Chapter 549 - The Kingdom of Knights

Viers saw a scene.

He saw a delegation approaching Stormberg, the city of Countess Grace Weiss. As always, the city was under constant rain. A group of knights from Stormberg met the delegation, led by someone he had met before, Thunder Wing’s Knight Captain Malika.

“We bring a message of peace from Chancellor Soren of Latias. ”

Based on the viewpoint, I am a guard from the chancellor’s delegation, Viers thought.

***

Viers saw a scene.

He saw Croix and a charming woman sitting on the opposite side of a conference table.

Hm. I’m a scribe now. This is the peace conference. Chancellor Soren sent his granddaughter, while Croix came on behalf of the Countess.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I hope the awful conflict between the Chancellor and the Countess will be smooth over once our meeting is adjourned.”

“That is my wish as well, Lady Sophia,” said the prince.

Besides the two, and himself, the scribe, there were only a few people. To make the proceedings less complicated, no doubt.

The negotiation eventually reached a suitable conclusion and both sides agreed to cease hostilities. The scribe witnessed it all. Courtesy handshakes and business smiles.

Then, after drinking from a goblet, Lady Sophia fell down. Croix looked as surprised as anyone.

“POISON! TREACHERY!”

***

Viers saw a scene.

Stormberg was in flames. There was fighting in the streets below and the skies above. The storm was especially ominous today.

“Rudy! Close the window!”

Rudy turned to see his mother.

“But I want to see the battle. There’s a dragon’s roar earlier. The Countess and the Prince will win, right?”

“It’s just thunder. There’s no guarantee, son. Damnit! Why, just why, the countess just has to start a war against the Chancellor!?” Rudy’s mother was distraught and closed the window despite Rudy’s protest.

“The Countess is not stupid. This is not her doing but the Chancellor’s! He’s the one who brought the war to us,” Rudy’s father said, consoling the mother.

Then the roof of the house crashed down along with a loud crack. Rudy only saw a wounded red dragon fall from the sky through the opening in the roof before a magical artillery took his life.

***

Viers saw a scene.

All around him, his fellow Thunder Wing Knights fought bravely and fearlessly. Even so, the opposition were too many. Bit by bit, the griffin-riding knights were getting overwhelmed.

Yet their spirit never wavered. They fought with all they had until the very end.

Because the Countess fought beside them.

Above the sky, even further up, the flashes of light and the clashes of Artes showed them that Countess Grace Weiss’ fighting spirit shone bright. The lone Level 5 already froze to death three Level 5s royal knights.

Perhaps, the whole twelve royal knights posse might need some replacement after today. The griffin-riding knight chuckled at the thought. That’s what these central dogs deserved for underestimating Stormberg!

Clearly he wasn't the only one thinking so. Because Knight Captain Malika’s dying words weren't that of regret.

“Countess, your servant will be going ahead of you. Please excuse me for a while.”

Malika, despite having half of her body blown off and falling from the clouds, looked up into the sky and said her final farewell to her liege without a single regret or pain in her face. Only peace and acceptance.

The knight only got fired up after seeing his captain fall. He, too, would not tarnish the spirit of the Thunder Wing Knightly Order in this finest and final hour.

Then, a jet-black shooting star appeared.

It struck the Countess like a bolt of lightning.

And then, the knight saw the remaining royal knights, all nine of them, stabbed the countess with their swords and spears.

***

Viers saw a scene.

He was one of the chancellor’s men. He was with others like him. In a Stormberg secret passage.

Their path forward was blocked by a knight. Viers recognized this knight. His name was Alfred.

He was a Level 4 knight that was loyal to Croix. He protected Croix after he fled the capital from the Chancellor’s grasp, and later met Viers and Boram. Alfred was very loyal and protective to Croix because he was asked by Croix’s mother, Giselle.

And now, he was the only one standing between Croix and Giselle from certain doom.

“My Lady, My Prince, I’ll hold them off, hurry up and escape.”

“Sir Alfred, we’ll face them together!” Croix said. Falmerion was cradled in his hands, as big as a puppy. The red dragon was wounded and his breath shallow.

