Chapter 19
A king’s lament
“Sir,” one of the tamer knights of Traineria said, as he looked at the director of the Monster taming association, Villa.
“We have secured all of Turtle Mountain.”
“Excellent,” Villa said,
“Make sure nobody gets in and out of the forest without my approval.”
“Yes sir,” the knight said, glancing for a brief moment at the burned shrine behind Villa, there was anger in his look that Villa noticed. Which he found understandable, reminding him that he needed to be careful how to proceed next, for he feared the wrong move might cause a war between the South and Traineria. Something Villa did not want to deal with.
“You may go,” Villa said, dismissing him.
The tamer knight bowed and left.
Villa looked at all the tamer knights that surrounded Turtle Mountain, he could tell what was on their minds as well as in all the minds of Trainerians. He feared that Trainerian anger would engulf the southern part of Monsterra into a bloody conflict. They wanted to get revenge for their beloved king.
“Roth, what have you done...” he said, smirking, as he looked at the bright blue sky that painted the south’s sky, recalling the day that the knights descended onto the city of Stonetopolis and the south. If he had not interfered, a war between the south and Traineria for sure would have been unleashed that day, dragging Monsterra into bloodshed and jeopardizing the association. His association.
***
Villa looked around the shrine, trying to find any clue that would tell him what happened that day for Roth was not saying much as he sat in silence in his ice prison to the east of Monsterra, where he had been exiled for the time being.
The shrine had been burned to a crisp, there was nothing much of it that showed any sign of a building being here once. He didn’t know what exactly he was looking for, all he knew was he had to find something to calm the tensions between the two sides, something that would make this nothing but an unfortunate incident. But he feared that even if he did find some sort of clue as to what happened, it would do very little to satisfy the queen’s anger. A queen who was now fully blinded by anger, which, if left unchecked, would create a bigger mess than what it was already? He couldn’t afford that, especially not for the continuation of the Monster Taming Association.
He walked around the dirt ground and saw nothing but charcoal remains of a fire, wondering just what exactly had happened here. There was nothing that piqued his interest until he stumbled upon an interesting sight.
“Was this?” he said, noticing a small drop of blood,
but what piqued his interest was that the blood was not the normal red but black, pitch black and hot, as if it was burning.
“Well this is strange,” he thought, picking the blood and wiping some of it on his handkerchief.
“Perhaps that person would be able to tell me more about it.”
He continued to search around the burned shrine and found what appeared to be a burned silhouette of a person, or at least it had the shape of a person on the ground.
“Now whose shadow is this?” he thought, he was curious as to what events had unfolded in the shrine. He might not have found anything that would sway the Trainerians, but he was sure he could keep it under control for the time being. The only thing he cared about was his plans and the kingdom of Traineria was not going to mess it up, or the south. Nonetheless, he was glad he came, for this was something truly of great interest to him, as he looked at the black blood burning through the handkerchief.
***
The people walked in a matter of great anticipation as they walked the streets of Stonetopolis City, aware of the many Trainerians knights and their leering eyes filled with anger crushing them.
“Look at them all,” a Rock Shield guild member said, he had long brown hair tied into a ponytail, wearing the green and brown colors of the Rock Shield guild. He looked at the knights that were guarding the city of Stonetopolis, but to him, it felt more like Stonetopolis city had been made into a prison for the people of the south by the Trainerians.
“Why are Trainerians dogs in our city breathing down our neck as if we are criminals,” a second rock shield guild tamer said, as he looked at the knights with great disgust.
“You know why,” another guild member answered,
joining the two Rock Shield Guild tamers that were on the stone roof of the Rock Shield guild building. He had short black hair, with a long coat.
“I heard they took Roth to the frozen island of the Aquarius Islands. Who knows what they are doing to him over in that ice prison of theirs? No doubt being treated like some common criminal, we should be freeing him instead of waiting here for her orders.”
“Do you think the Aquarians would interfere and aid the Trainerians?” the long brown hair guild member asked,
“Who knows, the Aquarius islands have always kept to themselves like the Fire Empire to the west. But with the association now built, who knows what they would do if Villa asked them.”
“Villa, the director of the association. Is he a friend or foe to the south?”
They all ponder that thought. This was truly something they did not know how it would unfold, but they feared the Trainerian queen would do something, her along with all the Trainerians.
