows shooting if the enemy has a weapon." He reached his hand towards Erilaz. "Even if the weapon is fake but it looks realistic."


    He tried to put his hand on Erilaz''s shoulder but Vardir leant sideways, dodging his touch.


    Erilaz gently lowered his eyebrows. "Should that just silence my remorse?"


    Ivendir swung his hand. "It''s better to live with regret than... not to live at all."


    Another thunder blasted outside. Ivendir drooped his shoulders and sighed. He forgave Erilaz this temperamental behaviour. After all, Vardir lost his father. He had a right to throw a tantrum.


    "I miss him too," said Ivendir, avoiding looking into Erilaz''s eyes, "but I can''t express my emotions freely. I''m a public figure."


    Erilaz tightened his lips. He and Ivendir have never been best friends. Their relationship was cold but also civil and peaceful. He didn''t want to hold a grudge against Ivendir, but it was too early to forgive and forget such a stupid order. Erilaz''s trust was strained, and it needed time to regenerate and recover.


    "That''s all," said Ivendir.


    "Sure," responded Erilaz and headed towards the door.


    Ivendir watched how the door slid shut behind Erilaz. He exhaled with effort and turned around. He envied Erilaz''s freedom. As the new king, he had to present himself as a strong, unbreakable leader but the inner pain manifested itself secretly. Sudden surges of fear, dry throat and searing in the stomach reminded him of this tragedy all the time.


    I guess I can be honest with him. He will understand, thought Ivendir.


    Erilaz entered the square with a garden. The raindrops still struck the grass and leaves but lightning flashed far away with faint light. Erilaz walked under the canopy at a brisk pace like a beast of prey creeping towards its next dinner. He didn''t feel victorious at all. He gazed vacantly at the wooden floor below, focusing his hearing on the swoosh of the rain. At least the pleasant smell of the wet ground soothed his rough emotions.


    Hefri lounged around on the tree root on the opposite side of the square. Despite Erilaz''s quiet steps and the rustle of leaves, she heard him and turned her head. She rose to a sitting position and looked at him feistily.


    She asked, "Did you give him an earful?"


    Erilaz pretended to ignore that and continued to sneak behind the pillars.


    Hefri dragged herself on the ground and crossed her arms. "Erilaz?" she called louder.


    "What?" he responded without letting the floor out of his sight. After a moment he rapidly raised his head and looked at her. "Oh, yeah, I did."


    He sighed and lowered his eyes again. Talking with anyone was the last thing he needed. The events from the past week drained his energy. Even though he received the best training on Helvetto and he took supplements to toughen his body, his mind demanded at least a few short hours of rest.


    "Remember when we were young, and I wanted to be a leader who rules with negotiation, not terror?" he said carelessly as if he were talking to nobody.


    Hefri tilted her head. "What do you mean?"


    He turned his head towards her. "Exactly what you heard."


    Feeble beams of the sun pierced through a little hole in the dark clouds and the raindrops became slimmer. Dim, golden light shrouded half of Erilaz''s face and his soaked hair glittered.


    "I don''t want to rule with terror," he added. "Sorry. I''m busy. And tired." He yawned, covering his mouth with a trembling hand and headed towards the door on the opposite side.


    "Sure," said Hefri and smiled without even a flicker of joy.


    She did her best not to be angry at him but his grief was giving everyone a hard time. Trying to understand her friend, she thought about her parents. She left them when she was six because she qualified for the first preliminaries in the Royal Academy. The best students got high stipends, and Hefri''s family was desperate for money. After an accident, her father couldn''t earn a living and this responsibility rested with her. She had to hunt in the northern forests, and she enjoyed it but her father''s health always worried her.


    He really needs to get it together. Quickly, she thought. Their duties didn''t care about feelings, they had to be fulfilled no matter what and she understood that.

 CHAPTER 4.1. Luck or lie?

    Two weeks later Hefri came for a meeting with Thelrim. She was waiting for him in an empty, vast chamber. The lower part of the sand-brown walls was covered in a brown rubber and soft panelling lied on the floor. The glow lamps cast pale light on Hefri, making her black braid shine and glisten. She wore a blue training tunic and loose pants, but she didn''t wash off her daytime makeup. Navy blue shadow made her sapphire eyes appear larger and more fierce and purple lipstick sparkled on her narrow lips.


    Should I even dig up the past? thought Hefri, tightening her fingers on her arm. Our skills were the same, I was just lucky. She glanced behind, hearing dull steps in behind the door.


    Luck is tricky. She paused as the door opened. Does luck even exist?


    Thelrim entered the chamber. Hefri turned her head, smiling confidently.


    "At least you kept your word."


    Thelrim ignored her comment. He marched on and stopped when he was face to face with her, avoiding looking into her eyes. Sending her an inattentive glance, he took two grey gloves out of the pocket of his training tunic.


    "Just be fair this time," he muttered.


    "Or just be more skilled," responded Hefri, swinging her hand scornfully.


    Thelrim didn''t react. He put on the first glove at leisure.


    "You didn''t change much," she continued, standing with her arms crossed. "You''re still the same jealous kid."


    "I had good reasons," Thelrim grunted under his breath. He tightened and straightened his fingers, checking if the glove fits him well. Fighting the surging annoyance, he exhaled through his nose. The slight irritation turned into a long-buried wrath within an instant.


    "You and Erilaz were already the chosen ones," he spat out, clenching the second glove. "Brymir wanted you to be the Vardir Commanders from the very beginning. Andvari had to prove his skills but you all accepted him quickly." He narrowed his eyes. "And I? I was born in a noble house," he said with an emphasis on his origin, "but I had to struggle my whole life. I went far enough to be a candidate for a Vardir Commander."


    "Exactly," interrupted Hefri with a spark of triumph in her eyes. "Just a candidate."


    Pulling a glove on, Thelrim added, "Do I need to mention that the only individuals with a basic respect for me were King Ivendir and Imolvi? Andvari''s father?"


    Hearing his words, Hefri rested her hands on her hips and stood astride. A sudden disgust showed up on her face. "I don''t like when someone talks about this traitor who tried to kill the king."


    Thelrim turned his head and smirked. He pinched the soft spot of almost every Helvetto citizen, especially Vardir. That little victory was enough for a good start. Thelrim saved his strength for later.


    He spread his arms in a powerless gesture. "Death found him anyways."


    "We didn''t come here to talk," muttered Hefri through clenched teeth.


    She began to trot towards him. A sting of spite nudged her stomach. She sped up, getting closer and closer to Thelrim with every second.


    Thelrim charged towards her. He lifted his fist, getting ready to throw a punch. Their hands met with a loud clap. She blocked his strike, growling under her breath. Thelrim pushed against her with all his might, knocking his opponent off her feet. Hefri collapsed on her back.


    "Huh," she muttered and rolled over when Thelrim jumped to press her with his shoe.


    Despite the dull hum in her head, Hefri swung her leg. Thelrim avoided her kick and sprung forward, reaching his hand towards her. Hefri stood up shakily. The soft floor absorbed her momentum but her shoulders still pulsed with pain. After hitting the ground, her mind worked with a second of delay. That was enough for Thelrim. He gripped her neck and punched again. She blocked the punch, snarling with a guttural, choking voice. Thelrim tightened his grasp and wrenched his other hand, trying to break loose.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The lack of air slowed down Hefri''s reflex even more. Her heart pounded as if it wanted to shatter her ribs. The lamps on the ceiling began to multiply, fade or darken. It took her five seconds to devise a plan.


    She slid a part of his sleeve from Thelrim''s forearm and dug her blue, shiny nails into his hand. He hissed furiously, tensing his fingers. Hefri ran her fingers through his hand, clawing four long wounds.


    Thelrim pushed her away as the twinge and burning sensation overwhelmed his forearm. Red stains on his sleeve grew larger with every second. A little spark of fear pinched his heart. Hefri managed to hurt him, only slightly for now, but she was capable of doing more harm. He halted and pushed off from the floor. Ignoring the itching, sore wounds, he darted ahead.


    Hefri staggered, trying to keep her balance. She sprinted towards Thelrim in a bent position. A few steps away from him, she twisted her body to gather momentum and hammered her elbow into his stomach.


    Thelrim gasped. He punched Hefri''s head but his move was too weak to hurt her severely. The pain paralysed his body for a moment. He couldn''t take a breath, feeling a burning cramp in his chest. Clutching his fingers on his stomach, he blindly rushed at Hefri.


    The punch dazed Hefri for a second. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Her lower lip pulsated with stinging pain. She coughed, and the red saliva dripped down her lips. She tensed all her muscles and struck a blow. Thelrim blocked her fist. He bent down and grabbed her leg, leaving bloody fingerprints on her pants. With tremendous pain in his whole torso, he moved like he was on autopilot. The lack of air made the dark dots and smudges flicker in front of his bloodshot eyes. Mobilising every aching muscle in his body, he yanked Hefri''s leg.


    At one moment the ground disappeared underneath Hefri''s shoes. Thelrim sent her in the air as if she was a rag doll. Her braid bounced similarly to a startled snake. Hefri only bent her hands backwards before she hit the floor. The feeling of breaking bones ran from her palms to her neck like an electric shock. Hefri hissed through clenched teeth. She relaxed slightly as the pain ceased, leaving only a pulsating, squishing feeling.


    The shadow of jumping Thelrim sobered her up. She pressed the ground with her hands. Her bones weren''t shattered. The impact only created this illusion, so Hefri gathered the impetus and tossed her knees towards her head, doing a backflip on the floor. Thelrim''s fist pounded into the ground. Hefri rolled a few meters away before Thelrim stood up.


    Hefri stopped and rose to her knees. She glanced at her opponent. "Fuck your tricks..." she hissed.


    She darted forward. Thelrim bent to knock her down like a battering ram. When they approached at a distance of a few steps, Hefri bowed down even lower and clenched her fingers on Thelrim''s arms. Taking quick, long steps, he pushed her but she kept her balance.


    Hefri took a rapid, deep breath and closed her eyes. The time seemed to slow down for her. That was her last chance. Thelrim''s strength improved since the last time they met in combat. Hefri pushed her feet into the ground, trying to resist, but her muscles reached their limit.


    She pounded Thelrim with her head. Covering his forehead, he staggered and hissed. Hefri landed on the ground in a crouching position and swung her leg. She swept him off his feet with a spinning kick.


    The view of the walls and lights flashed before Thelrim''s eyes. At one moment he found himself in the air and a split second later, he crashed on the floor. Even the soft panels didn''t help him much. Dull pain convulsed the whole right side of his body. He felt as if hundreds of hydrogen bombs exploded inside his skull. Blue, green and purple shapes could be glimpsed in the darkness even when he slightly raised his eyelids.


    Panting quietly, Hefri stood over him with her arms drooped. Runny, reddish slime streamed down her mouth.


    "Just to... be sure I won," she mumbled.


    She raised her leg and nudged Thelrim. He limply rolled on his back. Hefri coughed, spitting drops of bloody saliva. She wiped her lips, leaving shiny mucus on her sleeve.


    "Three... two..." she counted, taking deep breaths. Only when the adrenaline subsided and her muscles relaxed, she realised how strongly she hit her head. Pulsating buzzing in her mind sounded like a swarm of robotic wasps. Colourful dots flickered in her visual field with every movement of her eyeballs.


    "One..."


    She coughed once again. "My first victory... that may be just luck." She inhaled slowly, trying to calm down her still frantic heart. "But I can''t be lucky all the time... sometimes... it''s just skills."


    She turned around and added, "So don''t act like a rich kid who deserves everything."


    Taking slow steps, she walked away. The phantom shapes she saw became less and less clear. Before she reached the door, they had disappeared almost completely. Only her neck ached with every move, but her improved organs will deal with it soon too. The satisfaction that burst in her was soothing the last remains of pain. Strength and cleverness led her to victory. She proved herself that luck is just a mere trifle.


    Andvari taught me well, she thought with a tiny smile on her bloodstained lips.

 CHAPTER 4.2. Sealing the fate

    At the same time, Bjarni Arnorsson and Captain Ermdahr drank bottle after bottle, sitting on the top of a hill and talking about more or less important subjects. The sun was hiding behind the distant mountains, casting the last, timid beams on them. The grass and bushes stood completely still, illuminated by the golden light.


    "Weird how the whole factory case went silent so quickly," said Arnorsson. He sat with his legs curled up, resting his hands on his knees. His fingerless gloves, boots and leather jacket gave him a careless appearance even though this set costed way more than the monthly income of an average citizen. He lifted a purple opalescent bottle and poured its content down his throat.


    Ermdahr focused on birds crossing the sky in a V-shaped flock. His short, sandy hair was tied up in a pigtail, which made him look younger by half, and his green, simple shirt brought him closer to a peasant. Blending into the crowd was exactly his intention. Boring and detailed conversations with other officials would thwart his plans for an unproductive evening.


    "Are you still up to this?" he asked, vacantly gazing at the hills in front of him.


    Arnorsson lowered his eyes. "Someone has to set things right."


    "Aren''t you afraid?" Ermdahr grabbed a bottle.


    "Afraid of what?"


    After taking a few vast gulps, Ermdahr said, "I don''t know." He paused to swallow the burp welling up in his throat. "Death... maybe?"


    Arnorsson snorted and twisted his mouth. Standing face to face with death was his job. Most importantly, he put the good of Helvetto as the top priority. "Die or live under these commands." He rolled his faded eyes. "Plenty of choice..."


    Ermdahr lifted his bottle and shook it. Only a few droplets dripped down the glass. "Shouldn''t we find a more powerful ally?"


    Arnorsson stared at him with his eyebrows raised. "You''re the Vardir''s Captain, only the Commanders themselves are more powerful than you." He took a few sips, disregarding the Captain''s remark.


    Ermdahr tried to smile cunningly but his sloshed expression resembled a sinister cartoon villain. "Exactly."


    Understanding the Captain''s words took Arnorsson a few seconds. When he realised what he heard, he snorted violently, spitting out purple liquid through his nose. The alcohol left a few wet stains on his shirt. Clearing his throat, he wiped his mouth with his fist. "Don''t go crazy!" He knocked his forehead. "None of them will agree!"


    "I have..." whispered Ermdahr but Arnorsson pointed at him.


    "They possibly may disagree with him but they''ll ne...ver do what we plan." He pierced Ermdahr with a comically sinister stare. "They''re Vardir. They pledged jol... loyalty."The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "I can try," said Ermdahr, spreading his arms carelessly. "I even know who will... who... who I will choose."


    Arnorsson exhaled. He had no chance to win an argument with his drunk companion. Accepting his failure, he said, "Then just... let me know."


    "Erilaz is out insant...in...stant...ly," began Ermdahr. He prised the cork off. It rocketed up with a popping sound, and the beer inside hissed like a furious snake. He leant towards Arnorsson, covering his mouth with his arm. "I know I shouldn''t say this. He''s my commander but... He may hesis...he...si...tate to make another dramatic decision."


    "Yeah. He''s not ready," Arnorsson tried to cut this discussion off.


    "And Hefri?" Ermdahr glanced towards a hill with the castle on top. "She''s pretty hard to control. She has do... to do it willingly." He looked questioningly at Arnorsson. "And how can we be certain of her intent?"


    Before Arnorsson gathered his thoughts, Ermdahr had raised his finger and continued, "I have one candidate." Ermdahr stared at the sky, smiling slightly. "He killed one traitor before, he may be able to do it again..."


    "Andvari?" asked Arnorsson in a thin voice as if he was taken by surprise. Shaking his head, he added, "We all remember his honourable deeds but..."


    "A little effort," said Ermdahr and raised his eyebrow, "and all honour will be his once more."


    Arnorsson shrugged and shook his head again. He understood he was a bit too drunk to make a critical analysis of this subject. He felt how his head sways like a log on the sea. Arnorsson was sure that Ermdahr wasn''t in a good shape too and he just speaks whatever comes to his mind. Despite Ermdahr''s condition, something in his words resonated with Arnorsson.


    Arnorsson''s head, however, was too heavy to let him think. He leant on the rock behind him, complaining in his mind, Ermdahr, stop drinking... please.


    Two minutes after hitting the ground, Thelrim finally moved. He rested his hand on his forehead. He felt an unpleasant pressure and twisted his mouth. A large, purple-red bump expanded on his head.


    No, he thought, not again...


    With a heavy sigh he lifted his upper-body. Then he rose to his knees. He heaved one knee, leaning his hand on it. Wiping his damp forehead, he took a deep, trembling breath. The blood on his sleeve dried a bit, leaving reddish brown stains. A little stinging ran down his scratched forearm. The pain almost left his body, but he had bigger things to worry about than a big bump and four deep scars on his forearm.


    I can''t be weak... He stood up, still covering his forehead. His legs quivered slightly. Damn it, I can''t be weak!


    He forgot the itchy feeling on his hand and the throbbing pressure in the right side of his body. Anxiety dominated his mind first, then expanded to his whole organism. He clenched his teeth, realising his failure.


    If I''m weak... He glanced at a few little drops of blood on the floor, I can''t protect Helvetto...and the king.


    A vivid memory flickered in his mind. He failed an important person before and the fear of the next failure clutched his heart. Andvari''s father, Imolvi Aldenarsson, sometimes appreciated Thelrim for his successes, especially when Andvari failed. Thelrim was the last one to believe in Imolvi''s treason. Imolvi always emanated with the aura of a clever and helpful neighbour. After some time Thelrim understood Andvari''s decision to kill his father but he was sure he could have found another solution. He decided he didn''t want to have anything to do with Andvari''s family ever since.


    If I couldn''t protect Imolvi, he said to himself, marching towards the exit, I may not be able to protect my world...

 CHAPTER 4.3. Just a legend?

    Ivendir sat on the armchair, staring sleepily at the LiqWatch on the table. He wanted to go to sleep earlier today, but the feeling of approaching danger didn''t let him get a wink of sleep. Thelrim informed him about a meeting with an old friend, but he didn''t give any specific hour of return. That made Ivendir uneasy. His enemies could use this time to creep into his chamber. Two conflicting thoughts loomed over him: the loneliness, because his best guard was at the meeting, and the feeling of being observed even though the dark blue curtains covered the window.


    He shook his head and rested his cheek on his hand. He told himself that he exaggerated the danger. It was just a useless feeling, mere remains of his old accidents, a primal, animalistic instinct. Almost all Celestian children fear the darkness but almost none of them get devoured by some beast with ten eyes and razor-sharp teeth. Irrational or not, the fear still remained in him.


    A loud beep made him narrow his eyes and clench his teeth.


    "Huh?" he muttered, slowly moving his ears up and down to get rid of the dull buzzing. He tapped the acceptance icon on the LiqWatch.


    "I''m back, Your Highness," said Thelrim.


    Ivendir exhaled slowly and the tension left his muscles. He scolded himself for bringing up the unsettling memories again. Everything was in order, but he couldn''t prevent himself from imagining scary and dangerous, but also ridiculous scenarios. Somehow, a band of assassins didn''t charge into his room, his pillow didn''t explode and his castle wasn''t struck from the air.


    "Understood," he said and turned the device off.


    He headed towards his bed when a little thought appeared in his mind. What if...


    Ivendir narrowed his eyebrows and sighed with annoyance. He approached the window. Slightly drawing the curtain aside, he peeked through the window. The dark silhouettes of hills and mountains shaded the red horizon. Cities in the valleys brightened the slopes with a golden glow. Only a few birds flew over the castle, seeking shelter in the roof gardens.


    Everything is safe, thought Ivendir.


    He walked away and crouched next to his bed. He slipped his hand under the mattress. Lifting the pillow, he added, Everything in the right place.


    A feeble smile appeared on his lips. He stood up, giving the room one more glance, and lied on the bed. Soft, blue sheets wrinkled under his body and his maroon hair surrounded his head like a short veil.


    I guess I''m safe too... he told himself, gazing at the ceiling and listening to his own heartbeat.


    In the late morning one of the market squares was less crowded. The majority of citizens went to work and only a few Celestians stood in queues to the market stands. The smell of fresh baked bread and grilled meat mixed with soft scents of fruits and flowers scented the air. Two and three story tall tenement houses surrounded the square and a wide, thick tree in the corner cast shadow on two Celestians sitting on a bench in civilian clothes.


    "It''s pretty quiet, don''t you think?" asked Andvari as if he was talking to himself. He spun the leaf in his fingers, watching how the sky reflects in the drops of dew. The Evergreen Trees rarely lose their leaves, so Andvari played eagerly with his finding, paying attention to all its details.


    Erilaz stretched on the bench, placing his hands behind his head. He looked up at the blue sky covered with the tree branches. The chilly air filled with pleasant smells let him breathe deeply and relax his body. His grief seemed to die down and he was better able to concentration due to all of the sleep he¡¯d gotten. The dark circles under his eyes disappeared completely, and his hair shone like golden silk.


    He glanced at Andvari inquiringly. "Is that a bad thing?"


    "No, it''s good to be free from all those responsibilities," responded Andvari and stopped spinning the leaf, "it just feels... weird."


    Erilaz sighed. "Don''t get paranoid. Enjoy this peace before Ivendir comes up with something new."


    Andvari only twisted the corner of his mouth. The stressful time ended but his vigilance and unrest remained. Every Vardir was taught to remain alert and being in a state of absolute relaxation was considered reckless.


    He rested his cheek on his fist. "Hm," he mumbled and examined the leaf from the leafstalk to the tip, "look at this perfection. The Evergreen Tree." He raised the leaf on the line of sight. "As the name says, it never loses its leaves. And it can grow on bare rock or even on ice sheet." He turned the leaf to the other side. "The symbol we bear, the roots on the ice crystal... our ancestors had a brilliant idea with that. See, it''s big, old, almost immortal..."


    "Andvari," said Erilaz, trying to get his attention.


    "...just like Helvetto."


    "Andvari!" called Erilaz once again.


    Andvari glanced behind the leaf. Bjarni Arnorsson stood a few steps away, resting his hand on his hip. He wore a graphite knee-length coat and his favourite dark blue fingerless gloves. His purple mohawk was outspread like an old brush and his eyes expressed an extreme grudge and annoyance.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Morning, Commander Bjarni!" called Andvari and dropped the leaf.


    "I''m glad you didn''t say Good Morning, Vardir," muttered Arnorsson, clambering on a thick root of the tree.


    Andvari raised his eyebrow and his silver, spiky piercings flickered. "Is that a bad morning?"


    "What happened," asked Erilaz with a curious but troubled expression.


    Arnorsson settled back on the root and began, "I went outside the castle to buy some liquor. That good one, from Voryva." He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Because the attendants have no damn clue about good drinks." He showed two fingers. "Then I was coming back and on my way I saw two guys fighting. That''s not very common in the workday mornings. Anyways, they were yelling at each other, then they started throwing things." He stuck out his chest and proudly pointed at himself. "So I, the law keeper and a good example for the citizens, approached them and said..."


    Spreading his coat, he exposed a large wet stain on his shirt and snarled, "or, more like, tried to say, because one of those scums threw an empty bottle at me!" Clenching his fists, he added in a heartbroken manner, "And smashed my last bottle of Basilisk Tears!"


    "Criminals..." hissed Andvari, while Erilaz only looked at his companion with an unimpressed expression.


    "And it gets worse," continued Arnorsson, raising his hand. "Do you know why they fought?"


    Erilaz pursed his lips in deep thought and Andvari muttered, "They..."


    "The first one accused the second one of a swindle, and the second one said it''s not his fault," chattered Arnorsson, "because he had no idea that taxes increased this night."


    "How much?" asked Andvari.


    Arnorsson leant towards him, speaking quietly, "Enough to make a mess in the banking system."


    After long moments of silence, Erilaz spoke up, "We all had enough money for everything, and the world prospered. Schools, hospitals..." He shook his head. "I don''t get it."


    For the last few minutes, he was carefully rethinking Arnorsson''s words. The king''s move seemed illogical to him but he explained to himself that Ivendir may plan a big, secret investment that will help Helvetto and its citizens. Sometimes even Vardir weren''t allowed to know about the most secret plans.


    Arnorsson lowered his gaze. His voice became suspicious. "I get the feeling that it''s just the beginning of... something."


    Andvari leant towards him, tensing his hands and gripping the edge of the seat. "A big revolution? A civil war? Or even..."


    "Nah, I guess he''s just greedy," mumbled Arnorsson, waving his hand carelessly. "...like a golden fork or a sapphire cup weren''t enough."


    Andvari lowered his eyebrows, glancing at Erilaz. "He was always so nice and big-hearted in front of King Brymir."


    "And he always said how he''s going to bring justice and well-being..." added Erilaz half-heartedly.


    "Hm..." Arnorsson glanced down with a poorly hidden smile. "I wish we had someone else to guide us," he recited in a whisper.


    Erilaz and Andvari looked at him with unwillingness as if they just heard a cheesy, unfunny joke.


    Arnorsson reached his hand. "No, no, it''s not what you think. I meant some kind of leader in a more..." He narrowed his eyebrows and lowered his voice again, "... spiritual or philosophical way."


    He wiped his forehead and closed his eyes. "Sorry, I''m tired. I had a... hard night," he explained, recalling his last discussion with Captain Ermdahr.


    Erilaz looked at him, a bit worried by his weariness. "Commander Bjarni, if something is going on, tell us."


    "No." Arnorsson leered at Vardir as if he heard a biting remark. "Or at least, not here."


    "Where?" Andvari demanded an explanation. "We need to know if we should be cautious."


    Arnorsson sighed and looked away. "That sounded worse than it should..." He leant towards the two Celestians and said in a low voice, "I recently deepened my knowledge about this famous conqueror."


    Andvari winced. "What?"


    "Which one?" asked Erilaz and a twinkle of unstoppable curiosity flickered in his eyes.


    "The Chromed Emperor," responded Arnorsson, trying to hide excitation with all his might.


    Closing his eyes with fatigue, Andvari moaned, "But he''s on the other side of inhabited space..." At that moment a cold shudder of concern ran down his spine. He opened his eyes. "Is he dangerous to us?"


    His words provoked new thoughts in Erilaz''s mind. Inhabited space measured over one thousand lightyears and travelling across it took over three months. Not many individuals ventured further. The only things awaiting them were cold, empty space and dangerous radiation. Erilaz wondered why Arnorsson mentioned The Chromed Emperor since Helvetto and his tiny Empire had nothing to do with each other. Erilaz knew the Empire existed but he, just like other Helvettians, didn''t care about it. He kept listening anyways.


    "I don''t think so,"responded Arnorsson. "But look at his leadership. He managed to unite a dozen different worlds, and we''ve known him for only seven years."


    Andvari helplessly spread his arms. "That''s interesting, but what should we do about it?"


    "Study and learn." Arnorsson narrowed his blue eyes. "Others may sense our slip up." He lowered his voice. "I''m not trying to panic, I just want to be careful."


    Erilaz reached his hand and spoke up again, "If we have, or are going to have a problem, we should be prepared."


    "Oh, come on..." Arnorsson drew his coat aside and patted the gun on his belt. "Don''t take that too seriously. Protecting everyone is my job, and I may get overprotective." He giggled quietly, covering himself with his coat again.


    "We''re Vardir," said Erilaz in a soft voice, scratching his chin, "if something goes wrong we should know it first."


    "His greed." Arnorsson clapped his knee. "That''s what¡¯s going wrong right now." He flipped his leg through the root and stood up. "Take care," he added with a slight, comforting smile and walked away.


    Erilaz sat in silence, pressing his fist to his lips. Andvari leant on the backrest and rested his hands on his stomach. Late mornings were his favourite time of the day. The streets weren''t crowded anymore, but the market booths still sold some delicious and aromatic products. He slowly inhaled through his nose, relishing the smell of cookies with fruits of the forest. Andvari planned to buy them later, but he was in no hurry since only two Celestians waited in the queue.


    He agreed with Erilaz. He should enjoy the peace. Erilaz''s hunched, focused posture suddenly caught his attention.


    "What?" asked Andvari, glancing at his friend.


    "The Chromed Emperor," muttered Erilaz, glancing at the ground in concentration. "I heard about him." He raised the corner of his mouth a bit. "But I need to know more."


    The tiny smile quickly disappeared from his mouth. His instincts spoke up again. The thought of Moryans, the mysterious Emperor or hordes of savages gave him a cold shiver. He fought his first serious battle just a dozen days ago and he was already sick of war and violence.


    Erilaz narrowed his eyebrows and exhaled carefully, focusing on every muscle in his chest. He didn''t want to recall these memories.


    "Since that may save our world one day..." He stretched on the backrest, laying his head on his hands and observing the sky. "...from Moryans or anyone else."

 CHAPTER 5.1. Coincidence and greed

    Hefri spent this evening alone in her chamber. She set the table with a purple tablecloth and a LiqBoard laid in front of her. Its blue screen was the only source of light, casting a sharp glow on Hefri''s face and her long lavender nightdress. A green line on the screen quickly filled the loading bar but for Hefri it seemed like time slowed down. The spark of bliss glimmered in her eyes and joy grew inside her because of the happy occasion.


    The bar on the screen disappeared and a portrait of a midlife woman showed up. A blurred fireplace in the background cast warm, orange light on her green dress and long, pale beige hair. Gentle green eyes looked at Hefri from under a thin fringe.


    This view sent a shiver of euphoria through Hefri''s body. The corners of her lips raised, releasing a warm, honest smile.


    "Hefri, great to hear from you!" called the woman, waving her hand.


    "Hello, mum," said Hefri, restraining the rapid surge of happiness. "Sorry for these months of silence." She clenched and relaxed her fists. "Is everything all right? Is dad ok?"


    Hefri''s mum, Ithrunn Ulgrehildottir, grabbed her knees and leant towards the screen. "Better than ok!" she answered, smiling warmly. "Because of your bonus, I was able to hire staff." She stood straight and counted on her fingers, "A caretaker, a physiotherapist... it was enough even for a cook!"


    She sighed and lowered her head. The high-spirited spark disappeared from her eyes as she averted her eyes. "I just... don''t like the way we earned it."


    Hefri twisted the corner of her mouth in a disenchanted expression and said forcibly, "This is my job. Being at war is my job." She glanced down and continued in a calmer voice, "All three of us were aware of the danger when I was leaving home." Without waiting for her mother''s response, she changed the subject and her look became sweet-tempered again. "Better tell me if dad''s disease still progresses."


    "No, not anymore," said Ithrunn. The previous tension seemed to leave her body. "He got some stronger medicines." She grabbed her arm, burying her fingers in a soft, green sleeve of her dress. "Even if we worry about you, we know the new king takes good care for you."


    Hefri only nodded half-heartedly.


    "And of us too," added Ithrunn, gazing at the window with long, brown curtains.


    Hefri only stared at the corner of her room, avoiding her mother''s look. "Sure he does..."


