Author's note: had some(a lot) family problems that need to take care of last month and this month too so I can't write much. Hopefully this won't be drag on any further. I will move to another country in September so it gonna take more time till I can write at normal pace again.

Now hope you will enjoy this chapter.

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To his surprise, once he dragged Belynda on the horse like a cowboy kidnap a girl in some Hollywood movie of the wild west she stayed completely quite, completely silent. Not even a sound was made by her on the way. Well, it's better than have her monster's strength fight against him on the poor horse.

Once they get past the abandoned camp, Cleon was there. He insisted that he have to wait till Eumenes and Belynda return, one is his savior the other is his brother's, if he just run back without knowing that they are safe or not he can't live the rest of his life in peace. The rest of the group has already returned to the city.

Upon seeing Belynda on Eumenes's horse with her body hanging sideway, Cleon's jaw pretty much drop on the ground but then immediately turn to a smile.Since he still have another horse to spare with him, Belynda rode that horse then they returned to Minos together.

*************

In the holy city Aricina, Heaven Kingdom

???: Oh, my highness, you should eat more and don't spill food on the table like that.

Vittorio: Ha ha, let me serve you, my highness.

Vittorio picked up a chicken's leg and shoved it into the old man's mouth.

???: Hey hey, be gentle with him, can't you? I know that you want me all for yourself but darling, please think about it, you shouldn't make our Pope's dead body look ugly.

Edward whispered into Vittorio'ear: When did you fuck that bitch? The Pope must not seen that coming, being poisoned by his own wife. Poor him.

Vittorio turned a deadly sharp glare over Edward that made Edward shivered in fear.

The Pope was just an old man who at the age of 70. He has been poisoned, paralyzed from head to toes. The one who did that to him is no one else but his young wife. A beautiful woman, the skin is white as snow with a killer body she surely look like she is just over 30 at most. She sat beside the paralyzed pope at the same time wiped away all the tears on the pope's face with her handkerchief.

In his whole life, the pope devoted to the church and the god that he believed in. 10 years ago he finally found someone he loved and married her but it turned out that he was betrayed. Her words are as sweet as honey but all of them are lies. Because he was paralyzed, he couldn't speak or do anything, the only thing left are his tears, it ran down on his face.

???: I am getting bored. Edward, finish the job. I and Vittorio need to go for a walk.

Edward: As you wish, your highness.

Vittorio: Argh, also Edward, you need to send a message to the Grand Cardinal Alfredo Laurenti that he was chosen to become the next pope. His highness's last wish is a Grand Crusade. It's time for us to go for war.

Now my Sandra, may I have the honor to walk you to your chamber.

Sandra: Of course, dear. I am looking forward to it.

As Vittorio and Sandra walked away, Edward turned back to the pope. The pope no longer cry, in his mind he was cursing them. He wanted them dead, all dead. But with a sinister smile on his face, Edward slowly approached the poor old man.

The next morning, the whole city was shocked because the news that their Pope has passed away due to chocking on food. Grand Cardinal Alfredo Laurenti was announced as the new pope and he immediately called for a crusade.

Soon the news traveled to the whole country and of course the game's forum became chaos. Peace is over, it's time for war. An holy war to make the world served under the true god. A chance for everyone to make a name for themselves. A chance for the sinners repay for their crimes. A chance to get rich.

*************

Nguyen woke bright an early this morning, the sun greeting his yawn, he stretched his body. The dormitory was quiet this early in the morning.

Walk out to the living room he see John was behind the counter, making his own breakfast. Notice that Nguyen is up, he greet him with a smile.

John: Oh, you are up early today, so unusual. Do you want to eat too?

Nguyen: Don't mind me. It's not like you will make breakfast for me anyway.

John with a smile: Oh, really? I was planning to make yours but since you said so. The kitchen is all yours.

Nguyen: I won't fall for that. You've never done anything for free.

Laughing loudly John take his fry eggs, bread and a cup of coffee to the table to eat.

John: But why this early?

Nguyen: Had a bad day in game.

John: Ah, you are going to join the crusade, right?

Nguyen: Nah, I am in Greeco Alliance.

John: I heard that the crusade targets are Eternal Empire and Eastern Empire. There won't be any problem if you join.

Nguyen: can't do, I got stuck with another war and quest.

John: That's a pity.

John is Nguyen's roommate, he also played EG, he is addicted to religious wars in one way or another, in his room you can find all films about crusade or something like that. It's not a surprise that he is going to join a crusade in game.

His character's name in game is "Great John". His nickname in real life is "Little John". In the beginning it's because that he came from Nottingham, England where we had the legend of Robinhood, he also have a big build which make him somehow match the description of "Little John" in that legend. The only problem is he don't like that nickname. It's not like he can do anything about it since everyone keep calling him like that.

Nguyen: So you are in this Crusade, Little John?

John: Yeah yeah, I am joining the one cross the sea to attack Eternal Empire. And in game I am "Great John" so you won't find any "Little John" over there.

Nguyen: Don't you want to be a Robinhood's henchman, ha ha ?

DING DANG DING DANG

Nguyen: Sorry, my phone.