“I say we rescue Roth now and guard the south against Trainerian forces until the end of times.”
The guild member with the long coat looked at the young guild member, and just like young tamers, he was fearless and reckless.
“And invite the whole army of Traineria upon us, “ a woman said, as she came in full view of them. She had dark green hair that was styled into a ponytail.
“Vice-captain Rosely!”
They both said, saluting the vice-captain of the Rock Shield guild.
“Head downstairs, we have a lot to discuss with all the members,” she said, as she made her way toward the most important room in all of the south on this day.
***
The great hall of the Rock Shield guild was vast with stone furniture adorning it. All the members of the Rock Shield guild sat in anticipation as to what was going to happen not only with the guild but with their land as well.
"Thank you all for coming,” Rosely said, somberly.
Rosely looked at the hall of the Rock Shield Guild and hoped she had the strength to do what was right for them and the people of the South.
“So what are we supposed to do vice-captain?” one of the rock shield guild members said, as he stood from where he sat,
“Are we supposed to just wait and be at the mercy of them, they even confiscated all of the tamer crystal devices that were in the treasury, we should have fought them there and then. “
“And bring war to our doorsteps,” another guild member interrupted.
Rosely could sense the frustration and powerlessness in their voices.
“They have more monster partners and crystal devices, we are outnumbered and outmanned in every department.”
"Is all because of Roth,” one of the guild members said, rising from his seat. All the Rock Shield guild members looked at him,
the captain was beloved by many but they knew he spoke the truth.
"Is the Rock Shield guild so cowardly that they would throw one of their own to appease Traineria,” Rosely spoke and the hall went quiet. She would not have them disrespect her father, he was still the Rock Shield guild leader.
“What would Roth think of all of you if he saw you.”
“My apologies,” a guild member said, as he sat down in shame. This was not the southern way. He had spoken too hastily.
“Then what are we to do, Vice-Captain?”
She looked at them all, her guild members and fellow brothers and sisters of the south. She wanted to tell them that everything was going to be okay, but she knew it wasn’t. Monsterra was never going to be the same, just like that red night two years ago had changed Monsterra, she too feared this incident was going to bring another change as well.
"We have to wait until Villa,” she finally said, not liking the fact that she had to resort to putting her faith and the Guild’s faith in his hand. Can he even be trusted?
“Villa, how do we know he’s not working with them?” one of the guild members asked,
She shared their sentiment, but there was nothing they could do for now.
“What do we know about the incident?”
She asked, right now they needed facts to present to him, after all, he was the director of the association.
"Some fire burned in the Turtle Mountain shrine, “
“Only your great-grandmother lived there so I don’t know why the king would be at that place to begin with.”
“What were Roth and the king doing there?” she asked herself if only they could talk to him, but he was being held prisoner in the ice prison of the eastern islands.
"Do we have any news about the health of the king?” she asked,
“I heard from some Traineria knight that he seems to be fine—”
"If he’s fine why are we being treated like prisoners in our lands,” another guild member interrupted.
“But they said he’s not waking up for some reason.”
“So they are keeping Roth and us like prisoners until what, he wakes up. I say we fight them and free Roth, or at least go down fighting for the South instead of being held prisoners in our lands.” A guild member with dark hair said, getting up from her chair.
“Do you think the South would last in a fight against Traineria, Elysa?” Rosely said, she looked at the young tamer, she was young and reckless, still inexperienced.
“Perhaps,” Elysa murmured to herself, as she sat back down.
“We could ask the fire empire?” one of them suggested,
‘"And be at the mercy of those hotheads, no thanks.”
"The only thing we could do is wait until what Villa has to say, “ Rosely said, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. She did not want a war in the South. But she also knew that the southern people would only hold off for so long, they were prideful people.
She looked at the tamer guild room and hoped it wasn’t the last time she saw their faces.
***
“How is he?’ Villa said as he entered the room of the king,
“The healer said that physically he’s fine,” Emily responded, not leaving the king’s sight.
Villa could see that she had been crying.
“But they don’t know why he won’t wake up.”
Stolen story; please report.
“I see,” Villa said, the king looked inhumanly peaceful as he lay on his royal bed covered in the warmest and softest bedding that was accustomed for a king.
