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Black Knight
Half of Kyronia's people cheered, while half of them declared me a traitor.
I started to remember why.
And I never thought that both could be right.
We had just boarded off the royal navy, the black-flagged and massive ships of the empire. My brother, Zeleos, led me along the paved roads of the unsooted, organized city after the towering gates opened. Unharmed houses of stone brick were perfectly spaced apart as we passed by.
A winged man with gold earrings walked right beside my older sibling; who'd introduced himself as Eeldrin but had hatred in his eyes to look at me. And diverse troops, whom I assumed were from the Unity, followed behind.
I was surrounded by Drownei of dark armour like myself. They kept close watch with the insurgents, marching forwards. The misty dragon beast trampled behind us. A whole squad of guards held me at gunpoint and by the tips of their blades. So I was forced to follow too.
The voices of civilian Kyronians called out within the endless crowds, as the gate's guards pushed past them, to save ourselves space towards the palace.
Unharmed families, merchants from the market stands, farmers on their horses, and troops of the Dark Lord gathered around to witness my presence. The Kyronians were heartless oppressors. But at this moment, all I saw were people.
Still, I hadn't a clue on how to respond to the individual reactions.
"H- he's back! Aeleric's heir returns!"
"Zeleos. . . the right hand has done it. . ."
"So that traitor lives??"
"Execute him!"
I simply analyzed their expressions mixed within; old and young, elated and furious. I couldn't understand anymore. I thought that as the overlord's heir I'd have the utmost welcome of returning. But apparently, working for the Chronicle Order under any circumstance could be a crime punishable by death.
Somehow, I was beginning to think those feelings could be justified. Seeing the city and its townspeople again. . . gave me a familiar sense of duty.
Don't jump to conclusions. I reminded my brain as I continued to follow my captors, with nowhere to run. Perhaps these imperials are brainwashing my thoughts. Like the subtle controllers they are. I'm rethinking because I simply recognize them.
But I recognized the towering metal entrance of Kyrone's palace. The drawbridge led to the steel gate, a circular river of lava pouring underneath that only a Drownei could withstand, with their tough skin of mostly scales. Towers with their pointed spires protruded out of the fortified castle, the home of my family. One keep was taller than the rest in the center.
The scorching, bubbling magma underneath the bridge only felt warm against my exposed exterior. Just as I was told would happen under extreme temperature. The spiny, black armours I wore were taken by Zeleos' troops, being held and not hidden out of supposed respect. My darkened silvery hair tingled from the heat, and the Skollur was escorted away, by a select few guards of my brother's command.
From the palace entryway, lines and divisions of covered Kyronian soldiers rushed out and passed by us while we neared closer.
As I felt the fraction of a sting from the lava below, the memory of what I asked Aziel persisted, back in Asher Mount at the Flivian Isle. Before the. . . assembly.
'What if we. . . destroy the gemstones?'
She didn't even know if it was possible. But I possibly could have before losing my past life.
Then my mind spiralled seconds after thinking about her. About everyone else with us in the prophesied quest. One thing I knew for sure was that not all could've survived.
I had to run when the world Midkyron's fortress crumbled, analyzing my surroundings as I did. There was no other choice. Even when I attempted to hide, my brother captured me anyway.
He's the traitor, not me.
Him and the overlord's people. They started the war by keeping the reins on everyone under them. As the Headmaster Chronisius said once before, it remained all because of pride.
But then Zeleos was leading us past marble pillars. Along a red carpet guiding to an area far back against the high walls. The chandeliers illuminating brightly within the palace colored like dark steel. More Kyronian troops were stationed in two lines, creating a singular walkway for royalty.
Eventually, it all led to the throne of my father, just how I shockingly remembered him.
Pale from the stones but somehow living, with the golden Crown of Infinity worn around his head wielding each magical gem.
They were right there. Our quest's end, so close yet so far from the tip of my fingers. All I needed was a chance to steal their power away.