He quickly returned to his room and answer the phone, on the phone is a familiar voice that he hadn't heard for a long time.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

???: Oi, how are you?

Nguyen: well, I am fine, but I doubt that you only call to ask me am I dead or not so what is your problem?

???: Well actually it's not my problem but yours.

Nguyen: Mine? ... You mean her, right?

???: Yeah,she is getting married next month.

Nguyen: ...

???: Do you want to say anything to her? You've loved her for 10 years even after she refused your confession twice.

Nguyen: Nah, it's better that she forget about me. She didn't even know that I left the country 3 years ago.

???: Are you sure?

Nguyen: I am, thanks for telling me.

???: It's nothing. Good luck and bye.

Nguyen: You too, bye.

Turned off the phone he threw himself on the bed. The girl that he's loved for 10 years is really out of his hand now. He always lied to himself in the past that one day he will be able to convinced her. But everything is gone, she is getting married. Sometimes people unable to do what they want because they fear that by doing so they will lost everything they had. He also is one of those people. He want to be the one to hold her hand but he don't have the courage to actually take her away from others.

Everything come to an end when her father introduced her to a high ranking officer in the army. Her father "intentionally" invited that guy in the wedding party of her sister and introduced him to everyone, by then he knew that he have no chance to get approved from her father. But it hurt him a lot more when she seem to be fond of that army guy. Well it's quite normal since in his country army officer have the highest salary, even their pension is about 2 or 3 times higher than normal doctor or engineer. "She found a good guy" is what he told himself back then and after that he left the country.

John with a loud voice: Hey your bread is done and your fried eggs will soon become "burnt eggs".

Nguyen: Okay, I am coming.

*********************

Phalces: So the rest of the force may be bunches of cold dead bodies now according to what you guys told us?

Eumenes: Yes, if it's not because of Belynda maybe the only one you see tomorrow will be me, master.

Cleon: It's true. She actually saved my brother twice.

Belynda: ...

Phalces: Okay, I get it. This is gonna be a big problem, I need to take this to the council. You guys will have to stay in my house untill I return. I won't take no as an answer. The council may want to summon you guys for questioning.

And before I forget anything. You should treat a Draconian with respect. They are great warriors.

Belynda: Thank you, sir.

Everyone else: Draconian?

Phalces: Oh I guess you kids don't know much about those old races since most of them are gone from this world but back when I was young I have a few friends as Draconians and they taught me how to recognize one of their kind.

I am pretty sure Belynda is a Draconian and a 1st rate warrior no less. She is still young but I doubt any one of you can beat her in a fight.

Cleon: That's explain a lot. I have heard about them but never seen one in my life.

Phalces: I have to go now, remember don't leave the house until I return.

Everyone: Yes sir.

Right after Phalces left Cleon drag Eumenes to a corner.

Cleon: Hey hey you are in a big trouble now.

Eumenes: At worst they can only called us as deserters. I doubt anyone able to get out of that goblin lair anyway.

Cleon: No, no you get it wrong. I am not talking about the expedition.

Eumenes: What is it then?

Cleon: Belynda.

Eumenes: huh? I don't think she will hate us for not able to recognize her as a Draconian.

Cleon: Oh, come on. Damnit why I keep forgetting that you are not one of us but a "stranger". It seem that you don't know anything about our tradition.

Eumenes: Can you just tell me what is it already.

Cleon: I heard many stories about Draconians when I was young. They are great warriors and ...

Eumenes: Please stop. Get to the point can you?

Cleon: Geez, you are no fun. Okay then, don't cry. They and we the Greeco share a tradition that if guy catch a girl when he riding horse then he want to get marry to that girl.

Eumenes: What?

Cleon: Can you just let me finish? There is a difference here it is that in Greeco doing such think is similar to propose but for Draconian it's like a wedding. You know they are strong so to find a suitable mate the male have to strong enough to catch the female from ground and bring her back to his house. In another word you and her are officially husband and wife if it's Draconian's tradition.

Eumenes: WHAT?

Eumenes' face turn from red to purple and then to pale white each time a part of those importance information get into his head.

Can you imagine it? In the morning you got the news that the one you've loved for 10 years are getting married next week and in the afternoon you learnt that you just forcefully married another girl last night.

Since EG is a VR game it's feel like real and somehow that hit his brain a little too hard. Eumenes was pretty much frozen in spot. Cleon noticed that and shaken him up.

Cleon: Hey, Hey, Are you okay?

Eumenes: ...

A bucket of cold water hit straight into Eumenes' face that pull his mind back.

Eumenes: What the hell is that for?

Cleon: Sorry, I thought you were paralyzed or something like that.

With a facepalm Eumenes stood up and went back to his room.

Eumenes: I need to get change. I also need to think about it.

Cleon: You should think about it. And do you want me tell her to come in ?

Eumenes: If you want to end your life tonight then do so.

Eumenes closed the room' door behind him. He is at a lost now, a wife? He've never thought that he will have one and now suddenly he got one. That explained why Belynda was so silent back in the forest. What should he do? Tell her he sorry and he don't know about the tradition? or accept that and have her as his wife? This is becoming a mess and he don't know how to react to such situation.