“Is those dam southerners,” she said, there was venom in her words, Villa noticed.
“They did something to him, I know they did.”
Villa could see that any words that he could say to her at this moment would not be of any use to her.
“I told him, no, I pleaded with him not to go to the south but he wouldn’t listen,” she said, tears forming in her blue color eyes once again.
Villa placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I’m supposed to be the queen and my people need me now more than ever, yet look at me," she said looking up at him.
“Nobody would blame the queen for showing her humanity in tough times like this,” he said, giving her a warm smile.
“Thank you,” she said, regaining her composure.
“What have you found,” she asked, hoping to hear the magic words that would bring those responsible for this tragedy to justice, her justice. Giving her the words to bring Traineria’s full power and subjugate the south once and for all.
“It appears that it truly was an incident, my queen,” Villa said, caressing his chin.
“An incident!” she yelled, not being able to contain her anger.
She looked at Villa his features were serious, unmoved by her bout of anger.
“Sorry,” she said, there were times where Villa’s seriousness frightened her,
“Is okay my queen,” he said, nodding at her.
“But there doesn’t appear to be any foul play, I shall talk with Roth once more but it does appear that this was an incident. An unfortunate accident, I’m afraid. ”
‘Roth... “she said, she wanted nothing more than to torture that man, to make him feel the pain she was going through.
“Is he going to be set free then?” she asked, feeling powerless.
“That is up to you my queen,” he said,
“After all, he was responsible for the king’s well-being at that time of the incident.”
“Then have him be imprisoned for all his life,” she said her words full of resolve.
“I’m afraid that the south won’t like that all,” Villa said, brushing his straight dark hair back.
“To hell with what they want, “she said,
“I’ll imprison them all if I have to.”
“My queen,” he said, brushing her hand,
“Get some rest. I will come back later to check on you and our king.”
“And I hope the king wakes up for all of us,’ he said bowing before her.
She looked at her husband as he lay sleeping on his bed. So close yet so far from her.
***
“Director, ”Light said, bowing before Villa as he came out of the royal bedroom.
“Are the Gryphons ready?”
“No, but I will send someone to prepare them as soon as possible,” Light said,
“Perfect, for I have an icy road ahead of me.”
Light looked at Villa as he left the royal bedroom, and wondered what was going on in his head, what kind of plan was he mustering up. He looked back at the bedroom and saw the king and queen in the most sorry state he had ever seen them, and feared for the worst, for both Traineira and the South and any innocent person caught between them.
***
The ice-cold mountains were to the farthest east of the island of Aquarius, home to the Aquarius people and the Torrent Scale guild. A large black tower was the only building on the frozen island of the Aquarius island that sat on the edge of Monsterra.
“Sir,” one of the prison guards said, bowing before the director.
“I’m here to see Roth.”
The prison cells of the frozen tower were as cold as the outside, the prisoners lay shackled and the only thing they wore were white layers of clothing that seemed to drown them.
“Hello old friend,” Villa said, stopping by Roth’s prison cell. Roth looked at Villa almost wanting to laugh at the fact he called him a friend.
“You may go,” Villa said dismissing the guards,
“As you command,” the guards said.
Villa stared at the disheveled Rock Shield captain, he looked rough, rougher than usual.
"The king seems to be fine,” he said, cutting the ice-cold silence of the dark tower.
Roth looked at him, his face looked unwashed and his black hair had edges of ice to them.
“Is he ? he asked,
“He is okay, but he doesn’t seem to wake up, which is both unfortunate and interesting,” Villa said,
“I looked around Turtle Mountain and found nothing but burned remains,” he continued,
“There was nobody or nothing left, so tell me friend how did we end up here.”
Roth looked at Villa, studying his features, he was quite the slender man, yet underneath those hollow features, there was something Roth did not like.
“Did you find him?” he said,
“AH! Yes, that knight captain,” Villa said, adjusting his long black hair
“I’m afraid there was nothing or even a body found anywhere near the mountain or the burned shrine.”
“How could that be?” Roth said under his breath, he was sure Kein had escaped and ran, but where?
“if you help me I’ll help you get out,” Villa said,
Roth scuffed at his words,
“I’m sure the queen would love that,” he said, he knew that he would spend his days in this frozen prison, the king's words engulfing his mind.
