KINGS PART 2

Still in the Hut of the Ursus Tribe Camp was the intervention of Bo's fury against his brother's deliberate decisions.

Bjorn's unexpected decision left Bo incredulous, his tone was resolute, and his brows were scrunched into a frown. "Enough with your façade already! I thought you'd never abandon the tribe until it's been revived, isn't that why we've fought all this time out of the Outlands?"

Bjorn's gaze met Bo's. "I fought to embrace a world of enduring peace. But that true peace still eludes."

"What's this obsession with peace? Kings and warriors fight to strengthen their nation. Isn't that the essence of a King's purpose? Wasn't that the plan all along?!" Bo raised his voice and clenched his fist.

Bjorn's smile was gentle, his words meaningful. "Bo, you still have so much you must learn to comprehend the essence of being the type of King you aspire to be, not every King and warrior shares the same purpose. In time, you will understand. Even for you, if you aspire to be the King of the Conquerors, you must rise above all and claim the kingship of not only your tribe but of the world. Imagine the magnitude of that dream. Are you certain you're willing to dedicate yourself to it and capable of bearing that weight?"

Bo's frustration peaked, a vein bulging from his forehead, and eyes wide. He looked sharply into the eyes of Bjorn once more, and he could only see a crack of a smile gleaming from his brother's face.

He began marching his way out of the hut and away from the camp entirely, his steps resounding with anger. The rest of the Tribe only eyed him as he went on his way.

"Bo, where are you going?" Kirby asked in a shy manner.

"Away." Bo quickly responded before fully sprinting off into the giant trees pink-leafed trees of the strange forest.

In the Hut Namon and Nero gazed at Bjorn once more before shutting the door on him and walking off, as well with the Leif Eira and Kirby.

Leaving Bjorn sitting alone at the long table, his fake smile deceased as he began frowning, his forehead wrinkled and his palm clasped against his head. Finally, he thought,

"My time here will see its end... tomorrow."

In the strange forest, Bo found himself alone with his thoughts, reclined on one of the logs of the giant trees. His mind was puzzled.

His purpose for leaving the camp was for introspection. "Only a coward leaves tribe high and dry. A real king would rally and build the Tribe alongside him." He laid himself back on the log, a simmering anger coursing through his bones.

His mind began venturing into his past.

During one of those memories, Bjorn had asked Bo a question a few years back, "So you want to be the King of the Conquerers huh? That's a pretty tough task, so what makes you want to accomplish this?"

Bo's response seemed simplistic, "It's because leading warriors and fighting in battles is cool! What else would be cooler than that?!"

Suddenly Bjorn began laughing, and he kept going, he slapped his knee, held his stomach, and did anything else that resembled a laugh at something that was hysterical.

"I didn't think I made a joke?" Bo retorted.

"Is that all?" Bjorn rhetorically asked, "Well I guess you're still a kid at the end of the day, so I won't blame you for your feeble thoughts. But come back to this question years from now and we'll see if you have a real reason to reach this goal."

Coming to the back to the present, as Bo idly sat on the log he contemplated his past beliefs. "I can admit Bjorn was right back then. My reason was childish, I can see that. But what about now? To revive our tribe, is this goal not a good enough reason to aim for the title of King of the Conquerors? Have I not aged since those days? I don't understand what he means"

"Is there some deeper meaning to being a king?" Silence enveloped his thoughts. He clenched his fist, his eyes were intense.

He remained reclined on the log of the tree, immersed in his resolve until nightfall descended.

As darkness settled, Kirby's voice reached Bo in the woods, piercing his solitary reflection.

"BO WHERE ARE YOU!" Kirby echoed.

"Look up," Bo replied. Raising his head above, Kirby realized Bo lying on the tree log.

"There you are! You've been out here forever. The tribes worried about you. Can't you come back?"

Bo was irresponsive looking off into the stars of the midnight sky. Kirby doubled down, "I know what's happened with Bjorn is weighing a lot on you. But I think it would be best for you to rest your head."

Bo kept looking aimlessly into the stars, his eyes squinted, he seemed puzzled, and spoke reflectively, "Look Kirby, These stars... are so high in the sky." Kirby tagged along, both of them now looking deep into the stars. Bo took a deep breath and pointed at the stars, continuing,

"I've always wondered if someday I could touch one of those stars, maybe if learned how to fly or got a weapon that could grant me that power, maybe then I could touch a star. Kirby, do you think if I devoted my life and gave everything up to reach that star, I could do it?"

"Well I'm not entirely sure. But I imagine if you gave everything up and devoted your life to finding a way to reach that star. It would become a lot easier." Kirby replied.

