Chapter Forty-Three
_Battle of Pride
* * *
In the large and luxurious meeting hall, which was filled with nobles for the usual periodic meeting, everyone was in a state of tension. Each person looked at the other; nearly three days had passed since the rumor spread that the future Empress had disappeared. However, the two men speaking about ordinary political matters showed no sign of anxiety or fear. One man nudged his companion:
"Don't you see? Duke Ariston and the Emperor's first assistant have arrived. The Emperor seems fine..."
"Do you mean it might be a baseless rumor?!..."
"I don't know... but there is no smoke without fire..."
Whispers filled the great hall, but Raphael was discussing routine matters with everyone...
Click!!!
"I apologize, Your Majesty, for interrupting the meeting..."
"You may, Mr. Jerome..."
Ivan approached Raphael and whispered in his ear. Raphael gave a meaningful look, took a deep breath, and stood up, causing everyone to stand at attention.
"My Empress has been kidnapped."
Gaps and agitated voices echoed throughout the hall. After Raphael fired the first shot, he struck with the second...
"The Temple has kidnapped her; the information is reliable."
"...."
"It happened several days ago, and we did not want to cast any accusations without proof."
Those present looked at Ivan and then turned their gaze back to their Emperor expectantly, while one of them spoke with genuine concern:
"Your Majesty, what is required of us? We want to save Her Majesty..."
There were many who agreed with him. Raphael felt astonished despite his intense worry for Ariana...
"Everyone knows that I do not want to fight the Ruler who protects the land of Cassian... but I want to fight those demons who call themselves angels...."
"We are with you, Your Majesty..."
"My knights are at your service, Your Majesty..."
"We have been deceived by them for long decades... let us cleanse Cassian of them."
The supporting voices were surprisingly loud. Even Ivan, who used to despise the nobles, felt a deep respect for them; their words were truly sincere. In fact, Ivan thought for a moment: if Ariana hadn't helped Raphael, the situation would have been different...
'She truly came to change this world...'
"I thank you for your sincere support... I pledge to protect this Empire and everything in it... We will move now. I want all the knights in the public square at noon today."
Despite the simple and unprepared speech, Raphael's words reached everyone without exception. Raphael exited, and the nobles immediately began leaving to prepare, as only two hours remained...
* * *
Knights dispersed throughout the capital, and there was one order: civilians living in the center of the capital must go to the shelters. All citizens were in a state of anticipation. The news that the Temple had kidnapped the future Empress had spread, accompanied by dark secrets about the Temple: embezzlement of the poor's money, killing people, and performing forced human experiments, mostly on children....
The knights were marching through the capital, and the people cheered for them with words that no one had dared to even imagine would one day be said publicly...
"Fight the Temple..."
"Execute Rukshan..."
"Bring back our Empress."
They were bold words, but the streets were teeming with people who were truly resentful of the Temple, though the knights kept them back...
"I can't believe it... is this what they call organized chaos?! ... Duke Rathan."
"I suspect Her Majesty had a hand in this..."
"Aren't you excited?!..."
"Very excited, but I want to finish quickly. I don't want to miss the birth of my child and his first moments.."
Philip held the reins of his horse and laughed while looking at Leopard, a person he never agreed with—a man blinded by loyalty to the Emperor...
"Won't His Majesty be saddened if he learns that your love for your wife has surpassed your loyalty to him?"
"Duke Silvano!! Are you trying to sow discord?!.."
"No..."
"I think His Majesty won't be bothered by me. He has always wanted everyone to live a good life; I believe he is happy for me too."
The smile on Leopard's face was sincere and grateful. In the past, Philip didn't know Raphael—despite being close in age—except as a mad Emperor tied to the Temple that manipulated these people... The situation had changed, and so had Philip's view; the mad Emperor wanted to protect this Empire at the cost of his life and heart. He had seen the worry and pain in Raphael's eyes throughout these days, but the Emperor had silently steeled his heart to find a loophole that would allow him to eliminate the head of evil with the least possible losses. He also did not want to destroy his people's faith, but rather wanted to send them a message saying:
"God exists, but these are not the ones who deliver His message... they are imposters spreading corruption on earth in the name of God."