    A couple of days later Andvari strolled down the streets outside the castle, glancing over the market stands. The streets were surrounded by a few stories tall tenement houses and only a couple of vehicles slowly weaved between the wide pavements. Many balconies were decorated with vibrant blooming flowers, long ivies or potted berries. The majority of market stands stood under the cloth halls and their advertising banners hung on the wooden pillars.


    As usual, Andvari chose the late morning for his stroll, so he didn''t need to slip away from groups of curious citizens.


    He took the last bite of pine cookie and wiped his sticky hand inside his pocket. His eyes fastened on a small banner in the shape of a cogwheel. He was looking for shops exactly like this one. He quickly headed towards it, forgetting about the sugar in the corner of his mouth.


    Approaching the booth, he swept the display cabinet with his eyes. Plenty of small items laid behind the glass: spools of colourful wires and cords, soldering pens, cogs of all sizes, 3D pens, tiny saws and other things that Andvari used for his robots.


    "Vardir Andvari?" called a raspy voice from deep inside the booth.


    Andvari raised his head. An Ifrit approached the counter and rested his hands on the counter. His hands had four fingers, and each of them was tipped with a short, triangular claw. His skin colour and structure resembled sun-cracked clay. Two sandy-brown horns decorated his reptile head and calm, yellow eyes with vertical pupils glanced from under calloused eyebrows.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Welcome, Vardir, what brings you here?"


    "Hello." Andvari nodded and took a scroll out of his pocket. He unrolled his LiqBoard and knocked its surface. The device turned on and the screen lit up. He tapped the screen a few times and turned it towards the Ifrit. "I''m looking for that piston. Do you have one?"


    The Ifrit scratched his chin. "Hmmm, I will check." He trotted deep into the booth, disappearing from Andvari''s sight.


    Neither of them noticed a hooded person, who observed them from a narrow aisle.


    A few minutes later Andvari walked away with his hands in his pockets. Even though the warm sunbeams and aromas of tasty snacks let his senses mellow out, he didn''t lose his vigilance. A nervous movement in a nearby aisle caught his attention. He still casually strolled the stone pavement but his eyes glanced towards the aisle from time to time.


    When he walked past the narrow lane, a hooded person called him in an exhausted voice, "Excuse me, Vardir."


    An elderly, bald Celestian in ragged clothes sat next to the wall. He grabbed his sleeve, uncovering thin, veined hand. "I lost my LiqWatch, so I can''t pay. Could you buy something for me?"


    Andvari stopped and turned towards him. Usually he wasn''t one of those who ignored simple request for help and whenever he could, he offered his assistance or a word of advice.


    "Sure, what do you need?"


    The stranger tucked himself with a grey robe and pointed at a blue booth. "Please check that booth and buy me the strongest drink."


    Andvari twisted his mouth and raised his eyebrow. That request caused an instant revulsion in him. He understood that the stranger may have a problem but he didn''t want to feed this addiction. "Are you sure you don''t want any food or drink? An alcohol-free one?"


    The Celestian giggled without amusement and snorted. "Come on." He helplessly swung his hand. "Since I lost my food bank subscription, my stomach gets drier every day."


    Andvari took a step back. As far as he knew, the different social service subscriptions were withdrawn for good reasons like committing a severe crime or trying to scam the system. He looked at the Celestian suspiciously. "Why did you lose it?"


    The stranger sighed. He folded his hands and covered his mouth. "I will tell you if you promise to believe me," he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.


    "I will." Andvari looked at him more friendly, hiding his distrust. "Feel free to tell me."


    The Celestian spread his arms and shook his head. After a few seconds in that position, he suddenly drooped his hands on the ground with a loud clap. "I don''t know."


    "How?" Andvari asked pretentiously. "Everyone gets information about it."


    The hooded man shrugged as if his whole life lost its meaning or if he was ready to accept what fate brings. "I went to the bank, wanted to take my supply, and they said my subscription is over. I checked it and it was just deactivated. My sister and my friend lost it too." He stretched his shaky legs and his joints cracked with a brash crunch. "So you see now, I have nothing else to do. Just drink until I die." Smacking his dry lips, he sighed like he was taking his final breath. "I guess it won''t take much time."


    Andvari opened his eyes wider and the corners of his lips drooped. He hardly ever saw people in that deep state of resignation and powerlessness so listening to the stranger''s words gave him mixed feelings. He wanted to offer his help but the stranger could be lying.


    "I will order something for you, something warm and..."


    "Don''t bother, Vardir..." The Celestian turned around in a hunched position and rested his head on his knees. "I know you have other things to do."


    Narrowing his eyebrows slightly, Andvari reached his hand. "I can help," he stated.


    "No," said the stranger, covering his head with his loose sleeves. "Help me forget it or leave me alone." He gave Andvari the last, freezing cold look and curled himself up again. "Go."


    Sighing crossly, Andvari stretched his neck and drooped his arms as a token of his defeat. He shook his head and marched away, dividing his anger between himself and the Celestian. He could have done more but he was afraid that his effort would be in vain. He couldn''t bring everyone to their senses. The stranger was right. Andvari had more important thinks to do than talking with someone who didn''t even try to listen.


    Even though he took the stranger''s words with a grain of salt, he couldn''t help himself from being suspicious of King Ivendir. He recalled this recent chat with Arnorsson. The Militia Commander witnessed a fight about the new taxes. Andvari wondered if this is somehow connected to the sudden cuts in food subscriptions.


    Is that a coincidence? Or... he spoke to himself, marching down the streets with his hands in his pockets. The king? Is it his doing? He shook his head with disbelief but something inside agreed with his previous thought. ...is he really that greedy?


    Checking his pocket over and over again as if he carried a handful of pure diamonds and gold, he headed towards the castle walls.

 CHAPTER 5.2. Theyre here... again

    Ivendir crossed the narrow emergency corridor between his residence and Thelrim''s chamber. He tried to take confident, brisk steps, but his knees were trembling slightly. His breaths sounded as if a giant brick were laying on his chest.


    He stopped in front of the door. The absence of his personal guard stirred two feelings in him. Thelrim''s lateness annoyed him, since his guard was always at his beck and call. This uncommon behaviour made Ivendir afraid too. He was aware of the danger that fell upon him when he became the king and no one in his presence could feel safe. The king was the main target, but his closest collaborators could get hurt too.


    The thought of betrayal didn''t even cross Ivendir''s mind. He trusted Thelrim with his life.


    He raised his quivering hand and raised his finger to the device on the wall. Tapping an icon on the screen, he called, "Thelrim? We have to go."


    Thelrim sat in front of the mirror, aggressively rubbing a creamy powder into his forehead. The bump he had has shrunk, but the purple spot remained. He stole a case with powder from one of the female attendants and used it to hide the mark of his failure. He also didn''t wear robes with loose sleeves because the scratch marks on his forearm were still wrapped in a bandage.


    Come on... he thought with irritation, smearing the powder on the purple circle.


    Since the fight with Hefri, he has struggled to avoid Ivendir''s sight, and he never has left his chamber without covering the bump and the scars. The profound fury at Hefri, and primarily at himself, tore his nerves and clutched his guts. His own weakness became his ultimate fear.


    His LiqWatch beeped. Thelrim sprung up on the chair, as the sudden noise snapped him out of his deep focus.


    He lifted the device closer to his mouth. "I need some time," he said. He narrowed his eyes, trying to cover the last visible part of the purple spot.


    "They don''t like to be kept waiting," Ivendir cautioned him.


    ...they? Thelrim''s pupils dilated. This thought sent a cold shiver down his spine. They''re here... again.


    "The meeting starts in a few minutes," continued Ivendir, "and I''m not going to meet with them by myself."


    Thelrim exhaled loudly and leant even closer to the mirror. The darkest part of the spot didn''t want to surrender under the new layer of powder.


    "You have an order," stated Ivendir and a bit of annoyance sounded in his voice.


    Thelrim ran a brush through his forehead for the last time and stared at the mirror. He ignored the king''s words, focusing solely on his appearance.


    "Is something wrong? Respond!"


    Thelrim relaxed his muscles and sighed quietly. His forehead looked normal again. He checked his sleeve. It was pulled up. He tugged it to its correct position and stood up. Only then he tapped his LiqWatch to open the door.


    Ivendir marched inside, his face even paler than usual.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Are you all right?" he barked as if he was giving an order.


    "I''m on my way," said Thelrim with inappropriate composure. He lifted his hand to wipe a fleck of powder from his eyelashes but at that moment his sleeve slipped down. He forgot to do up the button.


    Before Thelrim hid his bandaged forearm, Ivendir had tilted his head and asked, "What''s that?"


    Thelrim shrugged and buttoned his sleeve. "Nothing."


    "Who did this?" continued Ivendir without showing his concern. Looking closely, he noticed a subtle, light pink circle on Thelrim''s forehead.


    "I had an accident," responded Thelrim and headed towards the door.


    Ivendir twisted his mouth and glared at his guard.


    "Wait," he ordered, raising his hand.


    Thelrim stopped. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, he glanced at the king. Ivendir took a step towards him. He lowered his eyebrows and hissed in a quiet but harsh voice, "You are one of the best warriors on this planet. There are only three individuals that may be stronger than you. Who was it?"


    Glancing from left to right, Thelrim moved his mouth as if he was chewing his insincere words. "Hefri promised me some training. It was an accident."


    "Oh..." Ivendir lowered his sight. "Things like this happen." He looked upwards at Thelrim again. "Sorry for this unnecessary interrogation." He turned towards the door and nodded at his guard in an urgent gesture.


    They marched down the corridor. Ivendir walked first, listening intently to Thelrim''s steps. He wanted to be sure that the only trustworthy person zealously follows him.


    Bullshit, he thought. That''s not how our trainings work. If you got hurt, no one tries to hurt you even more. No one who follows the rules.


    Andvari spent the next week as usual. He trained with other Vardir, analysed some reports and perfected his machines.


    This evening he sat at the table, leaning over a dismembered robot. A stain of blue-green paint covered his nail. The soldering pen in his fingers stroke sparks and their yellow afterglow reflected in his goggles. He reached out and grabbed combination pliers.


    Immersing its tips into a tangle of thin wires and pistons, he muttered "Come on..." as if he was trying to lull a baby.


    He caught the tip of a yellowy cord. Lifting it up with surgical precision, he avoided other wires and put it next to a tiny box. As the cord touched the box, the energy between them buzzed like a trapped fly.


    "Shut up and work," hissed Andvari.


    Holding the combination pliers in one hand, he reached for the soldering pen. Its red-hot tip touched the wire and slid down.


    "Why aren''t you working?" barked Andvari, straightening his spine with a dry crack. "You''re important so please, do your job!"


    He sighed. This job wasn''t going well for him for quite some time. Whenever he sat down and took the large grey box with his gear, his fingers began to subtly tremble. While working on this robot, he frequently got distracted by every sound and movement. Everything, except this machine, seemed to be very interesting for him: a bird on the window sill, a spaceship in the sky, a single hair sticking out of his dreadlock.


    As his LiqWatch beeped, an impulse of rage ran through his nerves.


    "What... the..." he growled through his clenched teeth, his fingers tensing like an eagle''s talons.


    He exhaled rapidly and reached under the table. He took the LiqWatch out and tapped the screen without looking at it. Throwing the device on the couch, he stood up and marched into the corridor.


    As the door drew aside, Andvari halted.


    "Commander Andvari," said Ivendir, "good to see you."


    Andvari blinked a few times and looked at the king. "Your Highness? What brings you here?"


    Ivendir pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don''t have good news," he said so quietly that the echo in the hallway didn''t repeat his words.


    "What happened?" asked Andvari, scratching his chest and smearing a bit of paint.


    "You''re not gonna like it," stated Ivendir in a worried voice, leaning even closer towards Andvari, "but I need you to come with me."


    Andvari glanced at the king with bafflement on his face. Is that it? he asked himself.


    He and Ivendir were never friends who gather together to gossip and chat. They were just like co-workers in a giant company. Their relationship was neutral and peaceful, so the king''s sudden visit gave Andvari an odd feeling. Ivendir''s uneasy behaviour didn''t make things better.


    "Naturally," he said willingly.


    Ivendir swung his hand in a hurrying gesture. "Come on."


    He walked away at a brisk pace, and Andvari followed him.

 CHAPTER 5.3. Loyalty

    They descended to an underground corridor. The minute they spent inside an elevator seemed endless to Andvari. Pale white light and the smell of wet rock welcomed them as they left the elevator. A few armed guards leisurely strolled around, pretending to pay no attention to the visitors. They only nodded to greet the king and Vardir.


    Ivendir approached two guards. He whispered something to them, pointing towards the gates on a platform. They followed the king and Vardir. Andvari felt a gut-churning discomfort, but he didn''t show it. He just glanced stealthily at the king or the guards. Their dark uniforms and blank face shields made them look inanimate. Andvari couldn''t look in their eyes or decipher the emotions on their faces and he hated that feeling. Even though he strained his ears, he couldn''t understand their previous talk with Ivendir. Now, the only sounds were the hum of underground machinery, fast steps and heavy breaths of the masked guards.


    After crossing several hundred meters, they stopped next to the heavy gates. One of the guards trotted upstairs, the metal steps clanging under his boots. He touched the screen with his LiqWatch and the gates lifted up, hissing and scrunching. All four of them entered a carriage in a tunnel. The pod had no windows, and the air was soaked with a smell which resembled a mixture of rubber, grease and tarnished metal. The Celestians sat down and buckled up. The guard was showing his LiqWatch to Ivendir. The king pointed at something on the screen and they exchanged a discreet gesture. Andvari slightly narrowed his eyebrows. He despised this situation more and more.


    The carriage grumbled and rocketed along the tunnel.


    For the whole ten minutes Andvari tired to do anything to keep himself busy and avoid looking at the empty face shields of the two guards. He played with a button on his sleeve, picked hair sticking out of his deadlocks or bit a protruding nail.


    The pod stopped smoothly with a gentle whizz. The hatch opened, uncovering a claustrophobically narrow tunnel. A group of guards that stood near the entrance lifted their machine guns.


    "Rest," Ivendir said softly, and the guards lowered their weapons.


    The four Celestians left the carriage. A round, massive hatch opened, and the group passed through the tunnel.


    As Andvari entered the next corridor behind the even heavier gate, a little thrill pinched his skin.


    The prison zone? he thought, recognising this part of the tunnels. He saw it so far only on the screen of his LiqBoard. Pretty suspicious.


    He narrowed his eyes. Maybe... At that moment he felt chillness on his skin. He couldn''t say if it''s just from ventilation or his own brain tricks him. He raised a corner of his mouth for a split-second and laughed in his mind. No, that makes no sense.


    The corridor became a bit wider, but it didn''t cheer him up. Guards noiselessly paced back and forth. There was a hatch every dozen or so meters and each of them was protected by two guards.


    Only then Andvari noticed tiny holes in the walls. They had to be full of sensors and cameras. He saw security like this only in one place. The Eastern Wing? If you''re leaving this place you''re either a guard or a dead body...


    Ivendir led the group near one of the hatches. The two guards stopped at the entrance.


    "I will show you something," said Ivendir, tapping the device on the wall. "Just don''t touch the glass."


    The hatch opened, and Ivendir waved his hand in an inviting gesture. As Andvari walked inside, he understood where he was. This is the execution room, he thought. The damned execution room!


    Ivendir approached a wide window that covered almost an entire wall. Bright, pale light beamed from behind the one-way mirror.


    "Come here," he said.


    Andvari took a few steps forward, still wondering, Why would I need to watch somebody''s execution? What nonsense...


    He looked through the window.


    A guard stood calmly in the corner of an empty, grey room. The centre of the room was occupied by a large metal chair and a simple table. A bald Celestian with a scar on his face sat on the chair, his body strapped to it with tight belts.


    Still puzzled, Andvari tried to recall who the individual is. He saw this face once or twice before.


    A muffled, panicked voice from the speaker interrupted his pondering, "Why is this taking so long?"


    The prisoner struggled, trying to swing his tied limbs. "Why can''t you just shoot me right now!?" he yelled again, his voice trembling as if he was freezing to death. "Why do I have to wait so long!?"


    Ivendir gazed at the window. Andvari strained his eyes to decipher the king''s emotions but Ivendir''s face remained impassive like an ice sculpture.


    "Do you know who that is?" the king asked, his vacant sight remained fixed on the prisoner''s face.


    Andvari glanced and Ivendir raising his eyebrow. "No, not really. Should I?"


    "He appeared in some news for... maybe two or three days," said Ivendir and turned his head towards Vardir, "but we wanted this case to go away quickly. You know. For Erilaz''s good." He sighed and explained, "That''s the owner of this factory I bought."


    Andvari couldn''t resist from twisting his mouth in disgust. He quickly returned to his neutral face, but Ivendir noticed his aversion.


    "Why is he going to be killed?" asked Andvari, keeping his voice as emotionless as he could. "He committed a crime but..."


    "Not just some crime." Ivendir raised his eyebrows pityingly and looked right in Andvari''s eyes. "He tried to kill me."


    Andvari gulped. This information didn''t bring him any closer to understanding the king''s actions. The execution was almost finished. The guard just had to push one button. A syringe would insert poison into the prisoner''s neck, and the problem would be solved. No Vardir was needed to do this job.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Seeing Andvari''s expression, Ivendir snorted almost silently and raised a corner of his mouth. He whispered, "Come on, I''m not a tyrant who burns alive everyone who stands in his way."


    Vardir sighed with a dubious smiley to defuse the uncomfortable atmosphere. "I thought so." He glanced at Ivendir curiously. "But why do you need me here?"


    Ivendir took a deep breath. He tensed his muscles and lowered his eyes. After a few seconds in this motionless position, he slowly exhaled with an inappropriate peace.


    "He told me something." His pupils dilated. He glared at Andvari, pure ferocity burning in his eyes. "And I don''t know if it¡¯s true."


    Andvari giggled, even though he had no laughing matter. "Some random guy knows a big secret, huh?"


    Ivendir''s face returned to the impersonal expression and his voice became cold again. "Maybe."


    He crossed his arms, crumpling a sleeve with his tensed fingers. His lips remained pursed as if he weighed the potential consequences of his words. He gazed at the struggling and fighting prisoner but his eyes showed no emotion. He breathed almost noiselessly, feeling the urgency of breaking the silence.


    Suddenly he recited, "He told me that someone important is involved in this conspiracy."


    Andvari tilted his head. Before he managed to respond, Ivendir added:


    "Vardir himself."


    Andvari stepped back as if some invisible force nudged him under his ribs. The king''s words made his stomach feel completely empty. He exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts and emotions before reacting further. His eyes ran from the prisoner, through the king''s face, to the floor. The rapid speedup of his heart ignited a burning sensation in his chest.


    He sighed and said, "That''s a... very serious accusation."


    Ivendir narrowed his eyes. "I''m sure it is." He stared at the floor, and his eyes expressed something for the first time in quite a while: an average sadness. "See, now I can''t trust you as easily as I did before." Looking at Andvari apologetically like a tame hound, he added, "What''s more, I can''t prove or disprove his accusation..."


    Andvari tried to speak up once again, but Ivendir interrupted, "...unless you do something for me."


    Vardir took a step back. He still stood firmly, but his pointy ears were warily raised and his clenched fists trembled.


    "I am Vardir," he declared in a confident voice, "do you remember how I promised to fight and die for the king?"


    "That was years ago. Opinions and worldviews change."


    Hearing the king''s words, Andvari frowned and shook his head. "You''re the king now, but I won''t let you disrespect me like that," he said, barely holding his anger back.


    Ivendir raised his hand. "Calm down." He leant his head towards Andvari and lowered his voice. "Maybe I''m very cautious but we know the reality. The enemy can hide anywhere."


    Andvari looked at him sceptically, only his mouth shivered. With every second this situation seemed more and more abstract to him but he decided to play his role.


    Ivendir approached the glass. "Even if I can''t trust a random guy and his testimony, I need just a little proof that your worldview has remained the same," he explained, looking meekly at Vardir. He reached into his pocket and took a device out.


    Pursing his lips, Andvari sized the king up with his eyes.


    Holding the device, Ivendir reached out his hand. "You already killed one traitor." He smiled gloomily. "One or two... just a slight difference."


    Andvari lowered his sight. Sighing heavily, he drooped his arms and tilted his head. He looked at Ivendir again. "Is that the only way?"


    Ivendir scratched his chin, mistrust emanating from his eyes. "Why are you asking?"


    Andvari shook his head and gasped again. "Nevermind," he muttered and raised his head. "What am I supposed to do?"


    Ivendir took a step forward, bringing the device closer to Vardir. "Just push that button. Nothing more."


    Andvari crossed his arms. "I''m Vardir, this is far beyond the scope of my duties."


    "Fulfilling my orders is your main duty," explained Ivendir in stride, taking another step towards Andvari. "This is the order." He tilted his head pleadingly. "Tap the button."


    Andvari clenched his teeth. His heart hammered against his ribs, and he felt how his back was covered with sweat. The chilly air became freezing cold in his imagination. A violent surge of most varied thoughts swarmed in his head, bringing a pulsing pain to his temples. All he dreamed about at this moment was to run away and take a deep breath of fresh air.


    Come on... That guy doesn''t even know it''s me, he tried to encourage himself.


    Andvari grabbed the device from Ivendir''s hand. His finger quivered, and the veins on his hand recalled thick, bulging roots. The air in the tunnels was just chilly, but Andvari was sure his skin was going to overgrow with frost. Despite this sensation, the sweaty spots on his back and under his armpits spread wider and wider.


    He sensed that something was weird about this situation, but he couldn''t decipher the king''s intention, and this filled him with irritation. If he had to kill someone, he wanted to know the reason. He wasn''t the king''s executioner, and reducing him to that role tainted his good name.


    Seeing the impatience on the king''s face, he said to himself, I pulled the trigger once. And that was not a random guy.


    Andvari took a deep breath. Investing his whole mental energy into one little move, he lowered his finger. His fingertip touched the icon on the screen, leaving a wet smear.


    They both watched how the prisoner yelled and struggled. A thin needle slid out of the backrest next to his neck. His muscles were so tensed that dark veins appeared on his skin. With every scream his voice became more and more hoarse. When the needle stung his neck, he froze for a moment. After that he tried to move but his body didn''t listened to him. A few seconds later his limbs relaxed and he became completely motionless. Only his dead eyes seemed to still stare in panic.


    Andvari exhaled. He held his breath for so long that his head and chest began to hurt. Gazing vacantly at the prisoner, he didn''t think about anything. He had nothing more than a dark void in his head. He wanted to say something but his throat was too dry.


    He gulped and asked, "Is that... all?"


    "Yes," declared Ivendir in a voice barely louder than a whisper. Turning towards Vardir, he shook his head and said, "Sorry for the accusation." He raised his apologetic eyes, but he couldn''t look at Andvari for too long. Resting his forehead on his hand, he added, "Others think I''m obsessed with my safety..." He gripped a strand of his hair. "...but I have good reason to be so cautious."


    Andvari raised his eyebrow. "Are there any other orders?"


    "No." Ivendir took the device from Andvari''s hand. "Once again, sorry for my lack of trust." He warily looked around. Fiddling with the item, he narrowed his eyes and explained quietly, "I heard so much about assassins and things like that..."


    Andvari nodded, even though he still questioned the king''s intent.


    Ivendir hid the device in his pocket and smiled. "You''re free to go back." He clutched his arm and added in a remorseful voice, "I guess I scared you, but I hope you understand..."


    Turning towards the door, Andvari raised the corners of his lips. He was so close to realising his dream of leaving this room but he couldn''t just run for the hills.


    "Sure. Safety first," he said with fake confidence.


    He waited until Ivendir nods and slowly walked out of the room. When he got out of the king''s sight, he speeded up to a brisk march, taking steps so wide that his still tensed tendons began to sting.


    Insane shit. Why did he even think about this? This alleged treason? he thought, glancing behind furiously.


    He halted face to face with a guard. He stood still only for two seconds but his muscles were still tight as a string, trying to force him to run away.


    "Take me to the castle," he ordered and continued his escape.


    The guard trotted behind Vardir, barely keeping pace with him.


    What the hell is he thinking about? Andvari asked himself, crossing the corridors.


    The previous puzzlement and insecurity have given way to anger and resentment. Andvari was sure that the king and him had a quite peaceful relationship all along. That unexpected excess shook Andvari''s trust for a moment.


    Then he recalled Ivendir''s past. The king''s life wasn''t that easy after surviving the assassination attempts. That had to be a horrifying experience for a fifteen-year-old boy. His obsession grew on solid roots like a poison ivy but the majority of officials decided that Ivendir will deal with it and become a good king.


    Andvari began to slightly disagree with them.


    Peeking out of the room, Ivendir observed how Andvari walks away. He sighed with relief. Once again his paranoia turned out to be baseless.


    See? he told himself. He''s on your side...


    He left the room and motioned to the guards. As he crossed the tunnels, his confidence was disturbed by one thought.


    ...For now.

 CHAPTER 6.1. The calm before the storm

    The night brought generous rain but the morning sky was cloudless. Hefri considered this to be perfect weather for her plants.


    She knelt next to a bush with young, undergrown leaves. Her garden was placed on the roof near her apartment and everyone who saw it described it as the best maintained place in the whole castle. The fruits from it always grew large and tasty, and the dwarf trees were the first to bloom and the last to defoliate.


    Hefri plucked out dead sprigs and weeds while Erilaz lied stretched out on a bench, reading something on his LiqBoard. Andvari sat on the ground under a tree with his head resting on his fist. He languidly gazed down at the pavement, only sometimes picking a moss from the slits or playing with blades of grass.


    "Finally some peacetime, right?" asked Hefri, digging in the ground. After a few seconds without response, she turned towards Erilaz.


    "Right?" she raised her voice.


    "Yeah," mumbled Erilaz with his eyes following the walls of text on his device. "You can dig under your shrubs without bullets flying above your head."


    Hefri sat with her legs crossed and tilted her head. "What are you reading? I see you with your LiqBoard everywhere."


    "Something educational. You should read it too."


    She rolled her eyes. "Really? A big shiny guy fights anyone and anything. Big deal." She wiped the dirt out of her small shovel. "He''s not the first and not the last one. Our galaxy knows many like him."


    Erilaz glanced at her from behind his LiqBoard. "The Chromed Emperor is different." A flicker of fascination sparked in his eyes. "Look, he''s been known to us for seven years and he already rules over eleven planets." Before Hefri responded, he added, "What''s more, he united seven of them without a fight."


    Hefri sighed. She understood why he was so interested in modern and historical leaders. "And you''re still living your childhood dream?"


    Erilaz didn''t respond, pretending to be reading intently.


    Hefri smiled and giggled noiselessly. She closed her eyes, mimicking Erilaz''s words, "But I don''t want to be a warrior, I want to be a great, wise diplomat."


    Seeing no reaction again, she drooped her arms and scowled at him. "You should be happy that King Brymir chose you to be Vardir. Not just some Vardir, not even the Captain." She spread her arms. "The Commander himself!"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Exactly," muttered Erilaz. "He chose."


    Hefri sighed with resignation. Erilaz was right. Brymir planned every detail of his future, but Erilaz didn''t resist. Seeing that he made Brymir proud was sufficient compensation.


    Hefri had a completely different approach. Joining the ranks of the best students in the Royal Academy was her only chance to secure a stable future for her parents and herself. Her father needed medical treatment, and her mother had to take care of him and the whole household. All Vardir, depending on their rank, got high bonuses and other privileges so Hefri could support her family. However, that good will has its price¨Cthe last time she visited her parents was three years ago. She messaged them and communicated through video chat, but she missed the smell of northern pine forests and the taste of fresh baked sweets.


    "For me it''s not a big deal," she said, digging in the ground. "We don''t live in a constant war, our existence is pretty comfortable... Others can only dream about a life like this."


    Erilaz grunted, still reading his book. "Everything is so easy for you..."


    Hefri smiled. "King Brymir always told me I was born to be a soldier. I didn''t disagree." She shrugged. "Why should I oppose his wise choices..."


    Erilaz shook his head with a resigned smile and continued his reading. Breathing evenly, he inhaled the pleasant smell of rain, young flowers and damp grass. The warm sun illuminated the wet roofs and plants with a soft glow. Luckily for Erilaz, the birds in their newly constructed nests chirped softly and didn''t distract him. The more he focused on the present time, the less he concerned himself with the horrifying memories. They seemed to completely fade into the background. The nightmares have given way to his typical sleep schedule, and he could focus on the previous, normal life and think about the future.


    The sudden sound of a handclap made him jump. He raised his head above the LiqBoard and looked around.


    "Wait, Andvari was here all along?" he asked.


    "Yeah..." muttered Andvari, wiping his hands in his trousers. "Damned mosquitoes," he hissed under his breath, "little shitty bastards began to hatch out of their crappy eggs..."


    "Are you sleeping here?" called Hefri, throwing a clump of grass on a pile of other weeds.


    Andvari rested his head on his fist again. "I''m busy."


    Hefri wiped her forehead in a dramatic gesture. "Propping the wall, what an absorbing task..."


    "I''m thinking," responded Andvari, nervously scratching a pale green lichen off the pavement.


    "Ah..."


    Erilaz peeked from behind the LiqBoard. "Can we help?"


    "I have something to do." Andvari stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers. "If you don''t need my help, I''m gonna do a few things here and there."


    Hefri swung her hand. "I can handle it." She pointed at the bush. "You can''t even tell the difference between the lower irrigation stem and the prehensile root."


    Andvari turned on his heel. "See you later." He raised his hand in a parting gesture and headed towards the door.


    Hefri stretched her legs out, watching how the door slid shut behind her friend. She turned towards Erilaz. He tapped something on the screen and read again.


    Hefri angrily ripped a brown weed as if she was decapitating her arch-enemy.


    She sighed. "He can just spend the whole day digging between the cables and wires..."


    Erilaz glanced at her from behind the LiqBoard. "And you''re digging in the ground right now."


    Hefri glared at him, craning her neck towards him. "Go back to your fairy tales," she ordered and leant over the shrub again.

 CHAPTER 6.2. The fathers ambition

    It was Brymir''s ambition that led Erilaz to his current status. The king had power to make Erilaz the Vardir Commander but he wanted his son to get this position by himself.


    When Erilaz was fifteen, Brymir''s friend visited the castle. He and his son strolled through the garden, talking about this visit. Erilaz got a triskelion tattoo a day prior and his hand still itched a bit. His hair was shorter and reached below his shoulders.


    "Have you already talked with Thorleif? Have you gotten to know him?" asked Brymir.


    "Yes, he told me about the academy in which he''s the principal," said Erilaz spreading his arms, "and about his travels. He saw so many species, cultures and cities, stuff like that."