“No, my prince,” Alfred said. The prince was too wounded. “You must take care of your mother.”

“Alfred... You don't have to do this,” Giselle feared the worst. Grace was sacrificing herself to let them escape. And now...

“Of course I do,” Alfred said, without turning his eyes away from the enemies. “What kind of knight doesn't sacrifice everything for the woman he loves? Now go!”

Alfred used his darkness Arte to collapse the passage, separating him and the enemy from the royal mother and son.

“A futile attempt, knight. All of your fate is sealed the moment the Chancellor gave his order,” the person that Viers inhabited spoke.

“All my life has led to this.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Alfred faced them all in a last stand.

He died standing.

***

Viers saw a scene.

Despite Alfred’s sacrifice, the Chancellor had more men poised to strike on the secret passage’s exit.

Viers had the first-person experience of stabbing the heart of Croix’s mother through the heart with a poisoned crossbow bolt. It was a fatal wound, even without the poison.

Croix’s scream of despair and a burning blade through his body was the last thing the assassin saw in this earth.

***

Viers saw a scene.

He saw a cloaked figure in front of his eyes, with a black bow in hand.

That robe wasn't ordinary. A stealth item, and a high quality one at that. But the bow was even more impressive. A Divine Weapon.

The Countess’ shooter...

“My lady, it is done.”

A female voice from the one Viers inhibited came out. Viers realized she was a maid. The maid was kneeling before the cloaked figure.

“You have done well.”

A lightning bolt showed the face of the cloaked figure for a moment. She had purple eyes.

Princess Celestine Amethyst Latias.

“Has there been any news of Croix’s death?”

“Not yet, my lady. But the manhunt is still on.”

“No loose ends... Understood?”

“Completely, My Lady.”

And the poisoner who killed Chancellor’s granddaughter was too big of a loose end. The Princess and the Chancellor’s cooperation had to hold, until she could overthrow the Chancellor too.

Celestine approached and kissed the maid in the forehead.

“I won't forget your sacrifice,” Celestine said.

The ‘maid’, which Viers seriously doubted, slashed her own throat with a knife while smiling.

***

Viers saw a scene?

Unlike the previous cases, he was in a pure, white space.

Before him, there were two women, standing and facing each other. Their beauty was Miss Universe-tier.

He looked at his hands and knew he wasn't borrowing other people’s perspective currently.

One of them was Countess Grace Weiss.

The other, he didn't know.

“Why are you here?” The Countess spoke first.

Viers thought she said those words to him, but the other woman replied.

“The era has turned. In this new age, the restriction of my kind is looser.”

“I see.”

After that, the two were only standing there for a time, wordlessly.

“Umm. I should leave. Sorry for interrupting.”

Viers thought they stopped because of him. He offered to excuse himself of the private meeting. However, it seemed his presence and words were a mirage to both women. They showed no sign of noticing him.

Huh. Interesting.

The villain decided to stick around longer.

“You are going to die, Grace,” the unknown woman said.

“Yes.”

“I told you how it would end.”

“You did.”

“I can help you.”

“You can.”

“But you still won't accept my help.”

“Correct.”

“A lifetime of pain and cold solitude so your sister and her son can have each other for a month... Is it worth it?” The unknown woman sadly said.

“It does to me.”

Countess Grace Weiss stood resolute, even when facing her final end. For this noble soul, the unknown woman shed a tear.

“Your nephew lives still,” the woman said. “Do you have something you want to tell him?”

“Why?” The Countess asked.

“Someone that isn't me will pass on your words to him. Any words will help the young prince in his life of struggle tremendously.”

The woman glanced at Viers. She knew.

Following her line of sight, Grace did the same. She only saw a white scenery. The Countess didn't fuss about it. She was past carrying burdens at this point.

“You and your prophecies,” Grace lightly scoffed. “I already taught him all he needed to know.”

“Grace... please.”

“Tell my nephew... Tell Croix... to eat his vegetables.”

Viers accepted the loved-filled last message and would take responsibility for delivering it to its rightful recipients. At the end, the words she left behind were not as the Countess but as an aunt.