Silence fell upon the crowds as a light gray, noble, and large horse moved, mounted by Raphael with grandeur, wearing his war gear. He rode among the knights, who felt his momentum and bowed to the Emperor with a deep sense of respect.
Raphael looked at everyone and felt truly surprised, as the number of soldiers was larger than he had expected... when he gave the order, he expected less than a quarter of that number...
'They saw in you what they desired: a king who protects his people...'
He felt Ariana's voice flowing into his heart and mind and smiled. He signaled to the commander of the Silas knights, who stepped forward respectfully...
"At your service, Your Majesty.."
"The evacuation must be finished now. Pass the order among everyone and report back to me."
The knight bowed and quickly carried out his mission. Within half an hour, the knight came forward...
"The evacuation has been completed."
Raphael looked at the soldiers and knights lined up attentively; all the knights of the noble families were led by their masters under Raphael's command...
"Let us set out, save the future Empress, and cleanse Cassian..."
The knights shouted with enthusiasm and moved behind Raphael, who stormed the Temple. As soon as the Temple gates were shattered, the sky exploded with a barrage of monsters. Raphael looked at Philip and Leopard and said:
"You both know the plan; lead the knights with holy power, gather the gates of the Abyss, and destroy them."
Raphael remembered his conversation with Ivan; they had a suspicion that the Temple would bring in the gates of the Abyss:
["I think the Temple will not remain idle like this..."
"Do you think they have dirtier plans?!"
"They do not care for the lives of the innocent; they will do everything..."
"The Abyss Gate?! Right?!..."
"Yes, there are seven gates in the Temple, and at the engagement ceremony, they only used one..."
"Ivan, I want the largest number of knights who possess great holy power..."
"Besides Elena Brion, there are five people; two of them follow the Temple, and the rest—leave them to me..."
"Fine, but it requires the presence of holy knights and mages for support..."
"As you command."]
Raphael entered followed by less than a third of the knights, and a fierce battle began inside the Temple between the "Paladins" and those with Raphael...
Raphael did not use his magical power except to support his sword; he felt it was wrong to pollute that power which Ariana and he had been purifying over these long months... Raphael's sword skills were very good, and his large, strong physique added power to his strikes...
"I have pinpointed the location according to the site Mr. Marshal told me about..."
"Let's go..."
Raphael's priority was Ariana. Even though Ivan told him he felt she was fine, he was still worried.
* * * The clear August sky was overcast; it had become a terrifying red, and demonic cracks had spread everywhere...
BOOOOOOOOOOM !!!!!!!
The first explosion was terrifying, but it was proof of the destruction of one of the boxes. The morale of the exhausted knights improved because of the endless number of monsters...
"Sir, we found another..."
Philip rushed along with Elena. He almost charged forward, but he felt Elena retreating and her strength decreasing. Philip looked at Elena with concern:
"Are you okay?!..."
"I feel heavy, I don't know why..."
"These are Fire Wreath flowers... those filthy people..."
Philip looked at the source of the voice; it was Brian, usually calm, but now very angry. His mission was support. He lunged forcefully toward the box, and despite the harmful energy surrounding it, he snatched it from among the flowers and threw it before Elena after burning the flowers with magical power. Although magical power isn't very harmful to Fire Wreaths, if it is large, it will have an effect...
"Miss Brion..."
Elena felt lighter and indeed released her greatest holy power, striking the box with it....
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian moved while shouting orders to the Imperial Knights...
"All mage knights, support the holy knights...."
Philip looked in surprise, then smiled as he returned to the momentum of the battle and said enthusiastically:
"We won't lag behind, we are here..."
* * * "We found one... come on, Dylan!"
"Let's destroy it quickly... Jan!"
The black-haired boy dashed after his friend. As the news had reached them: you must burn the Fire Wreath flowers upon seeing them. They possessed great holy power; with a strong strike, all the flowers surrounding the box were burned, so they approached it...
"I will cover you, Dylan, and you destroy it..."
Dylan nodded. As he prepared to mobilize his holy energy to shatter the box, he felt a malicious killing intent near him. When he turned, he found his friend standing between him and the killer...
Dylan stepped back slightly, cradling his friend's body, shock tearing at his heart. He forgot the presence of the killer and their presence in the middle of the battlefield; he had lost the last person he had left...