    Brymir wanted to ask one more question but Thorleif walked from behind a hedgerow. He was as tall as Brymir but he never took part in any military trainings so his silhouette was less muscular. He kept his hair braided, and he wore a knee-length tunic.


    They stopped, looking conspiratorially at each other.


    Erilaz raised his eyebrow. "What?"


    "Did you tell him, Brymir?" asked Thorleif with a little smile on his face.


    Brymir glanced at puzzled Erilaz. "No, not a word."


    "What''s going on?" muttered Erilaz, his eyes wandering from one Celestian to the other.


    Brymir reached his hand towards his friend. "Thorleif said he''s going to take you to his academy for a monthly course."


    Erilaz¡¯s eyes flared up with passion. "Really?" he asked, craning his neck forward. "What am I going to study?"


    "We''re the biggest academy on this planet; we have plenty of subjects," explained Thorleif and began to count on his fingers, "from biology, through warfare to civic relations and..."


    Erilaz sighed with fascination. "I would..."


    "Studying warfare in your academy, even for one month, will let him learn so much," interrupted Brymir.


    Erilaz turned towards him with his eyebrows narrowed. "Why can''t I study civic relations? It''s an important skill too."


    "You study enough civic relations here," explained Brymir in a calming voice. "Thorleif will show you new subjects and more advanced techniques."


    Erilaz opened his mouth to answer back but Brymir added, "You''re already doing great at other subjects." His face expressed even more gentleness. "I just need you to improve your military knowledge, since it''s your future..."


    "Alright," said Erilaz with annoyance in his voice. He crossed his arms. "Sorry, Thorleif. Your offers were unnecessary, the choice was already made. When am I leaving?"


    Clearly embarrassed by this situation, Thorleif averted his sight. "In three days," he informed.


    Erilaz turned on his heel so quickly that his hair swirled around him. "I''m going to pack up my stuff," he muttered and marched away.


    Brymir drooped his shoulders. He always had to put so much energy into convincing Erilaz to anything. Despite this, he wasn''t angry. Erilaz was just a kid with moods and dreams and it was Brymir''s role to guide him. Unluckily for Erilaz, Brymir took care of him overeagerly.


    "Erilaz, you still think I want to spite you?" called Brymir, following his son with his helpless eyes.


    Erilaz slowed down, still staring at the ground. Brymir trotted after him.


    "I''m proud of you and your achievements," assured the king, "but you can be much better. You''re clever and tough, you''re able to be the best of them all."


    Erilaz only gave him a snippy look. Brymir caught his son''s arm and added, "I know it because you''re my son."


    Erilaz sighed and his furious expression became vacant. He didn''t raise his eyes while too many mixed feelings teemed in him. He wanted to be Vardir because Brymir would praise him for that. That was the main reason why Erilaz felt any pride. He didn''t care too much about his position, he just wanted appreciation not only from his father but also his friends, family and other officials. When Brymir told about his son''s achievements, all attention focused on Erilaz and he could proudly get a round of applause.


    Despite this, he didn''t need the attention itself. He thirsted for an effusive demonstration of his father''s love because small gestures weren''t enough for him. He thought he didn''t deserve it whenever he failed. Only the public affirmations let him know his self-worth. He knew he wasn''t Brymir''s biological son all along, and that caused his lack of trust in his adoptive father''s feelings.


    "Really? Are you sure?" He glanced at Brymir and added bitterly, "Will I be the best? Will my name be known in every corner of this planet? Or even further?"


    "It''s a sure thing," said Brymir. He took a strand of Erilaz''s hair between his fingers and aligned the parting on his son''s head. Erilaz ruffled his hair with his hand as if he wanted to show that he can take care of himself. He sighed, appeasing his nerves, and stared at Brymir.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "One day the universe will hear about Vardir Erilaz," said Brymir.


    Bjarni Arnorsson had less time to relax than Erilaz and Hefri. Helvetto seemed to completely snap out of the mourning and the casual crimes appeared again. After a day of browsing the documents and reading reports, he settled down on a soft armchair on his balcony and put his legs on a stool. The last official ended the conversation, so Arnorsson rolled the LiqBoard up and threw it on the coffee table.


    He took a deep breath, inhaling the brisk mountain air, but before he breathed out, the LiqBoard beeped and lit up.


    Arnorsson frowned and twisted his mouth. He grabbed the device like a harpy catching its prey and looked at the icon in the middle of the scroll.


    He lifted his eyebrows. He never expected Thelrim to call him after work. Even though Arnorsson wasn¡¯t obliged to respond now, that uncommon situation intrigued him. He unrolled the LiqBoard and accepted the call.


    "Commander Arnorsson," Thelrim began, sitting at the table in his chamber, "I''m glad you responded."


    "I responded... out of curiosity. Why do you want to meet with me?" asked Arnorsson, hiding his astonishment.


    Thelrim raised a corner of his mouth. "I know it''s weird," he said and his face returned to a blank expression, "but I have to ask you about a few things."


    Arnorsson shrugged. "I have no idea how I can help you but okay."


    "I heard about some..." Thelrim glanced behind and continued, "new ideas. I heard it from some less important but quite rich officials."


    Arnorsson nodded. After a moment he raised his eyebrow because he heard things like that almost every day. Somebody thought or said something but ultimately, nothing came out of it."


    "And?" he muttered, encouraging Thelrim to tell him more.


    "It''s nothing serious, I just want to know your opinion."


    "On?"


    Thelrim rested his chin on his hands. He glanced at the window and said, "I want to know if you support their opinion or if they''re just a bunch of loonies."


    Arnorsson tilted his head. "Okay..."


    Thelrim sighed, trying to gather his thoughts. "See, we have similar backgrounds. We both came here from noble houses. We both wanted to be Vardir and we both failed."


    Arnorsson scowled at him. "I didn''t fail. I quit when I was ten."


    Thelrim leant closer to the camera, looking into it suspiciously. "Willingly? Or because Hefri told you to?"


    "She helped me understand that I''m better at giving orders than listening to them." Arnorsson shrugged. "So she recommended me to change my field of study and go into law enforcement. She said I will be better than anyone else there." He smiled victoriously. "She was right. Now I give the orders."


    "Sure but don''t you think that she bosses us around too much?" Thelrim pityingly shook his head. "After all, she came here from some village."


    "Yeah, from the village, where she used to hunt some wild beasts," responded Arnorsson, narrowing his eyes. "By herself, before she was six... Anyways, what''s your point, I''m busy right now," he blurted, spreading his arms.


    "Well, that was my point." Thelrim looked around and asked almost in a whisper, "Are you alone?"


    The expression on Arnorsson''s face became more and more annoyed. He responded in an impatient voice, "Yes but..."


    "Good. Not everyone likes the idea of village kids entering the royal ranks so I want to know your take on that. Don''t you think that the place of the Vardir commanders was made for us?" Thelrim stared directly at the camera but his pointy ears with shiny earrings moved slowly, catching all background noises. "Us, like somebody whose family contributed to the development of this planet. At least that''s how those officials see that."


    I''m too sober for this, thought Arnorsson, sighing out of powerlessness. He corrected his awkward position on the armchair and took a deep breath. "There is no such thing as places made for us." He smiled to himself with a harsh snort. "That''s one of the few things I like about this system."


    Thelrim gazed at the ceiling, propping his head with his hand. "...maybe you''re right?" he mumbled.


    Arnorsson narrowed his eyes, his patience balancing on the very edge. "I hope that''s all." He bared his teeth in an innocent smile. "I have to go."


    Thelrim directed his thoughtful gaze at the camera again. "I guess I said what I had to say. I was just curious what others think about this idea." He giggled noiselessly. "I guess they''re loonies indeed."


    "That''s right," said Arnorsson, acting as if that response was actually good for a laugh. "Goodbye," he added and hung up.


    He hammered the screen with his finger, muting the device. His head pounded at the soft backrest and his hands fell on the armrest. He sighed through clenched teeth with hope that no one dares to disturb him again.


    Before Thelrim finished his thought, the call ended. He shrugged. This whole story was made up but his intention was pretty close to the truth. He wanted to know Arnorsson''s opinion because he needed an ally.


    He tried to live normally after his encounter with Hefri but the grudge was too strong. Every time he saw his reflection in the mirror, window or the surface of water, the fury boiled in his veins. He hated himself because he feared his weaknesses.


    Making life awkward for Hefri slowly turned into his obsession. The rational part of him told him to give in and focus on the future, but the animalistic rage didn''t let him just forget about it. He was ashamed of it. He belonged to a royal family, he should have been above such a primitive need for revenge. Despite this, he saw no other way to get rid of the feeling that tormented him.


    All his spite had its roots in the fear of losing an important person. Andvari''s father, Imolvi Aldenarsson, died because Thelrim wasn''t fast enough to stop Andvari and talk with him. To this day Thelrim believed that this case could have been solved more peacefully. Andvari always told him that there''s no such a thing as "peaceful settlement" with people like Imolvi. Thelrim didn''t want to listen to it. Imolvi appreciated him and that was all he cared about.


    Thelrim was seventeen when his grade received the results of a recent exam. That was the most successful exam in his life so he marched across the corridors with his head held high. The pride in his eyes and his very short hair made him look much older and inspiring.


    As he looked around to find some free space between the other students, he bumped against the Celestian in a brown coat.


    "I''m so..." he began, raising his hands defensively.


    "Nah, that''s my fault..." muttered Imolvi, adjusting his long fur coat. Nodding slightly with approval, he added, "Congratulations on getting into the top five, you did good."


    Thelrim smiled, and admiration twinkled in his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Aldenarsson."


    "Unlike my son," whispered Imolvi with resignation. "He didn''t even make it to the top ten... He is strong but smacking faces is all he can do."


    He walked away and only after a few seconds Andvari emerged from the crowd.


    "Congrats. I guess you must be proud of yourself," he mumbled, giving Thelrim a quick, scornful glare.


    Thelrim shrugged. "I have a reason to."


    "I guess I''ll never be good enough for him," hissed Andvari through his clenched teeth but Thelrim didn''t hear that.


    "What?" he asked, turning around, but Andvari blended in with the crowd again. Only his long, ginger hair flashed up between many different heads.

 CHAPTER 7.1. A lizard

    "...and this is the full report," explained Ivendir and gave Thelrim a LiqBoard. "I explained the crucial things, the rest is written here."


    Thelrim took the device. "Thank you, Your Highness, I''ll check it." He stood up from a chair and turned around.


    Ivendir narrowed his eyes and added quietly. "They calmed down for a moment." He looked suspiciously at the open window as if there was a band of spies hiding under a windowsill. He turned his head towards Thelrim again. "...but it doesn''t mean we''re done. They will be back for more."


    Thelrim glanced at the window too. The chilly morning breeze brought the smell of fresh leaves and flowers. "I''ll try to find a few solutions," he said and looked at the king, "then you will choose the most effective one."


    Ivendir crossed his arms and leant on the backrest of his armchair. "Their demands didn''t change much. We have to collect as much money as we can until they change their mind."


    Thelrim sighed and nodded. "Helvetto will prevail if we could only get rid of this parasite..."


    "Trust me," said Ivendir, staring into Thelrim''s face and trying to sound confident, "this won''t take too long." He swung his hand. "We''re paying the debts and kicking them out."


    Thelrim nodded again. A barely visible smile appeared on his lips. As he lowered his gaze, a long shape flashed across the floor. He winced. A blue-green lizard dashed from under the bed to the corner of the chamber.


    "What?" asked Ivendir, noticing the strange behaviour of his guard.


    Thelrim pointed at the floor with disgust on his face. "A lizard is here. I thought they''re still in their winter sleep."


    He spread his fingers similarly to a hunting eagle but Ivendir stood up.


    "Be careful," said the king. "Their skin is very fragile."


    He approached the lizard. It calmly sat on the floor, its belly pulsating like it was taking many quick breaths. Its tiny scales shimmered with all shades of deep green and azure whenever it moved.


    Ivendir gently caught the lizard under its armpits and carried it towards the window. The lizard''s skin felt too rubbery for him. Its whole chest pulsated too strongly but he thought the lizard is just scared. He put it on the windowsill and turned his head towards Thelrim.


    "That''s all," he said.


    Thelrim was about to walk away when one detail caught his attention. The lizard froze. It didn''t even breath. Its belly was swelling beyond its size. The lizard made a cracking sound and that was when a rapid flow of adrenaline charged into Thelrim''s veins.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Get down!" he yelled, jumping towards Ivendir.


    The robot lizard exploded. Thelrim''s momentum pushed Ivendir towards the armchair. Ivendir landed on his knees. He hunched down, gripping his arms. The smell of melting paint awoke his fight or flight response. Last time when he felt it, he almost lost his arm. The memory of assassination attempts ran rampant in his head again. His heart battered his ribs, taking his breath away. He clenched his fingers on his shirt when a burning feeling overwhelmed his chest.


    It had to happen! he cried in his mind. Again!


    "Are you all right?" asked Thelrim, hearing the king''s shallow breath and nudging his arm.


    "Yes..." whispered Ivendir, struggling for air. "Yes," he repeated slightly louder. He glanced at Thelrim. "Take care of yourself... You''re bleeding." He gripped his shirt near his heart so firmly that the tendons on his hands swelled. "And this? Just a panic attack." He paused to inhale a little sip of air. "You can''t do anything about it..."


    The pain in his chest seemed to intoxicate him so heavily that he could only listen to his wild heartbeat. The dull, swift thud echoed in his head. The faster he breathed, the dizzier he felt. He was sure his brain was going to blow up soon.


    He imagined his death. It had to look like this. Black, amorphous smudges loomed in front of him but when he closed his eyes, they exploded with different vivid colours.


    I''m not dying, get it? he told himself I''m not dying!


    He stopped thinking logically. He knew that the harder he fights for air, the more lightheaded he becomes but it didn''t stop him from tensing his muscles to their breaking point and fiercely filling his lungs.


    Last time, remember? Everything went okay, he tried to calm himself down. He lied on the floor. Thelrim was talking to him but he ignored it. The headache made him zone out.


    "Give me a few minutes," he whispered incoherently. He could barely control his mouth and tongue. "I will help you."


    "Don''t worry about me, Your Highness," said Thelrim and shook Ivendir''s arm again. "This scratch isn''t too deep. I called for help." He stood up and trotted towards the corridor. "And I''m bringing a medical kit."


    Ivendir opened his eyes. The moment of numbness forced his muscles to relax and made his breath more steady. After he brushed his hair off his face, his hand helplessly drooped on the ground. That little move wore him out completely. He still lied on the floor as he couldn''t find any energy to get up. He was exhausted as if he just finished climbing a mountain. Every part of his body radiated with searing pain and his head felt heavier than a giant bag of concrete. He closed his eyes again to get some rest before Thelrim comes back with a medical kit.


    See... it''s okay, he said to himself. You''re okay. It''s nothing. You can... breathe.


    Thelrim offered help a few times but Ivendir always declined it. He just needed a few minutes of undisturbed peace. He wished to assist Thelrim but he couldn''t focus on anything. Thelrim dealt with a metal scrap in his arm by himself. When he finished, a group of medics and investigators entered the chamber.


    Ivendir still had problems with focusing on the questions and forming the answers but he paid attention to a rubber fragment on the table. He saw its colour before. When he recently spoke with Andvari, he noticed the same colour on Vardir''s shirt and nail.


    He wanted to believe that it''s just a coincidence.

 CHAPTER 7.2. Bad at biology

    The morning a few days later was intense for Erilaz, Andvari and Hefri. They sat on a bench to take a break after a round of training, clothed in training tunics and holding wooden swords.


    "We''re having the rematch tomorrow," said Hefri, taking deep breaths. She smiled feistily. "I can''t just let you tie with me like that."


    Erilaz wiped his forehead, brushing off wet strands of hair. His ponytail became ruffled and plenty of single strands of hair stuck out of it. "I had an off day. Normally I would just beat you in the first round."


    Hefri glanced at Andvari, who lost with both of them. She leant towards Erilaz and whispered, covering her mouth, "You''re not the only one who¡¯s having a bad day."


    Andvari glared at them. His skin was paler than usual and he breathed as if a bulldozer drove through his chest. "When I feel better I will show both of you..." he hissed ominously, but his weary eyes made him look like a sleepy, harmless bear in hibernation.


    "Seriously, take care of yourself. You almost look like a dead man," said Erilaz, stretching on the bench.


    "I¡¯ve felt quite sick recently," responded Andvari, rubbing his eyes. "I''ll ask for some meds today."


    Hefri flinched, moving away from him and pushing Erilaz to the edge of the bench. "Is that contagious!?" she asked.


    Andvari raised his head with difficulty and looked at her. "I don''t know. I can cough on you, and we¡¯ll find out."


    "Bleh..." she mumbled. She reached towards the table and grabbed her LiqWatch. "I''m gonna call for something to drink. Any special orders?"


    Erilaz wiped his sweating face with his sleeve. "Anything cold will be fine."


    Tapping at her device, she asked, "And you?"


    After a few seconds of silence, she looked at Andvari and raised her voice, "Andvari?"


    Andvari blinked a few times and clenched his teeth, distracted by his incessant.


    "I don''t know," he muttered, resting his forehead on his hand. "Water maybe..."


    Hefri nodded and tapped at the screen again. She leant on the backrest and stretched her legs while waiting for the drone to deliver the drinks.


    After a little while the door to the terrace opened. The three Celestians lazily glanced at the entrance but when they saw Ivendir, they livened up.


    "Troubles again?" whispered Hefri to Erilaz, following the king with her eyes.


    Ivendir approached them, and Erilaz and Hefri stood up.


    "Your..." began Erilaz but Ivendir swung his hand in passing.


    "Commanders Hefri and Erilaz, could you give me a few minutes?" he asked and glanced at Andvari. "I have something to discuss with Commander Andvari."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Without any questions, Erilaz and Hefri left, talking with each other. Andvari still sat on the bench with his elbows on the table. He vacantly gazed ahead and all voices he heard sounded distant. At the mere sight of the Celestian with maroon hair, he knew he was doomed. His forehead was damp after the training but now large drops of sweat streamed down his face. Despite the effort while sparring with his friends, he tried to breathe as slowly and quietly as he could.


    How? he wondered, clenching his fists. Where was the error?


    "Commander?" asked Ivendir.


    Andvari jumped to his feet. "I''m sorry, I wasn¡¯t paying attention, Your Highness..." Fighting the dizziness, he paused to take a breath. "I don''t feel well."


    Ivendir sat down on the opposite bench and crossed his arms. "Come on, sit down."


    Andvari sat on the very edge, hiding his hands under the table.


    "I see you''re enjoying the spring," said Ivendir, looking around the modest garden.


    "Oh... yeah. Everything goes green,"responded Andvari. "There is no need to break through the snow..."


    "And the big and small animals wake up from their winter sleep," added Ivendir, sizing Vardir up.


    "Yeah." Andvari forced himself to lift the corners of his mouth. "Unfortunately for us, the insects wake up too."


    Ivendir returned the smile. "As I remember, you weren''t good at biology."


    Andvari clenched his sweaty fists. This discussion made no sense to him. The tendons in his hands began to ache. The coldness blew at his face even if there was no wind and the sun warmed up the air.


    He gulped and responded, "Hefri reminds me about this too. You know, her and her shrubs."


    "So you probably don''t know that lizards, especially those green-blue ones," said Ivendir, leaning on the backrest, "wake up later than most animals here?"


    These words felt like a punch in the guts for Andvari. He couldn''t take a breath for a moment. His breakfast approached dangerously close to his throat.


    "Li... lizards?"


    Ivendir tilted his head and disillusion clouded his eyes. "I thought there was peace between us..." he said in a gloomy voice.


    Andvari narrowed his eyebrows. He stood up and gripped the edges of the table. "There will never be peace between the false king and me!" he hissed through clenched teeth.


    Unimpressed with this threat, Ivendir explained, "I didn''t trust you so I made up that test." He lowered his eyes and shook his head. "I hoped I was wrong."


    A group of guards in civil clothes entered the garden and a few of them took positions on the nearby terraces. They wore coats, furs and capes to cover their guns and avoid panic among others.


    Ivendir slowly stood up. Andvari still glared at him, his eyes soaked with hatred and wrath. The king took a few steps back and added quietly, "I was absolutely right."


    He looked knowingly at the guards. "Arrest him," he ordered in a gentle, serene voice.


    Seeing the guards around him, Andvari raised his hands. All escape routes were blocked by them, and their gunfire would reach him before he could take one step. His face expressed only pure aversion but his trembling fists and rapid, shallow breath exposed the most primitive fear. He feared his upcoming death. A searing stream ran from his stomach to his fingertips, which confused him for a few seconds.


    Despite the dizziness and violent heartbeat, he regained his clarity of thought. Narrowing his eyes, he hissed, "If not me, then someone else will do it."


    The guards surrounded him, and one of them wrenched his hands behind his back.


    "Helvetto will prevail," he growled when the guard handcuffed him, "just without you."


    Ivendir didn''t respond. He only stood with his arms crossed and followed Vardir with his eyes.


    The guards took Andvari inside and when the door slid shut behind them, Ivendir sighed heavily without any relief.


    He drooped his shoulders and shook his head. His worldview has been shaken again. Not all Vardir were his devoted warriors. He couldn''t trust them. He couldn''t trust anyone but Thelrim. Traitors hid everywhere, and each of them only watched him, waiting for his slip-up. He had no way to know if his friends, helpers or attendants were loyal. He couldn''t test each of them individually like he tested Erilaz and Andvari.


    If even Vardir can do that... he thought, and his hands began to tremble, who else may come after me?

 CHAPTER 7.3. A disappearance

    The sun was hiding behind the mountainous horizon when Ivendir finished his daily responsibilities. Since he arrested Andvari, he couldn''t focus even on the easiest, casual tasks. He just locked himself in his chamber and worked from there. He hasn''t left his safe place and hasn''t let anybody in. The thoughts about Andvari''s treason occupied his mind to the core.


    He sat at the desk, hiding his face in his hands. His LiqBoard lied next to him but he muted the device.


    Who will be next?" he thought. Who''s the next traitor?


    Hearing a rustle outside, he opened his eyes and glanced towards the window. It was just a withered sprig falling from the tree.


    Any of the pen pushers? Someone from law enforcement?


    He narrowed his eyes and gazed at the distant city. It looked as usual: it resembled a grey-brown dust resting at the bottom of the valley. Now, Ivendir saw it as a backwater town full of psychos and conspirators.


    Some random peasant?


    The next though made him feel stinging in his chest, and his heart sped up. Another Vardir? One of their captains?


    He turned around quietly as if he didn''t want to attract the attention of a potential assassin. He opened his dismayed eyes wider and his pupils dilated even more.


    Could they be watching me now?


    Ivendir stood up. Something seemed wrong to him. He squatted under the window and looked at the underside of the window sill. Touching the smooth hazel wood panels, he said to himself, Here. The only part of this room without any precaution...


    Taking a heavy breath, he straightened his knees like he was lifting up a pack of bricks. He leant on the window sill and stared at the hills on the horizon. The sun cast a gold afterglow on the young grass and the snow on the mountains shone like honey.


    What if... He clenched his fingers on the window sill and his whole body froze. ...the traitor is...


    Ivendir hissed with anger. His own idea annoyed him. It was too ridiculous, even for his already paranoid mind.


    No, not him. He would never do that.


    He walked away from the window. Sighing deeply, he rubbed his eyes and brushed his hair off his face.


    But the Vardir Commanders? Maybe...


    A new idea appeared in his mind. He thought he found an ultimate way to test Vardirs'' loyalty. He grabbed the LiqBoard and sat on his bed.


    I need to know...


    The next two days were ordinary for Erilaz. He sat on a deckchair in his small garden, exploring the subject of The Chromed Emperor. He stared at his LiqBoard, reading some articles.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Sixteenth Scroll of Kydoimos... verse one hundred seventh," he muttered, raising his eyebrow.


    Then we witnessed the dust settling and heard the vehicle roaring. When the air became slightly clearer, a beam of reflected light blinded us for a moment...


    Erilaz propped his chin, smiling slightly. Interesting.


    When our vision recovered, we were able to see him descending from the vehicle''s gangplank.


    "Descriptions?" He twisted his mouth. "Who cares, I want the result..." he mumbled and scrolled down.


    ...the embodiment of our victory, our liberation and deliverance...


    Chromed Emperor, you clever beast," he said to himself with a canny smile, so that''s your strategy. Be nice but also scary.


    He wanted to continue reading when a door icon popped up and covered the text. He confirmed and the door opened. As he turned his head towards the entrance, Hefri briskly marched inside. Her long, blue dress with a darker corset heaved behind her like a raging sea¡¯s waves. She stopped in front of Erilaz with her arms crossed.


    "Do you have any messages from Andvari?" she asked before Erilaz managed to say something.


    Erilaz shrugged and put the LiqBoard on the table. "I asked him what''s going on and he just sent me a few text messages. I feel terrible, I need some rest."


    Hefri averted her sight, a mix of concern and curiosity appeared on her face. "I haven''t seen him for two days." She shook her head and looked at him again. "All I got are text messages too," she explained, gesticulating. "No one knows what happened to him. After the last talk with the king, he just disappeared." She sighed and her eyes began to give away her increasing anxiety. She gazed at him pleadingly. "If he doesn¡¯t come back by evening, will you help me find him?"


    "Sure. Calm down," he said, putting his hands on his knees and sat on the edge of the deckchair. Andvari''s weird behaviour concerned him too, but he kept his face straight to reassure Hefri. "Do you have any suggestions about what may be going on?"


    Hefri shrugged. "No. Many things could have happened." She drooped her arms and shook her head. "...or maybe we''re just freaking out," she added quietly.


    "I know what you''re thinking." Erilaz raised his finger. "The Moryans?"


    Hefri wiped her forehead. "I have no idea but..."


    The door alarm beeped, cutting her words off.


    Erilaz raised his eyebrow. "Another guest?"


    He took his LiqBoard and looked at the screen. It showed a live stream from the camera above the door. Erilaz didn''t recognize the group of Celestians. They all wore long coats and cloaks and they looked like casual townsmen. The leader swung his hand in front of the camera, showing the badge on his LiqWatch. He was a guard in civilian clothes.


    Erilaz had no more time to react, because the leader tapped the screen on the wall. He entered the garden, and the others followed him.


    Erilaz stood up and turned towards them. He narrowed his eyebrows, ready to ask a few unpleasant questions, but the leader forestalled him.


    "By command of His Highness, you both are obligated to meet with him in The Eastern Prison Wing."


    "Now?" asked Erilaz, unclenching his fists. "We have to..."


    "Now," repeated the guard, hiding his hand under his coat.


    Erilaz sighed. "Fine," he said and glared at the guard. "It better be something really important."


    He gave Hefri a knowing look and both of them followed the guards.


    Prison? thought Erilaz. The Eastern Wing?


    It didn''t make any sense to him. Vardir had nothing to do with the prison system. All they had to do was to protect their world and their king. There were many other factions who took care of the criminals.


    Hefri thoroughly hid her surprise. Guards in civilian clothes barging into Vardir''s terrace weren''t a common view here. She kept her mouth shut because she was in Erilaz''s area. If that happened in her territory, she would give them a pretty harsh earful.


    She marched after her friend, peering at each guard to understand their intent.


    Bjarni Arnorsson strolled down the corridors when a group of Celestians marched down the stairs with a loud stomping.


    Just in case, he stepped behind a pillar and watched them from a safe distance.


    Does the king know? he asked himself.


    The two Vardir walked freely so it didn''t look like arrest. Their pace was quick, and they seemed to be nervous but nothing else raised his suspicions.


    Or... do Vardir know?


    He turned on his LiqWatch and called Captain Ermdahr.


    "Send the smallest spy drone to me," he whispered. Before Ermdahr said anything, he had hissed, "Now! I''ll explain later."

 CHAPTER 8.1. A potential treason

    Erilaz, Hefri and the guards descended into the depths of The Eastern Prison Wing. When the two Vardir came around a corner, they could barely contain their astonishment.


    Ivendir stood next to a closed door with his arms crossed. His apathetic expression hid his conflicted emotions. His tensed fingers were the only sign of his nervousness.


    When the guards and the Vardir Commanders stopped, he said, "I''m glad you followed my order."


    "What''s going on?" asked Erilaz, tensing his nostrils with anger. "Your Highness?" he added, emphasizing both words.


    Ivendir tilted his head. "So you''re already nervous?"


    "Yes." Erilaz glared at the king. He sighed and drooped his arms. "I''m sorry," he continued in a more steady voice, "Vardir Andvari isn''t responding, and we''re wondering why."


    Ivendir averted his gaze. "That¡¯s exactly why I had to call you. I guess you''re not gonna like it."


    "Is he okay?" Hefri chimed in. Her face was completely neutral but her eyes disclosed worry and anxiety.


    Ivendir shook his head. "No, he''s not." He raised his eyes to meet hers. "Nothing is okay, Commander Hefri."


    Her pupils widened, even though the pale light cast a cold glow on her face.


    "He tried to kill me," informed Ivendir.


    Erilaz narrowed his eyes. He felt a short pinch in his chest, but he quickly got rid of it. Even though he had psychological and fitness tests every half a year, he was sure he misheard the king''s words.


    "Excuse me?"


    "Yes," said Ivendir, clenching his fingers on his arms, "Vardir Andvari, the Commander of the Royal Army, tried to kill me. Not even personally."


    "Are you sure?" asked Hefri, and her voice revealed more and more uneasiness. She glanced around. "Is everyone sure?!"


    "I was sure right after the attack," explained the king, his eyes nervously jumping from one Vardir to the second one. "I just needed two days to confirm it."


    "Everyone knows the punishment for that," said Hefri, keeping her voice calm, "but we''re gonna apply for the extraordinary mitigation of punishment." For a moment she lost her composure and blurted out, "After all, he''s the Vardir''s Commander!"


    Ivendir bore his eyes into her. "That''s exactly why he deserves the maximum punishment."


    "We can prove that it wasn''t him," declared Erilaz dismissively, shrugging his arms. "We''ll consult with the best investigators on this planet." He stared at the king with his eyebrows lowered. "I know it wasn''t him," he snapped.


    Now he was sure the king wants to manipulate them for some unexpected reason. He lost all respect for Ivendir. The king went too far. Erilaz didn''t care about his intent because using such a severe accusation was crossing the line. The alliance between Ivendir and him became disrupted and finished once and for all. Erilaz promised himself to never trust Ivendir again.


    Wrath overcame him. He wanted to say everything right in Ivendir''s face but the king spoke up first.


    "I guess I forgot to tell you." Ivendir raised his finger. "He admitted to everything." Ignoring the equal shock in the eyes of both Vardir Commanders, he added, "And he was proud of it."


