Chapter 5: A chapter's end and a story's beginning
Chapter 5: A chapter's end and a story's beginning
(Zeke POV)
Raindrops began to fall gently, before thundering down in a torrential downpour, washing away the blood that profusely oozed out of Garlaks chest.
The cold rain seemed to soothe the rage boiling in my very being, my head hung low, my body slumped slightly forward; it was as if my very essence had been snatched away.
"Why." Was all I could manage to pull from my throat. The words came out scratchy, barely audible, as if my vocal cords were straining against the weight of the question. It felt like my voice was betraying the turmoil inside me, unable to convey the depths of my confusion and pain.
Lander looked down at him, unbeknownst to Zeke his cold expression faltered but only for a second and was gone the next.
"We had no chance, it's better to surrender then fight. I knew you wouldn't surrender without a fight, so I took away all that was worth fighting for, in hopes you'd surrender."
"Mights as well kill me then." I said, coldly, taking off my black trench coat and placing it on Garlaks lifeless body.
"What?" Lander hissed out, glaring at me. "Just give in and come willingly." Lander said, in a scolding tone.
"No." I said coldly, placing my hand on the ground pushing myself up. "You killed Garlak and Joe. Did you really think I was just going to say "Okay" and follow you to goodness knows where? You're a coward. How many innocent children, slain! How many!" I yelled in anguish, my face contorted in rage. My eyes burned with fury, my jaw clenched tightly, and my hands trembled with the intensity of my emotions. My voice cracked under the weight of my anger, each word dripping with the pain and betrayal I felt.
Lander glared, clenching his jaw, his blue eyes narrow in anger as he grips his sword to stop his hand from trembling. "I am trying to save you!" Lander yelled out in frustration.
"I would rather have died by my people's side," I said resiliently, as I held his glare. My hands still trembled as I reached for the tip of his sword, yanking it upward and pointing the blade at my chest. "Do it. Kill me!"
"Let go!" Lander yelled back at me, glaring. "Stop this foolishness and come with me."
"No." I glared, resolute in my decision. "You know the worst thing isn't even your betrayal, it's the fact that I could love someone who would do such a thing."
Lander's expression faltered. "I….I..I," Lander stuttered, not knowing how to answer.
I closed my eyes and threw my head back, letting the rain fall on my face.
"Zeke!" I hear a familiar voice call out. It was Joe, missing an arm, half her face burned beyond the repair of even the best healers. She tossed a yellow teleportation crystal at my chest.
"Find Rean," she said, falling to the ground and crawling to her dead brother's side. She fell next to him, clasping his hand in hers, smiling at him. Tears spilled from her eye as she closed it, accepting her fate.
Tears spilled down my cheeks as I watched the scene unfold before my eyes, right before the teleportation crystal opened a portal, snapping my once-distracted brother out of his stupor.
"No! Stop him!" Kalar yelled in anger, before any of his men could do anything, I was gone, teleported.
POV: Rean
"That's what happened. I was teleported here, told by my dying general to find your new king. I heard a rumor from the townspeople about the ball to find a lover before midnight," Zeke said, turning his attention to Zapher, who in turn glared daggers at him; he quickly looked away, turning his attention back to me and Zard.
Zard still glared at him but a lot less ferociously. "How exactly do you expect us to save your kingdom when our own kingdom is out of balance as is? We just received a new king; not everyone is happy with this. We are already exhausting our resources on our own kingdom."
"If you can't help me, I understand. May I at least take refuge here until further notice?" Zeke asked calmly, but I could see the exhaustion in his face, body, and eyes. Before Zard could answer, I nodded.
"You may stay." Zard shot me a questioning look. I nodded to him, and he sighed. "Fine. The freeloader can stay. For now," he said begrudgingly.
Zeke nodded and repeatedly thanked me and Zard. Zard told Jack to show Zeke to one of the guest rooms. Jack nodded and headed out of the dining room with Zeke.
Zard turned to me, Zapher, and the two women sitting at the table.
"Sorry for all the excitement, Lady Lenia and Lady Cassi," Zard said to the two women.
"It's quite alright, Zardie," the blonde-haired woman said, her entire demeanor changing from cold and uncaring to bubbly and friendly. She was pale-skinned and petite, but there was an aura about her that said she wasn't someone to be messed with, which I could only assume was true since she was calling Bellazard "Zardie."
The brunette woman just nodded. She was taller than the red eyed women and a bit more muscular. It didn't at all interfere with her beauty. She had rich dark brown skin, which matched her vibrant green eyes beautifully. She had an air of calmness about her, she felt peaceful and inviting.
Zard turned to me. This is Lenia. The prior ruler, and our mother.
I practically spit out the water I'd just taken a sip of.