Bo's eyes widened, contemplating Kirby's words he reached a decision. He rose from the log with newfound determination, stating. "Alright then! I know what I must do...I've got it figured out!" His eyes were fierce, and his expression was serious.

"What?" Kirby wondered what Bo could've possibly could have concluded.

Jumping off the log, Bo began sprinting back to the camp in new spirits, and Kirby followed yelling, "He wait up!"

Bo's tone held a fervent energy as he shouted, "TOMORROW I KNOW WHAT I MUST DO!" His determination was palpable, even if the specifics eluded Kirby. Bo was ready to face what lay ahead.

Meanwhile, within the realm of dreams, Bjorn, on the eve of his departure from the Ursus Tribe, the king was traversing the troubled realities of his memories.

At the night's peak, Bjorn's mind had sunk deep into the depths of his past.

The reel of nightmares or rather his haunted past flickered, casting light on moments etched deeply into Bjorn's mind.

He remembered the pouring river from his eyes, and the despairing echoes from his mother as the tragic news came about from a stressed warrior.

"Your Father, no... the King has fallen! In a great battle, he was slain. He fought to the death and will be honored forever." The news could leave the 13-year-old Bjorn distraught, he kept whipping his arms across his eyes but his tears kept flowing like a river. The man of his life and the only person who could shield him from the horrors of this world, is gone forever.

His mind continued wandering to other moments of his life, the birthing room, where he stood by his mother's side, watching as his younger brother Bo was brought into the world. Amidst the chaos and strife of the Outlands, the beauty of seeing his own brother brought into this world could only spark a new dream.

He clenched his fist, asserting as he looked into the eyes of his newborn brother, "I'll find peace. If it exists I'll find it... I swear."

However, a significant chapter disrupted this flow, reframing his destiny. Bjorn's memories rewound to the day when a man emerged at the door of his small wooden hut home, urging shocking news to Bjorn and his mother,

"Due to the passing of your father, there is now a hole in our Tribe that needs to be filled as soon as possible. Starting from today Bjorn you will take the crown and be announced as the new King of the Ursus Tribe!"

This abrupt shift propelled him into a position of leadership at the age of twelve. Something his tender mind was not ready to handle.

His mind continued wandering from this juncture, new companions entering his life like Namon, and Nero. He would spend the next 14 years fighting battles with his tribe and leading them to victories. Over those years he went from a mere child who could barely command his men. To a true leader and King of his tribe.

The path of training led to an ascension of strength, positioning Bjorn at the pinnacle of the Ursus Tribe. In the 14th year of his kingship, he guided the Ursus Army, channeling their collective might towards a single purpose, declaring to both Namon and Nero his ambitions.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I want to see the outside world, the world where peace remains abundant." He knelt before them. "Bare with me and my selfish wish, I beg you two and the rest of this tribe we have... to ride with me through hell and escape this wretched Outlands. So I can achieve this dream."

Both Nero and Namon looked at each other before stating, "If it is your wish, then as the king's warriors, we will help you achieve it."

This marked a pivotal turning point in his life, a determination to break free from the Outlands' cycle of chaos. Yet, the journey was flooded with nothing but death and agony. Every loss exacted a toll, every life taken bearing its weight upon his conscience. The cost of his command became a grim reality, and despite the pain, the vision of peace remained tantalizingly close.

With this hell he had asked his tribe to follow him through, the guilty conscience made his resolve solidified; the pursuit of peace transcended mere ambition, morphing into an unwavering necessity. Something he must obtain by any means.

Coming back to the present, the following day had arrived. In the hut of the Ursus Tribe camp stirring from his slumber, Bo roused himself in the early light, he rubbed his creased eyes and scanned his surroundings as he hit a morning stretch, as his eyes searched around the hut a realization dawned upon him: "He's not here!" A resolute determination coursed through Bo's veins, prompting his declaration, "The time has come."

Swiftly, Bo jolted outside busting straight through the doors of the hut, before him was the small green grass field that surrounded the camp, past the field were the giant pink and purple leafed trees of the forest, and a gentle embrace of sunrise bathing the camp in a soft golden glow.

From a distance covered in the sun's glow was a figure moving further away by the march. Bo's steps carried him towards the distant figure, finally reaching a point where the figure became clearer. He began sprinting, and let out a cry,

"BJORN!!!"

Turning to face the approaching Bo, Bjorn met his brother's sharp eyes, grinding teeth, and popping veins with an expressionless demeanor. Bo's anger couldn't even trigger Bjorn to blink once. His voice rang out once more, shouting, "I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE!"

In response, Bjorn's lips curled slightly, forming a subtle smile, "Why's that?"

