Charles breathed in the cooling air as Arkin began his speech. He was not paying too much attention. His mind had been busy lately and he felt both anger and sadness struggling to take over. He was stronger than that though. Since young, he had been practicing to harden his psyche, to be in control. Having to focus this much on keeping his calm was unusual for him. He refused to be like Sinon, who acted out in anger way to easily, who seemed to seek chances to blow some steam.

Charles stood close beside Arkin, and behind them, the low ranked soldiers were waiting anxiously. Although rare, villagers sometimes started a riot. They did not like the idea of pointing their spears or swords towards fellow citizens of Corvus and some prayed to one of the giants that these villagers understood their reasons

A yellow cat on top of a roof piqued Charles’s interest. It sat calm next to a chimney.

He looked at it and noticed that the cat donned white sock-like fur on its paws.

The cat noticed him and stared back. Their eyes met and Charles felt a sudden longing for a companion. Having a cat was now something he considered for when he decided to lay his sword on the shelf.

From the corner of his eyes, an object closed in on them fast. He was too busy to react fast enough and fearing the worst he prepared to leap in front of Arkin to take the hit. Luckily, right before he acted he realized that it was an apple and breathed out in relief.

The apple crashed against Arkin’s forehead and Charles prepared inwardly for what was to come.

Charles cast a look at the soldiers, as if asking where the apple came from.

The soldiers stared at each other in disbelief. They had been too on edge to pay attention. They answered his look with a gesture, that they had no idea who threw it.

The crowd went quiet, and although Charles had not been paying attention at the noises earlier, he could definitely tell that there was now an absence of it.

“Enough is enough!” Arkin yelled and Sinon stomped the ground where he stood.

Cracks formed beneath his boot and Charles could only feel how is own bones would crack from the sheer force behind that stomp.

“We don’t want you here, to Hosgrund’s hell with the king!” a girl shouted. She had brown hair and green eyes. Next to her, Charles saw two men, a woman and a boy.

He recognized the boy. He had met him just yesterday outside that Crooked Harp. However, there was something different about him today. He seemed to be missing something. Charles could not tell what it was, but he knew there was something.

‘Perhaps something about his eyes?’ He thought.

Charles prepared for the worst, the worst-case scenario being to stop Sinon from causing destruction.

Before he could put his hand on Sinon to stop him, Sinon barged forwards.

Charles switched his mind-set. One of the men put himself between Sinon and the boy. This simple, yet thoughtful action stopped Sinon in his tracks.

Arkin had walked forwards a few steps, until he was right in front of the little girl. Some soldiers had drawn their swords. Charles knew how this would play out already. Arkin will give her a warning, the hot-headed girl will refuse and he will have to take action.

Charles had it all planned out. He had a mind as sharp as a steel-trap, and with his determined mind, he walked up to Arkin.

‘A simple throw, aim for the board. Cut maybe a few strains of her hair to scare her. Situation defused, no raging Sinon and no bloodshed.’ Charles thought to himself.

“Girl you must know what’s best for you. Take those words back and we will pretend as if we didn’t hear anything!” Arkin said with a domineering, yet cold tone.

Sinon huffed more air through his nose.

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Arkin nodded and Charles braced himself.

‘Easy throw, hit the board.” Charles said quietly.

“Never, I will never take it back!” The girl screamed.

The predicted outcome, Charles was not surprised. He steeled himself and reached for a knife he had attached to a device on his forearm. With a special flick of his wrist, the knife shot forth for him to grab, and just as fast as the knife had appeared in his hand, he threw it.

However, as Charles threw the knife, a nerve on his hand cramped, causing him to miss his target.

As the knife left his hand, Charles knew where it was heading.

Panic rose in his mind, but he took control with his iron-will. He had to stay firm to his action.

The knife cut through the air, and as fast as the knife had appeared, it had cut open the throat of the girl.

Mike did not have the time to react. Not only had he not seen the knife, he had also missed that the knife had slit Sun’s throat.

It was not until Stella screamed that Mike saw the blood pouring down Sun’s neck.