    He strolled down the corridor, and the guards followed him. One of them gave Erilaz and Hefri a knowing look. The Vardir Commanders moved on but they didn''t say a word.


    With his eyebrows narrowed, Erilaz stared at the king''s back. He tried to craft his words, but his throat became dry as if his body was mummified. The shock made him feel like an apparition. He experienced the surroundings with all his senses but the heavy steps, the chilly, stifling air and pale, glaring light seemed distant and surreal to him. His legs bent and straightened mechanically. He only blindly followed the guards and the king.


    After a few meters he snapped out of stupefaction. The will to fight for Andvari returned to him. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath, but Ivendir spoke faster again.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "See, I have to ensure my safety," explained the king and stopped next to a large, heavy door. He glared at the Vardir Commanders. His eyes expressed pure disdain but his voice remained toned down, "...and you, as Vardir, failed me."


    His own words terrified him. That was the moment when he realised his weakness. Without Vardir, his world, and therefore his reign, were exposed to terrorists, conspirators, invaders or any other danger. Left to his own devices, he felt like nothing more than a mere insect which could be smashed with one finger. Despite this, he couldn''t confide his life to Vardir again, at least not until he makes sure they remained loyal to him.


    He lost his temper. He sighed and barked, "I can''t trust you knowing that any of you may be plotting against me right now!"


    Pursing his lips and clenching his teeth, he took a deep breath to tame his nerves. Exposing his vulnerability was the last thing he needed. He added placidly with a tinge of sadness in his voice, "Vardir were made to fight for the king, not against him."


    Erilaz took a fierce step towards the king. Caught off guard, Ivendir flinched, opening his eyes wider. The Celestians around them clenched their fingers on their guns.


    "Let me explain something, Your Highness," barked Erilaz. He bored his enraged eyes into Ivendir''s. "I fought for this land when Moryans attacked," he hissed, raising his finger. "I executed your pointless order when you called me to that riot." He took a deep breath, wrinkling his nose. "I even killed a civilian because you convinced me to shoot."


    Ivendir listened to his words, keeping his facial expression cold and unimpressed.


    "And now, you accuse me of treason?!" asked Erilaz. His eyes blazed with wrath, and the veins on his clenched fists became purple.


    "Of potential treason," Ivendir corrected him and crossed his arms. "Nothing is confirmed."


    Playing the impassive interlocutor was slowly giving him a headache. He carefully weighted up his every word, and the fear of making one little mistake squeezed his heart like a hungry snake.


    He tilted his head. "Andvari passed the loyalty test just like you... and somehow he was the traitor."


    Hefri raised her eyebrows. She didn''t want to burst out with fury like her friend. She warily analysed her words but every time she wanted to say something, Erilaz or Ivendir interrupted her. Finally she gave up and kept silent, listening to the discussion. Her instincts told her that she should brace for something rough.


    "What test?" asked Erilaz and spread his arms. "You''re trying to tell me that riot was my test?!"


    "I survived two... three assassination attempts," said Ivendir, looking at the floor for a moment, "so I have a right to be suspicious."


    Erilaz shook his head with a powerless smirk. "You''re insane..."


    At that moment a stabbing feeling ran from his chest, through his stomach, to his knees.


    Shit, I said that, he thought. He worried about Ivendir''s reaction but he was glad he finally spat it out.


    "Was Brymir less insane? Or any other king or queen?" asked Ivendir and took a step aside. "Here, in our position, trust is in short supply."


    Feeling his eyes directed at her, Hefri pursed her lips and lowered her eyebrows.


    "Hefri," he said in a compassionate tone, looking at her like a worried father looks at his child. "Think about that."


    What part of it was my test? wondered Hefri. Standing face to face with the king, she narrowed her eyes. She tried to think logically before but now the Ivendir''s words took her aback. Nothing in his behaviour made sense and she had no idea how to react. What if I haven¡¯t got my test yet?


    "I will give you a chance, Hefri," said Ivendir. "Or even... both of you. Your last chance." He sighed with effort and drooped his shoulders."Please, don''t waste it. You''re both clever and strong." He shook his head, averting his gaze. He didn''t know anyone else who could protect his world. Currently there was no good candidate for a new Vardir Commander, let alone for three of them. Ivendir lowered his head.


    He added quietly, "I don''t want to lose you."


    Hefri glared at him, breathing loudly. "Really? What am I supposed to do?" she hissed, crossing her arms and clutching her fingers on her sleeves. "Jump from the tower? Put a gun to my head with hope that it''s not loaded?"


    "Don''t worry, Hefri," Ivendir interrupted, digging his hands in his pockets. "It''s a simple task." His sight warily headed towards Erilaz. "Erilaz can help you too."


    Ivendir took a gun and a LiqWatch from his pocket. He held the gun out to Hefri. She still rumpled the sleeves of her dress, and her disdainful expression remained on her face like a stone mask.


    "Teamwork," said Ivendir, hesitantly nudging Hefri''s forearm with the tip of the gun.


    "Is that a real gun?" she asked without any dose of respect towards her superior, "Or you''re messing with us?"


    Ivendir shuffled his boot against the floor. "Real like this stone we''re standing on." Seeing no reaction, he tensed his lips and sighed. "Take. That," he ordered slowly and clearly.


    Hefri grabbed the gun. Without touching the trigger, she directed it towards the ground as if it was a piece of burning coal.


    Ivendir turned towards Erilaz. He held the LiqWatch in his trembling fingers, looking knowingly at Vardir. Erilaz only snorted with a smirk.


    "The device unlocks the gun," explained Ivendir. "And the gun does what guns do."


    With one lightning-fast move Erilaz pulled the device from Ivendir''s hand. The guards impulsively grabbed their weapons.


    Ivendir stood motionlessly for a few seconds, examining the Vardirs¡¯ reactions. They only watched him like two wild beasts locked in a cage. Even though he was surrounded by guards, he still felt respect for them. The aura of two massive Celestians sent a shiver down his spine again. He thought he is nothing against them and nothing without them.


    Ivendir reached his hand towards the door, mimicking a welcoming gesture. "Come on," he said, raising the corner of his mouth at a push.

 CHAPTER 8.2. Kill the traitor

    They entered Andvari''s cell. Ivendir stopped at the door and the rest marched deeper.


    Andvari sat in the middle of the cell with his legs crossed and his hands behind his back. He gazed at the wall with completely empty eyes. They didn''t express any fear, anger or surprise at the sight of his friends. He wore white pants and long-sleeve with neon-yellow stripes. The collar around his neck could explode if it got damaged or if he attacked the guards. His dreadlocks had no beads, and they were tied carelessly. The eyebrow piercing and the earring were also taken.


    "Now, you have to prove that you''re not like him," ordered Ivendir, leaning against the massive door.


    Erilaz clenched his fists, preparing to say something. Hefri snorted with disdain and glared at Ivendir.


    "You expect us to kill our friend?" she asked, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes. She spread her arms and gazed at the floor. "Erilaz is right. You''re insane."


    "Andvari, is that true?" Erilaz spoke up. In that moment between the question and the answer, he heard how his blood soughs in his head and his heart rapidly thumps in his chest. The last time he felt a paralysis like that was when his father got shot. "No" was the only word he wanted to hear.


    Only then Andvari raised his blank stare. His expression resembled the face of a lobotomy victim. He breathed steadily, almost like a machine.


    He said in a soft voice, "In this one and only case he is honest."


    "But why?" asked Hefri, and the desolation replaced her previous composure. Her wide open eyes shimmered with fear and desperation sounded in her voice. "What..." Averting her sight, she gulped as if she had eaten a spoon of sand.


    Erilaz only stared at the floor with a chaotic mass of different thoughts raging in his head.


    "Me or him," said Ivendir, carefully watching the reactions and body language of the Vardir Commanders. He considered it both horrifying and fascinating. He didn''t feel pity anymore. The king finally accepted the treason of his trusted warrior. He quelled the last remains of sympathy for Andvari. The sense of guilt overwhelmed him every time he caused somebody''s death but this time he approached the execution with peace of mind.


    "Simple choice, right?" he asked.


    Hefri opened her mouth, trying to find any sensible word but the words stuck in her throat.


    Erilaz exhaled slowly. Despite the dull headache, he collected himself and sorted his thoughts out. He couldn''t lose his friend, and he didn''t care about the new, false king and his decisions. That might have cost him his life, but he would never forgive himself the lack of any reaction.


    He nudged Hefri.


    "Him," he whispered, glancing at Ivendir.


    She nodded despite the dread in her eyes.


    Erilaz tapped the icon on the LiqWatch. Hefri lifted the gun.


    Andvari raised his eyes to see them one last time. Even with the gun directed at his head, he remained mentally absent. He forced himself to give his friends a feeble smile.


    "Kill the traitor," he muttered.


    "We will," said Hefri.


    She swirled around so quickly that her blue dress spread like the waves in a maelstrom. Aiming at Ivendir, she pulled the trigger. The gun only clicked. Engulfed by fury and hatred, she squeezed the trigger with all her might. It clicked again. With mounting panic she began to frantically push the trigger over and over again but the only sound that echoed in the room was a thin, quiet click.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Unimpressed, Ivendir still stood in the same spot, watching the incident with disdain and curiosity.


    The fright struck Hefri like a rockfall. The dull constriction pierced her chest and stomach. Her hands and knees began to tremble as if she was getting an epileptic attack. She felt as if imaginary ice had frozen all her body cells. The only voluntary move she could make was looking around with terror-stricken eyes.


    Ivendir shrugged. "What? You think I''m stupid enough to give you an unlocked gun?"


    All three Vardir only stared at him like hyperrealistic statues carved by a mad artist.


    "It''s blocked," explained Ivendir, "it can only shoot in one direction." He glanced at Andvari. "Come on and try it yourself."


    Hefri''s body seemed to be frozen in time and space. The sole signs of life she expressed were the rapid breath and a drop of sweat on her forehead.


    Erilaz stepped back. The guards raised their guns in a blink, aiming at his friends and him. It was the first time he felt like a trapped animal. He always towered over other Helvettians, inspiring respect and sometimes even awe among them but now he was nothing more than a prisoner. He narrowed his eyebrows, glaring at the guards with aversion.


    This way he concealed the helplessness and desperation. He wanted to seem powerful and adamant to the very end. He had no idea how long he could keep up appearances as the panic was surging in his veins and strangling his heart.


    Hefri regained control over her body. Even though the waves of anxiety still pierced her muscles, she took a deep breath and shook her head.


    "Erilaz was right," she hissed, glaring at the king. "You''re insane!"


    Ivendir only gave her a compassionate look and said, "Take them..."


    The guards handcuffed Erilaz and Hefri. Even though the guards had guns, they still moved carefully around two of the greatest warriors on Helvetto. Their body language subtly unveiled a primal fear. They behaved as if their bulletproof vests, huge bullets and years of training were nothing against the three, almost godlike creatures.


    Erilaz sensed their fright too, but it didn''t let him feel any pride or superiority. Instead, he began to zone out for a moment.


    Hefri and a few guards left the room first. Andvari was next. Before Erilaz could think about anything, the guards yanked him and led him towards the exit. He snapped out when Ivendir grabbed his arm.


    "You know what?" hissed the king, leaning towards Erilaz. After a heavy, weary sigh, he continued, "I don''t regret killing Brymir."


    "What?!" growled Erilaz, trying to charge at the king. The guards tightened their grasp and dragged him away.


    Ivendir looked at the floor. "It hurt at the beginning but was necessary," he added in a quiet, almost exhausted voice. "He wanted stagnancy, I wanted progress. The Moryans just helped me a bit."


    Erilaz lost his voice again. He barely breathed in the chilly, stifling air as his throat constricted and his lungs turned stiff. And even so, he wouldn''t be able to find the right words. Nothing could express the hatred in its purest form, the fury, that overwhelmed his muscles and nerves, and the unspeakable disdain. He lowered his head, not only because his neck and spine faltered, but also because he couldn''t look at this atrocious creature. The guards pulled him towards the exit, but he didn''t resist. His knees felt like they weren¡¯t his own. He just automatically took one step after another as if there was no floor under him.


    Luckily for him, the primitive part of his brain cut him out from the real world, desperately trying to save his sanity.


    "Don''t worry." Ivendir looked at him with hopeful but also dismal eyes. "Helvetto will prevail."


    A soft, pleasant lightness stroked his heart. He finally got the truth off his chest. Living in this illusion was for him like forcing his way through quicksand. It devoured his mind piece by piece, gradually draining him of his life force. Now he had nothing to lose. Erilaz didn''t have much time left, and he was locked in the most secured prison on this planet so this information would remain just between them.


    When the last guard left the room, Ivendir poked up after them.


    "Wait," he called.


    The guards halted and turned towards him.


    "Don''t kill them yet. I just thought about something." He walked out of the room with his arms crossed. "I should give a lesson to anyone else who may want to repeat their feat," he explained in a calm voice. "Since they''re Vardir, the message would be powerful enough..." He smiled sadly, glancing at the floor. After a moment he raised his eyes and ordered, "Jail them and give me a few hours. I have to gather a few big shots."


    The guards nodded and moved on.


    Ivendir leant against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief. All tension that gathered in his muscles left his body, leaving the exaggerated feeling of serenity and fulfilment. He expected this night to be the first time in a long time when he could sleep peacefully.


    He turned around and headed towards the exit.


    "Who knows what the others are planning to do?" he whispered to himself.

 CHAPTER 9.1. They pledged it

    Bjarni Arnorsson trotted across the castle corridors, holding his LiqWatch close to his mouth. The pale face and frightened look weren''t common for a brave Militia Commander. His clenched fist trembled while he awaited for the response. The yellow icon seemed to flicker for eternity on his LiqWatch screen.


    Hiding his drone in the air duct, he watched the Vardir commanders all along. Since he was an important official with connections, he knew much about the security in this prison and he knew how to get around it. His drone was slightly bigger than a common fly, and it looked like a piece of dust on the radars.


    As the yellow icon turned green, Arnorsson hissed to the microphone, "Ermdahr? Are you here?"


    "What is going on?" asked Ermdahr. "Your breath sounds like you¡¯re swimming through the Northern Ocean."


    Arnorsson quickly looked around with the impression of a thousand eyes staring at him. "I found Andvari. Erilaz and Hefri are in trouble too," he whispered.


    "So they got Andvari..."


    "Yes." Arnorsson stopped behind a pillar and wiped the sweat from his face. "The other Commanders too."


    "How?" wondered Ermdahr, his voice sounding increasingly uneasy. "Erilaz and Hefri weren''t in on it..."


    Arnorsson glanced behind the pillar. "Things got complicated." He took a deep breath to calm down. Schizing out wasn''t his common trait but when the lives of his colleagues were at stake, he forgot himself. "They''re in the eastern wing and Ivendir wants to execute them!"


    "Damn it!" growled Ermdahr. "What should we do?"


    Narrowing his eyebrows, Arnorsson leant even closer to the LiqWatch. "I thought you would figure something out!"


    Ermdahr sighed. "Let me think."


    "Nevermind." Arnorsson swung his hand. "Do you know how to access Andvari''s chamber?"


    "Yeah. Find someone who can break the codes. And then uncover ourselves because we don''t have any hackers who can do that."


    Arnorsson bit his lower lip, forming some angry response in his head.


    "Wait," Ermdahr interrupted. "Erilaz accidentally told me he had Andvari''s emergency code... And his captains, including me, have a code to Erilaz''s chamber," he explained and after a moment of silence, he added, "Why do you need to break in there?"


    Arnorsson got himself together. He thought it''s very unprofessional to panic and shake like an electrocuted jellyfish. He straightened his back and lifted his head. "He builds some cool stuff.... Little robots, drones..." He raised the corner of his mouth. "I hope he won''t be angry if we use it."


    Ermdahr grunted, thinking about the plan.


    "And," added Arnorsson, "I don''t know how much time we have. A few hours maybe." As he tightened his grip, the joints in his fingers cracked. "Go and find the code!" he hissed.


    This situation drained Ivendir of all remaining energy. When he entered his chamber, he slumped on his bed right away. He didn''t even check if all his weapons are hidden in their correct places.


    After a several dozen minutes of flimsy rest, the intrusive visions encroached upon his mind again.


    They betrayed me, he thought, wiping his forehead. "All three of them." His heart rate sped up. The Royal Commanders, those who were supposed to fight for the king.


    He opened his eyes.


    They pledged it!


    Sighing with effort, he directed his sight towards the painting on the wall. The realistic depiction of younger King Brymir gently looked at him as if it wanted to soothe his nerves. It worked. The burden seemed to slither down from Ivendir''s chest.


    True. They pledged. He averted his gaze with the feeling of disappointment. To you.


    A few days ago, when the investigation had formally ended, Ivendir decided to preserve the glass from Brymir''s helmet. He cut it in the shape of a diamond and framed it. He hung this tiny charm on the frame of his beloved painting. Even though its amethyst surface was scratched, it still reflected the sunbeams like during its glory days.


    Ivendir turned to the side and rested his head on his forearms. See, Brymir, he said in his mind, I told Erilaz I don''t regret killing you.


    As the pulse of illusory pain pierced his nerves, he clenched his fingers on the pillow. The bed underneath him suddenly felt stiff and rough. He grunted as if a real thorn slit his skin. The memories of his cousin''s death began to creep into his mind again.


    I can''t regret it, he told himself, narrowing his eyebrows. I did what I had to do to make this planet prosper and progress. Everything could''ve been so simple if only you would¡¯ve listened to me.


    The tension in his muscles became unbearable. His body trembled when the twinges of anxiety ran through him wave by wave.


    He got up. The sudden move made his brain feel like a sponge, and the colourful spots appeared in his visual field.


    I told you to try new ideas, build and produce more, make new alliances... When his sight cleared up, he glared at the painting. Just because the current system works doesn''t mean we can''t improve it.


    Ivendir drooped his shoulders and averted his eyes. Some officials were against his candidature for an heir to the throne. They considered him too impulsive, too idealistic and just inexperienced. In short, he was not good enough in their opinion. The rational part of his brain agreed with them.


    He slammed his fists on his knees.


    "And now I''m here, on the very edge, just because I made one wrong move!" he yelled.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Slowly exhaling, he relaxed his hands. The previous events sucked his life force out so he had no energy to even get angry at himself.


    "The Moryans weren''t the honest allies," he whispered, gazing at the floor. "Maybe you were right? Perhaps opening up to the world isn''t the right way to go?"


    He glanced at the picture. The motionless green eyes of his cousin still observed him. Ivendir hoped it would cleanse his mind and let him break from the circle of pointless thoughts.


    "Is there any honest ally?" he asked. "Here and now, where everyone can betray me, just like the three Vardir?"


    His eyes opened wider and his pointy eyes moved, trying to catch any unusual sound. The thought he feared the most had come.


    Even Thelrim, he added in his mind. Is he going to protect my life for the highest price?


    He glanced towards the hall. A barely audible buzz reached his strained ears. Holding his breath and narrowing his eyes, he listened intently. The buzz slowly moved towards the bathroom and fell silent.


    A tremendous fright seemed to pound on his stomach similarly to a battering ram. The unreal pain paralysed him. The few seconds of sitting motionlessly felt like long hours to him but he couldn''t even move his pinky finger. The thing buzzed again.


    This sobered him up and evoked the primal survival instinct within him. With blood swooshing hollowly in his head, he reached under the mattress. He held his breath to focus on this one simple task. He moved his hand with the utmost caution to avoid making any noise. The lack of air made his head dazed but he was too petrified to breathe in.


    He felt a cold, hard item and grabbed it. It let him finally inhale the air filled with the smell of fresh greenery. The sound was approaching his room. Ivendir slid the gun from under the mattress. With one rapid move he unlocked it and aimed towards the entrance. All his vital functions stopped for a split-second.


    A tiny fly swirled across the hall and landed on the floor. Ivendir exhaled with relief, relaxing his muscles. He giggled without a hint of amusement. His own reaction appeared ridiculous to him.


    In fact... he risked three times, he thought, still smiling helplessly. Three times that I could''ve died.


    Ivendir stood up, grunting with effort. His body felt heavy as if it was cast in lead and blood pulsed quietly in his brain.


    He can''t do it. I know it.


    The fly dashed towards the window. It pounded at the glass a few times, whirled in front of the dark blue curtains and lunged outside. Ivendir approached the window. He tapped an icon on the screen next to the window frame. The cogs in the wall crackled softly, and a mosquito net slid down.


    He pledged. To me, he assured himself, observing the tree branches swaying in the gentle wind. And to no one else.


    He turned around.


    ...as far as I know.


    Sighing, he shook his head. Brymir''s painted gaze reached him again. Ivendir turned his head towards the painting and narrowed his eyes. The hopeful atmosphere emanating from the picture reached him too. He directed his sight at the depiction of his younger self. The eyes of fourteen-year-old Ivendir looked so calm and clever, and his relaxed posture was unspotted by fear or anxiety.


    Ivendir scratched his chin.


    If I''m already doomed, why shouldn''t I try to stop being the victim? he wondered. The two cousins in the panting only turned a deaf ear to his musings.


    That reminded him of the first assassination attempt he survived when he was fifteen. He had forearm surgery, and he needed to stay in the medical wing till morning. The long, white nightshirt and loose pants made him resemble a ghost. A semi-transparent, bluish substance covered his forearm to help his bones heal up faster, and he held a cup of warm tea in the other hand, gazing at the window. The sun almost completely hid behind the mountains, leaving only a golden glow on Ivendir''s face and sharp, long shadows behind him.


    The shock he experienced and the medicine he received put him in a daze. His crinkled eyes stared at one vague point and his pupils reacted to the light with delay. His auburn hair was tied in a messy ponytail and a few loose strands hung in front of his face.


    The door to his room opened, and the steps behind him sounded louder and louder but he didn''t react. He still stood motionlessly without a single thought in his mind.


    "Ivendir?" asked Brymir, reaching his hand towards his cousin''s shoulder.


    Ivendir sprung up with a gasp of fright. The cup fell out of his hand. It clattered, hitting the floor and the tea spilled around it.


    "Brymir?" asked Ivendir quietly as if there was a hidden eavesdropper nearby. His hunched posture and his eyes wide open revealed the dread that paralysed him for a moment. "You surprised me..."


    Brymir looked at the floor with a worried expression. "Sorry, I forgot."


    Ivendir snorted, smiling desperately, and shook his head. "That''s so stupid," he said and pointed at the window. "Every time I see or hear something weird, I get scared like a child."


    Brymir put his hand on Ivendir''s arm. Ivendir only glanced at him but the warm, gentle grip let him feel slightly safer.


    "It''s not stupid, somebody tried to kill you three days ago," explained Brymir, hiding his concern behind a serene gaze. "You have a right to be squeamish," he added, raising the corner of his mouth.


    Ivendir forced himself to smile back but his eyes were expressionless. The mix of painkillers, tranquillisers and regenerating meds stupefied him whenever he made any sudden move or felt any intense emotion.


    "I''ve never seen you be scared before." He tilted his head questioningly. "How do you do it?"


    Averting his eyes, Brymir sighed and scratched his neck. "Well... it''s not that I''m never afraid. I just..." he began, looking around. "Hm... When I''m afraid, I''m trying to think about the future."


    Ivendir rubbed his eyes. Despite the overwhelming sleepiness, he tensed his ears and listened as Brymir continued.


    "Fear and bravery are temporary, but their consequences," explained Brymir and shook his head, "they may drag on for your whole life."


    Ivendir nodded, even though he didn''t fully comprehend his older cousin¡¯s meaning. His eyelids became heavier and heavier, and a dull, monotonous sough filled his head. He propped his chin, directing his gaze at Brymir''s face.


    "How''s your arm?" asked Brymir, putting his hand on Ivendir''s shoulder.


    "I got some strong regenerating meds... and I''m sleepy," mumbled Ivendir, rubbing his eyes again. "You know what?" He raised his head. "When I get better, I will get a tattoo with the Aeonian Serpent on this arm." He drew a wavy line with his finger over his broken forearm. Looking at Brymir''s joyful eyes, he added, "because its whole body regenerates so quickly."


    "Good idea." Brymir smiled. "Now I have to go," he said, and his expression gloomed, "I have to check if Erilaz sleeps well."


    He wanted to let go of Ivendir''s shoulder, but the younger cousin clutched his hand.


    "Now?" asked Ivendir in a quiet, feeble voice.


    Brymir stepped back and raised the corners of his mouth. "Now, but I''ll be back tomorrow."


    "Sure..." responded Ivendir. He followed Brymir with his eyes until the door slid shut.


    You were always brave. Ivendir tilted his head, staring at the painted Brymir.


    He could do better than that. Helvetto was his and he had to make it a better place for everyone. He wanted to take action, since sitting down and glancing suspiciously over his shoulder really wouldn''t help him achieve this goal. Brymir was always cautious but he wasn''t afraid to take measured risks.


    You feared nothing, thought Ivendir, smiling slightly, and I promised to be better than you.


    He giggled noiselessly. "Damn it, I am the king of this world," he said aloud. "Me, not some Moryan scum," he whispered, staring at the self-made pendant under the painting. The sun drifted above the roof, heading towards its midday position, so its rays couldn''t reach the glass diamond. Its soft, amethyst colour now became deeper and darker.


    "You would never let them feed on our resources," added the king, approaching the table. "...and you would never let our people suffer."


    Ivendir stood over the table, tensing and relaxing his fingers. His LiqWatch lied in front of him but he still wasn''t sure if he should take it. The conversation he was going to have fuelled his fear but he stifled the ache in his stomach and wiped his sweaty hands.


    He twisted his mouth and wrinkled his forehead. Helvetto is mine.


    He grabbed the device and turned it on. Tapping the icons on the screen, he chose the calling option. Standing with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed, he waited for the answer. The constriction in his stomach tried to escalate but he clenched his fists and ignored the cold shivers running down his spine.


    "Hello, Ivendir," said the voice from the device.


    Ivendir only smiled under his breath.


    The voice continued, "Do you finally have the payment?"

 CHAPTER 9.2. The price must be paid

    Three hours have passed. Erilaz, Hefri and Andvari spent this time sitting motionlessly on a firm bench and staring at the grey wall. The guards forced them to dress in white tracksuits with neon-yellow stripes. The collars around their necks were supposed to protect the prison staff. The guards also took Hefri''s hair clip and Erilaz''s earring.


    The three Commanders felt frozen in time. Their grey, dull room appeared surreal because they knew that no prisoner left a cell like that alive. When the stupefaction began to gradually fade, Hefri spoke up first.


    "Any ideas?"


    Erilaz didn''t react, still sitting with his legs curled up and his head resting on his knees.


    Andvari only glanced at her. "Ideas for what?"


    "For..." Hefri drooped her head, realising the absurdity of her words. "...the escape."


    Andvari snorted scornfully, averting his gaze. "Come on. Many dangerous criminals have tried breaking out of here, but none of them succeeded. Everyone on this planet knows that no individual can escape this place." He sighed, giggling. "Not even Vardir."


    Hefri twisted her mouth. The lack of Andvari''s will to live disgusted her.


    "There''s no escape from this cell," he continued, avoiding looking at her face. "Even if we could, the guards would get us on the way." He tapped at the collar. "If they don''t, our heads are gonna blow up... Oh, and they can hear us." He pointed with his chin at the corner of the cell. The tiny, dark hole in the wall hid a recording device. "They just don''t react because they know we can''t leave this cell."


    Andvari glared at Hefri, emphasizing each word, "We. Are. Dead."


    Hefri shrugged. "But what if we..."


    "No one," hissed Andvari, narrowing his eyes, "not a single person, not even the worst of the worst, have ever left this prison wing. We''re as good as dead."


    Hefri opened her mouth to respond, but she backed off. Observing the feeble glow lamp on the ceiling, she took a deep breath. When purple, pink and green shapes began to dance in her visual field, she blinked and rubbed her eyes.


    "Yeah, that makes no sense," she said. "We don''t know how much time we have. And how can we open the door? They even took my hair clip."


    Her hands flopped on her knees. The expression on her face turned blank, with just a faint smile remaining on her mouth. Once fierce and bright, her eyes stared now at the wall without even a sparkle of their old tenacity.


    Her thoughts wandered towards her lush, vibrant gardens. Breathing the stifling, cold air, she brought back the memories of fresh aromas of flowers and fruits. The spreading petals and sweet juices lured many colourful butterflies and other insects. Squirrel-like rodents, birds and avian reptiles loved building their safe nests in the dwarf trees. Hefri couldn''t imagine the end of it.


    "I was supposed to check my plants tomorrow," she said. "Some of them are a very rare species. They will die without weekly manual fertilisation."


    Andvari nodded. His chamber was full of unfinished projects too. Some of them needed only fit-out works while others were just a bunch of wires and cogwheels. They stood on shelves or rested in boxes somewhere in his storeroom. The layer of dust grew thicker and thicker on them and there was no one to dust them off.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "I had to start building my new machine. I planned to make a little bomb carrier," he explained, clenching his fingers on the edge of the bench. "Small like my finger, as fast as the large land carriers... and the bombs are similar to berries." He giggled noiselessly. "So I called them Murderberries." After a long, deep breath, he added, "Yeah, I wasn''t too sober."


    Hefri smiled under her breath too, even though she didn''t feel joy or any other emotion. She only longed for her quiet, cosy gardens.


    Andvari looked at her. "Maybe one day I would have built one for your plants." He scratched his chin. "A mechanical insect or something like..."


    He fell silent, shaking his head. His knuckles turned white as he clutched the edge of the seat with all his strength.


    Hefri tilted her head, glancing at him questioningly. His breath became heavy and harsh. He wrinkled his nose.


    "It''s unfair that you have to suffer for my mistake!" he growled, rapidly leaning forwards. All passion he managed to hide finally broke loose. The veins of his eyes turned glary red as the ferocity broke loose on his face.


    Hefri and Erilaz looked at him with confusion.


    "If that damned robot lizard hadn''t glitch, we wouldn''t have that trouble!" Andvari yelled towards the empty wall. Panting throatily, he stood up with his fists clenched. "Your death is my fault!"


    Erilaz narrowed his eyes. Taking a deep, nervous breath, he gripped his knees. He had no idea how to react to this display of desperation and helplessness. His own thoughts roamed in his mind, giving him a sharp headache. In that state, when the pain radiated over his whole upper-body, he could say that one unwanted word and make things even worse. Inciting his friend''s temper tantrum could help no one, so he decided that the best thing he can do is to shut up.


    "You both die because of me!" Andvari punched the wall. "Because I wasn''t clever enough!"