Still, I was distracted by my father's proud smile as he gazed down at me. The immortal Drownei leaning upon his raised seat so casually, glancing to who might be outside possibly listening, while running a hand through his darker hair.
I could see the resemblance, and it made half of me wish to deny and flee.
Then all the white-robed officials standing next to his throne kneeled. And Zeleos followed suit, along with every single soldier and cleaner within the giant room.
"Father Aeleric." I witnessed Zeleos state overly-formal to someone who was meant to be a parent.
The continuous tug in my gut told me that it was a correct gesture. Yet I refused to budge, no matter how much I knew it was right. Why would I kneel to the tyrant we wish to eradicate?
The Dark Lord obviously noticed my silent unwillingness. But instead of a terrorizing, heartless yell like I anticipated from someone titled like himself, he began laughing heartily at the sight of his son.
While father gestured a hand for everyone to rise again, I looked away from him in slow rememberence, and a refusal to go soft.
The details were veiled in fog, but they were there.
He was the one to train me on those military fields, in swords and all kinds of elemental magic. To accompany me in all of my early missions upon our shared chariot. To appraise, and praise me publicly despite my procrastinative shortcomings.
Especially before. . .
Another thought I felt was tucked away from the past, only to resurface now.
. . . before. . . mother left?
"Remember yet, dear Kallei?"
He spoke to fill the tense void in the throne room.
"I. . ."
I knew my answer, but I didn't know what to say.
Images of chariots rushing into battle flashed through my mind. Explosions and bullets rang the otherwise soft air of sunset. There was a riot before I fell unconscious, between the Unity and the Chronicle Order.
And I was at the center of it, to please my father and my people, for the glory and peace of Kyronia, and nothing else.
". . .certainly, my lord and father."
I responded after a deep and prolonged quiet.
My body crouched lower, but I hesitated to bow even slightly.
Focus. . . My other side pleaded. Don't you remember what you're here for. . .?
I remembered what I originally lived for.
I looked up at my father, The Dark Lord, Overlord Aeleric, sitting upon his high seat with as much cruel names as he has power. He continued to smile while staring back at me, with a sense of understanding. So he stood up tall, removing his long robes of white lined with black, leaving them on his throne, while stepping down the few stairs to meet my level.
". . .I didn't mean to." I told him straight without apologizing.
"I recognize that, my son." He responded as we both stood still, and from the corner of my eye Zeleos briefly glanced away.
"I know you. The real you. Not the 'Dark Knight' or however they call it."
"It's. . . Black Knight."
My voice trailed off for the first time, before I had the chance to argue.
"Well, it's quite a fitting name now that I reflect." He put a hand to his chin to lighten the tone."After all, I'm certain that someone like you would always stick by me. By our kind. You were simply misled by those terrorists from the order."
I gazed more downwards, opening my mouth, but nothing came out.
Misled. But I chose to join the quest, because I knew the order's side was right above all others.
Yet at this moment, fate seemed not to align with the circumstances, and the choices I could make.
Although I could make it so. I refused to act suspicious and stare at the crown calling nearer to me. And I refused to inch closer. I had the choice to attempt completing the prophecy, but I had already betrayed my own, more than enough.
"It's not your fault." My father Aeleric reassured after studying my sooted face. "But we can fix this. There is no virtue over controlling 'destiny', as I've taught you many times before. The Chronicle Order will only instigate further chaos within a world once united."
The Dark Lord finished his sudden wisdom, lending a hand out for me to take freely.
"Return to what's right, Kallei."
Both options, both possible decisions, begged me to act. But time was running out once more. I couldn't stand in silence forever to think, or become sentimental, no matter how much my inner self desired to. I just didn't know enough details to accept the overlord's wishes.
I thought about the questers for a moment instead. They were counting on me to complete the prophecy, and have suffered because of it. In fact, aside from Kyronia from what it seems, the entirety of Midkyron was too. The ones of who believed that there was only a singular side of evil.
Perhaps fate had aligned nevertheless with what seemed right to do.
So my hands violently reached for the crown.