Sun reached for her throat with her hands, wet her hands in the blood and then stared at her stained hands. She tried to breathe for air, but air did not enter her lungs. She stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. Mike jumped towards her and shook her.

Arkin locked eyes with Charles.

“What the hell did you do?” He whispered; quiet enough that only they could hear it.

Sinon was confused but took a battle-stance, showing that they were serious.

Pete stared in shock at Mike and Stella as they struggled to calm the dying Sun.

Cury lost touch to reality, he could not wrap his mind about what had happened at simply stared as Sun kicked her legs and fought for her life, as her blood drenched the ground.

Stella pulled her fingers through Sun’s hair, hushing her, as the panic in Sun’s eyes grew wilder.

Sun tried to kick herself free, coughing blood over Mike’s face as tears fell down all of their faces.

Soon, Sun stopped kicking. She stared into her parents’ eyes, and then she shifted her gaze to Cury.

Cury met her gaze and let out a tear, as he saw her eyes lose colours.

She moved her lips as if saying something, but no words left her mouth.

Cury could not hear her words, but he knew.

"Goodnight Cury" She said.

The she stopped moving, stopped struggling and nobody dared to say anything.

Until Stella broke the silence.

She screamed at Charles like a rabid dog

“Why?” She yelled as she pointed at them.

Mike stood up and gave Charles a cold look.

“Don’t make this worse than it already is” Charles said.

A soldier had circled them and pointed a spear at Stella’s back.

Pete clenched his fist. He did not want to fight, but he was ready to go all-out if this mountain in front of him tried anything.

“It is indeed sad what has happened here.” Arkin said.

“But know that each and every one of you heard her. She broke the laws; she wished hell to the king, which is punishable by death. We gave her a second chance and she spit on our honour.” He continued.

“It is only the fault of the parents for not raising their daughter to respect our kingdom.” A soldier yelled.

Nobody in the crowd dared to disagree. They had been benevolent enough to give her a second chance.

“If this is what the king stands for, I want no part of it.” Cury said with a cold tone.

Pete turned around and put his hand on Cury’s shoulder.

“Calm down Cury” He said, not sure how to stay calm himself.

Cury was shaking, and he was struggling to control his powers. To not let his emotions out.

“Say that again,” Arkin said, raising his voice.

Cury pushed Pete’s hand away and walked towards Arkin and Charles.

Cury stood in front of Charles, stared at him, and Charles had to focus his will to face him.

Cury looked down at Charles’ boots and spat on them.

Shock filled Mike’s eyes as he rushed out to grab Cury, but Pete was faster.

He took Cury and threw him behind himself to protect him from the blonde general in front of him.

Charles, however, did not pick up a fight. He simply stared at his own boots with a frown.

Then Pete heard a loud smack and turned around fast enough to see that the brute had slapped Cury across his face. He figured that the slap was not dangerous enough to kill.

Tears slid down Cury’s face as he fell towards the ground. He looked at Sun and felt his consciousness leaving him. He lost control and felt rage fill his body, a wish to kill covered him and his iris turned black, but before he could do anything, he hit the ground and lost his consciousness.

Pete picked him up in his embrace, nodded to Sinon as if thanking him for stopping Cury before he uttered words that they would not forgive.

Charles remained frozen, Mike held Stella tightly as they both wept. The crowd stared at the ground as Arkin said, “I am sorry but we have to move on, I want everyone who has gone through training to enlist at our camp by tomorrow. We will escort your children by caravan to the capital for training.”

Some villagers turned around and walked away slowly. They did not wish to repeat what had just happened.

Charles returned to the camp with Sinon. Arkin remained and explained to Pete that they had to bring Cury with them, that they would treat him and make sure that he was all right.

“All right, I understand. I have one condition however; Let me give him some of his belongings before you depart” Pete said.

“And allow me to say goodbye” He added.

Pete allowed Arkin to carry Cury away, then he patted Mike on his shoulder and said; “I am deeply sorry for you pal, but we will take revenge in the future. Now is not the time though.”

Mike only wept and nodded as Pete walked away.

Some soldiers brought down the flags of Corvus, and Stella saw them carry two soldiers away with them.

Soon, only Stella, Mike and Sun’s lifeless body remained.