“...I wish I could help you more.”

Such sadness colored the woman’s voice.

“Out of all the wretches and imbeciles with a vision of a better world, yours is the one that I will support. Farewell, Isidaris.”

Viers’ vision was engulfed with white. A gentle white ending, unlike the abrupt black cut of the previous visions.

***

Viers opened his eyes.

He saw the aftermath of Stormberg after the battle with his own eyes. The souls of the dead through which he saw the events of the past slowly scattered.

In the distance, a city of ice.

Word from the survivors was that when the Countess died, the body fell to the city. It crystallized to ice and took the whole Stormberg with it.

A mausoleum. The final resting place of a proud woman. The eternal storm above Stormberg had become a gentle snowfall.

Apparently, the Chancellor’s men weren't able to chip the ice even a tiny bit. Not even the Level 5 royal knights. It puzzled them, but Viers knew something they did not.

Isidaris, the Devil God of Ice and Time... This is her doing. The last vision is her handiwork too. Come to think of it, the Countess had both affinity. She once stopped time to speak to me. Holy hell, she’s much more powerful than I thought. Is she like Isidaris’ avatar or something? Shieeet...

According to what Viers knew, the 12 royal knights were now less than half. Even the living ones weren't unscathed.

Countess Grace... A pity it ends too soon. I’d have liked to talk more. May you rest in peace.

“Our move, My Liege?” Fallen Knight Jordan asked.

Viers was with the rest of the Seven Warlords of Carnage. They were under a veil of masking. There were still many people around Stormberg, but none realized their presence.

“The person you got beef with, he’s one of the royal knights, right?”

“Aye, M’lord,” Jordan said.

“Rejoice, I-”

Clarissa's approach interrupted him.

“Well?”

“Croix is alive. He’s going to the Archion Volcano, pursued,” Clarissa said. “Sakuya is following him, but staying in the shadows, like you instructed.”

“Good. This is the Abyss in Croix’s hero’s journey. A major turning point. Once he overcomes this, he’s going to be a much greater king’s vessel.”

The prince’s showdown for the crown with the one who orchestrated all these, Princess Celestine, was written in the tapestry of Fate. Viers was sure of it.

Sakuya had orders to only intervene if Croix faced something too great to handle. There was a powerful dragon on the volcano, one tied to the royal line of Latias. Croix went there to gain power. A classic template.

“What about the other news?” Viers asked.

“Valentine Duchy was attacked. Gryphon’s Reach is in ruins. The Duke and his wife are dead,” Clarissa said.

“Fuuuck...” Viers exhaled.

“The Harkelan Empire and Duke Lucan stormed the city. It’s bad down there. At another duchy, one other duke attacked the other duke too, but neither seem dead.”

“So out of the four dukes, two are traitors. One is dead, the other is unknown. It's well and truly chaos... Ciel?”

Clarissa shook her head. “Missing.”

“Then she’s not dead. The Fable says so.”

Viers believed so. Convinced it was so, without a shadow of doubt.

“...Duke Lucan’s daughter is an ardent supporter of Princess Celestine. Is this her work too?” Viers muttered. “Wow. This princess is Cersei.”

But you haven't won the Game of Thrones yet, girl.

The others looked to Viers, asking what he would do with their gaze.

If he was a hero, this was the part where he came to the aid of his friends, or saved the fallen cities and survivors.

Viers’ choice was to attack!

“Their forces scattered. The defenses are stretched thin. Celestine and the chancellor think their asses are secure and warm on the throne. Well, I’m going to take that throne and fuck up their day!”

A portal appeared before them. The capital of the Latias Kingdom was on the other side. Dia’s timing was impeccable.

Viers donned a mask. Clarissa and the others did the same.

“Rejoice, Jordan. Today might be the day you get to beat your royal knight friend’s traitorous ass!”

“I’d be looking forward to it. For my wife and daughter,” the Fallen Knight’s voice was cold and murderous.

Seven Level 5s and one villain stepped into the portal, bringing a storm of war and blood to the Crimson Capital.

Today, the Kingdom of Knights was in flames.