Three months ago, he and his friend had lost their families due to the opening of the Abyss Gate. Although the loss of life was small, there were still many who died in that disaster. They were in a state of deep grief, and he had been planning to commit suicide, but his friend stopped him and told him they must continue their lives to honor the souls of their families...
["Won't you help me take care of my little sister Gina? How obnoxious of you.."]
Days after the disaster, Cardinal Jerome came to them and told them that Her Majesty wanted to see them. When they went, the future Empress spoke to them with all kindness and affection, expressing her deep sadness for what happened. They knew that if it weren't for the Empress, the disaster would have continued for a long time...
Afterward, they were told that they possessed great holy power within them, which had only appeared after the disaster due to their strong emotions. She told them she wanted to avoid another disaster and wanted them to help her...
Indeed, they agreed to train under Cardinal Jerome and learn the sword under the commander of the Emperor's holy knights. But another disaster struck. Despite mastering their power well during the three months, they still needed more training and experience, but the situation was dangerous and they were forced to go out to the battlefield prematurely. His friend had been enthusiastic, saying he didn't want anyone to live through what he had, but now he was dead...
"Take care of my sister... Dylan."
He cradled his friend's body silently and heard his last whispers. Dylan wept, murmuring:
"Please, Jan... Nooo, please."
Life faded from Jan's body, while Dylan still cradled his dead friend with a desperate soul...
"Is your final farewell to your friend over?!..."
"...."
Dylan looked at the man speaking. Although he wore ordinary civilian clothes, it was clear he was a seasoned knight who had carried a sword for long periods. He was carrying his friend's sword, and the body of the man who killed Jan was lying on the ground. Dylan swallowed hard with a complex feeling...
"We have no time. You must destroy the box... at least fulfill your friend's last wish."
"But..."
"Traitors exist in every place and time, but to collapse like this and let your friend's life—which he sacrificed for you—go to waste, that is the greatest betrayal you can offer your friend..."
"...."
Dylan left his friend's body silently and stood up to complete what he had started. With a strike saturated with all the emotions Dylan carried, he hit the box until the third explosion rang out...
BOOOOOOOOOOM !!!!!!!
BOOOOOOM !!!!
At the same moment, another explosion rang out, making the man sigh and smile...
"Only a little remains... let's go."
Dylan carried his friend on his back, then looked at the man and felt he was familiar: golden hair and light purple eyes...
"Sir, aren't you the one who saved me and my friend from the monsters months ago?!..."
Kayin looked at the boy, who was no more than eighteen and still carried youthful and innocent features. He felt he looked familiar but was surprised the boy remembered him...
"In fact, I don't remember..."
"You saved many lives that day; you won't remember.."
"..."
"In truth, I want to thank you on behalf of my friend. He wanted to thank you from his heart, for you saved us when we were on the verge of despair."
"Isn't this another motivation for you to continue your life, boy?"
"I truly thank you, sir..."
"It's fine... 'I am trying to atone for my mistake'."
He said his last sentence in a very low voice. Dylan looked at Kayin and then said with a deep sense of guilt:
"In fact, it was my fault..."
"How so?"
"The Cardinal asked us to stick with the support group of holy knights since we are novices; our mission was only to destroy the Abyss boxes. But we lost our way from our group in the thick of battle, so we acted on our own."
"There are small mistakes that might cost you something more precious than your life."
"..."
Dylan looked at Kayin with a complex feeling of confusion. Before he could utter a word, Kayin spoke:
"Two boxes remain; the other groups will take care of it. Go to a safe place..."
"Your command, sir."
Dylan nodded in agreement. Kayin said, patting Dylan's shoulder gently:
"Boy, what happened with your friend was not the fault of either of you. So live the life your friend sacrificed his life for. Don't forget that."
Dylan smiled with eyes flooded with tears and carried his friend's body toward the medical support units..."
Kayin looked at Dylan's back and wiped his face with a complex feeling. He had always wanted to witness the moment of the Temple's fall; he wouldn't miss it...