Bo's response was swift pointing his finger at Bjorn, "I propose to you a duel. If I defeat you, you'll have your freedom to leave. But should I emerge victorious, you must remain as the King of the Tribe."

Bjorn looked off Bo with eyes blanker than a sheet of paper, "Haha well I'll be off now." He replied chuckling as he continued marching away completely disregarding Bo's proposal.

"BJORNN!!!" Bo shouted with all his might, causing Bjorn to halt once more.

As he looked back at his younger brother the fire in Bo's eyes extinguished any doubt of his seriousness and his fists were clinched together tightly. Observing him, Bjorn's inner thoughts revealed his assessment of Bo's resolute determination, "His eyes... They Tell it all. He means this."

Bo thought, "I don't care if he's stronger than me! I'll win this fight. I'll make him stay even if I have to force him to." Unspoken vows coursed through his being, igniting an unyielding resolve.

"Behind all that anger, I feel some level of uncertainty, okay sure you're serious about stopping me from leaving. But for what reason?" Bjorn asked.

Suddenly Flailing out from his hood was his hand tossing a weapon to Bo. It was a classical-looking Hammer with a wide head and thin handle. What stood out was its head's design. It was smooth around the edges and was made with a strange foreign material. It had a strange green, blue, and yellow tint to it, making it unique from the average hammer. The Hammer looked more like it was made for design than putting it to use.

Catching the Hammer the unexpected gesture left Bo momentarily surprised, his voice tinged with curiosity, "What's this for?"

Bjorn's reply was deliberate and purposeful, "I wanted to give you a weapon to aid your role as the new King. This Mantle is known as Materia, A Mantle that's been passed down from king to king for generations. Think of it as a passing of the torch, from one king to another."

"And with that, I now pass Materia on to you."

As the Mantle changed hands, an ethereal aura enveloped the scene, casting a radiant golden glow that bore witness to the mantle's transfer. Yet, Bo's focus was fixed on the battle that lay ahead, overshadowing the magic that surrounded him.

Guiding Bo's attention back to the matter at hand, Bjorn shared insights about Materia's "This Hammer you hold is real helpful, it can manipulate all non-organic matter. However... because you have just acquired this Mantle it might not be immediately usable."

With resolve ablaze, Bo's declaration carried a tinge of defiance,

"You can keep it, I don't need this Mantle."

"I'll ask again. The uncertainty you've been showing doesn't make much sense to me. Your dream is to become the King of the Conquerors, yet when presented with your biggest step to making that dream a reality, you run from it and even challenge me to come back. Why?" Bjorn Asked.

Bo had halted his anger, he opened his mouth yet no words could come out.

"Well, If you won't answer, then think I have the answer for you. Bo, you are afraid. You're afraid of making mistakes, you're afraid of your own dream, and you're afraid that you don't know what it means to be a king."

Bo's eyes were raised with worry, and he looked down in shame. His inner doubts were finally coming to life through Bjorn's words.

"Fine, since you're too afraid to accept your role as the king, then I'll make you accept it. I accept your challenge to duel. Whoever falls first loses."

He reached his hand into his hood to draw his weapon, but before he could Bo snapped out of his shock,

"Wait." He asked

The scene shifted into silence, a pregnant pause broken as Bo looked at his hand holding the mantle Materia clinching his fist harder, "I'll admit it, I don't fully understand all this king stuff yet. I want to become stronger and help this tribe however I can, but I never saw myself taking that next step to my dream in this manner any time soon, I just don't think I'm ready yet. Before we fight... I want to understand... what it takes to be a king, what is it that you know that I don't?" The silence that followed was laden with unspoken thoughts until Bjorn's answer broke its stillness.

He probed Bo's convictions with a chilling question, "Bo what are you willing to sacrifice to fulfill your dream? Is it the tribe, is it your morals, is it your innocence? Do you know what it takes to obtain power? To conquer a land?

In this world a free man who strives to achieve his dream is also a slave to it so he can reach the level of achievement he hopes for. He sacrifices whatever it takes to achieve these dreams.

I to remain a slave to my goals. I killed innocent people, conquered land, and rode my own people to death. I'm not saying that it was the right thing to do, but if I hadn't done these things, I would have never moved closer to my dream. This is all to reach my goal... to achieve peace. And I still haven't achieved it yet, I thought I could once we made it out. But that was only the beginning."

Bo's eyes were wide, his bones were shaking, and a creeping feeling of distrust grew within him. The chilling reality of this revelation left Bo in shock, confronted with the reality of what it meant to ascend to the throne.