    Hefri seemed to share the same view as Erilaz. She couldn''t find the right words to comfort her friend, and her throat cramped up anyways. She forced her muscles to swallow the clump of dense saliva and the only noise she made was a short gasp.


    Andvari attacked the wall again. "You both die because of me! Because I wasn''t clever enough!"


    With every punch his knuckles became more red but he ignored the searing pain.


    "I wasted your lives!" he shouted in a faltering voice. The wrath in his eyes gave way to sorrow and terror. "It''s my mistake!"


    Hefri averted her gaze. She stared at the floor as the banging sounds continued.


    Andvari stood still for a moment. His chest heaved rapidly when he panted and gasped. Red circles spread over his cheeks, and droplets of sweat dripped down his forehead. The skin scraped from his knuckles released a few drops of blood.


    The manic heartbeat and pulsating headache only separated him from reality even further. The mixture of fury and dread cleansed his mind from all remaining thoughts. He gave himself over to the primitive instincts. The pain surging in his arm made him lift his bleeding fist up and aim at the wall.


    "Only mine!"


    He swung his hand but Hefri blocked the punch. Panting and grunting, he raised his weary eyes at her. Hefri stood in front of him with her lips contorted, and her eyes expressed resignation.


    She clenched her fingers on his fists and snarled, "Aiming at Ivendir was our decision."


    In response, Andvari sighed and averted his eyes.


    Wrinkling her nose, she craned her neck to get closer to Andvari''s face.


    "I made it," she hissed. "Erilaz made it... It was our decision."


    She released him and walked towards her bench. She wiped her hand, leaving red smudges on her white pants, and sat down with her knees curled up. She embraced her legs and rested her head on her knees. Rethinking this choice, Hefri couldn''t answer herself if she acted right. Only then she remembered her parents and the consequences that may await them. Her job let them enjoy benefits, and the cash infusions saved her father''s life many times. On the other hand, she couldn''t imagine betraying her best friends.


    Hefri sighed and rubbed her eyes. The thoughts that fought in her mind like two starving scavengers stirred up an annoying headache. Hefri twisted her mouth and tightened her eyelids when the pain pierced her skull wave by wave. The sharp, white light made her eyes sting. She gasped and lied on the bench, facing the wall.


    Meanwhile, Andvari slumped down and sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. He stared at the ceiling, resting his elbow on his knee. The adrenaline rushing in his veins subsided, giving way to pain in his arms and burning around his knuckles. He took a deep breath and drooped his head.

 CHAPTER 10.1. A right to die

    At that moment Andvari realised the bleakness of his situation. He was nothing more than a rat in a trap. Despite being physically the strongest Vardir, he couldn''t lift his head to look at his friends who suffered because of him. He accepted his own fate but the death looming over his friends was too much for him. He could tangibly feel the dampness of the imaginary blood on his hands. There was no flicker of chance that he could live with it. The guilt weighing on him would finish him off sooner or later.


    He propped his head and tightened his fingers. Panting harshly, he imagined how Ivendir proudly watches the execution of the three Vardir commanders. The new king will be happy with the lesson he planned to give to all his enemies. If the Vardir Commanders die like feeble pigs, no one will dare to stand against him. That way Ivendir will build his own dream world without looking at his people''s needs and problems. Helvetto will be his.


    Mounting fury began to take place of the previous despair. Andvari clenched his teeth, when the wrath fought a battle with submission and desperation.


    His veins burned with adrenaline again. The heart in his chest pounded wildly, fueling the explosive mixture of woe and vindictiveness. He targeted the cracky tile on the floor. As he clenched his fist, the sense of fulfilment beamed in his whole body.


    He slammed the floor, hissing with pain. The crack in the tile widened. He dug his nails in it, mimicking a furious bird of prey. Pulling and scratching, he tore a shard off the tile. For some unaccountable reason, a sick euphoria overwhelmed him, tickling his stomach like a hairy butterfly.


    "I won''t give him any satisfaction," he hissed and stabbed his forearm with the shard.


    He slid the shard out of his tissues. Blood slowly flowed out of the shallow wound like water from the desert spring. Engulfed in maniac fury, he didn''t feel any pain. Quick death and contradictory satisfaction became the only treasures he chased now.


    "There will be no lesson for others..." he growled and stabbed himself again.


    Hearing his words interrupted by gasping and grunting, Hefri rolled over to the other side. The view of ruby streams on her friend''s arm made her heart pound harder.


    "What are you doing?" she asked nervously, opening her eyes wider.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Andvari stopped, squeezing the shard in his hand. He still stared at his forearm, observing how the puddle of blood spreads under him.


    "I''m... I''m choosing to die my own way," he said blankly. "That''s the last remnant of freedom I have left."


    He lifted his hand, aiming at his forearm. "I won''t let him win!" he yelled.


    "Wait!" called Hefri, reaching her hand towards him. She got up so quickly that green and purple circles danced in her visual field.


    Andvari glanced at her questioningly. After five seconds without an answer, he dug the shard into his body.


    No, thought Hefri and averted her eyes. We''ll be dead sooner or later. Let him choose that one thing.


    A spasm of unreal pain pierced her muscles but she shook her head. Her hope for the rescue was like a parasite poisoning her brain. No one escaped this place and there were no reasons to think otherwise.


    Erilaz watched these scenes in silence. All this time he engulfed himself in hate and disdain towards Ivendir. Erilaz wanted to solve this like a warrior: stand face to face with his enemy and use brutal force to show him who he is messing with. However, the king was smarter, and all these Vardir skills turned out to be useless. Physically weaker Ivendir defeated not only him, but also two other Vardir Commanders. The last time Erilaz felt so powerless was when his father got shot. He could only stand and watch.


    Just like now I have to watch him riddle his arm, thought Erilaz. He wanted to avert his gaze from this bloody mess but some insane fascination didn''t let him do it. He winced as Andvari stabbed himself again. A wave of pain ran through Erilaz''s hands from fingertips to shoulders. His heart ached as if a melting rod pierced it.


    He gasped, clenching his teeth, and said to himself, Do it. Ivendir cannot win.


    He hoped that this thought would soothe his distress but every mention of Ivendir only stirred up his suffering. With every rapid heartbeat the burning feeling in his chest accreted, and violent spasms contorted his stomach.


    We will die... but at least not by his hand.


    When Andvari stopped for a moment, Erilaz looked closely at his forearm. Since the shard was small and blunt, it left only shallow lacerated wounds.


    The contents of Erilaz''s stomach swirled and the sour liquids jarred his throat. Exhaling carefully, he rested his forehead on his knees and embraced his belly.


    The murderer of my father... can''t win.


    A few deep breaths settled down his stomach but his hands still trembled. He recalled the memory of his father once more. The kingslayer will roam freely and he can do nothing about it.


    The agonising spite get a word in edgewise. Erilaz gripped his blouse, pushing his knees with his head. He grunted furiously with every breath, and the veins in his hands resembled blue-green, pulsating roots. Tensing his fingers on his blouse, he imagined how his hands could grab Ivendir. A Vardir Commander could easily scrunch up the false king''s neck, rip his trachea and shatter his spine.


    The more he thought about the impossible revenge on Ivendir, the more excruciating pain he felt. It pinched his tear ducts, so he closed his eyes tighter.


    The scum of this earth can''t win!

 CHAPTER 10.2. Going crazy?

    "Andvari?" asked Hefri to break the draining silence.


    Andvari froze. Staring at the floor, he moved his ears. After a few seconds he understood who calls him.


    "What?" he said.


    "I won''t let him win either," muttered Hefri. She raised her eyes, trying to ignore the gruesome scene. "Thanks for everything."


    Sighing, she lowered her head. She couldn''t look any longer at her friend, who was about to bleed out to death soon.


    Frail tears welled up around her eyelids but she lifted the corner of her mouth. "Even for that punch in my nose," she stuttered.


    The clomp in her throat stifled her voice and suppressed her breath. Her jaw trembled when she struggled to restrain the tears. She didn''t think much about her own death because she worried about Andvari, and then about Erilaz. They both had to depart from this world in such a dishonourable way. They were doomed to suffer for hours before they bleed out or before the guards charge in. The only tool they had was a shard from the floor that couldn''t quickly slash their veins.


    When the horrific visions drained all her vital energy, she lost control over her hands and legs. Her limbs trembled when she struggled to keep them still. Whenever she took a breath, her nose and throat seared as if she was swallowing sulphuric acid. A few drops dripped from her nose. She wiped her mouth on her knee and tightened her eyelids.


    Andvari, you better hurry up! she rushed him in her mind, pressing her knees with her forehead.


    Erilaz stealthily covered his ears and gazed at the wall. All noises sounded too loud and strident to him. He listened intently to the blood swooshing in his brain and the heart that rammed his ribs. The cacophony of sounds from his body let him lose himself for a minute before the bench under him began to feel too hard. He fidgeted and scratched his back. Despite correcting his hunched position, his joints and nerves still pulsated with dull pain. His hands trembled for quite some time, making his muscles tingle as if hundreds of ants bit his flesh.


    When he couldn''t move his numb toes, he sat with his legs stretched out. The warm feeling spread to his knees and pelvis but once he regained sensation in his body, a few harsh impulses ran through his nerves. As they faded, the aching overwhelmed his limbs again.


    So that''s how going crazy looks like... he told himself. No matter what position he took, his body couldn''t stop trembling.


    He pressed the wall with his back. It left a soothing, limp sensation in his torso.


    What''s next? he wondered, closing his eyes. When do I start hearing voices? Or seeing things?


    He sat with his back bent. The effort he put in pressing the wall took his breath away. He clenched his fists, expanding his lungs with all his strength until the burning ache stopped him.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Am I dying? Now? No...


    Erilaz''s primal instinct took over his mind. The deepest dread overwhelmed him, jamming his trachea. His eyes ran all over the room but wherever he stared, he felt a presence behind his back. His stunned brain interpreted it as death itself. He gripped and tugged his lethal collar to make some space for the air. The harder he panted, the less power he had in his muscles. The collar slipped out of his wet fingers. Sweat soaked his back, leaving a large, grey spot.


    Even after he witnessed the gruesome death of his father, he couldn''t recall a similar fear. It put down roots in his brain, far beyond the rational part of his mind. The dread in him reached his most primitive instincts, forcing him to imagine the dark tunnel without any light in it.


    No! Shit, not yet! he screamed in his mind, trying to outshout the echo of his raging heartbeat.


    When something brushed against his back, he jumped to his feet. Hefri and Andvari froze, staring at him with surprise. Erilaz leant against the wall to keep his balance. The hyperventilation made him feel as if he just drank a large bottle of vodka. His skull felt spongy, and his brain floated inertly inside. The view of grey horizontal and vertical lines swayed in his eyes. His legs behaved like an independent organism that just struggled to support the unwanted mass.


    "What the... hell?" asked Erilaz, opening his eyes and appeasing his rapid breath.


    His friends didn''t respond. Erilaz turned around and bent over the bench. A little back pouch lied on the floor. He guessed this touched him a moment ago. He raised his head. There was a narrow air shaft under the ceiling. Erilaz rubbed his eyes, attempting to connect the dots. The pouch had to have fallen out of this hole.


    Moving sluggishly, he knelt on the floor and glanced under the bench. He grabbed the pouch and opened it.


    It contained a sizeable handful of black balls in the size of berries and a piece of paper. Erilaz unfolded the paper. Raising his eyebrows and blinking, he read the message.


    "Sorry for playing with your toys Andvari. Green triangle hatch. Then Xalmecka," he muttered under his breath, twisting his mouth. "Now... run?"


    Erilaz read this again. He shook his head. The next stage of madness had to finally reach him. "Seeing things..."


    He stood up and turned towards his friends.


    "Andvari, stop!" he called.


    "Let him do it!" growled Hefri, swaying in a hunched position.


    "No, look at this." Erilaz approached her. "There is a message and some... balls."


    At that moment Andvari froze. He moved his ears, questioning his senses. Opening his eyes wider, he stared at the thing that Erilaz held in his bluish hands. Andvari lifted himself from the floor and dropped the shard. Tilting his head, he peeked inside the pouch.


    "Murderberries!" he cried.


    His friends looked at him questioningly.


    "...What?" asked Erilaz.


    Andvari''s previously dead eyes flared with fervour like a supernova. "I made them a few months ago. Little bombs. I called them murderberries," he recited, gasping after every sentence.


    Hefri jumped from the bench. "What are you doing?" she whispered, narrowing her eyes.


    Andvari grasped his bleeding forearm. "There is hope," he breathed, pulling the pouch out of Erilaz''s hand. "Just a little hope... but that''s something!" he added, and his voice regained its vibrancy.


    Hefri shook her head, wincing with contempt. "You think we can escape this place? Even with your toys?"


    "No." Andvari poured out a few balls on his hand. "But we can die trying." He looked at her and shrugged. "It''s still something, right?"


    Hefri just arranged a response in her mind, but Andvari bundled her a handful of bombs.


    "Take some," he instructed, tapping the bomb with his nail. "Stick your nails into them and throw."


    Erilaz opened his mouth to ask for some more instructions when loud, fast steps echoed in the corridor.


    "They saw us," hissed Andvari. He spread his arms, blocking his friends'' way. He lowered his eyebrows, boring his eyes into the door and tensing his ears. "Brace yourselves..."

 CHAPTER 11.1. A green triangle

    The door opened. A muffled voice from the depths of the corridor called, "You..."


    A roaring explosion interrupted him. Body parts and scraps of uniforms soared in the air in a cloud of black smoke. When the bloody haze settled on the floor, and the red mush stuck to the walls and ceiling, Andvari darted out.


    "Run!" he ordered. "Pick up their weapons!"


    He stopped for three seconds, his eyes scanning the floor. The smell of burned meat, melted fabric and half-digested meals clawed his throat and pinched his stomach. Among the chunks of flesh in all shades of red and tattered patches of clothing, he spotted the guard''s hand with a smoky LiqWatch around its wrist. He picked the hand up. As he straightened up his back, a flickering swarm of colourful circles swirled in front of him. He grunted and blinked to get rid of the dizziness. Grabbing a rifle on the fly, he sprinted after his friends, jumping over puddles of gore and dismembered bodies.


    No alarm? he wondered. Weird.


    Hiding behind the wall at the end of the narrow corridor, Erilaz and Hefri looked out for the approaching guards. They managed to find three working weapons, and Hefri took a scratched helmet. Since there was no alarm, only the guards who heard the explosion nervously glanced around, speaking to their communicators.


    Andvari joined them. His finger tapped rapidly at the LiqWatch like a hungry woodpecker.


    "What''s the holdup?" whispered Erilaz.


    "I''m trying to keep your head," answered Andvari, knocking his temple. "Literally."


    "They figured it out!" hissed Hefri, clenching the gun in her hands.


    Andvari found an icon that deactivated the collars. He touched the fingerprint reader with the torn off hand. The icon glowed green and the collar around his neck clicked.


    Hefri recoiled and she became flustered. "They''re coming!"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Andvari stripped the collar off his neck. He tapped the next two icons. As they turned green, he called, "Done!"


    At that moment a blast of gunfire echoed in the corridor. Andvari narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth when the ear-piercing roar reached his ears. He lifted his gun, ready to fight back, when the diode on his collar began to blink.


    "Oh, shit!" he yelled, opening his eyes wider. "Guys! The collars!"


    He threw the collar as far as he could. He winced as the sharp pain ran through his hand. The ripped skin burned and stung him, but he only growled and clenched his fist. He grabbed his arm to slow down the blood that dripped lazily from the wounds.


    Three fireballs shook the tunnels. The silence between the gunshots and the explosions sounded unusual to everyone who heard it. The guards expected a wailing alarm siren, flickering red lights or at least alerts on their LiqWatches. They had to depend on their skills and cleverness instead, hoping that the three greatest warriors on their planet will make a mistake.


    Hefri poked up from behind the wall first, coughing and wiping her cheeks. Her stomach flinched as the smoke and vomit-inducing smells filled the air.


    "Pretty clear. Come on," she said, waving her hand


    The three Vardir moved in single file. Erilaz protected the back, and Hefri, as the best shooter, led the group. Andvari stayed in the middle, weakening slightly every passing minute. They depended on their hearing most of the time.


    Whenever loud steps approached the corner, they threw a bomb or two. Their bullets didn''t kill most of the guards. The guards wore bulletproof vests and helmets but they still preferred to stay beyond the firing line.


    The alarm began to howl, and the red lights started flickering a few seconds later.


    "What''s the green triangle?" shouted Hefri, throwing a bomb. The explosion wiped out a group of guards but the gunshots still echoed behind her back. "An escape route?" She fired a few times to keep the guards at a distance. "Or a hiding spot?"


    "I think..." gasped Andvari, "it''s the rubbish chute." He took a few heavy breaths and added, "They''re all around."


    Hefri threw a bomb. "So where''s the nearest one?"


    "When we came here... I saw a few of them." He pointed forwards, gripping his wounded hand.


    He put all his energy into masking his giddiness. All corridors looked the same in his eyes. Their surface began to curve or merge with the walls, and amorphous, black forms loomed in front of him. The flickering lights and roaring alarm only made it worse.


    His sore eyes narrowed unwittingly, confining his visual field. The pulsating pain in his head let him focus only on two things: following his friends and occasionally attacking the guards. Every time his shoe touched the floor, the tiles under him felt liquid and heaving. Andvari pursed his lips and lowered his eyebrows. He speeded up, clenching his fists tighter. Blood loss couldn''t slow down the greatest warrior on this planet.

 CHAPTER 11.2. Just a few steps

    They passed a few meters more when they stumbled upon a guard crawling on the floor. Others lied motionlessly among the blown apart body parts, fluids and fragmented items.


    "Faster," the guard hissed to his communicator. "They escaped. The alarm... was late. They..."


    Hefri silenced him with a shot at his neck. She tensed her ears to inspect her surroundings. The steps sounded distant. She estimated that the group isn''t too large. The main defence forces still weren''t here. When they arrive, she would have a huge problem.


    "Guns!" called Erilaz, pointing upwards.


    Hefri raised her head.


    An automatic cannon slid out of the hole in the ceiling. It didn''t move. Neither did Hefri. The alarm screeched, but she still could hear a rapid pulse in her head. It was her heart that pumped warmed-up blood like an engine at full throttle. She held her breath until her lungs ached. Only then she took a slow sip of air. It soothed her lungs, but her whole body trembled with anticipation. She stared at the cannon all the time, but it took her a few seconds to notice one thing. The diode over the cannon was off.


    "At the next intersection..." Andvari swung his hand, leaning against the wall. "There was the triangle."


    Hefri twisted her mouth and shook her head. After these few seconds of passivity, her muscles and tendons trembled with anticipation to fling her into the fight. The cannon seemed to ignore her. Without waiting any longer, she threw a bomb. Erilaz did the same. Two explosions blasted in the distance and the sound of steps fell silent.


    "There is a lot of hatches," said Erilaz and ran after his friends.


    "But... they had a triangle," Andvari gasped out, tensing his fingers around his hand and narrowing his eyes. "Are there any other... green triangles?"


    Hefri covered him, shooting at the approaching guards. He sent a bomb towards the corner of the corridor.


    When the rumble and its echo quietened, Andvari added, "No? Good. The choice is simpler now."


    "Are you su..." began Hefri. She took another bomb when the ceiling cannons fired. They worked with a thirty seconds delay, devastating the corridor far behind Hefri''s back.


    "Go!" called Erilaz, looking around. Since the ear-splitting alarm began to wail, the Vardir Commanders couldn''t depend on their ears. Now they just fired short rounds to slow the guards down and threw the bombs.


    Hefri rushed ahead. The blare of cannons approached them with every second. As the distance between her and the corner of the corridor shortened, the goosebumps on her skin grew larger. It reminded her of her childhood, when she hunted dangerous creatures. The adrenaline, fervour and the sense of jeopardy felt the same and gave her the same satisfaction. She didn''t pay much attention to one difference¨Cnow she was the prey.


    A grenade rolled from behind the corner. Engulfed in the fighting zeal, Hefri focused on the hidden enemies, who could fire at her at any moment.


    "Hefri!" yelled Andvari and charged towards her.


    Hefri glanced behind. Andvari leapt forwards, gathering momentum. He kicked the grenade where it came from. The power he put in this strike sent him to the floor. He collapsed on his side, and ignoring the breathtaking pain in his whole body, he rolled away from the intersection.


    Hefri spun on her heel and sprinted towards Erilaz. Their Murderberries were no match for the guards'' grenades. The explosion knocked her off her feet and pierced her ears. She hit the floor, amortising the impact with her hands. Sharp pain pierced her bones and the searing skin on her palms turned red as if she grabbed a melting iron barehanded.


    The guards learned their lesson. Despite the disruptions in communication, they changed their strategy. Instead of blindly rushing forward, they fought the jailbreakers from a distance.


    Hefri instantly picked herself up to a kneeling position. The roaring of the alarm sounded distant in her mind. She narrowed her eyes and tensed her ears. Erilaz shouted something, but she couldn''t understand him. He pointed at her leg. A short but thick piece of metal stuck in her calf muscle. A thin, red circle began to form on the fabric around it.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Hefri ignored that. Gasping and wincing, she got up and picked her guns. Her little bombs scattered all around her, but she had no time to collect them. She sprinted forward but when she tried to move to the lead, Erilaz leant over her.


    "I''ll go first!" he yelled into her ear.


    Hefri nodded and ran after Andvari, shooting at every guard that survived the explosion. Running past a lift shaft, she noticed a movement. The mechanisms inside worked in full flow. The defence forces were getting closer with every second. Since they were reaching the lower levels, all upper decks had to abound with the armed to the teeth defenders.


    The hatch with a green triangle loomed a dozen or so meters away. The Vardir Commanders raced past the mass of charred flesh and melted fabrics.


    In the epicentre of the explosion everything was black and brown. Bones resembled scorched boughs and fragments of clothing formed puddles of dark slime. Further away the tangle of corpses began to take shape. They recalled Celestians'' bodies and the black sticks looked more like guns. Even Erilaz, who physically suffered the least, narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips. All he wished for was his helmet which filtered the air.


    As he looked back, he quickly forgot this thought. The cannons activated one by one, battering the floor with giant bullets. A dark silhouette flashed by behind the corner, firing a few times. Erilaz narrowed his eyebrows and bared his teeth when five bullets swished around him. He reached into his shallow pocket. When he didn''t feel any bombs, his eyes widened and the dread struck his stomach.


    "I''m out of ammo!" he cried.


    At that moment a Murderberry flew past his head.


    "Here it is," said Andvari, panting with effort. He smiled but his almost completely white face and weary eyes revealed his exhaustion. "My last but one berry."


    The bomb exploded but there were no screams of pain. Andvari''s weak throw didn''t reach the guards. Erilaz grabbed a second gun from the floor and began to blindly deluge the guards with lead to at least keep them hidden.


    "We''re close!" he called and glanced back. "Hefri, come on!"


    "Don''t worry," she gasped out, trotting with a limp. "Just run."


    A whizzing noise reached her left ear. Another two swishes made her right ear tremble. She hissed and wrinkled her nose. The red stain on her trouser leg grew wider than her fist. Whenever her calf muscle tensed or relaxed, a sharp, searing pain tore her leg from ankle to groin. She couldn''t just rip the shard out of her tissues and risk a huge blood loss.


    Hefri involuntarily slowed down, even though she was sure she races ahead like a hunting hawk. The itching of her palms and the piercing ache in her leg forced her to breathe heavier. She recalled the memories of her childhood hunting expeditions again. The wounded animals were first to be caught and eaten.


    She felt Erilaz''s hand grabbing her arm. He tugged her forwards, forcing her to speed up.


    "Come on! Ten steps!" he shouted, firing short rounds towards the corner of the hall.


    These words slightly soothed Andvari. Cold sweat covered his hands and back, and the dark shapes he saw grew larger and more chaotic. Every neck movement gave him a headache and made him stagger. He gasped with his mouth open wide, struggling to get as much air as possible. His throat dried, and every breath of the suffocating air and filthy smells forced him to grunt or cough. He still suffered a cramp in his lungs but the heavier he breathed, the less stable he felt. Even though his legs became fainter with every step, he still pushed forward.


    "Just a few meters..." he whispered to himself.


    At that moment he stumbled and plummeted down on the floor. He landed on his knees. The world around him spun, and the sounds of alarm, shots and screams merged into one ear-ripping cacophony. He tried to prop himself with his hands but the pain shot through every one of his bones. Clenching his eyelids and baring his teeth, he hissed and gasped. He knew he can''t give up just a few meters before the longed-for hatch. He wanted to take a short break but the bullets flying over his head reminded him that this is not a training exercise.


    "Come on, not both at once!" shouted Erilaz, grabbing Andvari''s collar and dragging him forward.


    The corridor in front of Andvari''s eyes swirled again. Despite this, he felt a new surge of adrenaline. It fueled his will to live. He raced blindly after Erilaz, narrowing his eyes and wrinkling his nose.


    Erilaz pushed the square hatch with all his momentum. As the door opened with a loud bang, he almost plunged inside the chute with his head forward.


    Wow, he thought. They opened...


    He stepped back and looked around. "Hefri, come on!" he called, shooting towards the guards.


    Wincing with pain, Hefri hung on Erilaz''s arm and slid her legs inside the shaft. She took a deep breath and let go of him. Bracing her feet against the bottom of the chute, she slipped into the darkness.


    Staggering, Andvari approached the hatch too. When he lifted his leg up to step inside, loud voices in the corridor outshouted the alarm. He guessed it had to be the defence forces. Goosebumps covered his skin, and the surge of adrenaline let him forget the dizziness.


    "Go!" cried Erilaz, his eyes widened with panic.


    Andvari threw his last bomb towards the voices and jumped inside the shaft. As the hatch closed behind him, Erilaz picked up another gun from the floor. Shooting blindly with one hand, he shoved his legs into the chute. While his head was still outside, he saw a group of guards darting out from behind the corner. Instead of typical bulletproof vests, they wore thick armour on their chests, arms and legs. Each of them carried a large machine gun, and their belts were festooned with grenades. As they noticed Erilaz''s head, they fired in full flow.


    "Close the chutes!" called one of them in a muffled voice, trying to outshout the white noise in his communicator. "Do you read me? Chutes!"


    Clenching his teeth and narrowing his eyebrows, Erilaz let go of the door and plunged inside the shaft.

 CHAPTER 11.3. Run, I guess

    After he passed a few meters, a dull thud resounded in the whole tunnel when the hatch locked up.


    "Well, well, well," muttered Erilaz, sliding down into the complete darkness, "just in time..."


    At that moment a grid with thick bars fell down from above, right behind his back.


    "Shit!" he hissed.


    Curling up his hands, he gasped nervously. The air inside the chute was so stuffy that Erilaz thought he''s inhaling a handful of sand. At least the odour of burned corpses gave way to the smell of rotting food and wet cardboard. He put his legs together to minimalise the resistance and plummeted down the shaft.


    Bruising against the walls and gaining speed with every meter, he shouted, "Move! Faster! The grid!"


    "What?" responded Hefri. She was far ahead of him, and her voice sounded distorted and dull.


    Another barricade locked up. Without looking back, Erilaz began to push himself off the walls. His heart sped up, pounding harder on his ribs. He breathed faster, but he still couldn''t overcome the feeling of strangled lungs.


    The dull thud resounded again. Another noise echoed a few seconds later. Erilaz inhaled the dense, dusty air to rush his friends but then Hefri shouted. A deep clunk reached his ears from below.


    Hefri called again, panting and grunting, "Andvari! Watch out!"


    "Wha..." Andvari wanted to respond but another bang deafened his voice.


    Despite the complete darkness, Erilaz opened his eyes wider. A blow of fright pierced his nerves. His brain began to imagine the scenario, where he gets stuck in a cold, narrow pipe forever. He couldn''t think about anything else because he slipped out of the chute. During the split-second, when he was in the air, he spread his arms and pulled one leg up. He came in contact with a hard, metal floor and rolled for a meter or two. As he stopped, every part of his body was in pain as if he had been hit with a bulldozer.


    He opened his eyes. Red light on the ceiling blinked so weakly that he barely recognised silhouettes of his friends. Hefri lied on her side, clenching her fingers over her wounded leg. Andvari knelt next to her, staring at the ground and gasping harshly.


    Erilaz felt a wet object on his wrist. He shook his hand, throwing off a slimy fruit peel. He raised his head and blinked as his eyes couldn''t get used to weak but vivid light.


    "Are you..." he asked, breathing with effort. "Are you okay?"


    "Yes," muttered Hefri, gripping her leg tighter.


    Andvari giggled noiselessly, still keeping his head low. "What''s worse," he said, "landing in a container full of trash... or landing in an empty container?" He grunted and gripped his arm when another stream of itchy pain ran through his muscle tissue.


    "What now?" asked Hefri.


    Erilaz rubbed his eyes and sighed. The events from the last three or four minutes happened so fast that he couldn''t tell where he was or why he came here. He depended on his instincts all this time, and he performed all actions mindlessly and without hesitation. Plans or purposes never crossed his mind. He charged forward, guided by adrenaline and his will to live. It detached him from the physical pain, bruises or wounds but now he began to feel the strained tendons, tensed muscles and bone-tired lungs.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    He raised his head and looked around. The container stood in a high but narrow room. There were a few hatches in the walls but thick grids covered each of them.


    "Here." He pointed at a narrow slit. "I guess there are some rails under this container."


    Underground containers were a common practice. Rails were frequently installed under them because it was easier to send them to the waste incineration plant. Each city and large facility had a rich underground infrastructure, so the streets could remain clean and free from hundreds of rubbish bins.


    He shook his head and stood up. "Now. Jump." He trotted towards Hefri and grabbed her arm.


    "Come on," he said. "We have to go."


    "Wait a minute," muttered Andvari, nudging Erilaz''s shoulder. "Tie this around my arm." He took his longsleeve off and shoved it into Erilaz''s hands.


    Erilaz nervously glanced around. "Fine."


    He grabbed the shirt and wrapped it around Andvari''s forearm. It took him only a few seconds since he didn''t want to look at the ragged skin of his friend. The bare tissues caked with dried blood and large red stains all over Andvari''s suit made him taste a sour saliva in his throat. Andvari endured it without a blink, staring blankly at the wall.


    Erilaz nodded, tying the last knot. "Done." He turned towards Hefri. "Hefri, get up. We have to help Andvari."


    She grunted affirmingly. Propping herself with her shaking hands, she stood up. When the machinery underneath hissed and grunted, she tensed her ears and looked around.


    "Come on," whispered Erilaz. He bent over, twining his fingers in the shape of a basket.


    Hefri trotted towards him and jumped. As Erilaz tossed her, she hissed with pain but she caught the edge of the container and climbed up. She stood on the rim, leaning her back against the wall to keep her balance.