In the past, when he believed Raphael was the cause of his family's death, he hated him. But his hatred for Raphael did not exceed his hatred for the Temple. Although he was giving information to the Temple, his information was incomplete and sometimes misleading. Technically, he did not betray the Empire, but he betrayed his friend, and perhaps that was more painful... He readjusted his cloak hood and returned to the momentum of the battle...
* * *
"I must find them quickly..."
The massive man was walking among the monsters, cutting them down relentlessly. He did not care for the calls of his knights; instead, he kept striking forcefully...
"Do you want to shatter all the boxes? Leave some glory for us, Ernesto."
"Lord Rathan, let me prove my usefulness at last, for I have always hated my holy power."
Leopard laughed at the words of the commander of the strongest knights in the Empire, the secret Ghost Knights—a man the previous Emperor saved in his childhood, who decided to dedicate his soul to this master and his lineage... Leopard remembers that when Ernesto's holy power appeared eight years ago, he grew angry and almost killed himself, but Raphael struck him hard until he fainted, then apologized to him shyly...
["The Temple is not the Ruler, and this power belongs to the Ruler, not the Temple."]
After that, Ernesto swore to dedicate his power to this man...
BOOOOOOOOOOM !!!!!!!
"There is the fifth. Let's look for the last one, Ernesto..."
The movement of the monsters intensified and they began moving crazily. Everyone was now searching for the last box, but the monsters began moving frantically as if they realized the situation. The whole situation was more dangerous...
"We must search for the center..."
Leopard and Ernesto looked at the sky and their eyes widened in shock...
"The shelters..."
The two dashed with all their might toward the shelters, where a fierce battle was taking place...
"When did this boy come here?!..."
"The boy?!.."
Leopard looked at Ernesto, who was pointing at Casper, who was fighting the monsters with all his strength. When Casper spotted them, he smiled at Ernesto and cut down the monster obstructing him, heading toward them...
"You've finally come, Lord Barn. My unit has started searching for the box... Ah... greetings, Duke Rathan."
Casper spoke enthusiastically, then realized Leopard's presence and bowed slightly to greet him...
"When did you arrive here, Mr. Wilton?!..."
"We have been here since the beginning..."
"..."
"We tried to search for the box but decided to delay to protect the hiding citizens and keep the monsters from approaching them."
"Is it the Emperor's orders?!..."
"Almost..."
Leopard and Ernesto looked at him with lack of understanding. Casper sighed and said..
"In fact, His Majesty said it's fine to change the formation in case of extreme necessity, so I took my unit and surrounded the shelters and sent a unit around the medical support center... We are facing the Temple, aren't we?!..."
Leopard smiled and patted Casper's shoulder, saying:
"Well done... let's go."
Ernesto moved after Leopard hurriedly, then turned to Casper enthusiastically:
"I trust you; cover our backs well, Sir Wilton.."
Casper smiled and waved to him, then turned to his work of cutting down monsters. He would not be defeated by Kayin Syrus, who left the Emperor, for he saw him fighting fiercely. He knew he had committed a mistake against the Emperor, but he did not realize what it was...
He didn't care anyway, but he desperately wanted to be the most loyal to the Emperor...
* * *
"Where do you think it is?!..."
"I don't know, but let's continue searching, Ernesto..."
They both felt a strong ominous energy. They turned toward the source of the energy and dashed toward it. It was the last box, and the monsters were in their most agitated state. Reaching it was almost impossible, but they heard a voice from a short distance...
"Go ahead, we will provide support."
Leopard found Duke Silvano with Elena Brion, moving toward them. He signaled to Ernesto to hurry, and with force, he tried to push back the monsters. Elena reached them with agile movements, cutting down the monsters. Ernesto said playfully:
"Let's save our remaining energy for the last box..."
Elena nodded to him and dashed with Ernesto toward the box at last. They burned the Fire Wreath flowers and looked at each other...
"One strong, singular strike..."
Ernesto said with a serious face and a deep sense of tension. Elena gave him the signal, and then they struck with the remainder of their power....
BOOOOOOROOOOOOOOOM !!!!!!!
The explosion was more powerful than its predecessors. Thus, the sky returned to its color, and the soldiers who had almost reached their limits held on tighter and began finishing what they had started... it was a battle for soul and body... it was the battle of Cassian's pride.
... To be continued ...