“Even if I told you, you would believe me,” he said, looking at Villa, yet Villa felt that he was looking through him,
"Perhaps,” Villa said,
“You can tell me in a way I could believe you or at least help you and the South,”
“The south…” Roth said, getting up from his seat, the cold grey shackles tugging at him, keeping him from moving any further.
“What is going to happen to them?”
“The queen wants nothing more than to drag Traineria into a war that I’m sure they would gladly engage in.”
“You have to protect the south,” Roth said, recalling the fire engulfing Monsterra. Was this what they were meant to stop? But how could he stop such a tragedy when he was the one who started it all? What could he do in this frozen prison of his?
Villa could see a tone of helplessness in his voice that surprised him, seeing the intimidating Roth reduced to this was such a shame, he thought.
“They would not be able to defend themselves against the power of Traineria, even as someone as prideful as myself knows that,” Roth said.
“That is true,” Villa agreed,
“Traineria has more crystal of tames and tamers than the south. The war won’t last a day.”
"Please Villa,” Roth said, swallowing his pride, he needed him now more than ever.
“Protect the South.”
“I’ll do what I can but-“
“But--” Roth interrupted,
“The rock shield guild will no longer be. I’m afraid. We can’t have a traitorous guild in the association.”
‘"A traitorous guild”
Those words cut Roth in half.
Roth felt a hot anger in him, not only was he forced to beg Villa, but now his people were being insulted because of him.
“What do you mean? They had nothing to do with this,” Roth said, walking toward the frozen bars, his shackles ripping from the stone-cold walls of the prison tower.
Villa could see just how utterly frightening this behemoth of the south was, as he was called at times.
“Is not because I want to, trust me, my friend,” Villa said, adjusting himself in this icy prison,
“But my hands are tied, what would the other guild members think? I have to think about what is good for the association.”
Roth sat on the cold floor and felt nothing. He was right. Not that he cared for the association, but if that was what it took to protect the South, so be it.
“Just protect the South,” he said, thinking about them, his daughter, his two granddaughters, and his people.
“I will do my best,” Villa said,
“Goodbye, old friend. “
Roth looked at Villa as he left the prison, closing behind the cold doors of the place that was going to be his home for quite a while.
“Sir,” one of the prisoners said, as he saw Villa appear from the icy doors that guarded the most dangerous criminals of Monsterra.
"What do we do with him?”
“Keep him locked away and throw away the key,” Villa said, smiling at them,
"Queen’s orders.”
“Understood sir,” he said bowing before the director of the association.
***
“So what are we going to do about the south,” Zephyr, the guild leader of the torrent scale guild, said.
“I don’t know or care what happens in the south, their matters are of no interest to me or the empire,” Fernando said, brushing his long red dreadlocks that were styled into a ponytail.
“We have enough to deal with the sand city on our parts of the continent, we don’t care about Traineria’s problems.”
"We have Roth locked away on the Frozen Tower,
keep him there and be done with it, no offense girl,” Fernando said, looking at the vice-captain of the traitorous guild of the south.
“Excuse the westerner’s tack,” Zephyr said, smiling at her, out of all the guild leaders, Rosely found him to be the most kind.
“Gentlemen and esteemed young lady," Villa finally said,
“We cannot have the association ignore this grave mistake by one of its leaders, “ he said, adjusting his long black hair.
“No offense Rosely, my dear.”
Rosely nodded, she did not trust him, but there was nothing she could do, she had to take their words and swallow her pride.
“The rock shield guild will have to be disbanded.”
“You can’t,” Rosely said, getting up from her chair. That was too much, even for her. Disbanding the guild meant losing everything.
“Isn’t that a bit too overboard, director,” Zephyr said,
“Fear not, “ Villa said, smiling at Rosely, and signaling to her to sit down.
“A new guild will take its place, and it will be led by a tamer from the association, you will remain as the vice-captain still Rosely, if you want of course.”
Rosely looked at Villa, she didn’t know if this was to help them or to control them. But there was nothing she could do about it, it was the only way to keep the south safe.
“The association would take full control of the crystals of tames in the south as well as the guild building which would be turned into an association building, becoming the de facto guild in the south but other tamers, particularly of the rock shield guild variety, would be free to join this new guild if they choose too. “
“That’s fine by me,” Fernando said,
“With me as well,” Zephyr added as well.