    "Andvari," called Erilaz, waving his hand in an urging gesture.


    Andvari approached him. He took the same position, glancing suspiciously at Erilaz.


    "Just be careful," he snarled.


    Pretending that he didn''t hear it, Erilaz stepped back. He hurtled at Andvari and sprung at his hands. Andvari gnashed his teeth and wrinkled his forehead, but he gave his friend a leg up with all his strength. Erilaz climbed up, and together with Hefri, they reached their hand towards Andvari. Gasping and grunting, Andvari took a run-up and leapt. Erilaz and Hefri hoisted him and together they slipped through a tiny slit.


    They landed in a slot engulfed in complete darkness. After a few meters of squeezing through the space between the wall and the container, they reached an empty tunnel with rails on the floor. Small, red lamps gave some light every few meters and the only sound was a dull, monotonous echo. The faint smell of rotting food filled the already stuffy and suffocating air but a soft breeze blew from the depths of the tunnel.


    "What now?" whispered Hefri, bending over during every shallow, heavy breath.


    Erilaz sighed and narrowed his eyes. He didn''t know if he can trust his senses and instincts as he did so far. His friends depended on him. His every mistake could cost them their life.


    The sound of a muffled alarm gets these thoughts out of his head. The lamps began to flicker and the machinery rumbled again.


    "Run, I guess," he hissed and charged towards a distant intersection.


    Andvari and Hefri did the same. A dozen or so seconds later, a thick, massive grid slid out of the ceiling, locking the container behind them.


    As the ear-splitting thud echoed in the tunnel, Erilaz glanced back. Shaking his head, he raised his eyebrows and mumbled, "Here we go again..."


    They dashed out from the passage straight into a larger tunnel, still hearing the gates closing behind them. Three tracks criss-crossed the hall, and a closed container glided through the middle lane. Its clatter resounded in the tunnel, and when it passed Erilaz by, his hair heaved.


    "It they didn''t lock this way," he gasped out, "we have a chance to... climb on one of these containers...and..."


    "Aren''t they too fast?" asked Hefri. She looked at her leg, wincing with pain. A wet stream soaked her pants from the wound to the shoe. Every time she moved her leg, she just wanted to rip the shard out and throw it as far as possible.


    Erilaz trotted down the ramp. He aimed his gun at the tracks and shot three times. Tiny sparks sprung around and three shallow hollows appeared on the metal rails.


    "Now they should slow down for a moment," he said.


    "Wow." Hefri smiled even though her eyes expressed only anguish. "Three correct shots in... almost total darkness."


    "Let''s lurk," whispered Erilaz and craned his neck to look deeper in the tunnel.


    A few seconds later, the steady, metallic thuds resounded in the distance. Erilaz rubbed his hands and wiped them on his pants. He forced himself to smile. That comforted him slightly and let him focus on the task. His transport to freedom was approaching.

 CHAPTER 12.1. Evacuation

    In the depths of The Eastern Wing''s command centre, a Celestian woman woke up from a simulated faint. The workers were so preoccupied with the prison break that they didn''t pay enough attention to her. Her neat golden braid unravelled slightly during her fall but she didn''t need tidy hair any more. She covered her uniform with grey bedsheet and left the medical office. Giving everyone a wide berth, she slipped into the least visited corridors and entrances.


    Dashing out of the building through the back door, she dropped the sheet. Luckily for her, she was some minutes late to her job and she had to take the lowest spot in the parking tower. She stopped next to one of the towers and tapped the screen, leaving sweaty smudges. She waited for six seconds, and those were the longest seconds of her life.


    The scrape of the opening gates sounded to her like the most soothing melody. Her car was free. A large, grey box with windows slid through the gates on a platform. The Celestian woman tapped her LiqWatch. Long parts of the suspension stuck out of the cabin, mimicking a four-legged spider. Each of them had a wheel with a perforated tyre, so it didn''t need to be pumped and it easily got over obstacles.


    The Celestian woman jumped inside the car. Her fingers zipped over the control screen, hitting a few icons. She turned on the manual piloting and disconnected the computer from the public database. She knew it won''t save her but at least she could slow down the upcoming chase.


    Smearing her wet finger over the screen, she drove towards the exit from the facility. As she stopped in front of the security barrier, an automatic voice called, "Connect your..."


    "Connect me with a real person," the woman ordered.


    The machine fell silent for a moment. After a few beeps, a new voice asked her, "Ulrika? What''s going on?"


    "Let me go!" she hissed. "Bjarni. He may be in danger."


    "But... Ulrika, you can''t leave now..."


    "I have to." She clenched her fists, ready to hit the gas icon with all her strength. "They may be after him. I have to find him."


    "Ulrika..."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Let me go." She tilted her head, trying to restrain her nervous voice. "You all know how much he means to me."


    When the voice didn''t respond, she narrowed her eyebrows and added, "Be a good friend. I helped you get in there, so you can let me out this one time."


    The silence made her blood boil. She wrinkled her nose and said calmly, "Unless you want everyone to know that I, personally, arranged this cushy job for you."


    "...fine," muttered the voice and the barrier began to lift up. "But..."


    She didn''t listen. As soon as the barrier left enough space for her car, she slammed the gas icon.


    Further in the tunnels, a Celestian in a boiler suit sat under the wall, resting his head on his hand. He stared at the rails with a weary, bored look on his face. Three drones hovered over the left lane, sucking a dense, slimy substance from the ground.


    The red lights on the floor began to flicker. The Celestian didn''t pay attention to them at first. He was too bored with supervising the drones and the semi-darkness around him only favoured sleepiness. The occasional wafts of stifling breeze, which followed the gliding containers, prevented him from falling asleep here and now. As his LiqBoard beeped, he rubbed his eyes and glanced at the screen.


    "Evacuation..." he muttered to himself, following the letters with his blank stare. He read it again, opening his eyes wider. "Chemical leak?"


    He leapt to his feet. He tapped the screen to terminate the task and summon the machines back. Another container zipped past him. It began to brake, screeching and hissing. The drones get in line behind the Celestian. He hurried off, looking behind time after time. He expected to hear only his own steps and the quiet hum of the drones but the dull tapping sound approached him faster and faster. Without glancing at the tunnel behind him, he sped up. To comfort himself, he thought it''s just a drill. He, as a common worker, had no idea what Chemical Leak really means this time.


    "Hold it right there!" called a male voice.


    The Celestian froze, opening his stunned eyes wider.


    "Who are you?" asked the stranger.


    The Celestian took a deep breath to buy himself some time and think about the response. "I''m a... a mechanic."


    "Good. Don''t move."


    The quick steps approached him. Three Celestians with guns entered his field of vision. A cold shiver ran down his spine, but he didn''t even flinch.


    "Is there any way out?" asked Erilaz, lowering his gun.


    The mechanic glanced around. "...yes. I was just going there."


    Erilaz nodded. "Give me your LiqBoard and take us there."


    The Mechanic pursed his lips. After a few seconds he looked upwards at Erilaz''s face. "But you''re not going to shoot me. Right?"


    "No one will get hurt if you just let us escape this place," explained Erilaz and motioned to the Celestian. "Run."


    The Celestian rushed along the corridor. The runaways followed him. He couldn''t help but think these voices and silhouettes looked familiar. He had some suspicions, but it seemed too ridiculous to him.

 CHAPTER 12.2. A spaceship

    Two other mechanics were stationed in the local headquarters. They just heard the alert but they didn''t want to close all the doors. They decided to wait a few minutes with hope that their co-worker will make it there on time.


    The door to the repair shaft opened. The black-haired Celestian dashed out, panting and babbling, "They don''t want to hurt you. Just let them..."


    "What?" asked his co-worker, leaning off of the chair. "Where the hell have you been?"


    As the three Vardir peeked out of the corridor, he goggled his eyes and his voice stuck in his throat.


    Erilaz waved his hands up and down in a calming gesture, still holding a gun. "We just want to get through this room."


    "It''s Andvari!" yelled the mechanic, pointing at the Vardir Commander. "And you''re Erilaz! Vardir Erilaz!"


    "Yes but..." hissed Erilaz but the mechanic pulled out a gun.


    Erilaz glared at him in disbelief. The Celestian held his weapon in shaking hands, and his face turned white. Erilaz swung his leg, kicking the gun out of the Celestian''s hands.


    "Come with us," he ordered and trotted towards the door.


    The black-haired man rushed after the runaways. He understood nothing but he was sure that helping the Vardir Commanders counts as a good deed. He only wondered why they were in such terrible shape and why they aimed at him.


    A grey, square building stood in the field at the bottom of the mountain. Only a few short blocks of flats and cottages surrounded it. The village seemed to be unaware of what happened deep underground. The dwellers lived their normal life without paying much attention to the local headquarters building.


    Erilaz trotted out of the headquarters. Andvari and Hefri leant on his shoulders, trying to keep pace with him. Hefri struggled for every step while blood leisurely oozed from her leg. Her once white pantleg soaked with red liquid and rust-coloured stains surrounded her wound. She could endure the ceaseless pain for one reason¨Cshe feared her end. Every waft of the wind felt on her neck like the breath of death itself.


    "Their ships..." she gasped out. "They will be here soon."


    "Yeah," muttered Erilaz. "We''re exposed here. We have to leave this village."


    They ran around the building and headed towards the gate in the tall fence with barbed wire on its top. The Celestian they encountered earlier watched them through the window. When he noticed them, he tapped something on his LiqBoard and opened the gate remotely. As his and Erilaz''s eyes met, the Vardir Commander nodded in gratitude.


    A dozen or so seconds later they were gone. They hid in a thicket of shrubs in the nearby uncultivated grounds, heading towards a forested hill. The Celestian smiled to himself. He began to imagine the respect and appreciation he earned by helping the greatest warriors on his planet.


    "Erilaz?" Andvari gasped out, climbing up the hill. "Do you have any idea... where we should go now?"


    Erilaz hoisted Hefri up, grunting with effort. "No," he answered.


    He looked around like an alarmed deer. The hills stretched into the distance as far as he could see. The branches above him uncovered a huge part of the clear sky but the shrubs around him resembled a patchwork of greens and browns. Their leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, giving him a misplaced sense of tranquillity. His rapid heartbeat jolted his chest but the breaths of fresh, natural air let him think more clearly.


    When they reached the hilltop, Erilaz let go of his friends and slumped on the ground. He sat in a straddle position with his hands on his knees and gasped heavily.


    Hefri and Andvari joined him. Andvari hunched, embracing his knees. The chilly breeze scratched and pinched his back that was drenched with sweat. The coldness and blood loss made him tremble and the goosebumps appeared on his whole body. He held his head rigidly because every, even the slightest move, was spreading a wave of dull pain over his brain and skull. Despite this daze, he still felt how the imagined icy claws stab his wet, bruised skin.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    After a minute of rest, Erilaz stood up. "There''s no time..." he muttered.


    He reached his hand towards Hefri. With an expression of discouragement and exhaustion, she grabbed his arm.


    Erilaz helped Andvari too and looked around. The trees on the other side of the hill were lower and he could catch a glimpse of the meadow behind them. At first he was sure there were only some rocks and tall grass but when the grey shape moved, he strained his eyes.


    "What?" asked Andvari, leaning on his shoulder.


    "I see someone..."


    Hefri raised her head too. As the best markswoman on this planet, her eyes could catch every detail at first glance.


    "Celestian guy in a grey coat," she whispered. She opened her eyes wider and added out loud, "and there''s a spaceship!"


    "Thanks," muttered Erilaz. He marched forward, trailing his friends along.


    The Celestian in a grey coat crouched in the grass. He raked the long blades aside, examining the fluorescent moss. A swarm of tiny insects soared above him and other bugs scurried in all directions, hiding in the grass. The moss resembled a turquoise dense carpet with a soft, velvety texture.


    The botanist reached to his pocket but the quick steps on grass caught his attention.


    "You!"


    Hearing the voice over his head, the botanist jumped to his feet.


    "I have..." he raised his hands. At sight of the three Vardir with guns, his face turned white. "...all permissions..."


    "What permissions?" asked Erilaz, aiming his gun at the Celestian. Hefri and Andvari didn''t say anything. They only observed the botanist, panting from exhaustion.


    "To be here and collect endangered species of local flora," recited the botanist, raising his eyebrows with concern. "But only till the end of this week, later I..."


    Erilaz nodded. "That''s enough."


    He sprinted towards the spaceship as fast as he could while dragging his friends with him.


    The botanist turned around. His spaceship resembled a short but massive cuboid with a rough-hewn prow. It rested on tiny kickstands, but it appeared to hover above the tall, heaving grass. A thick ring surrounded it, and a group of little birds gathered on its top to consume its prey. Only the ship''s tiny stabilizer wings specked with violet while the rest of its plating was painted with different tints of grey.


    "What are you all doing?" he cried when the three runaways jumped inside his vehicle. "You''re Vardir, why are you running?"


    He shook his head and trotted towards the machine. The ship hissed and grunted, and its hatch began to close.


    "My collection is priceless, wait!" he called in panic and sprinted faster.


    He leapt through the narrowing slit and landed inside, rolling over a few times until he hit the wall.


    Sprinting to the cockpit with sweat on his brow, he tried to outshout the growling engines, "You can''t leave the zone without me! I have all the permissions!"


    Hefri didn''t care about that. She was sitting in the pilot seat, leaning over the control panel like a lurking heron. Her fingers zipped across the screen, tapping a few icons. Each Vardir knows the basics of piloting spaceships but the model she was in appeared outdated.


    Birds and land animals scurried away as the ship soared over the ground. It drifted towards the sky similarly to a sluggish cloud.


    Hefri wrinkled her nose, examining the control panel. "How to speed up?" she barked.


    The botanist reached his hand, pointing at the right icon. "There."


    Hefri tapped it in a flash. The Celestian gripped the nearest seat, and his eyes widened with fear.


    "But wait..."


    The ship accelerated and shot above the meadow, leaving behind only a cloud of dry grass and shocked birds.


    Gates to the hangar in the mountainside opened with a dull crash. The guards already took their seats inside slim, blue fighters. Workers, drones and other machines bustled below to prepare the fighters for a sudden take-off. Lights flickered and alarms beeped as if they wanted to hasten the operation.


    The leader of this unit checked his LiqWatch for the last time and reported, "I''m ready to..."


    He paused for a moment. The red icon, which represented unauthorised flights, zipped across the screen.


    "You can''t fly that fast in the mountains!" the botanist gasped out as the g-force squeezed his chest. His face became white as chalk, and only his green eyes glowed with horror.


    Hefri pursed her lips. As she moved the slider to the very limit, the ship sheered up almost vertically.


    "Now we''re above the mountains," mumbled Hefri with effort. "Turn on the rings!"


    The spatial rings produced gravity strong enough to bend space itself. The ship''s speed was lower than the speed of light but the distance between planets shortened. Because of this, the larger ships were able to cover a distance of one lightyear in over two hours. This was still an unspeakably short distance, that''s why the inhabited space spread for barely over one thousand lightyears.


    The worst flaw of the spatial rings was their energy requirement that made interstellar travel so expensive and dangerous. The spatial rings could cause massive damage so they could only be activated in the blue zone. The blue zone spreads far above the planet¡¯s atmosphere where turning the rings on was safe enough.


    The botanist shook his head in panic but Hefri glared at him.


    "Yes, I know," she said. "Only when we reach the blue zone."

 CHAPTER 13.1. Still alive?

    Rings around the spaceship formed a bubble of curved space and the vehicle disappeared. The view behind the illuminators turned from calm starscape to a lenticular vortex.


    Hefri stretched her arms after twenty minutes of the most profound focus. Her joints cracked stridently, and a soft shiver ran down her relaxed spine. The lack of gravity made her ponytail spread behind her head like a black halo.


    "We escaped," she breathed, closing her eyes. "This whole piloting thing seems pretty cool..."


    The botanist wiped his forehead, still panting harshly. He nudged his hood, knocking it from his bald head.


    Staring at her with humility, he shook his head and said, "You just hammered the acceleration button like mad! We''re lucky we survived!"


    Hefri only rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder. "Erilaz, Andvari, are you okay?" she called.


    "Hardly alive..." growled Erilaz from the depths of the corridor. "You could have killed us!"


    Raising his eyebrow, the botanist glanced at Hefri confidently. "I told you."


    Erilaz peeked out of the corridor, holding on to a pipe in the wall. His golden hair floated all around him, irritating his eyes.


    "You," he called, brushing his hair aside and looking at the botanist. "Do you have some magnetic buckles?"


    The botanist nodded. "Yes, in the locker."


    He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed on the chair. Leaping like a frog, he launched himself up. Floating limply, he reached his hands to catch the handle and opened the locker. He rummaged through it, took a bag out and threw it towards Erilaz.


    "Here!"


    Erilaz caught it. He found a set of buckles and strapped them to his shoes and thighs. The buckles helped with walking or sitting in zero gravity, stabilizing the posture and keeping the balance of the user.


    "Andvari needs help," he said in a worried tone, landing on the floor. "Hefri, you got hurt too. Pilot, give us a medical kit," he ordered and added more politely, "...Please."


    Hefri shook her head. "Andvari needs your help first. I can take care of myself."


    The botanist pulled the medical kit from the locker. Erilaz took it and nodding with gratitude, he left the cockpit.


    The botanist raised his eyebrows, looking at Hefri with care. "Are you sure, Vardir Hefri? Even in zero gravity, walking will be hard with that wound."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Hefri smiled proudly. "When I was a child, I had to hunt in the coldest forest of the northern pole." She crossed her arms with superiority. "I killed many wild creatures and got hurt many times. I had to take care of myself or freeze to death."


    The botanist lowered his eyes. He didn''t want to insult Hefri in any manner but the dusty, foul wound worried him. Vardir were the heroes of Helvetto, and he was ready to do everything to help them whenever it''s possible. That also filled him with fright. The most powerful warriors came to him, beaten and wounded. He could only wonder who did this to them.


    Hefri swung her hand to dismiss his concern. "Thanks for the good intention but I can survive this."


    Sighing, the botanist rubbed his eyes. He struggled to wrap his head around it, but this situation confused him too much. Even after this insane escape, he hardly winded down, but the exhaustion forced him to relax his tensed muscles.


    "Will someone explain to me what has just happened?" he asked, propping his head with his fist. "All three Vardir Commanders jump into my ship in the middle of the closed zone..."


    "Don''t ask too many questions," Hefri said softly, looking at him with suspicion. "You''re gonna learn everything when you return to Helvetto."


    The botanist turned his face to Hefri and opened his eyes wider. "You were running. Who was chasing you? You''re Vardir, you fear nothing!"


    "Better tell me who you are and why you were there," she interrupted.


    "I''m a botanist," he explained. "I was collecting some fluorescent moss." Terror glowed in his eyes again. He clenched his fingers on the armrest. "My family will be worried. My wife and two daughters. Vardir Hefri, you have to tell me... am I safe?"


    Hefri smiled and gentleness appeared on her face. "As long as you don''t claim you''re on our side, you''re safe."


    "But..." The botanist shook his head. "I''m always on your side."


    "Just pretend you don''t like us," she added in a calm, soothing tone. "There are people who... have a problem with us."


    He craned his neck towards her, and his face expressed even more dread. "What problem?"


    "Never mind." She closed her eyes and swung her hand. "It''s a... secret mission." She giggled, but it didn''t cheer him up at all. "Just take us to..." she pursed her lips, trying to recall the planet name from the mysterious piece of paper. "To Xalmecka."


    "Sure," he answered and lowered his head. If Vardir said it''s a secret mission, then it''s a secret mission, and he had nothing to do here. He could only think about his family and wonder how anxious they had to be.


    Ulrika jumped out of a train on some shabby station in the corner of a seaside village. She found this hideaway at the very end of this continent, kilometres away from her workplace. Her wavy, messy hair flopped on her face and a long, slightly rumpled coat covered her casual dress. The only remainder of her makeup were grey smudges over her eyes.


    She got rid of her LiqWatch long time ago so she asked a random girl if she could use her communicator.


    "Bjarni?" she whispered to a LiqWatch, turning her back towards the girl.


    "Ulrika?" said Arnorsson with a surprised voice. "Do they know about us?"


    "I don''t know what to do," explained Ulrika, panting and looking around. "I left the building but..."


    "Did they escape?"


    She shrugged and shook her head. "I messed up everything I could. I made a delay in a few systems... Thirty, maybe forty seconds. I don''t know if it''s enough. That''s all I could do in three hours."


    "Fine. Calm down." Arnorsson''s voice expressed more and more tension. "Are you safe?"


    She glanced at a group of fishermen strolling past her. "Maybe." Ulrika lowered her eyebrows with anxiety. "But I don''t know if I did everything right. I panicked. A bit."


    Arnorsson relaxed and began to speak slower, "Don''t worry, no one else could help us more. Bye."


    The call ended. Ulrika gave the girl''s the device back and walked away.


    "Bjarni, you will never repay this favour..." she threatened, smiling sightly at the very thought of her husband.

 CHAPTER 13.2. Time for courage

    Ivendir paced along the castle corridor. He just made the list of a few officials and other important people who weren''t trustworthy in his opinion. He planned to invite them for a little display of his power. They evoke too much fear in him. He wanted to be sure that they won''t threaten him anymore.


    As his device beeped, he accepted the call and raised his hand to his mouth.


    "Commander?" he asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.


    "They escaped," whispered the voice from the communicator.


    Ivendir''s legs trembled and then numbed. The sense of terror or panic strangled his voice in his throat. His muscles tensed, pressing his chest and taking the air from his lungs. He could physically feel how his heart rams against his ribs and sends stinging pain with every beat.


    Relaxing his fists, he exhaled and focused on his constricted chest. The thought of Brymir let him regain a sense of control. Fear became a primitive and pathetic emotion to him. He swore it to himself and, first and foremost, to his cousin.


    "Great job," he hissed, wrinkling his nose. "You, the unit of the highest qualified guards, behind the walls of the best secured prison on this planet, let them escape?"


    "...they weren''t alone," the voice explained. "Someone helped them. It can''t be a coincidence that a few doors were left open and the sensors didn''t detect it."


    "Where are they now?" barked Ivendir, tensing his fingers.


    "They entered the blue zone and activated the rings."


    Ivendir inhaled through his clenched teeth. After turning on the spatial rings, tracking the ship was virtually impossible. He let his wrath stifle the last remnants of fright.


    He raised his eyebrow, nervously looking around. "And you inform me about it now? A few hours..." He gasped and shook his head. "Then at least find the individuals that helped them."


    Before the voice answered, Ivendir had added, "You know there''s over ten candidates for your position. Go."


    "Understood, Your Highness."


    The call ended. Ivendir rubbed his eyes. These dozens of seconds exhausted him more than a whole day of exercise. His white face made him resemble a lifeless, marble sculpture.


    Fine, he thought. That''s fine. There will be more opportunities to show... the consequences of treason. That''s fine.


    He shrugged and raised the corner of his mouth in a gloomy, hopeless smile. These Vardir have no place to go back to.


    Stretching his arms and relaxing his muscles, he headed towards his chamber. And I''m not going to be afraid of them. Not anymore.


    Erilaz couldn''t sleep a wink that night. He just spun languidly on the seat in the cockpit, gazing at the lentoid vortex of stars with an empty sight. The botanist gave his friends and him some clean but small clothes. A green flannel shirt tightly covered up his drooped shoulders, and only three buttons in the middle were fastened. He used a cable tie to strap his greasy hair since the botanist didn''t need any hair accessories. Despite weary eyes and a pulsating headache, the teasing memories and afflictive thoughts dug into his mind.


    It was him all this time. He pursed and contorted his lips. This leech... He always pretended to care for my father. Always nice and polite. Helpful and caring...


    A stream of hatred shook his exhausted body. He clenched his fingers on the armrest, even though it costed him much mental and physical effort.


    I can''t leave him like this. He needs to pay. For killing the true king and ruining this kingdom.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The emptiness behind the illuminator remained deaf to his calls of spite and disdain. Thousands of little bright streaks shot across the space to disappear in the middle of a vortex. The worlds around some of these stars weren''t even aware of his existence, let alone his wrath and pain.


    He slowly scratched the armrest, releasing a little snippet of his fury. My kingdom.


    Raising his head, he looked at the control panel. A few icons and graphs glowed faintly, presenting the current and estimated data. Erilaz recalled the basics of piloting. He realised he was just a few hand movements away from turning the ship around. In the next few hours he could take a step on Helvettian land again and tear off the face of the worst traitor that his planet has ever seen.


    You idiot. He sighed and shook his head. Not now.


    Relaxing his fingers and gazing at the ceiling, he repeated, Not now...


    No matter what he told himself, he couldn''t get rid of the imagination of dead and forgotten Ivendir.


    He will pay, he explained to himself as if his mind suddenly divided itself into two different individuals. Just not now.


    One part wanted to stay calm and logical while the second one abandoned all control and filled him with the most savage wrath and aversion. He began to breathe faster. The ferocity gradually consumed his nerves. His body and brain thirsted for only one thing¨Ca rapid and effective revenge on the false king.


    "Hi," said Andvari, peeking from the corridor.


    Erilaz sighed as these words made him snap out. "What are you doing here?" he asked, staring at the wall.


    Andvari approached him. His pale face gained some red, making him look more alive, but his eyes still appeared empty and glassy. He took quite a dose of medicine and even the magnetic buckles couldn''t stabilise his unsteady gait. His long dreadlocks were tied in a bun because they floated all around him like sea serpents. The botanist gave him his loosest coat but the buttons couldn''t come into contact with each other even on his waist, and the sleeves reached the middle of his forearm. A thick, white bandage covered his hand but the brown remnants of dried blood stuck under his nails.


    "I can''t sleep. And you?"


    Erilaz give him a quick, melancholy smile. "Same here. Earlier you looked like you were going to fall asleep standing up."


    "It''s hard to sleep peacefully when your best friends could have died," answered Andvari, sitting down in the pilot seat, "because of your own stupidity."


    "But we''re alive." Erilaz shrugged. "And yes, we could have died, but that would be our own fault."


    Andvari stared at Erilaz in disbelief. "I''m not a kid. You don''t have to comfort me like this."


    He rubbed his eyes and clenched his teeth. Even though he got some painkillers and Erilaz dressed his wounds, he seemed to suffer some terrible pain.


    Erilaz leant towards him and raised his eyebrow. "What?"


    Andvari hit the armrests with his fists and grunted with anger. "I have to say it!"


    Erilaz nodded timidly. He didn''t know what to expect from his friend, but considering the exhaustion of them both, it couldn''t be anything serious. He was sure that Andvari just wants to complain about some petty thing or thank him for help once more.


    "At that moment when... when you aimed at me," Andvari began, and his eyes flickered with panic. "...I thought you really wanted to kill me."


    Erilaz opened his mouth, insecure about his response, but Andvari continued:


    "You get it?" He spread his arms. "I was sure for a moment that you... you, my most trusted friends, wanted to kill me."


    Erilaz''s overstressed brain couldn''t find the right answer once again. He stared at Andvari, trying to wrap his head around it.


    "I lost my faith in you," added Andvari and lifelessly hung his head.


    Erilaz needed a moment to understand this confession. He began to wonder what he did wrong. He felt like he wasn''t good enough to gain Andvari''s absolute trust. They helped each other at every opportunity, but Andvari might need more proof. It ran counter to Erilaz''s vision of his friend. Unlike his father, Andvari never cared about competition. They never had to compete for each other''s trust.


    "And what now?" asked Erilaz. "You expect us to hate you for that?"


    Andvari raised his eyes as if that question was rhetorical.


    Erilaz shrugged, averting his gaze. "We all have some... imperfections. Remember the battle with the Moryans?"


    "Don''t even remind me of that..." muttered Andvari, resting his head on his arms. He bent over the control panel and nestled his face in his hands.


    Erilaz snorted with disdain towards himself. "At that moment I just... stood in the middle of the battlefield, putting you all at risk. That was my imperfection."


    He scratched his head, slowly wobbling on the seat with a distant expression on his face. "Don''t think too much about yours."


    He gazed at the illuminator again. The view was still the same¨Cstars appeared, stretched and disappeared. The quiet, monotonous hum of engines let him forget about the current conversation. Seconds passed, but Erilaz didn''t feel the flow of time. There was no reference point like the sun in the sky, clocks on the buildings or spaceship above the city.


    He yawned, narrowing his eyes. As the reality returned to him, his senses recognised his environment.


    Andvari sat next to him, resting his head and arms on the control panel.


    "You really should go to sleep," said Erilaz.


    Andvari''s ear slightly quivered but he didn''t respond.


    Erilaz raised his eyebrow and whispered, "Andvari?"


    Andvari still slept peacefully.


    Erilaz shrugged. "So..." he began, curling his legs up and lying his head on his knees, "good night, I guess."

 CHAPTER 13.3. The consequences

    Next day Ivendir marched along the corridor to meet with a few disliked figures. His serious but also relaxed face expressed no emotions. Despite being a few minutes late, his pace was steady and unhurried. His eyes gazed impassively into the distance. A dark blue tunic shrouded his body, giving him a lighter appearance. His silken hair heaved behind him, reflecting the beams of setting sun. He chose small but sophisticated garnish¨Can intricate golden necklace and a ring with blue opal. It was enough to show his wealth but also he didn''t look like a fashion victim.


    Thelrim followed the king. He had an elaborate robe too, but he resigned from trinkets. He never liked too many bells and whistles, except his four earrings. His brown tunic with a creamy belt exposed his massive silhouette, and his bald head gave him the appearance of a roughly hewn sculpture.


    Fewer and fewer meters divided Ivendir from the narrow gates but he felt no fear. The more he thought about Brymir, the less anxiety remained in him. He decided this will be the day when he gets rid of those primitive emotions and builds a new image of himself.


    Whenever an intrusive suspicion creept into his mind, he took a slow, deep breath and clenched his fists for a moment. He nipped them in the bud just like he silenced his three unexpected enemies.


    The gates drew back, revealing a long, empty table with ornately decorated chairs. Only two of them were taken. A bald, blue-skinned Kehrian sat next to a Nelphian. Just like many Moryans, the Kehrian didn''t care too much about his appearance. He wore a simple maroon shirt, but the golden rings in his long ears had to express his wealth. He was propping his head on his fist, lazily following Ivendir with his big, amber eyes.


    The Nelphian straddled on the chair because his knees bent in the opposite direction, similarly to a bird''s limbs. He held his hands folded, and his black nails resembled obsidian shards. Tiny blue speckles adorned his pale green skin, especially on his head and shoulders. The hood of his vest covered his elongated forehead to hide the colour-changing smudge, which displayed his real emotions. The large, deep violet eyes of the Nelphian opened wider when Ivendir crossed the doorstep.