"You see Bo a king is no different from an ambitious free man, me, you, and all those who dream must accept that thing must be lost to ascend. And for you who dreams greater than all, I'm certain your sacrifice will even surpass mine... But that's fine because that's what it takes to be a king."

Bo's widened eyes started narrowing down, and he tilted his head down and spoke softly.

"You're wrong. I don't know what type of twisted meaning you've created for yourself, but I don't believe you or anything you've said." He began to shout. "I won't become you! I won't sacrifice this tribe! I won't sacrifice my morals or anything else that goes against who I am! I'll become the King of the Conquerors, not a slave! So just draw your sword!"

"Hmm You really are greedy."

Bjorn took one final deep breath.

The wind began to stir, blowing pink and purple leaves to dance around the two brothers as they stood off across each other. The two locked in a silent confrontation a visual embodiment of their conflicting ideals. Both represent a different interpretation of kingship, be it Bo's desire to chase his dreams without sacrificing his values or Bjorn's belief that kingship requires relentless sacrifice.

What does it mean to be a King?

The impending duel materialized as Bjorn dug into his hood and unveiled his mantle, it was a blade sparking with a cascade of brilliant pink, yellow, and orange flames encapsulating the surrounding environment. It's known as Helios.

"I won't hold back on you!" He yelled

He began sprinting toward Bo. Noticing Bjorn sprint, Bo had to prepare himself holding Materia up to cover off the incoming attack. However, with each step Bjorn inched closer, Bo realized the immense power his brother possessed. An aura of a blinding light casting around Bjorn like a stroke of lighting.

At this moment Bo thought, "I'm too weak... no. He's just way too strong!"

In one fell swoop, Bjorn had sliced across his brother's chest in seconds Bo dropping to the floor.

His blade found its mark on Bo's chest, leaving behind a deep wound. Bo was bloodied and laid out on the floor, he kept taking heavy breaths, gasping for some air. Finally, a tear began to fall his face started to scrunch. He slammed his fist to the floor yelling,

"DAMMMIT!"

The truth of Bjorn's departure was finally settling upon him. Not even looking back Bjron kept on marching away from the camp as if nothing happened.

Lying on the ground with blood staining his chest, Bo had felt a wave of conviction course through him as he watched Bjorn walk away.

He thought, "That's it, he's gone. I have to stick up to my word right? I can't just sit here and pout, I need to move on."

He shouted out to Bjorn, his voice echoing, "BJORN! LISTEN UP ALRIGHT!" Hearing Bo's words he came to a halt.

"I may not understand anything about what it means to truly be a king. And maybe I'm still the dumb ambitious kid I was all those years ago, but I will promise you this before you leave. As the new King of the Ursus Tribe, I will revive our name across the entire world, AND BECOME THE NEXT KING FO THE CONQUERORS!! DO YOU HEAR ME!!"

Bjorn swooped the hoodie over his head replying, "Then keep moving toward your goal and growing, even if your naive mind is the death of you. After the storm, whether right or wrong come back to me and tell me the result of your dream."

He kept marching away from the camp until he faded into the giant forest trees unable to be seen again.

After Bjorn's departure, Bo could barely even keep conscious. His body had finally given and he had knocked out.

He remained dazed on the grass for hours with his deep wounds until Leif, Kirby, and Eira awoke and found him there, surprisingly content despite Bjorn's absence. Concerned, they rushed over to see Bo, only to notice blood staining his chest.

They spoke in unison, "What the hell happened to you!?"

But he brushed it off shrugging both his shoulders.

"Nothing much." He answered as he jumped off the ground.

"Bjorn's gone and he's not coming back. Leif, you were right yesterday, It's time we take action to achieve our goals. So starting from today we don't look back."

"Took you long enough to realize I was right ya idiot," Leif replied

"Yeah alright." Bo shrugged him off. He then grabbed Materia from the floor making the rest of the group shift their attention to it. "Hey look at this, a Mantle handed down by my brother. Nifty isn't it?"

Eira, skeptical, asked, "It's Materia isn't it."

"Right, it is. The mantle that declares a passing of the torch, and it is now mine. Meaning..."

Bo stood off looking into the sky with his finger pointed up and declared, "As the new leader of the Ursus Tribe, I expect everyone to heed my commands. My First order I'm giving you all is to attend to these wounds."

His demand had left Leif, Kirby, and Eira with puzzled faces as they went on about their day, seemingly ignoring his words and even chuckling. Leaving Bo with raised brows and meaningless words.

Not too far away standing at the door the twins Namon and Nero overheard Bo's demands. Nero asking,

"Does he really think this is how being a king works?"

"Bjorn really left him as our leader? how in the world are we following this kid's orders? Yup, we're screwed..."