“Then it's settled, Rosely, you can pick the name of the new guild if you want,” Villa said, smiling at her. Though for Rosely, that smile felt cunning, and not to be trusted at all.
“Thank you,” Rosely said almost wanting to laugh at the thought, the south had given up its freedom but it was for the best, they couldn’t afford a war with Traineria.
“Is that all?” Fernando asked, getting up from his chair,
“Yes you are free to leave,” Villa said,
“And Rosely,” he said, looking at her,
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Rosely said bowing before him. Feeling so powerless.
The association chamber lay empty, as every one of them left. There was a silence that Villa enjoyed but it was cut short for his silence was disrupted by an association worker.
“Sir, Dr. Spark is here. “
“Very well let him through,”
“As you command, director,” the association worker said, bowing before Villa and letting an older man with long white hair and a full white beard enter the room. He was small in stature, yet there was a presence about him that commanded respect.
“It seems that you are a very busy man these past few days,” Dr. Spark said, taking a seat across from Villa.
“Never a dull moment it seems these days,” Villa said,
"Is a pity what happened to the king, hopefully, he recovers soon, for both Traineria and the south.”
“Yes, hopefully. But onto much more important subjects,” Villa said, getting up from his chair, and facing the large window that overlooked Traineria.
“If they heard you talk like that, what
would they said,” Dr. Spark said, chuckling,
“Good thing I’m among a friend,” Villa said, looking at the researcher, he didn’t trust him completely but he trusted his thirst for knowledge enough to let his guard down once in a while around him.
“So, what can you tell me about the sample I gave you?”
“Well for starters,” Dr. Spark said,
“It’s unusually hot, and it seems that any liquid doesn't cool it off, but what’s more interesting is that is not full of monster DNA. ”
“Are you sure?” Villa said, surprised by the revelation,
“Yes, and no,” Dr. Spark continued,
“There seems to be an unknown DNA mix in there with the monster DNA.”
“Unknown DNA... ” Villa said, recalling Roth’s words, about the missing knight commander,
“Do you know what that unknown part is? Could it be perhaps Human DNA ?”
“That’s crazy talk but I couldn’t tell you either way, the only thing I could tell you is that whatever is mixed in the blood is something that has never been recorded in Monsterra history.”
“Monster and something we had never seen before,” Villa said, recalling the crimson beast from the red night two years ago.
“Something Monsterra has never seen before, that would truly change Monsterra forever, wouldn’t you say, Dr.Spark ?”
"I guess it would, if only we had more samples I could run more tests, but for now it is of unknown origin, and as a researcher, I only like to deal in facts.”
“I would send more researchers to Turtle Mountain as well as knights to guard them, nothing comes or goes from that area without me knowing,” Villa said, smiling widely at Dr.Spark.
“And if they find any, it will truly revolutionize Monsterra. But I’m not here to talk about hypotheticals,” Dr. spark
said,
“I’m here to talk about the other project, Project MetaTech”
“Ah yes,” Villa said taking a seat,
“Well, don’t keep me waiting, what is its status? ‘
“We have completed it at 80 percent”
“That's great, how long until it's completely done,” Villa asked
“Three, maybe four, or perhaps five years at most. These things are hard to pinpoint but we should be done soon.”
“To think it has been almost three years since the red night,” Villa said,
“Yes, truly a tragedy, ’ Dr. Spark said,
“And if it were to happen again, this time we would be prepared to meet it head-on with Project MetaTech.”
“If mother nature can create monster partner types then why can’t man create a weapon or a new type of its own,” Villa said, grinning.
“For the future of Monsterra and its safety,” Dr. Spark said,
“Yes, for the future of Monsterra,” Villa said, his vision coming one step closer, his eyes glowing as he saw the report Dr.Spark had brought to him, in the middle was a picture of a tube with a figure inside of it. Monsterra's future which he would lead.
***
Kein ran along the forest, his body burning inside, but he couldn’t stop, for if he stopped he feared he would be done for. His mind was hazy, yet he could remember clearly what he had done to that woman, and the king as well.
“No, the king!” he said under his breath, that wasn’t him, that was that dammed voice that had lied to him.