    The Kehrian stretched his arms with a disgusting crack and began, "Well, well, well, our friend proposes us a meeting first?"


    With one rapid move Ivendir drew a chair aside. "Yes, I do," he said and sat sprawled, resting his chin on his knuckles.


    Thelrim crossed his arms and stood next to the door, leaning against the wall.


    "I''m paying my last instalment and we''re parting ways," added Ivendir.


    He tapped his LiqWatch and the screen brightened up. The Kehrian and the Nelphian glanced at each other with slight, scornful smiles.


    "Wait a minute." The Kehrian lifted his hand. "You''re paying the instalment, right?"


    "Right," said Ivendir, still staring at the screen and searching for a bank.


    "How about the interests?"


    Ivendir raised his eyebrow and looked at the Kehrian. "Take what I''m giving you and go back where you came from." He bent over his device again. "To your Morya and your sly lord."


    The Nelphian rested his hands on the edge of the table and barged in, "Come on. We helped you become the king and eliminate a few of your rivals, all we want is a little tip..."


    "Take that." Ivendir hit the screen with his finger, ignoring the Nelphian''s comment.


    He sensed he had control over something for the first time. He didn''t remember ever having so much confidence. His former allies lost one of their weapons¨Cthe fear. The feeling of power sobered up his tarnished mind like a bucket of cold water dampens a dry, growing plant. Now, when he displaced all doubt, he began to consider himself the real king of Helvetto. The blue crystal in his sword meant nothing until he got rid of the anxiety. From his point of view, the previous version of himself was nothing more than a cowardly peasant.


    He smiled as the money transfer ended and looked up.


    The Nelphian narrowed his eyes, uncovering his third, semi-transparent eyelid. "Please, don''t play with us," he said with a pretended politeness. "Look, you are quite weak right now." He waited for the answer, quietly tapping his nails on the table. When Ivendir still didn''t pay attention to him, he added, "Crisis approaches your kingdom, many citizens don''t sympathise with you, and your army was never big enough." He raised the corners of his narrow mouth. "...and all your Vardir Commanders abandoned you."


    The Kehrian nodded with an exaggerated seriousness. "They aren''t the only ones who will betray you."


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    Ivendir slightly pursed his lips. This cutting remark acted on him as a little, annoying insect. It gently nudged his confidence, reminding him about his current situation. He was less safe than he thought during this surge of bravery. He reprimanded himself for his lack of vigilance. Resting on his laurels could kill him as effectively as bombs and bullets.


    Ivendir leant towards the Moryans, resting his elbow against the table. "It''s my kingdom," he said in a soft voice, "your reign here is over. I paid, as we agreed." He moved away and settled down, crossing his arms. "Now you can take your payment and leave."


    The Kehrian sighed. His victim wasn''t aware of the gravity of this situation. Ivendir was their tethered bird which just began to peck and scream. The Kehrian didn''t worry too much about it. They could silence the rebellious king whenever they wanted to. Despite this, he thought that giving an honest warning would be a fair thing to do.


    He pointed at the sky. "We can leave and come back here at any moment," he muttered, slowly shaking his head, "but then our intent won''t be that peaceful."


    Ivendir clenched his fist under the table. Moisture appeared on his palms but he felt a stinging chill all over his back.


    Come on, he thought. You can do that. You can''t hide forever. This is your world.


    He tensed and relaxed his fingers. His hands still trembled but after a few deep, unhurried breaths, his heart beat evenly and placidly. Once again he quelled the fright and anxiety. This constant clash with his own concerns drained a large share of his energy, leaving his muscles worn out and sore.


    You have to be better than Brymir.


    He smiled, looking at the Moryans with pity. "I''m not afraid of you," he said meekly, "or any other Moryans."


    The Kehrian raised the corner of his mouth. "Not yet." He pushed the chair away in stride and stood up. "That''s fine. You can play the brave one, just don''t be surprised when some..." A malicious spark flickered in his eyes. "...accident happens to you."


    The Nelphian leapt from the chair. As he stood straight, he towered over the Kehrian and the Celestian. "You, on Helvetto and anywhere else, think we''re primitive invaders but we''re smarter than that." He approached the Kehrian, crooking back and forth like a bird. "Our revenge doesn''t always end with bombs and fire."


    They approached the door at leisure, ignoring Thelrim and his suspicious gaze.


    "Watch your back," muttered the Kehrian, glancing at the king. "Or your sky. We may hurt you silently or burn this place to the ground with a flourish."


    Ivendir turned towards them and spread his arms in a theatrically helpless gesture. "Look at me," he murmured with a dramatic tone. "I''m so afraid."


    Before the Kehrian turned behind the doorway, he added in passing, "You will be."


    Ivendir rolled his eyes. The adrenaline in his veins didn''t let him take that seriously yet.


    A day later Ivendir gazed through the window at the sunset. He managed to simmer down after the confab with the Moryans. He knew he walked on thin ice, and his former allies will stop at nothing to get even. Despite this, he was sure he did the right thing. In his view, wringing the neck of this parasite will do more good than letting it prey on his own resources.


    He repeated these thoughts all the time but a little tinge of anxiety still roamed around his mind. As he gazed at the sunset, the concern and unrest quietened down like a volcano¨Cthe surface became hard and smooth but the inner layer raged and sought its vent.


    As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple lit up the sky. The long shadows of mountains and hills spread across the landscape, engulfing the forests and meadows in gentle darkness. Only the city in the valley cast a golden afterglow. A few ships drifted across the sky, mimicking lively stars.


    One of them caught Ivendir''s attention. A smaller, barely visible dot seemed to fall from the ship. It sped towards the suburbs almost at a right angle. Ivendir narrowed his eyes. Those violent manoeuvres above the inhabited areas were illegal. It made him wonder where the services are and why they didn''t stop this vehicle.


    The next thing he saw made him hunch and recoil. A small but bright explosion glowed among the buildings. Ivendir narrowed his eyes and craned his neck, still hunching behind the curtains. Thirty seconds later, when the white flare turned into an orange afterglow of fire, Ivendir''s LiqWatch beeped.


    "Rapid Response, do you read me?" he asked, still gazing at the display of all shades of orange. "What happened?"


    Only then he began to feel how fear gradually captures his body. His fist shivered and his palm became wet. His tensed ears moved when he sensed an imagined presence behind his back.


    "Your Highness?" the voice spoke up. "Did something happen to you?"


    "No," snarled the king. "What was that?"


    A few cracking noises resounded in the communicator but the chief outshouted them, "A tiny warhead fell on an empty storage." Another buzz interrupted this answer. "We... couldn''t trace it. There was a short interval in our readings..."


    "The Moryans, right?" growled Ivendir as wrath and dread overwhelmed him. "Only they could block our signals."


    "We don''t know yet. We will inform you on an ongoing basis."


    Ivendir nodded and the call ended. He sat down on the edge of his bed, nervously turning his LiqWatch around his wrist. The spite surging in his veins made his hands tremble. The Moryans laughed right in his face.


    Before wrath overwhelmed him, a spark of fear scorched his heart. The Moryans were just an exhausting, but also harmless parasite until now. After this attack, they became a real threat.


    Ivendir''s heart speeds up. His sight rushed from one corner of his chamber to another. He tried to concentrate on his next move but his thoughts persistently wandered towards the incoming atrocities of Moryans. Every blow of the wind from outside felt to him like a sinister breath on his neck. He began to assume that they may already be here.


    With his eyes open wide, he jumped to his feet. He looked around. His chamber was still empty. His obsession of checking the lockers manifested itself with a gimlet ache in his stomach. He took a step forward to approach the nearest locker, but at that moment his LiqWatch beeped once again.


    Ivendir froze. He moved his ears to make sure that it''s not his imagination. Lifting his quivering hand, he tapped the screen. As he understood what was written in the message, a freezing, devastating shock drilled through skin, flesh and bone.


    The next one will be... bigger.

 Chapter 1.1. There was a deal

    The Vanquisher of Kings II


    <hr>


    Erilaz, Andvari and Hefri flee their homeland to seek refuge. However, their plans take a chaotic turn when their spaceship malfunctions. As they land far from their destination, they accidentally cross paths with a hostile mafia boss.


    They must outwit him and survive in a treacherous mushroom jungle.


    Among the chaos on Helvetto, King Ivendir must confront his powerlessness as invaders threaten his people. Desperate for a solution, he makes a daring and perilous choice that could save or destroy his kingdom. In addition to the unwanted guests, he faces an another obstacle ¨C his own madness and paranoia.


    <hr><hr>


    After four long days on the botanist''s ship, the Vardir Commanders regained more strength. Hefri could walk by herself, Andvari''s wounds began to heal and form scars, and Erilaz slept well for the first time since their escape.


    To avoid getting bored to death, they exercised, talked about even the most trivial things, and played improvised games. When the botanist had to take care of the ship¡¯s engines, they started another round of a guessing game.


    ¡°Hefri, it¡¯s your turn,¡± said Andvari, sitting in the pilot seat, his arms crossed and his legs stretched.


    ¡°Okay. So¡­¡± muttered Hefri and gazed at the distorted stars in front of the ship. ¡°It¡¯s a brush, but bald people can use it too.¡±


    Erilaz and Andvari glanced at each other.


    ¡°A¡­ scrubbing brush?¡± said Erilaz.


    ¡°A toilet brush?¡± added Andvari.


    Hefri shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s a toothbrush!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Andvari tilted his head, looking pretentiously at her. ¡°What if the bald person had no teeth?¡±


    Hefri narrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Then I would have said: bald people with no teeth. Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡±


    Andvari wanted to respond, but Erilaz interrupted, ¡°it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Andvari nodded and rested his chin on his hand. After a moment of silence, he began, ¡°why aren''t the Moryans going to celebrate my thirtieth birthday?¡±


    Erilaz and Hefri thought over the answer. They pursed their lips, looked at the illuminator or sighed helplessly, but none of them spoke up.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Andvari smiled victoriously. ¡°It¡¯s obvious. They¡¯re going to be extinct by then.¡±


    Hefri snorted under her breath, while Erilaz stretched out on his seat.


    ¡°I wish it was so easy,¡± he muttered, his joints cracking quietly.


    Andvari drooped his shoulders and stared at the floor. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± he raised his sight at Hefri. ¡°When we finally arrive on Xalmecka? It¡¯s so boring here.¡±


    She swirled in her seat and glanced at the control panel. ¡°Around three days.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± sighed Andvari, rolling his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­. Eternity to the power of third!¡±


    As Erilaz straightened up on his seat and opened his mouth to respond, the botanist trotted into the cockpit. His hand trembled, and a drop of sweat dripped down his forehead.


    ¡°I think¡­ we have a problem,¡± he stuttered out.


    The Vardir Commanders looked at the Celestian with worry and surprise.


    ¡°The engine. One of them has been damaged during the chase. It was breaking down quite slowly, the sensors didn¡¯t catch it earlier. We have to stop on the nearest planet.¡±


    ¡°Stop?¡± Erilaz lowered his eyebrows in concern. ¡°Right now? Our allies are awaiting us on Xalmecka, we¡­¡±


    ¡°Vardir Erilaz, it¡¯s too dangerous.¡± The botanist shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t risk your lives like this. I don¡¯t know what happened on Helvetto, but I want you to stay safe.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Hefri chimed in. ¡°Let¡¯s say we land on the nearest planet. And then what? How are we going to repair it? Do we even have any money?¡±


    The botanist shook his head again and sat on the fourth seat. He clenched his fist and covered his mouth, his eyes gazing blankly ahead. His fingers tapped at the armrest, betraying his doubts.


    ¡°I think¡­ we don¡¯t have any better choice.¡±


    The Vardir Commanders glanced at each other knowingly. Erilaz sighed, yet he didn¡¯t want to change the botanist¡¯s plans. He didn¡¯t feel qualified enough to interrupt, since he knew only the very basics of the structure of ships. Hefri wouldn¡¯t help more too, and Andvari specialised in tiny machinery.


    Sinking in dejection, Erilaz turned to the illuminator. Every ray of hope for saving Helvetto from the mad king turned dimmed, as if a shadow of hopelessness eclipsed it. The chance to dethrone Ivendir slipped out of his reach once again. The knowledge about Helvettians¡¯ suffering withered his spirit, but also fuelled his wrath.


    Hatred towards Ivendir brewed inside Erilaz like a storm, its fierce and turbulent force ready to unleash its power at any moment. He clenched his teeth and gripped the armrests with all his might, but anger consumed his thoughts and shrouded all his common sense. His livid yet sullen eyes gazed at the distorted stars as if he wanted to shatter them with his very stare.


    Even though he still panted harshly, his anger faded, giving way to emptiness and longing. King Ivendir was the real reason he and his best friends ended up there. If the rightful king was still alive, Erilaz wouldn¡¯t have to escape his own homeworld and endure these endless waves of guilt.


    Ivendir didn¡¯t have much choice but to meet with the Moryans again. A few days ago, they had sent him a clear message in the form of a missile exploding in the abandoned area of the capital city, so he preferred not to overuse their patience.


    Despite the sleepless nights and distressing days, Ivendir managed to powder the dark circles under his eyes and brush his hair, which now resembled a ruby waterfall reaching his shoulder blades. He needed to have spent a dozen long minutes in front of the mirror to transform his appearance from an exhausted peasant to an ordinary king. The tunic he put on had long, tapering sleeves, what let him hide the thick, dark veins on his pale skin. As always, he searched through his case with jewellery and chose only one, yet the most sophisticated ring with a sea-green gem.


    As Ivendir looked into the mirror and then at the ring on his finger, he snorted bitterly. The gem, despite its similar colour, contrasted so much with his eyes. It glistened plainly in the morning sun, while his weary stare expressed only bleakness.


    To his surprise, dread and panic didn¡¯t grip him as forcefully as before. He felt as if emotions couldn¡¯t break through an invisible barrier, and he watched himself from behind a one-way mirror. He blamed his exhaustion for this, since all he could do at night was to tremble in fear and think over the worst things the Moryans were going to do.


    Well, he thought, leaving his chamber. There was a deal, and there is the price of it.

 Chapter 1.2. Born to protect

    Thelrim joined Ivendir at the door. Only when they reached the chamber where the Moryans wanted to meet, a deep, primal fear clutched Ivendir''s entrails. Its freezing-cold claws tightened over his chest, constricting his already quick breath. His muscles tensed, ready to counterattack any threat from the Moryans as if they wanted to kill him on the scene. A raw, instinctual desire to escape flooded his veins with adrenaline. He gripped his elbows to wipe sweat from his hands, yet his face remained unimpressed. In the end, he couldn¡¯t show the Moryans his insecurity.


    As the sliding door uncovered the silhouettes of the same Kehrian and Nelphian as before, Ivendir clenched his teeth and sighed with pure wrath. The very sight of the bald Kehrian and the slender Nelphian evoke the deepest hatred and fury in him, and if they didn¡¯t have him in their grasp, he would just throw himself at them with his bare fists. His hands trembled as if they were ready for attack, while his heart pounded fiercely against his ribs. As a drop of sweat streamed down his temple and cheek, he pursed his lips and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Hi, Ivendir,¡± said the Kehrian with a sardonic smile. ¡°I have an offer you can¡¯t refuse. I mean, literally.¡±


    Ivendir only raised his eyebrow, pretending to take it easy. He approached the long table at a leisurely pace. He wanted to mock the Moryans by wasting their time. When he pulled the chair with an ear-piercing screech, the Kehrian bared his teeth in pain and wiggled his long ears. Ivendir slightly raised the corner of his mouth and sat a few chairs away from the unwanted guests.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, resting his hands on the table and tilting his head ostentatiously. ¡°What can you offer me?¡±


    The Kehrian lowered his eyebrows. ¡°No, no, no, you were supposed to ask what can you offer us.¡±


    ¡°You mean interests?¡± asked Ivendir. ¡°They¡¯re...¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The Kehrian craned his neck and clenched his fists. ¡°Let me explain something.¡±


    Ivendir leant against the backrest and glanced at him questioningly.


    ¡°As you remember,¡± the Moryan carried on, ¡°we helped you become the king and...¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Ivendir crossed his arms. ¡°Get to the point.¡±


    ¡°Easy,¡± the Nelphian chimed it, pulling the hood over his forehead.


    ¡°We had some troubles,¡± explained the Kehrian. ¡°We¡¯ve lost a moon in the Stralgiz system and we need some help.¡±


    ¡°Some help?¡± Ivendir shook his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already take enough?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re late with the interests so¡­¡± the Kehrian shrugged, and then he bored his snarky sight into Ivendir. ¡°Let us have a little overnight stop here.¡±


    Ivendir giggled. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We need a place to stay, what part of it you don¡¯t understand?¡±


    As the weight of the Kehrian¡¯s words finally hit Ivendir, he blankly gazed ahead for a while, his mouth contorted in a disbelieving smirk. He struggled to remain sceptical, questioning the authenticity of what he heard, but he couldn¡¯t deny his senses this time. A monumental burden sprawled inside his chest, its mass crippling his breath.


    Ivendir leant towards the Kehrian, struggling to keep his expression controlled, yet he kept his voice firm. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t just let you live on my planet.¡±


    The Kehrian nodded slowly. ¡°I guess the missile wasn¡¯t big eno¡­¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Ivendir stood up, his chair moving with a rough scrape. His furious eyes bored into the Kehrian, but the blue-skinned man remained indifferent. ¡°I already agreed for too much. Your demands are out of the question!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± said the Nelphian, raising his hands. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to open Helvetto up to the world first? Besides, we¡¯re offering something in return.¡±


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    The king took a deep breath. He knew he couldn¡¯t bare his weak points like this, yet his mind turned into a vortex of spite, rage, fear and helplessness. To his dismay, his guests had complete control over his every move. Their invisible tentacles wrapped around him, hindering all his actions and decisions. No matter how much he wanted to help Helvettians, his people, he needed to reckon with the Moryans and their whims. In the end, it was they who let him took over Brymir¡¯s position.


    Despite his heart thumping against his chest, he asked in a composed tone, ¡°what do you offer?¡±


    The Moryans glanced at each other.


    ¡°Peace,¡± said the Kehrian.


    Ivendir sighed, staring at the table. He sat down, his body limp like a rag doll. His thoughts ricochetted from one doomed choice to the other, as if he was trapped in a deep hole with no ladder to climb, no hand to pull him out, and no light to guide his way. He struggled against the constriction in his chest with every breath, the visions of Moryans running rampant in his kingdom suffocating him even more.


    ¡°Does that mean no more threatening my people like you did a few days ago?¡±


    The Kehrian scratched his chin and tilted his head. ¡°I think so.¡±


    Ivendir stared at the table for a while. They requested an unreasonable price, yet the thing they offered in return appeared precious to him. After all, the safety of his people was his priority. Despite this, he feared the Moryans. They didn¡¯t need to treat his people with respect and behave like mere guests.


    Quenching all his concerns and distrust, he gulped and took a harsh breath.


    ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    As the board clock showed a late night hour, Erilaz yawned and stood up from his seat. ¡°Sitting all day is so exhausting,¡± he muttered. ¡°I need some rest after... this kind of rest.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± said Andvari, glancing at the control panel. ¡°No, wait!¡± He sprung to his feet. ¡°The upper bed is mine this time!¡±


    Standing in the doorway, Erilaz lowered his eyebrows. ¡°Over my dead body.¡±


    Hefri raised her head from above the control panel, too. Blinking and wrinkling her forehead, she called, ¡°no way, there are only two upper beds so...¡±


    Andvari pointed at her. ¡°I have to check the engines, so don¡¯t you even think about taking my upper bed, you get it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± responded Hefri with a mean smirk.


    As she stood up, contorting her mouth in pain, Erilaz already reached the sleeping cabin, and Andvari just entered the corridor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Vardir Hefri,¡± the botanist interrupted. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the bigger bed for you.¡±


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± she said. ¡°I forgot I have to change my bandages before bed anyway.¡±


    The botanist nodded and approached a locker in the wall. ¡°Sure. I still have many medical supplies for all of you.¡±


    Hefri sat down again and reached her hand. ¡°Awesome, please give me some bandages and a sanitizer.¡±


    The botanist opened a square door and tugged a red-white case from its magnetic handle. As he threw the case, it soared towards Hefri as if it moved in slow-motion. The Celestian woman caught it and gave him a quick smile.


    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll go to bed when I finish.¡±


    The botanist nodded again and headed to the exit. As Hefri tried to unzip the case, its zip jammed. She wrinkled her forehead and tugged the metal pull harder. When the case opened, a swarm of medical items soared into the air. Bags of bandages, jars with drugs and boxes with pills scattered in all directions.


    Hefri bared her teeth and growled, ¡°what kind of idiot didn¡¯t stick this stuff into the pockets!?¡± Then she recalled that the last person who used the medical kit was her. ¡°Oh, wait...¡±


    Worried by her call, the botanist returned to the cockpit and looked at Hefri with concern. ¡°Vardir Hefri? Do you need help?¡±


    The Celestian woman drooped her shoulders. ¡°No, I can handle this.¡±


    She jumped from her seat and began to fish out one item after another. Since the annoyance prickled her nerves like a ravenous mosquito, she clutched the case under her arm and just shoved the items inside. A few of them slipped out, what only fuelled her anger.


    Lowering her eyebrows, she stopped and sighed. ¡°Damned zero gravity...¡±


    The botanist crossed the doorway as if he was a thief sneaking into a vault. He caught a bag of bandages and approached Hefri.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ no big deal for me, I¡¯m not that sleepy. I can help,¡± he said, staring at her placidly.


    Hefri twisted her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m used to dealing with things by myself. As a kid I had to¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± the botanist tilted his head. ¡°I offer you help because¡­ that¡¯s what good people do when they see someone in need.¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Really? Yes, I¡¯m in need, but picking up a few items isn¡¯t a big problem for me.¡±


    The Celestian glanced at the floor. ¡°I imagine how hard it must be to serve Helvetto as one of the¡­ three female Vardir Commanders throughout the entire history.¡± He sighed and gave her a quick, feeble smile. ¡°It¡¯s not because you aren¡¯t self-reliant or¡­ not tough enough.¡±


    Hefri sighed and gazed at the floor. The Celestian¡¯s words stabbed her to the very core of her being. A sharp pang of pain bored straight into her heart, as if a piece of her confidence and self-worth has been torn away.


    As the first wave of bitterness drained off her, she felt somehow relieved. Since she was a kid, she had to rely on herself and no one else while being responsible for her disabled father and overworked mother. Then, as an aspiring Vardir, she couldn¡¯t count on anyone¡¯s mercy, despite support from Erilaz and Andvari. It encoded a simple statement in her mind ¨C only the weaker ones need help, and she couldn¡¯t be weak as the protector of Helvetto, its citizens and their King.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, raising her sight at the botanist. ¡°Let''s just¡­ cooperate this time.¡±

 Chapter 2.1. A shady town

    ¡°The nearest planet I found is Cedroria,¡± said the botanist, leaning over the control panel.


    ¡°Cedroria?¡± snorted Hefri. ¡°Does that shithole have any repair stations?¡±


    ¡°Does that shithole know how a spaceship looks like?¡± added Andvari.


    Erilaz raised his hands. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, most of this planet is just mushroom jungles, but there¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I forgot, mushroom jungles.¡± Hefri wrinkled her forehead and twisted her mouth. ¡°What if we crash into one of them? We¡¯re gonna starve to death, since nearly all these mushrooms are poisonous!¡±


    Andvari crossed his arms. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? I hate mushrooms anyway¡­¡±


    ¡°Vardir Erilaz is right,¡± said the botanist. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, I¡¯ll land next to some small city. We¡¯ll be there in¡­¡± He glanced at a screen with parameters. ¡°In four hours.¡±


    ¡°Mushrooms¡­¡± muttered Andvari and flinched. ¡°Disgusting.¡±


    As their ship reached the Cedroria system, the botanist requested an emergency landing. An hour later, the planet in front of them appeared no different that its three moons. All four celestial bodies resembled a clump of ginger clay, ashy mud and pale-brown dirt, but only Cedroria¡¯s surface was marked by a myriad of tiny, grey-blue seas.


    They had to approach at a distance of ten thousand kilometres to notice that the silver stains in the shape of sprawling roots were actually cities and towns. The flight controller let them land near one of them, since the whizzing of a damaged engine filled the whole ship with a quiet, yet ear-splitting buzz.


    The ship sat on a nearly abandoned airfield. Only a few old, clunky vehicles stood nearby, and the buildings around didn¡¯t look much better. A few windows were broken, awful graffiti covered the bricky walls, and rubbish or debris stuck in the storm drains. Pewter clouds in the sky and omnipresent puddles or damp patches added even worse vibes to this whole town. A few citizens strolled by the streets, but they sped up their pace at the very sight of the strange vehicle.


    As only the botanist tapped an icon, and the hatch to the ship opened, a smell of wet dirt and a feeble scent of mycelium barged inside. Erilaz left the vehicle first and looked around the airfield.


    ¡°Do you have any weapons?¡± he asked.


    The botanist slipped his hands into the pockets of his long coat. ¡°Only one gun.¡±


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    ¡°It¡¯s not good,¡± said Hefri, and stood at the doorway with her arms crossed.


    Andvari joined her, peeking out from the ship. ¡°Yeah. How are we supposed to look for help like this?¡±


    Erilaz propped his chin and stared at the ground. After a while, he spoke up, ¡°Andvari and me may look around. And you, Hefri, could stay here.¡±


    Hefri sighed and nodded. ¡°Fair enough. I think I could have injured a muscle in my leg.¡±


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± asked Erilaz.


    Hefri shrugged. ¡°A little bit. Nothing serious, but I don¡¯t want to slow you down.¡± She pursed her lips in disappointment, but then she opened her eyes wider. ¡°Wait, are you two sure you want to sightsee an unfamiliar town by yourself?¡±


    Andvari tilted his head. ¡°And do you have any better ideas, you genius?¡±


    Hefri narrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Yes, we can kick you out of this ship and weld the door closed.¡±


    ¡°Good luck with starving to death!¡±


    ¡°Andvari,¡± hissed Erilaz, clenching his teeth and craning his neck. ¡°Come with me or I¡¯m going alone.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Andvari reached his hands and trotted down the gangplank. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you alone in this wild, alien place!¡±


    Hefri contorted her mouth, glaring at him. ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Andvari proudly raised his head. ¡°At least I¡¯ll be far away from you.¡±


    ¡°Dear tour group,¡± began Erilaz, his shoulders drooped wearily. ¡°Please gather your luggage and get off your backside, okay?¡±


    Andvari saluted. ¡°Sure, our tour guide.¡± He swirled on his heel and marched back into the ship.


    Erilaz sighed with a feeble smirk. His friends¡¯ scrambles and jibes let him find a little bit of normality among the chaos he experienced for the last few days. Such a little thing inspired him to pull himself together every morning. He was sure he would go crazy without them.


    Half an hour later, Erilaz and Andvari left the airfield. The only weapons they had were a gun with five bullets and a metal rod, which Andvari found in a storm drain. Only their appearance could deter potential thugs ¨C two tall, muscular Celestians might have discouraged a bunch of kids or a single robber.


    When a young Ifrit sneaked out of a stairwell near them, Andvari waved to him.


    ¡°Hey! Do you have a moment!?¡±


    The Ifrit narrowed his eyes and sped up.


    ¡°We have a question,¡± Andvari carried on. ¡°Do you know someone who can fix ships or¡­¡±


    The young reptile only shook his head and trotted along the wall. Andvari crossed his arms, glaring at the stranger. ¡°Little mean bastard. Do they even know what good manners are?¡±


    Erilaz tilted his head and leant closer to his friend. ¡°Maybe yelling like a crazy isn¡¯t a good idea right now? Especially when you¡¯re holding a metal rod like this?¡±


    Andvari lowered his eyebrows. ¡°What else do you want to do?¡±


    Erilaz glanced at the stairwell. ¡°I think we can just enter this building and knock at someone¡¯s door. Just be nice and try to look innocent.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± muttered Andvari, brushing his loose dreadlocks aside. ¡°But aren¡¯t we invading their¡­ personal space?¡±


    ¡°Come on, they can¡¯t hurt us too quickly.¡± Erilaz patted the gun on his belt. ¡°Let¡¯s try to handle it peacefully.¡±


    Andvari pursed his lips, although he nodded.


    As only they approached the stairwell, the window on the ground floor opened. Erilaz reached his hand to stop Andvari.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he whispered, putting his finger to his mouth.


    They took a few steps back, keeping their eyes on the shadow inside the room. The silhouette bent down, and when it straightened up, it hurled an empty bottle through the window. Gasping in surprise, Erilaz and Andvari leapt aside, letting the bottle ricochet against the ground and fly to the other end of the lane.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± muttered Erilaz. He trotted away, and his friend followed him, glaring with spite over his shoulder.

 Chapter 2.2. We didn鈥檛 start it (+ 100 followers special)

    They turned into a narrower street. Clumps of mushrooms grew here and there at the edges of the road. Clouds in the sky grew darker with every passing moment, and muffled thunders growled in the distance. The smell of damp mycelium intensified, making Andvari wrinkle his nose. Unlike him, Erilaz enjoyed it, since it reminded him of his childhood and his favourite mushroom soup. Andvari hated it, and whenever it was on the menu, he preferred to eat sandwiches he collected the day before.


    When tiny drops of drizzle began to churn the puddles slightly, Andvari spoke up, ¡°shouldn¡¯t we go back? Or at least hide somewhere?¡±


    Erilaz glanced at the sky and nodded. ¡°Right. Unless they begin to throw some worse items at us¡­¡±


    A tinplate shed sat at the dead end of the street. Boxes, barrels, and a few parts of some machine stood under it, forming a pile of junk. Rain pounded louder and louder at the roof, while another thunder roared closer to the town.


    Andvari pointed at the door under the shed, which led to the two-storey building. ¡°Let¡¯s knock here and take a break.¡±


    Erilaz sped up, flicking his long, damp hair. ¡°Well, maybe¡­ we have little choice, anyway.¡±


    As only they got under the shed, a lightning illuminated the nearby buildings. Cascades of raindrops lashed down the sky, swooshing like a tiny spaceship¡¯s engines. Wrinkles tore the surface of muddy water in the puddles and the streets became empty for good. Feeble light beamed only from a few widows as a last reminder it wasn¡¯t a ghost town yet.


    Andvari swung his head and tousled his long, ginger dreadlocks, while Erilaz squeezed water from his hair. Their already too small clothes soaked, sticking to their skin and exposing their large, yet bruised and scratched muscles.


    Waterproof bandages on Andvari¡¯s hand remained dry, but his wounds began to itch. He scratched them carefully with the very tips of his fingers and turned to Erilaz.