"Your mom?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, I assume we age differently than the people where you are from. I am 123, Zapherian is 65, our mother is 485."
I just stare at him in disbelief, there's just no way. I turn to Zapher.
"I'm engaged to a 65 year old man! That's pedaphilia!"
I shout, immediately after those words left my mouth a piece of butter hit me square on the forehead followed by a piece of bread.
"How dare you," Zapher snarled, his eyes blazing with fury as he unsheathed his sword in one swift, menacing motion.
"Put that sword away this instant, Zapherian," Lenia commanded, her voice tinged with a scolding tone and her eyes radiating a stern glare.
"But- I- he-" Zapher stammered, before releasing a resigned sigh and sheathing his sword. His glare remained fixed on me as he slumped back into his chair, arms crossed defiantly and a pout forming on his face.
"Ehem." Zard clears his throat bringing our attention back to him.
"Apologies continue Zardie." Lenia said, with a cheerful smile. Giving Zard her full attention, along with a thumbs up.
"As I was saying earlier, some people do not agree with Rean taking the throne. They've started a rebellion, demanding we either remove him from the throne or have him participate in the Cheshire Trials." Zard Says, furrowing his eyebrows. Lenia gasped covering her mouth looking at me sadly. Even the calm green eyed lady cassie twitched at the name. Zapher, on the other hand, laughed heartily.
"You're so dead," he declared, his laughter echoing through the room as he continued to laugh his a** off.
"Mhm and your kingdom will fall to ruin without me." I shot back, my words finding their target. His laughter abruptly ceased, a flicker of worry replacing his gloating demeanor. His eyes briefly glazed over as he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Suddenly, realization seemed to dawn on him. The color drained from his face as he shot up from his chair, nearly knocking it over in his haste.
"Oh, crap. What are we going to do, Zard?" He said, a flicker of worry crossing his typically easy-going features as he ran his hand through his hair. The sight of him showing even a hint of panic underscored the gravity of the situation.
"Not so funny now, is it?" I responded, with a knowing smirk, causing him to shoot a glare my way to which I responded to with a wider smirk.
"Calm down, we must all stay calm. We will prepare Rean for the Cheshire Trials."
"BUT IT'S IN 2 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS!" Zapher yelled, with an annoyed look.
"What can this idiot learn in that short time?!"
"Don't call me an idiot, you pedo."
"YOU!-"
"ENOUGH!" Zard called out angrily, causing me and Zapher to flinch, slowly turning our heads in his direction to assess the damage, a stern expression befalled his face as he glared at us a crease in his brow, me and Zapher quieted down looking at Zard nervously.
"You two stop this foolish bickering and focus on the problem at hand. I know it'll be hard to teach him anything in the span of 2 weeks and 3 days but we at least have to try. That's why I've called in an expert."
"You don't mean." Zapher says, with a grimace.
"I do mean him." Zard says, with a nod and a grimace of his own.
"Who?" I asked confused, looked back and forth between them waiting for one to answer.
"His name is Kyliend, He's an annoying, loud mouthed, pleasure seeking, dunkard." Zard says, annoyed, clenching his fist his grimace growing."
"So, Either the Chesire trials is a drinking challenge or i'm missing something." I say, with a raised eyebrow.
"It's not a drinking challenge, He's the all time champion. No one has been able to break his stupid records at the Cheshire trials, he can teach you what you need to know and hopefully make a trial winner out of you." Zard says, with a sigh.
"I hate that slimy bastard, this is all your fault you incompetent idiot. Why did the first king even choose you if you can't do anything!" Zapher spat out, his voice dripping with venom and rage. His face contorted with a mix of anger and disdain. His fist clenched tightly at his sides as he glared daggers at his target, me. With one last cold, scathing look, he stormed out of the dining room.
"Someones upset." I say finally wiping the butter he had thrown at my head earlier off with a handkerchief that looked too expensive for such a task, which is why I had hesitated to use it at first.
"I take it, someone doesn't like this Kyliend." I say, sitting back in my chair folding my arms, looking at Zard with a raised eyebrow.
Zard sighed, the crease in his brow returning along with a frown.
"Yes, as you can see Zapherian does not like Kyliend. They were close when he was a child, something happened that caused him to dislike Kyliend terribly. That is all I can say, as it is not my place to tell you their story."
I nod to Zard, staring off at the wall as I thought to myself.
"I wonder what happened, should I ask that porcupine? Nah he'd probably really turn into a porcupine and shoot his quills at me."
I chuckled, before looking back at Zard and the others' confused faces. "Ahem, it's nothing anyway, how are you gonna convince this Kyliend dude to train me or whatever?"
Zard's frown deepened, along with the crease, he's definitely going to get wrinkles. "By getting him out of prison."
"What!" I shout. "These people are officially nuts" I think to myself.