“Go away.... please!”
He stopped by a tree, leaning against it, and falling to the ground.
“Get out of here, please, I beg you!” he said, pleading to it, hearing its whispers lingering in his mind.
A small novice-level monster took notice of him,
“A Leafirrel,” he said, trying to reach for it, something in his body telling him to burn anything and everything that came into his view.
“EEK!” the Leafirrel said, as it ran, the creature looked behind and saw only a dark ominous aura leaking from Kein.
“Make sure to search every corner of the forest for anything suspicious.”
Kein heard the voices of the tamer knights of Traineria, they were getting closer to him.
He couldn’t stay here, he had to escape.
He got up and ran as fast as he could, far away from anyone.
“Come,” he heard a voice, it was soothing, calming, and inviting.
“Were?” he said, looking around but finding only a sea of trees.
“Come,” he heard it again and went after it. The voice took him to a waterfall, he looked down at his reflection and was startled by what he saw. That wasn’t him. His eyes were black, and his skin had a dark purple color to it, he looked almost like a monster. He no longer looked human.
“Is good to see you again,” the voice said,
“Who said that?” he said, turning around and seeing a cloaked figure,
"Who are you?” he said
“A part of you,” the cloaked voice said, as it walked toward him,
“No! Stay away,” he said, as he watched the cloaked figure reach to him,
"Do not be afraid,” the cloaked figure said,
“I will free you from this prison.”
And the last thing Kein saw was a mask of a monster, like the ones he had seen in the festivals of the south, as his body was engulfed in black flames, he felt at peace at last.
***
The cloaked figure looked at the black creature it had created from the black orb it had in its hands. The creature's body was made of bones with purple flames on its arms.
“Is good to see you again, Void,” the cloaked figure said,
“VOOOIDDD!” the black creature let out a fearsome scream,
“The pieces shall be whole again.”
“Now let us go find the others,” the cloaked figure said, and along with the beast it had created, disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
image [https://i.imgur.com/RgZEwRg.jpg]
***
“I refused to join this new guild,” one of the rock shield members said,
“And be underneath the leadership of the association like some dog,”
All the other guild members looked at him, they couldn’t disagree with him.
"It’s for the good of the South,” Rosely said,
“I will remain the vice-captain, nothing will change trust me.”
“ For how long though? Is not what Roth would have wanted either way,” one of them said
“He would have fought until the end.”
“If you want to doom us all in the south then fight, but I would not jeopardize the south’s peace for my father,” Rosely said, her words pained her to say, but it was for the greater good. Her father, Roth, would understand.
“So we go about as if Roth is not sitting in some prison rotting away until his days, as if everything is okay, and forget about one of our own.”
“Why should Roth or the South have to pay for what appears to be an accident.”
Elysa rose firm, ready to let her grievances be heard. She had joined the guild because she admired the strength of it.
"I’m sorry but if this guild supervised by the association is what it takes to be a tamer in the South then,” she said, as she took off her taming belt from her waist,
“I refused to be a tamer from the south,”
“If that is how some of you feel then I won’t fault you for leaving the guild, but if you stayed I promised you that I would do whatever it takes to make sure this new guild, the Leaf Blade guild, lives up to the standards of the Rock Shield Guild and I will fight against the association if they encroach on our way of life.”
The Rock Shield guild members looked at her, she was the blood of Roth, and at that moment some of them saw her on equal footing as their ex-guild leader. She had inherited his strong will.
“I will stay,”
“So will I.”
She heard some of them say, one after the other. And in that moment, she could have kissed them all for staying.
“I will not, I won’t be under the association leadership or Traineria, and if the time comes, which I assure you it will come,” Elysa said, cutting the celebrations of some.
“ That the South will fight against Traineria, I hope I won’t have to meet you fellow Southern guild members on the battlefield on the wrong side.”
The young dark-haired tamer left the great hall of the rock shield guild, other members saw her leave and decided to follow behind her. And in that moment, a new guild was formed that would not see the light of day until seven years later.
Rosely looked at the room, it was now mostly empty, some had remained but not many.
“Thank you all for staying,” she said,
“I hope that this is for the best,” one of them said,
“Me too,” she thought, hoping that the South would not be divided in the battlefield that was yet to come.