    ¡°Are we going to knock?¡±


    Erilaz tilted his head. ¡°Why not? Now we look miserable enough, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Andvari approached the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to knock, and you¡¯re going to talk with that person.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I can do it,¡± muttered Erilaz and joined Andvari at the door.


    Andvari took a deep breath and raised his fist. He glanced knowingly at Erilaz, and his friend nodded. Andvari knocked three times and took a step back.


    They both breathed as quietly as possible, awaiting the resident¡¯s reaction, but there were no signs of life coming from the building. Erilaz leant closer and narrowed his eyes. His ear nearly touched the door, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything among the swooshing of rain. He knocked too and crossed his arms.


    When no one responded again, Erilaz shrugged and looked at his friend. ¡°I guess it¡¯s empty.¡±


    ¡°And now, we¡¯re supposed to spend a few hours here, among this terrible smell of mushrooms, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re free to...¡±


    Erilaz didn¡¯t finish when the door swung open, nearly hitting his face. He only stepped back as the three individuals marched out of the building.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here!?¡± growled a young Kehrian. His cornflower-blue skin indicated that he couldn¡¯t be older than sixteen or seventeen.


    Two Ifrits behind him reached for their weapons, baring their teeth.


    The rush of adrenaline surged through Erilaz¡¯s veins like a wildfire, igniting his fighting zeal with an electrifying intensity. His every nerve tingled with anticipation. Heart pounded in his chest, and the pupils widened in his icy-blue eyes. Despite losing his king, his homeworld and his power armour, the warrior¡¯s instincts remained rooted deep within him.


    Taking a slow breath to calm down and avoid provocation, Erilaz glanced at Andvari. ¡°Sorry, but we just¡­¡±


    The Kehrian unlocked his gun at aimed at Erilaz. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t remember anyone in this place dressing so ridiculously.¡±


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    Andvari slowly hid the metal rod behind his back and spoke up, ¡°we need help because our ship¡­¡±


    ¡°So you have a ship, right?¡± The Kehrian turned to Andvari. ¡°A big one? Or something smaller?¡± He raised the corner of his lips. ¡°If it¡¯s valuable enough, we may let you get out alive.¡±


    The last sentence hit Andvari to the very core. A surge of deepest fear flooded his veins, paralysing him for a moment. His heart raced uncontrollably, pounding against his chest like a wild animal trying to break free. The world around him seemed to blur, and the sough of rain bored through his ears to his very brain.


    ¡°Hefri!¡±


    As only Erilaz glanced at him again, Andvari blinked knowingly.


    He swung the metal rod and pounded at the Kehrian¡¯s hands. The boy screamed in pain and dropped his gun, and the momentum pushed him to his knees. The taller Ifrit just unlocked his gun when Erilaz sent a bullet into his head. The other reptile leapt towards the pile of junk, avoiding another shot. As only he dropped to the ground and aimed at Erilaz, the Celestian fired two times. Both bullets pierced the Ifrit¡¯s skull, sloshing his blood and chunks of flesh at the rubbish behind him. His lifeless body slumped on a metal box with a dull thud.


    ¡°Oh shit, no bullets!¡± yelled Erilaz, while Andvari jumped to pick up the Kehrian¡¯s gun from under a tiny coffee table.


    At that moment, the boy rolled on the ground and jumped to his feet. He drew a sabre and turned it on. Pale plasma illuminated his surroundings, shining even brighter than a nearby lightning. Smell of ozone broke through the scent of mycelium, while warm air embraced everyone involved.


    He lunged at Andvari. Erilaz jumped after him. The Kehrian swung his sabre, aiming at kneeling Andvari, but Erilaz grabbed his hand.


    The Kehrian kicked and tussled, when Erilaz stuttered out, ¡°knock him out!¡±


    Andvari stood up. Investing all his strength into this one move, he swiped the metal rod and smashed the Kehrian¡¯s head. The impact barged the boy into the pile of junk. His head pounded at the coffee table, and his body slumped to the floor.


    Erilaz and Andvari stared at him for a while, panting and watching how a puddle of blood spills under his head. As their heartbeats slowed down and adrenaline subsided in their veins, they glanced at each other.


    ¡°Is he dead?¡± asked Erilaz.


    Andvari approached the Kehrian and touched his neck. Then he looked and Erilaz again and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel his pulse.¡±


    Erilaz pursed his lips, and then spoke up, ¡°well. We... We didn¡¯t start it.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Andvari wiped the metal rod at a sheet of foil, which covered a bunch of barrels. ¡°I would honestly recommend getting out of here.¡±


    Erilaz looked over his shoulder at the hefty streams of water. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he added and trotted into the rain.


    The day Ivendir feared the most had come. Standing on the largest airfield on Helvetto, he stared at the ground to avoid the abominable view above him. The aching in his heart bored through his whole chest, his breath quiet, yet shallow. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t disguise the abysmal sorrow in his eyes or the trembling of his fingers. Warm wind blew against the tall, olive blades of grass and feral wheat, but his skin felt only piercing cold.


    Here, on the Helvetto¡¯s equator, flat prairies stretched to the very horizon. Clumps of flowers unveiled their buds, awaiting rains and warmer weather. The only objects taller than dwarf trees were control towers, small houses and ultra-fast train stations.


    Ivendir managed to give a few speeches to Helvettians before, convincing them that this emergency situation is temporary, but every public appearance built up his self-hatred. He couldn¡¯t look in the mirror without disgust. Since his obsession with traitors led him to the loss of all his Vardir Commanders, no one could protect his world and his people. Apart from that, he began to understand that the worst traitor now was no one else but him. The world he loved so much became a nest for his enemies, and he couldn¡¯t do anything about that.


    Bjarni Arnorsson, the Commander of Metropolitan Militia, couldn''t stand this view too. Clad in grey suit and dark-blue armoured vest with an aquamarine image of an eagle in the nest, he struggled to keep a confident posture. Despite this, dim circles under his cobalt-blue eyes revealed his exhaustion after days and nights of world-wide riots. Since he didn¡¯t even have time to take care of his hair, a short bristle covered his head, while brown roots marked his sloppy, purple mohawk.


    The moryan carriers and ferries descended to the airfield one by one, tainting the serene prairie with masses of scratched metal in random, dingy colours. Then their hatches opened with a clatter and rasp. Lines of Moryans began to leave their ships, and whenever the vehicle emptied, it soared to the sky to make a place for the next one. Whole families strolled across the airfield, carrying their giant luggage as if they wanted to move to Helvetto for good. None of them even greeted the king. When the endless queue of Moryans was dividing into smaller groups like a river on its delta, the ultra-fast trains picked them up and speeded away.


    Just like a disease in the veins, thought Arnorsson, struggling to hide the pure spite in his eyes.


    The visions of the last extreme riot haunted him again. A misunderstanding made the factory workers and the militia fight each other, which ended up with a one-sided havoc. Arnorsson struggled to kill as few people as possible, but these six casualties and twenty wounded Celestians nearly shattered all he believed in. He wanted to protect his people instead of hurting them.


    Despite his noble ideas, Arnorsson knew he won¡¯t escape violence. The recent riots were just a tip of the iceberg, and the more Moryans will settle in his world, the more violence he will need.


    All his hate and inner outrage directed towards one person. He glanced at Ivendir, pursing his lips and clenching his fists to contain his rage.


    The false king. The real traitor.


    To calm himself down, he bored his sight into the concrete beneath him.


    I can only hope that you¡¯re alive, Vardir¡­

 Chapter 3.1. Stranger danger

    Hefri sat at the doorway to the ship, while the botanist stayed inside and racked his brain over the repair of the damaged engine. The Celestian woman stared at the distant buildings behind the raindrop curtain, waiting for Erilaz and Andvari.


    Even though she trusted their fighting and survival skills, she couldn''t dismiss her worry about them. She didn¡¯t know if the chilly wind or the unease caused the feeble goosebumps on her skin. Thoughts of their well-being and a nagging sense of threat loomed over her mind, and even the monotonous swoosh of rain didn¡¯t let her calm down.


    Somewhere among the sough of rain, Hefri picked up a dull, quiet thud. She stood up and peeked outside. A few ships rested on the airfield on the left, just as before. Water splashed against their surface, forming a cloud of drops above them. On the right, only one vehicle stood in the distance, and the brick-red buildings behind it took a dark mahogany tint. Light emanated from three windows and the curtains moved sometimes, as if the residents spied on Hefri and her companions.


    As she stepped back to hide from the rain, two masked individuals jumped in front of the hatch. Hefri flinched and gasped, leaning forwards and clenching her fists.


    ¡°What the hell!?¡± she growled when a Celestian and a Nelphian drew their guns.


    A sudden jolt of adrenaline shot through her body, sending shivers down her spine. Her breath stuck in her lungs for a second, while her muscles tensed up to prepare her for a fight. Despite the ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach, a rush of energy fuelled her body with strength and confidence.


    ¡°I like this ship,¡± said the Celestian. ¡°Are you alone?¡±


    A deep breath let Hefri regain composure. Since she had no chance against two armed opponents, she decided to wait for a right moment. She raised her hands, glancing at the corridor on her right. It led to the engine room, where the botanist checked the damaged engine. She could only hope that he wouldn''t peek out to check what had caused the noises.


    She looked at them again and raised her eyebrow. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± The Celestian motioned to the Nelphian to get in. ¡°Move!¡± he added, glaring at Hefri.


    Hefri sighed with spite and backed away towards the cockpit. The Nelphian entered the ship first, and the Celestian followed him.


    As the Nelphian began to search the ship, the Celestian interrupted, ¡°hold on.¡±


    Hefri halted, looking questioningly at him. The Nelphian stopped too, aiming at her again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste our time and tell us if you have something valuable here.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± She twisted her mouth. ¡°Look at me. Do I look rich to you?¡± She waved her hands to draw their attention to her rumpled flannel shirt. ¡°I can¡¯t even afford fancy clothes.¡±


    ¡°Soon you won¡¯t need them too,¡± muttered the Celestian and marched towards her. ¡°Where¡¯s your valuable stuff!?¡±


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    The Nelphian followed him at a leisurely pace, as if a job like this was his bread and butter.


    Hefri backed away even faster to keep a distance between her and the assailant. ¡°Leave me alone, I told you I have nothing!¡± she barked, baring her teeth.


    As she crossed the doorway to the cockpit, she looked over her shoulder. The control panel was just a few long steps away from her, and the icon of closing the door shined on the screen. Despite this, her logical thinking quickly tamed this idea. Such a sudden move could provoke the two robbers with guns.


    Hefri passed between the two back seats, and then between the front seats. When her tights brushed against the edge of the control panel, a spark of fear ignited within her. Caught into a space with no way out, she craned her neck and tensed her hands along her body. Her eyes zipped across the cockpit, yet she didn¡¯t spot any way out. The suffocating grip of anxiety tightened its hold around her stomach. The weight of helplessness descended upon her as she grappled with the lack of control over her circumstances. Her every arduous breath and every rapid heartbeat only amplified her sense of being trapped like an animal in the cage.


    The Celestian strengthened his grasp around the grip of the gun, and his finger on the trigger trembled even more. ¡°You don¡¯t want to speak. Fine. Just don¡¯t scream when I...¡±


    He swirled on his heel as a dull but loud thud and a furious growl echoed right behind his back. His companion plummeted to the floor with a bluish mushy hole at the top of his skull. The botanist stood behind, lifting a large hammer and aiming at the Celestian. His usually calm and apprehensive face now expressed only spite and wrath, his narrowed eyes glaring at the enemy.


    Hefri charged at the Celestian, his gun directed at the botanist. In this second, a fiery rage consumed every fibre of her being. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, igniting her primal instinct to fight. Her vision narrowed, focusing solely on the enemy Celestian. She held her tensed fingers outstretched, the tendons on the tops of her hands taut as a string.


    Right when she jumped at him, he pulled the trigger. The roar of the gunshot resounded in the whole ship, and the bullet pierced the botanist¡¯s neck inside out. A spurt of blood gushed out of his artery, while Hefri knocked the gun out of the Celestian¡¯s hands. Engulfed in ferocious fighting zeal, she fired a salvo of five bullets, shattering the enemy¡¯s face into a red-pink pulp.


    The enemy Celestian collapsed, his blood and chunks of his flesh turning the floor into a red, slippery puddle.


    Only after a few rapid breaths, Hefri understood what happened. She raised her head, her stare fixing on the dying botanist. A wave of shock froze her in disbelief like a lightning strike. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she has just witnessed, but the shock had slowed down her logical thinking.


    ¡°No, hold on!¡± she cried, jumping over the dead enemies.


    As she dropped to her knees and caught the falling botanist, the spark of life nearly faded from his eyes. She gripped his shoulders and shook him gently, blood splashing on her shirt.


    ¡°Daughters,¡± he stuttered out, closing his eyes. ¡°Wife¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m sorry!¡± called Hefri when his head drooped limply.


    The weight of regret pressed on her chest, hindering her already shallow breath. A sharp pang stung her heart, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Despite the cooler air, sweat dripped down her forehead, reminding her of what could have happened if the botanist hadn¡¯t stopped the intruders. This haunting realization echoed in her head, silencing her common sense.


    Since she knew he couldn''t help him any more, she placed his lifeless body on the floor. Shaking her head, she stood up. Even though she still stared at her companion with pure sorrow on her face, her shock subsided and the Vardir¡¯s instincts sobered her up.


    ¡°You¡­ you served us well.¡± Turning her head away from this sight, she added, ¡°you served Helvetto well.¡±


    She ran into the cockpit, avoiding looking at the floor, and tapped all icons that could lock any door. Then she slumped to the nearest seat and bored her stunned sight into the illuminator.

 Chapter 3.2. Crime scene

    Erilaz and Andvari sprinted across the streets, ignoring the fading thunders and ankle-deep puddles. They lost their way a few times and had to turn back, but the thought of returning to the shed didn¡¯t even cross their minds. Raindrops shrunk with every passing minute, but their clothes were already heavy and soaking wet, while water streamed down their sticky hair.


    As only they crossed the airfield and reached the ship, its hatch opened. Hefri stood inside, panting and staring at them with disquiet. Blood soaked her flannel shirt and trousers, smeared red stains covering her face. The colour drained from her face, leaving her pale and exposing a raw unrest that she rarely showed to the world.


    ¡°Hefri?¡± asked Erilaz, his eyes widened in disbelief and his fist pressed to his chest. ¡°Are you ok?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No. No, things gone very wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± added Andvari.


    Hefri denied again, leaning from the ship and peeking outside. As she backed away, she lowered her voice to a nervous whisper. ¡°Someone attacked us. They killed him. They killed the guy who was helping us!¡±


    Erilaz¡¯s heart raced with fear and his stomach churned with anxiety at the very thought of Hefri being in danger. On top of that, the information about the botanist¡¯s death clutched his chest. Unease and concern consumed his mind and muscles, while every worst-case scenario played out in his head like a never-ending nightmare.


    ¡°No way,¡± he said, jumping into the ship, and Andvari followed him.


    The view he encountered froze him for a moment. Together with Andvari, he halted and looked around, struggling to imagine the course of events. Three bodies, two Celestians and a Nelphian, lied in the corridor near the cockpit. A puddle of red and blue blood spread from the back seats to the main entrance. Hefri¡¯s steps marked the corridor, and thick, red spurts streamed down the walls.


    Andvari rested his trembling hand on his forehead. ¡°What the fuck happened here!? It looks like a¡­ a slaughterhouse!¡±


    Erilaz wanted to approach the botanist and check his pulse, but the hole in the Celestian¡¯s neck clearly indicated that he had no chance to survive. Sadness and sorrow descended upon his mind like a dense morning mist. It clouded all his other thoughts for a moment, leaving him wondering about the botanist¡¯s wife and two daughters.


    ¡°I think¡­ we have to clean this up,¡± he said.


    ¡°Right.¡± Hefri sighed and drooped her head. ¡°I needed to take a breath. They attacked me, and this guy saved me.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Andvari glanced at her with sorrow and awe. ¡°Then he is a Helvettian hero¡­¡±


    Hefri pursed her lips and nodded. ¡°He deserves a better burial than we can offer him now.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± said Erilaz. ¡°We didn¡¯t even ask him for his name.¡±


    As Hefri and Andvari realised this detail, they glanced at each other with shame.


    Even though Erilaz knew this man for just a few days, a profound sense of loss stung his heart. A random Helvettian sacrificed his own life to save a Vardir Commander, and most importantly, an Erilaz¡¯s friend. He couldn''t imagine losing Hefri.


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    The botanist¡¯s deed evoked so much respect and admiration in Erilaz that his eyes and nose smarted. Without the Celestian¡¯s help, Hefri could have been the only victim here, lying on the floor in the puddle of her own blood. He struggled not to wonder what else the assailants could have done do her, but this possibility teased him with the cruel visions of all plausible violence.


    ¡°Then¡­ what are we going to write on his gravestone?¡± asked Andvari.


    Hefri sighed and propped her chin, her gaze blank and impassive. After a moment of reflection, she stuttered out, ¡°something along these lines: a husband, father, botanist and¡­ a hero.¡±


    ¡°Sounds¡­ right,¡± said Andvari and turned on his heel. ¡°I have to start cleaning this up. I can¡¯t watch this.¡±


    Hefri and Erilaz nodded and headed to the maintenance room, too.


    As Ivendir''s LiqWatch beeped, he had his heart in his throat. This very noise made him flinch, and he nearly knocked a lamp from his bedside table. Even though it was just early evening, he lied curled up in his bed, staring at the opposite wall for the last two hours.


    He already received three messages about strikes in the capital city today, where the Helvettians revolted against the Moryans. His heart ached whenever he witnessed how the Helvettians tried to defend their place to live, yet he couldn''t do anything to help them. Otherwise, the Moryans threatened him to carry out terrorist attacks on innocent civilians.


    Fear clutched Ivendir¡¯s stomach, his eyes open wide. Panting like an embattled animal, he reached for his LiqWatch.


    ¡°Yes, Commander Arnorsson?¡± he said, holding the LiqWatch in his trembling hand.


    ¡°Your Highness,¡± sighed Bjarni Arnorsson. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look good. People are outraged, and the Moryans came up with another fuck¡­ I mean, another insane plan.¡±


    Ivendir''s face paled. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°They want to demolish King Brymir¡¯s statue on the Hjarn continent.¡± Arnorsson sighed again, this time with wrath and disdain. ¡°They say¡­ it doesn¡¯t match their vision of a place to live, or something like that.¡±


    Panting noiselessly and clenching his fists, Ivendir bored his sight into the picture in his room. An intricate wooden frame bordered a rectangular painting of Brymir and him from many years back, and an amethyst shard from Brymir¡¯s helmet decorated its top.


    Once again, Ivendir felt his cousin staring at him from the painting. Freezing shiver ran down his spine as he sensed the imaginary Brymir¡¯s wrath. Unease lingered in the background of his consciousness, anxiety seeping into every corner of his mind. His every shallow, rapid breath stung his chest, while drops of chilly sweat emerged on his forehead. He tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, but it bored into his brain and gripped his heart with a cold clutch.


    Sorry, Brymir. I wanted to open us up to the world, but the world is so hostile to us¡­


    ¡°Your Highness, are you still on the line?¡± asked Arnorsson.


    Ivendir blinked and propped his forehead. ¡°Yes. I was planning my further actions. I¡¯ll take care of it tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Your Highness, but I don¡¯t think tomorrow morning will be soon enough.¡±


    The king shook his head, struggling to focus on his response. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll do it tonight then.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Your Highness. Copy that,¡± responded Arnorsson and hung up.


    Ivendir grunted affirmatively to himself, struggling to calm his breath down. He narrowed his eyebrows, pursing his lips. The amount of hate he felt towards the Moryans devoured his heart and mind. A burning ache filled his chest like a fierce flame scorching his insides. His every muscle felt strained with disdain. Every thought of the Moryans triggered a surge of anger, resentment, and bitterness that clouded his common sense.


    Even though they helped him become the king, he regretted getting into business with them. Such an irresponsible act brought suffering over him and his people, and he couldn''t help but loathe himself. So many of his naive visions of a bright future collapsed like a woodworm-infested tree. Opening up to the world only had let the pest in.


    The weight of guilt and responsibility for the pain he caused to Helvettians tore his self-respect apart bit by bit. A profound sorrow and shame for his actions or inactions led him deeper and deeper into the pit of helplessness. The realization that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t choose the right solution consumed his every thought. After all, there was no right solution. The choice he had was to resist and bring the Moryans¡¯ wrath upon his kingdom, or bury his head in the sand and let his people suffer.


    Ivendir decided to choose the second option, at least until he figures out how to outfox his oppressors.

 Chapter 4. A Helvettian Hero

    As the evening came to Cedroria, Erilaz, Hefri and Andvari finished cleaning the ship. They dumped the blood-soaked clothes and the two dead enemies into the nearest trash container under the cover of looming darkness. Then, they climbed a nearby hill and dug a hole to bury the botanist. A few passers-by glanced at them suspiciously, but in the end, everyone minded their business. Apparently, burying a body wasn¡¯t a rare event in these parts.


    Nestled at the outskirts of the town, the low, flat hill rose above the shabby buildings. Short, yet lush grass swayed gently in the chilly breeze. Somewhere among its fawn, dingy blades, clumps of sprawling mycelium formed tiny, mustard-yellow carpets. A few white wildflowers climbed towards the sky, their cups closed tightly and ready for the incoming night.


    When Erilaz threw the last portion of the dirt and helped his friends flatten the grave, he took a knife and crouched next to a large, ragged brick. Scraping its surface, he carved a text in Helvettian runes:


    A husband


    A father


    A botanist


    A Helvettian hero


    As he stood up, he looked at his friends. Their blank faces masked their inner gloom, and their eyes gazed emptily at the grave. All this time, they didn¡¯t say a word to each other, and they didn¡¯t need to. Each of them understood this atmosphere of pointless loss, abandoned family and eternal gratitude.


    ¡°Are we done?¡± asked Erilaz in an emotionless voice.


    ¡°I think so,¡± responded Hefri, leaning against her shovel and panting quietly.


    Erilaz turned around and headed down the hill first, and his friends followed him. Three tiny moons reflected a faint, tawny light, and the last remnants of the sun were maroon and dark purple smudges on the horizon. Unseen night creatures began to tick and chirr, while a few glowing eyes flashed by far away from the town.


    As they approached a hole in the chain-link fence around the airfield, Andvari halted.


    ¡°What?¡± asked Hefri, glancing at him.


    The Celestian stood in silence, pressing his finger to his mouth. Erilaz lowered his eyebrows and began to listen intently, too. A distant rustle resounded again, and then a myriad of shrieks and squeaks echoed right from the sky.


    Erilaz hunched, looking around the darkness to find the source of these ear-piercing screeches. A long flock of bat-like creatures shot across the sky, flapping their leathery wings. Erilaz couldn''t notice any details, aside from their long, hairy tails.


    When the flock broke up in the nearby ruins and their screams died down, Hefri breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°What a bunch of noisy beasts,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± muttered Erilaz. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± added Andvari, ¡°but I guess I won¡¯t fell asleep too quickly.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Hefri propped her forehead. ¡°Nightmarish stuff.¡±


    When Erilaz bent down to slip through the hole in the fence, a distant gunshot made him jump up. He turned his head towards the place where the bat-like creatures came from. Andvari and Hefri froze, staring in the same direction.


    As the seconds ticked by, prolonging like eternity, a primal fighting zeal mixed with concern crippled Erilaz¡¯s chest. It constricted with his each breath, his once steady pulse quickening into a frenzied rhythm. His mind raced with thoughts of strategy and survival, while his muscles and nerves tingled with the primal instinct to fight. His fists involuntarily clenched, preparing him to face the invisible threat.


    Two silhouettes stormed out of the ruins, and two other ran down the hill. Darkness disguised any details, but their tiny headlamps faintly illuminated their guns or rifles.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± ordered one of them and fired into the air.


    Erilaz flinched and froze. His heart pounded against his chest even faster, as if it tried to break free, fury spreading like wildfire through his veins. As his muscles flexed like strings, he felt a familiar surge of determination and strength. With each rapid breath, his focus directed closer and closer at the enemies. He narrowed his vigilant eyes. Even though his body tensed up, every muscle stiff and ready to spring into action, he still didn¡¯t move. He couldn''t just charge alone at armed strangers.


    Since only Hefri, as the best shooter among them, had a gun of her previous attackers, Erilaz glanced pleadingly at her. She looked at him too, her eyes wide and hectic. She shook her head stiffly. Erilaz understood her decision. The enemies had all kinds of advantage. Even Andvari, despite glaring at the silhouettes and clenching his fists, stood hunched and defensive.


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    When the four silhouettes surrounded the Celestians, they brightened their headlamps. Rough, white light unveiled two Nelphians, an Ifrit and a Kehrian. They all wore similar clothes ¨C dark coats, hoods and heavy boots with a thick layer of mud. They held their weapons aimed at the three Vardir, and the Kehrian took a step forward.


    His shoulder-length jet-black hair fell in wild waves around his face, unveiling a sly smile that widened at the thrill he got from outwitting his targets. His mahogany eyes pierced the three Vardir. Clad in a sleek, brown leather outfit, he carried an array of tools on his belt ¨C magazines with ammunition, smoke grenades, and a wickedly sharp dagger.


    ¡°Any explanation?¡± asked Andvari, holding his hands up and narrowing his eyes as the light blinded him.


    ¡°Explanation?¡± The Kehrian tilted his head in disbelief. A hum of an approaching small spaceship made his ears wiggle, but he carried on, ¡°an eyewitness told me you did a very bad thing.¡± He narrowed his eyes, spite and wrath churning within them.


    Erilaz sighed noiselessly. The previous determination abandoned him as he realised how little he could do to defend himself and his friends. The last time he felt so small, insignificant, and at the mercy of forces beyond his control was when his adoptive father, Brymir, got his skull shattered before his eyes. This sense of defeat bared his complete vulnerability and frustration as he growled under his breath. All his skills and experience seemed to be futile and in vain, and he began to question his abilities.


    When his sight got accustomed to the pale light, he stared at the Kehrian questioningly.


    ¡°Sorry, but I think it¡¯s a mistake. We just stopped here for a moment and...¡±


    The Kehrian bared his teeth, tightening his grip on the rifle. ¡°You still haven''t figured it out, have you?¡±


    Erilaz and Andvari looked at each other while Hefri gasped quietly.


    A pang of worry gripped Erilaz¡¯s chest. His heart ached with the weight of worry. The fear of the upcoming seconds and the need to protect his friends built a storm of contradictory emotions within him. He stood still to avoid provoking the Kehrian, yet his mind raced with wrath and concern.


    Andvari gulped with effort and took a deep breath. ¡°Well. We¡¯ve encountered some¡­ inconvenience.¡±


    The Kehrian¡¯s finger tensed, nearly pulling the trigger. ¡°Shut up, bastard, you killed¡­¡± His furious face took a miserable expression for a second. ¡°¡­my son!¡±


    Andvari wrinkled his nose and craned his neck. ¡°Oh, now I remember, your son¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t finish as Erilaz glared at him and nudged his ankle.


    ¡°You came here out of nowhere and you think you can screw with me?¡± The Kehrian took another step, and his companions clutched their weapons tighter.


    Erilaz shook his head, a spark of insecurity flashing in his eyes. ¡°No, wait, we did it in self-defence¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡±


    As the ship descended at the airfield right behind the fence, the Kehrian motioned to his people.


    ¡°Take them,¡± he ordered in a blank, nearly artificial voice, as if all anger, hate and grudge abandoned his body.


    A few other individuals jumped out of the ship. They held rifles too, but Erilaz noticed darts with some liquid attached to their belts.


    Doubt and anger made his heart race, his palms wet with sweat. A sense of overwhelming fear for his friends gripped his whole being. He denied the common conviction that Vardir, especially Vardir commanders, never felt a deep, primal dread. This one emotion deluged his mind entirely. Even though his face remained blank, anxiety crushed his spirit and made his each quick breath an invincible struggle. A sense of impending doom prompted him to dwell on the worst-case scenarios, paralyzing him with its relentless grip.


    He didn¡¯t even blink when a sudden pain stung his neck. Panting, he looked around like a wounded animal, while darts reached his friends too. He tried to run and help them, but his mind gradually emptied. His legs didn¡¯t react to his commands. The ground underneath him blurred, but he couldn''t raise his head as if it weighted more than a bag of stones. He collapsed to his knees, and before he plummeted down, his consciousness vanished.


    When the sun had already risen above Cedroria¡¯s horizon, the Kehrian, who kidnapped the Vardir Commanders, landed in a yard between a brick house and a long warehouse. A few other similar buildings sat all around his neighbourhood. A tall and thick barbed wire fence protected the borders of this tiny yard, and a few other buildings surrounded it. Far behind them, a vast mushroom jungle spread to the very mountainous horizon.


    The Kehrian left his little ship and headed towards the nearest house. He took his steps stiffly and reluctantly, as if he didn¡¯t want to enter this building at all. Finally, he halted at the door and tapped a long password on the screen. Three seconds later, the door opened, revealing a Kehrian woman and a ten-year-old girl. They looked questioningly at him, a flash of anxiety manifesting on their faces.


    ¡°What took you so long!?¡± asked the Kehrian woman, resting her hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder. Her ears tensed and tilted back. ¡°And¡­ where is Edoshi?¡±


    The Kehrian averted his sight, hiding his hands in the pockets of his black coat.


    The woman tilted her head, dread and dismay radiating in her eyes. ¡°Karaesan? Tell me.¡±


    Karaesan took a deep breath. ¡°He was killed.¡±


    The Kehrian woman¡¯s pupils dilated. She shook her head, gripping the girl¡¯s shoulder so firmly that her knuckles turned pale-blue. The girl didn¡¯t react to this pain, gazing at her father with disbelief.


    ¡°Are you¡­ sure?¡± Asked the woman. ¡°Are you sure it was him, and not someone else!?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, Luana.¡± Karaesan bored his sight into the floor. ¡°My people found his body.¡±


    The girl covered her mouth. Her ears drooped limply. As the first tide of tears surged in her eyes, she broke loose from her mother¡¯s grip and ran towards the stairs to the second floor.


    Luana followed her with her sight and then turned to Karaesan. Narrowing her eyes, she hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°I told you. I told you on and on that he should stay away from your shady business! He is¡­ was just fifteen. He was just a kid, drug dealing is something worse than¡­¡±


    Karaesan grabbed her shoulders, feeling under his fingers how her every muscle tenses and shivers.


    ¡°I already caught his killers,¡± he breathed, letting her snuggle into his chest. As he felt the dampness of her tears on his shirt, he added, ¡°and I prepared something special for them.¡±